EP2774865B1 - System for attaching an ornamental element to the neck of a carafe - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a fastening system of a decorative element on the neck of a container such as a bottle or decanter, in particular glass.

The present invention further relates to a container for containing a liquid or a cream, provided with such a fastening system.

Technological background

Glass vials are known for the packaging of a liquid or a cream in the fields of cosmetics, perfumery or pharmacy.

Glass carafes are, for example, also used to receive wines or spirits.

These glass containers have the particularity of dressing the perfume or spirits they contain, thus ensuring the development of it.

This enhancement can come not only from the shape of the container, which can range from sculptural forms to clean lines, but also from the nature of the glass used, from crystalline glass to colored glass.

Such glass containers generally comprise a body defining an internal volume called a tank, for the packaging of the product, this body being extended by a neck whose upper free end is open to fill or empty the tank.

In order to give a more distinctive ornamental appearance to the container, or even to attach it to the field of luxury by emphasizing the appearance of its container, it is still known to position and fix around the neck opening, a metal band.

However, the assembly of this decorative band with the neck of the container is usually performed manually by a skilled operator who sticks it on the neck.

These positioning and gluing steps are particularly long and painful for the operator who must perform this work carefully to ensure the aesthetic quality of the final product.

In addition, this collage of the hoop is little, if any, compatible with liquid foods such as wines or spirits.

There is therefore a pressing need for a system for laying and fixing a decorative element on the neck of a glass container without glue.

It is also necessary to guarantee the origin and the quality of the contents of the bottle that this band can not be easily dismounted for the replacement of this content by a product of lower quality or even dangerous for the health of the end consumer.

It is therefore important that this decorative band is not removable.

The document EP 0 011 575 A1 discloses a fastening system according to the preamble of claim 1.

Object of the invention

The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to meet the above constraints by proposing a fastening system of a decorative element on the neck of a container, simple in its design and in its operating mode , economical and of great mechanical resistance.

Another object of the present invention is a glass bottle or decanter provided with a decorative element such as a hoop secured by means of such a fastening system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention relates to a fastening system of a decorative element such as a band on the neck of a container, this decorative element being at least partially hollow to cover at least partially said neck.

• une virole destinée à entourer l'extrémité dudit col,
• au moins deux ergots de guidage placés sur la surface externe dudit col destinée à recevoir ladite virole, et
• la surface interne de ladite virole comprend au moins deux rails formant saillie à l'intérieur de ladite virole, chacun desdits rails étant destiné à recevoir et coopérer avec un desdits ergots de guidage lorsque ladite virole est assemblée audit col et entrainée en rotation autour dudit col, les dimensions longitudinales desdits rails définissant une course de déplacement pour lesdits ergots de guidage jusqu'à atteindre l'extrémité desdits rails pourvue d'une butée de sorte que lesdits ergots de guidage venant prendre appui contre ces butées, ladite virole est bloquée en rotation.

According to the invention, said system comprises

• a ferrule for surrounding the end of said neck,
• at least two guide pins placed on the outer surface of said neck intended to receive said ferrule, and
• the inner surface of said ferrule comprises at least two rails projecting inside said ferrule, each of said rails being intended to receive and cooperate with one of said guide lugs when said ferrule is assembled to said neck and driven in rotation around said neck , the longitudinal dimensions of said rails defining a displacement stroke for said guide lugs to reach the end of said rails provided with a stop so that said guide lugs abut against these stops, said ferrule is locked in rotation .

Of course, this ferrule being intended to surround the end of the neck of the container, it has a right cross section which is circular or substantially circular.

This ferrule is also intended to receive and cooperate with the decorative element to ensure the assembly of this decorative element and the container neck.

For this purpose, this ferrule may comprise on its outer surface assembly means with the decorative element. Alternatively, the decorative element can come to cap the shell by being forced into the ferrule.

Such a fastening system advantageously allows the mounting of an ornamental element on the neck of a container easily and very quickly because this ornamental element is assembled without any welding or gluing.

The guide pins are advantageously integral part of the neck of the container. This container may be in one piece such as a glass container carafe type, flask or bottle, or otherwise result from the assembly of initially separate parts.

In the latter case, the guide pins may have been reported on the neck of the container. For purely illustrative purposes, they may project from a flexible support such as a metal sheet, which has been previously pressed against the neck of the container and assembled therewith.

• lesdits rails de guidage comportent au moins une portion présentant une pente de manière à déplacer en translation ladite virole le long dudit col lors de la mise en rotation de ladite virole autour dudit col.

In different embodiments of this fastening system, the present invention also relates to the following features which will have to be considered in isolation or in all their technically possible combinations:

• said guide rails comprise at least one portion having a slope so as to translate said ferrule along said collar during rotation of said ferrule around said neck.

• ledit col comportant sur sa surface externe destinée à recevoir ladite virole au moins un ergot de verrouillage, ladite virole comporte au moins une patte flexible dont l'extrémité libre est placée en saillie de ladite virole à l'intérieur de ladite virole de sorte à venir en butée contre ledit au moins un ergot lorsque ladite virole ayant réalisée un mouvement de rotation autour dudit col, lesdits ergots de guidage viennent en appui contre les butées, de manière à verrouiller ladite virole en position,
• lesdits ergots font partie intégrante dudit col.

This combination of a rotational movement of the ferrule around said neck and translation thereof along said neck advantageously makes it possible to come crush a seal placed between the ferrule and the neck against the neck of a bottle by example.

• said collar having on its outer surface intended to receive said ferrule at least one locking pin, said ferrule comprises at least one flexible tab whose free end is placed projecting from said ferrule inside said ferrule so as to come in abutment against said at least one lug when said ferrule having made a rotational movement around said neck, said guide lugs abut against the stops, so as to lock said ferrule in position,
• said lugs are an integral part of said neck.

• ladite virole comporte sur sa surface externe destinée à recevoir au moins en partie ledit élément décoratif, des éléments d'assemblage mâles formant saillie et/ou femelles, lesquels sont destinés à coopérer respectivement avec un ou plusieurs éléments complémentaires femelles et/ou mâles placés sur la surface intérieure dudit élément décoratif pour assurer l'assemblage dudit élément décoratif et de ladite virole.

Advantageously, these lugs are aligned by being distributed around said neck. Said system comprising two locking lugs and two guide lugs, the lugs of each pair are placed on either side of the neck. They are thus arranged in a cross.

• said ferrule comprises on its outer surface intended to receive at least in part said decorative element, male connecting elements projecting and / or female, which are intended to cooperate respectively with one or more complementary female and / or male elements placed on the inner surface of said decorative element to assemble said decorative element and said ferrule.

• ledit élément décoratif comportant sur sa surface intérieure une empreinte en relief, ladite virole comporte une ou plusieurs rainures de guidage ayant une forme et/ou un agencement définissant une empreinte complémentaire de l'empreinte dudit élément décoratif de manière à imposer une orientation particulière dudit élément décoratif lors de son assemblage avec ladite virole,
• le système comprend de plus une bague d'étanchéité destinée à être interposée entre ledit col et au moins l'extrémité libre de ladite virole.

Thus, and preferably, said ferrule comprises on its outer surface several projecting fingers, which are intended to be received in one or more corresponding housings provided for this purpose in the body of the decorative element to ensure the assembly of said ferrule and said decorative element.

• said decorative element having on its inner surface a relief imprint, said ferrule comprises one or more guide grooves having a shape and / or an arrangement defining a footprint complementary to the impression of said decorative element so as to impose a particular orientation of said decorative element during its assembly with said ferrule,
• the system further comprises a sealing ring intended to be interposed between said neck and at least the free end of said ferrule.

As an illustration, this sealing ring comprising an annular end extended by a skirt intended to surround said neck, said annular end comprises at least one lip for sealing between said neck and said ring and / or at least one lip for sealing between said decorative element and said ring.

The present invention also relates to an ornamental set for a container having a neck. According to the invention, this ornamental assembly comprises a fixing system of a decorative element as described above and a hoop.

This container is typically a bottle, a jar or a glass carafe.

• cette frette comporte sur sa surface intérieure destinée à venir en regard de ladite virole d'assemblage, au moins une nervure destinée à être reçue et coopérer avec une rainure de guidage de ladite virole.

In various embodiments of this ornamental assembly, the present invention also relates to the following features which should be considered in isolation or in all their technically possible combinations:

• this ferrule comprises on its inner surface intended to come opposite said assembly ferrule, at least one rib intended to be received and cooperate with a guide groove of said ferrule.

Advantageously, the ferrule comprising a plurality of guide grooves, said guide grooves have a shape and / or an arrangement defining an impression for which the ribs of said ferrule define a complementary cavity imposing a particular introduction of said ferrule during its assembly with said ferrule .

• ladite frette comporte sur sa surface intérieure destinée à venir en regard de ladite virole d'assemblage une gorge annulaire destinée à recevoir les doigts de ladite virole d'assemblage.

This indexing ensures the correct positioning and the proper orientation of the hoop during its assembly with the ferrule so as to respect for example the display of one or more signs placed on the surface of the hoop. This or these signs may for example be a word, a set of slogan-type words, a sentence or a text accompanied or not by a graphic object.

• said hoop has on its inner surface intended to come opposite said assembly ferrule an annular groove for receiving the fingers of said assembly ferrule.

Advantageously, each of said fingers has a stop face so that said fingers being received in said annular groove, said hoop can no longer be detached from the ferrule with which it is assembled.

The invention also relates to a container having a neck provided at its upper end with an opening.

According to the invention, this container comprises a decorative hoop assembled to said neck by a fastening system as described above. Preferably, this container is a bottle, a jar or a glass carafe.

This glass container can still be dressed at least partially with wood, plastic or metal or combinations of these elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• la Figure 1 représente schématiquement un ensemble ornemental selon un mode de réalisation préféré de la présente invention, cet ensemble ornemental étant prêt à être assemblé au col d'une carafe ;
• la Figure 2 est une vue partielle et éclatée de l'ensemble ornemental de la fig. 1, montrant l'emboîtement de la virole d'assemblage, de la bague d'étanchéité et de la frette ;
• la Figure 3 est une vue en perspective de la frette de la fig. 1 montrant des nervures de guidage de cette frette et la gorge pour l'assemblage de la frette et de la virole ;
• la Figure 4 est une vue en coupe longitudinale de la frette de la fig. 3 ;
• la Figure 5 montre une vue en perspective de la bague d'étanchéité de la fig. 1 ;
• la Figure 6 est une vue en coupe longitudinale de la bague d'étanchéité de la fig. 5 ;
• la Figure 7 est une vue en perspective de la virole de la fig. 1 ;
• la Figure 8 montre une coupe longitudinale de la virole de la fig. 7 ;
• la Figure 9 est une vue de face de la virole de la fig. 7 montrant les doigts formant saillie de la surface extérieure de ladite virole ainsi que les pattes flexibles destinées à coopérer avec les ergots de verrouillage ;
• la Figure 10 est une vue de dessus de la virole de la fig. 7 montrant les pattes flexibles formant saillie à l'intérieur de ladite virole ;
• la Figure 11 est une vue partielle de la carafe de la fig. 1 montrant le col de cette carafe et ses ergots ;
• la Figure 12 est une vue partielle et élargie du col de la carafe de la fig. 1 montrant les ergots de guidage et un des ergots de verrouillage ;
• la Figure 13 est une vue partielle et en coupe longitudinale de l'ensemble ornemental de la fig. 1 après son verrouillage sur le col de la carafe ;
• la Figure 14 est une vue en coupe transversale de l'ensemble ornemental de la fig. 1 après son verrouillage sur le col de la carafe.

Other advantages, aims and particular features of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows, for an explanatory and non-limiting purpose, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the Figure 1 schematically represents an ornamental assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this ornamental set being ready to be assembled at the neck of a carafe;
• the Figure 2 is a partial and exploded view of the ornamental ensemble of the Fig. 1 , showing the engagement of the assembly ferrule, the sealing ring and the ferrule;
• the Figure 3 is a perspective view of the fret of the Fig. 1 showing guide ribs of this hoop and the groove for assembling the hoop and ferrule;
• the Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fret of the Fig. 3 ;
• the Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the sealing ring of the Fig. 1 ;
• the Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sealing ring of the Fig. 5 ;
• the Figure 7 is a perspective view of the ferrule of the Fig. 1 ;
• the Figure 8 shows a longitudinal section of the ferrule of the Fig. 7 ;
• the Figure 9 is a front view of the ferrule of the Fig. 7 showing the fingers projecting from the outer surface of said ferrule and the flexible tabs intended to cooperate with the locking lugs;
• the Figure 10 is a top view of the ferrule of the Fig. 7 showing the flexible tabs projecting inside said shell;
• the Figure 11 is a partial view of the carafe of the Fig. 1 showing the neck of this carafe and its lugs;
• the Figure 12 is a partial and enlarged view of the neck of the carafe of the Fig. 1 showing the guide pins and one of the locking lugs;
• the Figure 13 is a partial view in longitudinal section of the ornamental set of the Fig. 1 after locking on the neck of the carafe;
• the Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the ornamental set of the Fig. 1 after locking it on the neck of the carafe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

First, we note that the figures are not scaled.

The Figures 1 to 14 schematically show an ornamental carafe assembly provided with a neck according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

This ornamental assembly comprises a hoop 1, a sealing ring 2, an assembly ferrule 3 intended to serve as a support for said hoop 1 and a set of lugs 4, 5 intended to ensure the assembly and locking of the ferrule assembly 3 / sealing ring 2 on the neck 6 of the carafe 7, these lugs 4, 5 forming an integral part of the end of this neck 6.

This fret 1 which is here silver, is formed of a single piece. It consists of a skirt 8 of circular right cross section surmounted by a ring 9 intended to cover the upper end of the neck 6 carafe 7 being substantially centered on the upper opening of the neck 6. This upper opening collar 6 is, moreover, intended to be closed by a plug, for example cork (not shown).

While the outer surface of the band 1 may receive a sign such as a letter, a word, a logo, a pattern or the like or combinations of these elements, engraved or printed, the inner wall defined by the skirt 8 of the The collar 1 comprises projecting guide ribs 10 which are intended to be received and to cooperate with complementary guide grooves 11 formed in the body of the ferrule 3.

Thus, these grooves 11 for guiding the ferrule 3 and the ribs 10 for guiding the ferrule 1 advantageously define complementary cavities imposing a particular orientation of the ferrule 1 when it is assembled with the ferrule 3 so as, for example, to respect an original final appearance of the product.

The inner wall of the band 1 delimited by the skirt 8 also comprises an annular groove 12 intended to receive and cooperate with fingers 13 distributed around the periphery of the shell 3 being regularly distributed for the assembly of the band 1 on the ferrule 3. Each of these fingers 13 thus forms a projection on the outer face of the shell 3 by having an inclined face followed by a flat face placed at 90 ° so as to be clipped into the annular groove 12 of the wall inside the fret 1.

As shown by Figures 7 to 10 , the inner wall of the shell 3, intended to be placed opposite the collar 6 of the carafe 7, comprises two guide rails 14 placed vis-à-vis one of the other and forming a projection inside of the space defined by the ferrule body 3. The opposite end of these guide rails 14, to that allowing access to these rails, comprises a stop 15 end of stroke. Each of these rails 14 defines a guiding / tightening path of the ferrule 3 on the neck 6 of the carafe 7.

Thus, after having engaged the ferrule 3 around said neck 6, oriented and guided thereof so that the entry of each of its guide rails 14 is placed opposite a corresponding guide pin 4 secured to the outer surface 6 of the carafe neck 7, to allow the engagement of these lugs 4 on the guideways / clamping 14, the user only has to rotate the decorative element around the neck 6 of the container until these lugs 4 come to bear against the abutments 15 placed at the ends of the guide rails 14. The user can not then further rotate the ferrule 3 which is thus made integral with the neck 6 of the carafe. Advantageously, the guide rails 14 comprise an inclined portion 16 so as to translate the ferrule 3 in translation along the neck 6 when it is rotated around it.

The longitudinal dimension of this inclined portion 16 of each guide rail 14 determines the distance traveled in translation by the shell 3 along said neck 6 when the user rotates the shell 3 to move the guide pins 4 along the guide / clamping paths until reaching the blocking stops 15.

This translational movement of the ferrule 3 along the neck 6 of carafe 7 advantageously makes it possible to crush the sealing ring 2 which is taken between the upper end of the shell 3 and the neck 6 of the carafe 7. Thus, ensures the perfect tightness of the ferrule assembly 3 / neck 6 decanter 7 by preventing the liquid product contained in the carafe 7 does not flow along the neck 6 of the carafe 7 during its extraction.

In addition to the two guide pins 4 which are placed diametrically opposite each other on the neck 6 of carafe 7, the latter also has on its outer surface two locking lugs 5 against which are intended to come abutting two flexible tabs 17 of the ferrule 3 projecting therein when the guide pins 4 strike the abutments 15 placed at the ends of the guide rails 14. As shown in FIG. Figure 14 , the ornamental set is then completely locked in position and can not be removed untimely without destruction.

For this, the two locking lugs 5 are also placed diametrically opposite each other on the neck 6 of the carafe 7, the four lugs 4, 5 being, therefore, equidistant from each other on the outside surface of the carafe neck 6 ( Figs. 12 and 13 ).

As shown in Figure 10 , the flexible tabs 17 and the guide rails 14 are also regularly distributed around the circumference of the cylindrical inner wall of the shell 3.

The free ends of these flexible tabs 17 are placed projecting inside said ferrule 3. When the ferrule 3 is rotated around the neck 6 of the carafe to move the guide pins 4 along the guide rails 14, the flexibility of these legs 17 allows their cooperation with the outer surface locking pins 5 to pass over these locking pins 5. However, when a rotation in the opposite direction of the ferrule 3 assembly is undertaken, these tabs 17 abut and remain pressed against faces 18 abutment pins 5 locking preventing the tabs 17 to iron over these pins.

Finally, the sealing ring 2 which is preferably made of plastics material, comprises an annular end extended by a skirt designed to surround the neck 6 of carafe 7. This annular end comprises two lips 19 to ensure the seal between the neck 6 of the carafe and this sealing ring and a lip 20 to seal between the band 1 and this ring.

Claims (15)

1. System for fastening a decorative element (1) such as a collar to the neck (6) of a container, said decorative element (1) being at least partially hollow in order to cover at least a part of said neck (6), characterized in that said system comprises:

   - a ferrule (3) intended to surround the end of said neck (6),

   - at least two guide lugs (4) placed on the external surface of said neck (6), said external surface being intended to receive said ferrule (3), and in that

   - the internal surface of said ferrule (3) comprises at least two rails (14) that project towards the inside of said ferrule (3), each of said rails (14) being intended to receive and to engage with one of said guide lugs (4) when said ferrule (3) is fitted on said neck (6) and rotated about said neck (6), the longitudinal dimensions of said rails (14) defining a movement travel for said guide lugs (4) as far as the end of said rails (14) which is provided with a stop (15) such that said guide lugs (4) bear against these stops (15), said ferrule (3) being prevented from rotating.
2. System according to Claim 1, characterized in that said guide rails (14) have at least one portion (16) that has a slope so as to move said ferrule (3) in translation along said neck (6) while it is being rotated about said neck (6).
3. System according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, said neck (6) having at least one locking lug (5) on its external surface that is intended to receive said ferrule (3), said ferrule (3) has at least one flexible tab (17), the free end of which is positioned so as to project from said ferrule (3) towards the inside of said ferrule (3) so as to come into abutment against said at least one locking lug (5) when said ferrule (3) has carried out a rotational movement about said neck (6), said guide lugs (4) bearing against the stops (15) so as to lock said ferrule (3) in position.
4. System according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said locking lugs (5) are an integral part of said neck (6).
5. System according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said ferrule (3) has projecting male joining elements and/or female joining elements on its external surface intended to receive at least a part of said decorative element (1), said joining elements being intended to engage respectively with one or more complementary female and/or male elements placed on the inner surface of said decorative element (1) in order to join said decorative element (1) and said ferrule (3).
6. System according to Claim 5, characterized in that said ferrule (3) has a plurality of projecting fingers (13) on its external surface, said fingers (13) being intended to be received in one or more corresponding housings (12) provided to this end in the body of the decorative element (1) in order to join said ferrule (3) and said decorative element (1).
7. System according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, said decorative element (1) having an impression in relief on its inner surface, said ferrule (3) has one or more guide slots having a shape and/or arrangement defiling an impression complementary to the impression on said decorative element (1) so as to impose a particular orientation on said decorative element (1) while it is being joined to said ferrule (3).
8. System according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it additionally comprises a sealing ring (2) intended to be interposed between said neck (6) and at least the free end of said ferrule (3).
9. System according to Claim 8, characterized in that, said sealing ring (2) comprising an annular end extended by a skirt intended to surround said neck (6), said annular end has at least one lip (19) for providing sealing between said neck (6) and said ring and/or at least one lip (20) for providing sealing between said decorative element (1) and said ring.
10. Ornamental assembly, characterized in that it comprises a fastening system according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 and a collar (1).
11. Assembly according to Claim 10, characterized in that said collar (1) has, on its inner surface intended to face said joining ferrule (3), at least one rib (10) intended to be received and to cooperate with a guide slot (11) in said ferrule (3).
12. Assembly according to Claim 11, characterized in that, said ferrule (3) comprising a plurality of guide slots, said guide slots (11) have a shape and/or an arrangement defining an impression for which the ribs (10) on said collar (1) define a complementary impression imposing a particular manner of introducing said collar (1) while it is being joined to said ferrule (3).
13. Assembly according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that said collar (1) has, on its inner surface intended to face said joining ferrule (3), an annular groove (12) intended to receive the fingers (13) of said joining ferrule (3).
14. Container having a neck (6) provided at its upper end with an opening, characterized in that it comprises a decorative collar (1) joined to said neck (6) by a fastening system according to any one of Claims 1 to 9.
15. Container according to Claim 14, characterized in that said container is a bottle, a flask or a glass decanter.

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