METAL FIXING RING CAPABLE OF BEING SCREWED FOR FIXING A DISPENSING DEVICE ON A CONTAINER

Abstract

A metal fixing ring is disclosed, which is capable of being screwed for fixing a dispensing device, such as a pump or a valve, on a container comprising a neck and containing a product to be dispensed. The metal fixing ring, which comprises an internal thread co-operating with an external thread provided on the container neck, further comprises a plastic material coating on the internal surface that comprises the internal thread.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to devices for attachment of distribution components on containers and more particularly to rings which can be screwed on.

[0002] In order to attach distribution components, such as pumps or valves, on containers holding product which is to be distributed, a number of different techniques are available. Thus, it is possible to use a crimping cap which is intended to be crimped on the neck of the container. As an alternative, it is also possible to attach a distribution component by means of a fastening ring, for example, a ring with tabs allowing it to be snapped on the neck of the container. Such a ring which can be snapped on is disclosed specifically in the document EP-0,359,605. According to yet another known technique, the distribution component is attached on the neck of a container by means of a ring which can be screwed on, the neck of the container having external threads which cooperate with the internal threads of the ring which can be screwed on. The invention relates more particularly to this last technique.

[0003] In the field of perfumery, but also in other fields, the containers, which can be produced out of any suitable materials, are however generally produced out of glass or sometimes metal. The use of screwable rings for attaching distribution components, pumps or valves presents a certain number of problems in the case of metal rings and particularly rings made of anodized aluminum.

[0004] On the one hand, because it is a matter of friction of a hard coating against a hard material, problems of irregularity of friction or seizing are created.

[0005] Moreover, the stresses are not very well distributed over the threads of the neck of the container, so that these threads risk being broken during assembly.

[0006] Furthermore, there is a risk of unscrewing of the ring in the case of vibrations, for example, during transport.

[0007] On the other hand, the size tolerances of the neck of the container, of the threads on the neck of the container or of the metal ring are very difficult to compensate for. Since the product distributors of this type are produced in very large numbers, said problems of tolerance compensation, which can appear during mounting of the ring on the neck of the container, prevent effective and economical mounting from the standpoint of time as well as cost.

[0008] The present invention therefore aims to provide a device for mounting of a distribution component on containers, such as a screwable ring, which does not have the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0009] The present invention therefore aims in particular to provide a metal fastening ring which can be screwed on, which essentially eliminates the problems of friction during screwing of the ring on the neck of the container.

[0010] The present invention also aims to provide a metal fastening ring which can be screwed on, which essentially eliminates the risk of breaking of the threads of the neck of the container during screwing of the ring.

[0011] The present invention furthermore aims to provide a metal fastening ring which can be screwed on, which does not risk coming loose accidentally because of vibrations and/or for which manual screwing/unscrewing is facilitated.

[0012] The present invention furthermore aims to provide a metal fastening ring which can be screwed on, which makes it possible to compensate for the manufacturing tolerances of the glass necks.

[0013] The present invention also aims to provide a metal fastening ring which can be screwed on, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which makes it possible to limit assembly costs.

[0014] The invention therefore relates to a metal fastening ring which can be screwed on for attaching a distribution component, such as a pump or a valve, on a container which has a neck and which contains product to be dispensed, said ring having internal threads which cooperate with external threads provided on said neck of the container, said ring having a plastic material coating on the interior annular wall which has said threads.

[0015] Preferably, said plastic material coating covers the entire interior annular wall of said ring.

[0016] Advantageously, said plastic material coating has a uniform thickness.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment, said plastic coating has a thickness less than approximately 0.2 mm.

[0018] Preferably, said plastic coating is a polyolefin film.

[0019] In particular, said polyolefin film is a polypropylene film or a polyethylene film, which are known for their resistance to solvents.

[0020] The container, and particularly its neck, can be made out of glass or metal.

[0021] Thus, by plasticizing the threads of the ring, this ring no longer has a hard coating on the surface, and during its mounting on the neck of the container, which is generally made of glass or metal, a seizing problem is no longer created. Likewise, the stresses on the threads of the containers are better distributed, and these threads no longer risk being broken. Furthermore, thanks to the thickness of said plastic material coating, problems of tolerance in the manufacturing of the neck, and particularly of its threads, can be compensated for by said plastic coating of the ring.

[0022] The main advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that the absence of the seizing problem, the tolerance problem and the risk of breaking the threads of the container makes possible a safe and effective assembly of the distributors in question, and prevents defective assembly from occurring because of said problems. This results in a lowering of the costs of production and assembly of said distributor. Another advantage is that the plastic coating ensures better fastening of the ring on the neck of the container, and the ring no longer risks coming loose because of vibrations, for example, during transport. Moreover, manual screwing/unscrewing is facilitated and made more pleasant by the presence of the plastic coating.

[0023] The invention therefore also makes it possible to produce a screwable fastening ring which by itself ensures a perfect attachment of the distribution component. In particular, the ring of the invention makes possible more economical manufacturing and assembly because it is no longer necessary, as is the case, for example, with rings which can be snapped on, to provide an additional element (hoop, external ring, etc.) in order to avoid unsnapping.

[0024] The plastic coating can, of course, be applied in any known manner, and the plastic material used can be of any suitable type. Advantageous materials are the polyolefins, such as polypropylene or polyethylene, which are preferably applied in the form of a thin film on the metal, which can be aluminum or tinned iron. The shaping of the piece can be done either before or after the deposition of the plastic film on the metal. Advantageously, the thickness of the coating is uniform and less than 0.1 mm, so that the above-mentioned advantages are obtained in an optimal manner.

Claims

1. Metal fastening ring which can be screwed on for attaching a distribution component, such as a pump or a valve, on a container which has a neck and which contains product which is to be dispensed, said ring having internal threads which cooperate with external threads provided on said neck of the container, characterized by the fact that said ring has a plastic material coating on the interior annular wall which has said threads.

2. Fastening ring according to

claim 1, in which said plastic material coating covers the entire interior annular wall of said ring.

3. Fastening ring according to

claim 1 or

2, in which said plastic material coating has a uniform thickness.

4. Fastening ring according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said plastic coating has a thickness of less than approximately 0.2 mm.

5. Fastening ring according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said plastic coating is a polyolefin film.

6. Fastening ring according to

claim 5, in which said polyolefin film is a polypropylene film or a polyethylene film.

7. Fastening ring according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said neck of the container is glass.

8. Fastening ring according to any one of claims 1-7, in which said neck of the container is metal.