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.

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.