EP2562096B1

EP2562096B1 - Container with cap opening indicator

Info

Publication number: EP2562096B1
Application number: EP11772310.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrey Vyacheslavovich Agarkov
Original assignee: Guala Closures International BV
Current assignee: Guala Closures International BV
Priority date: 2010-04-21
Filing date: 2011-04-14
Publication date: 2016-04-13
Anticipated expiration: 2031-04-14
Also published as: EA025225B1; EA201201447A1; CN102985330B; CO6640231A2; PL2562096T3; CN102985330A; BR112012026898B1; WO2011133067A1; ES2581325T3; BR112012026898A2; EP2562096A4; MX2012012203A; EP2562096A1; MX341293B

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to safety indicators that provide a clear evidence of opening a container intended for storage of alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks, cosmetics, medicines and other chemical products in various aggregate states.

PRIOR ART

Safety devices for indicating the fact of opening of various containers and for creating obstacles for re-capping aimed for the unauthorized sale are known in science and technology.
For example, there is a known device of a plastic cap (Patent RU No. 11777 , IPC B65D41/34, 1999) with an opening indicator in the form of a two-part ring: a smaller sector - "a latch", which remains attached to the cap after opening the container, and a larger sector, connected to the cap and to the latch with destructible elements. When the cap is removed, the larger sector is separated from the cap.
The disadvantage of this device is that after opening the bottle some of the elements of the indicator fall from the container, and the "latch" with sharp edges remains on the cap.
The closest by its technical nature is the device of a safety lock for bottles and similar containers, which comprises the filling element, a cylindrical sleeve having an internal ledge to keep the filling element, a cap that is screwed onto the filling element, and the protective ring-shaped tape that interacts with the cover. The ring is divided into two structurally independent identical elements. When the first unscrewing of the cap, the weakened ring seam is broken, and the ring splits into two parts (Patent EP 0711711 , IPC B65D41/34; B65D47/12, 1996). The disadvantage of this device is the possibility of reassembly the safety tape after opening the bottle so that it takes essentially the same initial position; after removal, the cap bears no visible external changes, which allows its re-use for unauthorized sale. Besides, the device does not allow placing additional consumer information on the closure element.
US 4998988 and WO 2009/128095 disclose further closures having an opening indicator.
AU 585 939 is considered the closest prior art with respect to the subject-matter of claim 1. It discloses a container with a cap opening indicator comprising a container with a neck, a cap detachably connected to the container neck through a screw connection, the opening indicator interacting with the container neck and the container cap and being moveable from a closed position to an open position, wherein the cap is provided with a recess where the opening indicator is located in the closed position, the cap kinetically interacts with the opening indicator enabling them to shift relative to each other, the upper part of the opening indicator is suitable for the application of information signs, upon first opening of the container, the cap moves upward in the open position along the screw connection and the opening indicator shifts upward with respect to the cap along the guide elements from the closed position to the open position, the shift of the opening indicator leads to an irreversible change of the cap appearance through emergence of the upper part of the opening indicator above the upper part of the cap.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is creation of a device that performs the function of the indicator of opening a removable cap, thus providing containers with reliable protection against unauthorized opening and re-capping.
The problem is solved by the container with the cap opening indicator defined in claim 1.
In the claimed device the container may have various external forms. It may be manufactured of a variety of known polymeric materials, metal, glass, etc. A fixed or movable nozzle is installed on the neck of the container. The coupling elements may have the form of teeth, grooves, ribs, or any other known form. The nozzle may be made as a dosing device, a dispenser, a water seal or any other known form. The stored substance or product may be in various aggregated states: a liquid, a powder or granules.
The cap is designed to close the neck of the container from the outside.
In the embodiment of installing of the nozzle in the container neck, the cap is mounted on the neck of the container by the detachable screw connection to the nozzle. Additionally at the bottom of the cap a stopping control ring may be located. On the top or side part of the cap, opposite the opening indicator, a window or a destroyable member of the body may be located. In addition the cap may have elements (push bars, teeth, guides, etc.) which partially destroy or deform the body of the cap by interacting with the opening indicator. The body of the cap may have a perforated section or a section with a weakened section. On the inside part of the cap guide elements are located which interact with the opening indicator. The cap may be made of materials belonging to the following groups: polymers, metals, glass, etc.
The cap comprises a recess whose dimensions must be sufficient to accommodate the opening indicator. Information elements may be also placed in the recess.
The opening indicator is made movable and consists of an openable upper part, which bears informational signs, a middle part, which is designed as guide elements which interact with the cap, and a bottom part, which is designed as a working member which interacts with the nozzle. The top of the openable upper part of the opening indicator may serve for placing logos, numeric signs, decorative elements, etc. The upper openable part of the opening indicator may be designed as a sleeve, button or any other known form. The upper part of the opening indicator may be singular or several. The guide elements of the middle part of the opening indicator provide the defined rectilinear or curvilinear movement of the opening indicator with respect to the cap. Guide elements of the opening indicator may be performed in the form of a rod, mobile connection, flexible wall, rod, or have any other known form. The working member of the bottom part of the opening indicator interacts with the nozzle at the neck of the container due to forces of friction or adhesion. The working member of the opening indicator may be made as a plug pressurizing the neck of the container, as coupling elements, as elements of detachable connection of the cap with the neck of container, as teeth or as other similar elements. Parts of the opening indicator may be connected with each other via a rigid connection or mobile connection or detachable connection. Depending on the design version, the opening indicator may move up or rotate relative to the cap.
A backstop is located between the opening indicator and the cap. Once the opening indicator shifts from the "closed" position to the "open" position, the backstop fixes the opening indicator in the "open" position. The backstop prevents the opening indicator from returning to the "closed" position without destroying the elements of the cap. In case of movable or detachable connection of the parts of the opening indicator with each other, the backstop may be located between these parts. The backstop may be made as a fixing element, a retainer, a lock, an element that is pulled out of the cap, or any other known form.
The proposed device operates as follows: in the "closed" position, the cap is located on the neck of the container, the movable operating indicator is located in the recess of the cap, the working member of the opening indicator is in engagement with the nozzle placed on the neck of the container. If the working member is designed in the form of a plug, the latter pressurizes the neck of the container. When opening the container the cap is lifted above the container and set to "open" position. Due to the forces of friction or cohesion, the working member of the opening indicator is retained for some time in the neck of the container, causing the opening indicator to shift with respect to the cap along the guide elements. The shift of the opening indicator (its extension) leads to the change of the cap appearance by way of emergence of the information signs applied on the upper part of the opening indicator, and in case of additional presence on the cap of destructible bridges or walls, the latter undergo an irreversible deformation or get separated from the cap. The backstop retains the opening indicator in the "open" position and does not allow to restore the original appearance of the cap. If the backstop has the form of an element that advances from the cap, the former, in addition to retaining the opening indicator in the "open" position also acts as an information sign. After this the cap separates from the container.
Thus, the irreversible changes in the appearance of the cap after it gets removed provide a reliable protection against unauthorized opening and re-capping of the container.

BEST VARIANTS OF THE INVENTION IMPLEMENTATION

Specific variants of the claimed container with a movable cap opening indicator are described below, with reference to the attached drawings.
Fig. 1 and 2 show the design according to claim 1 in the closed and opening states. The container has a rigidly set nozzle with a water seal, the top of the cap is made with a weakened section, the cap is detachably connected to the nozzle, the backstop is designed as an element advancing from the cap between the cap and the top part of the opening indicator, a guide rod performs the function of the guide elements, the middle and lower parts of the opening indicator are made movable relative to each other, the working member interacts with the neck of the container via the nozzle.
Fig. 3-4 show a design not belonging to the present invention according to Example 1 in the closed and open states. The opening indicator obtains its rectilinear mobility from its middle part, made in the corrugated form, the working member of the opening indicator is designed as a plug that caps the inside part of the container, the cap is installed on the container through the detachable connector, the upper part of the cap is designed open, all the parts of the opening indicator are designed as one detail, the backstop is designed as a stopper between the cap and the top part of the indicator, the inside part of the cap contains information. Fig.5-6 show a design not belonging to the present invention according to Example 2 in the closed and open states. The upper part of the opening indicator is presented as a button connected to the cap through a splined joint, the upper and middle parts of the opening indicator are made as one detail, the cap and the indicator are connected with a guide sleeve, a window is made on the outer side of the cap, the controlling locking ring is absent.
Fig. 1-2 show the following elements: container - 1; cap - 2; screw connection - 3; upper part of the opening indicator - 4; middle part of the opening indicator made as guide rod - 5; coupling - 6; working member of the bottom part of the opening indicator in the form of a plug - 7; nozzle on the container - 8; weakened section - 9; recess - 10; backstop in the form of a advancing cap member - 11; stopping control ring - 12; nozzle coupling elements - 13; splined joint - 14; removable wall of the cap - 15; water seal - 16; information signs 17 and 18; push bar 19.
Fig. 1 shows container 1 with a rigidly installed nozzle 8 with a water seal 16; cap 2 is connected to nozzle 8 with a screw connection 3; the movable upper part of the opening indicator 4 is installed in recess 10; cap 2 is connected to the middle part 5 of the opening indicator with coupling 6; working member 7 of the opening indicator is connected to its guide elements 5 with spline joint 14; working member of the bottom part of the opening indicator 7 is designed as a plug that provides the hermeticity of the container 1, the working member 7 of the opening indicator is connected with nozzle 8 through coupling elements 13; removable wall of the cap 15 closes upper part 4 of the opening indicator in recess 10, stopping control ring 12 is retained on the container 1.
Figure 2 shows the same container with cap 2 moving upward along screw connection 3 advancing above the neck of container 1. Working member 7 of the opening indicator does not rotate relative to container 1 due to coupling elements 13, middle part 5 of the opening indicator lifts top part 4 of the opening indicator from recess 10 along coupling 6, begins to interact with push bar 19, which leads to the destruction of weakened section 9 and the removal of wall of the cap 15. Upper part 4 of the opening indicator with information signs 17 and 18 located thereon rises above cap 2. Backstop 11 breaks coupling 6 between middle part 5 of the opening indicator and cap 2, which prevents upper part 4 of opening indicator from moving down to recess 10. Stopping control ring 12 detaches from cap 2. Thus, cap 2 undergoes irreversible changes indicating the opening of the container.
Example No. 1 differs by the specific form of implementation of the cap, by the mobility of the indicator, the backstop, the coupling of the parts of the opening indicator with each other. Fig. 3-4 of the claimed container show the following elements: container - 21; cap with the top part open - 22; coupling - 23; recess - 24, the upper part 20 of the opening indicator, the middle part 25 of the opening indicator in the form of a diaphragm, the lower part 26 of the opening indicator with working member 27; backstop - 28; information signs - 29, the coupling elements of the container-30.
Fig. 3 shows cap 22 having a screw connection 23 with container 21. The upper part 20, the middle part 25 and the lower part 26 of the opening indicator are made as one detail, which is located in recess 24 and is connected to cap 22 through diaphragm 25. The working member 27 of the opening indicator interacts with container 21 through the coupling elements of the container 30. Backstop 28 is designed as a stopper and located on the cap 22. Information sign 29 is located on the inside part of the cap 22.
Fig. 4 shows the same container at the time of removal of the cap. The cap 22 is shifted upward along the screw 23 above the neck of container 21, the working member 27 of the opening indicator of the bottom part of the indicator 26, through its coupling with the neck of container 21, leads to the deformation of the diaphragm 25. The upper part 20 of the opening indicator is moved down into the recess 24, where its position is fixed by stopper 28. This opens the inside part of the cap 22 opening the information sign 29.
Example No. 2 differs by the specific form of implementation of the cap, the coupling of the cap with the opening indicator, the backstop, the method of actuating. Fig. 5-6 of the claimed container show the following elements: container - 31; cap - 32; the cap and the container have a connection - 33, the middle and lower parts of the opening indicator are made as one detail - 34, the container and the opening indicator interact through the detachable coupling - 35, the upper part of the opening indicator is presented in the form of a button - 36, guide sleeve -37, recess - 38; perforated section - 39; backstop - 40, tooth - 41, button guides - 42, a side window on the cap - 43.
In Fig. 5 cap 32 is placed on the container 31 by a screw connection 33. The button 36 is movably or detachably connected to detail 34, button 36 is coupled to cap 32 through coupling 39. Tooth 41 does not affect backstop 40 during the capping of cap 32.
Fig. 6 shows the same container at the moment of removal of the cap. Cap 32 may be removed in two ways: by twisting from the container 31 or by pre-pressing button 36 and the subsequent twisting (in the latter case a smaller force is required). In the first method of the removal the cap rises upward along the screw 33 whereas parts of the opening indicator 34 are moved relative to the cap along sleeve 37, tooth 41 directs limiter 40 along guides 42, which leads to the destruction of perforated section 39 and displacement of button 36 into recess 38, information sign 44 appears in window 43. The second method is characterized in that the user preliminary presses button 36 and then removes cap 32.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The claimed design may be made from materials known in the industry using the equipment known in the industry and provides:

reliable protection against unauthorized opening and re-capping of containers;
a more secure retention of the cap on the neck of the container, owing to the additional resistance from the opening indicator at the initial moment of removal of the cap from the container;
the possibility to pre-shift the opening indicator, and then remove the cap with a lesser physical effort;
a reduction in material consumption for production of the cap with the indicator, owing to the possibility of not producing a stopping control ring;
a reduction in the container size and material consumption for production of the container by making the container without the massive elements of adhesion to the stopping control ring;
the possibility of providing additional consumer information about the manufacturer;
minimization of producing counterfeit goods.

Claims

Container (1) with a cap opening indicator comprising a container (1) with a neck, a nozzle (8) installed at the container neck and a cap (2) detachably connected to the nozzle (8) through a screw connection (3), the opening indicator interacting with the nozzle (8) and the container cap (2) and being moveable from a closed position to an open position, wherein:
- the cap (2) is provided with a recess (10) where the opening indicator is located in the closed position,

- the cap (2) kinetically interacts with the opening indicator enabling them to shift relative to each other,

- a backstop (11) is mounted between the opening indicator (4) and the cap (2),

- an upper part (4) of the opening indicator is suitable for the application of information signs,

- a middle part (5) of the opening indicator is designed as guide elements which interact with the cap (2),

- a bottom part (7) of the opening indicator is designed as a working member that interacts with the nozzle,

- upon first opening of the container (1), the cap (1) moves upwards in the open position along the screw connection (3), the working member (7) of the opening indicator does not rotate relative to the container (1) due to coupling elements (13) and the opening indicator shifts upward with respect to the cap (2) along the guide elements from the closed position to the open position.

- the shift of the opening indicator leads to an irreversible change of the cap appearance through emergence of the upper part (4) of the opening indicator above an upper part of the cap (2),

- with the opening indicator in the open position, the backstop (11) retains the opening indicator in the open position, prevents the upper part (4) of the opening indicator from moving down into the recess (4) and thereby prevents the opening indicator from returning to the closed position without destroying the elements of the cap (2).
Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein additionally, coupling elements interacting with the opening indicator are made on the nozzle (8).
Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein, upon first opening of the container (1), the upper part of the opening indicator rises above the cap (2).
Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein the middle part (5) of the opening indicator is designed as a guide sleeve.
Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein the parts of the opening indicator are detachably connected to each other.
Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein the shift of the opening indicator is an extension relative to the cap.