GB2432151A

GB2432151A - Crimped bottle top assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2432151A
Application number: GB0621480A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Wade
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-11-10
Filing date: 2006-10-30
Publication date: 2007-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 2026-10-30
Also published as: GB0522981D0; GB0621480D0; GB2432151B

Abstract

A bottle top 6, comprising a body 8 formed integrally at one end with a dependent skirt 12 defining an aperture 14 to receive an end portion 16 of the neck 4 of a bottle 2. The skirt is formed of such material and having such thickness as to allow it to be crimped to the end portion of the bottle. The body has a passage 18 between another end and the aperture to allow liquid to be dispensed from the bottle when the bottle top is crimped thereto, the passage being of smaller cross section than the aperture so as to leave a land 24 to seal to the end of the bottle neck. The body has a dimension between its ends greater than the thickness of the skid. A resilient washer 26 may be provided between the land and the end of the bottle neck to assist in sealing and closure 30 may be provided to close the bottle top.

Description

BOTTLE TOP

This invention relates to bottle tops.

Instead of fitting a cap or closure directly to a bottle, for aesthetic or other reasons, it is often desired to crimp a top, e.g. metallic, to a bottle. A closure, e.g. screw threaded or a stopper, is used to close the bottle. The contents of the bottle can be poured through the top when the closure is opened.

Such bottle tops have been known for many years and without exception are provided in two parts: one providing a passage through which the liquid Is poured from the bottle and which seals against the end of the bottle neck; and another, an L-section ring, which is crimped to the neck of the bottle to hold the one in place.

To fit the bottle top, the two parts have to be selected and assembled with a sealing washer on the neck of the bottle, and then crimped.

Against this background, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention there is provided a bottle top, comprising: a body formed integrally at one end with a dependent skirt defining an aperture to receive an end portion of the neck of a bottle, the skirt being formed of such material and having such thickness as to allow it to be crimped to the end portion of the bottle; the body having a passage between another end and the aperture to allow liquid to be dispensed from the bottle when the bottle top is crimped thereto, the passage being of smaller cross section than the aperture so as to leave a land to seal to the end of the bottle neck, the body having a dimension between its ends greater than the thickness of the skirt. Only one part has to be selected for assembly with the washer for crimping to the neck of the bottle. The part can be turned in more or less the same time as the traditional two part top and uses no more material, so the advantageous assembly Is obtained at no extra cost In manufacturing the top.

Preferably, a portion of the body at the other end has an external screw tread to receive a closure for the passage.

The bottle top preferably includes a closure for the passage.

Spec and Claims at 06-10-04 The invention extends to a bottle having a bottle top as claimed in any preceding claim crimped thereto.

The bottie preferably indudes a resilient washer between the land and the end of the bottle neck to seal the one to the other.

In a further embodiment the washer and bottle top are adapted such that the resilient washer is retained on the bottle top adjacent the land.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part cross sectional view of a bottle, bottle top and closure according to a first embodiment of the Invention, Figure 2 is a part cross section of the bottle top assembled on the bottle of Figure Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a bottle top according to a second embodiment of the invention, Figure 4 is a further cross sectional view of a bottle top according to a second embodiment of the invention, and Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of a bottle with the bottle top of figure 4, closed by a closure, mounted thereon.

Referring to Figure 1, a bottle 2 has a neck 4 through which liquid contents can be poured. A bottle top 6, in the case illustrated metallic, has a body 8. At one end 10 the body 8 has a dependent skirt 12 defining an aperture 14 suitably dimensioned to receive and end portion 16 of the neck of the bottle. A passage 18 communicates between the aperture 14 and the other end 20 of the body 8.

The end portion 16 of the bottle neck has an outstanding rim 22. The thickness and the material of the skirt are such as to allow the skirt to be crimped around the rim 22 as illustrated in Figure 2. Examples of the material are brass or aluminium. The passage 18 has a smaller cross section than that of the aperture 14 so as to leave a Spec and claims at 06-10-04 land 24 for sealing against the end of the bottle neck. To assist in sealing the two, a resilient washer 26, in this case plastics, is compressed by the crimping process, between the land 24 and the end of the bottle neck.

Figures 3 to 5 show a bottle top according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows the bottle top of Figure 1 with resilient washer 26 positioned against land 24. As in the first embodiment, end 10 of the body 8 includes a skirt 12, land 24 and a shoulder 32 adjacent the passage 18, extending away from the land 24 towards the opening 14, and extending the passage 18. The shoulder 32 forms a perimeter of the opening 18 whIch may be circular. Washer 26 is conventional and comprises a circular disc with a central opening. Figure 3 shows the washer 26 received within a cavity formed by the skirt 12, shoulder 32, and land 24 with the central opening of the washer mounted on the shoulder 32. The central opening of the washer Is contemplated to be of a size, in relation to the perimeter of the passage 18 formed by the shoulder 32, that when the washer is urged onto the shoulder, the washer is retained on the shoulder and thereby held in position on the bottle top.

Figure 4 shows the arrangement of Figure 3 with a bottle top having a stepped upper surface.

Figure 5 shows a bottle 2 with the top of Figure 4 applied to the neck 4 such that the opening of the bottle may be closed with a closure 30.

The arrangement of the second embodiment, with the washer adapted to be urged on or otherwise applied to the shoulder 32, and retained thereon by for example the difference in size of the central opening of the washer and the perimeter of the passage 18, for example during manufacture of the bottle top, is beneficial to industry as the number of steps required to attach a bottle top to a bottle is reduced and the process significantly simplified. Such bottle tops, comprising a single unit including a bottle top Spec and Claims at 06-10-04 with retained washer, can be supplied for attachment to bottles and enhance the bottle-top-to-bottle attachment process.

In distinction from the known L-section rings, the body portion in either embodiment is contemplated to have a dimension D between its ends which is greater than the thickness T of the skirt.

In the examples illustrated, the body 8 has an external screw thread 28 for securing a closure 30, which has a matching internal screw thread (not shown). In other examples (not illustrated) other closures may be used e.g. stoppers.

The present invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments, for example the material of the skirt may be not be brass or aluminium but a different suitable material, the washer may not be plastics but may be a different suitable material, the central opening of the washer may not be smaller than the shoulder26, and the washer may be retained on the bottle top by a different suitable means.

Spec and Claims at 06-10-04

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A bottle top, comprising: a body formed integrally at one end with a dependent skirt defining an aperture to receive an end portion of the neck of a bottle, the skirt being formed of such material and having such thickness as to allow it to be crimped to the end portion of the bottle; the body having a passage between another end and the aperture to allow liquid to be dispensed from the bottle when the bottle top is crimped thereto, the passage being of smaller cross section than the aperture so as to leave a land to seal to the end of the bottle neck, the body having a dimension between its ends greater than the thickness of the skirt.

2. A bottle top as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of the body at the other end has an external screw tread to receive a closure for the passage.

3. A bottle top as claimed in claim I or claim 2, including a closure for the passage.

4. A bottle having a bottle top as claimed In any preceding claim crimped thereto.

5. A bottle as claimed in claim I or claim 4, including a resilient washer between the land and the end of the bottle neck to seal the one to the other.

6. A bottle top according to claim 5 wherein the land includes a shoulder adjacent the passage extending into the aperture.

7. A bottle top according to claim 6 wherein the shoulder forms a rim around the passage.

8 A bottle top according to claim 7 wherein the washer mounts the shoulder.

9. A bottle top according to claim 8 wherein a central opening of the washer is smaller than the rim formed by the shoulder, the arrangement being such that with the washer urged onto the shoulder the washer is retained on the rim against the land.

Spec and Claims at 06-10-04