EP1603809A1

EP1603809A1 - Tamper evident closure for bottles, particularly for bottles containing valuable drinks

Info

Publication number: EP1603809A1
Application number: EP03712661A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Piero Battegazzore
Original assignee: Guala Closures SpA
Current assignee: Guala Closures SpA
Priority date: 2003-03-07
Filing date: 2003-03-07
Publication date: 2005-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-07
Also published as: WO2004078612A1; AU2003217473A1; CN100351147C; CN1750975A; EP1603809B1; EA200501438A1; DE60308556D1; EA007129B1; ES2272957T3; ATE340136T1; MXPA05009441A; BRPI0318168B1; UA79550C2; BR0318168A

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

Title: "Tamper evident closure for bottles, particularly for bottles containing valuable drinks"

The invention relates to a tamper evident closure for a bottle suitable for containing valuable drinks in accordance with the preamble to claim 1.

There are known closures for bottles which give a visible indication of attempts to remove them forcibly for fraudulent reasons . These closure devices are designed to prevent the original drink contained in the bottle from being replaced with another counterfeit drink.

To commit the fraud, the operations carried out by the counterfeiters consist, for example, in recovering an empty bottle already used, fitted with the relevant closure with the seal broken, but with the internal valve components intact, refilling it with an equivalent but low-value drink and re-closing the bottle by reconstructing the seal . In other cases, it has been found that to defraud the customer, attempts are sometimes 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 with another product of lesser value .

In consideration of the points mentioned above, the purpose of the invention is to propose a closure for bottles which has still more effective tamper evident means compared with those offered by known closures and which make the action of tampering as evident as possible and in an irreversible manner. According to the invention, this purpose is achieved by means of a tamper evident closure for bottles, particularly for bottles containing valuable drinks according to the characterizing part of claim 1. By means of the invention it is possible to produce a closure capable of giving an immediately visible indication of any attempt to break into the bottle where an attempt is made to remove or prize off the closure device . The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following detailed description of several forms of practical embodiment, illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example in the appended drawings, in which: figure 1A shows a front view of a first form of embodiment, partly in section, of a closure for bottles according to the invention; figure IB shows a view at an enlarged scale of a first portion of the closure in figure 1A; figure 1C shows a view at an enlarged scale of another portion of the closure in figure LA; figure ID shows a perspective view of a component of the closure in figure 1A; figure 2A shows a front view of a second form of embodiment, partly in section, of a closure for bottles according to the invention; figure 2B shows a view at an enlarged scale of a portion of the closure in figure 2A; figure 3A shows a front view of a third form of embodiment, partly in section, of a closure for bottles according to the invention; figure 3B shows a view at an enlarged scale of a portion of the closure in figure 3A; figure 4A shows a front view of a fourth form of embodiment, partly in section, of a closure for bottles according to the invention; figure 4B shows a view at an enlarged scale of a portion of the closure in figure 4A.

With reference to figures 1A-1D, the closure according to the invention is indicated by the number 1, while the bottle, the upper part only of which is shown, is indicated by the number 2.

The bottle 2, conventional in itself, comprises a neck 3 , of substantially cylindrical shape and having a mouth 4 and a body 5 connected externally to the neck 3.

The closure 1 comprises a pouring unit 6 of known type and which will therefore not be described below in detail, but only in its basic parts.

In particular, the pouring unit 6 comprises mechanisms 7, for example ball valve mechanisms, which are inserted inside the neck 3 of the bottle 2 so as to prevent fraudulent refilling of the bottle 2.

Above the valve means 7 is fitted the actual pourer body 8. Connected to this pourer body 8 by a screw thread is a stopper 10 which encloses it externally and which performs the functions of a stopper 10 with its position 9 transverse to the axis X-X of the closure. All the components of the pouring unit 8 are integral with each other and advantageously this pouring . unit 8 is locked to the body 3 of the bottle 2 both axially and in rotation in a manner well known to a person skilled in the art .

A tubular outer cap 11 is fitted above the stopper 10.

The cap 11 is made of plastics material, for example, and completely covers the stopper 10, and also the transverse portion 9 of this with the upper wall 12.

At said upper wall 12 of the cap 11, the stopper 10 and the cap 11 are locked in rotation by means of two respective knurled portions 13 and 14, one engaging in the other.

Moreover, still at the upper wall 12 of the cap

11, the stopper 10 and the cap 11 are locked axially by means of an internal annular projection 15 of the cap 11 which abuts against the lower part of the stopper

10.

Between the upper wall 12 and the lower end 16 of the cap 11 is fitted a breakable intermediate annular band 21. This annular band 21 comprises a segment in the form of a tab 21A, which is accommodated in a cut away area 22 in the body of the cap 11.

The annular band 21 is connected to the lower portion 16 of the cap 11 solely by means of the bridging pieces 23.

Provision is also made for a metal band 24 to enclose the cap 11 tightly at the breakable annular band 21. To anchor the metal band 24 firmly to the cap 11, an annular projection 25 is provided and an annular depression made in the cap, and the metal band 24 is moulded to these in its upper part. Locked to the pouring unit 8 is a sleeve 17 of tubular shape which externally encloses the neck 3 of the bottle 2.

At the bottom, the metal band 24 is wrapped internally around the lower end of the cap 11 and of the sleeve 17. This metal band 24 may be applied to the cap 11 by rolling.

The sleeve 17 has a portion 17B rigidly connected to the pourer 8 and a free end 17A facing towards the collar 18; moreover, the sleeve 17 has a projecting portion 17C which is seated in a groove 3A in the neck 3, so as to provide firm locking of the sleeve 17 axially and a pair of knurled areas 17D and 17E, one engaging in the other so as to lock the sleeve 17 in rotation.

The collar 18 is made integral in rotation with the cap 11 by means of annular knurled areas 19 and 20, one engaging in the other.

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

In other words, the collar 18 is located in an 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 a. longitudinal direction, or transversely to the axis X-X, between the outer cap 11 and the neck 3 of the bottle 2.

Moreover, axially, the collar 18 has a portion 18M of surface placed on top of the free end part 17A of the collar 17. Because the metal band 24 and sleeve 17 are connected to each other, the result is that the collar 18 is firmly anchored to the sleeve 17 and therefore to the bottle 2. Therefore the collar 18 is held in position by the cap 11, which secures said collar 18 against the free portion 17A of the sleeve 17.

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

With particular reference now to figure ID, it may be noted how this collar 18 is made in the form of a ring, in particular a truncated cone-shaped ring.

In fact, this truncated cone-shaped ring 18 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 18D, the latter concentric with the first and a third cylindrical zone 181; said second cylindrical zone 18D has a smaller radius of circumference compared with the first cylindrical zone 18C, while said third cylindrical zone 181 has a radius of intermediate value compared with said first cylindrical zone 18C and said second cylindrical zone 18D. The first cylindrical zone 18C and the second cylindrical zone 18D are connected to each other by means of a first inclined plane 18E so as to create a slope for purposes and requirements which 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 plane 18L.

Said first inclined plane 18E and second inclined plane 18L are angled relative to the axis X-X of the neck 3 of the bottle 2 at a predefined angle. For example this angle may assume angular values of between 30° and 60°.

In fact, as can be seen from figures IB and 1C, at the planes 18E, 18D and 18L the collar 18 assumes a trapezoidal cross-section. Provision is also made for the free lower portion

17A of the sleeve 17 to have an inclined plane while the collar 18 has instead a plane substantially transverse to the axis X-X of the neck of the bottle .

Alternatively, the free lower end of the sleeve 17A and the collar 18 both have an inclined plane.

Referring once more to figure ID, it will be noted that said inclined plane 18E has indicating means 18F which, in the specific form of embodiment, are in the form of a tooth having a flat upper surface 18G. This tooth 18F faces towards the free portion 17A of the sleeve 17, or this tooth 18F abuts against the free end 17 of the sleeve 17.

The outer surface 18B provides indicating means

18H, which in the specific form of embodiment, are in the form of a projection; this projection is useful in the operations of fitting the collar 18 in that ensures correct centring of the ring relative to the rest of the closure device 1.

When an attempt is made to remove the closure 1 fraudulently with tools which can be inserted between the base of the neck of the bottle and the lower portion 16, such tools, for example a screwdriver, exert a thrust from the bottom upwards, or a thrust acting towards the mouth 4 of the neck 3 of the bottle 2. The tools therefore impart a substantially axial movement to the closure 1.

Consequently, under the action of such tools, the collar 18 moves up onto the free end 17A of the sleeve 17, through the combined action of the tooth 18F (figure ID) and the ramp 18E.

In fact, the tooth 18F abuts against the free portion 17A of the sleeve 17 and therefore functions as a fulcrum for the ring 18, while the ramp 18E acts as a slope assisting in unseating the ring 18 with respect to the sleeve 17.

In this way, the ring 18 partly moves up onto the sleeve 17.

In the present form of embodiment, where the cap 11 is present, this will be broken or visibly damaged by the ring 18 which, being on top of the sleeve 17, acts as a wedge opening out the cap 11 until it breaks. In this form of embodiment, the metal band 24 will also be broken by the wedge action applied by the ring 18. In other words, the connection which is created between the ring 18, provided with the tooth 18F with a flat surface 18G, and the sleeve 17, causes the ring to move away from the centre once it is subjected to a thrust acting from the bottom upwards . Moreover, the inclined ramp 18E assists the ring 18 in moving up onto the free portion 17A of the sleeve 17, so as to cause the cap 11 and the metal band 24 to break .

In fact, it should be noted, advantageously, that the sleeve 17 is produced from plastics materials having suitable deformation at the loads to which it is subjected, while the collar 18 is produced from plastics materials having a mechanical strength lower than that of the plastics materials of the sleeve 17.

In this way, by means of the invention, the user/purchaser will have an immediate visual indication of any attempt to tamper with the closure device.

Moreover, there is also the advantage that the closure 1 is even more difficult to reconstruct than known closures, since the cap 11 is split and reconstructing it would be impossible or at least more difficult and costly compared with reconstructing the tamper evident ring of closures known in the sector.

Referring to figure 2A, the number 30 indicates the closure according to the invention, while the bottle, the upper part only of which is shown, is indicated by the number 31.

The bottle 31, conventional in itself, comprises a neck 32 of substantially cylindrical shape and having a mouth 33 and a body 34 connected externally to the neck 32.

The closure 30 comprises a pouring unit 35 of known type and which will therefore not be described below in detail, but only in its basic parts as required for understanding the invention. In particular, the pouring unit 35 comprises mechanisms 36, for example ball valve mechanisms, which are positioned inside the neck 32 of the bottle 31 so as to prevent it from being fraudulently refilled.

The actual pourer body 37 is fitted above the valve means. All the components of the pouring unit 35 are integral with each other and advantageously this pouring unit 35 is locked to the neck 32 of the bottle 31 both axially and in rotation in a manner well known to a person skilled in the art. Screwed onto the body of the pourer 37, by means of a screw connection 38, is a stopper 40 the closure end wall of which is indicated by the number 39.

The lower portion 44 of the closure 30 has an annular band 45. This annular band 45 in the upper portion 45A is connected to the pourer body 37 solely via an annular projection 46.

Locked to the pourer body 37 is a sleeve 47 of tubular shape which externally encloses the neck 32 of the bottle 31.

The sleeve 47 has a portion 47A rigidly connected to the pourer 37 and a free end 47B facing towards the base of the neck 32 of the bottle 31. In the present form of embodiment, this free end has a flat surface 47C substantially transverse to the axis X-X.

The sleeve 47 is locked in rotation to the neck 32 by means of annular knurled areas 48A and 48B, one engaging in the other, and is locked axially to the neck "32 of the bottle 31 by means of a groove 48C present in the neck 32 of the bottle 31.

With particular reference now to figure 2B, it will be noted that the annular band 45 has on its end portion 45B an inner surface 45C and an outer surface 45D. This inner surface 45C has a first cylindrical zone 45E and a second cylindrical zone 45F, the latter concentric with the first, and also a third cylindrical zone 45G. Said second cylindrical zone 45F has a smaller radius compared with that of the first cylindrical zone 45E and said third cylindrical zone 45G has a radius of intermediate value between that of said first cylindrical zone 45E and that of the second cylindrical zone 45F.

The first cylindrical zone 45E and the second cylindrical zone 45F are connected to each other by means of a first inclined plane 45H so as to create a slope, just as said second cylindrical zone 45F is connected to said third cylindrical zone 45G by means of a second inclined plane 451.

Said first inclined plane 45H and second inclined plane 451 are placed at a predefined angle relative to the axis X-X of the neck 32.

For example, this angle may assume values of between 30° and 60°.

Provision is also made for the free lower portion 47B of the sleeve 47 to have an inclined plane while the annular band 45 may instead have a plane substantially transverse to the axis X-X of the neck 32 of the bottle 31. Alternatively, the free lower end of the sleeve 47B and of the annular band 45 both have an inclined plane .

The sleeve 47 is therefore located axially, or parallel to the axis X-X, between the base of the neck of the bottle 31 and the inclined plane 45H of the end part 45B of the annular band 45 while in a radial direction, or transversely to the axis X-X, it is located between the annular band 45 and the neck 32 of the bottle 31.

When an attempt is made to remove the closure 30 from the neck of the bottle fraudulently with tools which can be inserted between the base of the neck of the bottle and the lower portion 44, such tools, for example a screwdriver, exert a thrust from the bottom upwards, or a thrust directed towards the mouth 33 of the neck 32 of the bottle 31.

The tools therefore impart to the closure 30 a substantially axial movement and therefore under the action of such tools, the annular band 45 moves up onto the free end' 47B of the sleeve 47, by means of the inclined plane 45H, which causes radial movement of the band.

In the present form of embodiment, the annular connection 46 of the annular band 45 will be broken and also the annular band itself will be broken or visibly damaged.

In this way, by means of the invention, the user/purchaser will have an immediate visual indication of any attempt to tamper with the closure device .

Moreover, there is also the advantage that the closure 30 is even more difficult to reconstruct than known closures, since the annular band 45 remains split and reconstructing it would be impossible or ' at least more difficult and costly compared with reconstructing the tamper evident ring of previous closures .

Now, considering in particular the form of embodiment shown in figures 3A-3B, it will be noted that the closure according to the invention, indicated as a whole by the number 50, is placed on a bottle, only the upper part 51 of which is shown, having a neck 52, of substantially cylindrical shape. The bottle has a mouth 53 and a base area 54 of the neck 52.

The closure 50 also comprises a pouring unit 55 of known type and which will therefore not be described below in detail, but only in its basic parts.

In particular, the pouring unit 55 comprises valve components 56 of the ball type, inserted inside the neck 52 so as to prevent fraudulent refilling of the bottle 51. The actual pourer body 57 is fitted above the valve means 56. Connected to this pourer body 57, by threaded means, known in themselves, is a stopper 58. All the components of the pouring unit 55 are integral with each other and advantageously the pourer body 57 is locked to the neck 52 of the bottle 51 both axially and in rotation in a manner well known to a person skilled in the art .

A cap 59, produced for example from plastics material, entirely covers the stopper 58. At its transverse wall 60, the cap 59 and the stopper 58 are locked in rotation by means of respective knurled portions 61, one engaging in the other, known in themselves.

Moreover, still at the upper wall 60 of the cap

59, the stopper 58 and the cap 59 are locked axially by means of internal annular projections 62, known in themselves .

The closure 50 also has a lower portion 63 which comprises a tubular band 64 capable of tightly enclosing a sleeve 65 underneath it, the sleeve being of tubular shape, connected in a known manner to the pourer body 57.

The sleeve 65 externally encloses the neck 52 of the bottle 51 and is locked in rotation to the neck 52 by means of annular knurled areas 66 and 67 (figure 3B) , one engaging in the other. The sleeve 65 is locked axially by means of an annular lip 68 which is seated in a groove 69 in the neck 52.

The sleeve 65 also has an upper portion 65A rigidly connected to the tubular band 64 and to the pourer body 57. A free end 65B faces towards anti- prizing means 70. In the present form of embodiment, this free end has a flat surface 65C placed substantially in a position transversely to the axis X-

X. The tubular band 64 is therefore anchored to the sleeve 65 by means of a first fold 64A made at the upper end of the band 64.

This fold 64A is obtained, for example, by means of a rolling operation. The tubular band 64, preferably of metal sheet, is folded at the bottom over the lower end of said anti- prizing means 70 by means of a second fold 64B.

In the present form of embodiment, too, the anti- prizing means 70 are positioned at the bottom between the base of the neck 52 of the bottle 51 and the end portion 65B of the sleeve 65.

These anti-prizing means 70 are made in the form of a ring and have an inner surface 70A and an outer surface 70B, where said inner surface 70A has a cylindrical zone 70C connected to the upper end of the anti-prizing means 70 by means of an inclined plane 70D, so as to create an inclined plane for purposes and requirements which will be described in more detail below.

The inclined plane 70D is positioned at a predefined angle relative to the axis X-X of the neck 52 of the bottle 51.

For example, this angle may assume values of between 30° and 60°.

When an attempt is made to remove the closure 50 fraudulently with tools which can be inserted at the base of the neck of the bottle, under the fold 64B of the band 64, such tools, for example a screwdriver, exert a thrust from the bottom upwards, or impart a substantially axial movement to the closure 50. Therefore under the action of such tools, the anti-prizing means 70 move up onto the end portion 65B of the sleeve 65, owing to the presence of the inclined plane 70D.

In the present form of embodiment, where the tubular band 64 is present, the latter will be broken or visibly damaged by the ring 70 which, once it is on top of the sleeve 65, acts as a wedge opening out the sleeve 65 and the tubular band 64 until the latter breaks .

In this" way, by means of the invention, the user/purchaser will have an immediate visual indication of any attempt to tamper with the closure .

Referring now to the form of embodiment shown in figures 4A-4B, in which the elements already described have been assigned identical numbers, it will be noted that the closure according to the invention is indicated as a whole by the number 80, while the bottle, the upper part only of which is shown, is indicated by the number 51.

The closure 80 is such that its lower portion 63 comprises a sleeve 65 of tubular shape, connected to the pourer body 57.

The sleeve 65 moreover externally encloses the neck 52 of the bottle 51.

The sleeve 65 is also locked in rotation to the neck 52 of the bottle 51 by means of the annular knurled areas 66 and 67, one engaging in the other, while it is locked axially by means of the annular lip

68 which is seated in the groove 69 in the neck 52.

The sleeve 65 has its upper portion 65A connected to the pourer body 57 and also has its free end 65B facing towards anti-prizing means 70.

It should be noted that in the present form of embodiment, the anti-prizing means 70 are located at the bottom between the base 54 of the neck 52 of the bottle 51 and the end portion 65B of the sleeve 65.

In this form of embodiment, too, the anti-prizing means 70 are made in the form of a ring and have the inner surface 70A and an outer surface 7OB, where said inner surface 70A has a cylindrical zone 70C connected to the upper end of the anti-prizing means 70 by means of an inclined plane 70D, so as to create a slope for purposes and requirements which will be described in more detail below.

The inclined plane 70D is positioned relative to the axis X-X of the neck 52 of the bottle 51 at a predefined angle.

For example, this angle may assume values of between 30° and 60°.

It should be noted that in the present form of embodiment, the anti-prizing means 70 are located axially, or parallel to the axis X-X, between the base 54 of the neck of the bottle and the end part of the sleeve 65.

In this form of embodiment, the anti-prizing means 70 are held in the position described above by connecting elements 81, which function as connecting means between the, sleeve 65 and the anti-prizing means 70. In particular, the connecting elements 81 may be spot welds or may be constituted by adhesive strips which are broken when the anti-prizing means 70 move up onto the sleeve 65.

Therefore, when an attempt is made to remove the closure 80 fraudulently with tools which can ^• be inserted between the base of the neck of the bottle, these tools, for example a screwdriver, exert a thrust from the bottom upwards, or impart to the closure 80 a substantially axial movement. Consequently, under the action of such tools, the anti-prizing means 70 move up onto the end portion 65B of the sleeve 65, owing to the presence of the inclined plane 70D.

From what has been described, it is concluded that all closures produced in accordance with the invention are difficult to reconstruct since, after they have been tampered with, there are visible breaks of many component parts.

Clearly, a person skilled in the art, for the purpose of meeting incidental and specific requirements, will be able to make numerous changes and produce numerous variants to the closures described above, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A tamper evident closure for a bottle, particularly for a bottle suitable for containing valuable drinks, - said bottle (2, 31, 51) having a neck (5, 34, 54) which extends axially along the longitudinal axis (X-X) of the bottle (2, 31, 51) from its base by which it is connected to the body of the bottle; said neck (5, 34, 54) having an opening (7, 33, 56) at its free end; said closure comprising means of stoppering (11, 39, 59) said opening of said neck (5, 34, 54) and being connected by means of a threaded connection to a pouring unit (6, 38, 55) ; - said pouring unit (6, 38, 55) being connected to a sleeve (17, 47, 65) arranged axially along the outer surface of said neck (5, 34, 54); characterised in that it also comprises: 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 breakable connecting means (46, 64, 81) to said sleeve (17, 47,

65) ; said annular means (18, 45, 70) and said lower end (17A, 47B, 65B) of said sleeve (17, 47, 65) having respective surfaces (11A, 18E; 47C, 451; 65C, 70D) facing towards each other; at least one of said facing surfaces (11A, 18E; 47C, 451; 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 a consequent radial movement of at least one circumferential zone of said annular means (18, 45, 70) .

2. A tamper evident closure according to claim 1 , characterised in that at least one of said surfaces (11A, 18E; 47C, 451; 65C, 70D) is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (X-X) by angular values within a range of between 30° and 60?.

3. A tamper evident closure according to claim 1 , characterised in that said breakable connecting means (46, 64, 81) are an annular band.

4. A tamper evident closure for bottles according to claim 1, characterised in that said breakable connecting means (46, 64, 81) are an adhesive.

5. A tamper evident closure for bottles according to claims 3 and 4, characterised in that said annular means (18, 45, 70) have a trapezoidal cross-section.

6. A tamper evident closure for bottles according to claim 1, characterised in that said breakable connecting means (46, 64, 81) are an annular projection.