GB2389844A

GB2389844A - Anti-refill closure device

Info

Publication number: GB2389844A
Application number: GB0210366A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Peter Carter; Simon Edward Morse; Gary Underwood
Original assignee: IMI Cornelius Inc
Current assignee: Cornelius Inc
Priority date: 2002-05-07
Filing date: 2002-05-07
Publication date: 2003-12-24
Also published as: GB0210366D0

Abstract

A bottle closure 1 has an end cap 3 and a float chamber 22 releasably secured to the end cap 3. The end cap 3 is a push fit on the neck 8 of a bottle and receives a spigot 24 of a dispenser for dispensing metered quantities of fluid. The float chamber 22 is transferred to a distal end of the spigot 24 and is detached from the spigot 24 when the spigot 24 is withdrawn whereby the float chamber 22 remains within the bottle and provides a visual indication if the bottle is re-filled.

Description

; CLOSURE DEVICE

This invention relates to a closure device and in particular to a closure device for a container such as a bottle. More especially, the invention is 5 concerned with the provision of a closure device capable of indicating if a container to which the closure device is fitted has been re-filled.

Dispensers for dispensing metered amounts of liquid from an inverted bottle arc well known and typically include a spigot for entry in the 10 mouth or neck of the bottle to connect the dispenser to the bottle.

A problem with existing dispensers is that after use, the bottle can be removed, re-filled and re-attached to the dispenser. This gives rise to the potential for abuse by the retailer.

Thus, dispensers for dispensing metered amounts of a liquid are commonly used in bars, clubs etc. to dispense high value drinks such as spirits, for example whisky, rum, gin. Many of these drinks are sold on the reputation of a brand name and this allows a price premium to be 20 charged for these drinks.

It can happen therefore with existing dispensers that a bottle containing a branded drink may be re-filled with a cheaper, lower quality nonbranded version of the same drink and sold to the customer as the genuine branded 25 drink. This not only reduces sales of the branded drink but may also have an adverse effect on the reputation of the branded drink if customers are sold a lower quality version believing it to be the genuine branded version. 30 The present invention has been made from a consideration of the foregoing problem.

/r t' 48 't:: tr41 tl'.e de '':! Thus, it is a desired object of the present invention to provide a closure capable of providing an indication to a consumer if a bottle to which the closure is fitted has been refilled.

It is a further preferred object of the present invention to provide a closure for use with a dispenser for dispensing metered quantities of liquid from a container to which the closure is fitted that provides a visual indication if the bottle is re-filled.

It is yet another preferred object of the present invention to provide a method of providing a visual indication if a bottle is re-filled for use with a dispenser for dispensing metered quantities of liquid from the bottle.

15 These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description hereinafter of exemplary embodiments.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a closure for a container such as a bottle, the closure having an attachment portion for i 20 securing the closure to the container and an indicator portion releasable from the attachment portion when the closure is opened to allow the contents of the bottle to be withdrawn, the indicator portion remaining in the bottle and providing a visual indication if the bottle is re-filled.

25 According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a closure for a container such as a bottle, the closure being adapted to close the container and having an indicator portion separable from the closure on insertion of a spigot for connecting the bottle to a dispenser for dispensing the contents of the bottle, wherein the indicator portion is 30 connected to the spigot within the bottle and is detachable from the spigot

I. c when the spigot is removed from the bottle so as to remain in the bottle and provide a visual indication if the bottle is re-filled.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a container 5 such as a bottle having an outlet closed by a closure, the closure being adapted for connecting the bottle to a dispenser for dispensing the contents of the container wherein the closure has an end cap secured to the container and a float chamber releasably secured to the end cap such that the float chamber is detachable from the end cap on insertion of a 10 spigot to connect the container to the dispenser and is attached to the spigot within the container, and the float chamber is detachable from the spigot on removal of the spigot from the container so as to remain in the container and provide a visual indication if the container is re-filled.

15 According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of indicating that a container has been re-filled by providing a closure for the container with a float chamber that is detached from the closure by inserting a spigot into the container through the closure and is attached to the spigot until the spigot is withdrawn to release the float chamber into 20 the container and provide a visual indication if the container is re-filled.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided in combination a bottle having a closure for an outlet and a dispenser for dispensing the contents of the bottle, the closure being adapted to receive 25 a spigot of the dispenser and having a float chamber engaged by the spigot to open the closure and allow the contents of the bottle to flow to the dispenser via the spigot, wherein the float chamber is released into the bottle on removing the spigot from the bottle to provide a visual indication if the bottle is re-filled.

'::: The closure may be attached to the container during manufacture to seal the container for supply to the end user.

The invention has particular application for the dispense of metered 5 quantities of a liquid such a spirits and enables a customer to see if a bottle from which the spirit is dispensed has been re-filled. Thus, if the float chamber is attached to the spigot of the dispenser, the customer can be reassured the bottle has not been re-filled and the drink dispensed is the genuine product indicated on the label. However, if the float chamber lO is free within the bottle, the customer can easily tell the bottle has been re-filled. The closure including the float chamber is preferably made of food-grade materials compatible with the contents of the bottle and the float chamber 15 contains a gas, typically air, to provide the necessary buoyancy for the chamber to float if the bottle is re-filled. In this way, the provision of the float chamber does not provide any health risks to the customer.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example 20 only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a closure embodying the invention; 25 Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the neck of a bottle for attaching the closure of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the closure of Figure 1 mounted on a bottle with part of the neck of the bottle 30 omitted for clarity;

41:d te: 'ttIted't t:.:.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the bottle of Figure 3 with spigot entering the bottle; Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the bottle of 5 Figure 4 mounted on the spigot; and Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the bottle after removal of the spigot.

10 Referring first to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings. a closure I for a container such as a bottle 2 is shown.

The closure l has an end cap 3 of plastics, for example a polypropylene moulding having radially inner and outer cylindrical walls 4 and 5 15 connected by an end wall 6 to define an annular channel 7.

The end cap 3 is a push fit on a neck 8 of the bottle 2 and the outer wall 5 has an internal rib 9 arranged to snap engage a recess 10 in the neck 8 to retain the end cap 3 on the bottle 2.

An annular seal 11 of elastomeric material at the base of the channel 7 is engageable with the mouth of the bottle to provide a fluid-tight seal.

In this embodiment, the neck 8 of the bottle 2 is stepped at 12 so that the 25 outer wall 5 of the end cap 3 is flush with the outer surface of the neck 8.

The closure l also has sealing plug 13 releasably engageable with end cap 3 to close a central bore 14 defined by the inner wall 4. The plug 13 has an annular skirt 15 with an external annular groove 16 snap enagageable 30 with an internal annular lip 17 at the inner end of inner wall 4 to secure the sealing plug 13.

l The sealing plug 13 has a further annular skirt 18 on the opposite side to the skirt 15 and provided with an external annular groove 19.

5 The skirt 18 is received in the open end of a dome-shaped cover member 20 having an internal annular rib 21 cogageable with the groove 19 to secure the cover member 20 and define with the plug 13 a float chamber 22.

10 The free end of the cover member 20 extends axially into the channel 7 and is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced, outwardly directed prongs 23 that extend above the skirt 15.

In use, the closure 1 is fitted to the open end of the bottle 2 during 15 manufacture and seals the contents within the bottle 2 for supply and sale to the end user. The outer end of the bore 14 may be provided with a security seal (not shown) such as a foil strip to provide a visual indication of the integrity of the bottle 2.

20 Referring now to Figures 4 to 6, the bottle 2 with the closure l attached is primarily, but not exclusively intended for use with a dispenser (not shown) for accurately dispensing metered quantities of the liquid contained in the bottle 2. A typical dispenser of this type is commonly referred to as an Optic (registered trade mark) and has a tubular spigot 24 25 for mounting the bottle 2 on the dispenser. l The spigot 24 is inserted in the bore 14 of the end cap 3 after removing i the security seal as shown in Figure 4. The distal end of the spigot 24 has a top hat portion 25 that is a push fit in the skirt 15 of the sealing plug 30 13. The skirt 15 has an internal lip 26 at the free end that is snap

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l engageable with an external annular groove 27 at the base of the top hat portion 25 to secure the spigot 24 to the plug 13.

Rearwardly of the top hat portion 25, the spigot 24 is provided with a 5 series of circumferentially spaced ports 28 of square shape. I The sealing plug 13 is released from the inner end of the bore 14 by continued insertion of the spigot 24 to position the float chamber 22 attached to the spigot 24 within the bottle 2 as shown in Figure 5.

The spigot 24 is located by engagement of the lip 17 at the inner end of l the bore 14 in an annulargroove 29 in the outer surface of the spigot 24.

In this position, the contents of the bottle 2 can flow past the float chamber 22 through the ports 28 into the spigot 24 connecting the bottle 2 15 to the dispenser.

In use, the dispenser is mounted so that the bottle 2 is inverted to allow metered quantities of the contents to be dispensed in known manner.

Typically, the bottle 2 will contain spirits such as whisky, rum, gin or 20 other high value drink that is to be dispensed in accurately measured amounts. Such dispensers are well known and will not be described herein as they form no part of this invention.

When the bottle 2 is empty, the spigot 24 can be removed from the 25 bottle 2 to allow a new bottle 2 to be fitted to the dispenser. As the spigot 24 is withdrawn it brings with it the float chamber 22.

When the float chamber 22 enters the neck 8 of the bottle 2, the prongs 23 engage an internal shoulder 30 formed by the step 12 in the neck 8 of 30 the bottle 2. This prevents the float chamber 22 being withdrawn through the neck 8.

l; 1; As a result, the spigot 24 disengages the sealing plug 13 and releases the float chamber 22 into the bottle 2 as shown in Figure 6.

5 The float chamber 22 remains in the bottle 2 so that, if the bottle 2 is refilled and reused, the float chamber 22 rises to the top of the bottle 2 in the inverted position and is clearly visible to the customer. In this way, the float chamber 22 provides a visual warning that the bottle 2 has been refilled and that the contents may not be genuine.

As a result, the retailer is prevented from re-filling the bottle 2 with a cheaper, lower quality version of the original drink, for example replacing a branded whisky by a non-branded whisky, and selling the non-

branded whisky to the customer as the branded whisky.

As will now be appreciated, the present invention provides an effective way of protecting the customer from bottles being re-filled and presented to the customer as containing the genuine drink originally purchased by the retailer.

In this way, manufacturers of high quality, branded drinks can prevent abuse by retailers that reduces sales of the genuine drink and may have an adverse effect on a brand name if customers are sold a low quality drink believing it to be the branded drink.

It will be understood the invention is not limited to the embodiment above-described and that the principle and concept of a closure incorporating a releasable indicator device to provide a warning if the bottle is re-filled may be provided in a variety of other ways.

: l l ': l In the above-described embodiment, it is envisaged the closure 1 is attached to the bottle 2 during production and the bottle 2 is supplied to the retailer for use with a dispenser having the appropriate spigot 24. It will be understood, however, that the closure 1 could be provided 5 separately for attaching to the bottle 2 prior to use. This could be open to abuse however if the float chamber 22 was removed prior to attaching the end cap 3. Accordingly, it may be preferred to provide the bottle 2 with the closure I already fitted.

Claims

1. A closure for a container such as a bottle, the closure having an attachment portion for securing the closure to the container and an indicator portion releasable from the attachment portion when the closure 5 is opened to allow the contents of the bottle to be withdrawn, the indicator portion remaining in the bottle and providing a visual indication if the bottle is re-filled.

2. A closure for a container such as a bottle, the closure being 10 adapted to close the container and having an indicator portion separable from the closure on insertion of a spigot for connecting the bottle to a dispenser for dispensing the contents of the bottle, wherein the indicator portion is connected to the spigot within the bottle and is detachable from the spigot when the spigot is removed from the bottle so as to remain in 15 the bottle and provide a visual indication if the bottle is re-filled.

3. A closure according to claim 2 wherein the indicator portion comprises a float chamber.

20

4. A closure according to claim 3 wherein the closure is provided with an end cap for mounting the closure on the bottle and the float chamber is releasably secured to the end cap.

5. A closure according to claim 4 wherein the end cap has a central 25 bore to receive the spigot and the float chamber is releasably secured at an inner end of the bore.

6. A closure according to claim 5 wherein the float chamber is transferred from the end cap to the spigot when the spigot is inserted into 30 the bore.

7. A closure according to claim 6 wherein the float chamber is provided with means for detaching the float chamber from the spigot when the spigot is withdrawn from the bore.

5

8. A closure according to claim 7 wherein the detaching means comprise outwardly directed prongs arranged to permit the float chamber to be inserted into the bottle and prevent the float chamber being withdrawn from the bottle.

10

9. A method of indicating that a container has been re-filled by providing a closure for the container with a float chamber that is detached from the closure by inserting a spigot into the container through the closure and is attached to the spigot until the spigot is withdrawn to release the float chamber into the container and provide a visual 15 indication if the container is re-filled.

10. In combination, a bottle having a closure for an outlet and a dispenser for dispensing the contents of the bottle, the closure being adapted to receive a spigot of the dispenser and having a float chamber 20 engaged by the spigot to open the closure and allow the contents of the bottle to flow to the dispenser via the spigot, wherein the float chamber is released into the bottle on removing the spigot from the bottle to provide a visual indication if the bottle is re-filled.

25

11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein the closure has a central bore to receive a distal end of the spigot, the central bore being closed by the float chamber, the float chamber being transferred to the distal end of the spigot on insertion of the spigot into the bore, and the float chamber being detachable from the distal end of the spigot on 30 removal of the spigot from the bottle whereby the float chamber remains within the bottle and provides a visual indication if the bottle is re-filled.

12. The combination according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the spigot is provided with ports to allow fluid within the bottle to flow through the spigot to the dispenser.

13. The combination according to any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein the dispenser is operable to dispense metered quantities of fluid from the bottle. 10

14. The combination according to any one of claims 10 to 13 wherein the closure is attached to the bottle during manufacture to seal the container for supply to the end user.

15. A closure for a container substantially as hereinbefore described 15 with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.