Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D55/00—Accessories for container closures not otherwise provided for
  • B65D55/02—Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure
  • B65D55/06—Deformable or tearable wires, strings, or strips; Use of seals, e.g. destructible locking pins
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
  • B65D41/62—Secondary protective cap-like outer covers for closure members

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of caps for overcapping bottles of sparkling wines, typically Champagne, and more particularly the case of caps provided with easy opening means.
• these sparkling wines are bottled closed by corks often with corks ensuring the cork is held and the bottle closed even in the event of accidental overpressure. It is therefore important that the opening of the cap releases the plug and the wire cap when the latter is present.
• the invention relates to a cap which allows, in a single manual gesture, a regular removal of the entire upper part of the cap, the upper part being that which covers said muselet, without any alteration of the lower part of the cap which covers the part of the neck of the bottle located below the wire cap, so as to keep the cap as much as possible with its aesthetic appearance, unaltered, while allowing the cap to be removed.
• the easily opening overcap cap (1) comprises a head (5) and a skirt (4), made of film or sheet material, typically for a container or bottle of sparkling wine (2) closed by a cap (8) with head (80) with a means for securing the cap to the neck of said container, typically a metal wire cap (3) provided with a tightening wire (30) passing under the glass ring (20) the neck of said bottle and forming an opening twist or eyelet (31), or possibly for a container or bottle of still wine, comprising a means of easy opening, typically a line of weakness, carried on the skirt of said cap, and is characterized in that, a) said easy opening means comprises at least one line of weakening (44) called low positioned on the cap at a height H which defines a partition of said cap with a so-called high part (10) and a so-called low part (11), a height such that, after assembly of said cap and of said closed container or bottle, rupture of said weakening line (44), during a first opening
• the height H is typically between 15 and 50 mm in the case of containers or bottles of sparkling wine, and between 5 and 25 mm in the case of containers or bottles of still wine.
• said joining means can also be constituted by a clip hooked under the glass ring of the neck, or by the cooperation of a threaded cap and a threaded ring.
• the securing means consists of a wire cap with an opening twist
• the weakening line must be at a height such that, the cap being applied to said neck, it is slightly below the twist opening, under the glass ring. It is the same when the securing means is constituted by a staple, because the ends of the staple, like the opening twist, hang under the glass ring which forms a constricted circular part.
• the joining means can be constituted by the cooperation of a threaded glassware ring and a capsule with threaded skirt.
• the weakening line is located just below the lower end of said threaded skirt.
• the Applicant has therefore observed the advantage of these means to achieve the objective, namely the removal of the upper part of the cap in its entirety and with a single gesture by pulling between the thumb and the index finger of one hand, the other hand holding the bottle, and this without altering the lower part of the cap and its decoration.
• the cap according to the invention therefore allows correct opening of the cap and under "standard" opening conditions.
• correct opening means a removal of the upper part of said cap which respects the integrity of the lower part, with a dividing line between the two which is typically a circle, so that the neck of the bottle remains "dressed” by the lower part of the cap and that remains the aesthetic effect of said cap.
• Figures 1 to 5 are partial side views of caps (1) according to the state of the art obtained by rolling a developed skirt and gluing the axial edges (60,61) and having different easy opening means placed on the skirt (4).
• the easy opening means are "tircell" (41) oriented with the end oriented in a more or less inclined manner.
• the means is a double line of weakening (42), and a single line
• Figure 6 is a side view of a conical cap (1) according to one embodiment of the invention.
• Figures 6a and 6b relate to the upper part of caps (1) in the form of overcapping capsules for bottles (2) of still wines, closed by a cork.
• Figure 6a is a schematic sectional view along the vertical axis
• Figure 6b is a side perspective view on which we can see the opening tab (46) positioned between the lines of high weakening (43) and low (44), the latter being located on the glass ring (20) of the bottle (2), the skirt (4) of the cap being crimped under the glass ring (20).
• Figure 7 is a side view of a bottle neck (7) provided with a cap (1) according to the invention where the tongue (46) is shown in the unfolded position, ready to be taken in hand by the consumer , the tongue being, before opening, not deployed and pressed as indicated by dotted lines in the figure, so as not to overflow from the rest of the cap and risk being accidentally pulled.
• FIG. 8 is a side view, similar to FIG. 7, after the consumer has pulled on the tongue (46) to form the opening strip (45), and thus uncovered the wire cap (3) which comprises a wire clamp (30) passing under the glass ring and a clamping eyelet (31).
• FIG. 9 represents what is obtained at the end of easy opening of said cap, the upper part (10) of the cap comprising the head (5) which remains integral with the opening strip (46).
• FIG. 10 is a view, in section, of the neck (7) of a bottle (2) showing what is obtained after removal of the upper part of the cap (10), with a wire cap (3) covering a stopper ( 8) and keeping it in position thanks to a tightening wire (30) passing under the glass ring (20) of the neck of the bottle, and with a lower part (11) of the cap (1) held in place on the neck (7).
• Figures 1a and 11b show, in top views, the inner face of two developed (6) of height H 'of the conical skirt (4) of the cap, formed from the film or sheet material, generally printed or decorated on the external face, used for the manufacture of said cap, and having:
• FIGs 12a to 15b similar to Figures 11a and 11b, show other methods of the invention.
• the layers of adhesive on the lower part (66) are represented by vertical hatching
• the reinforcing layers (67) are represented by horizontal hatching
• the superimposition of a reinforcement and a layer d the adhesive (68) is represented by cross hatching.
• FIGS. 15a and 15b the upper weakening line (430) is partial so as to make the head (5) integral with the opening strip (45), as illustrated in FIG. 9.
• Figure 16 is a top view of a developed (6) (inner side) of the conical skirt (4) of the cap, formed from the film or sheet material, generally printed or decorated on the outer face, serving during the manufacture of said cap, and having: - two high (430) and low (44) weakening lines, ending in notches (460, 461) along the axial edge 60 which will be the upper edge after rolling of said press, and a guilloche tongue (46), the low weakening line (44) delimiting a high part (69) and a low part (65) of height H ", the high weakening line (430) being a partial line which does not close on itself so that the head (5) remains secured to the opening strip (45), - a high reinforcement (47) of width L placed between the two lines of weakening (43) and (44) and of which a lateral end (47
• FIGS 17a to 21b are similar to Figure 16 and show other methods of the invention.
• the top reinforcement (47) is formed by two strips, each being close to a line of weakness (43,44).
• the top reinforcement (47) is formed of a thin plastic bead or net placed along the lines of weakness (43, 44) and along the tongue (46).
• the lower part (65) of the press (6) comprises a reinforcing strip coated with an activatable adhesive layer (68).
• the top reinforcement (47) has a variable width which increases first of all - if the tongue (46) is taken as an origin - then decreases. Its lower edge (471) adjoins the low weakening line (44), while its upper edge (470) adjoins the high weakening line (43).
• the top reinforcement (47) consists of a series of cords or threads of (48) plastic or varnish extending from one line of weakness (43) to the other (44).
• the press (6) has a low reinforcement (67) also formed of the same cord or net.
• the top reinforcement (47) is a track forming a conductive mouth which can be used for detection purposes.
• the upper reinforcement has an end (472) which projects beyond said tongue (46) as in FIG. 18a, the lower part (65) having a part (66) coated with a layer of activatable adhesive.
• FIG. 20b similar to FIG. 16, the lower part (65) is covered with a lower reinforcement (67).
• FIGS. 21a to 21d various types of tongues (46) are shown according to the invention.
• the cap may include, as a complementary means, a second so-called high weakening line (43) spaced, in whole or in part, upwards from the so-called low line by a distance L at least equal to 0.5.
• H being the height between the so-called low line and the upper end or top of said cap (1), weakening lines (43,44) which delimit an opening strip (45) of width L.
• this weakening line may not extend over the entire periphery of the cap and to form a partial weakening line (430), so that the head (5) of the cap remains integral with the opening strip (45).
• This partial weakening line (430) extends over an angle ⁇ typically ranging from 240 to 320 °.
• the gripping tab (46) is typically positioned along a generatrix of said cone and located between said two weakening lines (43, 44) and integral with said opening strip (45), said tab (46) using said notches ( 460,461) for automatically directing the tearing force when said cap is opened towards said two weakening lines, so as to easily open said cap, ensuring the integrity of the remaining bottom part (11) of said cap located below said bottom line (44), and releasing said wire cap (3) in case it is present.
• FIGS. 21a to 21d various types of tongues (46) are shown according to the invention.
• Said tongue (46) may include notches or recesses (460, 461) formed in said film or sheet material constituting said cap, notches which constitute the means for orienting the tearing force of said strip (45).
• the width Li of said tongue (46) ranges from 0.5.L to L, with L ranging from 1.5 to 4 cm.
• FIGS. 6 to 20 All the cap figures according to the invention (FIGS. 6 to 20) have a tongue (46), bordered in the axial direction by a high notch (460) and a low notch
• the caps or the expanses of these caps, comprise a second so-called "high" line of weakness (43) spaced, wholly or in part, upwards from the so-called "low" line d 'a distance L at least equal to 0.5.H.
• FIG. 18a illustrates the case of a cap comprising only a low weakening line (44)
• FIG. 11b illustrates the case of a cap comprising only two weakening lines, without other complementary means.
• FIG. 18b illustrates the case of a cap comprising a tongue of increasing width.
• the cap may include, as a complementary means a means of reinforcing the lower part (1 1.65) which may be constituted by a low reinforcement (67) increasing the mechanical properties of all or part of said lower part (1 1), and adhering to all or part of the inner face of said lower part (1 1.65), and at least along said low weakening line (44) and parallel to the latter , said bottom reinforcement (67) possibly comprising, on all or part of its surface, an activatable adhesive layer intended to adhere to said neck.
• This method is illustrated in Figures 12b, 14a, 14b, 15b, 17b, 18a, 19a, 19b, 20a and 20b.
• the whole of said bottom reinforcement (67) may comprise an activatable layer and form a circular strip (68), of a width at least equal to 5 mm and which may extend over all or part of the height of said bottom part (1 1), and adjoining at least the upper edge of said lower part (11), along said lower weakening line (44) and parallel to the latter.
• the cap may comprise, as a complementary means a means of fixing all or part of said bottom part (1 1.65).
• said lower part (11) can comprise, on all or part of its inner face, as a fixing means, a layer of activatable glue or adhesive forming a glued part (66) adhering, typically after activation, to said neck.
• Said glue or adhesive may comprise a complex layer formed of a layer adhering to the glass and of a layer adhering to the material constituting the interior surface of said cap, typically aluminum, paper or a layer of plastic or varnish. This mode has been shown in Figures 1a, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b, 14a, 15a, 18a and 20a.
• the cap may include, as a complementary means, a so-called top reinforcement means.
• This reinforcing means (47) of said upper part is chosen, in particular as to its nature and its location on the inner wall of said upper part, in order to increase the mechanical properties of all or part of said upper part so that, during said first opening of said container or of said bottle, the opening strip (45) formed by manually pulling on the gripping tab (46) carries with it the whole of said upper part (10).
• Said top reinforcement means (47) may include a lateral end (472) reinforcing all or part of said gripping tab (46). Said lateral end (472) can project beyond said gripping tab, so that said lateral end (472) can ensure the function of said gripping tab for the first opening, as illustrated in FIGS. 18a and 20a.
• This reinforcing means (47) may comprise a strip or a reinforcing cord which has a lower part or lower edge (471) adjoining at least the low weakening line (44).
• Figures 13a, 13b, 16, 18b, 20b illustrate the case where the top reinforcement is a strip which covers and reinforces the internal surface of the opening strip (45).
• FIGS. 12a, 12b, 17a, 17b, 18a, 19b and 20a various forms of reinforcing cord, some adjoining only the low line of weakening (FIGS. 12a, 12b, 14b,), optionally in the form of a very small width net (48) as shown in Figures 12b and 14b.
• Said reinforcing means (47) may comprise a top part or upper edge (470) belonging or not belonging to the same strip or reinforcing cord, said upper edges
• width L constant or not as a function of the angular position ⁇
• the width L typically ranging from 0.4 to 4 cm
• the average width L preferably being between 0 , 3 and 0.7 times H
• H being the height between the so-called low line and the upper end or top of said cap (1).
• FIGS 12a to 13a and 16 to 20b illustrate, without limitation, the wide variety of reinforcing means (47) possible according to the invention.
• the width L is not necessarily constant and it can increase, typically regularly, with the angular position ⁇ , the width L being the smallest at the level of said tongue (46) where the angle ⁇ is taken equal to 0, as shown in Figure 9.
• said top reinforcement means (47) can cover the entire interior surface (see FIGS. 13a, 13b, 16, 18b, 20b) or the interior periphery of the free part of said opening strip ( 45) (see Figures 17a, 17b,
• Figures 18a and 19a correspond to specific reinforcements insofar as there is a single weakening line (44) in Figure 18a, and where the reinforcement of Figure 19a is formed by a succession of threads (48) substantially parallel.
• Figures 1 la to 20b show different combinations of complementary means.
• At least one of these additional means is required to implement the invention, but it is also possible to use 2, 3 or all 4 of these additional means simultaneously, as in the case illustrated in FIG. 12b, as appropriate. to favor this or that aspect of the invention.
• said top (47) or bottom (67) reinforcing means can be formed either by a thin sheet or reinforcing strip, typically made of plastic, preferably PET or PP, or of paper, or by a layer or a bead or net of plastic, resin, varnish or paint, and generally by any means providing a localized increase in mechanical characteristics and making it possible to achieve the objectives of the invention.
• the material constituting said cap can be chosen from sheets or strips of Al or Al alloy, Sn or Sn alloy, of shrinkable plastic film, of multilayer complexes A1 / PO / A1, Al / PO / Paper, PO / Alu / PO, PO / Alu / POcharged, where Al denotes a layer of aluminum, PO a layer of polyolefin, preferably PE, which may contain a typically mineral filler.
• Said sheet or strip material may have a thickness ranging from 25 to 50 ⁇ m when the material is aluminum or alloy, a thickness ranging from 1 10 to 150 ⁇ m when the material is tin or alloy, a thickness ranging from 60 to 100 ⁇ m when the material is a shrinkable plastic film, and a thickness ranging from 60 to 110 ⁇ m when the material is a multilayer complex, typically A1 / PO / A1.
• Another object of the invention is constituted by a method of manufacturing caps (1) according to the invention, method in which:
• said low weakening line (44) and said notches (460, 461) are formed on an axial edge (60),
• a radial thread of adhesive which can be activated hot or by pressure (63) is optionally deposited, typically on the other axial edge (61) of said press, except on the part corresponding to or opposite said tongue (46),
• Figures 1 1 to 20b show the presses (6) according to the invention before running.
• the removal of said top or bottom reinforcement means can be carried out either by gluing a strip or a portion of strip (47), with the required mechanical characteristics, typically the resistance to tearing, and having the geometric shape typically required, of annular sector element, either by deposition, using a gun, a bead or net (48) of molten plastic, adherent and hardening during deposition.
• said top and bottom reinforcement means can be a self-adhesive label of appropriate shape which is applied to said press (6).
• This process according to the invention integrates perfectly with the usual processes for forming a cap by rolling presses and it therefore constitutes a process which is substantially as economical and productive as the standard process.
• Another object of the invention relates to the use of a cap according to the invention as an overcap for still wines.
• the caps according to the invention can also be used, after adaptation of the dimensions, for the overcapping of bottles for still wines, typically closed by a stopper, with or without head.
• the caps generally do not have grooves (9), and said complementary means is preferably a second weakening line (43).
• the low weakening line (44) is located at the level of the glassware ring (20), a ring specific to still wine bottles.
• the cap according to FIG. 6 is formed of a skirt (4) and a head (5), with two lines of weakness, a high line (43) and a low line (44) separated by a distance L equal to 30 mm, the low line (44) delimiting the upper or separable part (10) of the cap and the lower or fixed part (1 1) of the cap.
• This cap is formed by rolling a developed (6) skirt according to Figure l ia, and heat sealing or bonding of an axial edge (60) on the other (61) (not visible in Figure 6). There is shown in dotted lines the adhesive thread (63) ensuring the sealing from one edge to the other.
• said tongue (46) is guilloche, that is to say provided with a lattice of small reliefs obtained by stamping when cutting said press and said notches, so as to differentiate the tongue visually and aesthetically, and to enhance the visual contrast between the tongue and the rest of the capsule so that the consumer, from the outset, is encouraged to use said tongue (46) for the purpose of opening.
• the upper part (10) of the skirt is provided with a succession of grooves (9) which have both an aesthetic function and a technique in so far as they can contribute to obtaining a clear break in the line of weakness ( 44), without untimely tearing of the lower part (11) of the skirt.
• the lower part (11) of the skirt is covered on its inner surface with an annular layer of adhesive (66), which can be activated when the cap is placed on the neck, and shown in FIG. 6 in dotted lines over a height. H).
• the angle at the bottom of the notches (460, 461) was chosen to be 75 °.
• the conicity of the caps (1) was 6 °, that is to say the angle formed by the oblique walls of the skirt (4) shown in FIG. 6.
• Aluminum material was used as a 40 ⁇ m thick strip, decorated on the outside with a gold varnish.
• Caps developed (6) according to FIG. 15a were formed by applying, by screen printing, to a height Hi equal to 5 mm, a layer of commercial adhesive which can be activated with water.
• an A1 / PE / A1 complex was used in a 68 ⁇ m thick strip decorated on the external face with a gold varnish.
• a reel consisting of a strip support carrying self-adhesive paper labels of suitable shape and a height H 3 equal to 25 mm was supplied, then these labels were transferred to the blanks of press (6).
• test is analogous to test 2. It differs from it in that a reel consisting of a strip support carrying self-adhesive paper labels and coated with a layer of commercial adhesive activatable with water was supplied. 'water.
• the top reinforcement (47) consisted of a strip, based on PE adhering to the aluminum sheet, in black color, and typically 5 mm wide, the strips along the line or lines of weakness (43,44).
• said top reinforcement (47) was formed by depositing a net (48) of "hot-melt" type resin, at the using an application gun containing molten resin which solidifies on contact with the aluminum foil.
• a net of fast-drying UV resin is deposited.
• said top reinforcement (47) was formed by a strip, typically self-adhesive, covering the interior surface of the opening strip (45) and substantially the same width L as the latter.
• a high reinforcement (47) similar to that of the third modality has been formed, but the opening strip and its reinforcement have a width L which is not constant, and which typically increases from the gripping tab (46).
• the invention has the double advantage on the one hand of solving the problems of easy opening of the caps for sparkling wines in particular by allowing the removal of the entire upper part (10) of the cap in a single gesture with a hand, the other holding the bottle, and secondly to allow the manufacture of these caps without having to significantly modify the usual manufacturing methods.
• the invention discloses very numerous methods which can make it possible to favor this or that aspect during the easy opening of the cap, and therefore to propose caps having a level of technical performance adapted to the wishes of the customers.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Devices For Opening Bottles Or Cans (AREA)
• Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (9)

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• 1999
  • 1999-11-24 AT AT99972603T patent/ATE245576T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-11-24 AU AU13899/00A patent/AU757229B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1999-11-24 CA CA002352109A patent/CA2352109A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-11-24 PT PT99972603T patent/PT1152960E/pt unknown
  • 1999-11-24 EP EP99972603A patent/EP1152960B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-11-24 DE DE69909844T patent/DE69909844T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-11-24 PL PL99348602A patent/PL348602A1/xx unknown
  • 1999-11-24 ES ES99972603T patent/ES2204197T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-11-24 HU HU0104767A patent/HUP0104767A3/hu unknown
  • 1999-11-24 US US09/831,918 patent/US7210592B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-11-24 DK DK99972603T patent/DK1152960T3/da active
  • 1999-11-24 WO PCT/FR1999/002899 patent/WO2000030948A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1999-11-24 NZ NZ511884A patent/NZ511884A/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-11-25 AR ARP990106020A patent/AR026100A1/es active IP Right Grant

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