GB2176467A - Security closure for bottles - Google Patents

Abstract

A security closure for bottles (2), which ensures the desired security even when subjected to the joint action of heating and pulling to remove it fraudulently, includes a pourer (5), a non-return valve in the pourer, a band (8) coaxial with the pourer for retaining the pourer on the bottle, a plurality of tongues (26) on the band for snap-engagement in a groove (29) in the neck (4) of the bottle, and a stopper cap (11) coupled with the pourer and connected to the band by rupturable links (14), the tongues (26) being formed integrally with a ring (21) of heat-resistant material which is housed in an annular groove (17) formed in the band and is retained axially in the groove. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Security closure for bottles The present invention relates to a security closure for bottles ofthetype comprising a pourer, a non-return valve in the pourer, a band coaxial with the pourer for retaining the pourer on the bottle, a plurality oftongues on the bandforsnap-engagement in a groove in the neck of the bottle, and a stopper cap screwed onto the pourerand connectedtothe band byrupturable links.

The closure ofthetype specified above is, as known, an individually manipulable entity which is fitted to the bottle during bottling. The closure as a whole is put on bythefitting of the band onto the bottle neck until the pourercomesto bearagainstthe mouth of the bottle. At the same time the tongues irreversibly engage the groove in the bottle neck.

At this pointthe bottle is closed. It is opened by unscrewing of the stopper with simultaneous rending of the rupturable links. When the bottle is closed againthetornlinksindicatethatopening hasoc- curred.

For its part, the non-return valve provided in the pourer prevents any fraudulent refilling of the bottle.

Although substantially fulfilling the purpose of ensuring the integrity ofthe bottle and its contents, a closure of the type specified above has a disadvantage which manifests itself when, during a fraudulent attempt two open the bottle, the closure is subjected to heating,forexample by immersion of the closure in hot water.

Under these conditions, in fact, the closure softens in a shorttime whereby, with a certain dexterity, it is possible to exert a suitable pull on the closure, possi bly com bi ned with twisti ng, to remove itfrom the bottle.

Since the closure can then be put back on easily, its initial appearance will be restored exactly: thus, the desired total security is clearly lacking.

The object of the present invention is to provide a closure of the type specified which has structural and functional characteristics such as to overcome the disadvantage mentioned with reference to the prior art.

The object is achieved by a closure of the type specified which is characterised in that the tongues areformed in a ring of heat-resistant material housed in an annular groove formed in the band and retained axially in the groove.

Further characteristics and advantages ofthe closure according to the invention will become apparent from the description of a preferred embodiment which follows, byway of non-limiting example,with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure lisa partially-sectioned elevational view of a closure according to the invention, Figure2 is a sectional view of a detail oftheclosure of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a detail ofthe closure of Figure 1.

With reference to the appended drawings, there is generally indicated 1 a closure according to the invention fitted to a bottle 2 over its mouth 3 and secured to its neck4.

The closure 1 includes a substantially cylindrical pourer5 disposed in correspondence with the mouth 3 and coaxial therewith; it is made by moulding from a plastics material such as polystyrene.

A duct 6 is formed in the pourer 5, a non-return valve 7 being located conventionallytherein so as to allow pouring form, and at the same time prevent refilling of, the bottle.

The closure 1 also includes a band 8 in the form of a tubular sleeve moulded from a piastics material such as polypropylene.

The band 8 has an end edge 9 bent over a corresponding annular edge 10 projecting from the pourer 5, and is fitted coaxially onto the neck 4 of the bottle 2 with limited clearance.

The band 8 is secured to the neck4 in the manner which will be described below.

The closure 1 also includes a stopper cap 11 mounted coaxially on the pourer 5, it being screwed onto the latter. More particularly, the stopper cap 11 is provided internally with threading 12which is engage ged with corresponding threading 13 on the outside ofthe pourer 5.

It should be notedthatthe stopper cap 11 isconnec- ted to the band 8 bya plurality of rupturable links 14 made by moulding integrally with the band Band the stoppercapll.

The band 8 includes internal teeth 15 engaged axially with corresponding teeth 16 formed on the outside of the neck 4 of the bottle. The band is thus preven ted from rotatingabouttheneck4ofthebottle.

The band 8 also includes an annular groove 17 which is formed inside it in a position between the edge9andtheteeth 16.

The groove 17, which has a bottom 18, an upper wall 19, and a lowerwall 20, has a predetermined height and a predetermined depth less than the height.

A ring 21 of heat-resistant material, preferably steel, is housed in the groove 17 and has an outerwall 22, an upperwall 23 and a lower wall 24.

The height and thickness of the ring 21 are substan tiallyequal to the height and depth of the groove 17, respectively.

Thus, the ring 21 is retained axially in the groove 17 bythe engagement of its upperwall 23 and lowerwall 24 with the upper wall 19 and lower wall 20 ofthe groove 17, respectively.

To advantage, the ring 21 is made from a sheet of string steel which is initially straight, then bent on itself into a ring for insertion in the groove, and finally kept in its bent form by the bottom 18 of the groove, the outer wall 22 of the ring 21 pressing resiliently thereon.

It should also be noted that, instead of string steel, the ring 21 may be made from other materials, as long as these are heat resistant; for example, it may be moulded from acetal resin.

The lower wall 24 of the ring is slightly bevelled inwardly to form a downwardly and outwardly facing cutting edge 25.

The ring 21 includes a plurality of inwardly and outwardly projecting tongues 26 having backs 27 and ends 28.

To advantage, the tongues 26 are portions of the ring 21 separated by comb-like cuts in the string steel sheet, with slightly rebated heads bent inwardly and facing upwardly.

The tongues 26 engage the neck4 of the bottle. In particular, a groove 29 is formed in the outside ofthe neck4 ofthe bottle 2 and has a bottom 30 and an upperwall 31.The end 28 of eachtongue 26projects into the groove 29 right to the bottom 30, its head engaging the upperwall 31.

The band isthussecuredtothe neck of the bottle.

Underthese conditions the edge 9 of the band 8 acts on the edge 10 of the pourer 5 and keeps the pourer5 itself in abutment with the mouth 3 ofthe bottle.

The closure 1 is applied to the bottle 2 by simply pressing the band 8 onto the neck40fthe bottle.

During this operation, the backs 27 of the tongues 26 slide overthe mouth ofthe bottle, deforming resiliently, until they pass beyond the mouth and snap engage in the groove 29.

It is not possible to remove the closure from the bottle, however, even by subjecting itto substantial heating. In fact, although the band 8 softens, the ton- gues 26 which engage the groove 29 and, more particularly, engagethe upperwall 31 remainundefor- mable.

The result is that, even in extreme cases with the exertion of a very strong pull on the closure,the tongues always remain in the groove,whilethe cutting edge 25 of the ring 21 penetrates the band 8 in correspondence with the lowerwall 20 of the groove and cuts itcircumferentially.

Thus, the attempt to open the closure fraudulently remains clearly evident.

The closure according to the invention therefore has the important advantage of ensu ring the desired security even when subjected to a joint action of heating and pulling.

Clearly, an expert in the art may make numerous modifications and variants to the closure described above in orderto satisfy specific requirements, all of which fall within the scope of protection ofthe inven- tion as defined bythefollowing claims.

Claims (4)

1. Security closure for bottles ofthe type comprising a pourer, a non-return valve in the pourer, a band coaxialwiththepourerforretainingthe poureronthe bottle, a plurality oftongues on the band forsnapengagement in a groove in the neck of the bottle, and a stopper cap coupled with the pourer and connected to the band by rupturable links, in which the tongues are formed integrally with a ring of heat-resistant material housed in an annular groove in the band and retained axially in the groove.

2. Closure according to Claim 1, in which the ring is of string steel sheet bent on itself and thetongues are portions ofthe sheet.

3. Closure according to Claim 2, in which the ring has a downwardly and outwardly facing cutting edge formed on one of its lowerwalls.

4. Security closure for bottles, substantiallyas herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.