ES2229959A1 - Non refillable stopper with double security device - Google Patents

Abstract

The non-refillable stopper has special tubular closing element (17) surrounding upper region of bottle neck (3). The closing element has upper and lower projecting flanges (16,18) pressed inwards by external laminar covering (11). The external laminar covering displaces vertically during stopper opening operation such that the flanges are viewed to be in compressed disposition. The flanges protrudes outward during release by laminar covering.

Description

Non-refillable cap with double device security.

The present invention relates to a plug irrellenable, especially the type used for drinks high-priced alcoholics, which has characteristics of safety far superior to non-refillable plugs currently known.

As is known, one of the characteristics of The non-refillable caps for alcoholic beverages is precisely that cannot be easily manipulated to refill the container With lower quality drinks. This illegal action results traditionally quite widespread, especially in certain countries, giving rise to sensible damages for the bottlers of the original drinks

There are currently multiple devices that to a greater or lesser extent aim to achieve an effect of security, with the aim that once the plug is opened by elements that allow visibly appear for the first time identify the manipulation performed on the bottle, for example rupture of seals, and that, therefore, would hinder their sale fraudulent once refilled the bottle with a minor drink quality.

It is clear that these means of identification of the initial opening made in the cap must be large simplicity and economy, since they should not force maneuvers cumbersome by the initial user nor should they be more expensive sensitive way the manufacturing costs of the non-refillable cap since, as is known, these are intended for manufacturing in large series for closing bottles in large quantities that Many times they are distributed worldwide.

The inventors of the present non-refillable cap the objective of increasing very significantly the safety features of the plug when getting a plug irrellenable of very simple characteristics but that after its opening shows simultaneously and clearly two indicative very visible that reveal its initial opening. It has been experienced by the inventors that, although the effect of a visual indicator may be in some cases little warned After handling, the realization of a double device safety with two easily visible indicators in the outside of the cap makes the inadvertent of virtually impossible such manipulation.

After multiple tests and experiments, the inventors have got a plug irrellenable in which thanks to an original construction and simple, by simply opening the cap unscrewing the upper part of it is how the effect of leaving visible two external witnesses of a special tube cap that can no longer be coated after said opening operation. Since said witnesses, which may take the form of annular elements or of other type, they can have different colors, even striking, the appearance of the bottle fitted with the non-refillable cap of the invention, once opened, clearly manifests, by the existence of the two very visible witnesses, that the plug has already been opened, so it will not support subsequent manipulation any.

To achieve your goal, the plug Irrellectable object of the present invention presents essentially a so-called special cap-tube that connects outwardly with the bottle neck and presenting special structure on both its upper edge and its edge bottom, also combining with an external laminar envelope or equipped with a skirt, preferably made of metal, which Covers the so-called cap overcap, engaging in rotation with the same, presenting special design features, which will explain in detail later, such that when the unscrewed the cap and therefore the separation of the overcap with respect to the body to allow subsequent exit of the liquid, there are two mutual displacements of the ends of the special cap-tube and the External metal envelope of the overcap and its skirt.

In more detail:

The special cap-tube presents inferiorly a small flange flexed lightly radially inward, that is, exerting a radial pressure out on the metal envelope that integrates the skirt envelope, and the upper end of said tube cover it has a slightly bent inward flange, also exerting a certain radial pressure outward on the corresponding part of the upper laminar envelope, which It also features multiple radial coupling reliefs with the cap overcap and also has an internal annular projection which can be replaced by a fin, multiple projections separated or others, to receive the corresponding wall of the body.

By this arrangement, when unscrewing the plug the external envelope drag and the exceed the outer envelope in its upward movement the cap-tube flange, given the gentle flexion of this one towards the outside, stands out, with what it will occupy a larger diameter and will be radially separated from the envelope of the overcap so it cannot be entered again, said flange being visible, which will constitute one of the Clear manifestations that the plug has been opened. At once, on the initial upward route of unscrewing the cap, before the rupture of the weakened area of the seal, there will be produced an upward displacement of the skirt of the lateral envelope, which will have exposed the flange bottom of the cap-tube which, when flexed also with outward pressure, it will stand out slightly, preventing the new introduction of the envelope. That is, at proceed to open the cap will be first visible the bottom flange of the envelope of the tube cover which, due to its different shape and / or color will indicate the manipulation of the plug, and immediately after, detach the envelope from the top of the lower skirt in solidarity with it, the insurmountable upper flange of said tube-cap, thereby after giving out the contents of the bottle, when returning to close the cap, they will be visible without any possibility of concealment of the upper and lower flanges of the tube cover, which due to its special characteristics of shape, coloring, etc. will manifest clearly the opening that has suffered the plug, avoiding manipulations.

The present invention is also intended to achieve an additional security effect that clearly reveals the handling in the case where you want to extract all of the stopper by means of a tool that, resting on the lower edge of the same, allow a high tensile stress to separate the entire cap from the bottle. Through the constitution of the present invention is achieved that the T-shaped expansions of the special cap-tube act in the case mentioned as deformation elements of the external envelope, which will be destroyed preventing its reuse and clearly showing manipulation.

For your better understanding they are attached, by title explanatory example but not limiting, some drawings of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows the initial position of closure of the non-refillable cap, object of the invention.

Figure 2 shows an exterior elevation view of the cap itself.

Figure 3 shows the opening position of the stopper, in which the upper part of the overcap has been separated with respect to the lower skirt, envelope of the tube cover, the two witnesses being visible External testimony of the opening of the cap.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the outside view after the separation of the overcap with respect to the skirt, that is, in the opening phase for the exit of the liquid from the bottle.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the special cap-tube that is part of the invention.

Figure 6 shows an elevation view of the cap with the cover removed.

Figure 7 shows a sectional detail in the that the radial coupling between the metal envelope is appreciated outside of the overcap and the lid of the non-refillable cap.

Figure 8 shows a sectional detail of the special tube cover.

Figures 9, 10 and 11 represent paths in section in which the security effect of the T-shaped expansions when acting on the outer envelope of the plug in case of complete removal of the cap by means of a traction device

As shown in the figures, the plug Irrellectable object of the present invention comprises so conventional an internal shut-off valve (1) that is combined with the so-called washer (2) which is the piece that rests on the edge top of the neck (3) of the bottle and which is fitted by an inner wing (4) on the inside of the bottle itself, to sealing and retention effects. Said washer (2), which receives  superiorly by means of a small flange (5) the lower wall of the valve (1), it also has a cylindrical projection (6) intended to receive the upper body (7), provided with thread exterior, on which the overcap (8) is coupled, whose part upper (9) fits fully against the upper face (10) of the internal part of said body (7).

An external laminar envelope (11) is left externally adapted to the entire overcap (8) and special cap-tube (17), presenting multiple recesses (12) that fit into recesses (13) of the cylindrical part outside of the lid, supporting its turning movement. Nail radial fins protruding and directed downwards (14) presenting the cover (8) near its lower edge is combined with an area incoming (15) of the outer laminar envelope (11), causing the axial solidarity between said outer envelope (11) and the cover (8).

The special tube cover (17) is look in greater detail in figure 5, which shows wide side windows such as (21), (21 '), (22), (22'), each of which presents a T-shaped expansion such as (23) and (24) for adaptive retention on the neck of the bottle, joined to its openings by means of central arms, by example (25) and (26). Lower openings such as (29) and (30) give more flexibility to the special cap-tube (17).

The outer laminar envelope (11) is adapted also, as indicated, to the outside of the special tube cover (17), so that the edge bottom of the side wall of said metal envelope (11) externally surrounds an upper projecting flange (16) of the special tube cover (17), which has a flange  similar (18) at the bottom, with the characteristic that the upper flange (16) is slightly compressed, that is, flexed inward, establishing contact with the inner part of the side wall of the wrapping sheet (11) and the flange (18) is also slightly compressed or flexed, also establishing contact with the corresponding internal part of the skirt (19), which is in solidarity with the metal envelope (11) by means of fracture bridges not represented and which presents below the flange (16) an area (20) gently incoming with with respect to the neck of the bottle and joined by the known Easy break bridges with the top (11).

By arranging items that have been explained, once the bottle is closed, as shown in the Figure 1, the safety edges (16) and (18) of said special tube cover (17), but when opening the bottle cap, whose first phase is represented in the figure 3, after the short vertical displacement until the zone (20) I made a stop with the lower edge of the projection (16), will have exposed the lower flange (18) that, by the previous bending he has received will tend to be disposed towards outside occupying a diameter greater than the skirt (19), so that later it cannot be reintroduced to return to cover said safety flange (18). Simultaneously, at continue the displacement of the upper part of the cap, the flange (16), given its compression state, and after having exceeded the side wall of the envelope (11) in its movement ascending, it will go out occupying the position shown in the figure 3, so that the outside diameter effectively occupied by said flange (16) will be slightly larger than the lower edge of the side wall of the envelope (11), so that in the position bottle closing position the position that the different elements is the one represented in figure 3, in which it is clearly appreciated that the external safety flanges (16) and (18) will be visible and may not be hidden again by the skirt or metal top shell since the diameters which they now occupy, somewhat larger than that envelope, will not allow its subsequent concealment.

To make the elements of safety (16) and (18) in the form of flanges, nerves, tips, crenellated or any other type, its coloration can be very visible and distinct from the rest of the cap to make more clearly identifiable the previous opening made.

As indicated above, the The present invention allows to achieve an additional effect of safety against external manipulations, as represented in figures 9, 10 and 11. Indeed, the existence of T-shaped expansions such as those indicated with numerals (23) and (24) in figure 5, allows to achieve an effect driving with the neck of the neck (3), producing a folding outwards that permanently deforms the skirt (19) of the bottom of the envelope. These figures have represented for clarity only the lower part (19) of the outer laminar element, appreciating that if performed an axial effort to remove the plug, what would happen has represented in these figures, starting with the emphasis of said fins (23) in the neck of the neck, which would produce a outwardly directed step externally shaped of projections (27), (27 '), (27' ') ... in number equal to that of T-shaped expansions previously made and by continuing the extraction effort, the step would acquire a more and more form  pronounced, as visible in figure 10, so that when complete cap removal could be done, which has been represented in figure 11, the outer envelope, in the lower part (19), would present very markedly the steps (27), (27 '), (27' ') that would mean the destruction of said envelope and, therefore, would make a new one impossible placement of it.

In said figures 9 to 11, the connection by nerves and corresponding incoming between the bottle neck and tube cap (17), appreciating the protrusions (29), (29 ') ... of the neck of the bottle which will be conjugated with nerves (30), (30 ') ... of the tube cover (17).

As is evident, the present invention will allow the different devices to be used together of security that have been explained, that is, could be used jointly the safety elements through the nerves external (16) and (18) together with the fin-shaped system of T or any of them independently.

The arrangement of such T-shaped fins as the (23) and (24) shown in Figure 5 can be seen more detail in said figure observing the possible disposition of bridges of union in the edges, of easy breakage, such as the indicated with the numerals (31) and (32), which would allow a better The emphasis of these expansions on lower quality bottles is that is, less precision of the flange and eventually smaller width of the driving step.

It is understood that with the constitution of the cap irrellenable according to the present invention is achieved very simple and practical a double safety device against cap manipulation that will not be salvageable for eventual bottle manipulators that will try to refill later.

It will also be understood that while the invention has been explained in detail based on an example of realization thereof, said embodiment is not limited to the present invention whose essentiality is included in the scope of the following claims.

Claims (9)

1. Non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles, of the type comprising an internal washer coupled to the neck of the bottle and carrier of a mobile closing valve, the washer also presenting a cylindrical projecting part receiving the cap body, provided with the external thread for the overcap and having a lower tubular part coupled to the outer part of the casing externally the overcap and the assembly of the tubular body that joins the outside of the neck, characterized in that a special cap-tube, which forms a tubular body integral and enveloping the upper part of the neck of the bottle, has respective upper and lower protruding flanges that are compressed inwards by the action of the outer laminar envelope, which is vertically movable in the operation of opening the cap, whereby said flanges, given their compressed arrangement, protrude outwardly when released by the envelope laminating, preventing a further descent of said external laminar envelope and being permanently visible said flanges, being demonstrative of the previous opening of the bottle cap. 2. The non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the laminar envelope of the cap overcap has means of radial solidarity with respect to said cap, so that when the upper part of the cap is rotated, they rotate simultaneously said laminar envelope and the threaded overcap to the body. 3. The non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles, according to claim 2, characterized in that the radial solidarity means are constituted by a series of conjugated entrances and projections that fit together, made in said external laminar envelope and in the threaded upper cover of the plug. 4. The non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the threaded upper cap of the cap has internal lower fins that are combined with incoming areas of the outer laminar shell, to axially support said threaded cap and said outer sheet piece. 5. The non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper edge of the lower laminar body surrounding the neck of the bottle has a smoothly entering area with respect to the neck of the bottle, joined by fractured bridges to the upper of said laminar envelope of the overcap. 6. The non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles, according to claim 1, characterized in that a gap between the upper part of the bottom laminar body of the neck and the upper flange of said special cap-tube is provided a separation greater than the height of the lower flange of the special cap-tube itself, to allow the latter to be fully uncovered before reaching said top area with the bottom of the upper flange of the special cap-tube. 7. The non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer diameters of the upper and lower flanges of the special tube cover are, in the free position, that is, distended, slightly superior to the opposite parts of the external laminar envelope so that, in its release, once the upward vertical displacement of said external laminar envelope has been carried out, said flanges cannot be hidden by a new descent of said outer laminar piece. 8. The non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the special tube-cover has wide lateral openings each of which is provided with a T-shaped retention expansion, capable of being driven by its upper edge in the bottom flange of the bottle neck in case of an attempt to axially remove the cap assembly, causing said retention expansions to be folded out with marking and / or destruction of the external laminar envelope, demonstrating manipulation. 9. The non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles, according to claim 8, characterized in that each of the T-shaped retention expansions is joined by its lateral edges by means of bridges of easy breakage to the body of the cap-tube, allowing a better driving in poor quality bottles.