SEALING DEVICE FOR A CONTAINER NECK

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealing device which includes a tubular skirt, suitable for being removably attached to a neck of a container in order to seal said neck, and an annular lip, arranged inside the skirt, and suitable for resting sealingly against an inner surface of the neck when the skirt is attached to the neck. The invention also includes a membrane, which is arranged inside the skirt, by extending transversely to the axis, in which one peripheral end is connected to the lip in a stationary manner in the direction of the axis by forming a flexible hinge providing a relative connection between the lip and the membrane, said flexible hinge running along the entire periphery of the lip, generally on a geometric plane transverse to the axis, and which is deformable by connecting the flexible hinge between a first stable configuration, in which all of the membrane, except for the peripheral end thereof, is arranged on a first axial side of the geometric plane, rotated opposite a wide mouth of the neck when the skirt is attached to said neck; and a second stable configuration, in which the entire membrane, except for the peripheral end thereof, is arranged on the opposite side of the geometric plane, the axial positioning between the peripheral end of the membrane and the geometric plane being unchanged when the membrane switches between the first and second configurations, in order to reinforce the seal of the interface between the sealing device and the neck, even when the circumstances might damage said seal, the membrane is designed so that, when the skirt is attached to the neck and the lip is resting against the neck, the membrane switches from the first configuration to the second configuration under an over pressure inside the container, and then the membrane, once in the second configuration, presses the lip against the neck.

Description

The present invention relates to a sealing device for a container neck.

The invention generally relates to closures, typically made from plastic, which comprise a tubular skirt, designed to surround the neck of a container to be sealed and for their inner surface to be attached removably to the outer surface of this neck: this attachment is for example done by screwing, like in FR 2,987,607, the closures then generally being called screwed closures, or this removable attachment can be done by jamming, like in FR 2,908,746, the closures then generally being called clipped or “snapped” closures. In all cases, the skirt is topped by a closing wall from the periphery of which the skirt extends axially: this closing wall extends through the container neck to seal it when the skirt is attached on the neck. Furthermore, a lip, which extends from the closing wall, is arranged inside the skirt: when the skirt is attached to the neck, the outer surface of this lip, i.e., its surface turned radially away from the central axis of the skirt, rests sealingly against an inner surface of the neck so as to close this neck sealingly. The outer surface of this sealing lip is generally convex to provide the most sealed possible contact with the neck, the lip then typically being described as “olive lip”.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,252 discloses a closure having a lip of this type, inside which a deformable membrane is arranged. This membrane includes a central part, as well as a peripheral part connecting the central part to the lip. The closure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,252 is particularly applicable in the field of packaging for medical use: the membrane is designed to deform during an increase in the pressure inside a container closed by the closure. More specifically, during such a pressure increase, the central and peripheral parts of the membrane do not deform jointly, but successively: in a first phase, only the central part deforms, by articulation of a flexible hinge provided at the junction between the central and peripheral parts, which tends to reinforce the sealing of the closing of the resulting container due to the fact that the central part goes from one side to the other of the peripheral part, which remains stationary relative to the lip; then, in a second phase, since the central part is completely deformed, it is the peripheral part that deforms, by articulation of a flexible hinge that is provided at the junction between the peripheral end of the peripheral part and the sealing lip, and the axial position of which is unchanged throughout the entire deformation of the membrane, which leads to separating the lip with respect to the container and therefore breaking the sealing of the closing of the container by the closure, in particular to prevent the container from breaking by explosion. Thus, the teaching of U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,252 consists of the fact that, in case of internal over pressure of the container, the deformation of its entire membrane between two stable configurations must result in the neutralization of the sealed closing effect procured by the lip.

This having been recalled, certain circumstances tend to damage the sealing performance of the lips of the aforementioned type. Indeed, during various preparation, filling and/or capping operations of the container, heating, for example for sterilization or other purposes, the neck of the container and/or the closure incurs a risk of altering the sealing characteristics at the interface between the closure and the neck due to their deformation under the effect of the heat. In particular, due to creeping of its component plastic material, the lip tends no longer to rest firmly enough against the neck, with subsequent risks of leaking and/or contamination of the contents of the container.

To combat the loss of sealing at the interface between the closure and the neck, it is known to cover the closing wall of the closure with an elastomeric layer, which, when the skirt is attached to the neck, is interposed axially between the closing wall and the locking ring of the neck. Such an elastomeric coating for example withstands the heating of the container neck and/or the closure, without alteration of its sealing performance. However, integrating this coating into the closure is costly and causes other problems, in particular regarding the ease of opening the closure.

The aim of the present invention is to improve lip closures, for example with an olive lip, by reinforcing the sealing of their interface with the neck of a container that they close, even in case of circumstances that are detrimental to this sealing, in particular in case of heating of the container neck and/or the closure for sterilization or other purposes.

To that end, the invention relates to a sealing device for a container neck, as defined in claim 1.

One of the ideas at the base of the invention is to try to “repress” the lip against the inner surface of the neck after the skirt has been attached to the neck, and more generally, after the sealing device has been installed on the neck, including, if applicable, after circumstances have occurred, such as heating of the sealing device and/or the container neck for sterilization or other purposes, that are detrimental to the sealing performance of the interface between the neck and the sealing device, in particular between the neck and the lip. To that end, the invention provides for integrating, into the sealing device, a bistable membrane capable of deforming between two stable configurations, while remaining axially attached, by its peripheral end, to the lip. In the first configuration, the entire membrane, except its peripheral end, is arranged on one axial side of the geometric plane at which its peripheral end is fixedly connected to the lip, while in the second configuration, the entire membrane, except its peripheral end, is arranged on the other axial side of this geometric plane: it is understood that by taking the membrane from the first configuration to the second, this membrane deforms while tending to expand the lip transversely, i.e., while tending to move the lip radially outward over the entire periphery of the lip. According to the invention, the membrane is designed so that in the second configuration, this membrane continues to apply part of these expansion forces to the lip, which means that when the sealing device is in place on the neck, the membrane, once in the second configuration, presses the lip against the neck. It is then understood that by providing for taking the membrane from its first configuration to its second configuration after potentially releasing the bearing of the lip against the neck, this release in particular resulting from heating of the sealing device and/or the neck during various preparation, filling and/or capping operations of the container, the lip is firmly repressed against the neck, which restores or even improves the sealing procured by this lip.

Due to its arrangement within the sealing device according to the invention, the membrane is provided to go from its first configuration to its second configuration under the effect of an over pressure inside the container, the intensity of this over pressure of course having to be sufficient to deform the membrane from its first configuration, which is intrinsically stable, to at least one deformed state from which the membrane tends to reach a stable state corresponding to its second configuration. This being the case, the origin of this over pressure is not limiting with respect to the invention. As an example, this over pressure inside the container is preferably obtained by reversing the bottom of the container at the end of the sealing of a container including a bottom made up of a reversible membrane, like that described in the international application published under number WO 2015/192918.

The embodiments of the membrane are numerous and subject to various alternatives, as exemplified hereinafter. In all cases, the sealing device according to the invention can be manufactured simply, cost-effectively and efficiently, in particular by molding plastic material either in a single piece, or in two pieces to be assembled to one another, advantageously made from the same plastic material.

Additional advantageous features of the sealing device according to the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, provided solely as an example and done in reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a sealing device according to the invention, shown in a not-yet-assembled state;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sealing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the sealing device of FIG. 1 in the assembled state;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the sealing device, in the assembled state, installed on a container neck;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the sealing device in a usage configuration, subsequent to that shown in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views respectively similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, illustrating a second embodiment of a sealing device according to the invention;

FIGS. 8 to 11 are views respectively similar to FIGS. 2 to 5, illustrating a third embodiment of a sealing device according to the invention; and

FIGS. 12 to 14 are views respectively similar to FIGS. 3 to 5, illustrating a fourth embodiment of a sealing device according to the invention.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show a sealing device 1 suitable for being attached by screwing, removably, on a neck 2 of a container 3, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in which only part of this container 3 is visible. In practice, the neck 2 is either integral with the rest of the container 3, in particular when the latter is a glass or plastic bottle, or suitable for being permanently secured on a wall of the container, at an opening traversing this wall.

The sealing device 1 and the neck 2 have respective shapes extending around central longitudinal axes that are substantially combined, under reference X-X, when the sealing device 1 is attached on the neck 2 like in FIGS. 4 and 5. For convenience, the rest of the description is oriented considering that the terms “upper” and “top” correspond to a direction globally parallel to the axis X-X and going from the main body of the container 3 toward the free end of its neck 2, i.e., a direction oriented toward the top part of the figures, while the terms “lower” and “bottom” correspond to a direction in the opposite sense. Furthermore, the adjective “inner” designates a direction transverse to the axis X-X that is oriented toward this axis, while the adjective “outer” designates a direction transverse to the axis that is oriented in the opposite sense.

The neck 2 includes a tubular body 4 with a circular base, with axis X-X. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the body 4 delimits, at its upper end, a locking ring 5 at which the liquid contained in the container 3, or more generally the content of this container, is intended to be poured. On the outer surface of the body 4, the neck 2 includes a thread 6 protruding from an outer surface 4A of the body 4.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the sealing device 1 includes two separate components which, to position the sealing device in a functional state illustrated in FIG. 3, are securely assembled to one another. These two components are a closure 10 and an insert 20.

The closure 10, when the sealing device 1 is considered to be attached on the neck 2, is open at its lower end and closed at its upper end by a closing wall 11. This closing wall 11 extends across, or perpendicular to, the axis X-X and has a solid discoid shape that is substantially centered on the axis X-X.

The closure 10 also includes a tubular skirt 12, which is centered on the axis X-X and which extends axially downward from the outer periphery of the closing wall 11. The skirt 12 thus laterally has an outer surface 12A and an inner surface 12B, which, in the example considered in the figures, both have a circular base, centered on the axis X-X.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the sealing device 1 is attached on the neck 2, the closing wall 11 extends both above the neck 2, while in particular being positioned axially over the locking ring 5, and across this neck, while in particular being arranged across the entire opening of this neck. Furthermore, the skirt 12 outwardly surrounds the body 4 of the neck 2, its inner surface 12B being across from the outer surface 4A of this body 4.

The skirt 12 is inwardly provided with removable attachment means to the neck 2, these attachment means being made up, in the embodiment considered here, of a thread 13 that protrudes from the inner surface 128 of the skirt and that winds in a helix on this inner surface 128. The attachment of the sealing device 1 on the neck 2 consists of screwing the thread 13 around the body 4 of the neck, this thread 13 engaging the thread 6 of this body 4, until the closing wall 11 is downwardly pressed against the locking ring 5, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Conversely, removing the sealing device 1 from the neck 2 consists of unscrewing the thread 13 with respect to thread 6, until disengaging it therefrom.

The closure 10 further includes an annular lip 14, which extends axially downward from the closing wall 11, centered on the axis X-X, inside the skirt 12: when the sealing device 1 is attached on the neck 2 like in FIGS. 4 and 5, an outer surface 14A of the lip 14 rests sealingly against an inner surface 48 of the body 4 of the neck 2 in order to seal the closing of this neck by the sealing device_[ES1]

As an advantageous arrangement making it possible to reinforce the sealing of this closing, the outer surface 14A of the lip 14 is outwardly convex, in particular in order to increase the expanse and/or intensity of the contact between the lip 14 and the body 4 of the neck 2.

Also by way of optional development seeking to reinforce the sealing of the closing of the neck 2 by the sealing device 1, the inner surface 12B of the skirt 12 is provided, at its upper end, with a protruding heel 15, which locally restricts the inner periphery of the skirt 12 relative to the rest of the inner surface 128 of the skirt. When the sealing device 1 is attached to the neck 2, this heel 15 fittingly hugs the outer periphery of the locking ring 5 of the neck 2, the neck thus being, in a way, pinched between the lip 14 and the heel 15.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the insert 20 in turn comprises a membrane 21 and an annular ring 22, which surrounds the periphery of the membrane 21. When the closure 10 and the insert 20 are assembled to one another, the membrane 21 extends globally transversely to the axis X-X, while being arranged inside the skirt 12, and the central axis of the ring 22 is substantially combined with the axis X-X, such that, for convenience, this central axis of the ring 22 is also designated hereinafter under reference X-X.

The ring 22 is designed, in particular due to its outer sizing, to be engaged and attached inside the lip 14 of the closure 10 so as to provide the stationary assembly between the closure 10 and the insert 20. According to one practical embodiment, the ring 22 is fitted, in particular snap-fitted, inside the lip 14, so as to be securely lammed against the inner surface 14B of the lip 14. According to one arrangement, which is an alternative or addition to this fitting and which is not shown in detail in the figures, the inner surface 14B of the lip 14 has an undercut that participates in keeping the ring 22 in position inside the lip 14 in the assembled state of the sealing device 1. Likewise, in addition or as an alternative to the fitting of the ring 22 inside the lip 14, other assembly developments can be considered, such as welding, gluing, clipping, etc. of the insert in the closure.

If applicable, the attachment of the ring 22 inside the lip 14 is reinforced by peripheral pinching of the ring 22, subject to a radial deformation of the lip 14, oriented toward the axis X-X, when the sealing device 1 is installed on the neck 2, like in FIGS. 4 and 5.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the membrane 21 includes two concentric parts, namely a central part 23 and a peripheral part 24, which, when the insert 20 is assembled to the closure 10, are substantially centered on the axis X-X. In the embodiment considered in the figures, the central part 23 has a globally discoid shape and the peripheral part 24 has a globally annular shape. For reasons that will appear later, the central part 23 and the peripheral part 24 are joined to one another by a flexible hinge 25 that runs all the way around the axis X-X: thus, the outer periphery of the central part 23 is, over its entire expanse, connected to the inner periphery of the peripheral part 24 by the flexible hinge 25, which thus directly connects these outer and inner peripheries to one another. The flexible hinge 25 makes it possible to locally bend the membrane 21, by relative articulation between its central part 23 and its peripheral part 24 around a geometric articulation axis running all the way around the axis X-X.

At its outer periphery, the peripheral part 24 constitutes a peripheral end 21A of the membrane 21, while forming a flexible junction hinge 26 with the ring 22. This flexible hinge 26 extends all the way around the axis X-X and allows the relative articulation between the peripheral part 24 and the ring 22 around a geometric articulation axis that runs all the way around the axis X-X.

Irrespective of the embodiment of the junction between the peripheral end 21A of the membrane 21 and the ring 22, this peripheral end 21A and this ring 22 are stationary relative to one another in the direction of the axis X-X, such that, in the assembled state of the sealing device 1 like in FIG. 3, the peripheral end 21A of the membrane 21 is connected to the lip 14 of the closure 10 in a stationary manner in the direction of the axis X-X, running over the entire inner periphery of the lip 14 at a geometric plane P that is transverse, or even, like here, perpendicular to the axis X-X. In the embodiment considered in FIGS. 1 to 5, it is understood that the peripheral end 21A of the membrane 21 constitutes the part of the flexible hinge 26 that remains axially stationary relative to the lip 14, the rest of this flexible hinge 26 being made up of a peripheral strip of the peripheral part 24 of the membrane 21, this peripheral strip connecting the peripheral end 21A to the rest of the peripheral part 24.

By articulation of its flexible hinges 25 and 26, the membrane 21 is deformable between two stable configurations, i.e., a first configuration, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and a second configuration, shown in FIG. 5. In the first configuration, the entire membrane 21, except its peripheral end 21A, is arranged on the lower side of the geometric plane P, with its central part 23 axially further from this geometric plane P than its peripheral part 24. In the second configuration, the entire membrane 21, except its peripheral end 21A, is arranged on the upper side of the geometric plane P, with its central part 23 axially further from this geometric plane P than its peripheral part 24. Of course, because the peripheral end 21A is axially stationary at the geometric plane P, the axial positioning between this peripheral end 21A and the geometric plane P is unchanged when the membrane 21 is deformed between its first and second configurations. When the sealing device 1 is attached to the neck 2, like in FIGS. 4 and 5, the deformation of the membrane 21 from its first configuration to its second configuration causes the membrane 21 to apply, to the lip 14 through the ring 22, transverse expansion stresses of the lip 14, i.e., stresses, globally radial to the axis X-X and oriented outward, that tend to separate the lip 14 outward over the entire periphery of this lip. Yet since the outer surface 14A of the lip 14 is stressed in terms of positioning with respect to the neck 2 due to its bearing against the inner surface 4B of the body 4 of this neck, the aforementioned expansion forces cause the lip 14 to rest against the neck 2, i.e., to rest against the inner surface 4B of this neck more than this tip rests when the membrane 21 is in its first configuration. Furthermore, the membrane 21 is designed such that, once it is in its second deformation configuration, the membrane keeps at least part of the aforementioned expansion forces, thus firmly pressing the lip 14 against the neck 2, which reinforces the sealing of the contact between the outer surface 14A of the lip 14 and the inner surface 4B of the body 4 of the neck 2 compared to the sealing of this contact when the membrane 21 is in its first configuration. In particular, due to its design, the membrane 21 occupying the second configuration thus applies, to the lip 14, a force F′ that is transverse and centrifugal with respect to the axis X-X, as indicated in FIG. 5. In the embodiment considered in FIGS. 1 to 5, the ability of the membrane 21 to thus press the lip 14 against the neck 2 once this membrane has entered the second configuration results from the structure and the arrangement of its central part 23, its peripheral part 24 and its flexible hinge 25.

To cause the deformation of the membrane 21 from its first configuration to its second configuration whereas the sealing device 1 is attached to the neck 2, an over pressure must be created inside the container 3: due to its arrangement inside and across the neck 2, the membrane 21 is sensitive to a fluid force F, indicated in FIG. 5, generated inside the container 3, in particular inside the neck 2, by the aforementioned over pressure. In practice, as previously mentioned, the origin of this over pressure is not limiting with respect to the invention, inasmuch as the intensity of the over pressure is sufficient to deform the membrane 21 from its first configuration to its second configuration, or at the very least to an intermediate deformed state from which the membrane 21 will tend, by return toward a stable state, toward its second configuration rather than toward its first configuration. As an example, the aforementioned over pressure results from the reversal of a wall, in particular the bottom, of the container 3.

According to one optional arrangement, which is implemented in the first embodiment considered in FIGS. 1 to 5, the central part 23 of the membrane 21 is provided, on its upper surface, with a spacer 27. As clearly visible in FIG. 1, this spacer 27 for example has an annular shape, centered on the axis X-X and with a circular base. When the membrane 21 goes from its first configuration to its second configuration, the spacer 27 comes axially closer to the closing wall 11. Furthermore, the axial dimensioning of the spacer 27 is provided so that, when the membrane 21 reaches the second deformation configuration, the spacer 27 abuts axially against the closing wall 11, thus constraining the membrane 21 downward, toward the geometric plane P: this stress advantageously reinforces the pressing action of the lip 14 against the neck 2 by the membrane 21. and thus the sealing of the contact between the lip and the neck.

It will be noted that the manufacturing specificities of the sealing device 1 described thus far are not limiting with respect to the invention. This being the case, one practical embodiment consists of producing, on the one hand, the closure 10 in a single piece by molding a plastic material, and on the other hand, the insert 20 in a signal piece by molding a plastic material, which is advantageously the same as that of the closure 10. In particular, the closure 10 and/or the insert 20 are advantageously made from a semi-rigid plastic material, such as polypropylene and/or polyethylene, preferably shaped by molding. As a result for the insert 20 and the ring 22, the central part 23 and the peripheral part 24 are molded integrally together. More generally, the ring 22, the central part 23 and the peripheral part 24 are advantageously integral together. Regarding the closure 10, it will be noted that, considered alone, this closure corresponds to pre-existing embodiments: thus, the sealing device 1 can be obtained by assembling a pre-existing closure, is making up the closure 10, with the insert 20.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an alternative embodiment of the sealing device 1, in the form of a sealing device 101.

The sealing device 101 comprises a closure 110 that is functionally, or even, like here, structurally similar to the closure 10 of the sealing device 1. The closure 110 will therefore not be described in more detail here.

The sealing device 101 also comprises an insert 120 including a membrane 121 and a ring 122. The ring 122 is functionally, or even, like here, structurally similar to the ring 22 of the insert 20 of the sealing device 1. The ring 122 will therefore not be described here in more detail.

The membrane 121 differs from the membrane 21 of the insert 20 by the fact that, rather than being made in the form of concentric parts like the central part 23 and the peripheral part 24 of the membrane 21, this membrane 121 is made up of a web 128. As clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, this web 128 has, outside its peripheral end corresponding to the peripheral end 121A of the membrane 121, a substantially homogeneous thickness, with the understanding that this thickness corresponds to the smallest dimension of the three dimensions of the web 128 and is delimited between the lower and upper surfaces of the web 128. The web configuration of the membrane 121 allows the latter to deform between the first and second configurations, by continuous bending of the web 128, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

During operation, the behavior of the membrane 121 is similar to that of the membrane 21, in particular in connection with the application to the membrane 121 of the fluid force F and the application by the membrane 121 of the force F′ to the sealing lip of the closure 110.

FIGS. 8 to 11 show an alternative embodiment to the sealing device 1, in the form of a sealing device 201.

The sealing device 201 includes a closure 210 including a skirt 212 and a lip 214 that are functionally, or even, like here, structurally similar to the skirt 12 and the lip 14 of the closure 10 of the sealing device 1. The closure 210 differs from the closure 10 by the fact that, unlike the latter, the closure 210 is not, at its upper end, closed by a closing wall similar to the closing wall 11. More specifically, the closure 210 includes, at its upper end, a discoid crown 211, which is centered on the axis X-X and which is open-worked in its central region, i.e., crossed all the way through by a hole 211A. The skirt 12 and the lip 214 extend axially downward from the crown 211, similarly to the arrangement of the skirt 12 and the lip 14 from the peripheral region in question of the closing wall 11 of the closure 10. Thus, when the closure 210 is attached to the neck 2 of the container 3, like in FIGS. 10 and 11, the crown 211 extends axially over the locking ring 5 of this neck 2.

Furthermore, the closure 210 comprises a membrane 221, which, functionally, is similar to the membrane 21 of the closure 10, in that this membrane 221 is deformable between the first and second configurations previously defined. The membrane 221 differs structurally from the membrane 21 by the fact that its peripheral end 221A is joined directly to the lip 214, the membrane 221 thus protruding from the inner surface 214B of the lip 214, as clearly shown in FIGS. 8 to 11. In other words, unlike the membrane 21, the membrane 221 is not associated with a ring, like the ring 22 of the sealing device 1, and is not integrated into a separate insert of the closure, like the insert 20 of the sealing device 1: on the contrary, the membrane 221 is integrated into the closure 210, without inserting an intermediate part between this membrane 221 and the lip 214.

In practice, the membrane 221 is advantageously integral with the lip 214, in particular molded integrally with this lip. Within the closure 210, the hole 211A of the crown 211 is arranged axially over the membrane 221, such that the upward closing of the closure 10 is provided jointly by the crown 211 and the membrane 221, even if, like in the example embodiment considered in the figures, this crown 211 and this membrane 221 are not located at the same level along the axis X-X.

During operation, the sealing device 201 behaves similarly to the sealing device 1, in particular in connection with the application on the membrane 221 of the fluid force F to take this membrane from its first deformation configuration to its second deformation configuration, as well as in connection with the application to the lip 214 of the force F′ by the membrane 221 when the latter occupies its second deformation configuration.

Compared to the closure 10 of the sealing device 1, it is understood that the closure 210 of the sealing device 201 does not correspond to a pre-existing closure. The manufacture, in particular by molding, of the closure 210 therefore requires specific arrangements.

By way of optional arrangement of the sealing device 201, the latter includes an attached part, intended to close the hole 211A of the crown 211: this attached part thus constitutes a closing cap 230, which, in FIG. 8, is shown disassembled from the closure 210, while in FIGS. 9 to 11, this cap 230 is assembled to the closure 210. This assembly consists of attaching the cap 230 to the hole 211A of the crown 211, through any appropriate means, for example by welding, gluing, jamming, etc. Since the cap 230 does not participate in the sealed closing of the neck 2, this cap can be made from quite varied materials: by way of non-limiting example, the cap 230 can be made from a multilayer complex, having reinforced capacities for protecting the content of the container 3 from oxygen and/or ultraviolet rays, more generally reinforced capacities for preserving the product contained in the container 3. Irrespective of its component material, the cap 230 can advantageously integrate a marking on its upper surface, such as an advertisement.

FIGS. 12 to 14 show an alternative embodiment to the sealing device 101, in the form of a sealing device 301.

The sealing device 301 includes a closure 310 that is functionally similar to the closure 110 of the sealing device 101, in that this closure 310 includes a closing wall 311, a skirt 312 and a lip 314 that are respectively similar to those of the closure 110.

The sealing device 301 also includes a membrane 321 that is similar to the membrane 121 of the sealing device 101, with the sole structural difference that the membrane 321 is, at its peripheral end 321A, attached directly to the lip 314, according to considerations similar to the junction of the membrane 221 to the lip 214. More specifically, as an alternative to the embodiment provided for the junction between the lip 214 and the membrane 221 of the sealing device 201, the membrane 321 does not protrude from an inner surface of the lip 314, but protrudes from a lower end 314C of this lip 314, as clearly shown in FIG. 12.

Furthermore, it is provided that the sealing device 301 integrates a fluid 340, which, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, fills a free volume V310 of the closure 310. This free volume V310 is limited jointly by the closing wall 311, the lip 314 and the membrane 321 while being closed by the latter substantially hermetically. Thus, when the membrane 321 goes from its first deformation configuration to its second deformation configuration, the fluid 340 is compressed, reducing the free volume V310, and once the membrane 321 is in the second deformation configuration like in FIG. 14, this fluid 340 remains compressed, such that it constrains the membrane 321 downward. The effect of this compressed fluid is, in a way, similar to that of the spacer 27 of the sealing device 1, in that, by constraining the membrane 321 downward while the latter occupies its second deformation configuration, the force F′ applied by this membrane 321 on the lip 314 is reinforced in order to press this lip against the neck 2.

By way of non-limiting example, the fluid 340 is a gas, Furthermore, also by way of non-limiting arrangement, the filling of the free volume V310 with the fluid 340, such as the injection of gas, is done during the manufacturing of the closure 310, in particular during its molding.

It will be noted that, advantageously, the presence, in the free volume V310 of the closure 310, of the fluid 340 tends to reinforce the sealing at the interface between the sealing device 301 and the neck 2 due to the fact that the lip 314 presses more on this than in the absence of such a fluid, as long as the fluid is present in a compressed state, i.e., with a pressure at least slightly greater than the atmospheric pressure, independently of the deformation configuration of the membrane 321.

Various developments and alternatives to the sealing devices described thus far can also be considered. By way of examples:

• • the different embodiments described'above can be at least partially combined with one another to lead to new embodiments;
  • rather than being screwed, the closures 10, 110, 210 and/or 310 can be designed as “snapped” closures; in this case, their removable attachment means to the neck 2, provided on the inner surface of their skirt, comprise a clip, continuous or interrupted on the inner periphery of the skirt, this clip being suitable for being jammed, removably, below a protruding outer boss of the body 4 of the neck 2;
  • as an option, not shown in the figures, the closures 10, 110, 210 and/or 310 integrate breakable means indicating their first opening, for example in the form of an annular band centered on the axis X-X, which is connected by frangible bridges to the bottom end of their skirt and which, the first time the closure is opened, is kept permanently around the neck 2 by an ad hoc relief of the latter; if applicable, when the closure is manufactured, these frangible bridges are made by cutting the skirt and/or this band is partially folded toward the inside of the closure in order to form a stop, which, the first time the closure is opened, cooperates, in particular by axial bearing, with the aforementioned relief of the neck; in all cases, the manufacturing operations of the closure, relative to these small bridges and/or this band, are advantageously done at least partially concomitantly with the assembly of the sealing device when the latter includes, in addition to its closure, an attached component, such as the sealing devices 1 and 101 including the closure 10, 110 and the insert 20, 120, or such as the sealing device 201 including the closure 210 and the cap 230;
  • for the case where the membrane comprises concentric parts, like for the membranes 21 and 221, more than two concentric parts can be provided in order to facilitate and/or amplify the deformation of this membrane, in particular based on the outer diameter of the membrane; and/or
  • the axial level, at which the peripheral end of the membrane is attached either to the ring or directly to the lip, is not limited to those considered in the figures; in particular, for the case where the membrane belongs to an insert like the insert 20 or 120, this membrane can protrude both from an inner surface of the corresponding ring, like the membrane 21, and from the lower end of this ring, like the membrane 121; and for the case where the membrane is attached directly to the lip of the closure like for the closures 210 and 310, this membrane can protrude both from an inner surface of the lip, like the membrane 221 that protrudes from the inner surface 214B of the lip 214, and from the lower end of the lip, like for the membrane 321 that protrudes from the lower end 314C of the lip 314.

Claims

1. A sealing device for a neck of a container, comprising:

a skirt has having a tubular shape and being centered on an axis, the skirt having an inner surface that is suitable for being removably attached to an outer surface of the neck of the container, the sealing device sealing the neck when the skirt is attached to the neck;

a lip having an annular shape and being centered on the axis, the lip being arranged inside the skirt, and having an outer surface that presses against an inner surface of the neck to create a seal when the skirt is attached to the neck; and

a membrane arranged inside the skirt, and extending globally transversely to the axis, the membrane having: a peripheral end that is connected to the lip in a stationary manner in the direction of the axis while forming a first flexible hinge for relative movement between the lip and the membrane, the first flexible hinge running over the entire periphery of the lip on a geometric plane that is transverse, or even perpendicular, to the axis, wherein the membrane is deformable by moving the first flexible hinge between a first configuration, in which the entire membrane, except the peripheral end, is positioned on a first side of the geometric plane, the peripheral end being turned, along the axis, opposite a locking ring of the neck when the skirt is attached to the neck, and a second configuration, in which the entire membrane, except the peripheral end, is arranged on a second side of the geometric plane, which is axially opposite the first side, such that the membrane presses the lip against the neck, the axial positioning between the peripheral end of the membrane and the geometric plane being unchanged when the membrane moves between the first and second configurations, and wherein the membrane is configured to move from the first configuration to the second configuration, when the skirt is attached to the neck and the lip is pressed against the neck, and when a pressure inside the container increases.

2. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is configured to apply a force to the lip that is transverse and centrifugal with respect to the axis, when it the membrane is in the second configuration.

3. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the first flexible hinge articulates the membrane and the lip relative to one another around a geometric articulation axis that extends around the axis.

4. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the membrane includes at least two concentric parts, the concentric parts being: substantially centered on the axis, and joined to one another by a second flexible hinge extending around the axis, and

wherein the concentric parts include a central part, which, in each of the first and second configurations, is axially furthest from the geometric plane, and a peripheral part, which includes the peripheral end of the membrane.

5. The sealing device according to claim 4, wherein the concentric parts of the membrane are joined and integral with one another.

6. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is made up of a web, which has a substantially homogeneous thickness, except for the peripheral end, and which deforms between the first and second configurations by continuous bending.

7. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing device further comprises a closing wall having a disk shape, and being substantially centered on the axis,

wherein the skirt and the lip extend axially from the closing wall, and

wherein the closing wall extends both axially over the locking ring of the neck and across the entire opening of the neck when the skirt is attached to the neck.

8. The sealing device according to claim 7, wherein the membrane is provided with at least one spacer on a surface axially turned toward the closing wall, wherein, when the membrane goes from the first configuration to the second configuration, the spacer comes axially closer to the closing wall, until abutting against the closing wall once the membrane is in the second configuration so as to stress the membrane toward the geometric plane.

9. The sealing device according to claim 7, wherein the membrane, the lip and the closing wall delimit a free volume between them, which is hermetically closed and which is filled with a fluid, such that the fluid contained in the free volume is compressed when the membrane goes from the first configuration to the second configuration, and stresses the membrane toward the geometric plane once the membrane is in the second configuration.

10. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing device further comprises a junction crown between the skirt and the lip,

wherein the junction crown has a disk shape, and is centered on the axis and traversed, in a central region, by a hole that is arranged axially over the membrane,

wherein the skirt and the lip extend axially from the junction crown, and

wherein the junction crown extends axially over the locking ring of the neck when the skirt is attached to the neck.

11. The sealing device according to claim 10, wherein the sealing device further comprises a closing cap, which is attached and fastened to the hole of the crown.

12. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing device comprises an insert that includes both the membrane and a ring,

wherein the ring has an annular shape, centered on the axis and surrounding the membrane,

wherein to which the peripheral end of the membrane is joined to the ring, and

wherein the ring is arranged and attached to the inside of the lip.

13. The sealing device according to claim 12, wherein the ring and the peripheral end of the membrane are integral with one another.

14. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral end of the membrane is joined to the lip such that the membrane protrudes either from an inner surface of the lip, or from a lower end of the lip, the lip being turned, along the axis, opposite the locking ring of the neck when the skirt is attached to the neck and the lip is pressed against this neck.

15. The sealing device according to claim 14, wherein the membrane and the lip are joined while being and integral with one another.

16. A sealing device for a neck of a container, comprising:

a skirt having a tubular shape and a longitudinal axis, the skirt having an inner surface configured to attach to an outer surface of the neck of the container for sealing the container;

a lip having an annular shape and being centered along the longitudinal axis, the lip being arranged inside the skirt, and having an outer surface that presses against an inner surface of the neck to create a seal when the skirt is attached to the neck; and

a membrane arranged inside the skirt, and extending transversely to the axis, the membrane having: a peripheral end including a flexible hinge for relative movement between the lip and the membrane, the flexible hinge being arranged on a geometric plane that is transverse to the axis, wherein the membrane is configured to move between a first configuration, in which the entire membrane, except the peripheral end, is positioned on a first side of the geometric plane, and a second configuration, in which the entire membrane, except the peripheral end, is arranged on a second side of the geometric plane, which is axially opposite the first side, wherein the axial positioning between the peripheral end of the membrane and the geometric plane is unchanged when the membrane moves between the first and second configurations, and wherein the membrane is configured to move from the first configuration to the second configuration after a pressure inside the container increases when the skirt is attached to the neck and the lip is pressed against the neck.

17. The sealing device according to claim 16, wherein the membrane is configured to apply a force to the lip that is transverse to the axis, when the membrane is in the second configuration.

18. The sealing device according to claim 16, wherein the flexible hinge allows the membrane and the lip to move relative to one another around a second axis that extends around the first axis.

19. The sealing device according to claim 16, wherein the membrane includes at least two concentric parts, the concentric parts being substantially centered along the longitudinal axis, and joined to one another by a second flexible hinge extending around the axis, and

wherein the concentric parts include a central part, which, in each of the first and second configurations, is axially furthest from the geometric plane, and a peripheral part, which includes the peripheral end of the membrane.

20. The sealing device according to claim 19, wherein the concentric parts of the membrane are joined and integral with one another.