EP2877411B1

EP2877411B1 - Tamper evident closure

Info

Publication number: EP2877411B1
Application number: EP13741764.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stuart Johnson; Maurizio MITTINO; Marco Giovannini
Original assignee: Guala Closures SpA
Current assignee: Guala Closures SpA
Priority date: 2012-07-27
Filing date: 2013-07-25
Publication date: 2017-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2033-07-25
Also published as: EP2877411A1; ES2635237T3; IN2015DN00822A; WO2014016391A1; CN104507821B; ITMI20121324A1; CN104507821A; EA201500177A1; UA114330C2; MX353829B; MX2015001200A; EA031019B1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a tamper evident closure, i.e. a closure comprising devices that can provide evidence of first opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that, particularly in the spirits industry, there is a need to provide closures having visible tamper evident arrangements capable of providing an indication to a user that a bottle has been opened.
CN 2016700446 U discloses a closure with an outer shell, a base and an extensible pouring assembly. The base is provided with a device used for fixing on a container. The extensible pouring assembly is arranged on the base and has the possibility of moving forward relative to the axial direction of the base. The closure comprises also a device for locking the reverse movement of the extensible pouring assembly so as to limit the rotation of the outer shell on the reverse direction of reclosing of the container. This closure has the drawback that a large number of components is required. Moreover, use of the outer shell to perform first opening does not satisfy most of customers and markets.
EP 1694576 and WO 2006/117505 disclose a tamper-evident closure for a container comprising a first portion with inner and outer parts, and a second portion. The outer part is movable relative to the inner part from a first position in which the outer part is immediately adjacent the second portion to a second position in which there is an empty, unobstructed gap therebetween. The inner and outer parts are adapted to become irreversibly locked in the second position so that the outer part cannot be moved back to the first position to close the gap. In particular, the inner and outer parts include lateral ratchet arrangement on respective side walls.
EP 2178771 discloses a tamper-evident closure having first portion with outer and inner parts and second portion as EP 1694576 , where the outer and inner parts have top plates comprising longitudinal ratchet arrangement therebetween.
EP 1694576 and EP 2178771 suffer the weakness of the ratchet arrangement which is made of soft material.
EP 1313649 discloses a tamper-evident closure comprising a pourer including a sleeve adapted to be fixed on the container neck and a pouring outlet portion. The closure comprises also a cap, an outer sleeve and an outer cap. Due to the fact that the pourer has to be fixed to the container neck, it has to be made of a very strong material, such as polycarbonate. Moreover, due to aesthetic market's requirements, the pourer has to be made in a transparent material, to as to match a clear bottle pourer. A problem related to the use of the polycarbonate is the fact that, for molding reasons, the polycarbonate includes bisphenfol A (BPA) as additive. However, recently, BPA has been found harmful for health. Since the pourer outlet portion is intended to contact the liquid flowing from the container, use of polycarbonate for pourers may be forbidden in a near future.
WO 2011/157978 discloses a tamper evident closure with a threaded pourer able to be fixed to a container neck, an inner cap for opening and closing the pouring outlet of the pourer, an outer cap mounted outside the inner cap and an outer shell. The outer cap is movable upon first opening relative to the inner cap from a first position to a second position in which the outer cap becomes irreversibly locked relative to the inner cap. In the second position, the inner cap can be removed from the threaded pourer. The outer shell is made of a two parts connected by frangible bridges. In the first position, before first opening, the two parts of the outer shell are adjacent. Upon first opening, the upper shell moves together with the outer cap relative to the inner cap to the second position and an unobstructed gap forms between the two parts of the outer shell. This configuration suffers the same problem of EP 1313649 because the threaded pourer has to be made of a very strong material, such as polycarbonate, in view of the need to fix it to the container neck.
The above discussion of the prior art shows that there is still a need for a closure assembly that can combine both features of simple construction and effectiveness of the above described tamper evident systems.
In view of the above prior art, the object of the present invention is to at least partially fulfill the above need, while at least partially obviating prior art drawbacks.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a closure assembly having advantages in terms of simple fabrication, greater strength, more compact design and/or higher versatility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, this purpose is fulfilled by a closure according to claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description of one practical embodiment, which is given as a non limiting example with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of a closure according to one embodiment of the present invention, before first opening,
figure 2 shows a perspective view of the closure of figure 1, after first opening,
figure 3 shows a perspective view of the closure of figure 1 without outer capsule,
figure 4 shows a perspective view of the closure of figure 2 without outer capsule,
figure 5 shows a cross-sectional side view of the closure of figure 1,
figure 6 shows a different cross-sectional side view of the closure of figure 1,
figure 7 shows a cross-sectional side view of the closure of figure 2,
figure 8 shows a cross-sectional side view of the closure of figure 2 with the cap removed,
figures 9 and 10 show exploded perspective views of the closure of figure 1,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used in the description and claims of the present specification, the terms "comprises", and its variants, such as "comprising", are not intended to exclude any other additional elements, parts or components, and any other steps or stages.
Referring to the figures 1 to 11, there is shown a tamper evident closure 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The closure 1 is intended to close the mouth 11 of a container 10, e.g. a bottle, such as a glass bottle, e.g. for spirits.
The container 10 is a bottle and comprises a neck 12 that terminates in the mouth 11.
The tamper evident closure 1 extends mainly along a longitudinal axis X-X defining a longitudinal direction.
While the closure 1 in itself may be oriented in any direction, for the purposes of the present direction the vertical axis will be defined as the longitudinal axis X-X of the closure 1 and conventionally the bottom side is the side of the closure 1 designed to face towards the container 10, and the top side is the one designed to face towards the consumer; this is actually the normal orientation of the closure when fitted onto a normally oriented bottle (as shown in the figures).
The closure 1 comprises a pourer 20, with a lower part 30 and an upper part 40, and a cap 50.
A washer 21 is arranged between the container 10 and the pourer 20.
In the embodiment shown in the figures, the lower part 30 comprises an annular sleeve 34 extending longitudinally from an upper end 35 to a lower end 36.
The lower part 30 comprises fixing means 31 for fixing the lower part 30 to the neck 12 of the container 10.
The fixing means 31 comprise first means 32 for fixing longitudinally the lower part 30 to the neck 12 and second means 33 for fixing rotationally the lower part 30 to the neck 12.
The upper part 40 has a pouring orifice 41 and is movable along the longitudinal direction X-X relative to the lower part 30 from a first position, which corresponds to the position before first opening, to a second position. In particular, the upper part 40 is movable relative to the lower part 30 upon first opening.
It has to be noted that, in the second position, the upper part 40 is arranged longitudinally in a higher position with respect to position that the upper part 40 undertakes in the first position. In other words, the upper part 40 is movable along the longitudinal direction X-X relative to the lower part 30 from a first lower position to a second higher position.
In the embodiment shown in the figures, the upper part 40 comprises an annular sleeve 45 extending longitudinally from an upper end 46 where the pouring orifice 41 is provided and a lower end 46 where a lower edge 42 is provided.
The closure 1 may comprise anti-refill means and/or valve means. These elements are known in the art and therefore will not be further described.
The cap 50 has an inner surface 51 and an outer surface 52. The outer surface 52 corresponds to the part of the closure 1 that can be grasped by a user for opening and closing the closure 1. The inner surface 51 is able to close the pouring orifice 41.
According to one embodiment, opening of the closure 1 is performed by unscrewing action of the cap 50 around the axis of rotation X-X. To this purpose, in the example, threads 43 are formed on the annular sleeve 45 and the cap 50 has threads 53 for engagement with the threads 43.
In the example, the cap 50 comprises an inner cap 60 and an outer cap 70 arranged outside the inner cap 60.
The inner cap 60 comprises a top wall 61 and a sleeve 62 extending from the top wall 61 to a lower edge 63. The threads 53 are formed on the inner surface of the sleeve 62.
The outer cap 70 comprises a top wall 71 and a sleeve 72 extending from the top wall 71 to a lower edge 73. The outer surface of the sleeve 72 defines the outer surface 52 which can be grasped by a user for opening and closing the closure 1.
In the embodiment shown in the figures, the closure 1 comprises also an outer sleeve 75 arranged outside the annular sleeve 34 of the lower part 30 and extending from a lower edge 76 and an upper edge 77. The outer sleeve 75 may be connected to the outer cap 70, before first opening, by means of a frangible portion or bridges that connect the upper edge 77 of the outer sleeve 75 and the lower edge 73 of the outer cap and break upon first opening. Alternatively, the upper edge 77 and the lower edge 73 may be separate before first opening.
The closure 1 comprises also attachment means 80 for attaching removably the cap 50 with the upper part 40 of the pourer 20.
In particular, the attachment means 80 are configured to prevent the cap 50 from moving relative to the upper part 40 until the upper part 40 has reached the second position.
In the first position, the cap 50 and the lower part 30 are adjacent.
In particular, the lower part 30 has an upper edge 37 which, in the first position, is adjacent to the lower edge 63 of the inner cap 60.
Moreover, in the first position, the cap 50 is able to be grasped for opening the container. In the example, the outer surface 52 can be grasped for opening the container.
Upon first opening, rotation of the cap 50, around the axis of rotation X-X, causes the upper part 40 and the cap 50 to move along the longitudinal direction X-X relative to the lower part 30 from the first position to the second position.
According to one embodiment, cam means 90 are provided to cause longitudinal movement of the upper part 40 relative to the lower part 30 upon first opening.
In particular, the cam means 90 are able to convert, upon first opening, a rotation movement of the cap 50 in a longitudinal movement of the cap 50, and of the upper part 40, relative to the lower part 30 from the first position to the second position.
According to the embodiment shown in the attached figures, the cam means 90 comprise first cam members 91 formed on the cap 50 and second cam members 92 formed on the lower part 30.
According to an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, the first cam members may be associated with the upper part 40 of the pourer 20 and second cam members are associated with the lower part 30 of the pourer 20. Since the upper part 40 rotates with the cap 50 upon first opening, a rotation of the cap 50 causes a rotation of the upper part 40 which in turns moves longitudinally relative to the lower part 30 due to the cooperation of the first cam members with the second cam members.
In the figures, the second cam members 92 comprises a plurality of ramps arranged spaced angularly along the upper edge 37 of the lower part 30 and the first cam members 91 comprise a plurality of projections formed on the lower part of the cap 50. Since the cap 50 and the upper part 40 are attached by the attachment means 80, upon first opening the projections 91 act on the ramps 92 to cause the upper part 40 and the cap 50 to move longitudinally relative to the lower part 30.
According to one embodiment, the ramps 92 comprises a first portion 92a and a second portion 92b joined to the first portion 92a. To cause the upper part 40 to move from the first position to the second position, in the example the projections 91 of the cap 50 engage the first portion 92a.
In the second position, there is a gap between the cap 50 and the lower part 30. In particular, the gap is visible.
Moreover, in the second position, the upper part 40 and the lower part 30 are adapted to become mutually, irreversibly locked so that the attachment means 80 can be released to remove the cap 50 from the upper part 40. In particular, the upper part 40 can not be moved back to the first position.
Therefore, in the second position, the upper part 40 and the lower part 30 define the pourer 20 of the closure 1.
Since the pourer 20 is made of two parts, namely lower part 30 and upper part 40, these two parts may be made of different materials depending on the requirements that each part has to satisfy. The lower part 30 is intended to be fixed to the neck 12 of the container 10; therefore it may be made of polycarbonate or even of a material stronger of polycarbonate, opaque or transparent and also with different colors. The upper part 40 is intended to let the liquid contents to be poured; therefore it may be made of any transparent material, even weaker than polycarbonate since it has not to comply with stiffness requirements.
To this purpose, locking means 100 are provided to mutually, irreversibly lock longitudinally and rotationally the upper part 40 relative to the lower 30 in the second position.
According to one embodiment, the locking means 100 comprise first locking means 101 for locking rotationally the upper part 40 to the lower part 30 and second locking means 104 for locking longitudinally the upper part 40 to the lower part 30.
In the embodiment shown in the figures, the first locking means 101 comprise ribs 102 provided on a lower portion 44 of the upper part 40 and intended to engage with grooves 103 provided on an upper portion 38 of the lower part 30 when the upper part 40 reaches the second position.
The second locking means 104 comprise projections 105 arranged angularly spaced along the annular sleeve 34 of the lower part 30. In the first position, the lower edge 42 of the upper part 40 is positioned below the projections 105. As soon as the upper part 40 moves from the first position to the second position, the lower edge 42 moves towards and passes the projections 105 and stops in abutment against the upper edge 37 of the lower part 30. In the second position, therefore, the lower edge 42 is positioned between the projections 105 and the upper edge 37 of the lower part 30 so that longitudinal movement is prevented.
According to the embodiment shown in the attached figures, the upper part 40 is separate from the lower part 30 in the first position. According to an alternative embodiment, the upper part 40 and the lower part 30 may be attached by connection means which, in the first position, connect the lower part 30 with the upper part 40 and which, upon first opening, release to allow the upper part 40 to move relative to the lower part 30. This connection means may be, for example, a frangible portion or bridges connecting the lower part 30 with the upper part 40.
According to the embodiment shown in the attached figures, the attachment means 80 comprise first attachment members 81 formed on the upper part 40 and second attachment members 82 formed on the cap 50.
The first attachment members 81 engage the second attachment members 82 substantially from the first position to the second position such that the rotational movement of the cap 50 causes rotational movement of the upper part 40 relative to the lower part 30.
Advantageously, the cap 50 is attached to the upper part 40 by the attachment means 80 so that the upper part 40 is constrained in rotation with the cap 50 upon first opening.
According to an alternative embodiment, the attachment means 80 comprise the threads 53 of the cap 50 engaged with the threads 43 of the upper part 40 of the pourer 20. Due to friction between the threads 43 and 53, the upper part 40 is constrained in rotation with the cap 50 upon first opening.
In the example shown in the figures, when the upper part 40 is in the second position, a rotation of the cap 50 causes release of the attachment means 80. In particular, the second attachment members 82 of the cap 50 are adapted to be disengaged from the first attachment members 81 of the upper part 40 so that the cap 50 becomes movable relative to the upper part 40.
In particular, when the upper part 40 is in the second position, a rotation of the cap 50 causes the projections 91 to engage the second portion 92b of the ramps 92. The second portion 92b con the ramps 92 is configured such that the cap 50 can move longitudinally relative to the upper 40 until the second attachment members 82 of the cap 50 disengage from the first attachment members 81. As soon as the attachment members 81,82 disengage, the cap 50 can be rotated relative to the upper part 40 and, by means of the threads 43,53, the cap 50 can be unscrewed and removed from the upper part 40.
The way in which the invention has been described shall not be intended to limit its operation and implementation in any manner.
It will be appreciated that the closure of the present invention fulfills the intended purposes. Also, the present closure combines the advantages of simple and low-cost fabrication with strength and simplicity of use and handling.
Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that a number of changes and variants may be made to the arrangements as described hereinbefore to meet incidental and specific needs.
For example, unless otherwise imposed by evident technical limitations, any feature described in a preferred embodiment may be clearly used in another embodiment, with appropriate adaptations.
Likewise, the continuity of the closure components may be broken in any manner, provided that no functional alteration to the relevant component is caused thereby.
Also, slight tapers may be imparted to the portions described above as having an annular, cylindrical shape, in response to technological requirements.

Claims

A tamper evident closure (1) for closing the mouth (11) of a container (10) having a neck (12) and a mouth (11), said tamper evident closure (1) extending along a longitudinal direction (X-X) and comprising:
- a pourer (20) with a lower part (30) and an upper part (40), the lower part (30) being able to be fixed to the neck (12) of the container (10), the upper part (40) having a pouring orifice (41) and being movable, upon first opening, along said longitudinal direction (X-X) relative to the lower part (30) from a first position, corresponding to the position prior to first opening, to a second position,

- a cap (50) having an outer surface (52) able to be grasped for rotating the cap (50) and opening and closing the container (10) and an inner surface (51) for closing the pouring orifice (41),

- attachment means (80) for removably attaching said cap (50) with said upper part (40), said attachment means (80) constraining in rotation the cap (50) with the upper part (40) upon first opening thereby preventing the cap (50) from rotating relative to the upper part (40) until the upper part (40) has reached the second position, said attachment means (80) releasing in said second position upon further rotation of the cap (50) to allow the cap (50) to be removed from the upper part (40),

- cam means (90) for converting, upon first opening, a rotation movement of the upper part (40) relative to the lower part (30) in a longitudinal movement of said cap (50) and, by said attachment means (80), of the upper part (40) relative to the lower part (30) from the first position to the second position,
wherein
- in the first position, the cap (50) and the lower part (30) are adjacent and the outer surface (52) of the cap (50) is able to be grasped for opening the container (10),

- upon first opening, upon rotation of the cap (50) the upper part (40) and the cap (50) move along said longitudinal direction (X-X) relative to the lower part (30) from said first position to said second position,

- in the second position, there is a gap between the cap (50) and the lower part (30), the upper part (40) and the lower part (30) are adapted to become mutually irreversibly locked so that the attachment means (80) can be released to remove the cap (50) from the upper part (40).
A tamper evident closure (1) according to claim 1, wherein said attachment means (80) comprise first attachment members (81) formed on said upper part (40) and second attachment members (82) formed on said cap (50), the first attachment members (81) engaging said second attachment member (82) from said first to said second position such that rotational movement of the cap (50) causes rotational movement of the upper part (40) relative to the lower part (30).
A tamper evident closure (1) according to claim 1, wherein said cam means comprise first cam members (91) associated with the cap (50) and second cam members (92) associated with the lower part (30) of the pourer (20).
A tamper evident closure (1) according to claim 1, wherein said cam means comprise first cam members associated with the upper part (40) of the pourer (20) and second cam members associated with the lower part (30) of the pourer (20).
A tamper evident closure (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein locking means (100) are provided to mutually, irreversibly lock longitudinally and rotationally the upper part (40) relative to the lower part (30) in the second position.