EP2134639A2

EP2134639A2 - Cap lifter for plugging cap, plugging assembly including a cap and said cap lifter

Info

Publication number: EP2134639A2
Application number: EP08787776A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jacques Barange; Jérôme COLLARD; Christian Gonzalez; Laurent Hainon; Nicolas Leduc; Philippe Christophe
Original assignee: Alcan Packaging Capsules SAS
Current assignee: Societe Lorraine de Capsules Metalliques Manufacture de Bouchage SOLOCAP MAB SAS
Priority date: 2007-03-13
Filing date: 2008-03-12
Publication date: 2009-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 2028-03-12
Also published as: ES2443032T3; WO2008132332A2; UA96000C2; US20080223814A1; CN101622189B; AU2008244129B2; FR2913677A1; US20100078404A1; SI2134639T1; CL2008000724A1; HRP20131222T1; AU2008244129A1; WO2008132332A3; EP2134639B1; RU2009128371A; AR065591A1; CN101622189A; RU2478561C2; FR2913677B1; CA2675035C

Abstract

The invention relates to a cap lifter for the plugging cap of a bottle neck, that comprises a lid (30) with a first hook (38) including a contact surface with an lower surface of the plugging cap (14), and a transmission lever (32) hinged on the lid and provided with a catching portion (52) and a working portion (54) capable of bearing against an upper surface of the plugging cap. It also includes two other hooks (40, 42) including a contact surface with said lower surface and arranged so as to be offset in the circumferential direction on either side of the diametrically opposed position of the first hook by an angle lower than 90°, typically between 40° and 80°, and preferably between 40 and 50°.

Description

DECAPSULATOR FOR CLOSURE CAPSULE, CLOSURE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CAPSULE, AND DECAPSULATOR.

The present invention relates to the field of corking and uncorking bottles containing liquids to be drunk. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bottle opener for capping the neck or neck of a bottle, a capping assembly comprising a capping capsule and said bottle opener, its manufacturing process and a composite overcap capsule for the realization of such a capping assembly. 10

To achieve the capping of a bottle, conventionally used a metal capsule provided with a seal forming a barrier between the conditioned liquid inside the bottle and the surrounding environment. To obtain the uncorking of a bottle provided with such a capsule, a bottle opener is generally used which comprises a handle and a head provided with an opening so as to bear on a lower surface and an upper surface of the capsule.

[0003] Furthermore, US Pat. No. 2,548,697 discloses a bottle opener provided for deforming and removing a corking cap from the neck of a bottle in order to reuse said capsule. This bottle opener comprises a cap provided with a first hook comprising a contact surface with a lower surface of the closure cap, and a transmission lever articulated on the cover and provided with a gripping portion and a working portion adapted to bear against a upper surface of the capping capsule

[0004] Whether they have a handle and a head with an opening or that they have a structure similar to that of US Pat. No. 2,548,697, these bottle openers are effective for unblocking operations but, in the case where it is desired to integrate a system of unblocking to the bottle, they prove to be unsuitable

30

The present invention therefore aims to remedy this drawback The present invention also aims to provide a cap bottle opener for capping a bottle that is particularly piatic, efficient, simple and economical According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a bottle cap closure bottle opener, said capsule having an upper surface and a lower surface, said bottle opener comprising a cap provided with a first hook comprising a contact surface with said lower surface, and a transmission lever hinged to the hood and provided with a gripping portion and a working portion adapted to abut against said upper surface. Said bottle opener is also provided with two other hooks which comprise a contact surface with said lower surface and which are offset in the circumferential direction on either side of the position diametrically opposite the first hook, of an angle less than 90 °, lo typically between 40 ° and 80 °, preferably between 40 ° and 50 °.

Advantageously, said transmission lever is articulated on said cover so as to pivot about an axis or pivot integral with the cover so that, when said transmission lever is pivoted through said gripping portion. , 1} said working portion abuts against said upper surface of said capsule and that, when continuing to rotate said transmission lever, the force transmitted at said pivot causes a slight rotation of said first hook.

With such a bottle opener, it becomes possible to obtain an uncorking of a capsule mounted on the neck of a bottle in a particularly simple and effective manner. Indeed, when the transmission lever linked to the hood is supported against the upper surface of the closure cap and the user continues to rotate the transmission lever, the hook tends to move upward, this which causes the bottle to be uncapped.

In addition, the provision of a hood comprising the first hook and the other two hooks can be used to mount the bottle opener on the bottle, after the introduction of the capsule and before the marketing of said bottle All hooks is a means or rather a set of axial retaining means of v) bottle opener on the capsule Their arrangement is such that this maintenance can be ensured at least _j ntil the opening of the bottle. There is thus a bottle with an integrated decapping means [0010] Advantageously, the first hook is aligned with the transmission lever, without any offset with respect to the circumferential direction. In other words, it is aligned radially with said transmission lever.

In general, the capsule has an outer side wall between said upper surface and said lower surface, the latter being typically the end wall of said outer side wall. Advantageously, said hooks are arranged on said hood so that they can move radially outwards in order to cross, during a first depression, the outer lateral wall of the capsule and, once said outer side wall has been crossed. moving radially inward to a position where they are in contact with said bottom surface.

Preferably, the cap comprises an axial portion in the form of annular skirt h and the hooks are formed at an axial end of the skirt. _J upe is flexible or provided with axial slots defining flexible axial portions and the ends of which are said hooks. The hooks extend radially inwards. Of course, said hood, which is the body of the bottle opener, may have a radial portion and an axial portion more openwork II may for example be simply 0 as a set of three integral arms, each of the arms being provided at its end with the One of said hooks Because of the particular role assigned to the first hook in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the arm associated with the first hook preferably has a greater rigidity than the other two arms, which themselves must instead have a some flexibility to facilitate the introduction of the bottle opener on the capsule.

In one embodiment, the cover comprises a transverse wall subsequently called "radial portion" provided with at least one elastic member formed on the radial portion and adapted to bear against the upper surface of the capsule. clogging. The elastic member increases the stability of the bottle opener when mounted on the m capsule substantially limiting the risk of deterioration thereof, when it has a slightly convex general shape Advantageously, the neck of the bottles being generically provided with a glass ring, the transmission lever comprises a recess whose profile is adapted to the shape of said glass ring.

[0015] In one embodiment, the bottle opener further comprises a cap for the dressing of the bottle

In one embodiment, the bottle opener is made with at least one synthetic material, for example by molding. Of course, it is also possible to provide other materials, for example metal or wood

Advantageously, the cover and the transmission lever are provided with means which prevent the transmission lever from returning, once the uncapping is performed, to its initial position With such means, the transmission lever, by the position that it is taken with respect to the bottle, indicates that the capsule has been at least depressed and deformed and that the hermetic sealing is no longer ensured. In this way, the lever serves as a witness of first opening, that this has been Voluntary or not In particular, in the event of involuntary opening during the handling of the bottles, it is an easily distinguishable witness in the mass of the capsulated bottles offered for sale and which makes it possible to isolate the defective bottles.

Thus, according to a particular embodiment, the transmission lever has lugs on the working portion, called "first lugs", typically in the upper part of the end of one or more side walls of said portion of The first> lugs cooperate with lugs, called "second lugs", typically mounted on one or more axial flexible lugs connected to the radial portion - or transverse wall - of the hood, located in front of said sidewalls. In the examples presented hereinafter, the transverse wall is provided with two axial flexible tabs which surround said working portion and which are placed in front of two side walls of said working portion. Before the decapping, the transmission lever is placed in a substantially vertical manner, so that it marries at most the profile of the bottle The first lugs, arranged on the working portion, are located above the second lugs, each having vis-à-vis an inclined surface (relative to the horizontal) serving as a ramp so that, when the lever is actuated to open the capsule, the ramps of the first lugs come into contact with the ramps of the second lugs then the first lugs continue their downward movement while the second lugs deviate towards the outside under the effect of the passage of the first lugs, thanks to the flexibility of said flexible lugs. Before the working portion reaches the capsule, the first lugs reach a low enough position so that there is no longer any contact with the second lugs, so that the flexible lugs return to their initial position by elastic return. The first lugs and the second lugs then face horizontal surfaces serving as axial stops, preventing the first lugs from rising above the second lugs, and consequently the transmission lever returning to its position. initial

Of course, it is possible to provide the said side walls of the n working portion and the or said axial flexible tabs of a plurality of first lugs and second lugs, so as to achieve non-return notches Such a solution is preferred because forces acting for example on the end of the gripping arm, while it is in a position different from its mounting position, can be greatly amplified, which can cause the rupture of said notch backs and delete

20 the "first opening witness" function assigned to them. On the other hand, the multiplicity of the non-return notches makes it possible to obtain the immobilization of the lever at a position close to the most extreme position that has been imposed on it.

According to a second aspect, the invention also relates to a set of

2D capping comprising a capsule intended to be mounted on the neck of a bottle, said capsule having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a bottle opener which is provided with a cap comprising a means or rather a set of axial retention means said cap on the capsule and a transmission lever articulated on the hood and provided with a gripping portion and a working portion adapted to bear against a

}) upper suiface of the closure cap Advantageously said set of axial retaining means comprises a hook and at least two other hooks shifted in the circumferential direction of pait and other of the position diametrically opposed to the first hook, the offset angle being less than 90 °, typically between 40 ° and 80 °. Said hooks have a contact surface with the lower surface of said capsule. Advantageously, said transmission lever is articulated on said cover so as to pivot about a pivot so that, when said transmission lever is pivoted through said gripping portion, said working portion comes into operation. pressing against said upper surface of said capsule and, when continuing to rotate said transmission lever, the force transmitted at said pivot causes a slight rotation of said first hook.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a closure assembly comprising a capsule and a bottle opener. The capsule is mounted on the neck of a bottle and the bottle opener is provided with a cap comprising a set of means for axially retaining said cap on the capsule and a transmission lever articulated on the cap and provided with a portion grasping and a

15 working portion adapted to bear against an upper surface of the closure cap. This process is characterized by the following steps. a) is provided with a closure cap having an upper surface and a lower surface, for example a crown cap whose transverse wall constitutes said upper surface and whose lower end of the lateral or axial wall constitutes said lower surface; b) fixing said closure cap on the neck of the bottle by conventional means; for example, forcing said crown cap force on the neck of the bottle; c) a cover having an axis and comprising at least one pivot oriented perpendicularly to said axis and a lateral portion provided with a set of axial retaining means for cooperating with the lower surface of said capsule are provided; clogging; for example, it is provided with a hood having flexible arms or a side upe slotted so as to be locally flexible, the skirt portions or arms being provided with a plurality of hooks comprising a surface intended to come into abutment m against the lower end of the side wall of the crown cap; d) axially bringing said hood and said capsule closer together until, once said hood has come into abutment on said closure cap, said axial retaining means cooperate with the bottom surface of said closure cap to prevent said hood from becoming detached from said closure cap; e) a transmission lever is provided, comprising a gripping portion and a working portion separated by an area comprising a bore, said working portion j comprising a bottom transverse wall adapted to bear against the upper surface of said portion; capping capsule and an end wall, said working portion being provided with an opening slot connecting said bore to said end wall, said bore having a diameter slightly greater than said pivot, said slot having a width slightly less than said pivot ;

F) the said transmission lever is brought in front of the bottle provided with the said closure cap and the said cover, so that the said emergent slot reaches the right of the said pivot and the transmission lever is pushed laterally until the pivot is trapped. inside said bore.

The material of the transmission lever is, at least at the level of the working portion and more particularly that of said opening slot, sufficiently flexible to allow the passage of the pivot in the slot and its snap-in trapping.

To avoid that said transmission lever can be easily removed once the pivot has been trapped in its bore, the shape of the edges of the open slot can be modified, for example by attaching a flexible tongue oriented obliquely thereto. relative to the slot, so that it bends to let the pivot freely pass in the direction of the bore but it opposes any displacement in the opposite direction of said pivot.

z> [0024] To facilitate the introduction of the transmission lever on the hood in economically satisfactory production rates, the cover is advantageously provided with regularly distributed axial studs, typically at least three, whose lower end is supported on the upper surface of said capsule and which facilitate a good positioning of the cap on the capsule mounted on the neck, in particular a good

W) alignment of the axes of the neck and the closure cap with the axis of the cover and a precise axial position of the cap relative to the capsule. Advantageously, said set of axial retention means comprises a first hook and at least two other hooks offset in the circumferential direction on either side of the diametrically opposite position to the first hook, the offset angle being less than 90. °, typically between 40 ° and 80 °.

Advantageously, the gripping portion is substantially perpendicular to the working portion so that it is substantially vertically during the lateral depression of the transmission lever in the direction of the hood and that once the transmitted lever transmission attached to the hood, it closely matches the profile of the bottle.

10

Advantageously, the cover and the transmission lever are provided with means which prevent the transmission lever from returning, once the uncapping is performed, to its initial position.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the capping assembly is covered with an overcap, typically a cap such as those covering the effervescent wood bottles. Thus, between steps d) and e), the following steps are introduced: (d) an overcap is provided with a head and a side skirt having a notch or a window at the right of said pivot when said cap overcap is mounted on said hood; for example, said overcap is obtained by gluing a blank in which said window is cut before forming a truncated cone. It may also be a cap, typically of tin alloy, which has been stamped and which is mounted on a mandrel for cutting said window, for example by external application on the cylindrical skirt of the cap. a rotary tool whose profile and planetary movement have been adapted to the shape of said cutout; d ") said hood is wrapped around said hood so that said window reaches the right m of said pivot;") said cap is applied to said hood and is crimped on the neck of the bottle by forming a necking on the counter-ring However, the preceding method is advantageously replaced by a method allowing higher production rates, in which use is made of overcaping seals comprising sites where the connection between the overcap cap 5 itself and said hood is t done before mounting on the neck of the bottle. Thus, the invention also relates to a composite overcapment cap comprising an overcap provided with a head and a side up and a cap ot such as that described above, provided with a head and a side portion , willing

10 coaxially inside said cap so that the head of said cover is held s solid, typically by gluing, the head of said overfilling cap, said cap comprising at least one pivot oriented perpendicular to the axis and said side skirt being provided with a window at the right of said pivot, said lateral portion being flexible and provided with a set of axial retention means for cooperating with the lower surface of a closure cap mounted on the neck of a bottle. As previously described, the flexible side portion may be in the form of flexible arms or a slit side skirt so as to be locally flexible, the skirt portions or the arms being provided with a plurality of hooks including a surface for to abut against the lower surface of the capping capsule

Advantageously, said set of axial retention means comprises a first hook and at least two other hooks offset in the circumferential direction on either side of the position diametrically opposed to the first hook, the angle of the> offset being less than 90 °, typically between 40 ° and 80 °. Said hooks have a surface intended to come into contact with the lower surface of the capsule Said cover is to be secured to a transmission lever via said pivot, around which one can rotate said transmission lever via a gripping portion, a working portion of said transmission lever bearing against the upper surface of the capsule. Advantageously, the first hook is arranged on the cover so that, when said lever is rotated further, of transmission, the force transmitted at said pivot causes a slight rotation of said first hook. This situation is favorably encountered when said first hook is aligned radially with the center of the pivot, whose mediating plane advantageously passes through the axis of the cover.

Once said composite overcap mounted on the neck and secured to it through the cooperation between the axial retaining means of the cap and the bottom surface of the closure cap, it proceeds to the implementation instead of the transmission lever by following steps e) and f) to _j described.

K) [0032] The invention also relates to a bottle containing a liquid to be drunk, especially an effervescent liquid, provided with a closure assembly or an overcap as defined above.

The present invention will be better understood from the study of embodiments taken as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

- Figures 1 and 2 are views in section, respectively along I-I and II-II according to a bottle opener according to a first embodiment of the invention mounted on the neck of a bottle;

- Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of the bottle opener of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5 is a sectional view of a bottle opener according to a second embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 6a is a diametrical sectional view of a closure assembly according to the invention comprising a closure cap, a bottle opener and an overcap;

- Figure 6b shows, in a right view and in section along III-III, a detail of the assembly> - capping of Figure 6a, at the end of the working portion;

FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate variants of the working portion of the transmission lever of FIG. 6a, at the level of the open slot

- Figures 8a and 8b illustrate, in perspective, the two halves of a closure assembly according to the invention, similar to that illustrated in Figure 6a.

30

In Figures 1 to 4, there is a décapsuleui 10 designed for unclogging a bottle 12 on which is mounted a cap 14 of capping In Figures 1 and 2, the bottle opener 10 is shown in a position assumed vertical The bottle 12, axis 16, is shown here partially. It comprises a neck 18 whose upper end is covered by the capsule 14 capping.

The closure capsule 14 comprises a transverse wall or radial portion 20 closing off the upper end of the neck or neck 18, and an axial portion 22 intended to be compressed on the periphery of the neck. The axial portion 22 is generally made in the form of a plurality of teeth. The capsule 14 also comprises a seal 24 overmoulded or attached to the radial portion 20 and the axial portion 22. The w seal 24 bears against the upper end of the neck 18. It is for example made of polyethylene (PE). The seal 24 is here substantially flat. Alternatively, it may further comprise a short axial skirt projecting inside the neck 18 of the bottle 12.

The bottle opener 10, coaxial with the axis 16, essentially comprises a cap or cap 30 and a transmission lever 32 articulated on the cap 30 to allow the bottle to be uncapped or uncapped.

The cover 30 has a transverse wall or radial portion 34 centered on the axis 16 and an axial portion in the form of an annular skirt 36 extending axially downwards from a large diameter edge of the radial portion 34. The radial portion 34 is offset axially upward relative to the capsule 14. It is thus provided an axial space between the portion 34 of the cap 30 and the radial portion 20 of the capsule 14. 5 [0039] The cover 30 also comprises hooks 38, 40 and 42 formed at the free lower end of the skirt 36 and extending radially inwards. The hooks 38, 40 and 42 are arranged in the same radial plane.

More specifically, the hooks 38, 40 and 42 each comprise a radial surface w 38a, 40a, 42a extending radially inwardly an inner edge of the skirt 36, which is extended at a small diameter edge. by a frustoconical surface 38b,

40b, 42b flaring outwardly and connecting to an outer edge of the skirt 36. The radial surfaces 38a, 40a, 42a form contact surfaces with a lower surface of the axial portion 22 of the capsule 14. The radial dimension of the surfaces 38a, 40a, 42a is greater than that of the axial portion 22 of the capsule 14. The frustoconical surfaces 38b, 40b, 42b form, for their part, bearing surfaces on an annular upper surface 44 of the glass ring 18a of the neck 18 of the bottle 12.

The hooks 38, 40 and 42 of the cover 30 are of smaller diameter than the axial portion 22 of the capsule 14, so that there is a diametrical or radial interference between these two parts. The hooks 38, 40 and 42 thus form axial retention means of the cap 30, and more generally of the bottle opener 10, on the capsule 14 and on the bottle 12.

As will be described in more detail later, when using the bottle opener 10, the hook 38 makes it possible to obtain the decapsulation of the capsule 14.

The hood 30 also comprises slots 70, 72 and 74 formed in the thickness of the skirt 36. The slots 70, two in number, extend axially from the lower free end of the skirt 36 on almost the entire height of it. Each slot 70 is located angularly in the immediate vicinity of one of the free circumferential ends of the hook 38. In other words, the slots 70 delimit on the skirt 36, 0 a tongue which has at its free end the hook 38.

In a similar manner, the slots 72 and 74 are associated with the hooks 40 and 42, respectively. However, the slots 72 and 74 have an axial dimension reduced relative to that of the slots 70. The slots 72 and 74 extend here from the lower free end of the skirt 2y 36 _j ntil halfway up it.

The cover 30 further comprises resilient slats or lugs 46, 48 which have a generally curved shape. The legs 46, 48 extend from a lower surface of the radial portion 34 of the cover 30, _j Up to abut against the upper surface in the radial portion 20 of the capsule 14 root lugs 46, 48 is situated in the vicinity of the _j UPE 36. the tabs 46 and 48 are symmetrical with each other with respect to an axial median plane P containing the axis 16. [0046] In order to obtain an articulation of the transmission lever 32 of the cover 30, the latter further comprises a pin or pivot 56 provided on the _j UPE 36, axially adjacent to the radial portion 34. The pivot 56 s' extends perpendicularly to the plane of FIG. 1. The skirt 36 is discontinuous at a point of its circumference and delimited in the circumferential direction by two axial surfaces (not referenced) extending over the entire height of said skirt. The pivot 56 extends transversely between these two axial surfaces.

The pivot 56 and the hook 38 are included in the median plane P containing the axis lo 16, as will be described in more detail later. The hook 38 and the transmission lever 32 are aligned radially, without circumferential offset. It should be noted that, in FIG. 1, the isolated section of the hook 38 may appear astonishing: in fact, as can be seen in a similar configuration illustrated in FIG. 8b, the hook

38, whose circumferential extent is significantly greater than the thickness of the lever,

Typically 2 to 5 times said thickness, forms a kind of "bridge" between two skirt portions 36 which extend on either side of the transmission lever 32, one of them being hidden by the one in the figure.

The transmission lever 32 comprises, meanwhile, an axial gripping portion 52 and a working portion 54 extending radially inwardly an upper end of the gripping portion. It has a general L shape.

The gripping portion 52 of the transmission lever 32 is in the form of a rod which extends axially downwards, along the bottle 12 is meant here by rod> any element of elongated general shape and thin, regardless of cross sectional section that can be indifferently rectangular, round, parallelepiped, oval, etc.

The transmission leMer 32 comprises a recess 60 in correspondence of 10 form with the glass ring 18a of the neck 18 of the bottle The recess 60 allows to position the gripping portion 52 against the bottle 12 The gripping portion 52 comprises, at its upper end, a recess (not referenced) C-shaped and adapted to the diameter of the pivot 56 for mounting the transmission lever 32 on said pivot 56 by enchquetage. Of course, it is possible to provide for the mounting of the transmission lever 32 on the cover 30 by any other suitable means.

[0052] The working portion 54 of the transmission lever 32 has a generally rectangular shape and extends radially inwardly of the _j UPE 36, through the space between the two axial delimiting surfaces circumferentially said skirt. The w working portion 54 has a lower radial surface 62 whose free end or tip 63 is intended to bear against the upper surface of the radial portion 20 of the capsule 14. The working portion 54 is dimensioned so that the tip 63 is substantially located at the axis 16.

[0053] The transmission lever 32 may advantageously be made in one piece by molding a synthetic material, such as polyoxymethylene (POM) or polycarbonate (PC). In a similar way, the cover 30 is also obtained by molding a synthetic material, for example POM or PC, so as to obtain a single piece. The transmission lever 32 and the cap 30 may be made of the same or different materials, for example metal or vegetable materials.

To unclog the capsule 14, the procedure is as follows:

In a first step, the bottle opener 10 is mounted on the neck of the bottle 12 so as to snap the hooks 38, 40 and 42 under the cap 14, the radial contact surfaces 38a, 40a and 42a, abutting against the lower surface of the axial portion 22 of the capsule 14. In this position, the frustoconical surfaces 38b, 40b and 42b bear against the upper surface 44 of the counter-ring 18a of the bottle 12.

V) The assembly of the decapsulator 10 is facilitated by the presence of the slots 70, 72 and 74 Then, the transmission lever 32 is rotated around the pivot 56, via the gripping portion 52, so that the working portion 54, and more precisely the tip 63, comes to bear against the upper surface 14. When the transmission lever 32 is further pivoted, the force exerted on the pivot 56 is transmitted to the hook 38, which causes the hook to be slightly rotated outwards, and more precisely of the tongue of the _j roup 36 bounded by the slits 70. One thus obtains simultaneously a radial outward movement and an axial upward displacement of the hook 38. During this rotation of the tab to the skirt 36 with the hook 38, a portion of the capsule 14 is slightly protruding radially from the rest of the skirt 36.

When we continue to rotate the transmission lever 32, we obtain the uncapping of the bottle 12. The bottle opener 10 is then removed from the bottle 12, the cap 14 remaining trapped therein, through hooks 38, 40 and 42.

/ 5

Thus, when using the bottle opener 10, the transmission lever 32 moves between a rest position and a working position in which the tip 63 of the working portion 54 presses against the upper surface of the capsule 14, and in which the hook 38 exerts a force on the lower surface of the capsule 14. The hooks 40 and 0 42 allow for their part to maintain the position of the cap 30 on the bottle 12, thanks to the prediction of the surfaces 40b, 42b in conformance with the upper surface 44 of the glass ring 18a of the bottle 12.

The arrangement of the hook 38 and the transmission lever 32 in the same axial plane P provides a good unclogging of the capsule 14. Indeed, the force exerted by the user on the transmission lever 32 once the working portion 54 bears against the capsule 14, it is transmitted directly to the hook 38.

In addition, the Applicant has determined that the absence of hook disposed radially radially facing the hook 38 facilitates the uncapping. The Applicant has also noticed that the arrangement of the hooks 40 and 42 makes it possible to obtain a good hold in position of the cover 30 on the capsule 14, when they are offset in the direction circumferential on either side of the position diametrically opposed to the first hook, an angle less than 90 °, typically between 40 ° and 80 °, preferably between 40 ° and 50 °, for example 45 °.

The Applicant has further noted that in order to obtain a good uncapping during the movement of the hook 38 under the action of the transmission lever 32, the circumferential dimension of said hook 38 is advantageously between 10 and 15% of the circumferential dimension of skirt 36. Advantageously, the crrconferential dimension of hooks 40, 42 is equal to half that of hook 38. The angular dimension of

W hook 38 may for example be of the order of 45 °.

In an alternative embodiment it is readily conceivable that it is possible, without departing from the scope of the invention, to provide a different number of hooks or a radial bead continuous or segmented. However, as mentioned above, the use of three hooks makes it possible to obtain particularly effective decapsulation and stable positioning of the bottle opener on the bottle.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 5 in which the identical elements bear the same references differs in that the bottle opener 10 further comprises a cap 0 66 of generally annular shape which extends axially downwardly a lower end of the skirt 36. The cap 66 bears on the glass ring 18a and extends axially along the bottle 12 in the vicinity of the latter. In order to facilitate its mounting around the bottle 12, the cap 66 is advantageously split.

2J [0064] The cap 66 can be used for dressing the bottle 12, or to present information relating to the liquid contained in the bottle 12 and easily visible. For this purpose, the axial dimension of the cap 66 is advantageously between 50 and 300% of that of the cap 30. However, it is also possible to provide a cap covering the bottle to its base.

30 In this embodiment, the cap 66 is integral with the skirt 36 so as to obtain a one-piece cap 30. It is easily understood that it is also possible to make two separate parts and to provide to bring the cap 66 on the cover 30.

Thanks to the invention, and has a bottle opener that is particularly simple to use and effective. Moreover, the existence of at least one hook forming axial retention means of the cap on the capsule makes it possible to mount the bottle opener on bottle before the marketing thereof. This produces a bottle provided with a closure assembly consisting of the capsule and the bottle opener which once purchased by the consumer can be opened without external accessory.

It is readily conceivable that it is possible to provide such a closure assembly on bottles intended to allow the packaging of different types of liquids, such as water, wine, fruit juice, alcoholic beverages. or effervescent drinks such as soda or Champagne. In addition, in the case of effervescent beverages of the Champagne type, a satisfactory opening safety is obtained when the bottle is uncorked, avoiding a projection of the stopper.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 6a, in which the identical elements bear the same references as before, is particularly well suited to bottles for effervescent drinks such as champagnes or sparkling wines. The closure assembly comprises a capsule 14 mounted on the neck 18 of a bottle, a bottle opener 10 comprising a cap 30 and a transmission lever 32, is coated with a cap or overcap 90.

The cover 30 comprises a transverse wall or radial portion 34 in the form of a transverse top wall centered on the axis 16 and a pivot 56 oriented in a horizontal direction, that is to say perpendicular to the axis 16 of the neck. It also comprises an annular skirt 36 extending axially downwards from the periphery of the radial portion 34. This skirt 36 is slotted so that it reveals at least flexible axial portions provided at their ends with means axial restraint, such as the hooks 38, 40 and 42 described in the preceding examples, which are in abutment axial with the lower surface of the capsule 14 The radial portion 34 is offset axially upwardly relative to the capsule 14. Elastic lamellae, of generally curved shape, extend from a lower surface of the radial portion 34 , _j up to abut against the upper surface of the radial portion 20 of the capsule 14. the> cover is also provided with three axial studs 89 regularly distributed, which facilitate correct positioning of the cover on the capsule mounted on the neck . Also attached to the lower surface of the radial portion 34, two flexible axial tabs 81 frame the working portion 54 of the transmission lever 32. The flexible axial tabs 81 are provided with lugs, called second lugs 85.

10

The set of axial retention means comprises a first hook 38 and at least two other hooks offset in the circumferential direction on either side of the position diametrically opposite the first hook, the offset angle being less than 90 °, typically between 40 ° and 80 °. The first hook 38 is arranged on the cover h so that, when the transmission lever 32 is continued to pivot, the force transmitted at the pivot 56 causes a slight rotation of said first hook, being last aligned radially with the middle of the pivot 56, whose median plane passes through the axis 16

[0071] The transmission lever 32 comprises a gripping portion 52 and a working portion 54 separated by an area comprising a bore 58. Said working portion comprises a transverse wall or lower surface 62, whose end 63 is adapted to abut against the upper surface of the capsule 14, an end wall 53 and two side walls. The working portion 54 is provided with a through slot 57 z> connecting the bore 58 to the end wall 53. The end wall 53 is the one that is oriented towards the axis when the transmission lever 32 is mounted. on the hood. The bore 58 has a diameter slightly greater than that of the pivot 56 The slot 57 has a slightly smaller width than the diameter of the pivot 56. The leviei 32 is made of a sufficiently flexible plastic material so that, during assembly of the transmission lever on the hood 30,

JO the edges of the slot deviate to let the pivot 56 until it is trapped in the bore 58. To prevent the transmission lever 32 can be easily removed once the pivot 56 has been trapped in its bore 58, the shape of the edges of The opening slot as illustrated in the two variants of Figures 7a and 7b, attaching a flexible tongue 51, 51 'oriented obliquely relative to the slot 57', 57 ", so that it bends to leave the pivot 56 pass freely towards the bore 58 but it opposes any displacement in the opposite direction of the pivot 56. The trapping of the pivot j 56 in the bore 58 is completed in these two variants by the presence of a bead radial 61.

The capping assembly can be made just after the bottling and can remain in the state during transport and storage of the bottle before its opening with m hooks 38, 40 and 42 which have upper surfaces 38a, 40a and 42a acting as an axial stop against the lower surface of the capsule. The upper surface 38a also has a function of driving up a portion of the capsule during decapping. Indeed, during the uncapping, the lifting of the gripping portion 52 results in the lowering of the working portion until placed in contact with the capsule

15 then by creating an upward force that is transmitted by the hook pivot 38, which tends to lift a portion of the capsule, while the lower surfaces 40b and 42b of the other two hooks 40 and 42 come to contact of the upper part of the glass ring 18a. Thus, the stability of the hood is ensured, during the establishment of the transmission lever by the lower ends of the axial pads 89 and, during the decapping, by

The lower surfaces 40b and 42b of said hooks.

The end of the working portion 54 is also provided with lugs 55 on its side walls, called first lugs. The first lugs 55 cooperate with the second lugs 85. Before the decapping, the first lugs 55 are located above the second

25 lugs 85, each having a sloped slope surface serving as a ramp so that, when the gripping portion 52 is raised for the opening of the capsule, the first lugs 55, coming into contact ramps of the second lugs 85 continue to move downwards while the second lugs 85 deviate outwards under the effect of the passage of the first lugs 55, thanks to the flexibility of the legs

} <) flexible 81. Before the working portion 54 reaches the capsule, the first lugs 55 reach a position low enough that there is no longer contact with the second lugs 85, so that the flexible lugs 81 return to their original position by return elastic. The first lugs 55 and the second lugs 85 then have vis-à-vis the typically horizontal surfaces serving as an axial stop, preventing the first lugs 55 from rising above the second lugs 85, and consequently the transmission lever 32 of return to its original position.

The cap 90 is an overcap for bottle of Champagne. It is formed of a head and a skirt, metal, plastic or metalloplastic, obtained from a film or sheet mono- or multi-layer. Prior to the truncation of the cone of the skirt, the film or sheet is cut, so as to obtain a window leaving free access to the working portion 54. This window has dimensions that typically correspond to those of the discontinuity of the skirt 36 of the cover 30, delimited by two axial surfaces which support the pivot 56. The cap 90 is crimped on the counter ring 19.

The embodiment corresponding to Figures 8a and 8b, on which elements identical to those already described above have the same references, is close to the previous embodiment. In this embodiment, the hook 38 forms a circumferential bridge between two portions of the skirt 36, made flexible by the presence of slots 70.

Claims

Bottle cap closure bottle opener, said cap having an upper surface and a lower surface, said bottle opener comprising a cap (30) provided with a first hook (38) comprising a contact surface with said bottom surface, and a transmission lever (32) hinged to said cover and provided with a gripping portion (52) and a working portion (54) adapted to bear against said upper surface, characterized in that it is also provided with two other hooks (40 and 42) which comprise a contact surface with said lower surface and which

IO are offset in the circumferential direction on either side of the diametrically opposite position to the first hook, an angle of less than 90 °, typically between 40 ° and 80 °, preferably between 40 and 50 °.

The bottle opener of claim 1, wherein said transmission lever (32) is hinged to said cover (30) so as to pivot about an axis (56) so that when said transmission lever is pivoted by means of said gripping portion (52), said working portion (54) abuts against said upper surface of said capsule and that, when said transmission lever is further pivoted, the force transmitted to the level of said axis (56) causes a slight rotationo of said first hook (38)

3. Bottle opener according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first hook (38) is radially aligned with the transmission lever (32).

4. Bottle opener according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (30) comprises a) upe (36) annular, or the hooks (38, 40, 42) being formed at an axial end of the) upe (36) and extending radially inwards

Bottle opener according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap (30) comprises a radial portion (34) provided with at least one elastic member (46,48) provided on the radial portion (34) and adapted to come to bear against the upper surface of the closure cap

6. Bottle opener according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission lever (32) comprises a recess (60) adapted to a counter-ring of the bottle.

7. Bottle opener according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a cap (66) for the dressing of the bottle.

8. Bottle opener according to any one of the preceding claims, made with at least one synthetic material. w

9. Bottle opener according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said working portion (54) of said transmission lever (32) and said cover (30) are provided with first opening indicators (55 and 85), which prevent said transmission lever (32) from returning to its initial position when the decapping has been performed.

15

10. Bottle opener according to claim 9 wherein said working portion (54) has at least one side wall, said cover (30) is provided with at least one axial lug (81) flexible facing said side wall, and wherein said first opening means is at least a first lug (55) disposed said side wall, and at least a second lug (85) disposed on said axial lug (81), said first lug and second lug being arranged such that said first lug is initially disposed above said second lug and has an inclined inclined surface which serves as a ramp, and then, when the transmission lever (32) is actuated for the opening of the capsule, the ramp of said first lug comes into contact with the ramp of said second lug, said first lug continuing its downward movement while the second lug deviates outwards under the effect of the passage of said first lug, this to the flexibility of said flexible tab (81), and finally, when the working portion (54) has reached the capsule (14), said first lug has a sufficiently low position so that there is no contact with said second lug, so that said flexible tab w (81) returns to its initial position by elastic return, said first lug and said second lug then having vis-à-vis typically horizontal surfaces acting as an axial stop, preventing said first ergot to go back above that second pin, and therefore said transmission lever (32) to return to its initial position.

11. A closure assembly comprising a capsule (14) and a bottle opener (10), said

) capsule, intended to be mounted on the neck of a bottle, having an upper surface and a lower surface, characterized in that said bottle opener is provided with a cover (30) comprising a set of means for axially retaining said cover on said capsule and a transmission lever (32) which is articulated on said cover and is provided with a gripping portion (52) and a working portion (54) adapted to bear against an upper surface of the capping capsule.

12 closure assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that said set of axial retaining means comprises a first hook (38) and at least two other hooks (40 and 42) offset in the circumferential direction on either side of the position h diametrically opposite said first hook, the offset angle being less than 90 °, typically between 40 ° and 80 °, said hooks having a contact surface with said lower surface of said capsule.

The closure assembly of claim 11 or 12, wherein said transmission lever (32) is hinged to said hood so as to pivot about an axis (56) so that, when said lever is pivoted to transmission via said gripping portion (52), said working portion (54) abuts against said upper surface of said capsule and that, when said transmission lever is continued to pivot, the transmitted force at said axis causes a slight rotation of said> first hook (38)

14. A method of manufacturing a closure assembly comprising a capsule (14) and a bottle opener (10), said capsule being mounted on the neck (18) of a bottle and said bottle opener (10) being provided with a hood Device (30) comprising a set of means (v) of axial retention (38, 40, 42) of said cover on the capsule and of a transmission lever (32) which is articulated on said cover and provided with a gripping portion ( 52) and a portion working piece (54) adapted to abut against an upper surface of the closure cap (14), characterized by the following steps: a) is provided with a closure cap (14) having a top surface and a surface lower; jb) fixing said closure capsule (14) on said bottle neck (18); c) is provided with a cover (30) having an axis (16) and comprising at least one pivot (56) oriented perpendicular to said axis and a lateral portion (39) provided with a set of axial retaining means (38, 40, 42) for cooperating with the lower surface of said closure cap (14);

D) axially bringing said hood and said capsule closer together until said axial retaining means cooperates with the bottom surface of said closure cap to prevent said hood from becoming detached from said closure cap; e) is provided with a transmission lever (32) comprising a gripping portion (52) and a working portion (54) separated by an area comprising a bore (58), i} said working portion comprising a wall lower transverse section (59) adapted to abut against the upper surface of said closure cap and an end wall (53), said working portion being provided with a through slot (57) connecting said bore to said wall; end, said bore having a diameter slightly greater than that of said pivot, said slot having a width slightly smaller than the diameter of said pivot; f) bringing said transmission lever in front of the bottle provided with said closure cap and said cover, so that said opening slot reaches the right of said pivot and is pushed laterally said transmission lever until said pivot is trapped at inside said bore

Manufacturing method according to claim 14 wherein said transmission lever has a through slot (57 ', 57 "), at least one of the edges is provided with a tongue (51, 51') oriented obliquely to said slot, so that, in step f), it bends to allow said pivot (56) to pass freely in the direction of

3D the bore (58) but that it opposes any displacement in the opposite direction of said pivot

The manufacturing method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said cover is provided with regularly distributed axial studs (89) whose lower end bears against the upper surface of said capsule, so that it facilitates stable positioning of the capsule. hood on the capsule mounted on the neck, especially during step f). >

17. Manufacturing process according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that, between steps d) and e), the following steps are introduced: d) it is provided with an overcap (90 ) comprising a head and a side skirt having a notch or a window in line with said pivot (56) when said topping cap is mounted on said cover; d ") said hood is wrapped around said hood so that said window reaches the right of said pivot;") said cap is applied to said hood and crimped on the neck of the bottle by forming a necking on the counter ring (19). h

18. Composite overcap capsule comprising an overcap (90) provided with a head and a side skirt and a cap (30), provided with a head and a lateral portion (39), arranged coaxially with the inside of said cap so that the head of said cover is held fast, typically by gluing, of the head of said overcap,

Said hood comprising at least one pivot (56) oriented perpendicular to the axis (16) and said lateral skirt being provided with a window at the right of said pivot, said lateral portion (39) being flexible and provided with a set of axial retaining means (38, 40, 42) for cooperating with the bottom surface of a closure cap (14) mounted on the neck of a bottle.

Composite overcap according to claim 18, characterized in that said set of axial retaining means comprises a first hook (38) and at least two other hooks (40 and 42) offset in the circumferential direction on either side. the position diametrically opposed to said first hook, the angle of the offset m being less than 90 °, typically between 40 ° and 80 °, said ciochets having a contact surface with said lower surface of said closure cap

The composite overcap according to claim 18 or 19, wherein said first hook (38) is radially aligned with the center of the pivot (56).

21. Bottle containing a liquid to be drunk, especially an effervescent liquid, provided with a closure assembly according to any one of claims 11 to 13 or the overcap according to any one of claims 18 to 20.