ES1191484U - Anti-manipulated threaded cap (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Anti-tamper screw cap intended for container closure comprising: a) a top part having internally a threaded part intended to be screwed into a neck; b) a lower part joined to the upper part by a tear-off connection; and c) an inviolability band, in such a way that the inviolability band is not visible from the outside of the cap when it has not been unscrewed for the first time, but is visible when the cap has been unscrewed, resulting in a significant visual change ; characterized in that the tamper-evident strip comprises, on an inner face, ratchet nails projecting inwards and a plurality of retaining projections on an upper face which are inserted into conjugate recesses located in a lower face of the upper part. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Screw cap anti-tamper

The present invention relates to a cap for closing a container, so that it has an inviolability system that causes a significant visual difference in the cap before and after the first opening of said cap. More specifically, the present invention discloses a plastic screw cap for oil bottles intended to achieve a tight seal that visually indicates by means of an inviolability band if the bottle has already been opened.

As is known, it is vitally important for the consumer to know if the seal of the container has been compromised, since the product may be contaminated or damaged as a result of the container being opened. In addition, packaging closure systems are one of the key elements to ensure that a product reaches the final consumer while keeping its quality conditions intact. The effectiveness of these caps allows the product to reach the hands of the consumer in optimal conditions and guarantees that the bottle has not been opened.

At present, there are plugs that achieve a visual difference after the opening of the container through the use of a ring or band.

Document CN 103204303 discloses a container cap comprising an upper part and a lower part, in which the upper part closes the mouth of the container, and the lower part is placed on the mouth and neck of the container. In addition, the cap comprises an inviolability ring or band. The upper part is connected to the upper edge of the lower part of said stopper by means of a plurality of connections, and the inner wall of the ring is provided with a plurality of weak links (tear-off links) intended to break when the bottle is opened. The outer wall of the ring (band) and the inner face of the bottom of the cap are provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth, said ratchet teeth having interference in the circumferential direction. When the container is closed again, there is a gap in the interval between the top and bottom, resulting in a significant visual change.

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WO 2017013016 discloses a cap for a container comprising a bottom part that acts as a base, a top part that acts as a lid arranged above the bottom and an inner part disposed on the mouth of the container and located internally with respect to the bottom and top. The three parts are located in such a way that they have an empty space between them and on which there is a manipulation evidence device that is preferably an inviolability band that has an L-profile. Said manipulation evidence device is connected through weak (tear) links to the top and bottom, so that when the top part opens, at least one weak (tear) link is broken, causing the band to fall down to contact the inner part. Before opening the lid, the band is observable from the outside of the cap by means of a groove or spacing (viewing window) between the top (lid) and the bottom (base), but when the band falls, it is no longer visible and consequently this vision window is partially obscured by the void caused by the absence of the band.

Document EP0951428 A1 discloses a plastic screw cap for bottles, with a cap body having an inner thread and a guarantee band. It has retention projections that are on the inner face, is configured in a non-breakable way and is attached to the body of the plug through bridges. When unscrewing the body of the bottle cap, the tension in the bridges increases so that they break. By destroying the union between the guarantee band and the cap body, it can be recognized visually that the bottle has already been opened.

It is an object of the present invention to disclose means for using an inviolability band that is not visible when the cap has not been unscrewed and that is visible when the cap has been unscrewed, so that it cannot be hidden from Again the inviolability band once the bottle has been opened. Said inviolability band does not partially break as disclosed in CN 103204303, nor does it change position (height) as in WO 2017013016. A problem with WO 2017013016 is that the neck of the bottle has to be long enough for the broth of the inviolability band.

The present invention discloses an anti-manipulation screw cap intended for the closure of containers comprising:

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a) an upper part that internally has a threaded part intended to be screwed into a neck;

b) a lower part joined to the upper part by a tear-off joint; Y

c) an inviolability band, such that the inviolability band is not visible from the outside of the cap when it has not been unscrewed for the first time, but is visible when the cap has been unscrewed, resulting in a significant visual change ;

in which the inviolability band comprises on one inner side a pair of ratchets that project inwardly and a plurality of retention projections on an upper face that are inserted into conjugate recesses located on a lower face of the upper part.

The elements of the cap object of the present invention are arranged in such a way that once the cap has been opened, the lower face of the upper part of the cap cannot be repositioned on the upper face of the lower part of the cap due to the physical interference caused by the plurality of projections with the lower face of the upper part of said stopper and / or its recesses.

Being a screw plug, the downward closing movement is given by the screw tapping and therefore follows a helical movement with an axial and a circumferential component. The retention projections are elements that are housed inside holes in the upper part of the cap at a time prior to opening the bottle protruding axially, but when the bottle is opened and an attempt is made to place the top part of the cap on the initial situation, due to the circumferential component of the closing movement, said plurality of retention projections cause interference in the circumferential direction with the holes in the upper part of the plug, preventing the plug from making the last part of the threading path, which makes the inviolability band visible in the space between the top and the bottom of the cap. Depending on the case, interference can also occur axially, between the upper face of the projection and the lower face of the upper part.

Preferably, the height of the inviolability band is greater than the height of the bottom of the cap.

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Preferably, the retention projections on the upper face of the inviolability band comprise an oblique side, that is, they have a rectangular trapezoid shape.

More preferably, the projections offer, in the sense of unscrewing of the thread of the upper part, an oblique side face to favor the unscrewing and the exit of the conjugated entrances into which they are inserted and, in the sense of unscrewing, a wall perpendicular to said lower surface of the upper part, to hinder and / or prevent the return of the upper part to its initial position.

Preferably, the cross section of the inviolability band is circular, the bottom of the cap concentric and with an outside diameter equal to or less than the inside diameter of the bottom of the cap.

Preferably, the inviolability band comprises a plurality of projections or recesses (eg, grooves) on the outer face that are coupled to a plurality of conjugate recesses or projections of one of the inner faces of the bottom of the cap.

This allows the lower part and the inviolability band to be locked in the circumferential direction.

Preferably, the inviolability band is a different color than the rest of the cap. More preferably, the inviolability band is a color that contrasts with the rest of the cap.

Preferably, the ratchet ones on the inner face comprises are inclined ones intended to be introduced into the spaces between ratchet teeth arranged on the outer face of the bottleneck. In a particular embodiment, the inviolability band comprises 12 inclined ones. More preferably, the inclined ones have an inclination that is directed against the movement. More preferably, the inclined ones have an inclination of approximately 20 degrees with respect to the circumferential tangent.

Preferably, the retention projections on the upper face of the inviolability band have a height equal to or greater than the quotient between the helix passage of

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the aforementioned thread and the number of said projections of the inviolability band. This feature ensures that interference occurs before the top reaches the end of the thread path.

Preferably, the upper part and the lower part of the cap are punctually joined by tear-off links configured to break when the upper part is unscrewed to open the bottle.

Preferably, the plug comprises a flexible nozzle, which in turn comprises a thread on the outer face of the upper part suitable for screwing with the upper part of the plug.

Preferably, the lower face of the lower part of the cap and the lower face of the inviolability band are positioned coplanar. This allows them to rest, advantageously, on a slightly flattened and horizontal area of a cap neck that extends diametrically outwards.

Preferably, the upper part of the cap, the lower part of the cap, the inviolability band, and the flexible nozzle have the shape of revolution bodies. More preferably, the upper part of the cap, the lower part of the cap and the inviolability band are substantially cylindrical.

The present invention also discloses containers that have a cap according to the present invention.

For your best understanding, some drawings of an embodiment of the device for fixing slate panels to a fixing support of the present invention are attached by way of explanatory but not limiting example.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment example of an anti-manipulation screw cap according to the present invention in the state prior to opening it.

Figure 2 shows a half-view or quadrant view of the cap of the previous figures.

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Figure 3 shows a half-view or quadrant view of the cap of the previous figures showing the inviolability band.

Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the cap of the previous figures.

Figure 5 shows a sectional view of the previous figures.

Figure 6 shows a plan view of the inviolability band with interference with

the bottleneck

Figure 7 shows a detailed view of Figure 3, showing in detail the arrangement of the bottleneck, the inviolability band, the top, the bottom and the flexible nozzle.

Figure 8 shows a detailed view of Figure 6.

Figure 9 shows a detailed view of Figure 4.

Figure 1 shows an anti-manipulation screw cap -1- intended for closing a container, for example, a bottle -2- in its initial state, that is, before the upper part -3- has been unscrewed by first time. Thus, Figure 1 shows an upper part -3- of the cap -1- and a lower part -4- arranged as a single piece, the latter resting on the neck -6- of the bottle. The upper part -3- and the lower part -4- are joined by tear-off link bridges configured to break when the upper part of the cap -1- is unscrewed to open the bottle -2-. In particular, the lower face of the lower part -4- of the cap -1- is in contact with a surface of the bottle neck -6- substantially horizontal and flat and extending diametrically outward, while the upper face of the lower part -4- is attached to the lower face of the upper part -3- by means of the aforementioned tear-off links. The anti-tampering cap -1- also comprises an inviolability band -5- which has a ring shape. By having an outside diameter equal to the inside diameter of the bottom of the plug -1-, the band -5- cannot be seen in said figure 1, as it is inside the cover -2-, which indicates that the plug -1- has not yet been opened. Thus, the bottle neck -6-, which is part of the bottle, supports the lower faces of the inviolability band -5- and the lower part -4- in the aforementioned slightly flattened and horizontal area that extends diametrically out.

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Figures 2 and 7 are a half-view or quadrant view of the plug -1- showing the union of the upper part -3-, the lower part -4-, the flexible nozzle -7-, the band -5- of inviolability and the bottle neck -6-. The flexible nozzle -7- can be deployed after opening the cap, following known techniques, so they will not be explained here.

Figure 2 illustrates the interaction of the threaded parts between the outer face of the flexible nozzle -7- and an inner face of the upper part -3- of the plug -1-. An inner face of the upper part -3- has a thread. Also, the flexible nozzle comprises a conjugated thread on the outer face of the upper part, which allows the upper part to be screwed -3-. in the flexible nozzle. Alternatively, the upper part could be threaded to a bottleneck.

Figure 2 also shows how the lower part -4- of the plug -1- and the upper part -3- have suitable dimensions to receive the inviolability band -5-, being housed inside the plug. Also, the height of the inviolability band is greater than the height of the bottom of the plug -1-, such that the band -5- of inviolability is not visible from the outside of the plug -1- when it has not been unscrewed, but it is visible when the plug -1- has been unscrewed, resulting in a significant visual change.

Figures 3 and 9 are half-views of the anti-manipulation plug -1- showing the inviolability band -5-. The geometry of the inviolability band -5- shown is annular. The height of the band is small in relation to the outside diameter of said band -5-. Thus, the cross section of the inviolability band -5- is circular and concentric to the bottom -4- of the plug -1-. The outside diameter of the inviolability band -5- is the same as the inside diameter of the bottom -4-.

Preferably, the inviolability band -5- is of a color that contrasts with the rest of the cap, to facilitate the easy recognition of a manipulation of the container.

Figure 3 shows that the upper part -3-, the lower part -4-, the inviolability band -5-, the bottle neck -6- and the flexible nozzle -7- are substantially bodies of revolution. In particular, the upper part -3-, the lower part -4- and the inviolability band -5- are substantially cylindrical.

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Figure 3 also shows that the inviolability band -5- has a plurality of retention projections -9- on its upper face. Each of the retention projections -9- are initially housed within each of the holes -12- on the upper face of the inner recess, which have dimensions and geometry such that allow the introduction of said projections -9- retention. Said projections -9- of retention have a rectangular trapezoid shape, thus having an oblique side -91- and a straight -92- side. The oblique side is oriented to favor that the projections leave the recesses during unscrewing and the straight side is oriented to favor interference in the subsequent threading. The inviolability band -5- can comprise twelve equidistant projections.

Figure 3 also shows that the inviolability band -5- has grooves -10- on its outer face.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the plug -1- showing that the inviolability band -5- has a plurality of ratchet ones -8- on its inner face. The ratchet ones -8- are inclined teeth intended to be introduced in the spacing between ratchet teeth -11- of the outer face of a bottle neck -6-.

Figures 5, 6 and 8 show that the inviolability band -5- has twelve ratchets -8- on its inner face. In particular, the ratchet ones -5- are oriented against the unscrewing movement. The function of the ratchet is to fix both the inviolability band and the lower part to favor the tearing or breaking of the joint between the upper part and the lower part during the first unscrewing. More particularly, the ratchet ones of the example have an inclination of approximately 20 degrees with respect to the tangent of the outer face of the inviolability band -5-.

There is interference in the circumferential direction between the inviolability band -5- and the bottleneck -6-. Thus, when unscrewing the cap -1- to open the bottle, the user exerts a force on the outer face of the upper part -3- of the cap -1-. Said force is transmitted to the band -5- through the retention projections -9-. Said force produces a small turn of the band -5- until the ratchet ones -8- contact the ratchet teeth -11- blocking the movement of rotation of the band and the inside of the cap. At this time, the force provided by the user is transmitted to the tear links. When this force exceeds the

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maximum permissible tension of the tear links, these break. The tear-off links are weak connections between the upper part -3- of the plug -1- and the lower part -4-, configured to break when the user wants to open the bottle -2-. Once the upper part -3- is separated from the lower part -4-, the inviolability band -5- is visible. In this instant after the opening of the bottle, both the inviolability band -5- and the lower part -4- of the cap -1- are supported by their lower faces in the slightly flattened and horizontal area of the neck -6- of bottle that extends diametrically out.

When the user wishes to insert the upper part -3- of the plug -1-, he must thread it, that is, turn it clockwise. The threading allows the linear advance of said stopper -1- towards the neck -6- of the bottle. However, there comes a point where the upper face of the recess -14- inside of the upper part contacts the retention projections -9- thus avoiding the threading and the consequent linear advance of the upper part -3- of the plug -1 -. In this way, the interaction of the upper part -3- of the cap -1- with the retention projections -9- and the neck thread -6- does not allow the complete descent of said upper part -3- until contacting again with the bottom -4- of the plug -1-. In this way, it is avoided that the user can reintroduce the upper part -3- of the plug -1- in the initial position next to the lower part -4-. Thus, once the bottle has been opened / handled, the inviolability band -5- is visible at all times.

In an embodiment not shown, the grooves -10- on the outer face of the inviolability band -5- can provide additional interference in the circumferential direction between the inviolability band -5- and the bottleneck -6- that hinder even more the action of reintroducing the upper part -3- of the cover -2- in the initial position next to the lower part -4-.

Although the embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it should be understood that the invention can be carried out with many variations, modifications, and adaptations, without exceeding the scope of the claims.

Claims (13)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 1. Screw cap anti-tamper intended for the closure of containers comprising: a) an upper part that internally has a threaded part intended to be screwed into a neck; b) a lower part joined to the upper part by a tear-off joint; Y c) an inviolability band, such that the inviolability band is not visible from the outside of the cap when it has not been unscrewed for the first time, but is visible when the cap has been unscrewed, resulting in a significant visual change ; characterized in that the inviolability band comprises on one inner face some ratchets that project inwardly and a plurality of retention projections on an upper face that are inserted into conjugate recesses located on a lower face of the upper part. 2. Cap, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height of the inviolability band is greater than the height of the bottom of the cap. 3. Cap, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retention projections on the upper face of the inviolability band have a rectangular trapezoid shape. 4. Cap, according to the previous revindication, characterized in that the projections offer, in the sense of unscrewing of the thread of the upper part, an oblique side face to favor the unscrewing and the exit of the conjugated entrances in which they are inserted and , in the sense of unscrewing, a wall perpendicular to said lower surface of the upper part, to hinder and / or prevent the return of the upper part to its initial position. 5. Cap, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross section of the inviolability band is circular, concentric to the bottom and with an outside diameter equal to or less than the inside diameter of the bottom of the cap. 6. Cap, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inviolability band comprises a plurality of projections or recesses in its face 5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 exterior that are coupled to a plurality of conjugated entrances or projections of an inner face of the bottom of the plug. 7. Cap, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inviolability band is of a different color from the rest of the cap. 8. Cap, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ratchet ones on the inner face are inclined directed in a direction opposite to the rotational movement of the cap intended to be introduced in the spacings between ratchet teeth of the outer face of the bottleneck. 9. Cap, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retention projections on the upper face of the inviolability band have a height equal to or greater than the quotient between the helix passage of said thread and the number of the aforementioned outgoing of the inviolability band. 10. Cap, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the top and bottom part of the cap are punctually joined by tear-off links configured to break when the top part is unscrewed when the bottle is opened. 11. Cap, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises a flexible nozzle, which in turn comprises a thread on the outer face of the upper part suitable for screwing with the upper part of the cap. 12. Cap, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper part of the cap, the lower part of the cap, the inviolability band and the flexible nozzle have the shape of revolution bodies. 13. Container characterized in that it comprises a cap according to any of the preceding claims.