Cap for a container and a package comprising such a cap
A cap ( 100 ) for a container comprises a disc-shaped top section ( 102 ), an annular side section ( 104 ) projecting from said disc-shaped top section ( 102 ), and a locking flange ( 111 ) disposed at an extremity of said annular side section ( 104 ) opposite said disc-shaped top section ( 102 ), and further comprises a locking flap ( 116 ) extending from said annular side section ( 104 ), which is mobile between a locked first position wherein a portion ( 114 ) of the locking flange ( 111 ) extends inwardly from the annular side section ( 104 ), and an unlocked second position wherein the locking flange ( 111 ) is at least partially recessed relative to the annular side section ( 104 ).
1. A cap for a container, the cap comprising:
a disc-shaped top section;
an annular side section projecting substantially perpendicularly from the perimeter of the disc-shaped top section;
a locking flange disposed at an extremity of the annular side section opposite the disc-shaped top section;
a locking flap extending from at least a portion of the extremity of the annular side section, the locking flap movable between a locked first position wherein a portion of the locking flange contiguous with the locking flap extends inwardly from an interior face of the annular side section, and an unlocked second position wherein the portion of the locking flange is at least partially recessed relative to the interior face of the annular side section; and
a frangible tab attached perpendicularly to the annular side section and the locking flap, the locking flap immobilized in the locked first position by the frangible tab,
wherein the locking flap has at least one configuration selected from the group consisting of (i) the locking flap is bistably movable between the locked first position and unlocked second position, (ii) the locking flap extends from the extremity of the annular side section along the entire perimeter of the extremity, (iii) the locking flap extends from the extremity of the annular side section along a portion of the perimeter thereof, the locking flange being thereby divided into an immobile first portion and a mobile second portion contiguous with the locking flap, and the immobile first portion of the locking flange extends from a segment of the annular side section comprising between 20° and 80° , inclusive, of the perimeter of the annular side section, (iv) the locking flap extends from the extremity of the annular side section along a portion of the perimeter thereof, the locking flange being thereby divided into an immobile first portion and a mobile second portion contiguous with the locking flap, and the immobile first portion and the mobile second portion of the locking flange are disposed substantially symmetrically about the annular side section, and (v) the locking flap is a segment of a hollow conic frustum.
2. The cap according to claim 1 , wherein the locking flap is bistably movable about a center position defined by a plane parallel with the disc-shaped top section and intersecting the extremity of the annular side section, such that it forms an oblique angle with the annular side section when the locking flap is in the locked first position, and forms an acute angle with the annular side section when the locking flap is in the unlocked second position.
3. The cap according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile second portion of the locking flange extends from a segment of the annular side section comprising between 20° and 80°, inclusive, of the perimeter of the annular side section.
4. The cap according to claim 1 , wherein the immobile first portion is located directly opposite the mobile second portion.
5. The cap according to claim 1 , comprising a sealing ring projecting from the disc-shaped top section and disposed coaxially within the annular side section.
6. The cap according to claim 5 , wherein the sealing ring projects from the disc-shaped top section following an oval or elliptical curve.
7. A preform for the fabrication of a container, the preform comprising:
a neck opening into a mouth at one extremity and comprising a shoulder located about the neck proximate to the mouth, the shoulder being configured to be engaged by a locking flange of a cap comprising a disc-shaped top section, an annular side section projecting substantially perpendicularly from the perimeter of the disc-shaped top section;
a locking flange disposed at an extremity of the annular side section opposite the disc-shaped top section;
a locking flap extending from at least a portion of the extremity of the annular side section, the locking flap movable between a locked first position wherein a portion of the locking flange contiguous with the locking flap extends inwardly from an interior face of the annular side section, and an unlocked second position wherein the portion of the locking flange is at least partially recessed relative to the interior face of the annular side section; and
a frangible tab attached perpendicularly to the annular side section and the locking flap, the locking flap immobilized in the locked first position by the frangible tab,
wherein the locking flap has at least one configuration selected from the group consisting of (i) the locking flap is bistably movable between the locked first position and unlocked second position, (ii) the locking flap extends from the extremity of the annular side section along the entire perimeter of the extremity, (iii) the locking flap extends from the extremity of the annular side section along a portion of the perimeter thereof, the locking flange being thereby divided into an immobile first portion and a mobile second portion contiguous with the locking flap, and the immobile first portion of the locking flange extends from a segment of the annular side section comprising between 20° and 80° , inclusive, of the perimeter of the annular side section, (iv) the locking flap extends from the extremity of the annular side section along a portion of the perimeter thereof, the locking flange being thereby divided into an immobile first portion and a mobile second portion contiguous with the locking flap, and the immobile first portion and the mobile second portion of the locking flange are disposed substantially symmetrically about the annular side section, and (v) the locking flap is a segment of a hollow conic frustum.
8. A package comprising:
a container comprising a cap comprising a disc-shaped top section;
an annular side section projecting substantially perpendicularly from the perimeter of the disc-shaped top section;
a locking flange disposed at an extremity of the annular side section opposite the disc-shaped top section;
a locking flap extending from at least a portion of the extremity of the annular side section, the locking flap movable between a locked first position wherein a portion of the locking flange contiguous with the locking flap extends inwardly from an interior face of the annular side section, and an unlocked second position wherein the portion of the locking flange is at least partially recessed relative to the interior face of the annular side section, the cap being located upon a mouth of the container such that the locking flange of the cap engages a shoulder of the neck of the container; and
a frangible tab attached perpendicularly to the annular side section and the locking flap, the locking flap immobilized in the locked first position by the frangible tab,
wherein the locking flap has at least one configuration selected from the group consisting of (i) the locking flap is bistably movable between the locked first position and unlocked second position, (ii) the locking flap extends from the extremity of the annular side section along the entire perimeter of the extremity, (iii) the locking flap extends from the extremity of the annular side section along a portion of the perimeter thereof, the locking flange being thereby divided into an immobile first portion and a mobile second portion contiguous with the locking flap, and the immobile first portion of the locking flange extends from a segment of the annular side section comprising between 20° and 80° , inclusive, of the perimeter of the annular side section, (iv) the locking flap extends from the extremity of the annular side section along a portion of the perimeter thereof, the locking flange being thereby divided into an immobile first portion and a mobile second portion contiguous with the locking flap, and the immobile first portion and the mobile second portion of the locking flange are disposed substantially symmetrically about the annular side section, and (v) the locking flap is a segment of a hollow conic frustum.