EP3902752B1

EP3902752B1 - Tamper indicating closure system

Info

Publication number: EP3902752B1
Application number: EP19872272.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gurer KUTLUG
Original assignee: Bericap Kapak Sanayi AS
Current assignee: Bericap Kapak Sanayi AS
Priority date: 2018-12-27
Filing date: 2019-12-10
Publication date: 2023-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-10
Also published as: TR201820664A2; PL3902752T3; CN113573988A; HUE063468T2; ES2960284T3; EP3902752C0; EP3902752A1; CN113573988B; WO2020139242A1; EA202191240A1

Description

Technical Field

The invention relates to a tamper evident closure system highlighting whether it has been opened before.
Specifically, the present invention relates to a tamper evident closure system allowing that the circumferential projections on top surface of the cap to deform permanently the top surface of the plastic upper sleeve during an attempt for reclosing after unauthorized access of content within the bottle, for highlighting whether closure system has been opened before.

Prior Art

The user which spends a lot of money to buy high quality product such as valuable beverages wants to know whether he/she uses the original content or not. Since closure systems of the bottles for valuable beverages might be tampered for replacing the content of the bottle, there is a requirement for a solution providing that end purchaser shall be enabled to easily recognize whether the bottle has been opened prior to the moment of purchase.
The document EP2769927 B1 mentions a closure system which prevents the cap from being further rotated until its first position before the initial opening. Here, once the cap is opened for the first time, the abutment arms are released from their trapped position and lean on the annular abutment groove by bending radially towards to the inside of the cap. So, it prevents full closure of the cap after the initial opening.
The document EP1981774 B1 mentions a closing device having a cap, a pourer suitable for coupling with said cap and for fastened to the neck of a bottle and a covering liner comprising an upper sleeve portion and a bottom sleeve portion. The closure system allows that the circumferential projections on the top surface of the cap to highlight into the flat top surface of the upper sleeve portion during pressing firmly on the covering liner for taking it as close as possible to the bottom portion of the liner. So, the highlights formed on outer top surface of the upper sleeve portion during reclosing of closure make obvious that the closing device has been opened before. Here, the covering liner is made of thin layer of aluminum for allowing the circumferential projections on the top surface of the cap to unequivocally highlight that the closing device has been opened. However, it is not possible to apply the tamper evidence property of the invention directly onto the plastic outer sleeve that has thicker top wall than the aluminum covering liner. Approximate top wall thickness of plastic outer sleeve is 1mm while approximate top wall thickness of aluminum covering liner is 0.25 mm. Therefore, the circumferential projections on the top surface of the cap cannot highlight into the flat top surface of the plastic outer sleeve during pressing firmly on the outer sleeve for taking closure system as close as possible to the bottom portion of the liner.
As a result, there is a require for a solution which allows the circumferential projections on top surface of the cap to highlight onto top surface of the plastic outer sleeve during pressing firmly on the upper sleeve portion for taking it as close as possible to the bottom portion of the liner.

Objectives and Short Description of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to present a tamper evident closure system allowing that the circumferential projections on top surface of the cap to deform permanently the top surface of the plastic outer sleeve during pressing firmly on the upper sleeve portion for taking it as close as possible to the bottom portion of the liner, for highlighting to end purchaser whether closure has been opened before.
Another aim of the present invention is to allow that end purchaser understands whether there is an attempt for unauthorized access of content within the bottle, before.
Another aim of the present invention is to allow that the tamper evidence means used for aluminum covering liner via circumferential projections on the top surface of the cap is applied for the plastic outer sleeve too.

Description of the Figures

In figure 1a, a front view of the present plastic outer sleeve consisting of an upper sleeve portion and a bottom sleeve portion, is given.
In figure 1b, a top view of the mentioned plastic outer sleeve is shown.
In figure 1c, a bottom view of the said plastic outer sleeve is given.
In figure 1d, a perspective view of the present plastic outer sleeve is shown.
In figure 2a, a cross-sectional view of the present plastic outer sleeve is given.
In figure 2b, a cross-sectional view of the nested structure comprising present plastic outer sleeve and a cap, is shown.
In figure 3a, a close cross-sectional view of the present closure system, emphasizing the contact points between inner top surface of mentioned upper sleeve portion and circumferential projections lying on top surface of mentioned cap is given.
In figure 3b, a cross-sectional view of the present cap is given.
In figure 4a, a top view of the present cap is shown.
In figure 4b, sectional view of present cap is given.
In figure 5a, sectional view of present plastic outer sleeve is given.
In figure 5b, perspective view of present plastic outer sleeve after first unauthorized reclosing attempt of the closure system is shown.
In figure 6a, sectional view of the present closure system before its first unauthorized reclosing attempt is given.
In figure 6b, sectional view of the present closure system after its first unauthorized reclosing attempt is shown.
In figure 7a, a cross-sectional view of the conventional plastic outer sleeve is given.
In figure 7b, a top view of mentioned conventional plastic outer sleeve is shown.
In figure 7c, a bottom view of the said conventional plastic outer sleeve is given.
In figure 7d, a perspective view of the conventional plastic outer sleeve is shown.
In figure 8a, a perspective view of mentioned conventional plastic outer sleeve in transparent form is given.
In figure 8b, a perspective view of present plastic outer sleeve in transparent form is shown.

Reference Numerals

1.: Closure system
10.: Pourer
11.: Non-drip lip
11.1.: Annular abutment groove
11.2.: Trap corner
20.: Cap
21.: Flat top portion
21.1.: Reduced thickness
21.2.: Circumferential projection
22.: Tubular portion
22.1.: Security tab
22.2.: Elastic flap
22.3.: Internal thread portion
22.4.: Tamper-evident strip
23.: Central pin
30.: Plastic outer sleeve
31.: Upper sleeve portion
31.1.: Top surface
31.2.: Tubular surface
31.3.: Circumferential indentation
31.4.: Circumferential protrusion
31.5.: Deformation
32.: Tubular lower sleeve portion
33.: Breaking line
34.: Tamper-evident gap

Detailed Description of the Invention

This invention relates to a closure system (1) which provides first opening guarantee to the end purchaser by allowing that the circumferential projections (21.2) on flat top portion (21) of the cap (20) deform permanently the top surface (31.1) of the plastic upper sleeve portion (31) after first unauthorized reclosing attempt of the closure system (1). So, the end purchaser easily can easily remark whether unauthorized access of content within the bottle is occurred before.
Generally, closure mechanism of the alcohol bottle comprises a pourer having inner thread surface engaging with corresponding threaded portion of bottle finish, a cap having inner threads as fitting to the outer threads of the pourer and an outer sleeve wrapping bottle finish and cap together. Outer sleeve consists of upper sleeve portion and tubular lower sleeve portion which are separated by a breaking line.
The circumferential projections on top surface the caps are already used as a tamper evident means for bottles having aluminum covering liner. During pressing firmly on the covering liner to reclose the closure system onto the pourer, the circumferential projections cause deformation (31.5) of aluminum covering liner at the points where the inner top surface of the upper sleeve portion contacts with circumferential projections. However, the tamper evidence property used for closure system having aluminum covering liner via circumferential projections on the top surface of the cap, cannot being directly applied for the closure system having plastic outer sleeve due to its top wall thickness which is greater than the top wall thickness of aluminum covering liner. Cross-sectional, top, bottom and perspective views of conventional plastic outer sleeve are given respectively in figure 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d. A transparent perspective view showing also inner structure of conventional plastic outer sleeve is given in figure 8a.
Since the top wall thickness of the plastic outer sleeve is greater than the top wall thickness of the aluminum covering liner, the pressing force required for deforming plastic material is quite greater than the pressing force required for deforming aluminum material. Since it is not possible to manage the closing torque applied by person who tries to reclose the bottle, it is necessary to decrease the top wall thickness of the plastic outer sleeve.
Present invention allows permanent deformation (31.5) on top surface (31.1) of the plastic outer sleeve (30) during first unauthorized reclosing attempt, thanks to reduced top wall thickness of present plastic outer sleeve (30) through the trajectory where circumferential projections (21.2) on flat top portion (21) of the cap (20) coincide.
The present closure system (1) comprises a pourer (10) equipped with non-drip lip(11), a cap (20) having a flat top portion (21) containing at least one circumferential projection (21.2) and a tubular portion (22) containing at least one security tab (22.1) corresponding each circumferential projection (21.2), a plastic outer sleeve (30) consisting of an upper sleeve portion (31) portion having at least one circumferential indentation (31.3) and one circumferential protrusion (31.4) between two mentioned consecutive indentations, a tubular lower sleeve portion (32) and a breaking line (33) separating the plastic outer sleeve (30) into two separate portions as upper sleeve portion (31) and tubular lower sleeve portion (32).
Security tabs (22.1) associated one elastic flap (22.2) structure are used means for preventing full close of the cap (20) until its first position before the initial opening. Before initial opening, the tips of security tabs (22.1) are trapped at trap corner (11.2) in stretching position, as shown in figure 6a. Figure 6a shows a sectional view of the present closure system (1) before initial opening. Once the cap (20) is opened for the first time, security tabs (22.1) are bent radially towards to inside of the cap (20) by releasing from their trapped position, as shown in figure 6b. The bending results in radial displacement of the tips of securing tabs (22.1). Thus, after first opening of cap (20), the tips of securing tabs (22.1) would lean on annular abutment groove (11.1) associated with non-drip lip (11) structure. Thus, the upper sleeve portion (31) and tubular lower sleeve portion (32) of plastic outer sleeve (30) cannot merge again in closed position of closure system (1) after initial opening. This provides a tamper-evident gap (34) between the upper sleeve portion (31) and tubular lower sleeve portion (32) in closed position of after initial opening, as shown in figure 6b. Mentioned tamper-evident gap (34) provides the purchaser to notice that the bottle has been opened before by unauthorized persons. In a preferred embodiment of the present closure system (1), cap (20) has a tamper-evident strip (22.4) which is easily seen after formation of tamper-evident gap (34). In preferred embodiments of the present invention the color of cap (20) has a contrast color according to the color of plastic outer sleeve (30) for allowing the tamper-evident strip (22.4) of cap to be easily remarked by the purchaser. When unauthorized person presses firmly on the closure system (1) by applying closing torque for decreasing or totally eliminating the tamper-evident gap (34), the tips of security tabs (22.1) are forced to stay in the same position by the barrier formed by annular abutment groove (11.1) and trap corner (11.2) while the flat top portion (21) and tubular portion (22) of cap (20) are trying to move downwards. As a result of this high torque applied by unauthorized person, the security tabs (22.1) causes mentioned circumferential projections (21.2) to deform the top surface (31.1) of upper sleeve portion (31) as moving upwards relative to the motion of the cap's (20) other portions.
Front, top, bottom and perspective views of present plastic outer sleeve (30) are given respectively in figure 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d. A cross-sectional view of the plastic outer sleeve (30) is given in figure 2a. In this figure, it is possible to see mentioned breaking line (33) which separates the plastic outer sleeve (30) into two portions as upper sleeve portion (31) and tubular lower sleeve portion (32). The position of cap (20) within present plastic outer sleeve (30) before initial opening is shown in the figure 2b. A close cross-sectional view showing the position of cap (20) within present plastic outer sleeve (30) before initial opening is given in figure 3a.
Upper sleeve portion (31) has a top surface (31.1) and tubular surface (31.2). Mentioned circumferential indentations (31.3) locates on the inner top surface (31.1) of the upper sleeve portion (31), as coinciding with the trajectory of said circumferential projection (21.2) portion located on flat top portion (21) of cap (20). Mentioned circumferential protrusions (31.4) located between each two consecutive indentations of said circumferential indentation (31.3) portion have same wall thickness of upper sleeve portion's (31) top surface (31.1), as clearly seen in figure 5a and 8b. Thus, here, top wall thickness of plastic outer sleeve (30) through the trajectory corresponding to the trajectory of circumferential projections (21.2) on flat top portion (21) of cap (20) is reduced for allowing permanent deformation (31.5) of top surface (31.1) of upper sleeve portion (31) during first unauthorized reclosing attempt. So, pressing firmly by applying high closing torque on the upper sleeve portion (31) during first unauthorized reclosing attempt causes the circumferential projections (21.2) on flat top portion (21) of cap (20) to deform permanently the top surface (31.1) of upper sleeve portion (31) at the points where they coincide with the circumferential protrusions (31.4) lying on the inner top surface (31.1) of the upper sleeve portion (31), as shown in figure 5b.
The width of the circumferential indentations (31.3) is less than the width of the circumferential projections (21.2) to prevent said circumferential projections (21.2) lying on flat top portion (21) of said cap (20) to locate within said circumferential indentation (31.3) lying on the inner top surface (31.1) of the plastic upper sleeve portion (31) during reclosing attempt of closure system (1).
Not obligatory, but preferably, there are as many circumferential projections (21.2) as there are security tabs (22.1) and, to each circumferential projection (21.2) is associated one security tab (22.1)
In a preferred embodiment of the present closure system (1), there are four circumferential projections (21.2) which are located with equal interval on flat top portion (21) of cap (20), as shown in figure 4a. Likewise, four associated security tabs (22.1) corresponding these circumferential projections (21.2) are located with equal interval around tubular portion (22) of cap (20), as seen clearly in figure 4b. There is also one associated elastic flap (22.2) extending outwardly from outer surface of each security tabs (22.1). Besides, each security tab (22.1) and the associated circumferential projection (21.2) on security tab (22.1) joins the flat top portion (21) of the cap (20) via a reduced thickness (21.1) region, as shown in figure 3b. Mentioned reduced thickness (21.1) regions prevent the security tabs (22.1) to break during its initial trapped position and relative upward motion by providing flexibility of the security tabs (22.1).
In a preferred embodiment of the present closure system (1), mentioned pourer (10) may have a pourer outlet portion on its top surface, an internal thread portion around its inner side wall surface for engaging with corresponding thread surface of bottle finish and an external thread portion around its outer side wall surface for engaging with corresponding internal thread portion (22.3) lying horizontally on inner side of tubular portion (22) of cap (20) as well as mentioned non-drip lip (11) portion. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pourer (10) may have claw structures around its inner side surface for fixing to bottle finish instead of internal thread portion.
In a preferred embodiment of the present closure system (1), mentioned cap (20) is equipped with a central pin (23) extending downwardly from the center of its inner flat top portion (21), for interaction with pourer outlet. In another embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to associate a bottom diffuser and a valve (or a ball) with the pourer (10), for interaction of central pin (23) of cap (20) with said bottom diffuser.

Claims

A closure system (1) comprising
- a pourer (10) equipped with non-drip lip (11) and an annular abutment groove (11.1) associated with mentioned non-drip lip (11),

- a cap (20) having a flat top portion (21) containing at least one circumferential projection (21.2) and a tubular portion (22) which contains at least one security tab (22.1) corresponding to each circumferential projection (21.2) and at least one elastic flap (22.2) which is associated with each security tab (22.1) so as to bend - the security tabs (22.1) inward when the closure system (1) is unscrewed from the bottle prior first opening and causing the tip of the security tabs to enter said annular abutment groove (11.1) when the closure system (1) is unscrewed from the bottle after first opening,

- an outer sleeve (30) consisting of an upper sleeve portion (31), a tubular lower sleeve portion (32) and a breaking line (33) separating mentioned outer sleeve (30) into two separate portions as upper sleeve portion (31) and tubular lower sleeve portion (32), and characterized in that said outer sleeve (30) is made of plastic and, in order to provide first opening guarantee to the end purchaser by allowing that mentioned circumferential projections (21.2) on the flat top portion (21) of the cap (20) deform permanently the top surface (31.1) of mentioned plastic upper sleeve portion (31) after first unauthorized reclosing attempt of the closure system (1); mentioned closure system (1) comprises

- at least two circumferential indentations (31.3) located on the inner top surface (31.1) of the upper sleeve portion (31), as coinciding with the trajectory of said circumferential projection (21.2) portion located on the flat top portion (21) of mentioned cap (20)

- at least one circumferential protrusion (31.4) located between each two consecutive ones of mentioned circumferential indentations (31.3), having the same wall thickness as the upper sleeve portion's (31) top surface (31.1)
wherein permanent deformation (31.5) on the top surface (31.1) of the said plastic upper sleeve portion (31) via mentioned circumferential projections (21.2) occurs during a first unauthorized reclosing attempt executed by pressing on the upper sleeve portion (31), as highlighting whether mentioned closure system (1) has been opened before.
A closure system (1) according to claim 1 and characterized in that, to prevent said circumferential projections (21.2) lying on flat top portion (21) of said cap (20) to locate within said circumferential indentation (31.3) lying on the inner top surface (31.1) of the upper sleeve portion (31) during first unauthorized reclosing attempt of closure system (1) , the width of the circumferential indentations (31.3) is less than the width of the circumferential projections (21.2).
A closure system (1) according to claim 1 or 2 and characterized in that preferably, each circumferential projection (21.2) is associated one security tab (22.1).
A closure system (1) according to one of the prior claims and characterized in that in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cap (20) has four circumferential projections (21.2) located with equal interval to each other and, each one is associated to one security tab (22.1)