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
  • B65D55/066—Foil covers combined with outer closures and comprising interacting or interposed tamper indicating means visible through the outer closure, e.g. releasable coloured dyes, changeable patterns, pierceable membranes, visible through a transparent closure or through a window
• • 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
• • 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
  • B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
• • 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
  • B65D55/026—Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure initial opening or unauthorised access being indicated by a visual change using indicators other than tearable means, e.g. change of colour, pattern or opacity
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a closure with an optical tamper indicator for containers for fluids, particularly for alcoholic beverage bottles provided with an opening delimited by the free end of a neck which extends axially from the body of the bottle along a longitudinal axis and which has an outer surface, the closure comprising:
• a cap having a top wall arranged transverse the longitudinal axis
• tubular skirt connected to the edge of the top wall and extending axially along the outer surface of the neck towards the body of the bottle, the tubular skirt being provided with an internal thread which engages an external thread provided on the outer surface of the neck,
• the closure has a housing in which a capsule containing a first chemical reagent and a substrate containing a second reagent are disposed.
• the first reagent contained in the capsule has a first coloration and is visible through the top wall of the cap, which is -rendered suitably transparent.
• the axial movement of a portion of the cap causes movement of a structural element of the closure which brings about compression and then breakage of the capsule and the consequent release of the first reagent.
• the first reagent reacts with the second reagent contained in the substrate, causing an irreversible colour change which is adopted as a signal that the first opening has taken place and which is visible from the exterior of the closure so as to warn the purchaser.
• the technical solution disclosed in the above-mentioned document has the disadvantage that it makes the previously opened condition of the closure visible through the upper wall of the cap which cannot easily be seen by a purchaser, particularly if the bottles are placed on high shelves of a display unit.
• any opening operation performed with the bottle held upside down may be detrimental to the achievement of the desired effect .
• closure structures described in WO 01/090204 do not ensure that, if the closure is removed from the neck of the bottle axially, the relative movement between the elements which bring about the breakage of the capsule and the release of the first reagent will nevertheless take place, with the result that the closure could be reused.
• the object of the present invention is therefore to provide a clo ' sure having an optical indicator for indicating that the first opening has taken place, in which the sign that is indicative of opening is visible laterally through the side wall of the cap, at one or more points of the cap, and becomes visible even if the closure is removed from the neck of the bottle axially or is opened with the bottle held upside down, by attempted forcing.
• Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the closure according to the invention, partially in longitudinal section and fitted on the neck of a bottle, in the intact condition prior to the first opening,
• Figure 2 is a section taken on the line II-II of Figure 1,
• Figure 3 shows the closure of Figure 1 in the condition adopted after the first opening
• FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 3,
• Figure 5 shows the closure of Figure 1 opened and completely removed from the neck of the bottle
• Figure 6 and 7 show a first method of indicating the closed and opened conditions, with reference to a closure such as that of Figure 1,
• Figures 8 and 9 show a second method of indicating the closed and opened conditions, with reference to a closure such as that of Figure 1,
• Figures 10 and 11 show a third method of indicating the closed and opened conditions, with reference to a closure such as that of Figure 1,
• Figures 12 and 13 show a fourth method of indicating the closed and opened conditions, with reference to a closure such as that of- Figure 1,
• Figure 14 shows a second embodiment of the closure according to the invention, partially in longitudinal section and fitted on the neck of a bottle, in the intact condition prior_to the first opening,
• Figure 15 is a section taken on the line XV-XV of Figure 14,
• Figure 16 shows the closure of Figure 14 in the condition adopted after the first opening
• Figure 17 is a section taken on the line XVII-XVII of Figure 16, and
• Figure 18 shows the closure of Figure 14 opened and completely removed from the neck of the bottle.
• the neck of a bottle is indicated 1 and the body of the bottle is indicated 2.
• the neck 1 extends longitudinally from the body 2 along a longitudinal axis X-X and has an outer surface 3.
• the free end 4 of the neck 1 defines an opening 5 and has an annular step 6 on the outer side.
• the outer surface 3 of the neck 1 has a thread 7 in an intermediate position between the free end 4 and the body 2.
• the thread 7 may be formed directly on the surface itself or, as in the embodiment shown in the drawings, may be carried by a tubular sleeve 8 fitted on the neck 1 and fixed firmly thereto by conventional means, generally indicated 9, which prevent axial and angular movements.
• the closure comprises a cap, which is generally indicated 10 and is constituted by a top wall 11 having a peripheral edge 12 and arranged transverse the longitudinal axis X-X, and by a tubular skirt 13.
• the skirt 13 extends axially along the outer surface 3 of the neck 1 from the peripheral edge 12 of the wall 11 substantially as far as the region in which the neck 1 extends from the body 2 of the bottle.
• the tubular skirt 13 of the cap 10 comprises two portions, indicated 13a and 13b, the first of which is near to the top wall 11 and the second 13b of which is near to the body 2 of the bottle.
• the portions 13a and 13b may represent two distinct parts of the tubular skirt 13 which are fixed to one another axially, for example, by means of conventional chemical or ultrasound welding on the joining line 13c, or two regions of a tubular skirt manufactured as a single part .
• the portion 13a of the skirt 13 is normally made of plastics material which can confer on the wall the characteristic of being completely or at least partially transparent, in the ways which will become clear from the following description.
• the portion 13b is intended to be made of plastics material which is preferably not transparent.
• This portion 13b has, in its inner surface facing the neck 1, a thread 14 which engages the thread 7 associated with the neck 1.
• the top wall 11 of the cap 10 has a conventional stopper, generally indicated 15, facing towards the opening 5 of the neck, for closing the opening 5 and hence the bottle in a leaktight manner when the cap is in the closure position with the portion 13b of the skirt screwed onto the neck 1.
• the closure may also include conventional valve means which permit the outlet but not the inlet of liquid, although this is not illustrated.
• the closure comprises a first collar 16 provided on the top wall 11 of the cap 10 and extending axially towards the opening 5 of the neck 1 and a second collar 17 fixed radially to the inner surface of the tubular skirt 13 at an axial level substantially facing the free end 4 of the neck 1 and extending towards the top wall 11 of the cap 10.
• the second collar 17 is substantially parallel to the inner surface of the tubular skirt 13 and to the first collar 16 and terminates in an end 17a opposite the end 16a of the first collar. Both of the ends are positioned at substantially the same axial level along the axis X-X.
• the first collar 16 is spaced radially from the second collar 17 by a radial space 18 and the respective ends 16a and 17a are connected to one another radially, forming openings 19 which extend along arcs of a circle and are distributed around the circular periphery of the closure.
• the second collar 17 is spaced radially from the inner surface of the tubular skirt 13 of the cap, forming an annular space 20.
• a first element 21 which, in the embodiment shown, is of annular shape, is housed in the annular space 20.
• the first element 21 may alternatively be in the form of at least one circular sector partially occupying the annular space 20.
• the element 21 has an axial extent less than the axial extent of the annular space 20 which, as can be seen from the drawings, extends from the top wall 11 of the cap 10 as far as a connection 17b by which the collar 17 is joined to the tubular skirt 13.
• the function of the annular space 20 and of its axial extent relative to that of the element 21 will become clearer from the following part of the description.
• a second element 22 is arranged in a position concentric with the annular element 21 and, in the first embodiment of the invention, is in the form of a plurality of circular sectors distributed around the circumference of the closure and fitted in the respective openings 19 that are present between the collars 16 and 17.
• the elements 22 are connected to the element 21 by respective radial bridges , 23 positioned in the region of the ends 22a and 21a that face towards the top wall 11 of the cap 10 and each element 22 is connected to the step 6 of the rim of the neck 1 by means of a lip 22c positioned at the opposite end 22b.
• the angular movement imparted to the cap 10 brings about unscrewing of the tubular skirt 13 from the underlying thread 7 associated with the neck of the bottle and consequent axial movement of the skirt.
• the collars 16 and 17 also move axially, together with the skirt 13, whilst the elements 21 and 22, which are connected to one another by means of the radial bridges 23, remain unharmed by this axial movement.
• the element 21 becomes housed in the space 20 and the openings 19 alternating with the connecting bridges 23 slide on the elements 22 which are fixed to the neck 1 of the bottle.
• the inscription "OPEN” is associated with the collar 16 on its wall facing radially towards the outside of the closure, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, this inscription is thus made visible as soon as opening has taken place, when the element 21 remains anchored in the region 20a.
• the portion 13a of the tubular skirt 13 must be made of transparent material, at least in the regions radially facing the inscriptions "OPEN” .
• the inscription "CLOSED” may also be added or used as an alternative to the preceding solution on the radial outer wall of the collar 17. This inscription, which is visible when the closure is intact, is obscured by _the element 21 when the closure is opened and the element 21 remains anchored in the region 20a, thus giving an indication that the closure has been opened.
• the element 21 may be provided with the inscription "OPEN" reproduced on its radially outward-facing wall.
• the region of the portion 13a of the tubular skirt of the cap that faces the element 21 when the closure is intact is made of non-transparent material or is obscured, whereas the lower portion is formed so as to be transparent .
• the movement of the cap 10 causes the element 21 to be positioned in front of the transparent region of the skirt 13a and thus causes the inscription "OPEN" to appear.
• the inscription "OPEN" may be formed in the element 21 by perforation and may be made visible by a contrasting colouration provided on the underlying wall of the collar 17 when the element 21 is positioned in the space 20 as a result of the first opening of the closure.
• the closure structure according to the invention nevertheless causes breakage of the bridges 23, owing to their engagement with the sharpened edges 17c of the second collar 17, and movement of the element 21 in the region 20a so that the sign indicating the previously opened condition of the closure is made visible.
• the closure comprises a first collar 24 projecting from the top wall
• This collar is provided with recesses 25 distributed around the circumference and extending along arcs of a circle.
• Corresponding elements 26 shaped as arcs of a circle are fitted in the recesses 25 and extend axially, terminating in respective bent lips 26a which engage the annular step 6 of the neck 1 axially.
• each element 26 has a cam surface 26b facing radially towards the outside of the cap.
• a respective counter-element 27 also in the form of an arc of a circle and having a cam surface 27a complementary with the surface 26b, faces each arc-shaped element 26.
• Each arc-shaped element 27 preferably but not necessarily- has axial ribs 27b formed on the surface facing radially towards the corresponding element 26.
• Each element 27 is also connected flexibly at an end 27c, by conventional hinge means 28, to a bracket 29 projecting radially from the inner surface of the skirt 13.
• Each arc-shaped element 27 is also provided, on the surface facing radially towards the portion 13a of the skirt 13, with a step 27d, preferably but not necessarily extending over the entire arcuate width of the element 27.
• a tubular element 31 made, for example, of a material which changes its colour when subjected to compression is housed in the annular space 30 formed between the portion 13a of the tubular skirt 13 and each arc-shaped element 27.
• tubular element 31 may also be constituted merely by arc-shaped portions arranged radially in front of the elements 27.
• the axial movement of the tubular skirt 13 also brings about axial movement of the arc-shaped elements 27 and of the tubular element 31 which is pushed by the step 27d until radial movement of the elements 27 towards the portion 13a of the skirt 13 is brought about by the engagement between the opposed cam surfaces 26a and 27a.
• tubular element 31 may be formed in a manner such that, as a result of the compression, the colour change takes place solely in relation to predetermined regions so that the inscription "OPEN” or an equivalent alphabetical sign can appear in relation to these regions.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Devices For Use In Laboratory Experiments (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=34259989

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (9)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2003
  • 2003-09-02 AT AT03818415T patent/ATE402880T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-09-02 ES ES03818415T patent/ES2306926T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-09-02 DE DE60322601T patent/DE60322601D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-09-02 WO PCT/IT2003/000529 patent/WO2005021400A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2003-09-02 EP EP03818415A patent/EP1660383B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-09-02 MX MXPA06002129A patent/MXPA06002129A/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-09-02 EA EA200600523A patent/EA007707B1/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-09-02 CN CNB038270099A patent/CN100503383C/zh not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-09-02 AU AU2003265155A patent/AU2003265155A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-09-02 KR KR1020067004198A patent/KR100982879B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2003-09-02 UA UAA200603435A patent/UA80918C2/xx unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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