EP0865015A1 - Bottle identification device - Google Patents

Abstract

The identification label (1), e.g. for fitting to upper portion of wine bottle (2), consists of a holder (4) of information (8) pertaining to the bottle's contents, attached to the end of the bottle by a clip. In different variants of the design the information holder can be a plate (1), or can have a wipe-clean surface which can be inscribed with a felt-tip pen, or it can be in the form of a transparent sleeve into which a paper or card label can be inserted. The plate can also be made for attachment to the bottom of a bottle.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for identifying bottle, and in particular a bottle of wine, intended to allow, by example, identifying a bottle at first glance when it is in the supine, tilted or even standing position.

In wine cellars, to allow the informed consumer to make your choice, it is necessary to identify the different bottles offered to him. The means of identification used by the hour current are first of all the shape of the bottle which allows connoisseurs to determine the production region (Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy ...), but especially the label affixed to the periphery of the body of the bottle which allows to know all the characteristics of the wine it contains, such as year of harvest, appellation, degree alcohol, place of production etc.

These current means of bottle identification do not give complete satisfaction, especially among individuals whose cellars contains a multitude of different bottles. Keeping the bottles requires to keep them lying down, these are thus arranged in lockers and when the consumer wants to make his choice, he must remove the bottle from its location in order to be able to consult the label. Such manipulation is hardly practical for carrying out choice and, moreover, is not recommended for fragile wines which do not like neither temperature changes nor be shaken.

Thus, the present invention proposes to solve these disadvantages by simple, space-saving and practical means intended to allow the immediate identification of a bottle whatever either its position.

Thus, according to its main characteristic, the device bottle identification according to the invention, intended to be placed on a bottle to identify its content has means identification positioned on the ass and / or on the neck of said bottle.

According to an additional characteristic, the means identification are made up of an information medium.

Furthermore, said identification device comprises means of fixing intended to maintain the means of identification in a plane substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the bottle or slightly inclined with respect to said longitudinal axis.

According to one embodiment, the fixing means comprise positioning means for positioning the means of identification against the upper end of the neck.

According to an alternative embodiment, the fixing means include positioning means allowing the positioning of the identification means against the bottom of the bottle.

According to another characteristic of the identification device, the fixing means can be removable.

According to another embodiment of the identification device, the fixing means include locking means intended to allow the locking of the identification means on the neck and / or on the bottom of the bottle.

According to an additional characteristic, the means of positioning consist of clips or clamping lugs.

The invention also protects bottles provided with such a device.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge of the description which will follow with regard to the appended drawings which are not given only by way of nonlimiting examples.

Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5a and 5b illustrate a first mode of realization of the device according to the invention and its variants.

Figure 1 illustrates in perspective a lying bottle equipped of the device.

Figure 2 illustrates the neck of the bottle and the device in longitudinal section AA.

FIG. 3 represents the device in view in the direction F1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a first variant of the device in perspective.

Figures 5a and 5b illustrate a second variant respectively in perspective and in longitudinal section.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Figure 6 shows in longitudinal section along BB the neck of the bottle and the identification device.

FIG. 7 represents the device according to F2.

Figure 8 illustrates in perspective a third mode of realization of the device.

FIG. 8a is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of the realization illustrated in figure 8.

Figures 9a and 9b illustrate a fourth embodiment where the identification means are positioned on the bottom of the bottle.

FIG. 9a represents the device positioned on the bottle in perspective.

Figure 9b illustrates the device and the sectional bottle in a view similar to figure 2.

The bottle identification device according to the invention bearing the general reference (1) is intended to equip bottles (2) and more particularly bottles whose content is a drink alcoholic such as wine, cider, beer, champagne, waters lives or spirits, for example. It goes without saying that such a device could be fitted to bottles containing non-alcoholic drinks or chemicals, for example, without getting out of the field of protection of the invention. The bottles (2) are of the type comprising a longitudinal axis (ZZ ') connecting the bottom (2a) of said bottle to the neck (5), said axis (ZZ ') can advantageously be a longitudinal axis of revolution, especially in the case of wine bottles.

According to the invention, the identification device (1) comprises identification means (4) intended to be positioned on the neck (5) and / or on the bottom (16) of the bottle (2), said identification means (4) being intended to identify the contents of a bottle (2).

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3, the identification means consist of a support information (4) to which the user or the merchant can relate the information (8) concerning the characteristics of the content of the bottle (2) and in particular the year, the region of production and the vintage when it is a so-called cellar wine which is kept in a cellar. The information carrier (4) has an identification face (7) advantageously flat intended to contain the information (8), said face being arranged on the neck (5) of the bottle (2) so that that said information can be read by the user whatever the position of the bottle, lying, tilted or standing.

According to this preferred embodiment, the device (1) comprises fixing means (6) for holding the face identification (7) of the information medium (4) substantially in a plane (H) orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (ZZ ') of the bottle (2). So, whatever the position of said bottle, the user has easy access and direct to the information (8) without the need to handle the bottle. Note that the identification face (7) is advantageously arranged against the upper end (5a) of the neck (5), as illustrated in FIG. 2. By elsewhere, the identification face (7) could be, for example, slightly inclined to the orthogonal plane (H) so that when the bottle (2) is laid down in the lockers of a cellar, said face can be oriented by positioning the device, or slightly upwards, slightly downwards so that the user does not have to rise to its height to read the information (8) that it door.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the face (7) of the information carrier (4) consists of a washable surface on which the consumer can, for example, carry the information he desire using a felt pen whose ink is washable. The device (1) can thus advantageously be fixed removably on the bottle (2) thanks to the fixing means (6), thus allowing it to be changed bottle when the bottle carrying it is chosen to be drunk, the user can, therefore, wear on the identification face (7) to using the felt pen the characteristics corresponding to the new bottle.

According to a variant illustrated in FIG. 4, the identification face (7) of the information carrier (4) consists of a pocket (9) transparent inside which the user can place a paper or a box (18) carrying the information (8) it desires. According to this variant, the device (1) also comprises fixing means (6) removable allowing to reuse said device on another bottle by modifying the information on the box placed in the pocket.

According to the preferred embodiment and its variant, the means of fixing (6) comprise positioning means (6a) constituted by clipping lugs (10a, 10b, 10c), intended to cooperate with the protruding rim (11) located in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (ZZ '), at the upper end (5a) of the neck (5) of the bottle (2). Said clipping tabs extend perpendicular to the surface or flat wall (12) constituting the information medium (4) and are arranged on the perimeter of a circle whose diameter corresponds substantially at the outside diameter of the neck. According to the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 3, the device (1) comprises three clipping tabs (10a, 10b, 10c). It goes without saying that the fixing means (6) could be obtained by other equivalent devices such as a peak intended to be planted directly in the cap or have a different number clipping lugs without leaving the protective field of the invention.

The information medium (4) consists of a flat wall from which extend the clipping tabs (10a, 10b, 10c) opposite of the identification face (7) of said wall. The wall (12) constituting the support (4) can be of different geometric shapes such as square, triangular, round or in any figurative form such as a cluster grapes or whatever. It is held by the fixing means (6) substantially in the transverse plane (H) orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (ZZ ') of the bottle (2). Note that the fixing means (6) allow rigid support of the support (4) on the neck (5) of the bottle (2).

According to a second variant of the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 5b, the fixing means (6) comprise a ring holding (13) whose internal diameter is less than the diameter outer edge (11) of the neck (5). Said ring is intended to be threaded in force around the neck (5) between the flange (11) and the body of the bottle so as to be able to abut against said rim. The flat wall (12) constituting the information carrier (4) is integral with the retaining ring (13) by means of connecting means such a connecting tab (14) allowing said wall to be articulated in pivoting on the ring. The connecting tab (14) thus achieves a hinge-type joint in a manner known per se. A leg of clip (15) is arranged on the retaining ring (13) opposite the connecting lug (14) and extends towards the upper end (5a) of the neck (5) so as to cooperate with the wall (12) by clipping when the latter is placed in the transverse plane (H). Note that the ring (13) can be split as shown in Figure 5a or have primers notch to allow its installation around the neck (5).

According to a second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, constituting an improvement of the first mode, intended in particular for avoid fraud when trading bottles, the device (1), more particularly its fixing means (6), includes means for locking (6b) intended to allow the locking of said device on the neck after its installation. So the user or the buyer cannot change the device on the bottles if, for example, said device includes information such as the price or a corresponding barcode.

According to this second embodiment, the means of locking are constituted by a locking ring (6b) of the type known per se intended to block the clipping tabs (10a, 10b, 10c) a Once the device is in place, the ends of the clips folded inwards being held in abutment against the flange (11) from the upper end (5a) of the neck (5). According to this second mode of embodiment, the flat wall (12) constituting the information medium (4) can be fitted with a central hole corresponding to at least part of the upper end of the neck (5) so as to allow the visualization of the leave sticker affixed to the neck, said hole central can advantageously be centered on the longitudinal axis (ZZ ') and have a diameter identical to that of the bottle cap (2) in order to be able to uncork the bottle without having to remove it unlocking the device (1), said hole being able to be closed by a label on which the information is contained (8). In addition, the locking ring (6b) can advantageously include a primer not shown to allow the user to remove said ring for unlocking the device.

Note that according to this second embodiment, the ring locking device (6b) or the information medium (4) can advantageously have a lower abutment surface (25) whose dimensions can be chosen, said surface allowing advantageously avoid the user letting the bottle escape grabbing her by the neck, her hand sliding until she was in support against said abutment surface.

According to a variant not shown of the two modes of previous embodiments, the bottle identification device (1) includes orientation means intended to allow an inclination of the information medium, said orientation means being able to be obtained, for example, by plastic or other deformation. So, before a wall of bottles, the user will have access to information without having to successively position your gaze up to each rows of bottles.

Note that the information medium (4) could be maintained in a plane substantially parallel to the transverse plane (H) offset by relative to the end (5a) of the neck (5) along the longitudinal axis (ZZ '); by elsewhere the information carrier could be provided with a tablet printed including liquid crystals to determine in coloring the room temperature and being able to check the first look if the storage temperature is respected.

According to a third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the fixing means (6) consist of a clip ring (20) intended to be positioned between the rim (11) of the neck (5) and the body of the bottle (2). The clip ring (20) has a slot (21) intended to allow its installation, a rigid connecting tab (22) used to connect said ring to the flat wall (12) constituting the support information (4), said wall being advantageously arranged in the plane (H) against the upper end of the neck.

Figure 8a is a variant of the embodiment of Figure 8 according to which the clip ring (20) is retained on the support information (4) by 3 connecting tabs (22a, 22b, 22c). All consisting of the 3 connecting lugs (22a, 22b, 22c) and the clip ring (20) with its slot (21) is made of plastic, deformable for alone constitute their set of elastically deformable clipping intended to be clipped and to be retained on the neck (5) of the bottle to identify, without the need for an additional retainer.

According to a fourth embodiment of the device illustrated Figure 9a and 9b, the identification means (4) are positioned on the bottom (16) of the bottle (2) in a plane (H1) orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (ZZ ') of the bottle. The fixing means (6) have three tabs clamping (23a, 23b, 23c) intended to allow the positioning of the device, note that the information medium (4) is round and is arranged slightly in the recess (17) of the ass (16) of the bottle so as not to make the bottle unstable in its position standing. In addition, the three elastically deformable clamping lugs (23a, 23b, 23c) are arranged regularly on the periphery of the information carrier (4) and are therefore separated by an angle of approximately 120 °.

It goes without saying that the bottle (2) could be fitted with a device positioned on the neck (5) such as those described in the first three embodiment and also of a device positioned on the ass (16) of the bottle (2) without leaving the protective field of the invention.

The identification devices of the invention are produced in a deformable material, such as injected plastic so that the clip tabs (10a, 10b, 10c) of the first mode shown in Figures 2 and 3, as well as the clamping lugs (23a, 23b, 23c) of the embodiment of FIGS. 9a, 9b, as well as the connecting tabs (22, 22a, 22b, 22c) with the ring (20) are elastically deformable.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the modes of realization described and represented as examples, but it includes also all technical equivalents and their combinations.

Claims (9)

Bottle identification device (1) intended to be disposed on a bottle (2) with an axis (ZZ ') to identify its content, characterized in that it comprises identification means (4) positioned on the bottom (16) and / or on the neck (5) of said bottle. Identification device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the identification means consist of a information carrier (4). Identification device (1) according to any one of previous claims, characterized in that it comprises means fixing (6) intended to hold the identification means in a plane (H, H1) substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (ZZ ') of the bottle (2) or slightly inclined with respect to said longitudinal axis (ZZ '). Identification device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the fixing means (6) comprise means positioning (6a) for positioning the means identification (4) against the upper end (5a) of the neck (5). Identification device (1) according to 3 characterized in that the fixing means (6) comprise positioning means (6a) allowing the positioning of the identification means (4) against the bottom (16) of the bottle (2). Identification device (1) according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the fixing means (6) are removable. Identification device (1) according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the fixing means (6) include locking means (6b) intended to allow the locking of the identification means (4) on the neck (5) or on the bottom (16) of the bottle (2). Identification device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the positioning means (6a) consist by clipping lugs (10a, 10b, 10c) or clamping lugs (23a, 23b, 23c). Bottle (2) intended to be provided with at least one device according to any one of the preceding claims.

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