FR2738802A1 - Anti-fraud stopper used especially when bottling expensive wines or spirits - Google Patents

Abstract

The stopper (1) for a container with a neck (3) comprises a stopper (4) with a head (40) and a cylindrical skirt (41). A rigid collar (5) has an upper rim (50), which is fixed into the internal surface of the neck by a layer of adhesive (10), and a cylindrical portion coaxial with the skirt. An obturator (7), with a diameter greater than the rigid collar internal diameter, is temporarily held on the stopper cylindrical part (41) by an adhesive layer (11). The collar lower edge (544) prevents extraction of the obturator. An alternative method of fixing the stopper is obtained with a supple ring, coaxial with the rigid ring, having an upper rim seating on the container neck. In the lower part of this supple ring, furthest from the neck opening, are device for fastening onto the neck allowing axial locking of the rigid ring by engagement of the supple and rigid rings.

Description

ANTI-FRAUD CAPPING DEVICE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of stopper capsules and more particularly that of anti-fraud stopper capsules for the packaging of high value or renowned products, typically in the field of alcohols, wines for keeping, liquors, spirits.

STATE OF THE ART
We already know, in particular from the British patents Nos. 2,057,390 A and 2,236,999 A, capsules ensuring a filling function.

These capsules have a non-return valve preventing the filling of the container provided with such a capsule, with a liquid imitating the original content in order to deceive the end consumer.

PROBLEM
However, capsules such as those described in the British patents cited above do not constitute sufficient protection against fraud.

Indeed, there is a fairly widespread fraud which consists in recovering and recycling empty packaging, typically specific bottles of well-known brand, filling them with content unrelated to said brand, and crimping them using capsules, usually imitation themselves.

The problem is first to find ways to reduce the possibility of fraud by recycling empty packaging.
It is then to provide a clear indicator of first opening, so that in case of recycling of empty packaging, the packaging bears the mark of fraud, or to prevent the reuse of empty packaging.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the invention is an anti-fraud closure device for a necked container comprising the following elements a) a head cap comprising a cylindrical head and skirt, b) a rigid ring (or sheath) comprising a upper rim, a cylindrical portion coaxial with said cylindrical skirt which can be joined to the interior surface of said neck by fixing means.

c) a shutter, secured to said device before the first opening of said container by means of holding, and separated from said device during the first opening of said container, by means of separation, so as to be free in said container , said rigid ring further having a constriction preventing said valve from being extracted from said container.

The device according to the invention therefore rests on the one hand on the presence of a rigid ring which cannot be separated from the neck of the container, nor deformed elastically, without destroying it, the containers generally being made of glass.

With this first means is associated a second means making it possible to visually and / or auditively detect the absence of a first opening. The part called "shutter" is in fact a witness of first opening: if it is at the level of the stopper capsule formed by said device, then the first opening must be accompanied by the fall of said shutter at the bottom of the container. On the other hand, a encapsulated container where said shutter appears on its bottom would correspond to fraudulent production.

For this first object, these essential means of the invention well solve the problem posed, said rigid ring being secured to said neck in an irreversible manner, unless destroying the container itself.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a view in axial section of the device (1) according to the invention, with, on the left part of the figure, the position of said device before total engagement in a neck (3) of a container (2), and on the right side, the final position of the capsule formed by the device (1).

In Figure 1, the mouth of the neck (3) comprises an inner shoulder (16).

In this figure, the rigid ring (5) is fixed to the neck (3) using a flexible ring (6), the lower part (64) of which comprises an open metal ring (67) with spring and excess thickness function, is axially spaced against the internal surface of said neck by fitting said rigid ring (5) into said flexible ring (or sheath) (6).

Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1, but the rim (15) of the neck (3) does not have an internal shoulder.

Figure 3 is similar to Figure 1, but the spacing of the lower part (64) of said flexible ring (6) is accentuated by an extra thickness (9) with inclined plane (64), so as to press said ring flexible (6) against the internal surface of said neck (3) and snap said rigid ring (5) into said flexible ring (6), and to reinforce the irreversible nature of the fixing of said rigid (5) and flexible (6) rings audit neck (3).

Figure 4 is similar to Figure 1, but instead of having an opening tongue (8) integral with the head (40) of the plug (4), the opening tongue (82) is independent.

Figure 5 is similar to Figure 1, but, instead of having a plug (4) with a percussion rod (42), the percussion means of the shutter (7) is a movable part (546) provided a percussion rod (548) which can slide in a groove (547) formed on the inner surface of said rigid ring (5). An assembly part (549) allows the mounting of said movable part. This part (546) can, as shown in FIG. 4, constitute a non-return valve with an irreplaceable function, allowing the contents of the container to pass, thanks to the orifices (5460) and to the inclined vault (5470), when the valve is in the "high" position (container overturned to pour the contents of the container), while, the valve being in the "low" position, the orifices (5460) are closed by the seat (5490) of the valve (container in the straight position or tilted).

Figure 6 is an axial half-section of the device according to the invention illustrating another means of fixing the rigid ring (5) to the neck (3).

Unlike the method of fixing of the preceding figures, the fixing of said rigid ring to said neck (3) is ensured by an adhesive layer (10) placed on the rim (15) of the neck (3).

The shutter (7), of diameter greater than the inside diameter of said rigid ring (5), is temporarily held integral with the cylindrical part (41) of the plug (4) by an adhesive layer (11).

FIG. 7 illustrates, in partial axial section, another modality of link between obturator (7) and plug (4), by cooperation of male (12) and female (13) parts, the elasticity of the male and / or female parts being sufficient to secure or separate the shutter (7) and the plug (4) by means of minimal effort.

FIGS. 8a to 8d illustrate, in partial axial half-section, different possibilities of constriction (54): - in FIG. 8a, the constriction is formed by a bore (541) of the rigid ring (5), - in FIG. 8b, the constriction is formed by a fold (543) of said rigid ring, - in FIG. 8c, the constriction is formed by an attached annular part (542), - in FIG. 8d, the constriction is also formed by a part added annular (542), and in addition the flexible circular rim (141) integral with said flexible ring (6) of the preceding figures has been replaced by an insert (143) with flexible circular edge (141).

In these figures, the thickness profile of said flexible ring (6) is such that its external surface is substantially cylindrical before total fitting of said rigid ring (5), its internal surface becoming cylindrical after said fitting and its external surface is then pressed against said bottleneck.

FIG. 9 represents, in partial axial section, the lower part of the device according to the invention and illustrates the case where said obturator (7) is a disc or a cylinder, instead of being a typically spherical ball as in the preceding figures .

FIG. 9a represents a projection in a horizontal plane of the different diameters of the device playing a role in the invention - the diameter of the circle A (DA) corresponds to the inside diameter of the rigid ring (5) or to the outside diameter of the skirt ( 41) of the plug (4), - the diameter of the circle B (DB) corresponds to the diameter of the orifice formed by the flexible circular rim (141), - the diameter of the circle C (DC) corresponds to the diameter of the shutter (7), - the diameter of the circle D (DD) corresponds to the diameter of the lower part of the rigid ring (5), located below the neck (54), - the diameter of the circle E (DE) corresponds to the diameter outside of said rigid ring (5).

We have the obvious relation: DE> DD> DC> DB, DA.

Figures 10 and 11 are partial bottom views illustrating the case where said flexible lower support comprises 4 tabs (142) (Figure 10), or a strip (144) having a central rupture zone (145).

Figures 12 and 13 are perspective views of the plug (4).

FIG. 12 represents the case where said plug (4) and said first opening tab (8) are integral and connected by a weakening line (81). The removal of the tongue (8) can be facilitated by the presence of a vertical weakening line (81) with a tear primer.

FIG. 13 represents the case where said plug (4) and said tab (8) are not integral parts. In this case, the removal of the tongue can be done through the vertical weakening line (81) with a tear primer.

Figure 14 shows, in axial section, another embodiment of the invention, where a non-return valve (17) is fixed to said rigid and flexible rings.

The representation of the valve (17) corresponds to the final position of the valve, after fixing of said device on said neck (3) (right part of the figure).

Also shown in this figure are detection means (18) placed in a cavity (19) between the rings (5) and (6).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to a first embodiment of the invention, said fixing means comprises a flexible ring (6) coaxial with that (51) of said rigid ring (5), having an upper rim (60) and provided on its lower part (64) the most distant from the opening of said neck (3) of locking means with said neck (3), and allowing axial locking of said rigid ring (5), by cooperation of locking means of said flexible ring (6) and of said rigid ring (5).

As shown in FIG. 1, said rigid ring (5) has on its external surface anti-return notched notches (53) intended to cooperate with the non-return hollows (65) on the internal surface of said flexible ring (6). Given the taper of the internal surface of the neck, it becomes impossible to extract said rigid ring (5) without jeopardizing the integrity of the neck itself. Said flexible ring can also have non-return notches (66) on its external surface in contact with the neck. However, given the difference in stiffness of the materials constituting said rigid ring (5) and said flexible ring (6), the latter may simply have a rough surface without the presence of notches (66) or recesses (65) non-return (66).

According to this first method, said locking means comprises a radial spacing of said lower part (64), thanks to its profile, during the introduction of said rigid ring (5) by axial displacement inside said flexible ring ( 6), spacing which causes an increase in the diameter of said lower part (64) and the impossibility of removing said device (1) from said neck (3) given its flare, and in which said axial locking means can comprise the cooperation of non-return notches (53) of the rigid ring (5) with those (65) of said flexible ring (6).

 It is thus possible to obtain a set of rigid (5) and flexible (6) rings totally pressed against the interior surface of the neck, the rigid ring very strongly compressing the flexible ring against the neck, in particular by means of the ring ( 67), or the extra thickness (9) of FIG. 3.

According to another possible method according to the invention, said fixing means comprises an adhesive layer (10) allowing the fixing of said rigid ring (5) to said neck (3), as shown in FIG. 6.

The first method of the invention using a flexible ring (6) is preferred because it relies solely on mechanical means and does not call for its implementation in the conditioner with any specific means, apart from a simple axial displacement, such as this will appear clearly in what follows. On the other hand, the use of an adhesive can generally require some specific means of use and imply constraints which are more difficult to satisfy, such as the alimentarity of the adhesive and its compatibility with the content of said container.

According to the invention, the rigid ring (5) has a constriction (54) so as to make it impossible to remove said shutter (7), either before or after the first opening of the container.

Said constriction (54), as illustrated in FIGS. 8a to 8d, can be constituted by an internal bore (541) of said rigid ring (5) smaller than the dimensions of said obturator (7), or by an internal fold (543) of said rigid ring (5), or by the lower edge (544) of said rigid ring (5), or by an annular attached piece integral with said rigid ring (5) or said flexible ring (6), and having an internal orifice of limited section such that said obturator cannot be extracted from said device or from said container.

Said annular insert can be a fixed part (542) inside said rigid ring (5), as illustrated in FIGS. 8c and 8d, or possibly a movable part (546) with an axial stroke limited by the height of a inner groove (547) on the inner surface of said rigid ring (5), as illustrated in FIG. 5.

According to the invention, said shutter (7) can be detached from said device, automatically during the first opening, in two ways, either by pulling on the plug (4), or by pressing on the plug (4).

In the first case, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, said holding means comprise an adhesive layer (11), or the cooperation of male (12) and female (13) parts, or any other known means, making said obturator ( 7) temporarily secured to said head cap (4), before the first opening of said container. In this case, said separation means which make it possible to separate said shutter (7) from said head plug (4) comprise said constriction (54), so that, by withdrawing upwards said head plug (4) during from the first opening, the opening force is sufficient for said shutter (7) to abut against said constriction (54), separates from said head cap (4) irreversibly, and falls into said container.

In the second case, typically shown in Figure 1, said device comprises a first opening tab (8) having a shim function for said head (40), so as to allow axial displacement downwards of said plug (4 ) only after removal of said tongue (8) during said first opening. In this device, said shutter (7), surrounded laterally by the peripheral wall formed by said rigid ring (5) and / or said flexible ring (6) , is enclosed in a cage formed, above, by said constriction (54), and below, by a flexible lower support (14) constituting said holding means said separation means comprises said plug or its extension acting as means percussion (42) of said shutter (7), so as to ensure the irreversible ejection of said shutter (7) during the axial displacement downwards of the plug (4) during the first opening.

In this case, said lower support (14) may comprise a flexible circular rim (141) and / or at least one flexible tongue (142), said lower support (14) being either part of an insert (143), or the extension of said flexible ring (6), or optionally, the thinned tongue-shaped end of said rigid ring (5), said flexible flanges or tongues having sufficient flexibility to be able to move apart and allow said shutter to pass ( 7) during the percussion of said shutter (7) by axial displacement downwards of the plug (4) during the first opening.

Said flexible lower support can also be formed by two tongues facing each other and joining to form a strip (144) with a central rupture zone (145), as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

Said plug may include a percussion means (42) crossing, unlike said skirt (41), the central orifice of said constriction (54). This means can be a rod extending the skirt (41) of said plug.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 5, said percussion means (42) is replaced by said movable part (546), which can include a percussion rod (548), and which can function as a valve non-filling, thanks to a groove profile (547) plane at its lower part (5490) and inclined at its upper part (5470), the peripheral part of said movable part opposite said groove (547) being only perforated, thanks orifices (5460), to allow the contents of said container to pass.

The invention applies to standard containers with a typical drink (15) as shown in FIG. 2. However, it is preferable, to further reinforce the inviolability of the device according to the invention, to use a container whose drink of the neck is modified as shown in Figure 1, so that said upper flange (50) of said rigid ring (5), and where appropriate, said upper flange (60) of said flexible ring (6) abuts on an inner shoulder (16), so that the edge of these flanges (50,60) is protected, by virtue of the outer circular portion of the rim (160) of greater height, from any attempt to destroy said device which would leave the neck (3) intact.

As regards the plug (4), and as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, said first opening tab (8) can either be secured to said head (40) by a circular weakening line (80), or a separate part with an axial weakening line (81).

According to the invention, the material constituting said rigid ring (5) is a metal or metal alloy, a ceramic, a plastic with a high modulus of elasticity at least equal to 2.103 MPa.

Preferably, the material is stainless steel.

The material constituting said flexible ring (6) is a plastic material with a lower modulus of elasticity, and preferably at least two times lower, than that of said rigid ring (5).

Preferably, this material is a polyolefin, HDPE or PP.

However, it is possible to choose a relatively rigid material for the material of said ring, provided that it is preheated when the capsule is placed in the conditioner.

As regards the stopper (4), it can be made of any material which can be used for this use, but preferably plastic or cork.

Said shutter (7) is made of a material, preferably rigid, inert to the content of said container, and preferably made of glass, and preferably has a spherical or cylindrical shape.

This shutter can, by its shape, its color, or any other physical or physico-chemical characteristic, either contribute to the image conveyed by said container and the associated mark, or even constitute an identification or marking medium which can be used to guarantee the authenticity of the product sold.

According to one embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, said upper flange (50) of said rigid ring (5) may comprise a raised circular rib (55) intended to cooperate with a hollow groove (43) of said head (40) of the stopper, so as to promote, in addition to sealing, the axial alignment of said stopper and said rigid ring (5), and, where appropriate, the positioning of said first opening tab (8) .

 I1 is advantageous according to the invention that said constriction (54) and said shutter (7) cooperate in a sealed manner, so as to make difficult, if not impossible, the flow of the contents of said container as long as said shutter (7) has not been separated from said device during said first opening.

According to another object of the invention, another anti-fraud closure device (1) of a container (2) with neck (3) comprises the following elements a) a head cap (4) comprising a head (40 ) and a cylindrical skirt (41), b) a rigid ring (5) comprising an upper rim (50), a cylindrical portion (51) coaxial with said cylindrical skirt (41) which can be secured to the interior surface of said neck (3) by fixing means.

c) a non-return non-return valve (17) secured to said rigid ring (5), said fixing means comprise a flexible ring (6) coaxial with that (51) of said rigid ring (5), having a flange upper (60) and provided on its lower part (64) furthest from the opening of said neck (3) with locking means with said neck (3), and allowing axial locking of said rigid ring (5), by cooperation of means for blocking said flexible ring (6) and said rigid ring (5).

Said valve (17) can be fixed to said rigid ring (5) by any means, for example by face inside the rigid ring tapped at its lower part, or as shown in FIG. 14.

This device with non-return valve (17) does not make it possible to make visible a first opening - a function which can also ensure, at least in part, an overcap capsule, which can cover the capping devices according to the invention. On the other hand, it constitutes a physical barrier of great solidity, and which can be made as inviolable and indestructible as said rigid ring (5) itself, and prevents subsequent filling, and therefore re-use of the container.

Another object of the invention is constituted by the anti-fraud closure cap comprising the device according to the invention in which use is made of said flexible ring (6). In this capsule, intended for use by the conditioner, said head cap is at least partially but generally completely fitted into said rigid ring (5), while said rigid ring (5) is only partially fitted into said flexible ring (6), so that, on the one hand, said capsule can be handled without separation of its various constituents, and that, on the other hand, during the operation of plugging said container (2), simply pressing on said head (40) plugs said container, according to the following method.

This capsule is typically shown on the left side of Figure 1 where we observe the partial snap-fastening of the rigid ring (5) in the flexible ring (6).

In the case where the device according to the invention does not include a flexible ring (6), then the device and the corresponding capsule merge.

Another object of the invention is the use of said devices according to the invention, and capsules according to the invention for the anti-fraud closure of glass containers, containing in particular alcohols, wines, liqueurs, spritzers, or other products price (perfumes, etc ...).

Another object of the invention is a method of irreversible fixing of a capsule (17) on the rigid neck (3) with frustoconical portion, of a container by telescopic fitting of a capsule according to claim 24, in which, by simple pressing (axial displacement) on said head (40) of said capsule positioned on said neck (3), in which a) the upper rim (60) of said flexible ring (6) first comes into abutment and abuts on said drink (15, 16), before the relative movement of said rigid ring (5) and said flexible ring (6) begins, the friction between neck and flexible ring must be less than that between flexible ring and rigid ring , b) then, said upper flange (50) comes to bear and abuts on said upper flange (60), so as to simultaneously spread radially apart the lower part (64) of the flexible ring and lock said flexible ring and said neck, and blocking said rigid ring (5) and said ring e flexible (6), in particular thanks to the locking of the non-return notches (53,65).

The left part of figure (1) corresponds to step a) and the capsule as it appears before capping, while the right part of figure (2) corresponds to step b) and the device according to the invention,
EXAMPLES OF REALIZATION
EXAMPLE 1
Anti-fraud stopper capsules were produced according to FIG. 1.

As already indicated, the left part of FIG. 1 corresponds to the capsule before capping, and the right part to the capsule after capping (anti-fraud capping device).

The materials used are as follows - the plug (1) is made of plastic (tests in PP and
HDPE), and was manufactured by injection, - the rigid ring (5) is made of stainless steel, and was manufactured by machining.

- the flexible ring (6) is made of plastic (HDPE), and was produced by injection, - the shutter (7) is a glass ball.

The dimensions of this capsule use references (capital letters) in Figures 1 and 2, their meaning and their numerical value being as follows - A (Figure 1) = outside diameter of the cylindrical skirt (41) of the plug (1 ) or inside diameter of the rigid ring (5) = 9 mm - B (figure 1) = diameter of the opening (free space) formed by the flexible circular flange (141) = 8 mm - C (figure 1) = diameter of the glass ball (7) = 11 mm - D (figure 1) = inside diameter of the rigid ring (5) below the neck (54) = 11.5 mm - E (figure 1) = outside diameter of the ring rigid (5) or internal diameter of the flexible ring (6) at its upper edge (60) = 16 mm - F (figure 1) = diameter of the percussion means (42) = 3.5 mm - G (figure 1) = minimum inside diameter of the neck (3) = 18 mm - H (figure 1) = outside diameter of the flanges (50.60) = 22 mm - I (figure 1) = outside diameter of the cap (40) (4), sen roughly equal to the outside diameter of the neck (3) = 30 mm - J (figure 1) = outside diameter of the cylindrical portion (61) of the flexible ring (6) = 18 mm - K (figure 1) = inside diameter of the neck (lower part) = 20.5 mm - L (figure 1) = outer diameter of the ring (67) (or of the lower part (64) if there is no ring) after fitting the rigid ring (5) = 20.5 mm - M (figure 1) = outer diameter of the ring (67) (or of the lower part (64) if there is no ring) before fitting the rigid ring (5) = 17 mm - N (figure 2) = height between lip (15/160) and ring (67) after capping = 32 mm - O (figure 2) = height between lip (15/160) and lower end of the flexible ring (6), after capping = 40 mm - P (figure 2) = diameter of the ring (67) (section) = 2 mm - Q (figure 2) = head height (40) of the plug (4) = 8.5 mm - R (figure 2) = height of the first opening tab (8) = 6.5 mm - S (figure 2) = thickness of the upper edge (50) of the rigid ring (5) = 5 mm - T (figure 2) = thickness of the upper edge (60) of the flexible ring (6) - 5 m - U (figure 1) = internal diameter of the outer circular part of the rim (160) - V (Figure 2) = axial distance between the upper flanges (50) and (60) corresponding to the capsule before capping = 10 mm.

 It is important to note that, in reality, and contrary to the representation of the figures, said lower part (64), and in particular the ring (67), press against the interior wall of the neck.

Other elements of description - the rigid ring (5) comprises 3 annular non-return notches (53) and has, at its lower part, an adapted external profile intended to cooperate with the internal profile of the lower part (64) of the flexible ring (6), - the flexible ring (6) comprises, on its inner surface, 4 annular non-return hollows (65), the 3 upper hollows being occupied by the 3 corresponding notches of the rigid ring before capping, so to join the different parts of the capsule before capping, the 3 lower recesses being occupied by said 3 notches of the rigid ring after capping. The flexible ring (6) also includes non-return annular notches (66) on its external surface. These annular notches and recesses ensure, in addition to the axial locking of the rigid and flexible rings, sealing against the liquid contained in said container (2).

- the lower part (64) of the flexible ring (6) comprises a lower support (14) constituted by a frustoconical ring (146) and 4 support tabs (142), arranged at 90 "as shown in FIG. 10, each tab (142), 3 to 6 mm wide according to the tests, having a flexible end (141) allowing the irreversible passage of the ball (7) during the first opening.

Typically, the tests according to Example 1 were carried out with a frustoconical ring (146) of thickness between 0.1 and 0.5 mm, and tongues (142) of equal or lesser thickness which may be of the order of 0.05 mm at the flexible end (141).

- the metal ring (67) enclosing said lower part (64) is an open ring, with spring effect, so as to have an outside diameter M before capping, less than the inside diameter G at the inlet of the neck, and to have , after capping, an outside diameter L close to the inside diameter K of the lower part of the neck.

These capsules according to Example 1 of the invention solve the problem well.

Indeed, on the one hand, thanks to the means of the invention, the rigid (5) and flexible (6) rings are irreversibly secured to the neck (3) of the container (2). In this respect, the metal ring (67), by direct metal / glass contact with the neck, plays a particular role in that it will lead to the destruction of the neck in the event of a fraudulent attempt to extract the device from the neck closure or the capsule according to the invention, for recycling said container.

Furthermore, fraudulent reuse of the container with its closure device would be difficult. Indeed, the support tabs (142) tend to oppose a repositioning of the ball (7) in its initial position, above said tabs (142).

To make it even more difficult any attempt to fraudulently reposition the ball (7), other means are described in Examples 2 and 3 which follow.

EXAMPLE 2
This example is analogous to Example 1.

 I1 differs from it only in that the support tabs (142) have been replaced by a support strip (144), as shown in FIG. 11. This strip has a central rupture zone (145), in the form of a pre-incision.

Unlike the support tabs (142) of Example 1, the support strip (144) of Example 2 has a smaller thickness so as not to have elasticity in bending and thus not to be able to exert the slightest action as as support, once the rupture zone (145) has been destroyed.

In the tests of Example 2, this thickness was between 0.005 and 0.03.

For example 2, a HDPE was chosen having a low elongation at break so as to facilitate the rupture of the rupture zone (145) by pressing on the ball during the first opening.

Once the rupture zone (145) has been destroyed, the two remaining portions of said strip (144) do not have sufficient elasticity to possibly be able to support said ball in the event of a fraudulent attempt to reuse the container with its capsule.

EXAMPLE 3
This example is analogous to Example 1.

 I1 differs in that, in accordance with FIG. 5, the percussion rod (42) integral with the plug (4) has been replaced by a movable part made of stainless steel (546), a movable part having a non-return valve function d '' non-refillable, thanks to the orifices (5460) and the inclined vault (5470) allowing the contents of the container to be poured, and to the seat of the valve (5490) opposing subsequent filling of the container.

This moving part (546) is in fact opposed to any attempt to make any means penetrate into the container in order to access the ball in an attempt to fraudulently reposition it above the support tabs (142).

EXAMPLE 4
Capsules were produced according to FIG. 14, analogous to the capsules according to Example 1, except that one used - a rigid sheath (5) without shrinkage (54), - a flexible sheath (6) without tabs of support (142) - a plug (4) without percussion means (42), - a non-return valve (17) made of stainless steel, instead of a ball or shutter (7), the non-return valve being, on the model represented in figure 14, fixed by its edge taken between the ends of the rigid (5) and fixed (6) rings.

In another test according to Example 4, this valve (17) was screwed inside the rigid ring, the ring of which the inside is tapped, at its lower end.

In other tests, plastic valves of high rigidity have also been used.

In all cases, and as in the case of capsules according to the previous examples, the non-return valve (17), associated with the presence of tamper-evident rings (5,6), makes it possible to avoid fraudulent recycling of containers.

The capsules according to Example 4, unlike those of the previous examples, prevent fraudulent filling, but they do not by themselves have means for detecting the first opening. For this, an overcap capsule having this function can be associated with the capping capsule according to the invention.

FIG. 14 shows an anti-theft detection or identification means (18) housed in a cavity (19) on the outer surface of the rigid ring (5).

Any detection means known in itself can potentially be suitable, subject to satisfying the dimensional constraints. Generally, these detection means consist of circuits that can be activated or deactivated at will. They are deactivated during a checkout at any store equipped with detection panels. On the other hand, the fraudulent passage of a non-deactivated container triggers a signal during the compulsory passage between the detection panels at the outlet of the store.

These detection or identification means are most often passive circuits which resonate or modify the electromagnetic field emitted and detected by said panels.

These anti-theft means can be used on all the capsules according to the invention, in particular those of the preceding examples.

The cavity (19) could naturally also be located in the flexible ring (6) provided that the thickness of said anti-theft detection or identification means (18) allows.

One of the advantages of the association of these anti-theft means with the present invention lies in the fact that they are made completely inaccessible by their imprisonment between two tamper-evident rings (5,6).

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
The invention has made it possible to develop a range of anti-fraud closure capsules and devices, all products which are based first of all on a concept of inviolability based on the association of two rings, a rigid (5) and a flexible ( 6), a concept which is all the more interesting since its implementation during capping can generally require only a simple axial displacement.

This range has different degrees of inviolability as has been shown previously. With the products according to the invention, it is therefore possible to obtain that any attempt to separate said rings (5,6) from the neck results in the destruction of the neck, which is the desired objective.

The invention then rests on the addition to a set of tamper-evident rings (5,6), other complementary means for either highlighting a first opening - typically by the use of a detachable shutter (7) during of the first opening, or prevent subsequent fraudulent filling, typically using a non-return valve.

In both cases, fraudulent recycling and reuse of empty containers is prevented.

This concept of inviolability can also be applied to other fields than that of wines, liqueurs, alcohols and spirits.

 It can also be applied to the field of perfumes or other luxury products subject to an adaptation, in particular of dimensions, to these luxury products.

Claims (26)

1 - Anti-fraud closure device (1) of a container (2) with a neck (3) comprising the following elements a) a head cap (4) comprising a head (40) and a cylindrical skirt (41), b) a rigid ring (5) comprising an upper rim (50), a cylindrical portion (51) coaxial with said cylindrical skirt (41) which can be joined to the interior surface of said neck (3) by fixing means. c) a shutter (7), integral. with said device before the first opening of said container by means of holding, and separated from said device during the first opening of said container, by means of separation, so as to be free in said container (2), said ring rigid (5) further having a constriction (54) preventing said shutter (7) from being extracted. 2 - Device according to claim 1 wherein said fixing means comprises a flexible ring (6) coaxial with that (51) of said rigid ring (5), having an upper rim (60) and provided on its lower part (64) the most distant from the opening of said neck (3) of locking means with said neck (3), and allowing axial locking of said rigid ring (5), by cooperation of locking means of said flexible ring (6) and of said rigid ring (5). 3 - Device according to claim 2 wherein said locking means comprises a radial spacing of said lower part (64), thanks to its profile, during the introduction of said rigid ring (5), spacing which causes an increase in diameter of said lower part (64) and the impossibility of removing said device (1) from said neck (3) given its flare, and in which said axial locking means comprises the cooperation of non-return notches (53) of the rigid ring (5) with those (65) of said flexible ring (6). 4 - Device according to claim 1 wherein said fixing means comprises an adhesive layer (10) for fixing said rigid ring (5) to said neck (3). 5 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said constriction (54) is constituted by an inner bore (541) of said rigid ring (5) smaller than the dimensions of said shutter (7), or by an inner fold (543 ) of said rigid ring (5), or by the lower edge (544) of said rigid ring (5), or by an annular attached piece integral with said rigid ring (5) or said flexible ring (6), and having an interior orifice of limited section such that said obturator cannot be extracted from said device or from said container. 6 - Device according to claim 5 wherein said added annular part can be a fixed part (542) inside said rigid ring (5), or a movable part (546) with axial stroke limited by the height of a inner groove (547) on the inner surface of said rigid ring (5). 7 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said holding means comprise an adhesive layer (11), or the cooperation of male (12) and female parts (13), or any other known means, rendering said shutter ( 7) temporarily integral with said head cap (4), before the first opening of said container, and in which said separation means which make it possible to separate said obturator (7) from said head cap (4) comprise said constriction (54), so that, by removing said head cap (4) upwards during the first opening, the opening force is sufficient for said shutter (7) to abut against said constriction (54) and separate said head cap (4) irreversibly, falling into said container. 8 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which comprises a first opening tab (8) having a shim function for said head (40), so as to allow axial displacement downwards of said plug (4) that after removal of said tongue (8) during said first opening, and in which said shutter (7), surrounded laterally by the peripheral wall formed by said rigid ring (5) and / or said flexible ring (6), is trapped, above, by said constriction (54), and below, by a flexible lower support (14) constituting said holding means, said separation means comprising said plug or its extension acting as means of percussion of said obturator ( 7), so as to ensure the irreversible ejection of said shutter (7) during the axial displacement downwards of the plug (4) during the first opening. 9 - Device according to claim 8 wherein said lower support (14) comprises a flexible circular flange (141) and / or at least one tongue (142), said lower support being either part of an insert (143), or the extension of said flexible ring (6) or said rigid ring (5), said flanges or tabs having sufficient flexibility to be able to move apart and allow said shutter (7) to pass when said shutter (7) strikes as a result of said axial displacement downwards of the plug (4). 10 - Device according to claim 9 wherein said flexible lower support is formed by two tongues facing and joining to form a strip (144) with a central rupture zone (145). 11 - Device according to any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein said plug comprises a percussion means (42) crossing, unlike said skirt (41), the central orifice of said constriction (54). 12 - Device according to any one of claims 6 and 8 to 10 wherein said percussion means (42) is replaced said movable part (546), which can include a percussion rod (548), and which functions as a non-return valve non-filling, thanks to a plane groove profile (547) (5490) at its lower part and inclined (5470) at its upper part, the peripheral part of said movable part opposite said groove (547) being only openwork to allow passage of the contents of said container. 13 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein said upper flange (50) of said rigid ring (5), and if necessary, said upper flange (60) of said flexible ring (6) abuts either on the rim (15) of the neck, or on an inner shoulder (16) so that the edge of these edges (50,60) is protected by the outer circular portion of rim (160) of greater height. 14 - Device according to any one of claims 8 to 13 wherein said first opening tab (8) is either integral with said head (40) by a circular weakening line (80), or a separate part with a line d axial weakening (81). 15 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein the material constituting said rigid ring (5) is a metal or metal alloy, a ceramic, a plastic with modulus of elasticity at least equal to 2.103 MPa. 16 - Device according to claim 15 wherein the material is preferably stainless steel. 17 - Device according to any one of claims 2 to 16 in which the material constituting said flexible ring (6) is a plastic material with a lower modulus of elasticity than that of the material constituting said rigid ring (5). 18 - Device according to claim 17 wherein said material is preferably a polyolefin, HDPE or PP. 19 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 18 wherein said head cap (4) is plastic or cork. 20 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein said shutter (7) is of rigid material, inert to the content of said container, and preferably of glass, and has a shape preferably spherical or cylindrical. 21 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein said upper edge (50) of said rigid ring (5) comprises a circular rib in relief (55) intended to cooperate with a hollow groove (43) of said head ( 40) of the stopper, so as to promote the axial alignment of said stopper and said rigid ring (5), and, where appropriate, the positioning of said first opening tab (8). 22 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein said constriction (54) and said shutter (7) cooperate, so as to prevent the flow of the contents of said container until said shutter has not been detached from said device during of said first opening. 23 - Anti-fraud closure device (1) of a container (2) with a neck (3) comprising the following elements a) a head cap (4) comprising a head (40) and a cylindrical skirt (41), b) a rigid ring (5) comprising an upper rim (50), a cylindrical portion (51) coaxial with said cylindrical skirt (41) which can be joined to the interior surface of said neck (3) by fixing means. c) a non-return non-return valve (17) secured to said rigid ring (5), said fixing means comprise a flexible ring (6) coaxial with that (51) of said rigid ring (5), having a flange upper (60) and provided on its lower part (64) furthest from the opening of said neck (3) with locking means with said neck (3), and allowing axial locking of said rigid ring (5), by cooperation of means for blocking said flexible ring (6) and said rigid ring (5). 24 - Anti-fraud closure capsule comprising the device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5 to 23, in which said rigid ring (5) is only partially fitted into said flexible ring (6), so as to that, on the one hand, said capsule can be manipulated without separation of its various constituents, and that, on the other hand, during the capping operation of said container (2), the simple pressing on said head (40) achieves the plugging said container. 25 - Use of said devices according to any one of claims 1 to 23, and capsules according to claim 24 for the anti-fraud stoppering of containers, typically of glass, containing alcohols, wines, liqueurs or spirits. 26 - Method of irreversible fixing of a capsule (17) on the rigid neck (3) with frustoconical portion, of a container by telescopic fitting of a capsule according to claim 24, wherein, by simple pressing on said head ( 40) of said capsule positioned on said neck (3), in which a) the upper rim (60) of said flexible ring (6) comes first into abutment and in abutment on said rim (15,16), before begins the relative movement of said rigid ring (5) and said flexible ring (6), the friction between neck and flexible ring must be less than that between flexible ring and rigid ring, b) then, said upper flange (50) abuts and abuts on said upper flange (60), so as to simultaneously spread radially the lower part (64) of the flexible ring and lock said flexible ring and said neck, and thus to block said rigid ring (5) and said flexible ring (6), in particular by snap-fastening non-return notches (53) in non-return recesses (65).