GB2236999A

GB2236999A - Non-refillable bottle fitment

Info

Publication number: GB2236999A
Application number: GB9022802A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Paton Hamilton
Original assignee: Daniel Montgomery and Son Ltd
Current assignee: Daniel Montgomery and Son Ltd
Priority date: 1989-10-20
Filing date: 1990-10-19
Publication date: 1991-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 2010-10-19
Also published as: GB9022802D0; GB2236999B; GB8923698D0

Abstract

A non-refillable bottle fitment includes a tubular sleeve 2 having a first outwardly extending annular flange 12 adapted to engage lip portions of the neck of the bottle and a second, inwardly and downwardly extending, resilient flange 14 which defines an aperture closeable by a ball weight 8. The ball weight 8 lifts off of a sealing contact with the flange 14 when liquid is to be poured and the bottle is tilted. A ball-retaining and positioning device 26 has shearable marginal portions 28 by which it is loosely held captive in the sleeve above the valve. Tampering attempts which involve drilling or other attempts to form a passage through the device 26 causes rupture of the marginal portions 28 and forcing down of the device onto the ball weight, which deforms the resilient flange 14 and is pushed through its central aperture into the bottle where it can be seen or heard rattling, and from where it cannot be retrieved without visible damage to the closure. <IMAGE>

Description

NON-REFILLABLE DEVICES The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to non-refillable devices adapted to be received within the outlet of a container for liquid, for example as an insert in the neck of a bottle or the like container.

The present invention provides a non-refillable device for insertion in the outlet of a container for liquid, said device, which is adapted to provide a passage for liquid within the bottle to leave through said outlet, comprising a one-way valve assembly having a tubular sleeve adapted to be received with the outlet of a container, said tubular sleeve having a first radially outwardly extending annular flange portion at a first end thereof and a second, inwardly extending resilient annular flange portion at a second end portion thereof, a mounting member for mounting the device within a container outlet adapted to be in sealing contact or integral with said tubular portion, a retaining and positioning member, margins of which are held loosely captive between said first flange portion and a confronting portion of said mounting member, said retaining and positioning member being adapted to retain and position a weighted member within the tubular sleeve to act as a stopper member adapted in a closed position to seal against said second flange portion, the margins of said retaining and positioning member comprising'frangible or shearable portions adapted to break from the retaining and positioning member under pressure applied axially in a direction from said first flange towards said second flange portion, the second flange portion extending inwardly from the tubular sleeve in a downwardly inclined direction towards the interior of the container and defining a central aperture having a diameter sufficiently less than that of the stopper member to prevent passage of the member therethrough in normal use, the construction and arrangement being that when the frangible or shearable portions of the retaining and positioning member break and said member is forced downwardly in the tubular sleeve, its pressure against the stopper member deforms the second, resilient, flange portion and forces the stopper member through the central aperture of the flange portion and expels the stopper member from the device into the container.

It will be appreciated that because of the resilient nature of the second flange portion the diameter of its central aperture is momentarily enlarged as the stopper member is expelled and returns thereafter to its unenlarged diameter, thus preventing re-entry of the stopper member in a direction away from the interior of the container.

Advantageously, the stopper member will have a circular cross-section and may comprise a spherical weight.

There will now be described an example of a device according to the invention. The description, which is to be read with reference to the drawings, is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a part-sectional side view of a device according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the retaining and positioning member.

The Figures show a device intended to provide a passage for liquid within a bottle to be poured from the bottle through a neck outlet in which the device is received, but to prevent the bottle being re-filled. The device therefore comprises a one-way valve assembly and includes a tubular sleeve 2, a mounting member 4, a retaining and positioning member 6, and a ball weight 8 which acts as a stopper member.

The sleeve 2, which is moulded from synthetic plastics material, is intended to be inserted in the neck of a bottle (not shown). The sleeve is provided at a first end thereof with a first radial flange portion 12 extending in use outwardly over the lip of the bottle. A second flange portion 14 is provided on the inner surface of the sleeve and extends from a thickened annular region 15 of the sleeve, downwardly and inwardly with respect to the second end df the sleeve. The flange portion 14 is annular and is moulded so as to be stiffly resilient. The flange portion 14 defines a central aperture 16, lip portions of which act as a valve seat for the stopper member 8.

The sleeve 2 is in sealing abutment with the mounting member 4, the flange portion 12 of the sleeve being received within an annular depending rim 20 of the member 4, an annular sealing rib 22 contacting the upper surface of the flange 12. A closure cap 40 is provided for closing the bottle in normal use. A metal cowl 42 is provided which in use is crimped about the neck of the container bottle as further protection.

The retaining and positioning member 6 comprises a main body portion 26 which is loosely captive between a shoulder 11 formed on the inner surface of an upwardly extending dividing wall 13 of sleeve 2, and abutment member 25 of the member 4. The member 6 is in the shape of a disc, having a diameter and corresponding to the internal diameter of the sleeve 2. Projections 28 provided marginally of the main body portion 26 provided frangible portions, as will be explained below, which when the device is upright rest upon the flange 12 as shown in Figure 1. Depending from the main body portion 26 are retaining and positioning finger members 30 which retain and centre the ball weight 8.

The weight of the ball 8 is sufficient to maintain a sealing contact with the flange portion 14 when the bottle is not at a pouring angle. When the bottle is tilted sufficiently to pour, the ball 8 will fall away from the stopper member 10 to permit egress of liquid.

However, an attempt to re-fill the bottle will normally take place in its upright, or substantially upright, position. The contact between the ball 8 and the flange 14 effectively prevents re-filling.

If an attempt is made to negate the effectiveness of the above sealing contact, it may take the form of a drilling operation designed to drill through the member 26.

Any attempt to place axial pressure upon the member 26 will result in the frangible portions 28 breaking and the body member 26 being forced into the sleeve 2 within which it will tend to wedge and force the ball against the flange 14 to increase the efficiency of the sealing contact.

Should the person intending to tamper persist in the drilling operation, further axial pressure on the member 6 will force the ball 8 through the central aperture 16 defined by the flange portion 14. The flange portion will be deformed so that a central aperture thereof widens and the ball 8 will fall into the container where it can be readily seen by a customer for whom a quantity of the bottle contents is being poured, thus alerting the customer that tampering has occurred. The flange portion 14 meanwhile has, because of its resilience, caused the diameter of the central aperture 16 to return to its original dimensions. Since the flange is inwardly and downwardly inclined, and is supported by the thickened annular region 15 of the sleeve 2, it is not possible to force the ball 8 in a direction away from the interior of the chamber to re-enter the device.

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

Claims

1. A non-refillable device for insertion in the outlet of a container for liquid, said device, which is adapted to provide a passage for liquid within the bottle to leave through said outlet, comprising a one-way valve assembly having a tubular sleeve adapted to be received with the outlet of a container, said tubular sleeve having a first radially outwardly extending annular flange portion at a first end thereof and a second, inwardly extending resilient annular flange portion at a second end portion thereof, a mounting member for mounting the device within a container outlet adapted to be in sealing contact or integral with said tubular portion, a retaining and positioning member, margins of which are held loosely captive between said first flange portion and a confronting portion of said mounting member, said retaining and positioning member being adapted to retain and position a weighted member within the tubular sleeve to act as a stopper member adapted in a closed position to seal against said second flange portion, the margins of said retaining and positioning member comprising frangible or shearable portions adapted to break from the retaining and positioning member under pressure applied axially in a direction from said first flange towards said second flange portion, the second flange portion extending inwardly from the tubular sleeve in a downwardly inclined direction towards the interior of the container and defining a central aperture having a diameter sufficiently less than that of the stopper member to prevent passage of the member therethrough in normal use, the construction and arrangement being that when the frangible or shearable portions of the retaining and positioning member break and said member is forced.downwardly in the tubular sleeve, its pressure against the stopper member deforms the second, resilient, flange portion and forces the stopper member through the central aperture of the flange portion and expels the stopper member from the device into the container.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stopper member is spherical.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second annular flange portion extends from a thickened annular region of the sleeve said thickened annular region acting to assist in preventing re-entry of the weighted member after having been expelled into the container.

4. A non-refillable device for insertion in the outlet of a container for liquid, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.