FR3050443B1 - DEVICE FOR SHUTTING A CONTAINER - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cap for covering a container (7). The plug has a distal portion (1), having a distal face (11), an inner proximal face (12), and a lateral face (13), and a proximal portion (2) having a proximal face (21) and a face lateral (22). The maximum distance between the axis and the lateral face (22) of the proximal portion (2) is strictly less than the minimum distance between the axis and the lateral face (13). The plug is such that the angle α between the proximal face (12) of the distal portion and the lateral face (22) of the proximal portion (2) varies from 81 degrees to 85 degrees.

Description

Device for sealing a container

The present invention relates to a device for closing a container.

The present invention relates in particular to a plug for the closure of wide-necked containers.

One field of application envisaged is in particular that of cylindrical boxes receiving foodstuffs. Such known containers have a bouchoncomposite comprising a cylindrical cork member.

Cork corks are widely used, especially for corking bottles of wine or champagne. However, the relative sealing of the closure is obtained by forcing the cork stopper through the neck of the bottles so as to keep it compressed. In the case of containers with a wider neck, corking by means of a cork raises some difficulties, especially when these containers are made of a deformable material compared to glass.

Indeed, the cap can not be put in compression through the neck of the container. There is a sealing part and a gripping part for engaging the closure part inside the neck, and it has been imagined to cover the closing part of a plastic insulating element so as to make it watertight. Thus, the contents of the container are completely airtight with respect to the exterior when the lid is installed through the opening of the container. It has already been proposed in application WO 2014053784 A1 to provide a two-part plug-and-socket system, comprising on the one hand a plugging portion and on the other hand a gripping portion and furthermore an insulating insert member covering said This plug, due to the presence of an insulating member, allows the container to be sealed.

However, such a plug has several disadvantages namely a complexity of manufacture and it is necessary to provide several separate parts that are assembled together, and therefore high manufacturing costs.

Also, a problem that arises and that aims to solve the present invention is to provide a composite cover that is not only easier to recycle while allowing gaseous exchange between the interior of the container and the outside, and that isitsimple in its manufacture , and therefore cheaper. The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks by providing a cork stopper, in particular of agglomerated cork, in one piece for covering a container, in particular a container with rolled edges, the stopper having: a distal portion or head, having a distal face, an inner proximal face, and a lateral surface, and - a proximal portion or body having a proximal face and a lateral face, the maximum distance between the axis of the proximal portion and the lateral face of the proximal portion being strictly less than at the minimum distance between the axis of the distal part and the lateral face of the distal part, the angle a between the proximal face of the distal part and the lateral face of the proximal part varying from 81 degrees to 85 degrees. The invention is based on the surprising finding by the inventors that the particular angle of the proximal portion of a cork is particularly suitable for creating a seal when the stopper is positioned on a container, at least the edge of the end of which opening is rolled.

The plug object of the present invention consists of a distal or head portion, preferably cylindrical, allowing the user to grasp the cap to position it on a container, or to remove it from a container. The plug also has a proximal portion, intended to be inserted into the neck of a container, this proximal portion being of frustoconical shape.

The stopper according to the invention is manufactured in a single part, which means that the shape of the stopper, and in particular the frustoconical shape of the proximal part, is machined on the same piece of cork, at the same time, as the stopper head. . It is therefore not necessary to manufacture the two pieces separately and to assemble them later.

In the invention, the angle between the proximal face of the distal portion and the lateral face of the proximal portion of the plug varies from 81 degrees to 85 degrees. This means that the angle between the proximal side of the distal portion and the lateral face of the proximal portion of the plug can take the following values: 81 degrees, 81.5 degrees, 82 degrees, 82.5 degrees, 83 degrees, 83.5 degrees , 84 degrees, 84.5 degrees and 85 degrees.

If the aforementioned angle is too high, that is to say greater than 85 degrees, the mouth will not properly come into contact with the edges of the container, including the rolled edges, which will prevent on the one hand the sealing, and on the other hand the maintenance of the cap on the container. Conversely, if the angle is too small, that is to say less than 81 degrees, the rolled part of the container edge will not be able to position correctly and sealing will therefore not be ensured either.

It is furthermore advantageous that the plug of the invention is of circular section and that the distal and proximal portions of the plugs have the same axis of asymmetry, which means that the two parts are centered relative to one another.

It is particularly advantageous that the distal portion of the plug has a thickness greater than the proximal portion. This distinguishes corks of the invention from bottle corks especially champagne corks.

Indeed, unlike champagne corks, whose thickness of the proximal portion is higher than that of the distal portion, the proximal portion functions to seal the neck of a container and form a seal, while occupying less volume possible in the container. The proximal portion of the plugs of the country is configured for resistance to the pressure exerted by the gas emanating from the liquid, when the cap and the cap are positioned on the cap and the neck of the bottle.

Advantageously, in the aforementioned plug, where the lateral face and the proximal face of the proximal portion meet to form a stop forming a round visible to the naked eye.

The particular rounded configuration of the stop formed by the junction of the proximal face and the lateral face of the proximal part makes it possible to avoid wear of this edge when the stopper is positioned and removed from the container in a repeated manner, and avoids that cork debris does not fall into the container.

Advantageously, the proximal face of the proximal portion is covered with paraffin.

This addition of a layer of paraffin on the proximal face of the proximal portion of the mouthpiece is intended to prevent the smell of the cork from diffusing into the container, and in particular to be absorbed by the food products contained in said container.

The paraffins used are extracted by successive refining of the so-called "paraffenic" crude oils. After microcrystallization, they are refined successively to produce a product that complies with national and international food regulations (F.D.A., SGA, etc.). These paraffins are odorless white and contain an oil content of 0.40% by weight.

The paraffins used for the surface treatment of the plugs have a mean melting point of 51 ° C, a viscosity at 100 ° C = 3.10 cST, have very good insulating characteristics (obturomodulator capacity), biodegradability and combustion without release of noxious or corrosive vapors. Macrocrystalline high melting paraffins do not lend themselves to the surface treatment of corks.

In another advantageous embodiment, the aforementioned plug further comprises a cylindrical middle portion located between the distal portion and the proximal portion, the medial portion having a lateral face, the minimum distance between the axis of the proximal portion and the lateral face of the proximal portion. proximal part is equal to the distance between the axis of the middle part and the lateral face of the middle part.

Even more advantageously, the thickness of the medial portion is less than that of the proximal portion.

The medial portion is advantageously of lower thickness than that of the distal and proximal parts, and is particularly useful during the machining of the plug to allow a precise angle to be obtained between the proximal face of the distal portion and the facelateral of the proximal portion. . The invention furthermore relates to an assembly comprising, or essentially constituting: - a cylindrically shaped container consisting of a wall of a bottom opposite an opening, the edges of the wall being at least rolled inwards, being at the level of opening, and - a plug as defined above closing the opening by means of the proximal part.

As mentioned above, the aforementioned plug is particularly adapted to a carton, the container having at least rolled edges inwardly at the opening. The configuration of the plug, and especially the anglesusmentionnéé, will exert pressure on the rolled edge during the positioning of thebouchon the opening, so that the edge will be partially crushed creating aheretic junction between the inside and the outside of the container. The invention furthermore relates to the use of a stopper as defined above, or an assembly as defined above, for preserving foodstuffs sensitive to desiccation or oxidation.

Due to its particular configuration, the cap according to the invention creates a seal at the opening of a container when the cap is positioned on the container. This sealing makes it possible to preserve foodstuffs whose conservation requires limited contact with the air, or which must maintain certain humidity levels.

For example, the cap according to the invention is particularly suitable for storage, in a cardboard box rolled edges, fleur de sel which must remain wet. Indeed, this very special variety of salt, unlike other detable, must keep a minimum of moisture in its grain to keep any iodized sasubtility. The invention furthermore relates to a method for preserving the fleur de sel comprising: a step of filling a container with the fleur de sel to be preserved, saidcontenant being of cylindrical shape constituted by a wall, a bottom opposite to an opening the edges of the wall being at least rolled inwardly at the opening, and a step of closing the opening with the proximal portion of a plug as defined above.

The present invention also relates to a method of producing a bouchontel as defined above. According to said method, the cork stopper is made by supplying cork plates and stamping them with a punch to recover cork discs inside the punch. The cork disks are then machined to provide the proximal portion and concomitantly to disengage the distal portion and possibly the medial portion such that the angle α between the proximal face of the distal portion and the lateral face of the portion proximal ranges from 81 degrees to 85 degrees, including 83 degrees. The invention will be better understood on reading the appended figures, which are provided by way of example and are not limiting in nature, in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view in axial section illustrating a plug according to a method for producing the 'invention; - Figure 2 is a schematic axial sectional view illustrating the plug according toFigure 1 positioned on a rolled edge container; Figure 3 is an enlargement of the region indicated by a circle in Figure 2; and, - Figure 4 and a schematic axial sectional view illustrating the cap according tofigure 1 showing the angle formed between the proximal face of the distal portion and the facelateral of the proximal portion.

The configuration of the plugs in one piece in several parts is such that the proximal part of circular section corresponds to the general shape of the opening ductenant to seal. The diameter of the proximal portion is therefore at least slightly less than the internal diameter of the opening of the container.

Referring now to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates an axial section of a cork nib 1 according to the invention comprising a distal portion 2, a proximal portion 3 and a medial portion 6 located between the distal 2 and proximal portions. . The stopper 1, which is advantageously agglomerated cork, consists of a single piece machined to present the two ends 2,3 and the middle part 6. Lebouchon 1 is cylindrical in shape with circular section and the two ends 2,3 and the part median 6 of cylindrical symmetry and they are coaxial, the distal portion 2 serves to grip the cap by the user, and the proximal portion 3 has the function of closing the opening of a container not shown in Figure 1. Note Also, the proximal portion 2 has a diameter greater than the diameter of the proximal portion 3. The proximal portion 3 corresponds to a truncated cone whose smallest base is contiguous with the medial portion 6. As a result, the widest base of the the proximal portion is exposed to the opposite of the distal portion, and is found under the cap 1, when it is positioned as shown in Figure 1. In addition, the gen The truncated cone forming the proximal portion 3, corresponding to the lateral surface 32, forms an acute angle α with the base of the distal portion 2, the base of the distal portion 2 corresponding to the proximal face 23.

Preferably, the dimensions of the plug 1 are as follows: the height, or thickness of the plug 1, of the distal distal face 2 to the proximal face 32 of the proximal portion 3 is about 8 mm; the distal portion 2 corresponds to a cylinder of circular cross section with a diameter of approximately 80 mm, in particular 81.5 mm, +/- 0.5 mm, the height being approximately 8 mm; the middle portion 6 corresponds to a cylinder of circular cross section with a diameter of about 74 mm, in particular 73.4 mm, the thickness of the middle part being about 1.2 mm; the proximal portion 3 corresponds to a conical frustum of circular section, the diameter of the base of which, connecting the medial portion 6, is approximately 74 mm, in particular 73.4 mm, and whose diameter of the other base of about 75 mm, especially 74.5 mm, the thickness of the proximal portion 3 being about 6.5 mm.

Referring now to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 illustrates an axial section of unbouchon 1 according to the invention positioned on a container 4. The container 4 is made of cardboard, preferably recycled, able to receive foodstuffs, and of which The interior is treated or covered by one or more suitable materials known to those skilled in the art when the paperboard is recycled. The container 4 is generally preformed and includes a wall 41 folded on itself to form a hollow cylinder.

The container 4, or box or container, is provided with a bottom 42 and an openingurecirculaire 43 at which is inserted the proximal portion of the cap 1. Advantageously, the edge 44 of the container 4 located at the opening 43 is rolled inside the container. The rolled edge 44 then defines a bearing surface on which the proximal face 23 of the distal part 2 bears when the stopper 1 is placed on the opening 43 of the container 4. When the proximal portion 3 of the stopper 1 is introduced into the container 4 at the opening 43, the proximal portion 3 exerts pressure on the rolled edge 44, the rolled edge 44 being sized to allow this flexibility. The pressure exerted, and the deformation of the rolled edge 44 that results, creates a seal at the opening.

The container 4 is advantageously made of cardboard with a thickness of approximately 1 mm, in particular 0.9 +/- 0.3 mm. The rolled edge 44 creates a loop about 5 mm deep, including the thickness of the board. In other words, the rolled edge 44 forms an inward projection of the container 4.

The bottom 42 of the container 4 is preferably cardboard of circular shape whose periphery is folded. Such a configuration is particularly adapted to be positioned on the rolled edge 44 'of the bottom of the container 4, when the latter has two rolled edges 44; 44 '.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a section of an axial section of a stopper 1 according to the invention positioned on a container 4, corresponding to the region identified by a circle in FIG. Figure 4, it is also noted that the edge 5 is rounded, which is visible to the naked eye. This rounding advantageously has a radius of about 0.5 mm. FIG. 4 illustrates a detail of an axial cut of a stopper 1 according to the invention positioned on a container 4, where the angle between the proximal face (23) of the distal portion (2) and the lateral face (32) is held ) of the proximal portion (3), which is preferably 83 degrees. The invention is not limited to the embodiments presented and other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims (5)

1- cork stopper (1), in particular agglomerated cork, in one piece to cover a container (4), said cap having - a distal portion or head (2), having a distal face (21), a proximal inner face ( 23), and a lateral face (22), and - a proximal portion or body (3) having a proximal face (31) and a lateral face (32), the maximum distance between the axis of the proximal portion (3) and the lateral face (32) of the proximal portion (3) being strictly less than the minimum distance between the axis of the distal portion (2) and the lateral face (22) of the distal portion (2), the angle a between the proximal face (23) of the distal portion (2) and the lateral face (32) of the proximal portion (3) varying from 81 degrees to 85 degrees. 2- cap according to the preceding claim, wherein the lateral face (32) of the proximal part (3) and the proximal face (31) of the proximal portion (3) meet to form a stop forming a rounded (5) visible to the naked eye. 3- cap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the proximal face (31) of the proximal portion (3) is covered with paraffin. 4- Stopper according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a cylindrical middle portion (6) located between the distal portion (2) and the proximal portion (3), the middle portion having a side face (61), the minimum distance between the axis of the proximal portion (3) and the lateral face (32) of the proximal portion (3) is equal to the distance between the axis of the medial portion (6) and the lateral face (61) of the medial portion ( 6). 5. Cap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thickness of the proximal portion (3) is less than or equal to that of the distal portion (2). A set comprising: a cylindrical container (4) consisting of a wall (41) of a bottom (42) opposite an opening (43), the edges (44; 44 ') of the wall (41) at least being rolled inwardly of the container (4) at the opening (43), and a plug according to any one of the preceding claims closing the opening (43) by means of the proximal portion (3). 7- Use of a stopper as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5, or assembly according to claim 6 for the preservation of food products sensitive to drying or oxidation. 8. A method for preserving fleur de sel, comprising: a step of filling a container (4) with the fleur de sel to be preserved, said container (4) being of cylindrical shape constituted by a wall (41), unfond (42) opposite an opening (43), the edges (44; 44 ') of the wall (41) being at least rolled inwardly of the container (4) at the opening (43), and step of closing the opening (43) with the proximal portion (3) unbouchon as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6. 9- Method for producing a stopper according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a step of punching a cork plate to obtain cork discs, and a step of machining cork discs so to spare the proximal portion and, concomitantly, to disengage the distal portion, and optionally the medial portion, such that the angle a between the proximal face of the distal portion and the lateral face of the proximal portion (3) varies from 81 degrees to 85 degrees; degrees.