Closure device

An assembly of a container and a closure device for closing the container, the assembly comprising:

• a container having a main body, a neck, and a rim defining an opening of the container;
• and
• a closure device for closing and sealing the container, the closure device comprising:
• a ring comprising a first top wall, a flexible skirt extending downwardly from the first top wall and a first interior cavity defined by the first top wall and the flexible skirt, the first top wall defining a first central through-opening, the flexible skirt comprising a plurality of spaced-apart first legs and a plurality of spaced-apart second legs, each of the plurality of spaced-apart first legs and the plurality of spaced-apart second legs having a first end at the first top wall and an opposing second end, the plurality of spaced-apart first legs being different from the plurality of spaced-apart second legs, an interior surface of each spaced-apart first leg having a first inwardly protruding ledge between the first end and the opposing second end and an exterior surface of each spaced-apart first leg having a first outwardly protruding ledge between the first end and the opposing second end, each spaced-apart second leg having a second inwardly protruding ledge at the opposing second end, an interior surface of each spaced-apart second leg having a flexible tongue and a recess configured to receive the flexible tongue,
• an elastomer stopper having a head and a cylindrical body extending downwardly from the head,
• a cover comprising a second top wall, a sidewall extending downwardly from the second top wall and a second interior cavity defined by the second top wall and the sidewall, the second top wall defining a second central through-opening generally aligned with the first central through-opening of the ring, an interior surface of the sidewall including a third inwardly protruding ledge, and
• a cap having a raised peripheral rim and a central depressed region, an inner surface of the central depressed region including a plurality of spaced-apart bent tabs configured to be engaged in the central through-opening of the cover to couple the cap to the cover,
• wherein, in a first position of the assembly, in which the ring is at least partially inserted within the second interior cavity of the cover and the closure device is positioned over the rim of the container, the head of the elastomer stopper is retained within the first interior cavity of the ring between the first top wall of the ring and the flexible tongues of the plurality of spaced-apart second legs of the ring, the third inwardly protruding ledge of the cover engages the first top wall of the ring, and the rim of the container is retained between the first inwardly protruding ledges of the plurality of spaced-apart first legs and the second inwardly protruding ledges of the plurality of spaced-apart second legs of the ring, and
• wherein, in a second position of the assembly, in which the ring is fully inserted within the interior cavity of the cover and the closure device is positioned over the rim and the neck of the container, an upper surface of the head of the elastomer stopper abuts the first top wall of the ring, the rim of the container is retained between the head of the elastomer stopper and the first inwardly protruding ledges of the plurality of spaced-apart first legs of the ring, the flexible tongues of the plurality of spaced-apart second legs of the ring are retracted within the respective recesses, and the third inwardly protruding ledge of the cover engages the first outwardly protruding ledges of the plurality of spaced-apart first legs.

A method of closing and sealing a container using a closure device,

• the container having a main body, a neck, and a rim defining an opening of the container;
• and
• the closure device comprising:
• a ring comprising a first top wall, a flexible skirt extending downwardly from the first top wall and a first interior cavity defined by the first top wall and the flexible skirt, the first top wall defining a first central through-opening, the flexible skirt comprising a plurality of spaced-apart first legs and a plurality of spaced-apart second legs, each of the plurality of spaced-apart first legs and the plurality of spaced-apart second legs having a first end at the first top wall and an opposing second end, the plurality of spaced-apart first legs being different from the plurality of spaced-apart second legs, an interior surface of each spaced-apart first leg having a first inwardly protruding ledge between the first end and the opposing second end and an exterior surface of each spaced-apart first leg having a first outwardly protruding ledge between the first end and the opposing second end, each spaced-apart second leg having a second inwardly protruding ledge at the opposing second end, an interior surface of each spaced-apart second leg having a flexible tongue and a recess configured to receive the flexible tongue,
• an elastomer stopper having a head and a cylindrical body extending downwardly from the head,
• a cover comprising a second top wall, a sidewall extending downwardly from the second top wall and a second interior cavity defined by the second top wall and the sidewall, the second top wall defining a second central through-opening generally aligned with the first central through-opening of the ring, an interior surface of the sidewall including a third inwardly protruding ledge, and
• a cap having a raised peripheral rim and a central depressed region, an inner surface of the central depressed region including a plurality of spaced-apart bent tabs configured to be engaged in the central through-opening of the cover to couple the cap to the cover,
• the method comprising:
• assembling the closure device by coupling the cap to the cover such that the spaced-apart bent tabs of the cap are engaged with an underside of the second top wall of the cover, coupling the ring and the elastomer stopper by inserting the elastomer stopper into the first interior cavity of the ring such that the flexible tongues of the plurality of spaced-apart second legs of the ring engage an underside of the head of the elastomer stopper, inserting the coupled ring and elastomer stopper into the second interior cavity of the cover such that the third inwardly protruding ledge of the cover abuts an underside of a peripheral rim of the first top wall of the ring;
• placing the assembled closure device on the rim of the container in a first position by inserting the container into the first interior cavity of the ring, such that the rim of the container is retained between the first inwardly protruding ledges of the plurality of spaced-apart first legs and the second inwardly protruding ledges of the plurality of spaced-apart second legs of the ring and such that the cylindrical body of the elastomer stopper is positioned at an entry of the opening of the container;
• and
• transitioning the assembled closure device and the container to a second position from the first position by applying a force to bring the assembled closure device and the container toward each other, such that a top surface of the head of the elastomer stopper abuts the first top wall of the ring, the rim of the container is retained between the head of the elastomer stopper and the first inwardly protruding ledges of the plurality of spaced-apart first legs of the ring, the flexible tongues of the plurality of spaced-apart second legs of the ring are retracted within the respective recesses, and the third inwardly protruding ledge of the cover engages the first outwardly protruding ledges of the plurality of spaced-apart first legs.