EP2625115B1 - Tamperproof wire cap - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates mainly to the technical sector of packaging and their inviolability before first use (example: a bottle and its cap).

Many packages are known whose inviolability before first use is essential on the distribution market. It guarantees the consumer the origin, integrity and authenticity of the product purchased.

Traditionally this inviolability function is provided by a retractable sleeve made of thin film enclosing two or more parts of the primary packaging.

But this protection is very easily copiable and replaceable identically by fraudsters.

The other solution is a specific detachable plastic accessory, incorporating the primary packaging.

But the desired aesthetic need for it after opening, is permanently denatured visually by residual technical components. Sometimes this witness is not apparent and therefore not controllable. It is further known from the document WO2009 / 063526 a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

The purpose of the invention is therefore to overcome these disadvantages.

According to a first characteristic, the device which ensures the inviolability until the first use, comprises a first vertical strap shaped handle four arms each provided with a rack; on which is positioned horizontally outside at 90 ° and at a desired height, a second strap shaped self clamping, all forming a visible muzzle. By the complete tightening of this horizontal collar, it strongly traps the primary packaging irreversibly and effectively ensures the inviolability until the first use. The full opening is done by pulling on a detachable tab located at the bottom of the muzzle. The primary packaging thus regains its appearance and original aesthetics.

• une cage, encore appelée sangle verticale, comprenant au moins deux bras reliés à une de leurs extrémités à un chapeau destiné à couvrir au moins partiellement ledit bouchon, au moins deux desdits bras étant destinés à être placés diamétralement à l'opposé l'un de l'autre par rapport audit bouchon et comprenant des moyens de réception d'un collier de serrage,
• ledit collier comportant des crans formant une première crémaillère et une agrafe, ladite agrafe comportant d'une part des dents d'accrochage anti-retour et d'autre part un logement pour assurer la mise en contact de cette première crémaillère avec lesdites dents d'accrochage anti-retour, lorsque ladite première crémaillère est engagée dans ladite agrafe, cette mise en contact entraînant le blocage en position dudit collier dans le sens du desserrage de ce collier,
• lesdits moyens de réception comportant des deuxièmes crémaillères, au moins une portion dudit collier présente une section dont la forme telle qu'en U, coopère avec lesdites deuxièmes crémaillères pour autoriser un positionnement à hauteur voulue dudit collier,
• ledit collier comportant une languette de libération pour assurer la destruction volontaire du collier et la libération de la cage.

More generally, the visible device for guaranteeing the inviolability before first use of a container closed by a plug, comprises:

• a cage, also called vertical strap, comprising at least two arms connected at one of their ends to a cap intended to at least partially cover said cap, at least two of said arms being intended to be placed diametrically opposite one of the other with respect to said stopper and comprising means for receiving a clamping collar,
• said collar comprising notches forming a first rack and a clip, said clip comprising on the one hand non-return hooking teeth and on the other hand a housing for making said first rack come into contact with said teeth; non-return hooking, when said first rack is engaged in said clip, this bringing into engagement resulting in the locking in position of said collar in the loosening direction of this collar,
• said receiving means comprising second racks, at least a portion of said collar has a section whose shape such as U cooperates with said second racks to allow positioning at said height of said collar,
• said collar having a release tab to ensure the deliberate destruction of the collar and the release of the cage.

• le principe de deux pièces complémentaires en plastique pré assemblées, activer simultanément sous l'effet du serrage complet du collier, peut emprisonner l'emballage primaire définitivement,
• le principe de crémaillère auto réglable sur les deux pièces peut permettre l'adaptation aux dimensions et formes d'emballages primaires très variés,
• les crans anti-retour de la crémaillère positionnés à l'intérieur du collier peuvent guider et permettre son enroulement sous lui même et le rendre inaccessible,
• la languette détachable peut par un seul geste de bas en haut désolidariser définitivement le collier sans laisser de résidus du muselet sur l'emballage primaire,
• ledit collier et ladite sangle verticale sont d'un seul tenant en matière plastique,

In various particular embodiments of this device, each having its particular advantages and susceptible to many possible technical combinations:

• the principle of two pre-assembled plastic complementary parts, activate simultaneously under the effect of the complete tightening of the collar, can imprison the primary packaging permanently,
• the self-adjusting rack-and-pinion principle on both parts can allow adaptation to the dimensions and shapes of very varied primary packaging,
• the non-return notches of the rack positioned inside the collar can guide and allow its winding under itself and make it inaccessible,
• the detachable tongue can by a single gesture from the bottom up permanently disengage the collar without leaving residues of the wire cap on the primary packaging,
• said collar and said vertical strap are integrally made of plastic,

• ledit collier comporte au moins une zone d'amoindrissement au niveau de ladite languette détachable pour faciliter sa rupture,

The term "one piece" means that this necklace or vertical strap are in one piece and do not result from the assembly of initially separate parts.

• said collar comprises at least one weakening zone at the level of said detachable tongue to facilitate its breaking,

• ladite crémaillère anti-retour femelle est formée par une agrafe comportant d'une part des dents d'accrochage anti-retour et d'autre part un logement pour assurer la mise en contact de ladite crémaillère anti-retour mâle avec lesdites dents d'accrochage anti-retour, lorsque ladite crémaillère anti-retour mâle est engagée dans ladite agrafe,
• lesdits bras de ladite première sangle verticale sont reliés à un chapeau par des portions courbes facilitant la flexion desdits bras par rapport audit chapeau,
• les extrémités libres d'au moins certains desdits bras sont planes ou comprennent des logements destinés à recevoir et maintenir un collier,

As a purely illustrative example, the clamping collar has two weakening zones placed on either side of the tongue so that it can be completely disengaged from the collar causing the rupture thereof.

• said female non-return rack is formed by a clip comprising, on the one hand, non-return hooking teeth and, on the other hand, a housing to ensure that said male anti-return rack is brought into contact with said hooking teeth. non-return, when said male anti-return rack is engaged in said staple,
• said arms of said first vertical strap are connected to a cap by curved portions facilitating flexing of said arms relative to said cap,
• the free ends of at least some of said arms are flat or comprise housings for receiving and holding a collar,

Advantageously, the free ends of at least some of said arms having housings for receiving and holding said collar, said housings are formed by eyelets or curved portions of said arms.

The invention further relates to a container having an opening closed by a plug. According to the invention, this container is provided with a device as described above to ensure the origin and integrity of the contents of the container.

For purely illustrative purposes, this container may be a bottle, a jar, a carafe, a bottle, or any other container with neck or neck intended to receive a liquid such as a liquid food, a perfume or other.

• la figure 1 montre une bouteille équipée d'un muselet permettant de garantir l'inviolabilité avant premier emploi de celle-ci selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 montre une vue en perspective du muselet de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue partielle d'un flacon obturé par un bouchon, ce flacon étant équipé d'un muselet permettant de garantir l'inviolabilité avant premier emploi de ce flacon selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 4 montre la sangle verticale du muselet de la figure 3, la fig. 4a) étant une vue de dessus de cette sangle verticale et la fig. 4b) étant une vue en coupe de cette sangle ;
• la figure 5 montre le collier du muselet de la figure 3, la fig. 5a) étant une vue de face de ce collier, la fig. 5b) étant une vue partielle et élargie de la fig. 5a) montrant en détail la languette détachable, la zone d'amoindrissement et l'agrafe, la fig. 5c) étant une vue de dessus en coupe de ce collier et la fig. 5d) étant une vue partielle et élargie de la fig. 5c) montrant en plus en détail la crémaillère ;

In various possible embodiments of this device, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• the figure 1 shows a bottle equipped with a cap to ensure the inviolability before first use thereof according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 2 shows a perspective view of the muzzle of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a partial view of a bottle closed by a cap, this bottle being equipped with a cap to ensure the inviolability before first use of the bottle according to a second embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 4 shows the vertical strap of the muzzle of the figure 3 , the Fig. 4a ) being a top view of this vertical strap and the Fig. 4b ) being a sectional view of this strap;
• the figure 5 shows the collar of the muzzle of the figure 3 , the Fig. 5a ) being a front view of this necklace, the Fig. 5b ) being a partial and enlarged view of the Fig. 5a ) showing in detail the detachable tab, the weakening zone and the staple, the Fig. 5c ) being a sectional top view of this necklace and the Fig. 5d ) being a partial and enlarged view of the Fig. 5c ) showing in more detail the rack;

The Figures 1 and 2 show a wire cap to ensure the inviolability before first use of a bottle closed by a plug according to a first embodiment of the invention.

With reference to these drawings, the muzzle must be placed beforehand on the top of the primary packaging, and cover the two elements to be joined (example: cap + bottle).

The collar must be positioned in height so as to be necessarily under the projecting portion of the lower element of the primary packaging to be joined, to ensure the blocking and prevent the vertical removal of the wire once tight.

The muselet has two pre-assembled pieces. One is a vertical strap 1 with four arms in the form of a loop 11 having on each of them non-return notches preventing any upward removal movement 3 and a stop for the bottom. The other is a horizontal collar 2 meadow positioned at 90 ° on the four arms of the first strap. Its positioning in height has been pre-determined according to the dimensions of the primary packaging. The tightening of the cap is performed by a horizontal thrust on both sides of the collar 2 which acts integrally on the vertical strap 1 to the stop and ensures a progressive tightening, complete and irreversible of the cap on the primary packaging.

For this, it will be used for the two parts 1, 2 a suitable plastic material that allows the assembly to stretch and tangentially plating the package under the effect of clamping the collar 2 and to marry the shapes . The presence of the male and female rack 4, 6, 8 inside the collar 2, to guide the winding of its end itself and leave no accessible or apparent part for a possible attempt to loosen ill-intentioned .

The detachable tongue 3 integrated in the lower part of the collar 2 allows the final and irreversible opening for the destruction of the muzzle.

The muzzle according to the invention is particularly intended for the inviolability before first use of bottles, bottles, boxes and carafes and their capping.

The Figures 3 to 5 show a partial view of a bottle closed by a cap, this bottle being equipped with a cap to ensure the inviolability before first use of the bottle according to a second embodiment of the invention.

This muzzle comprises a cage 100, also called vertical strap, comprising four arms 101 connected at one of their ends to a cap 102 intended to cover the cap 104 of a bottle 103.

Once this cage 100 is placed in position to cap the cap 104, the arms 101 are placed on either side of this cap having on a part of their face placed towards the outside of the cap, a rack 105.

These racks 105 placed at the free ends of the arms 101 of the cage 100 allow the positioning at the desired height by the operator of a clamping collar 106.

Each arm 101 is connected to the cap 102 by curved portions 107 facilitating the bending of these arms 101 relative to the cap 102. Thus, the cage 100 can be stored with its arms 101 placed horizontally to reduce the bulk.

In addition, each arm 101 is shaped to fit the profiles of the cap 104 and the neck of the bottle 103 so as to match these profiles when the clamp is tightened. This ensures the perfect blocking of the cap on the bottle.

The clamping collar 106 comprises a tongue 108 having on its face intended to be placed opposite the neck of the bottle 103, notches 109 forming another rack and a clip 110.

This clip 110 comprises, on the one hand, anti-return hooking teeth 111 and, on the other hand, a housing 112 to ensure that this other rack is brought into contact with said non-return hooking teeth 111 when the rack of the tongue 108 is engaged in said clip 110. This contacting of the rack of the tongue 108 and the attachment teeth 111 causes locking in position of the collar in the direction of loosening thereof.

The clamping collar 106 also includes a release tab 113 to ensure the deliberate destruction of the collar and the release of the cage 100 thereby releasing the access to the plug for possible withdrawal. The clamping collar 106 also has a narrowing zone 114 formed by a thin bridging connecting two portions of the collar and facilitating the breakage of the collar when the operator pulls on the release tab 113.

The release tab 113 has a surface relief 115 on at least one of its faces to facilitate its gripping. Here, this surface relief 115 is constituted by projections aligned with each other and placed on the outer face of the tongue 113 while the inner face of this tongue 113 has a concave shape to facilitate the positioning of the operator's finger in order to of his prehension.

Claims (11)

1. Visible device for guaranteeing that a primary packaging has not been tampered with before first use, the said device comprising a first vertical strap (1) with four arms on which a movable collar (2) provided on the inside with a male (4) and female (6) non-return rack is prepositioned horizontally at 90° and at a desired height, and when the collar (2) is concentrically tightened to the fullest extent thereof, the device (1, 2) is tensioned and pressed simultaneously against the primary packaging while irreversibly confining it, characterized in that each of the four arms is provided with an oriented rack (3) and in that the deliberate destruction of the device is ensured by a detachable tab (7, 10).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the non-return rack (4, 6) of the collar (2) is situated inside the latter, and naturally guides the end (5) of the collar below itself during tightening, therefore making this end inaccessible.
3. Device according to Claim 1, characterized by the dimensional adaptation of the assembly (1, 2), which is tensioned and pressed simultaneously against the primary packaging when the collar (2) is concentrically tightened to the full extent thereof.
4. Device according to Claim 1, characterized by the complete destruction of the device when the detachable tab (7, 10) is actuated, thus releasing the primary packaging without leaving a residual mark or trace thereon.
5. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the said collar (2) and the said vertical strap (1) are made in one piece from plastic.
6. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the said collar (2) comprises at least one weakening zone at the said detachable tab in order to facilitate the rupture thereof (7, 10).
7. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the said detachable tab (7, 10) comprises a surface relief on at least one of its faces in order to facilitate the gripping thereof.
8. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the said female non-return rack is formed by a clamp comprising, on the one hand, non-return catching teeth and, on the other hand, a housing for bringing into contact the said male non-return rack with the said non-return catching teeth when the said male non-return rack is engaged in the said clamp.
9. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the said arms of the said first vertical strap are connected to a cap (102) by curved portions (107) facilitating the bending of the said arms with respect to the said cap.
10. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the free ends of at least certain of the said arms are planar or comprise housings intended to receive and retain a collar (2).
11. Container comprising an opening closed off by a stopper, characterized in that it is provided with a device according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 in order to guarantee the origin and the integrity of the contents of the container.

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