ES2334363T3 - IRRELLENABLE PLUG WITH DOUBLE SECURITY DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

Non-refillable cap for beverage bottles, of the type comprising an internal washer (2) coupled to the neck of the bottle (3) and carrier of a mobile closing valve (1), the washer (2) also presenting a cylindrical projecting part ( 6) receiver of an upper body (7), provided with an external thread to screw an overcap (8) and said washer (2) having a lower tubular part coupled to the external part of the bottle neck, with an external laminar envelope (11) externally covering said overcap (8) and the tubular body assembly that joins the outside of the neck (3), said outer laminar envelope (11) having an upper part and a skirt (19) connected with said upper part by means of fractured ports, characterized in that a special cap-tube (17), which forms a tubular body is integral with the upper part of the neck of the bottle (3) and wraps it, and is covered by said external laminar envelope (11), said special cap-tube (17) having an upper projection flange (16) and a lower projection flange (18) respectively, which are compressed inwards by the action of said external laminar envelope (11), said said configuration being configured special tube cover (17) and said external laminar envelope (11) so that during the initial unscrewing of the cap, before the rupture of said fractured bridges, said skirt (19) moves upwards together with said external laminar envelope (11) and reveals said lower protrusion flange (18), and after the rupture of said fractured bridges, said upper part of the outer laminar envelope (11) continues to move upward and reveals said upper protrusion flange (16), protruding from this way said flanges (16, 18), in view of their compressed arrangement, elastically upwards when they are released by said external laminar envelope (11), preventing a further descent of said external laminar envelope (11) and being visible again, permanently to demonstrate the previous opening of the bottle cap.

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 fill the container with Drinks of lower quality. 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 indicators of easy visibility outside of the stopper makes it almost impossible to inadvertently handling.

After multiple tests and experiments, the inventors have got a plug irrellenable in which thanks to an original and simple construction, by simply opening the cap by unscrewing the top of it is how the effect of leaving is achieved visible two external witnesses of a tube cover special that can no longer be coated after such opening operation Since such witnesses, who can adopt the shape of annular or other elements may have colors different, even striking, the appearance of the bottle endowed with non-refillable cap of the invention, once opened, manifests clearly, because of the existence of the two very visible witnesses, that the cap has already been opened, so it will not admit manipulation later some.

To achieve your goal, the plug Irrellectable object of the present invention presents essentially a so-called special cap-tube that connects externally with the neck of the bottle and presenting structure special both on its upper edge and its lower edge, also combining with an external laminar envelope or equipped with skirt, preferably made of metal, which covers the called cap overcap, engaging in rotation with it, presenting special design features, which will be explained in detail later, such that when the unscrewing of the plug and therefore the separation of the overcap with respect to the body to allow subsequent fluid outflow, they occur two mutual displacements of the ends of the special tube cover and metal enclosure external 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 that 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 outward, protrudes outward, which will occupy a larger diameter and will be radially separated from the envelope of the overcap so it cannot be entered again, remaining in view of said flange, which will constitute one of the Clear manifestations that the plug has been opened. At the same time, in the initial upward route of unscrewing the cap, before of the rupture of the weakened area of the seal, there will have been an upward movement of the side envelope skirt, that will have exposed the bottom flange of the tube cover which, when also flexed with pressure out, it will stand out slightly, preventing the new Envelope introduction. That is, when proceeding to the opening the bottom flange of the cap will be visible in the first place the envelope of the cap-tube which, by its shape and / or different coloring will indicate the manipulation of the cap, and immediately after, when the envelope is separated from the overcap of the lower skirt in solidarity with it, it will be visible to insurmountably the upper edge of said tube cover, which after leaving the The contents of the bottle, when the cap is closed again, will remain view without any possibility of hiding the upper flanges and bottom of the cap-tube, which by its special features of shape, coloration, etc. will manifest clearly the opening suffered by 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 effort to separate the entire cap with respect to the bottle. By means of the constitution of the present invention it is achieved that expansions T-shaped special tube-cap act on the case mentioned as deformation elements of the envelope external, 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 separation of the overcap with respect to the skirt, that is, in the opening phase for the exit of the liquid in 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 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) also has a cylindrical projection (6) intended to receive the upper body (7), provided with an external thread, on the that fits overcap (8), whose upper part (9) adapts to stop against the upper face (10) of the internal part of the mentioned 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 seen in greater detail in Figure 5, in which large side windows such as (21), (21 '), (22), (22'), each of the which has a T-shaped expansion such as (23) and (24) for adaptive retention in the neck of the bottle, joined to its openings by means of central arms, for example (25) and (26). Lower openings such as (28) and (28 ') give greater flexibility to the tube cover
special (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) surrounds externally an upper projection 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 respect to the neck of the bottle and joined by Known bridges of easy break 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 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, by continuing the displacement of the upper part of the cap, to the flange (16), given its compression state, and after having exceeded the side wall of the envelope (11) in its upward motion, it will come out occupying the position shown in figure 3, with what the outer diameter effectively occupied by said flange (16) will be slightly larger than the bottom edge of the wall side of the envelope (11), so in the rear position of closing of the bottle the position that will occupy the different elements is the one represented in figure 3, which shows clearly that external safety flanges (16) and (18) they will be visible and cannot be hidden again by the skirt or the top metal envelope since the diameters that 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 may be very visible and different from the rest of the cap to make more clearly unidentifiable 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 by numerals (23) and (24) in Figure 5, allows to achieve a swelling effect with the neck of the neck (3), producing a folded out permanently deforming the skirt (19) of the bottom of the outer laminar envelope (11). These figures have represented for clarity only the skirt or part bottom (19) of the outer laminar element, appreciating that in If an axial effort is made to remove the plug, what has been represented in these figures would occur, starting by driving the said fins (23) in the neck of the neck, which would produce a step directed towards the visible outside outwardly in the form of projections (27), (27 '), (27' ') ... in number equal to the previously made T-shaped expansions and at continue the extraction effort, the step would acquire a form increasingly pronounced, as is visible in figure 10, of so that when complete extraction of the plug, which is shown in Figure 11, the envelope external of the skirt or the bottom (19), would present very marked the steps (27), (27 '), (27' ') that would mean the destruction of said envelope and, therefore, would make it impossible A new 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 to use together the different devices of security that have been explained, that is, could be used together the safety elements by means of the flanges (16) and (18) together with the T-shaped fin system 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 possibly 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 falls within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (10)

1. Non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles, of the type comprising an internal washer (2) coupled to the bottle neck (3) and carrier of a mobile closing valve (1), the washer (2) also presenting a cylindrical part outgoing (6) receiver of an upper body (7), provided with an external thread to screw an overcap (8) and said washer (2) having a lower tubular part coupled to the external part of the bottle neck, with an envelope external laminar (11) that externally covers said overcap (8) and the assembly of the tubular body that joins the outside of the neck (3), said external laminar envelope (11) having an upper part and a skirt (19) connected with said upper part by means of fractured ports, characterized in that a special cap-tube (17), which forms a tubular body is integral with the upper part of the neck of the bottle (3) and wraps it, and is covered by said outer laminar envelope rna (11), said special cover-tube (17) having an upper projection flange (16) and a lower projection flange (18) respectively, which are compressed inwards by the action of said external laminar envelope (11), being configured said special tube-cover (17) and said external laminar envelope (11) so that during the initial unscrewing of the cap, before the rupture of said fracturable bridges, said skirt (19) moves upwards together with said laminar envelope external (11) and reveals said lower projection flange (18), and after the rupture of said fractured bridges, said upper part of the external laminar envelope (11) continues to move upward and reveals said upper projection flange (16), protruding in this way said flanges (16, 18), in view of their compressed arrangement, elastically upwards when they are released by said external laminar envelope (11), preventing a further descent nso of said external laminar envelope (11) and being visible again, permanently to demonstrate the previous opening of the bottle cap. 2. The non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles according to claim 1, characterized in that said upper part of the outer laminar envelope (11) has means of radial solidarity (12) with respect to said overcap (8), so that when proceeding when the upper part of the cap is rotated, said external laminar envelope (11) and said overcap (8) rotate simultaneously. 3. Non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles, according to claim 2, characterized in that said radial solidarity means are constituted by a series of recesses (12) that fit with recesses (13), provided in said overcap (8). 4. The non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said overcap (8) has projecting radial fins and directed downwards (14) that are combined with incoming areas (15) of said upper part of the envelope external laminar (11), to axially support said overcap (8) with said external laminar envelope (11). 5. The non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper edge of said skirt (19) of the outer laminar envelope (11) has a gently incoming area (20) with respect to the neck of the bottle and attached to said upper part of the outer laminar envelope (11) by fractured bridges. 6. The non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles, according to claim 1, characterized in that, between the upper edge of said incoming area (20) of the skirt (19) and said upper flange (16) of the special tube-cover (17), a separation is provided that is greater than the height of said lower flange (18) of the special tube cover (17) so that said lower flange (18) is fully exposed before reaching said abutment zone (20). with the lower part of said upper flange (16) of the special tube cover (17). 7. The non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles, according to claim 1, characterized by the outer diameters of said upper (16) and lower (18) flanges of the special tube cover (17) are, in free position, that is to say, distended , slightly greater than the opposite parts of said external laminar envelope (11) so that, in its release, once the upward vertical displacement of said external laminar envelope (11) has been carried out, said flanges (16, 18) cannot be hidden by a further descent of said external laminar envelope (11). 8. The non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles according to claim 1, characterized in that said special cap-tube (17) has wide lateral openings (21, 21 ', 22, 22'), each of which is provided with an expansion T-shaped retainer (23, 24), which can be driven by its upper edge on the bottom flange of the bottle neck in case of an attempt to axially remove the cap assembly, causing bending out of said retention expansions (23, 24) with marking and / or destruction of said external laminar envelope (11), demonstrating the manipulation. 9. The non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles according to claim 8, characterized in that each of said T-shaped retention expansions (23, 24) is attached to the body of said tube-cover (17) by its lateral edges by means of easy break bridges (31, 32), allowing better driving in bottles of poor quality. 10. The non-refillable stopper for beverage bottles according to claim 1, characterized in that said special cap-tube (17) is provided with ribs (30, 30 ') that are combined with projections (29, 29') of the neck the bottle for connecting said special tube cap (17) and said bottle neck.