EA007129B1 - Tamper evident closure for bottles, particularly for bottles containing valuable drinks - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a tamper evident closure for a bottle, particularly a bottle suitable for containing valuable drinks, having a neck (5, 34, 54) which extends axially along the longitudinal axis (X-X) from the body of the bottle (2, 31, 51), the neck (5, 34, 54) has an opening (7, 33, 56) at its free end and the closure comprises means of a threaded connection to a pouring device (6, 38, 55), the pouring device (6, 38, 55) is connected to a sleeve (17, 47, 65) arranged axially along the outer surface of said neck (5, 34, 54) having the characteristic of comprising annular means ( 18, 45, 70) arranged between the base of said neck (5, 34, 54) and the lower end of the sleeve (17A, 47B, 65B) and being connected by means of breakable connecting means (46, 64, 82) to said sleeve (17, 47, 65), the annular means (18, 45, 70) and said lower end (17A, 47B, 65B) of said sleeve (17, 47, 65) having respective surfaces (11A, 18E, 47C, 45I, 65C, 70D) facing towards each other and at least one of said facing surfaces ( 11A, 18E; 47C, 45I; 65C, 70D) of said annular means (18, 45, 70) and of said lower end (17A, 47B, 65B) being inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (X-X) of the neck (5, 34, 54), so that as a result of an axial movement of said annular means (18, 45, 70) towards said opening in said neck (5, 34, 54), breakage of said breakable means (46, 64, 82) occurs and consequent radial movement of at least one circumferential zone of said annular means (18, 45, 70).

Description

The present invention relates to a closure with an indication of unauthorized opening for a bottle, in particular, for a bottle with expensive drinks, according to the restrictive part of claim 1 of the claims.

There are well-known bottle closures that provide a visual indication of attempts to remove them for fraudulent purposes.

These closures are designed to prevent the original beverage contained in the bottle from being replaced with another, counterfeit beverage.

For fraudsters, operations performed by fraudsters include, for example, finding a used bottle with an appropriate closure with a broken seal, but with intact internal valve components, filling it with an equivalent but cheap drink, and re-plugging the bottle by restoring the seal.

In other cases, it has been found that in order to deceive the customer, sometimes attempts are made to remove the closure from the bottle without opening the closure itself, so that the valuable product contained in the bottle can be replaced by another, less valuable product.

Based on the provisions mentioned above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a closure for bottles that more effectively indicates unauthorized opening than known closures, and which makes unauthorized opening as obvious and irreversible as possible.

According to the invention, this objective is achieved by means of a closure with an indication of unauthorized opening for bottles, in particular, for bottles for expensive beverages according to the characterizing part of claim 1 of the claims.

With the invention, it is possible to produce a closure capable of immediately providing a visual indication of any attempt to penetrate the bottle in the event that an attempt is made, seeking to remove or crack the closure device.

The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of several forms of practical embodiments illustrated solely in the form of a non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1A is a front view of a first embodiment, partly in section, of a closure for bottles according to the invention;

FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of the first part of the closure of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is an enlarged view of another part of the closure of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1Ό is a perspective view of the component of the closure of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a front view of a second embodiment, partly in section, of a closure for bottles according to the invention;

FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a portion of the closure of FIG. 2A;

FIG. FOR - a front view of a third embodiment, partly in section, of a closure for bottles according to the invention;

FIG. ZV is an enlarged view of a portion of the closure of FIG. BEHIND;

FIG. 4A is a front view of a fourth embodiment, partly in section, of a closure for bottles according to the invention;

FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of a portion of the closure of FIG. 4a.

FIG. 1A-1E, the closure according to the invention is indicated by the reference numeral 1 while the bottle for which only the upper part is shown is indicated by the reference numeral 2.

Bottle 2 typically includes a neck 3 of essentially cylindrical shape, having a mouth 4, and a housing 5 connected externally to the neck 3.

The closure 1 comprises a filling unit 6 of a known type, which therefore will not be described further in detail, but only in its main parts.

In particular, the casting unit 6 contains mechanisms 7, for example, valve mechanisms with a ball, which are inserted into the neck 3 of the bottle 2 in such a way as to prevent the fraudulent refilling of the bottle 2.

Above the valve means 7 is placed the housing 8 of the pouring means. A cork 10 is attached to this body of the pouring means by means of a screw thread, which closes it outside and which functions as cork 10 in position 9 transverse to the axis X-X of the closure. All components of the casting unit 8 form one whole with each other, and advantageously this casting unit 8 is attached to the body 3 of the bottle 2 both axially and in rotation in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

On top of the tube 10 is placed a tubular outer cap 11.

The cap 11 is made, for example, of plastic and completely covers the tube 10, as well as its cross section 9, with an upper wall 12.

On this upper wall 12 of the cap 11, the cork 10 and the cap 11 are fixed in rotation by means of two corresponding sections 1Z and 14 with knurled, which interact between

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Moreover, also on the upper wall 12 of the cap 11, the plug 10 and the cap 11 are axially fixed by means of the inner annular protrusion 15 of the cap 11, which abuts against the lower part of the plug 10.

Between the upper wall 12 and the lower end 16 of the cap 11 placed destructible intermediate annular belt 21.

This annular belt 21 contains a segment in the form of a tongue 21A, which is placed in the cut-out section 22 in the body of the cap 11.

The annular belt 21 is connected to the lower part 16 of the cap 11 exclusively by means of jumpers 23.

There is also a metal belt 24 designed to tightly close the cap 11 on the sacrificial annular belt 21. To firmly fasten the metal belt 24 with the cap 11, an annular protrusion 25 and an annular recess made in the cap are provided, and the metal belt 24 is connected to them top part.

With the casting unit 8, a tubular sleeve 17 is fastened, covering the outside of the neck 3 of the bottle 2.

Bottom metal belt 24 is wrapped from the inside around the lower end of the cap 11 and the sleeve 17. This metal belt 24 can be applied to the cap 11 by rolling.

The sleeve 17 has a portion 17B rigidly connected to the casting unit 8, and a free end 17A facing the collar 18; In addition, the sleeve 17 has a protruding section 17C, which is placed in the groove behind the neck 3 to provide a strong axial fixation of the sleeve 17, and a pair of sections 17Ό and 17E with knurling, which interact with each other so as to lock the sleeve 17 in rotation.

When turning the collar 18 forms one whole with the cap 11 by means of annular sections 19 and 20 with knurling, which interact with each other.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the collar 18 is located at the bottom between the base of the neck 3 of the bottle 2 and the free end 17A of the sleeve 17.

In other words, the collar 18 is located in the axial direction, or parallel to the axis X-X, between the base of the neck of the bottle 2 and the end part of the sleeve 17, and in the longitudinal direction, or transversely to the axis X-X, between the outer cap 11 and the neck 3 of the bottle 2 .

In addition, axially the collar 18 comprises a surface portion 18M placed over the free end 17A of the collar 17.

Since the metal band 24 and the sleeve 17 are interconnected, the result is a firm attachment of the collar 18 to the sleeve 17 and, therefore, to the bottle 2.

Therefore, the collar 18 is held in its position by the cap 11, which holds the specified collar 18 together with the free section 17A of the sleeve 17.

In short, the cap 11 and the metal band 24 serve as a connecting means between the collar 18 and the sleeve 17.

Referring to FIG. 1Ό, it can be seen that this collar 18 is in the shape of a ring, in particular a ring in the shape of a truncated cone.

In practice, this ring 18 in the shape of a truncated cone has an inner surface 18A and an outer surface 18B, and said inner surface 18A has a first cylindrical zone 18C and a second cylindrical zone 18Ό, the latter concentric with the first and third cylindrical zone 181; said second cylindrical zone 18Ό has a smaller radius of a circle compared to the first cylindrical zone 18C, while said third cylindrical zone 181 has a radius whose value is intermediate compared to the first cylindrical zone 18C and the said second cylindrical zone 18 указанной.

The first cylindrical zone 18C and the second cylindrical zone 18Ό are interconnected by means of the first inclined surface 18E in order to create a slope for the purposes and requirements that will be described in more detail below. Similarly, said second cylindrical zone 18E is connected to said third cylindrical zone 181 by means of a second inclined surface 18b.

The first inclined surface 18E and the second inclined surface 18B are inclined relative to the axis X-X of the neck 3 of the bottle 2 at a given angle.

For example, this angle may be in the range of 30 to 60 °.

In practice, as shown in FIG. 1B and 1C, on the surfaces 18E, 18Ό and 18b, the collar 18 has a trapezoidal cross section.

It is also envisaged that the free lower portion 17A of the sleeve 17 has an inclined surface, while the collar 18 instead has a surface substantially transverse relative to the axis X-X of the neck of the bottle. Alternatively, both the free lower end of the sleeve 17 and the collar 18 have an inclined surface.

Referring again to FIG. 1Ό it may be noted that said inclined surface 18E has

- 2 007129 dictational means 18P, which in a particular embodiment of the invention has a tooth shape with a flat upper surface 180.

This tooth 18P faces the free part 17A of the sleeve 17, or this tooth 18P abuts against the free end 17A of the sleeve 17.

The outer surface 18B contains indicator means 18H, which in a particular embodiment of the invention has the shape of a protrusion; moreover, this protrusion is used when performing operations of fit of the collar 18 to ensure the correct centering of the ring relative to the rest of the capping device 1.

When attempting to frantically remove the closure 1 using tools that can be inserted between the base of the bottleneck and the bottom 16, such a tool, such as a screwdriver, creates upward pressure or pressure acting in the direction of the mouth 4 of the neck 3 of the bottle 2.

Therefore, the tools provide a significant axial movement to the closure 1.

As a result, under the influence of such tools, the collar 18 slides upward onto the free end 17A of the sleeve 17 due to the combined action of the 18P tooth (see Fig. 1Ό) and the inclined surface 18E.

In practice, the prong 18P abuts against the free area 17A of the sleeve 17 and therefore acts as a support for the ring 18 while the inclined surface 18E acts as a slope contributing to the displacement of the ring 18 relative to the sleeve 17.

Thus, the ring 18 is partially shifted up to the sleeve 17.

In this embodiment of the invention, in the presence of the cap 11, it will be destroyed or noticeably damaged by a ring 18, which, being over the sleeve 17, acts as a wedge, revealing the cap 11 until its destruction.

In this embodiment, the metal belt 24 will also be destroyed by the wedging action applied by the ring 18.

In other words, the connection that is created between the ring 18, provided with a flat surface 18P tooth 180, and the sleeve 17, causes the ring to shift from the center immediately after it has been subjected to a squeezing effect in the upward direction.

Moreover, the inclined surface 18E assists the ring 18 as it moves upward onto the free part 17A of the sleeve 17 so as to cause a separation of the cap 11 and the metal band 24.

It should be noted that in practice, mainly, the sleeve 17 is made of plastic, which has a suitable deformation under the loads it is subjected to, while the collar 18 is made of plastic, which has mechanical strength lower than that of the sleeve 17.

Thus, thanks to the invention, the user / customer will immediately receive a visual indication of any unauthorized attempt at opening the closure device.

In addition, there is also the advantage that the closure 1 is more difficult to repair than the known closures, since the cap 11 splits, and its restoration is impossible or at least more difficult and costly compared to the recovery of the indicative unauthorized opening of the ring closures known in the art.

FIG. 2A, the closure according to the invention is indicated by the reference numeral 30, while the bottle, which shows only the upper part, is designated by the reference numeral 31.

Bottle 31 typically includes a neck 32 of essentially cylindrical shape, having a mouth 33, and a housing 34 connected externally to the neck 3.

The closure 30 comprises a filling unit 35 of a known type, which therefore will not be described further in detail, but only in its main parts, as required for understanding the invention.

In particular, the filling unit 35 contains mechanisms 36, for example, valve mechanisms with a ball, which are inserted into the neck 32 of the bottle 31 in such a way as to prevent its fraudulent refilling.

The housing 37 of the bottling device itself is placed above the valve means.

All components of the casting unit 35 are integral with each other, and advantageously this casting unit 32 is attached to the neck 32 of the bottle 31 both axially and in rotation in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

On the body 37 of the dispenser is screwed by means of a screw connection 38, a closure plug 40, the end wall of which is indicated by the reference numeral 39.

The lower portion 44 of the closure 30 comprises an annular band 45.

This annular belt with its upper section 45A is connected to the body 37 of the pouring means exclusively by means of an annular projection 46.

A sleeve 47 of a tubular form is fastened to the casting body 37, which externally closes the neck 32 of the bottle 31.

The sleeve 47 has a section 47 And rigidly connected to the casting node 37, and the free end

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47B, facing the bottom of the neck 32 of the bottle 31. In this embodiment, this free end has a flat surface 47C located substantially transversely to axis X-X.

The sleeve 47 is fastened by screwing onto the neck 32 of the bottle with the help of knurled sections 48A and 48B, which interact with each other, and is fixed axially on the neck 32 of the bottle 31 by means of a groove 48C located on the neck 32 of the bottle 31.

As specifically shown in FIG. 2B, the annular band 45 has an inner surface 45 C and an outer surface 45 Ό at its end portion 45 B. This inner surface 45C has a first cylindrical zone 45E and a second cylindrical zone 45E, the latter concentric with the first, as well as the third cylindrical zone 450. The said second cylindrical zone 45E has a smaller radius compared to the radius of the first cylindrical zone 45E, and the said third cylindrical zone 450 has a radius whose value is intermediate between the radius of the said first cylindrical zone 45E and the radius of the second cylindrical zone 45E.

The first cylindrical zone 45E and the second cylindrical zone 45E are interconnected by means of the first inclined surface 45H in order to create a slope in the same way as said second cylindrical zone 45E is connected to the said third cylindrical zone 450 by means of the second inclined surface 451.

The first inclined surface 45H and the second inclined surface 451 are inclined relative to the axis X-X of the neck of the bottle 32 at a given angle.

For example, this angle may be in the range of 30 to 60 °.

It is also envisaged that the free lower portion 47B of the bush 47 has an inclined surface, while the annular shoulder 45 instead has a surface substantially transverse with respect to the axis X-X of the neck 32 of the bottle 31.

Alternatively, both the free lower end of the sleeve 47B and the collar 45 have an inclined surface.

Thus, the sleeve 47 is axially or parallel to axis X-X, between the base of the neck of the bottle 31 and the inclined surface 45H of the end portion 45B of the annular belt 45, while in the radial direction or transverse relative to the axis X-X, it is located between the annular belt 45 and neck 32 bottles 31.

When attempting to frantically remove the closure using tools that can be inserted between the base of the bottleneck and the bottom 44, such a tool, such as a screwdriver, creates upward pressure or pressure acting in the direction of the mouth 33 of the neck 32 of the bottle 31.

Therefore, the tools attach a significant axial movement to the closure 1, and therefore, under the influence of such tools, the annular band 45 slides upwardly onto the free end 47B of the sleeve 47 by means of an inclined surface 45H which causes the belt to radially move.

In this embodiment of the invention, the annular connection 46 of the annular band 45 will be destroyed, and the annular belt itself will also be destroyed or visually damaged.

Thus, thanks to the invention, the user / customer will immediately receive a visual indication of any unauthorized attempt at opening the closure device.

In addition, there is also the advantage that the closure 30 is more difficult to repair than the known closures, since the annular band remains split and its restoration is impossible or at least more difficult and costly compared to the recovery of the witness unauthorized opening of the ring of known closures.

Now, considering, in particular, the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3A-3B, it can be noted that the closure according to the invention, generally designated 50, is placed on the bottle, which shows only the upper part 51 having a neck 52 of substantially cylindrical shape. The bottle has a mouth 53 and a portion 54 of the base of the neck 52.

The closure 50 also contains a filling unit 55 of a known type, which therefore will not be described further in detail, but only in its main parts.

In particular, the filling unit 55 contains valve components 56, such as a ball valve, which are inserted into the neck 52 in such a way as to prevent fraudulent refilling of the bottle 51.

The housing 57 of the bottling device itself is placed above the valve means 56. A cork 58 is attached to the filling casing 57 by means of a known screw thread. All components of the casting unit 55 are integral with each other, and mainly the casing 57 of the bottling unit is attached to the neck 52 of the bottle 51 both axially and in rotation in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

The cap 59, made for example of plastic, completely covers the plug 58.

On its transverse wall 60, the cap 59 and the stopper 58 are fixed in rotation by means of two corresponding knurled sections 61, which interact with each other and are known in the art.

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In addition, also on the top wall 60 of the cap 59, the plug 58 and the cap 59 are axially fixed by means of the well-known internal annular protrusions 62.

The closure 50 also has a lower portion 63 that contains a tubular belt 64, which is designed to tightly cover the sleeve 65 underneath, the sleeve having a tubular shape and is connected in a known manner to the casing 57 of the dispensing unit.

The sleeve 65 covers the outside of the neck 52 of the bottle 51 and is fixed during rotation on the neck 52 by means of knurled ring sections 66 and 67 (see FIG. 3B), which interact with each other. The sleeve 65 is fixed axially with the help of a circular ledge 68, placed in the groove 69 on the neck 52.

The sleeve 65 also has an upper part 65A rigidly connected to the tubular collar 64 and to the body 57 of the casting unit. The free end 65B faces the lever preventing use of the means 70. In this embodiment of the invention, this free end has a flat surface 65C located in a position substantially transverse with respect to axis X-X.

The tubular band 64 is thus attached to the sleeve 65 by means of a first fold 64A, which is formed at the upper end of the band 64.

This fold 64A is obtained, for example, by a knurling operation.

The tubular collar 64, preferably made of sheet metal, is folded at the lower end of said anti-leverage lever 70 by means of a second fold 64B.

Such, according to the present invention, preventing the use of the lever means 70 are placed below between the base of the neck 52 of the bottle 51 and the end portion 65B of the sleeve 65.

These leverage-preventing tools 70 are ring-shaped and have an inner surface 70A and an outer surface 70B, wherein said inner surface 70A has a cylindrical zone 70C connected to the upper end of the leverage-preventing tool 70 using an inclined surface 70Ό in order to create a slope for the purposes and requirements that will be described in more detail below.

The inclined surface 70Ό is inclined relative to the axis X-X of the neck 52 of the bottle 51 at a given angle.

For example, this angle may be in the range of 30 to 60 °.

When attempting to frantically remove the closure 50 using tools that can be inserted at the base of the bottleneck, below the fold 64B of the belt 64, such a tool, such as a screwdriver, creates pressure from the bottom up or attaches to an essentially axial movement of the closure 50.

As a result, under the influence of such tools, the tool 70 that impedes the use of the lever advances upward onto the end portion 65B of the sleeve 65 due to the inclined surface 70Ό.

In this embodiment of the invention, in the presence of a tubular band 64, the latter will be broken or noticeably damaged by a ring 70, which, being on top of the sleeve 65, acts as a wedge, revealing the sleeve 65 and the tubular belt 64 until it collapses.

Thus, thanks to the invention, the user / customer will immediately receive a visual indication of any unauthorized attempt at opening the closure device.

Now, considering the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A-4B, in which the elements already described are indicated by the same reference numerals, it can be noted that the closure according to the invention, generally designated by reference numeral 80, is placed on the bottle, which shows only the upper part, indicated by reference numeral 51.

The closure 80 comprises in its lower section 63 a tubular sleeve 65 connected to the casing 57 of the dispensing assembly.

In addition, the sleeve 65 covers the outside of the neck 52 of the bottle 51.

The sleeve 65 is also fixed in rotation on the neck 52 by means of knurled ring sections 66 and 67, which interact with each other, while it is fixed axially by means of a circumferential protrusion 68 located in the groove 69 on the neck 52.

The sleeve 65 also has an upper portion 65A connected to the casing 57 of the casting unit, with its free end 65B facing the lever preventing use of the means 70.

It should be noted that in this embodiment of the invention, the tool 70 which prevents the use of the lever is located below, between the base 54 of the neck 52 of the bottle 51 and the end portion 65B of the sleeve 65.

In this embodiment of the invention, the means 70 which prevent the use of the lever are also ring-shaped and have an inner surface 70A and an outer surface 70B, the inner surface 70A having a cylindrical zone 70C connected to the upper end of the lever preventing the use of the tool 70 using an inclined surface 70Ό so as to create a bias for purposes and requirements, which will be described in more detail below.

The inclined surface 70Ό is inclined relative to the axis X-X of the neck 52 of the bottle 51 at a given angle.

For example, this angle may be in the range of 30 to 60 °.

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It should be noted that in this embodiment, the means 70 preventing the use of the lever are axially, or parallel to the axis X-X, between the base 54 of the neck of the bottle and the end portion of the sleeve 65.

In this embodiment of the invention, the means for preventing the use of the lever 70 are held in the position described above by the connecting elements 81, which serve as connecting means between the sleeve 65 and the means preventing the use of the lever 70. In particular, the connecting elements 81 can be spot welding or can be are represented by adhesive strips, which are broken when pushing the means 70 that impede the use of the lever on the sleeve 65.

Therefore, when attempting to frantically remove the closure 80 using tools that can be inserted at the base of the bottleneck, such tools, such as a screwdriver, create upward pressure or give essentially axial motion to the closure 80. As a result, under the influence of such tools The tool 70 preventing the use of the lever moves upwardly on the end part 65B of the sleeve 65 due to the inclined surface 70 °.

Thus, thanks to the invention, the user / customer will immediately receive a visual indication of any unauthorized attempt at opening the closure device.

From the above description, it can be concluded that all closures made according to the present invention are difficult to restore, since after they have been cracked, many details remain noticeable.

Obviously, a person skilled in the art in order to meet random or special requirements will be able to make numerous changes and obtain numerous variations of the closures described above without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (6)

CLAIM 1. A closure with an indication of unauthorized opening for a bottle, in particular for a bottle for an expensive drink, while the indicated bottle (2, 31, 51) has a neck (5, 34, 54), which runs axially along the longitudinal axis (XX) ) bottles (2, 31, 51) from its base, by which it connects to the bottle body; said neck (5, 34, 54) has an opening (7, 33, 56) at its free end; said closure comprises a means of sealing (11, 39, 59) of said hole in said neck (5, 34, 54) and is connected by means of a threaded connection to the filling unit (6, 38, 55); the specified casting unit (6, 38, 55) is connected to a sleeve (17, 47, 65) placed axially along the outer surface of the specified neck (5, 34, 54); characterized in that it also contains annular means (18, 45, 70) located between the base of the specified neck (5, 34, 54) and the lower end of the sleeve (17A, 47B, 65B) and connected by destructible connecting means (4 6, 64 , 81) with the specified sleeve (17, 47, 65); wherein said annular means (18, 45, 70) and said lower end (17A, 47B, 65B) of said sleeve (17, 47, 65) have corresponding surfaces (11 A, 18E; 47C, 451; 65C, 70Ό), facing each other; moreover, at least one of said surfaces facing each other (11A, 18E; 47C, 451; 65C, 70Ό) of said annular means (18, 45, 70) and said lower end (17A, 47B, 65B) is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (X-X) the neck (5, 34, 45), so that as a result of the axial movement of these annular means (18, 45, 70) in the direction of the indicated hole in the specified neck (5, 34, 54), these destructible means are destroyed ( 46, 64, 82) with subsequent radial movement of at least one peripheral zone of said annular means (18 , 45, 70). 2. The closure according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of these surfaces (11 A, 18E; 47C, 451; 65C, 70Ό) is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (XX) at an angle in the range from 30 to 60 °. 3. A closure according to claim 1, characterized in that said destructible connecting means (46, 64, 81) are an annular belt. 4. A closure according to claim 1, characterized in that said destructible connecting means (46, 64, 81) are glue. 5. A closure according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said annular means (18, 45, 70) have a trapezoidal cross section. 6. The closure according to claim 1, characterized in that said destructible connecting