Cap system for a concentrated refill capsule

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12091222-B2
Application number	US-202017611590-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2020
Priority date	May 24, 2019
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

A cap system for a refill capsule for a container for concentrated cleaning fluid is described. The cap system comprises a cap assembly ( 200 ) comprising a conduit ( 203 ) sealed by a closure member ( 208 ), frangibly connected to an inner surface of the conduit ( 203 ). The frangible connection extends in a first plane, which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (A) of the conduit ( 203 ). The cap system further comprises a plug ( 300 ), disposed at least partially within the conduit ( 203 ), the plug comprising an abutment surface ( 305 ) for bearing against the closure member ( 208 ), to break the frangible connection ( 210 ). The abutment surface ( 305 ) extends in a second plane, which is parallel to the first plane in which the frangible connection ( 210 ) extends.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cap system comprising:
a cap assembly comprising:
an inner wall defining a conduit through the cap assembly, the conduit extending from an upstream end to a downstream end; and
an outer wall surrounding the inner wall and spaced from the inner wall to define a circumferential void between the inner and outer walls;
wherein the cap assembly further comprises a closure member configured to seal the conduit, the closure member comprising an upstream side and a downstream side, and a bearing surface on its downstream side; wherein the closure member is hollow, and tapers from a downstream base to an upstream peak;
wherein the closure member is sealed to the inner wall with a frangible connection located between proximal and distal ends of the conduit,
wherein the frangible connection extends in a first plane, which is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis (A) of the conduit; and

wherein the system further comprises a plug comprising:
a tubular body with an open proximal end and an open distal end, wherein the open proximal end is surrounded by a first rim, and wherein the rim further comprises a proximal abutment surface, extending in a second plane, for bearing against the bearing surface of the closure member,
wherein the plug further comprises an outwardly extending flange comprising a distal-facing abutment surface for abutting a rim of a refillable vessel, and
wherein the plug is movable between a first position, in which the proximal abutment surface is located downstream of the frangible connection, and a second position in which the proximal abutment surface is located upstream of the frangible connection, to thereby break the frangible connection, and
wherein the proximal abutment surface is configured to bear against the bearing surface of the closure member as the plug moves from the first position to the second position such that a net force applied to the closure member is along the longitudinal axis (A), and perpendicular to the first and second planes.

2. The cap system according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal abutment surface of the plug has at least two fold rotational symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis (A).

3. The cap system according to claim 1 , wherein the base comprises an opening, and wherein the bearing surface surrounds the opening.

4. The cap system according to claim 1 , wherein the conduit has a first cross-sectional diameter at the upstream end and a second cross-sectional diameter at the downstream end, and wherein the first cross-sectional diameter is greater than the second cross-sectional diameter.

5. The cap system according to claim 1 , wherein the plug further comprises a skirt wall arranged coaxially with and extending around the tubular body, the skirt wall being spaced apart from the tubular body in a radial direction to form a plug recess between the skirt wall and the tubular body.

6. The cap system according to claim 1 , wherein the inner wall comprises a protrusion or ridge extending radially inwardly from an inner surface of the inner wall.

7. The cap system according to claim 5 , wherein the outer wall of the cap assembly comprises at least one screw thread on an internal surface of the outer wall, and wherein the skirt wall of the plug comprises at least one radially outwardly extending claw configured to engage the screw thread.

8. The cap system according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular body comprises a protrusion or ridge extending radially outwardly from an outer surface of the tubular body.

9. The cap system according to claim 1 , wherein the abutment surface is provided by one or more projections extending proximally from the rim, the projections terminating in a proximal surface extending in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

10. The cap system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more projections comprises a plurality of projections, equally spaced circumferentially around the rim.

11. The cap system according to claim 1 , wherein the abutment surface is provided in the same plane as the rim.

12. The cap system according to claim 1 , wherein the rim further comprises a cut-out to form a discontinuity in the rim.

13. The cap system according to claim 1 , wherein the free proximal end of the skirt wall further comprises at least one claw extending radially outwardly from the skirt wall.

14. A refill system comprising the cap system of claim 1 , and further comprising:
a capsule body for containing a concentrated cleaning product, wherein the capsule body is engaged with the cap assembly and wherein an internal volume of the capsule body is in fluid communication with an upstream end of the conduit.

15. The refill system according to claim 14 , further comprising a shrink wrap cover extending around at least a portion of the capsule body and at least a portion of the cap assembly.

Assignees

• Conopco Inc

Inventors

• Den Boer Sebastiaan Wilhelmus Josephus
• Bookelmann Matthijs Lucas
• Zwartkruis Sjoerd Bastiaan

Classifications

• B05B11/0097 Primary

  Means for filling or refilling the sprayer (through additional openings in the container B05B11/0056) · CPC title

• B05B11/0056

  with an additional opening for filling or refilling · CPC title

• B65D47/10 Primary

  having frangible closures · CPC title