# US 10,369,729 B2 · Stopper for closing neck of container

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- Number: US 10,369,729 B2
- Document ID: US10369729B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/784,334
- Filed: 2014-04-10
- Published: 2016-05-05
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-04-15
- Assignees: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
- Applicants: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
- Inventors: Grégory Antier; David Jouve
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369729B2

## CPC

- B29C 45/0081: {of objects with parts connected by a thin section, e.g. hinge, tear line}
- B29C 45/0055: {Shaping}
- B29C 45/36: having means for locating or centering cores
- B65D 47/36: Closures with frangible parts adapted to be pierced, torn or removed, to provide discharge openings (caps with pierceable membranes B65D41/20, B65D41/50; arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures B65D51/18)
- B67D 3/0032: {the bottle or container being held upside down and provided with a closure, e.g. a cap, adapted to cooperate with a feed tube}
- B29C 45/261: {having tubular mould cavities}
- B29C 2045/363: {using a movable core or core part}
- B29L 2031/565: {for containers}
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A method for manufacturing a stopper for closing a neck of a container comprises a first step of molding the stopper in one piece. The stopper includes a sealing membrane provided with a central opening, a tubular stem centered on an axis and extending from the sealing membrane around the central opening, and a capsule connected, by a tear wall, to a free end of the stem. The capsule is configured to be wedged in the stem to seal the neck of the container. The method comprises a second step in which, while the tear wall is intact, a force, in line with the axis, is applied to the stopper so as to break the tear wall and move the capsule inside the stem until the capsule is wedged in the stem.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for manufacturing a stopper for closing a neck of a container, the method comprising:
injecting plastic into a molding cavity so as to form the stopper in one piece, the stopper including:
a sealing membrane configured to seal off the neck of the container, and being provided with a central opening,
a skirt configured to be attached to the neck of the container,
a tubular stem centered on an axis and extending from the sealing membrane around the central opening, and
a capsule connected, by a tear wall, to a free end of the stem, the free end facing away from the sealing membrane, wherein the capsule is configured to be wedged in the stem to seal the neck of the container after being separated from the remainder of the stopper by breaking the tear wall,
while the tear wall is intact, applying a force along the axis to the stopper so as to, in a single movement of the capsule relative to the remainder of the stopper, break the tear wall and move the capsule inside the stem until the capsule is wedged in the stem.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein:
the molding cavity forms the stopper such that an internal peripheral face of the stem includes at least one catch configured to retain the capsule, and such that the capsule is provided on an external peripheral face with a sealing member and an external lip, and
the force on the stopper is applied until the external lip is brought into contact with the at least one catch and the sealing member is brought into contact with the free end of the stem.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein injecting plastic into the molding cavity and applying the force to the stopper are both performed by the same machine, the machine including a mold and a core which are moved with respect to each other, along the axis, so as to apply the force on the stopper.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, wherein the core exerts the force by moving along the axis towards the sealing membrane.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein injecting plastic into the molding cavity is performed by a first machine, and applying the force to the stopper is performed by a second machine, the second machine including a member configured to exert the force the axis with respect to the remainder of the stopper.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5, the second machine is configured to attach a label onto a face of the sealing membrane, on the other side from the capsule, so as to cover the central opening, and wherein the member is configured to exert the force by moving along the axis towards the sealing membrane.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein, after the plastic is injected into the molding cavity and before the force is applied to the stopper, the tear wall is continuous and runs round the entire circumference of the capsule and of the free end.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein, after the plastic is injected into the molding cavity and before the force is applied to the stopper, the tear wall is discontinuous over the circumference of the capsule and of the free end.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A method for closing a neck of a container using a stopper manufactured in accordance with the method according to claim 1, and wherein the stopper is attached to the neck without changing the position of the capsule with respect to the stem.

### Claim 10

A stopper for closing a neck of a container, comprising:
a sealing membrane configured to seal off the neck of the container, and being provided with a central opening,
a skirt configured to be attached to the neck of the container,
a tubular stem centered on an axis and extending from the sealing membrane around the central opening, and
a capsule configured to be wedged in the stem, wherein the capsule is configured to be wedged in the stem to seal the neck of the container after being separated from the remainder of the stopper by breaking a tear wall connecting the capsule to a free end of the stem, the free end facing away from the sealing membrane, and wherein the tear wall is configured to break via a force, exerted along the axis, which causes the capsule to move inside the stem in a single movement relative to the remainder of the stopper.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The stopper according to claim 10, wherein:
an internal peripheral face of the stem includes at least one catch configured to retain the capsule;
the capsule is provided on an external peripheral face with a sealing member and an external lip; and
the external lip is configured to be brought into contact with the at least one catch and the sealing member is configured to be brought into contact with the free end of the stem, via the force exerted.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The stopper according to claim 10, further comprising a label attached onto a face of the sealing membrane, on the opposite side from the capsule, so as to cover the central opening.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The stopper according to claim 10, wherein, before the force is exerted, the tear wall is continuous and runs around an entire circumference of the capsule and of the free end.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The stopper according to claim 10, wherein, before the force is exerted, the tear wall is discontinuous over the circumference of the capsule and of the free end.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The stopper according to claim 10, wherein the sealing membrane is disc-shaped, and wherein the central opening includes a circular base.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The stopper according to claim 15, wherein the sealing membrane and the central opening are coaxial and centered on the axis.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The stopper according to claim 10, wherein the skirt is tubular in shape and is configured to extend upward at an external periphery of the sealing membrane.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The stopper according to claim 10, wherein an internal surface of the skirt further includes at least one inward-projecting protuberance configured to engage with the neck of the container so as to attach the skirt coaxially around the neck of the container.

### Claim 19 (depends on 10)

The stopper according to claim 10, wherein the capsule further includes at least one latching tab.

### Claim 20 (depends on 10)

The stopper according to claim 10, wherein the capsule further includes at least one rib.