GB2244048A - Bottle closure with non-refillable device - Google Patents

Abstract

A bottle closure which incorporates a plastics non-refillable device inserted within its neck portion to prevent tampering is provided with an authentic "cork-on-glass" squeaking noise when is removed from the bottle. The device (16) is inserted permanently in the bottle neck (4) and provides a one-way valve member (34). A cork stopper (50) is provided in a cap-type closure but this stopper is in contact with a plastics pouring outlet (39). However, the skirt portion (52) of the closure has an annular cork insert (56) on its inner surface and this insert is in contact with the glass of the bottle. <IMAGE>

Description

NON-REFILLABIE DEVICE The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to non-refillable devices for use as bottle closures.

In applicants' U.K. Patent No. 2195974, there is described an example of one type of non-refillable device suitable for insertion into the open neck of a bottle and comprising an outer sleeve and a tubular body, preferably of plastics material and incorporating a one-way valve assembly. The tubular body is substantially enclosed within an outer sleeve which has at its distal end an annular skirt having an internal diameter initially less than the distal end of the tubular body, and a length such that when the body is fully inserted into the sleeve, the internal diameter of the skirt, and therefore also its external diameter, increases so as sealingly to engage the sleeve and to expand the external diameter thereof into sealing contact with an enlarged interior diameter zone of the neck of the bottle substantially spaced inwardly from the open end of the neck.

Although the use of plastics non-refillable devices such as the above described example may be found largely satisfactory from the point of view of preventing unauthorised re-filling of bottles, it is apparent that such devices are aesthetically unattractive for use with fine spirits and liqueurs traditionally sealed with a cork. However, the use of a cork is not compatible with the prevention of unauthorised re-filling.

The object of the present invention is to provide a non-refillable device for use as bottle closures, the device combining reliability and some of the principal aesthetic attributes of a traditional cork closure.

The invention therefore provides a non-refillable device for a bottle having a neck portion adapted to be closed by a closure means of the device, said device comprising a tubular insert assembly comprising means to ensure permanent engagement of the assembly within the neck portion of the bottle, a through passage within the tubular assembly, one-way valve means received with the passage, said closure means comprising a member having a cork stopper projecting from an interior central region of an end wall thereof as to be received in a mouth portion of said passage and an annular skirt portion arranged concentrically with respect to said cork stopper and having an internal cylindrical surface adapted in use to engage an outer cylindrical surface of the bottle neck portion, said internal surface of the annular skirt portion comprising an annular cork insert means.

In the present specification, it will be understood that the word "cork" is used to denote natural cork, re-constituted cork particles and any other product including cork and having a similar visual appearance.

Preferably also the cork or cork product shall be capable of producing a characteristic sound when moved across a glass surface.

Advantageously, said closure member may comprise two portions welded or otherwise bonded together to trap said cork insert in position within the annular skirt portion.

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

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a semi-exploded elevational view, partly in cross-section, of an example of the device; and Figure 2 is a view of the device assembled and in a closed condition.

The Figures show a bottle neck portion 2 having a generally cylindrical mouth portion 4 with a smooth, i.e.

non-threaded exterior surface 6. Lip edges of the mouth portion 4 are slightly recessed at 8, for reasons which will be explained below. A shoulder 10 is formed on an annular enlarged portion 12 of the neck portion 4, the portion 12 having a greater external diameter than the portion 4 but having an approximately similar internal diameter when moulded. However, the increased thickness of glass in the portion 12 causes shrinkage as the glass cools after moulding and a shallow annular recess 14 is formed in the interior surface of the portion 12.

A tubular insert assembly 16 is shown in Figure 1 ready for placing permanently within the mouth portion 4.

The assembly comprises two parts, a body portion 18 and an outer sleeve 20. The sleeve 20 is substantially cylindrical with a radially outwardly extending flange 22 at the upper end of the sleeve 20 (as viewed in the Figure). The flange 22 seats on the recess 8 of the mouth portion 4 (see Figure 2). At its lower end, the sleeve 20 is constituted by a continuous annular skirt portion 22 which provides a reduced internal diameter by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced wedge-shaped fingers 24 having inclined cam faces 26 extending radially inwardly of the sleeve 20. In addition the sleeve 4 has annular fins 28 on its external surface.

The tubular body portion 18 is provided with a plurality of generally barbs having a generally frusto-conical cross section and tapering inwardly in the direction towards the lower end of the sleeve 20, the barbs having an angle of inclination generally complementary to that of the sleeve fingers cam faces 26 for camming engagement therewith.

The tubular body portion 18 is provided with a one-way valve means 32 comprising a ball 34, ball seat 36, and ball-retaining and flow-passage structure 38 having only a substantially frangible connection 40 to the tubular body portion 18 so that any tampering with the device will result in detachment of the ball-retaining structure 38 leaving clearly visible evidence of the tampering. The structure 38 includes a pouring outlet 39.

In use of the device, the assembly 16 of the sleeve 20 and partially inserted tubular body 18 is inserted into the bottle neck 4 until the flange 22 abuts the recess 8 as shown in Figure 2 and the lower end of the sleeve is disposed disposed inside the enlarged diameter annular recess 14 in the bottle neck 4. At this stage the partially assembled device 16 is simply restrained against withdrawal by the annular fins 28. The tubular body portion 18 is then fully inserted into the sleeve 20 the barbs 30 riding along the cam faces 26 of the inner fingers 24 of the skirt 22 thereby displacing them radially outwardly and dilating the skirt 22 and increasing its external diameter. The increased diameter skirt 22 is received within the annular recess 14, engaging therewith to provide a secure and positive grip against withdrawal of the device from the bottle neck.

Any attempt at interference with the tubular body to release distal end of the sleeve will simply result in breakage at the frangible portions 40 leaving a clear indication of tapering.

The closure means comprises a composite closure member 42 comprising an end wall 44 having partially annular flanges 46 and 48 projecting from an inner surface thereof. The flange 46 is arranged to position and retain a cork stopper 50 securely bonded to the end wall 44. A skirt member 52 has an inturned flange 54 at its lower edge and surrounds an annular cork insert 56 supported on the flange 54. An upper rim portion 58 of the skirt member 52 has an internal diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the flange 48 to facilitate the bonding of the end wall 44 to the skirt member 42, in the present example by ultra-sonic welding. When the bonding step is made, the cork insert 56 is securely trapped between the flange 54 and the lower edge surface of the flange 48.

Thus, when the closure member 42 is used to close the outlet 39 of the device, the cork stopper 50 is received within the outlet 39 and thus seals the contents of the bottle from the air, and the cork insert is a close fit about the cylindrical mouth portion 4 of the glass bottle. There is, therefore, a contact between cork and glass which, when the closure member is applied or removed, causes the characteristic noise (squeak) of cork on glass to be emitted, thus satisfying the aural aesthetic requirements of many users. Moreover, the contact of the cork stopper 50 with the contents of the bottle is felt by many to be preferred in comparison with for example a plastics stopper.

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

Claims (5)

1. A non-refillable device for a bottle having a neck portion adapted to be closed by a closure means of the device, said device comprising a tubular insert assembly comprising means to ensure permanent engagement of the assembly within the neck portion of the bottle, a through passage within the tubular assembly, one-way valve means received with the passage, said closure means comprising a member having a cork stopper projecting from an interior central region of an end wall thereof as to be received in a mouth portion of said passage and an annular skirt portion arranged concentrically with respect to said cork stopper and having an internal cylindrical surface adapted in use to engage an outer cylindrical surface of the bottle neck portion, said internal surface of the annular skirt portion comprising an annular cork insert means.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said closure member comprises two portions welded or bonded together to trap said cork insert within the annular skirt portion.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular insert assembly is initially in two parts, full engagement of which is brought about by relative movement between the parts in which the diameter of one part is increased due to a camming action between said parts.

4. A closure cap for use in the non-refillable fitment of claim 1, comprising an end wall having an interior surface from a central region of which projects a cork stopper, said cap comprising a skirt member arranged concentrically about the stopper, the skirt member having an internal surface partially defined by an annular cork insert adapted in use to contact an exterior surface of a neck portion of a bottle.

5. A non-refillable device for a bottle, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.