GB2264921A

GB2264921A - Attachment for bottle neck

Info

Publication number: GB2264921A
Application number: GB9304743A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean-Michel Bourg
Original assignee: BOURBON COMMUNICATION
Current assignee: BOURBON COMMUNICATION
Priority date: 1992-03-10
Filing date: 1993-03-09
Publication date: 1993-09-15
Also published as: GB9304743D0; FR2688477A3; FR2688477B3

Abstract

A device for irreversible fixing of an attachment to the neck of a bottle comprises a plastics collar 6 which is attached at one axial end to an article 2 by connecting portions 10. The collar 6 may comprise zones 13 delimited by slits 7, or may be of elastic material (Figure 5), to enable mounting on the bottle neck whilst preventing removal of the article 2 unless the collar 6 or connecting portions 10 are broken. The article 10 may be a promotional article such as an ice cube holder and may be moulded in one piece with the collar 6. The collar may have inwardly directed lands (12, Figure 1) at its free end to brace against the bottom edge of the bottle cap or bottle lip and prevent removal. <IMAGE>

Description

Device for Irreversible Fixing of an Attachment to the Neck of a Bottle The present invention concerns a device for irreversible fixing of an attachment to the neck of a bottle.

In order to assist the promotion of sales of certain liquids, particularly alcoholic beverages, it is becoming increasingly common to provide every bottle with an attachment or special offer intended to achieve a purchase by the customer. This method is used more particularly for the promotion of sales of products the advertising of which is related, as is the case with alcoholic beverages. It has been proved that, in order to maximise effectiveness in achieving a sale, a special offer needed to be carried on the product offered for sale. It has been noted that the special offers carried, i.e. fixed to the article, were frequently stolen from the linear display shelves of supermarkets.

An object of this invention is to provide a device for irreversible and theftproof fixing of an attachment to the neck of a bottle, without degradation of the means of fixing, and allowing automated mounting.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for irreversible fixing of an attachment to the neck of a bottle comprising a collar made of synthetic material, one axial end of which is extended on the side facing the attachment by hooks which are firmly attached to the latter, which also leaves space for the neck of the bottle to pass through.

Preferably the device comprises a collar made of synthetic material, its interior diameter corresponding to that of the neck of the bottle and presenting at least one longitudinal slit extending for its entire length, and an attachment or attachment-holder made of synthetic material located at one of the axial ends of the collar, the two edges of the collar delimiting each slit being extended on the side facing the attachment by two hooks which are firmly attached to the latter, the attachment or attachment-holder also leaving space for the neck of the bottle to pass through.

It is advantageous for the attachment to be located at the front of the collar, in the direction in which the assembly is engaged upon the neck of the bottle. Once the assembly is engaged upon the neck of the bottle, the collar cannot be removed, owing to the brace on the neck of the bottle of the zones of the collar as delimited by the various slits.

To remove the attachment, the hooks holding the collar to the attachment can be readily cut, thus destroying the collar and enabling the attachment to be removed.

Manual removal of the collar is prevented because the different zones comprising the latter are locked onto the lower part of the capsule of the bottle.

The total height of the collar and of the attachment is adapted to the height of the neck of the bottle, so as to prevent itfrom sliding loose along the latter. The collar's grip must be sufficiently strong to ensure that it is irreversibly mounted, without excessive tightening, so as to prevent the tearing of any wrapping on the neck of the bottle, such as silver paper.

Preferably the edges delimiting each axial slit in the collar are not parallel, and converge towards the attachment.

This arrangement assists the radial clearance of the different zones of the collar delimited by the slits, and thus facilitates the collar's engagement upon the neck of the bottle.

Preferably the collar is continuous, and made of a material which is elastically deformable, so as to enable it to be positioned upon the neck of the bottle, and comprises a separable indicating line extending for its entire length.

In order to improve further the theftproof character of the device, the collar may comprise a section which reduces in size from its end which is firmly attached to the attachment towards its open end, and at its open end the collar comprises radially inwardly directed notches.

Embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ice-cube holder and of a fixing collar for location on the neck of a bottle; Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1, the ice-cube holder and the collar being shown in position on the neck of the bottle; Fig. 3 is a top-view of the collar and of the ice-cube holder joined to it; Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 2 after removal of the collar; and Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 1 of another embodiment of the ice-cube holder.

The attachment to be fixed to the neck of a bottle consists, in the embodiments shown in the drawings, of a ring-shaped ice-cube holder 2 comprising several cells 3 each intended to form an ice-cube after being filled with water and arranged in the shape of a crown providing a central opening 4 allowing ready engagement upon the neck 5 of a bottle.

This ice-cube holder 2 is made of synthetic material, moulded as a single piece with a device consisting of a collar 6, for irreversible fixing it to the neck 5.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the collar 6 includes three longitudinal slits 7, extending for its entire length, the two edges 8 delimiting each slit being extended on the side facing the ice-cube holder 2 by two easily-broken hooks 10. It should be noted that the ice-cube holder is located forward in the direction in which the assembly comprising the ice-cube holder 2 and the collar 6 are engaged upon the neck 5 of the bottle.

As shown in the drawings, the edges 8 delimiting each axial slit 7 are not mutually parallel, they converge towards the ice-cube holder.

Furthermore, the collar 6 has a cross-section which reduces in size from its end which is firmly attached to the ice-cube holder towards its open end. Finally, this collar comprises, on the side facing its open end, radially inwardly directed notches 12.

In practice, the ice-cube holder 2 and the collar 6 are moulded as one single piece, and are mounted together upon the neck of the bottle. This movement is made possible by the slits 7 of the collar, these slits delimiting zones 13 which are capable of separating at the time of engagement upon the neck of the bottle, the upper end with notches 12 then being braced behind a shoulder formed by the collar, or against the lower part of the bottle's sealing capsule.

It is thus impossible to remove the assembly consisting of the ice-cube holder 2 and the collar 6 from the neck of the bottle. This prevents the risk of theft from the linear display shelves of supermarkets.

Once the customer has purchased the bottle equipped with this attachment, then the attachment can be readily removed by breaking the hooks 10 joining the ice-cube holder to the collar 6. This breaking results in the destruction of the collar 6, producing three parts each corresponding to a zone 13, as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 shows a modified embodiment of this device, where the collar 6 is continuous, i.e. not slit, and its positioning is made possible by the material's elasticity and conical shape. A longitudinal line 14 indicates the point at which the collar needs to be slit to allow it to be removed before the bottle so equipped is used.

As will be clear from the above, the invention represents a great improvement on existing techniques, by providing a device for irreversible fixing of an attachment to the neck of a bottle, of simple construction, easily produced and having excellent theftproof properties.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of example; it rather extends to all possible variants.

Thus, the attachment could particularly be other than an ice-cube holder, could be other than ring-shaped to enable it to be engaged around the neck of a bottle, but could simply be positioned along the neck, or alternatively the collar could comprise a different number of longitudinal slits, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A device. for irreversible fixing of an attachment to the neck of a bottle, comprising a collar made of synthetic material, one axial end of which is extended on the side facing the attachment by hooks which are firmly attached to the latter, which also leaves space for the neck of the bottle to pass through.

2. A device according to Claim 1, including a collar made of synthetic material, the interior diameter of which corresponds to that of the neck of the bottle, and presenting at least one longitudinal slit extending for its entire length, and an attachment or an attachment-holder made of synthetic material located at one of the axial ends of the collar, the two edges of the collar delimiting each slit being extended on the side facing the attachment by two hooks which are firmly attached to the latter, the attachment or the attachment-holder also leaving space for the neck of the bottle to pass through.

3. A device according to Claim 2, in which the edges delimiting each axial slit in the collar are not parallel and converge towards the attachment.

4. A device according to Claim 1, in which the collar is continuous, and made of material which is elastically deformable so as to allow it to be positioned upon the neck of the bottle, and includes a separable indicating line extending for its entire length.

5. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the attachment is located forward of the collar, in the direction in which the assembly is engaged upon the neck of the bottle.

6. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the collar comprises a section which reduces in size from its end which is firmly attached to the attachment towards its open end.

7. A device according to any one Claims 1 to 6, in which the collar comprises at its open end radially inwardly directed notches.

8. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.