The present disclosure relates to a pot, and more particularly to a pot that is suitable for containing a substance that may be solid, liquid, or pasty. Such a pot may be used in particular for packaging cosmetics.
By way of example, international publication WO 2005/039349 discloses a pot comprising a body presenting a cavity suitable for containing a substance that may be solid, liquid, or pasty, the cavity presenting an opening and a lid that is movable relative to the body, a first element from among the body and the lid including an engagement element, a second element from among the body and the lid including a closure tab movable between an engaged position in which, when the lid is in a shut position in which the lid shuts the opening, the closure tab co-operates with the engagement element, thereby holding the lid in the shut position, and a disengaged position in which the closure tab does not co-operate with the engagement element, so as to allow the lid to move relative to the body.
In the pot disclosed in WO 2005/039349, the engagement element and the closure tab are in the form of two hooks that engage each other. The closure tab is rigidly connected to a lateral pushbutton so that pressure exerted on the pushbutton causes the closure tab to go from the engaged position to the disengaged position, thereby enabling the lid to be opened. The pushbutton is returned by a spring.
In such a pot, the engagement of the closure tab in the engagement element is not very reliable and the pot can open in untimely manner, then spilling its content.
The invention seeks to remedy that drawback at least in part and to propose a pot in which retention in the shut position is more reliable.
This object is achieved by the fact that the pot comprises a blocking tongue that is movable between a locked position in which the blocking tongue blocks the closure tab in the engaged position, and an unlocked position in which the closure tab is movable between the engaged position and the disengaged position, and an actuator configured to move the blocking tongue between the locked position and the unlocked position.
In the locked position, the blocking tongue blocks the closure tab in the engaged position. Thus, no untimely movement of the closure tongue is possible, whereby the closure tongue co-operates effectively with the engagement element and holds the lid in the shut position in reliable manner. The shut position corresponds to the situation in which the pot is closed.
In some embodiments, the second element comprises the blocking tongue. The closure tab and the blocking tongue are thus provided on the same element selected from the body and the lid. This facilitates co-operation.
In some embodiments, the closure tab is movable in rotation. Compared with sliding, rotation leads to little friction, thereby reducing wear of the parts.
In some embodiments, the pot comprises return means configured to return the closure tab into the disengaged position. Thus, when the closure tab is blocked by the blocking tongue, it is held stationary independently of the return means and it remains in the engaged position. In contrast, when the blocking tongue is in the unlocked position and no longer blocks the closure tab, the closure tab is driven by the return means into the disengaged position. This facilitates opening the pot.
The return means may be a resilient element such as a spring, a magnet, or any other element suitable for exerting a return force.
In some embodiments, the pot comprises a stop part and, in the disengaged position, the closure tab is in abutment against said stop part. The stroke of the closure tab is thus defined accurately. Consequently, the space occupied by the closure tab remains limited, despite its various positions.
In some embodiments, the blocking tongue is rigidly connected to the actuator. It is thus actuated reliably, since a movement of the actuator results directly from a movement of the blocking tongue.
In some embodiments, the closure tab comprises a lug configured to co-operate with the blocking tongue. The presence of a lug makes co-operation between the blocking tongue and the closure tab more accurate.
In some embodiments, the actuator is a pushbutton that is movable in translation. In particular, when the blocking tongue is rigidly connected to the actuator, the blocking tongue is movable in translation in the direction in which the actuator moves in translation.
The pushbutton may be situated in the second element, i.e. in the same element from among the body and the lid as the closure tab.
A return element such as a spring may be configured to urge the pushbutton into its rest position after it has been actuated.
In some embodiments, the pushbutton comprises a push wall and a slide wall that is substantially perpendicular to the push wall, the blocking tongue being formed on the slide wall. The push wall is the wall that is to receive the pressing force for actuating the pushbutton. The slide wall may define the direction in which the pushbutton slides when a force is exerted transversely on the push wall.
In some embodiments, the pot further comprises a cradle, the pushbutton co-operating with the cradle via a cam having a heart-shaped path. The cam with a heart-shaped path is described in greater detail below. In this way, the pushbutton is movable between two stable positions. If a return element tends to move the pushbutton away from the cradle, the pushbutton passing between the two stable positions is caused by presses applied to the pushbutton, where appropriate to its push wall.
In some embodiments, the pushbutton comprises a skirt co-operating with a skirt of the cradle. For example, the skirts may co-operate by sliding one against the other when the pushbutton is moved in translation relative to the cradle. The presence of such skirts limits any resonance caused by the movement of the pushbutton.
In some embodiments, the first element is the body and the second element is the lid. The mechanism for opening the pot, including in particular the closure tab and the actuator, if any, is thus housed in the lid.
In some embodiments, the first element and the second element are articulated to each other, e.g. by means of a hinge.
In some embodiments, the lid further comprises a sealing gasket. The sealing gasket may be situated around the opening. The sealing gasket thus provides sealing between the opening and the lid that shuts the opening when in the shut position.
In some embodiments, the actuator is configured to compress the sealing gasket, in particular axially, when the blocking tongue is in the locked position or passes into the locked position. Compression may take place indirectly via a part that is itself actuated by the actuator. Thus, passage of the blocking tongue into the locked position and the corresponding locking of the pot are accompanied by the cavity being sealed as a result of the sealing gasket being actuated in corresponding manner, optionally simultaneously.
In addition, the actuator may be configured to leave the sealing gasket at rest when the blocking tongue is in the unlocked position.
More generally, the gasket may be configured to provide sealing against a surface that is normal to its compression direction.
The invention and its advantages can be better understood on reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The structure of a pot constituting a first embodiment of the invention is described in detail with reference to
As mentioned above,
The body 10 presents a cavity suitable for containing a substance 12 that may be solid, liquid, or pasty, the cavity presenting an opening. In this case, the body comprises trim 10a in which a vessel 11 is arranged. The vessel 11 comprises a rim 11a and is opened via an opening 11b (see
The lid 20 may be positioned in a shut position in which the lid 20 shuts the opening 11b. The pot 100 is then considered to be closed. This is the position shown in
The plate 14 further comprises indexing elements 14d (see
As shown in
Optionally, the body 10 may comprise a membrane seal 18. As shown in
The lid 20 comprises a cradle 30 and a pushbutton 40. The lid 20, and in this example more precisely the cradle 30, may comprise a hinge 32 for hinging the lid 20 to the body 10. In this case, the hinge 32 comprises pins 32a and a masking portion 32b. The pins 32a are configured to receive rods 17. Furthermore, the rods 17 are configured to be inserted in pin-supports 15 provided on the plate 14. Thus, the articulation of the pins 32a relative to the pin-supports 15 forms a hinge. The resulting hinge is pivotable about the axis defined by the rods 17.
The pin-supports 15 project from the peripheral portion 14a towards the inside of the trim 10a. The plate 14 has an orifice 14c for insertion of the hinge 32, thus enabling the hinge 32 to be put into alignment with the pin-supports 15. The masking portion 32b is configured to mask the orifice 14c and the pins 32a, in particular when the pot 100 is in the open position. For this purpose, the masking portion 32b is offset relative to the rods 17 defining the pivot axis of the hinge 32 towards the side from which the pot 100 opens.
The pins 32a are configured to receive a return element, here a spring 16. In this case, as shown in
The cradle 30 co-operates with a pushbutton 40. The pushbutton 40 comprises a push wall 41a and a slide wall 41b that is substantially perpendicular to the push wall 41a. The pushbutton 40, and more particularly its push wall 41a lies on the outside of the lid 20. As described above, and as shown in
The pushbutton 40 also comprises protuberances 44 suitable for co-operating with guides 34 of the cradle 30. In this case, the protuberances 44 are rods of cross-shaped cross-section. In this example, the guides 34 are hollow cylinders of inside diameter that is equal to or slightly less than the width of the cross-shaped section. In this case, the cradle 30 comprises two guides 34 and the pushbutton 40 comprises two corresponding protuberances 44. The protuberances 44 are configured to be inserted in the guides 34 so as to form a slideway connection configured to guide the pushbutton 40 relative to the cradle 30.
Furthermore, the cradle 30 and the pushbutton 40 comprise respective skirts 35 and 45 configured to co-operate so as to form a slideway connection. The skirt 35 of the cradle 30 projects towards the pushbutton 40. The skirt 45 of the pushbutton 40 projects towards the cradle 30. In the present embodiment, the skirts 35 and 45 are cylindrical. As can be seen in
In addition, and as can be seen in
The pushbutton 40 and the cradle 30 co-operate by moving in translation relative to each other. In other words, the pushbutton 40 is movable in translation, in this case in the direction in which the slide wall 41b extends, here perpendicularly to the push wall 41a. The direction in which the pushbutton 40 moves in translation is referenced X in
The cradle 30 and the pushbutton 40 co-operate via a cam having a heart-shaped path. For this purpose, the cradle comprises at least one cam arm 38, and specifically two in this example (see
The lid 20 further comprises a ring 50. In this embodiment, the ring 50 is substantially annular. The ring 50 forms the lateral outer periphery of the lid 20. As can be seen in
The ring 50 comprises catches 52 (see
The lid 20 further comprises an insert 60. The insert 60 comprises an insert body 62 from which there projects a rail 64. The rail 64, and possibly also the insert body 62, has a shape in cross-section relative to the lid axis X that substantially matches the shape of the opening 11b. In addition, the insert 60 comprises second slideway elements 66, there being three second slideway elements 66 in this example. The number of second slideway elements 66 could be greater or smaller.
The second slideway elements 66 project towards the pushbutton 40. The distal ends of the second slideway elements 66 are provided with respective abutment-forming shoulders 66a, and as described above, these shoulders are configured to enable them to be assembled with the first slideway element 46 by snap-fastening.
The second slideway elements 66 are suitable for co-operating with the above-described first slideway elements 46. Their complementary shapes enabling them to move in translation relative to one another can be seen in
By co-operating, the first and second slideway elements 46 and 66 define a stroke in translation for the pushbutton 40 relative to the insert 60. For example, the shoulder 46a is movable in translation between the shoulder 66a and the insert body 62.
The insert 60 may be assembled to the cradle 30 beside the body 10. For example, assembly may be performed by engaging crenellations 67 of the insert 60 on corresponding elements of the cradle 30.
The lid 60 further comprises a mask 68. As shown in
The lid 20 further comprises a gasket 69 in the form of a hollow torus. The gasket 69 comprises a slot 69a enabling it to be mounted on the rail 64 of the insert 60. In this embodiment, the slot 69a runs all along the gasket 69. Once mounted, and insofar as the shape of the gasket 69 matches the shape of the opening 11b, the gasket 69 seals the closure provided by the membrane seal 18, as can be seen in
The gasket 69 is configured to provide sealing that is axial, i.e. sealing along the direction of the axis X of the lid 20. In other words, the gasket 69 provides sealing at a surface that is normal to the axis X of the lid 20.
Furthermore, the gasket 69 may be configured to provide sealing in its direction of compression, i.e. sealing against a surface normal to its direction of compression. In the example of
As mentioned above, the lid 20 further comprises a closure tab 70. The closure tab 70 comprises a pivot 72 configured to be received in a corresponding orifice 31 in the cradle 30. Thus, the closure tab 70 is mounted to pivot about the pivot 72 relative to the cradle 30. In the present embodiment, the pivot 72 is perpendicular to the lid axis X. In this example, the pivot 72 is placed at one end of the closure tab 70.
At its end opposite from the pivot 72, the closure tab 70 comprises a hook 74. The term “hook” 74 is used to designate any shape suitable for engaging with a corresponding engagement element 14a, here as provided on the plate 14. The hook 74 is provided on the side of the closure tab 70 that is closest to the body 10, while the pivot 72 is provide on the side of the closure tab 70 that is furthest from the body 10, i.e. in this example the closest to the pushbutton 40.
The closure tab 70 further comprises a lug 76 projecting radially relative to the lid axis X towards the blocking tongue 42. The lug 76 comprises a chamfered surface facing the blocking tongue 42 and the press wall 41a.
The lid 20 is also provided with return means configured to urge the closure tab 70 into the disengaged position, i.e., and as mentioned above, into a position in which the closure tab 70 does not co-operate with the engagement element 14e. In the present embodiment, the return means comprise a spring 78. The spring 78 is mounted with twisting between the cradle 30 and the closure tab 70 so as to cause the closure tab 70 to pivot away from the engagement embodiment 14e.
As an alternative, or in addition, the return means could comprise a magnet, or indeed weights for causing the closure tab to tilt under gravity when the pot 100 is in its normal utilization position.
The operation of the pot 100 is described below with reference to
In this embodiment, the pushbutton 40 acts as an actuator that is configured to move the blocking tongue 42 between the locked position and the unlocked position.
When a user seeks to unlock the pot 100, the user presses on the press wall 41a of the pushbutton 40 in order to activate the actuator. The user exerts axial pressure along the lid axis X. Before pressing, the cam arms 38 are in the first stable position 38a shown in
As shown in
The blocking tongue 42, which is constrained to move in translation with the pushbutton 40, also moves away from the body 10. In so doing, it is no longer in contact with the lug 76, nor more generally with the closure tab 70. The blocking tongue 42 is thus in an unlocked position, in which the closure tab 70 is movable between the engaged position and the disengaged position. Under urging from the spring 78, the closure tab 70 pivots and passes from the engaged position to the disengaged position shown in
As shown in
In order to reclose and lock the pot 100, the user can place the lid 20 in the shut position, and then press on the pushbutton 40 acting as an actuator. In so doing, the cam arms 38 pass from the second stable position 38b to the first stable position 38a following the direction of the arrows shown in
Furthermore, and as can be seen in
By pressing on the pushbutton 140, the cam arms 138 go from the first stable position 138a to the second stable position 138b, thus causing the blocking tongue 142 to pass into the disengaged position shown in
As shown in
As can be seen in
In addition, the cradle 130 does not comprise guides similar to the guides 34. Likewise, the pushbutton 140 does not comprise guides similar to the guides 44. Insofar as the cam arms 138 are provided on the outside of the skirt 135 and are diametrically opposite, they are spaced apart sufficiently to provide sufficient guidance to the pushbutton 140 and the insert 160 relative to the cradle.
Although the present invention is described with reference to specific embodiments, modifications may be made to those embodiments without going beyond the general ambit of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, individual characteristics of the various embodiments shown and/or described may be combined in additional embodiments. Consequently, the description and the drawings are to be considered in a sense that is illustrative rather than restrictive.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1659184 | Sep 2016 | FR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/FR2017/052615 | 9/27/2017 | WO | 00 |