# US 2014/0197126 A1 · Stopper having a sliding plug and comprising multiple distribution holes

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- Number: US 2014/0197126 A1
- Document ID: US20140197126A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/009,136
- Filed: 2012-04-05
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2011-04-05
- Assignees: Bericap
- Applicants: Bericap
- Inventors: Robert Bet
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197126A1

## CPC

- B65D 39/0052: {made in more than one piece (B65D39/02, B65D39/04, B65D39/06, B65D39/08 take precedence)}
- B65D 47/243: {moving linearly, i.e. without rotational motion}
- A47G 19/2272: {from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers}
- B65D 47/247: {moving linearly, i.e. without rotational motion}
- 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
- A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B)

## Abstract

A stoppering device to be secured to a container neck includes a tubular spout defining a passage opening, and a plug. The plug has an outer tubular shell sliding on the tubular spout, and a bottom provided with a sealing skirt and multiple distribution holes. The bottom of the plug engages with the connecting wall of the tubular spout in the plugging position, while preserving an annular retention space between the bottom of the plug and the tubular spout. The bottom includes radial ribs which are in an alternating arrangement between the distribution holes, and constitute retention facets retaining the liquid held in the retention space by adhesion. The small volume of liquid which, during the plugging phase, would be prevented from flowing back into the container closed by the stoppering device, can remain in the annular retention space without any particular risk of abrupt ejection, the retention being promoted by the presence of multiple walls in the chamber, in particular the retention facets.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A stopper device to be secured to a container neck intended for a liquid, the stopper device comprising:
(a) a tubular spout defining a reference axis of the device and delimiting a passage opening; and
(b) a plug that can be translated relative to the tubular spout parallel to the reference axis between a plugging position and a distribution position, the plug further comprising:
an outer tubular shell enveloping the tubular spout and sliding on the tubular spout; and
a bottom extending perpendicular to the reference axis, the bottom being provided with a sealing skirt, and several distribution holes, the sealing skirt cooperating with the tubular spout in the plugging position to plug the passage opening, and freeing the passage opening to form several passageways from the container toward the outside through the passage opening and the distribution holes when the plug goes from the plugging position to the distribution position;
wherein in the plugging position the bottom of the plug bears bearing axially against the tubular spout and in the plugging position while preserving preserves an annular retention volume between the bottom of the plug and the tubular spout, the retention volume communicating with the outside by the distribution holes;
wherein the bottom of the plug includes radial ribs positioned one between each two of the distribution holes and forms retention facets by adherence of the liquid imprisoned in the retention volume; and
wherein the bottom also has, in a space not occupied by the ribs and outside the distribution holes, a planar surface turned toward the spout and perpendicular to the ribs.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The stopper device according to claim 1, wherein the tubular spout includes an outer tubular guide wall on which the plug slides between the plugging and distribution positions, an inner tubular passage wall delimiting the passage orifice and which the sealing skirt penetrates to plug the passage orifice by annular contact with the inner passage wall, and an annular connecting wall extending radially from the tubular outer guide wall to the tubular inner passage wall, the ribs forming a stop abutting axially against the annular connecting wall.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The stopper device according to claim 2, wherein the ribs have an axial dimension that is small near the geometric reference axis and increases moving radially away from the geometric reference axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The stopper device according to claim 1, wherein the outer tubular shell of the plug has at least one raised annular guide protruding radially toward the tubular spout and in sliding contact with a cylindrical guide surface of the tubular spout between the plugging and distribution positions.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The stopper device according to claim 1, wherein the tubular spout has at least one annular guide shank protruding radially toward the outer tubular shell of the plug and in sliding contact with a cylindrical guide surface (18, 50) of the outer tubular shell of the plug between the plugging and distribution positions.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the outer tubular shell of the plug has at least one raised annular guide protruding radially toward the tubular spout and in sliding contact with a cylindrical guide surface of the tubular spout between the plugging and distribution positions, the tubular spout has at least one annular guide shank protruding radially toward the outer tubular shell of the plug and in sliding contact with a cylindrical guide surface of the outer tubular shell of the plug between the plugging and distribution positions and the tubular spout has two annular guide shanks situated axially on either side of the annular guide shank of the outer tubular shell of the plug.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The stopper device according to claim 1, wherein the device does not snap into the plugging position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The stopper device according to claim 1, wherein the device does not snap into the distribution position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The stopper device according to claim 1, wherein the plug is free to rotate relative to the spout about the reference axis both in the plugging position and the distribution position.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The stopper device according to claim 1, wherein the tubular spout is an integral part of a base having raised portions for fastening to the container neck.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The stopper device according to claim 1, wherein the outer tubular shell includes an end-of-travel distribution stop cooperating with the tubular spout to prevent the plug from separating from the tubular spout.

### Claim 12

A plugging device to be secured to a container neck intended to contain a liquid, the plugging device comprising:
(a) a tubular spout defining a reference axis of the device, the spout including an outer tubular guide wall, an inner tubular passage wall delimiting a passage orifice, and an annular connecting wall between the outer tubular guide wall and the inner tubular passage wall; and
(b) a plug sliding in translation on the outer tubular guide wall parallel to the reference axis between a plugging position and a distribution position, the plug comprising:
a tubular outer shell enveloping the tubular spout and sliding on the tubular spout; and
a bottom extending perpendicular to the reference axis, the bottom being provided with a sealing skirt and several distribution holes distributed on the periphery of the skirt, the sealing skirt penetrating the inner tubular passage while in the plugging position to plug the passage orifice through annular contact with the inner passage wall, and freeing the passage orifice to form several passageways from the container toward the outside through the passage orifice and the distribution holes when the plug goes from the plugging position to the distribution position, the bottom of the plug having radial ribs positioned one between each two of the distribution holes and wherein in the plugging position the radial ribs form an axial stop bearing axially against the connecting wall of the tubular spout and preserve an annular retention volume between the bottom of the plug and the tubular spout, the retention volume communicating with the outside via the distribution holes, the ribs forming retention walls by adhesion of the liquid captured in the retention volume, and wherein the bottom also has, in a space not occupied by the ribs and outside the distribution holes, a planar surface turned toward the spout and perpendicular to the ribs.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The plugging device according to claim 12, wherein the plug is free to rotate relative to the spout about the reference axis both in the plugging position and the distribution position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The plugging device according to claim 12, wherein the several distribution holes include at least eight, circular-cylindrical distribution holes substantially surrounding the reference axis.