GB2231304A

GB2231304A - Non-refillable device

Info

Publication number: GB2231304A
Application number: GB9010285A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Paton Hamilton
Original assignee: Daniel Montgomery and Son Ltd
Current assignee: Daniel Montgomery and Son Ltd
Priority date: 1989-05-05
Filing date: 1990-05-08
Publication date: 1990-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 2010-05-08
Also published as: GB8910385D0; GB2231304B; GB9010285D0

Abstract

The invention provides a moulding assembly for producing a tubular skirt portion (36) for use in securing other component parts of a non-refillable device to the neck portion (4) of a bottle containing spirits or the like. The skirt member comprises a tubular portion (38) inwardly facing rib portions (42) and a re-entrant internal flange (46). The mould assembly provides a mould member having a cavity (60) with two access ports (64, 68), a first core member (62) extending through one port (64) and second core member (66) extending through the other port (68). The cavity (60) is partially defined by surface portions of each of the cores at least one of the cores having surface extension portions (70) which lie in overlapping or intervening relationship with surface portions of the other core member. <IMAGE>

Description

NON-REFILLABLE DEVICE The present invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to a non-refillable device adapted to be fitted to a bottle neck portion.

For various reasons it may be necessary to ensure a used container such as a bottle is not re-filled with a replacement quantity of liquid, the characteristics and quality of which may differ from that of the original contents.

Devices to prevent refilling of bottles, for example bottles to contain alcoholic drinks particularly spirits, are well known but although such devices normally make it extremely difficult to re-introduce liquid into the bottle to replace the original contents, such devices have suffered from the disadvantage that they are capable of removal from the bottle with more or less difficulty.

For maximum effect, it should be impossible, once the device is fitted, for it to be removed without breaking the bottle.

Attempts have been made to achieve this object by providing devices which incorporate one-way valve means received within a skirt member adapted to surround a bottle neck. The skirt member also engages with and partially encloses a threaded insert portion surrounding the neck and is adapted to be engaged by a cap closure as required during normal usage of the bottle. The exterior surface of the bottle neck may be provided with an outwardly projecting annular lip or flange and an interior surface of the skirt member may be provided with an annular flange adapted, when the skirt member is in position, to act as a retro-flange received against a shoulder formed under the lip of the bottle neck, to resist removal therefrom.A skirt member of this kind may also include an end portion adapted to lie in the proximity of the lip edge of the bottle neck so as firmly to engage the threaded insert portion. The end portion includes an inwardly facing engagement portion.

When manufacturing the skirt member using conventional moulding techniques a problem arises in that because of the presence of the above mentioned inwardly facing engagement portion and the annular retro-flange it is not possible conveniently to achieve mould release.

This problem is conventionally overcome by moulding the annular flange in a first, mould-releasable position and providing the flange at the annular base thereof with a hinge line. When the skirt member is fitted to the bottle neck, sufficient force is applied to force the flange to hinge about the line so as to be inverted into the required position.

However, the presence of the hinge line produces a weakness in the construction of the device and it is often possible to remove by force the skirt member and the insert portion including the one-way valve means by tearing the hinge line causing component failure before there is any damage to the bottle. It would then be possible to re-fill the bottles with contents inconsistent with the description on the labelling on the bottle.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned problems and to produce a non-refillable device which minimises the risk of successful removal thereof from a bottle neck.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mould suitable for use in the manufacture of a non-refillable device of the required kind.

The invention provides, in accordance with one of its several features, a mould assembly suitable for use in moulding substantially tubular members from mouldable plastics material, said member including projections extending from tubular wall surfaces thereof and including re-entrant portions, said assembly including a mould member partially defining a mould cavity, said member being provided with a first access port adapted to receive a first core member and a second access port spaced from and at least partially confronting the first port, said second port being adapted to receive a second core member, said cavity being further defined by surface portions of each of said cores, at least one of said cores being provided with surface extension portions adapted in use to lie in overlapping or intervening relationship with surface portions of the other core member.

Conveniently, the mould member may be adapted to define an outer peripheral surface portion of the cavity and the two ports may be arranged at locations substantially opposite one another within the cavity.

In an example of a mould assembly according to the invention the cavity defining surface portion of the first corresponds to an end portion of a substantially hollow body of the product moulded in said cavity and the cavity-defining surface portion of the second core defines the interior surface of the hollow body of the product.

Conveniently, the extension portions of the first core extend through the cavity adjacent the end portion area and confront and overlap the surface portion of the second core defining the inner surface of the hollow product body, co-operating therewith to define a mould surface adapted to produce a re-entrant portion on said hollow product body inner surface with respect to the end portion of said body.

The invention further provides, in accordance with another of its several features, a non-refillable device suitable to be fitted to a bottle neck portion, comprising a closure cap having a first threaded portion, an insert portion including a second threaded portion adapted to engage with said first threaded portion and a one-way valve means, and a skirt member adapted to engage with the insert portion to secure the latter permanently to the bottle neck portion, wherein the skirt member comprises inwardly facing portions adapted to lie in the proximity of the lip edge portion of the bottle neck and an internal flange means adapted to engage under the lip of the bottle neck, said flange means being re-entrant with respect to said inwardly facing portions, wherein the skirt member is moulded in the moulding assembly hereinbefore described.

There will now be described an example of a method of moulding according to the invention and of a device, also according to the invention, moulded by said method. It will be understood that the description which is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a part sectional view of a device according to the invention fitted to the neck portion of a bottle; Fig. 2 is a perspective view partly in section of a skirt member of the device; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the skirt member of Fig.

2; Fig. 4 is cross section through a mould assembly according to the invention arranged to produce the skirt member of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of two core members of the mould assembly.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows a non-refillable device 2 fitted to a neck portion 4 of a spirits bottle. The portion 4 includes an external shoulder 6 formed below lip edge portions 8 of the bottle.

Received in a sealing contact within the mouth of the neck portion 4 is an insert portion 10, which includes a tubular sleeve 12, an outlet member 14, a retaining and positioning member 16, a ball weight 18 and a stopper member 20.

The sleeve 12 which is to be inserted in the neck of the bottle 4, has an internal diameter and is provided at a first end thereof with a first radial flange 22 extending in use outwardly over the lip of the bottle. A second flange 24 is provided which extends inwardly at the second end of the sleeve and is provided with an upstanding rim 26 having a frusto-conical surface 28.

The sleeve 12 is in sealing abutment with the outlet member 14, the flange 22 of the sleeve being received within an annular depending rim 30 of the member 14, an annular sealing rib 32 contacting the upper surface of the flange 22. A ribber sealing ring 33 is captive between the flange 22 and the edge portions 8 of the bottle neck 4. In the present example, the member 14 is provided with an external thread potion 34 to receive a closure cap (not shown) for closing the bottle in normal use.

In normal use of the device, the liquid in the bottle may be poured therefrom through the pouring outlet member 14, but any attempt at introducing liquid into the bottle is prevented by the seating of the stopper member 18 against the surface 28.

The insert portion 10 is held in position in the bottle neck mount by means of a skirt member 36, more clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

The skirt member 36 comprises a hollow tubular body portion 38 having internal rib portions comprising in the present example four inwardly facing arcuate portions 42 each adapted to engage beneath the rim 30 of the member 14. The engagement of the portions 42 and the rim 30 assists in preventing relative rotation between the outlet member 14 and the skirt member 26 since the upper portion of the member 36 is welded to an annular ring 44 itself secured to the portion 10.

At a region of the internal surface of the skirt member spaced downwardly from the portions 42 as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, is provided an internal flange means in the form of flange portions 46 which are arranged to project obliquely with respect to the skirt body portion 38 so as to form a re-entrant surface in relation to the arcuate portions 42.

Axially extending ribs 48 are also formed on the internal surface of the skirt body portion 38 at a region below the four flange portions 46. These ribs engage in a force fit with an annular raised zone 50 of the bottle neck 4, to prevent rotation of the entire device 2 with respect to the neck 4.

If an attempt is made to remove the device 2 from the neck 4, the flange portions 46 will resist all attempts until it is probable that the bottle would be damaged and thus unusable. This is due to the strength of the flange portions which are of a thickness comparable with the stout wall construction of the skirt member itself. The provision of an additionally thick portion 52 at the base of the portions 46 is a considerable aid in reinforcing the action of the flange and preventing shearing or splitting.

However, it will be apparent that the moulding of the skirt member involves particular difficulties because of the so-called retro-flange arrangements comprised by the portions 46. Fig. 4 therefore illustrates a mould assembly from which the skirt member may readily be manufactured.

The mould assembly comprises a mould member 58 partially defining a cavity 60, the configuration of which will be seen to correspond with the skirt member as shown, say, in Fig. 2. A first core member 62 is received in a first port 64 of the mould member and a second core member 66 is received in a second, opposite, port 68 at the lower end of the member 58. Exposed surfaces of the core members 62 and 66 also partially define the cavity 60 and complete the same.

Four extension portions 70 (only two shown) provided upon the core member 62 extend downwardly with respect to the second core member 66, overlapping upper portions thereof and co-operating with the second core to define those regions of the cavity corresponding to the flange portions 46.

Intervening regions 72 of the cavity corresponds to the arcuate portions 42 which are formed around the internal surface of the member 36. It will be observed from Fig. 3 that the positions of the flange portions 46 are circumferentially off-set from those of the arcuate portions 42.

Thus when the mould cavity has been filled with settable plastics moulding material and it is desired to release the moulded product from the mould, the two core members 62 and 66 are removed from their respective ports in opposed directions and the product released by opening the moulding member 58.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A mould assembly for use in moulding substantially tubular members from mouldable plastics material, said member including projections extending from tubular wall surfaces thereof and including re-entrant portions, said assembly including a mould member partially defining a mould cavity, said member being provided with a first access port adapted to receive a first core member and a second access port spaced from and at least partially confronting the first port, said second port being adapted to receive a second core member, said cavity being further defined by surface portions of each of said cores, at least one of said cores being provided with surface extension portions adapted in use to lie in overlapping or intervening relationship with surface portions of the other core member.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mould member defines an outer peripheral surface portion of the cavity and said first and second ports are arranged at locations substantially opposite one another within the cavity.

3. An assembly as claimed in either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the extension portions of the first core extend through the cavity adjacent the end portion area and confront and overlap the surface portion of the second core defining the inner surface of the hollow product body, co-operating therewith to define a mould surface adapted to produce a re-entrant portion on said hollow product body inner surface with respect to the end portion of said body.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein portions of said second core are provided with surfaces defining at least one region of the cavity corresponding to projections to be formed on the substantially tubular member, said cavity region(s) extending in a direction differing from that of the re-entrant portion.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second core is also provided with extension portions which extend through the cavity to confront and overlap the surface portion of the first core defining the inner surface of the hollow product body.

6. A tubular moulded plastics product produced in the assembly according to claim 1, comprising a tubular skirt member having inwardly facing portions extending substantially radially of the tubular member and an internal flange at a region spaced from said inwardly facing portions, said flange being re-entrant with respect to said inwardly facing portions.

7. A non-refillable device suitable to be fitted to a bottle neck portion, comprising a closure cap having a first threaded portion, an insert portion including a second threaded portion adapted to engage with said first threaded portion and a one-way valve means, and a skirt member adapted to engage with the insert portion to secure the latter permanently to the bottle neck portion, wherein the skirt member comprises inwardly facing portions adapted to lie in the proximity of the lip edge portion of the bottle neck and an internal flange means adapted to engage under the lip of the bottle neck, said flange means being re-entrant with respect to said inwardly facing portions, wherein the skirt member comprises a tubular plastics product produced in the moulding assembly according to claim 1.

8. A moulding assembly for moulding substantially tubular members, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.

9. A tubular moulded plastics product produced in the moulding assembly according to claim 8, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.

10. A non-refillable device suitable to be fitted to a bottle neck portion, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings.