EA030550B1 - Tamper evident closure - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a tamper evident closure (1) for closing a mouth (11) of a container (10). The closure (1) has an inner part (20), an outer part (30) movable relative to the inner part (20) from a first position, corresponding to the position prior to first opening, to a second position, first reversible attachment means (40), capable of attaching the inner part (20) to the container (10) and second irreversible attachment means (50) capable of locking longitudinally said the outer part (30) relative to the inner part (20) in the second position. The second attachment means (50) comprise a deformable annular member (51) housed in the closure (1) and cooperating with the inner part (20) and the outer part (30) to lock the outer part (30) relative to the inner part (20) in the second position. Furthermore, upon first opening, the annular member (51) remains longitudinally stationary with respect to the inner part (20) and the container (10) and the outer part (30) can move relative to the annular member (51) from the first position to the second position.

Description

The invention relates to a closure (1) with an opening control designed to close the neck (11) of the container (10). The closure (1) has an inner part (20), an outer part (30) that can move relative to the inner part (20) from the first position, corresponding to the position before the first opening of the container, to the second position, reversible first means (40) of fastening, providing the connection of the inner part (20) with the container (10), and the irreversible second fastening means (50) for locking in the longitudinal direction of said outer part (30) relative to the inner part (20) in the second position. The second fastening means (50) comprises a deformable ring element (51) located inside the closure (1) and cooperating with the inner (20) and outer (30) parts for their mutual fixation in the second position. In addition, when first opened, the annular element (51) is fixed in the longitudinal direction relative to the inner part (20) and the container (10), and the outer part (30) can be displaced relative to the annular element (51) from the first position to the second.

030550

Technical field

The invention relates to a closure with an opening control, i.e. to the closure with elements indicating the first opening.

The level of technology

WO 2011/086407 discloses a closure with a tamper-proof closure containing an inner and an outer part, and at the first opening the outer part can move relative to the inner part. The inner part can be made in the form of a stopper, for example, from synthetic material, or it can be made to twist with the possibility of screwing and tightening on the tapping part of the neck of the bottle with the thread made on it. The outer part is configured to be gripped by the consumer to open the closure and move the outer part relative to the inner part from the first position in which it was before the first opening of the container, to the second position after the first opening of the container. After the outer part is in the second position, the non-reversible fastening means prevents the outer part from moving back to the position before the first opening. Various embodiments of the non-reversible fastening means are proposed.

In some embodiments, the fastening means is integral with the interior. This design has the disadvantage that the fastening means is connected to the inside.

In other embodiments, the fastening means is separated from the inside, but its design does not guarantee reliable mutual fixation of the outside and inside parts in the second position. In addition, its design makes assembly of the closure difficult.

The objective of the invention is to provide a closure with an opening control that provides reliable mutual fixation of the inner and outer parts, which is easy to manufacture, and allows for a wide range of choices for the mounting means.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The tasks are solved in the closure with the control of opening in accordance with claim 1 of the claims.

The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 shows the closure installed on the bottle neck according to the first embodiment of the invention, the position before the first opening;

in fig. 2 - the same sectional view;

in fig. 3 shows the closure shown in FIG. 1, the position at the first opening, as well as after re-closing;

in fig. 4 is the same as in FIG. 3, sectional view;

in fig. 5 and 6, the closure shown in FIG. 1, a disassembled view;

in fig. 7 shows the closure installed on the bottle neck according to the second.

variant embodiment of the invention, the position before the first opening; in fig. 8 is the same as in FIG. 7, sectional view;

in fig. 9 shows the closure shown in FIG. 7, the position at the first opening, as well as after re-closing;

in fig. 10 is the same as in FIG. 9, sectional view;

in fig. 11 is a closure installed on the bottle neck according to a third embodiment of the invention, position before the first opening;

in fig. 12 shows the closure shown in FIG. 11, the position at the first opening, as well as after re-closing;

in fig. 13 shows the closure installed on the bottle neck according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, the position before the first opening;

in fig. 14 is the same as in FIG. 33, a sectional view;

in fig. 15 shows the closure shown in FIG. 13, with detached tear tape, sectional view;

in fig. 16 shows the closure installed on the bottle neck according to the fifth embodiment of the invention, position before the first opening, section view;

in fig. 17 —the closure installed on the bottle neck according to the sixth embodiment of the invention, position before the first opening;

in fig. 18 shows the closure shown in FIG. 17, the position at the first opening, as well as after re-closing;

in fig. 19 shows the closure installed on the bottleneck according to the seventh embodiment of the invention, position before the first opening;

in fig. 20 shows the closure shown in FIG. 19, after the first opening; in fig. 21 shows the closure shown in FIG. 20, after re-closing;

- 1 030550

in fig. 22 shows the closure installed on the bottleneck according to the eighth embodiment of the invention, position before the first opening;

in fig. 23 shows the closure shown in FIG. 22, the position at the first opening, as well as after re-closing;

in fig. 24 is a closure installed on the bottleneck according to a ninth embodiment of the invention, position before the first opening;

in fig. 25 shows the closure shown in FIG. 24, position at the first opening, as well as after re-closing.

Embodiments of the invention

FIG. 1-6 illustrate a closure 1 with an opening control according to a first embodiment of the invention.

The closure 1 is intended to close the neck 11 of the container 10, for example a glass bottle for alcoholic beverages.

The container 10 contains a neck 12 ending in a neck 11.

The closure 1 extends along the longitudinal axis X-X and comprises an inner portion 20 and an outer portion 30.

Although the closure 1 can be oriented in either direction, in the present description, the side facing the container 10 is accepted by the bottom side of the closure 1, and the side opposite to the first is accepted by the upper side.

The outer part 30 is configured to grip for opening and closing the closure 1 and its movement relative to the inner part 20 from the first position, corresponding to the position before the first opening, to the second position.

The outer part 30 has a tubular body 31 extending in the longitudinal direction from the lower part 32 to the upper part 33. The tubular body 31 has an outer surface 34 adapted to grip for opening and closing the closure 1 and the inner surface 35 facing the inner part 20.

The outer portion 30 can move relative to the inner portion 20 in the longitudinal direction X-X.

The closure 1 comprises a reversible first fastening means 40 adapted to connect the inner part 20 with a container 10 for opening and closing it, and a non-reversible second fastening means 50 for mutual fixation in the longitudinal direction of the outer part 30 and the inner part 20 in a second position.

Before the first opening, the outer part 30, which is in the first configuration, can freely rotate relative to the inner part 20, so that the consumer has to move the outer part 30 upwardly in the longitudinal direction in order to perform the first opening of the closure 1.

However, as will be described below when considering other embodiments of the invention, a third fastening means 70 may be provided to prevent longitudinal movement and / or rotation of the outer part 30 relative to the inner part 20, until the third locking means has been removed.

It should also be noted that in other embodiments shown in FIG. 1-16, the closure 1 is threaded. According to these embodiments, the first fastening means 40 comprises a stopper 41 configured to hermetically seal the neck 12 of the container.

10. Such a cork can be made of cork, synthetic material or other materials.

Alternatively, the first fastening means 40 may comprise threads for connection with threads made on the container 10. The thread can be performed directly on the tank or on the filling device, which is attached to the neck 12 of the tank 10.

The inner part 20 is a tubular element 21 connected with the first fastening means 40 for rotation, but still in the longitudinal direction. The tubular element 21 extends in the longitudinal direction from the lower part 22 to the upper part 23. In the upper part 23, the tubular element 21 comprises a transverse wall 24 extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X-X.

The lower part 22 is in direct contact with the upper edge of the neck 12, limiting the neck 11.

A cover 24a is fixed above the transverse wall 24, rigidly attached to the transverse wall 24 by means of, for example, ultrasonic welding, gluing or other methods of creating a durable joint.

As shown in FIG. 1-6, the upper portion 33 defines the upper opening 33a for accommodating the lid 24a.

The stopper 41 contains a lower part 42 adapted to be inserted into the neck 12 of the container 10, and an upper part 43 attached to the tubular element 21, in particular to the transverse wall 24. Ultrasonic can be used to attach the stopper 41 to the transverse wall 24

- 2 030550

welding. Alternatively, glue or other means can be used to create a strong bond.

During the first opening, the inner part 20 remains stationary in the longitudinal direction relative to the container 10, and the outer part 30 moves relative to the inner part 20 and the container 10 from the first position to the second position. In the second position, the second fastening means 50 fixes the outer part 30 in the longitudinal direction relative to the inner part 20, so that the outer part 30 cannot move back to the first position.

When the outer portion 30 reaches the second position, the reversible first attachment means 40 can be detached to remove the closure 1 from the container 10.

In other words, the second fastening means 50 allows the outer part 30 to be displaced relative to the inner part 20 from the first position to the second, and irreversibly fixes the outer part 30 relative to the inner part 20 in the second position after the outer part 30 reaches the second position.

When re-closing the container 10 and re-install the closure 1 on the neck 12, the outer part 30 can no longer be moved back to the first position.

According to embodiments of the invention shown in FIG. 1-18 and 22-25, the portion of the inner part 20, in particular the lower part 22 of the tubular element 21, remains visible in the second position, providing control of opening the container 10. This visible portion of the inner part 20 is the first sign of opening the closure 1. It should be noted that in this embodiment of the invention for the implementation of the specified first sign of opening the lower part 22, visible in the second position, should not be visible in the first position. In addition, the inner part 20 contains at least one stopper 27, made with the possibility of emphasis in the neck 11 in the first position. When re-closing the closure 1, the stopper 27 abuts against the neck 11 and prevents downward displacement in the longitudinal direction into the neck 12 of the container 10 of the visible section, for example, the lower part 22 of the tubular element 21, with the result that this section remains visible, providing control of opening of the container 10.

According to an embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1-6, the closure 1 comprises an upper surface bounded by an element of the inner part 20 and an element of the outer part 30. As shown in the drawings, this element of the inner part 20 is a lid 24a, and the element of the outer part 30 is the upper part 33 of the tubular body 31. Before the first opening of the lid 24a is substantially flush with the upper part 33. When the outer part 30 is in the second position, the lid 24a is located below the upper part 33, so that the upper part 35a of the inner surface 35 of the outer part 30 is visible through rhnee hole 33 a. This is the second sign of opening the closure 1.

The second fastening means 50 comprises a deformable ring element 51 located inside the closure 1 and cooperating with the inner and outer portions 20 and 30 for locking the outer portion 30 relative to the inner portion 20 in a second position. The annular element 51 is separated from the inner 20 and outer 30 parts.

Since the annular element 51 is separated from the inner and outer portions 20 and 30, it can be made of any material, even if different from the material of which the inner and outer portions are made. In addition, the annular element 51 can elastically deform independently of the inner part 20 and the outer part 30. This also increases the reliability and strength of fixing these two parts relative to each other.

The annular element 51 is made locking surface, passing essentially around its entire circumference to increase the strength of fixation.

In accordance with one possible embodiment of the invention, when first opened, the annular element 51 remains stationary in the longitudinal direction with respect to the inner part 20 and container 10, and the outer part 30 is displaced relative to the annular element 51 from the first position to the second. In the second position, the annular element 51 engages with the locking surface 36 of the outer part 30. For this purpose, the annular element 51 includes a locking surface 52, which is intended to engage with the supporting surface 36 of the outer part 30 in the second position.

The locking surface 36 limits the lower surface of the annular protrusion 37, made on the inner surface 35 of the outer part 30.

In accordance with one of the possible embodiments of the invention, the annular element 51 is located in an annular seat 25 made between the inner and outer parts 20 and 30. In other words, the inner part 20 and the outer part 30 radially define the annular seat 25. Such an annular seat 25 is closed on the lower side by the upper part 38 of the collar 37, and on the upper side by the lid 24a. In the present embodiment, the lower part 55 of the annular element 51 rests on the upper part 38 of the annular protrusion 37, and on the upper part 56 of the annular element 51 rests the lower surface 24b of the lid 24a. Thus, in the course of the assembly, the ring member 51 can easily be placed in the ring seat 25. Then the ring seat 25 on the upper side can be closed by a lid 24a.

- 3 030550

During the first opening, the outer part 30 and the annular protrusion 37 are displaced relative to the inner part 20 and the annular element 51. The minimum diameter D1 of the annular protrusion 37 is less than the maximum diameter D2 of the annular element 51. Since the annular element 51 is deformable, it is deformed, compressing inwards to allow the annular protrusion 37 to pass in the longitudinal direction. As soon as the annular protrusion 37 passes behind the annular element 51, the locking surface 52 of the annular element 51 engages with the lower locking surface 36 of the outer part 30. Such adhesion of the locking surfaces 52 and 36 is irreversible, so that the forger tries to re-set the outer part 30 to in which it was located before the first opening of the container, by exerting downward pressure on the outer part 30, will be ineffective.

To prevent any downward movement of the annular element 51 after the first opening, when the outer part 30 is in the second position, an annular groove 56 is formed on the inner surface 35 of the outer part 30, with which the lower part 55 of the annular element 51 engages.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the annular element 51 is at least radially deformable.

In the example shown in the drawings, the annular element 51 is a split ring with two split ends 53, 54.

Preferably, the annular protrusion 37 has a continuous bearing surface 36, which extends around the circumference, essentially along the entire length of said split ring 51.

Alternatively, the annular element 51 may also be a continuous ring. In this case, the outer part 30 should preferably have several protrusions and several cavities. When the first opening of the ring element 51 can pass through the corresponding depressions of the outer part 30, so that the remaining parts of the ring element 51 can pass through the corresponding protrusions of the outer part 30.

Preferably, in the second position, the outer part 30 is also fixed against rotation relative to the inner part 20. For this purpose, longitudinal ribs 26 are made on the inner part 20, adapted to engage with the longitudinal ribs 39 on the inner surface 35 of the outer part 30.

FIG. 7-10 show the second embodiment of the invention. In this case, only differences from the first variant will be considered in detail, and it is implied that all other elements that are not mentioned specifically as being different from the first variant are similar or identical.

In this embodiment of the invention, the portion 25 of the lid 24a is displaced relative to the upper part 33 before the first opening. When the outer portion 30 is in the second position, said portion 25 of the lid 24a is displaced to be flush with the upper portion 33.

According to a third embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 11 and 12, around the outer part 30 there is an outer shell 60. The outer shell 60 is a tubular element 61 extending in the longitudinal direction from its lower part 62 to its upper part 63 and closed on its upper side by a transverse wall 64 on the upper part 63. Tubular element 61 is attached to the tubular body 31 with the possibility of rotation and longitudinal movement, despite the fact that the transverse wall 64 is located above the lid 24a and can move in the longitudinal direction relative to the lid 24a together with the outer part 30. And bubbled words, 24a cover and the transverse wall 64 are not interconnected.

In this embodiment, the upper surface of the closure 1 is formed by the upper surface of the outer shell 60, i.e. the transverse wall 64. When the outer part 30 is in the second position, the lid 24a is lower than the upper part 33 and the transverse wall 64. If the transverse wall 64 is partially transparent, the upper portion 35a of the inner surface 35 of the outer portion 30 is visible through the upper opening 33a, as in the first embodiment of the invention.

In the fourth embodiment, shown in FIG. 13-15, there is a third fixation means 70 for preventing the longitudinal movement and / or rotation of the outer part 30 relative to the inner part 20 until the said third fixation means is removed.

As shown in the drawings, the third fixation means 70 is a tear tape 71 attached to the outer part 30 by a weakened section 72, in the example under consideration by jumpers. When removing the tear tape 71, the weakened section 72 is destroyed, and the outer part 30 can be displaced in the longitudinal direction away from the inner part 20 in order to open the closure 1.

In the fifth embodiment, shown in FIG. 16, the tear tape 71 is connected to the inside 20 of the weakened portion 72, which collapses when the tear tape is pulled off.

According to a sixth embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 17, 18, in the closed position before the first opening of the container, the lower part 32 of the tubular body 31 is located in the longitudinal direction below the lower part 22 of the tubular element 21.

- 4 030550

Preferably, the inner part 11a of the neck 11 serves as a support for the lower part 22 of the tubular element 21, and the outer part 11b is located below the inner part 11a and abuts against the lower part 32 of the tubular body 31.

This design of the tubular body 31 hides in the first position the lower part 22, which prevents access to the inner part 20 of the closure 1 until the outer part

30 will not be shifted from the first position to the second. This prevents unauthorized opening of the closure 1. In particular, if someone tries to access the inner part 20 to remove the closure 1 without activating the second fastening means 50 by using a tool between the lower part 32 and the outer part 11b, the tubular body

31 is displaced upward until the second locking means 50 stops the movement of the outer part 30 in the longitudinal direction relative to the inner part 20. When the outer part 30 is fixed in the second position, attempts of unauthorized opening of the container will be in vain.

According to the seventh embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 19-21, the portion of the inner portion 20, in particular the side portion 41a of the plug 41, is visible in the second position. However, when attempting to close again, this side section 41a becomes invisible. Thus, in this embodiment of the invention, the closure 1 has the first opening feature described above, described above with reference to FIG. 1-6.

In addition, the outer portion 30 may include an inwardly projecting protrusion 80. Preferably, the protective protrusion 80 is provided on the lower portion 32 of the tubular body 31. In the second position, the protective protrusion 80 engages with the abutment surface 27a of the inner portion 20, preventing disassembly of the closure 1 In particular, the protective protrusion 80 engages with the thrust surface 27a in the second position, which prevents the outer part 30 from moving further from the second position in the longitudinal direction upwards Tel'nykh inner portion 20. The clutch 80 of the safety catch with a stop surface 27a in a second position prevents the disassembly of the closure 1 forger.

In the eighth embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 22, 23, the visible portion of the inner part 20 (in this case, the stop 27) contains an annular color band 28. This color band 28 is visible in the second position and, when the container 10 is closed again, displays the third sign of the opening of the closure.

According to a ninth embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 24, 25, the outer part 30 is provided with a protective protrusion 80 extending inwards. Preferably, the protective protrusion 80 is provided on the lower part 32 of the tubular body 31. In the second position, the protective protrusion 80 engages with the stop surface 27a of the inner part 20, in this example the form of the stop 27, preventing the possibility of disassembling the closure 1. In particular, the protective protrusion 80 engages with the stop surface 27a in the second position, which prevents the outer part 30 from moving from the second position in the longitudinal direction upward relative to the inner part 20. The adhesion of the protective protrusion 80 to the abutment surface 27a in the second position prevents the forger from disassembling the closure 1.

The present invention, variants of its implementation and operation are not limited to the above options.

It should be noted that the closure according to the present invention meets the requirements. In addition, such a closure is durable and easy to manufacture and use.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, depending on the specific requirements imposed, a number of modifications, changes and additions to the embodiments of the closure can be made.

For example, in the absence of obvious technical limitations, any elements described in the preferred embodiment can be successfully applied in other embodiments with the introduction of appropriate changes.

Similarly, the interconnectedness of the components of the closure may be changed in any way, provided that it does not entail any functional changes to the respective components. In addition, in accordance with the technological requirements, the above-described elements of a cylindrical and annular shape can be made slightly conical.

All changes introduced should be covered by the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the claims.

- 5 030550

Claims (11)

CLAIM 1. A closure (1) with an opening control to close the neck (11) of the container (10) located along the longitudinal axis (X-X) and containing the inner part (20); an outer part (30) adapted to grip it when opening and closing the closure (1) and adapted to move relative to the inner part (20) from the first position, corresponding to the position before the first opening, to the second position; reversible first fastening means (40) for connecting the inner part (20) with the container (10) for opening and closing it; non-reversible second fastening means (50) for locking in the longitudinal direction of the outer part (30) relative to the inner part (20) in the second position, so that at the first opening the inner part (20) is axially stationary relative to the container (10) in the axial direction, and (30) can be moved relative to the inner part (20) and the container (10) from the first position to the second, and when reaching the outer part (30) of the second position, the reversible first fastening means (40) can be detached to remove the closure (1) from capacitor and, the second fastening means (50) includes a deformable ring element (51) located in the closure (1) and cooperating with the inner (20) and outer (30) parts for their mutual fixation in the second position, characterized in that at the first opening the annular element (51) is fixed in the longitudinal direction relative to the inner part (20) and container (10), and the outer part (30) can be displaced relative to the annular element (51) from the first position to the second. 2. The closure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the deformable ring element (51) is made at least radially deformable. 3. The closure (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the deformable ring element (51) is a split ring with two separated ends (53, 54). 4. The closure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the annular element (51) comprises a locking surface (52) for engaging with the locking surface (36) on the outer part (30) in the second position. 5. The closure (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the annular protrusion (37) is made on the inner surface (35) of the outer part (30), and the lower surface of this annular protrusion (37) forms the locking surface (36) on the outer part (30). 6. The closure (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the minimum diameter (D1) of the annular protrusion (37) is less than the maximum diameter (D2) of the annular element (51), and when first opened, the annular protrusion (37) of the outer part ( 30) can be displaced relative to the inner part (20) and the annular element (51), so that the annular element (51) can be deformed inwards, allowing the annular protrusion (37) to pass in the longitudinal direction. 7. A closure (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that in the second position, the locking surface (52) of the annular element (51) can engage with the locking surface (36) of the outer part (30) from below. 8. The closure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the annular element (51) is located in an annular seat (25) formed between the inner part (20) and the outer part (30). 9. The closure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that in the second position the outer part (30) is fixed against rotation relative to the inner part (20). 10. The closure (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that in the second position the portion (22) of the inner part (20) is visible, while the inner part (20) comprises at least one stop (27 ), made with the possibility of emphasis in the neck (11) when re-closing the closure (1) to prevent the visible portion (22) of the inner part (20) from moving downward in the longitudinal direction inside the container (10). 11. A fitting (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the outer part (30) contains a protective protrusion (80), and the inner part (20) contains an abutment surface (27a), and in the second position the protective the protrusion (80) can engage with this thrust surface (27a), preventing further upward movement in the longitudinal direction from the second position of the outer part (30) relative to the inner part (20). - 6 030550