Hinged stopper of plastics material

Abstract

This stopper ( 1 ) comprises a capping lid ( 20 ) which, in the back portion of a tubular base ( 10 ) for surrounding a container neck, forms part of the upper end ( 10 A) of this base, forming a joint ( 30 ) with hinges ( 31 ) which defines a geometric axis (A-A) for pivoting the lid between the open and closed service positions. To limit the risk that a child, playing with the stopper, could remove the lid, while at the same time enabling the lid to be opened reliably and satisfactorily by the joint in relation to the base, the joint has two lines of least mechanical resistance ( 14 ), which extend from the upper end to the lower end ( 10 B) of the base, being positioned, at the level of said upper end, on both sides of the joint, and which are designed to break before the joint can tear completely when the lid, in open position thereof, is rotated on itself around a geometric axis transverse to the pivoting axis (A-A).

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A stopper of plastics material for a neck of a container, the stopper comprising a generally tubular base for surrounding the neck and a closure cap that is formed in a peripheral portion of the base integrally with a first longitudinal end of the base, forming a hinge with one or more hinge members defining a tilt axis for tilting the cap relative to the base between open and closed service positions, wherein the base presents two elongate zones of weakness that extend lengthwise from the first end of the base towards the second longitudinal end thereof, being situated at said first end on either side of the hinge, and that are adapted to break before the hinge can be torn through when the cap, in the open position, is turned over around a twist axis extending transversely to the tilt axis. 
     
     
         13 . A stopper according to claim  1 , wherein the two zones of weakness are dimensioned and configured relative to the base in such a manner that, after breaking, they define between them a material portion of the base, that carries the hinge and that is adapted to work in twisting without breaking when the cap is turned over about the twist axis through at least 180°. 
     
     
         14 . A stopper according to  claim 12 , wherein each zone of weakness presents, in the longitudinal direction of the base, a dimension that is greater than one-fourth the length of the base. 
     
     
         15 . A stopper according to  claim 14 , wherein said dimension is greater than half length of the base. 
     
     
         16 . A stopper according to  claim 12 , wherein the two zones of weakness extend lengthwise converging towards each other on going away from the first end of the base. 
     
     
         17 . A stopper according to  claim 16 , wherein the two zones of weakness define, between their ends remote form the first end of the base and in the peripheral portion of the base associated with the hinge, a material portion of base, that presents, in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base, a section that is greater than or equal to that of the hinge member(s) of the hinge. 
     
     
         18 . A stopper according to  claim 16 , wherein the two zones of weakness define, between their ends remote from the first end of the base and in the peripheral portion of the base associated with the hinge, a material portion of the base, that presents a thickness that is strictly greater than the thickness of the hinge member(s) of the hinge. 
     
     
         19 . A stopper according to  claim 12 , wherein a longitudinal material portion of the base, that extends between the longitudinal end of at least one of the zones of weakness opposite from the first end of the base, and the second end of the base, presents, in the longitudinal direction of the base, a dimension that is greater than 10% of the length of the base. 
     
     
         20 . A stopper according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the zones of weakness is extended at its longitudinal end remote from the first end of the base by an elongate opening formed in the base, said opening extending lengthwise from said zone of weakness in a direction that is substantially peripheral relative to the base and away from the other zone of weakness. 
     
     
         21 . A stopper according to  claim 12 , wherein each zone of weakness comprises firstly a through slot that extends lengthwise from the first end towards the second end of the base, and secondly at least one breakable element connecting together the longitudinal sides of the slot, and adapted to break before the hinge can be torn through when the cap in its open position is turned over about the twist axis. 
     
     
         22 . A stopper according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one breakable element is disposed at the longitudinal end of the slot that is situated at the first end of the base. 
     
     
         23 . A stopper according to  claim 12 , wherein the two zones of weakness define between them a material portion of the base, that carries the hinge and that is provided, in its middle portion around the periphery of the base, with a through orifice of elongate shape in the longitudinal direction of the base.