Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.a.

Jerome Mezerette

Michel Luzzato

Fabien Flamand

Jean-Luc Giraud

The invention relates to a cap () that comprises a circular skirt (), said cap including an irremovable portion (-) fixedly attached about the neck of a vessel () and a removable portion (-) removably attached to the neck, the irremovable and removable portions being separated by a first weakening line (). In order to maintain the removable portion of the skirt attached to the irremovable portion of the skirt after the first opening, the skirt is provided with a second peripheral weakening line (). It is also provided that the first weakening line extends less than 360&#xb0;, while the two ends (A,B) of the second weakening line are located along the periphery of the skirt respectively between a first (A) of the two ends of a linking portion of the skirt and the hasp (-) closest to said first end, and between the second end (B) of the linking portion and the hasp (-) closest to said second end.

Stopper having a subdivided line of weakness and a method of fabricating such a stopper

This method makes it possible to fabricate a stopper () starting from a tubular skirt () suitable for surrounding a container neck, and provided both with retainer means for retaining it permanently around the neck, and also with fastener means for fastening it removably to the neck. In this method, the skirt and a blade () are moved in rotation relative to each other about the axis (X-X) of the skirt so that the blade cuts a peripheral line of weakness in the skirt, which line of weakness is made up firstly of through notches and secondly, between said notches around the periphery of the skirt, of breakable bridges that interconnect, in the same direction as the axis, a non-removable portion of the skirt, which portion is provided with the retainer means, and a removable portion of the skirt, which portion is provided with the fastener means. With a view to improving the method simply and inexpensively, provision is made for the skirt and the blade to be driven relative to each other through an angular stroke that is strictly greater than 360&#xb0;, while progressively modifying the relative axial position between the skirt and the blade by a movement in axial translation (T). The line of weakness is thus in the shape of a helix having its two peripheral ends defining between them a non-breakable strip that permanently interconnects the removable and the non-removable portions of the skirt.

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Saint Didier au Mont d'Or, France

Jerome Mezerette