CN109890708B - Double-layer tamper-evident closure for a container neck, system comprising a container and said closure and method for manufacturing said closure - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved container (e.g., bottle) cap that is a single-use, leak-proof closure, clearly indicating evidence of illegal opening and reuse, with a dual-layer tamper-evident device. The cap is a screw-on cap (1) for a neck (2) of a bottle (3) comprising an upper portion (4) removable from the neck (2) and a lower portion (2) not removable from the neck. The lower non-removable portion (5) is a tamper-evident band (TEB) connected to the bottom edge (12) of the skirt (11) of the cap by means of annular, regularly distributed frangible bridges (13) designed to break when the bottle is opened by unscrewing and removing the upper portion (4) of the cap (1). By means of an additional lower mark (18), said TEB also shows any damage to the lid (1) before the first opening of the container (3).

Description

Double layer tamper evident closure for container neck, system comprising container and said closure and method for making said closure

technical field

The present invention relates to a cap for closing the neck of a container, preferably a bottle, suitable for containing water or other liquids for human consumption (hereinafter collectively referred to as drinking water).

More specifically, the cap according to the present invention is a screw cap made by molding (eg injection molding or compression molding) a plastic material, such as a polyolefin (eg polypropylene, high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)) and mixtures and/or alloys thereof.

The container is usually a bottle, such as a plastic ISBM bottle (ISBM: Injection Stretch Blow Molding). The materials of construction of these bottles are usually thermoplastic polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyethylene furandicarboxylate (PEF). These bottles are used to hold beverages such as water.

The cover includes a removable upper portion (opened by screwing) and a non-removable portion, the non-removable portion being a tamper-evident tape TEB.

Systems including such lids, containers closed with such lids, and methods of making such lids are all encompassed by the present invention.

Background technique

Containers, especially bottles, are vulnerable to illicit filling. Illegitimate filling includes filling empty containers with genuine registered trademarks with counterfeit liquids (eg, drinking water). Given the questionable quality of violating liquids, this criminal practice is not only detrimental to the brand image of the trademark owner, but also poses a significant health risk.

To combat this, some tamper-evident containers for drinking beverages have been developed.

In this regard, WO2011064489 (A1) discloses a cap 1 for screwing onto the neck 2 of a bottle, which cap is open at its lower end and closed at its upper end with a bottom wall 10, at its outer periphery, The tubular skirt 11 is centred on the axis X-X and has a circular bottom extending axially downwards. During the first legal unscrewing of the cap 1, the skirt 11 is adapted to be divided into two distinct parts, namely the upper part 121, which is of the same material as the bottom wall 10; , the peripheral breaking line 20 is located axially in the extension of the skirt. The skirt 11 also includes a peripheral rupture segment 28 that differs from the rupture line 20 . The rupture section 28 is clearly demarcated from the rupture line 26 so that between the rupture line 26 and the rupture section 28 in the direction of the axis of the skirt 11 a strand 32 is formed extending along the outer circumference of the skirt 11, wherein the two outer circumferences Each of the ends or extensions of the strands are non-destructively incorporated into the first of the removable and non-removable skirts, while the extensions or the strands are both peripheral ends Each is connected to the second of the skirts by a breakable bridge adapted to resist failure successively when the breaking line has broken during the first opening of the cover, and then during the plastic deformation of the strands It then breaks and thus separates the removable and non-removable skirts from each other.

CN102514807B describes a double score line anti-counterfeiting bottle cap, comprising an upper sleeve (1) and a lower sleeve (2), the upper sleeve and the lower sleeve are connected by an upper score line. A lower score line is arranged in parallel below the upper score line. A fracture zone (3) is formed between the upper score line and the lower score line. The upper score line consists of several upper cuts (4) and upper connecting points (5) arranged in a cross. The lower score line consists of several lower cuts (6) and lower connecting points (7) arranged in a cross. The upper connection point (5) is longitudinally corresponding to the lower incision (6), and the lower connection point (7) is longitudinally corresponding to the upper incision (4). When the bottle cap is legally opened for the first time, the fractured band between the two score lines is fractured under the shear force in the opposite direction of the upper and lower sleeves, so that the fractured band is detached from the bottle cap or significantly deformed. Therefore, the upper and lower sleeves cannot be recovered, and the broken band can no longer be connected to the upper sleeve. This is a simple and obvious visible change to notify the user that this container has been opened before.

The counterfeit marking of the cover according to the above-mentioned prior art comprises a tamper-evident tape (TEB) consisting of superimposed break lines. But this tamper-evident tape is only used to warn consumers of the first opening of the bottle.

The problem is that before the bottle is normally opened for the first time, an offender who wants to fill the bottle with counterfeit product can subtly destroy the cap without damaging the TEB. This destruction can be accomplished by removing the cover using a resilient tool of the plastic material. As an alternative to or in addition to this mechanical action, offenders may attempt to expand the cover by heating (steaming).

Therefore, there is an urgent need for an anti-counterfeiting system comprising caps and bottles which, on the one hand, complicates breaches by offenders before the bottles are first opened, and, on the other hand, clearly indicates to consumers said previous breaches.

Invention goal

In the above background art, the present invention aims to achieve at least one of the following objectives:

Said cap makes it possible to prevent damage to the bottle by the insertion tool, possibly also by heating the cap, to deform the plastic material of the cap to remove the cap without destroying the TEB.

1. To provide an improved container (eg, bottle) cap that complicates counterfeiting considerably, including removing the cap, filling the container with a counterfeit liquid, and sealingly placing the cap back without leaving the previously removed obvious traces.

2. To provide an improved container (eg bottle) lid that prevents damage to the bottle prior to its first opening by inserting the tool, possibly also by heating the lid to deform the plastic material of the lid without damage Remove the cover in the case of TEB.

3. Provide an improved tamper-evident cover that clearly indicates the first opening and any illegal opening prior to the first opening and any repeated use.

4. To provide an improved plastic injection moulded cap for a plastic injection moulded container (eg bottle) which is a single use leak proof closure.

5. To provide an improved tamper-evident lid that achieves at least one of objectives 1 to 4 and has a tamper-evidence device that makes opening of the lid easier.

6. To provide an improved tamper-evident cover that achieves at least one of objectives 1 to 5 and has a tamper-evidence device that enables waterproofing or non-tampering after first opening. Waterproof resealable.

7. To provide an improved tamper-evident cover which achieves at least one of objectives 1 to 6 and which enables a more attractive appearance of the cover.

8. To provide an improved tamper-evident cover which achieves at least one of objectives 1 to 7 and which is economical and easy to manufacture by means of an injection process.

9. Provide a system consisting of a container (eg a bottle) and a screw cap defined in at least one of objects 1-8.

10. To provide a container, preferably a bottle, or a preform for manufacturing said container by blow moulding, said container being designed to be closed by a lid as defined in at least one of objectives 1 to 8.

11. Provide a method for manufacturing a lid as defined in at least one of Objectives 1 to 8.

12. To provide a method for bottling a container, preferably a bottle, having a lid as defined in at least one of Objectives 1 to 8.

13. Provide a method for legally opening a container (preferably a bottle) filled with genuine goods and closed by a lid as defined in at least one of objectives 1 to 10.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to achieve the above-mentioned objects.

To this end, according to a first aspect, the present invention provides a screw cap for the neck of a container, preferably a bottle, the screw cap comprising an upper portion removable from the neck and a non-removable neck portion The lower part of the non-removable part is a tamper-evident tape (TEB);

所述颈部具有外部面，所述外部面从开口顶端向下相继包括：至少一个螺纹、锁定环和支撑环；

the neck has an outer face, the outer face including successively downward from the open top end: at least one thread, a locking ring and a support ring;

所述盖的可移除的上部包括：

The removable upper portion of the cover includes:

-Top wall

- an annular skirt extending downwards from the top wall and having a bottom edge which connects to the non-removable lower part of the cap when the cap is fixed on the neck after bottling;

所述TEB

the TEB

connected to the bottom edge of the skirt by annular, preferably regularly distributed, frangible connecting bridges;

has an interior face with at least one inwardly extending upper shoulder for abutting the locking ring of the neck during the first opening of the container by unscrewing the non-removable upper part of the cap, so the first opening of the container involves the rupture of a connecting bridge, the connecting bridge being the upper marking of the first opening of the container;

→ wherein said TEB indicates on the one hand the first legal opening of the container and on the other hand any damage to the lid prior to the first legal opening of the container;

→wherein the TEB includes some additional lower indicia below the first legal opening of the container that was destroyed before the lid container was first legally opened.

This special double layer tamper-evident indicia of the lid increases the consumer's sense of security and guarantees the authenticity of the container closed by the lid.

These markings unquestionably reveal sabotage and sabotage attempts prior to the first legal opening of the container, as well as the first routine opening of said container.

These double markers are very easy to manufacture and do not add to the economical burden of the manufacturing method of the cap.

The cover according to the present invention combines a typical tamper-evident tape (TEB) that includes a break line defining a frangible bridge, with a tamper-evidence tape (TEB) that lies below the known break line of the TEB and also hinders the Any illegal mechanical and/or thermal removal of the cover.

The cap according to the present invention is an improved container (eg bottle) cap which is a single-use leak-proof closure, which clearly indicates illegal opening and repeated use, has the function of making the opening of the cap easier and achieves no Waterproof reclosable tamper evident device. The present invention provides greater security against abuse and infringement.

According to a preferred embodiment, and in order to prevent the insertion of a tool for illegal removal of the cap prior to opening the container for the first time, the inner annular surface of at least one, and preferably each additional lower indicia, is set back inwardly relative to the outer peripheral end of the neck locking ring (spaced i) Settings. Said interval I is as small as possible while enabling the cap to be placed on the neck of the container after filling of the container during bottling on an industrial line.

In this regard, the at least one, preferably each additional lower marked inner annular face is preferably located at a minimum clearance distance d of the outer face of the neck, defined in increasing order of priority as follows:

d≤3mm; d≤2mm; d≤1mm; d≤0.5mm; d≤0.01mm.

In a variant, the invention relates to a plastic moulded screw cap for the neck of a container, preferably a bottle,

The cover includes:

-Top wall

- an annular skirt extending downwardly from the top wall and having a bottom edge; and

- a tamper-evident tape (TEB) connected to the bottom edge of the skirt by an annular preferably regularly distributed frangible connecting bridge;

The neck of the container is integral with the rest of the container and has a top edge defining the opening of the container and before the container is legally opened for the first time by unscrewing the upper removable portion of the lid. sealing contact with the lower face of the lid top wall in the closed position, ie in the initial position, said first legal opening involving the rupture of the connecting bridge, said connecting bridge being the upper marking of said first legal opening;

→ wherein the TEB comprises a top ring and a bottom ring, the bottom ring being connected to the top ring by at least two additional frangible bridges preferably regularly distributed in the ring;

→ where, in the initial position, both the frangible bridge and the additional frangible bridge are below the top edge of the neck,

→ Where the TEB top ring between the frangible bridge and the additional frangible bridge is intact after the first legal opening.

The cap according to the invention does not include in-hole fittings, especially in-hole non-return pouring fittings (one-way valves), which are fixed in the container neck and in the cap, and are an additional part between the cap and the container, so that the The lower face of the top wall is not in sealing contact with the top edge of the rim in the initial position of the lid closing the container.

According to a possible structural feature of the double frangible bridge of the lid of the invention, the height h5 of the top ring of the TEB is smaller than the height ^h11 of the skirt ( ¹¹ ), preferably h5≤[ ^h11 / ² ]; more preferably h ⁵ ≤[h ¹¹ /3].

Preferably, the lid includes at least one lower shoulder extending inwardly from the inner face of the TEB and intended to approach, preferably abut, the top face of the groove of the neck during initial opening of the container. Such features prevent vandalism with tools.

Advantageously, the upper and/or lower shoulders comprise a plurality of protrusions, which are for example annularly and regularly distributed.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the traces given by the upper marking indicating the first opening of the container and the additional lower marking indicating the destruction of the container are visible to the naked eye.

A feature of the present invention is that the additional lower indicia are mechanically and/or thermally deformable and include:

■ According to a first embodiment, at least one additional frangible bridge connecting the lower part of the TEB to the upper part of said TEB,

■ and/or according to a second embodiment, at least one rib extending outwardly, preferably radially.

Advantageously, additional frangible bridges and/or ribs extending outwardly, preferably radially:

Circularly, preferably regularly distributed around the TEB,

■ and/or parallel to the lid axis Y-Y.

In order to improve the mechanical strength of the additional lower marked frangible additional bridge, the bottom and/or the top of the at least one additional frangible bridge includes lugs extending outwardly from the lower portion of the TEB and/or from the upper portion of the TEB , each additional bridge is preferably located between the lower lug and the upper lug.

In the case where the mould used to manufacture the cover comprises an injector of the stamped sliding stroke type, it is preferred that the cover comprises at least two undercuts, advantageously two diametrically opposed undercuts, formed by at least three upper lugs Each undercut consisting of three corresponding lower lugs is gathered, for example, three by three on the upper and lower layers to form a stacked structural protruding unit designed for improved mechanical properties , the cover preferably comprises two superimposed structurally protruding units, advantageously diametrically opposed.

Also in this case, according to the above-mentioned second embodiment, preferably at least three outwardly extending ribs are aggregated to form a single structural protruding unit designed to improve mechanical properties, the cover preferably comprising advantageously diametrically opposed Two single structurally protruding units.

Significantly, the upper marked bridges and/or the lower marked additional bridges are separated from each other by openings whose projections on the plane are preferably independent rectangles, trapezoids or ellipses.

In certain embodiments suitable for making the opening of the cap by compression moulding throughout the cap manufacturing process, rather than by later cutting the shaped cap without the opening, after bottling, at least one of said openings may be partially The underside is closed by a counter bridge extending upwards from the bottom or downwards from the upper side of the opening. The opposing bridge makes it possible to prevent the impact of the opening, especially during bottling of the cap to the container to close the filling of the container.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the lid is a (eg compression, injection) moulded plastic lid made of a thermoplastic material selected from polyolefins (preferably polypropylene, high density polyethylene (HDPE) , Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)) and mixtures and/or alloys thereof.

Advantageously, the cover according to the invention may also comprise a plurality of ribs extending parallel to the central axis (A) of the outer surface of the skirt of the removable upper part of the cover.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a system comprising a screw cap according to at least one of the preceding claims, and a container (3), preferably a bottle.

According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a container, preferably a bottle, or a preform for the manufacture of said container by blow moulding, comprising a container designed to be made according to at least one of the preceding claims. With a lid closed neck, the container is preferably made of polyester, advantageously polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyethylene furandicarboxylate (PEF).

According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a method for producing a cap (1) according to the invention, comprising the steps of:

- moulding a lid with a top wall and a prefabricated skirt in a mould cavity;

- Possibly, cutting the prefabricated skirt to form an annular opening to obtain a frangible bridge that defines the skirt of the removable part of the cover (1), the upper and lower part of the TEB or the non-removable part of the cover;

- Demould the lid.

Advantageously, the annular opening between the upper frangible bridge and the lower frangible bridge is made by means of one tool cutting the prefabricated skirt of the cover at two different heights at the same time, or by means of successively at two different heights. Made with two tools for cutting the prefab skirt of the cover at the height.

According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a method for bottling a container, preferably a bottle, with a cap according to the present invention, comprising the steps of:

- providing a container, preferably a bottle;

- filling said container with liquid;

- Provide a prefabricated skirt for the cover;

- close the container with a lid;

- Possibly cutting prefabricated skirts to form annular openings to obtain frangible bridges;

-Packaging in closed containers.

Since the present invention provides a device for preventing illegal opening of a container (preferably a bottle) containing an authentic commodity (preferably a beverage), the invention further includes, in its sixth aspect, a device for legally opening a container (preferably, a bottle) containing an authentic commodity and a method for a container (preferably a bottle) closed by a cap according to the invention.

The method mainly includes:

i. Grasp the cover with your fingers, especially the removable upper part of the cover, more specifically the skirt of said upper part;

ii. Rotate the cap in the unscrewing direction so that at least the upper shoulder of the inner face of the TEB abuts the locking ring of the neck and ruptures the upper frangible bridge;

iii. Remove the cap from the neck.

definition

In light of the terminology herein, the following non-limiting definitions must be considered as constituting the description herein:

- Every singular and plural number can represent each other.

- The "closed or initial position of the cap" is the position where the cap is screwed into the neck of the bottle and hermetically closes the bottle before it is legally opened for the first time.

- "First legal open" or "first open" is a regularly completed container opening by the consumer, usually before first use, by unscrewing the cap from the container (eg, bottle).

- "bottle" means any container for liquids (especially water-like beverages): bottles, pitchers, fountains, buckets, especially suitable for beverage distribution (residential & office delivery, HOD), The capacity is for example between 10 liters and 21 liters.

- "Thermoplastic" refers to a plastic thermoplastic homopolymer or copolymer which becomes pliable or plastic above a certain temperature and returns to a solid state upon cooling.

- "Moulding" refers to any shaping technique of thermoplastic raw materials, such as extrusion blow moulding, extrusion of profiles and sheets, injection blow moulding, injection moulding (gas assist), injection stretch blow moulding insert moulding, rotational moulding , compression molding.

- For convenience, the terms "upper", "top", "lower" and "bottom" here correspond to a direction generally parallel to the axis Y-Y of the lid and container, and refer to a direction including the closure by its base standing on the bottom A system of lids on containers that are supported horizontally; the terms "inward" and "outward" herein are given with reference to the lid and the interior and exterior of the container.

Detailed ways

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following disclosure of specific embodiments of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with double-layered frangible bridges as first opening and breaching markers;

- Figure 2 is a front view of the cover of Figure 1;

- Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view of the cover according to Figure 2 in a radial plane along the line A-A;

- Fig. 2B is a sectional view of the cover according to Fig. 2 in a non-radial plane along the line B-B;

- Figure 3 is a front view of the cover of Figure 1;

- Figure 3C is a cross-sectional view of the cover according to Figure 3 along line C-C;

- Fig. 3D is a cross-sectional view of the cover according to Fig. 3 on line D-D;

- Figure 4 is a front view of a system comprising a cap according to Figure 1 screwed onto a bottle neck;

- Figure 4E is a radial cross-sectional view in the plane of line A-A of the cover according to Figure 4;

- Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of the system/bottle shown in Figure 4E;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of a cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention, with a layer of frangible bridges as first opening markers and a layer of ribs as break markers;

- Figure 7 is a front view of the cover of Figure 6;

- Figure 7A is a cross-sectional view in the radial plane of the cover according to Figure 7 along the line A-A;

- Fig. 7B is a sectional view of the cover according to Fig. 7 in a non-radial plane along the line B-B;

- Figure 8 is a front view of the cover of Figure 6;

- Figure 8C is a cross-sectional view of the cover according to Figure 8 along line C-C;

- Figure 8D is a cross-sectional view of the cover according to Figure 8 along line D-D;

- Figure 9 is a front view of the system comprising the cap according to Figure 1 screwed tightly on the neck of the bottle;

- Figure 10 is an enlarged detail view of the system/bottle shown in Figure 9E;

- Figure 11 is a front view of a cover according to a variant of the first embodiment of the invention, in which there are gripping ribs on the skirt of the cover.

- Figure 12 is a front view of a cover according to a variant of the second embodiment of the invention, in which there are gripping ribs on the skirt of the cover.

- Figures 13A-13C are front views in partial cross-section of a system consisting of a lid according to the first embodiment and closing the bottle neck from a starting position before first opening (Figure 13A) to a release position of the lid (Figure 13C) ), where the cover can be removed and the frangible bridge broken to mark the first legal opening.

- Figures 14A and 14B are front views of a system consisting of a lid according to a first embodiment, wherein the lid closes the bottle neck before and after breaking by means of a tool and/or by thermal action, respectively; the breaking is before the first opening occur.

- Figures 15A and 15B are front views of a system consisting of a cap according to the second embodiment, which closes the bottle neck before and after breaking by means of tools and/or by thermal action, which break occurs before the first opening.

In the drawings, the same reference numbers refer to the same or similar elements.

Figures 1, 11 and 6, 12 represent two embodiments of screw caps 1 for closing the opening of a container 3, such as a plastic bottle, suitable for containing products, and in particular liquid products, such as water, Optionally flavored and/or carbonated water, soda water, fruit juice, dairy liquid products or other liquid products.

The bottle (3) shown on Figures 4, 4E, 9, 9E, 12 comprises a neck 2 to define an opening for pouring the product.

first embodiment

In the first embodiment shown (FIGS. 1, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3C, 3D, 4, 4E, 5, 11), the cover 1 exhibits rotational symmetry about the central axis Y and includes substantially An annular shaped casing comprising an upper part 4 removable from the neck 2 of the bottle 3 and a lower part 5 not removable from the neck 2 .

The removable upper part 4 and the non-removable lower part form one piece, which snaps onto the neck 2 of the bottle 3 by deformation after filling of the bottle 3 to close it during the bottling industry. The non-removable lower part 5 is a tamper-evident tape (TEB) connected to the upper part 4 by a frangible connecting bridge 13, and its inner face 14 has a number of inwardly extending shoulders 15 distributed annularly.

The TEB 5 comprises a top ring 5 ^t and a bottom ring 5 ^b connected to the top ring 5 ^t by two annular and regularly distributed additional frangible bridges 18 .

In the initial position, both the frangible bridge 13 and the additional frangible bridge 18 are below the top edge 2 ^t of the neck 2 .

As shown in Figures 2B and ⁵ , the height h5 of the top ring ^5t is measured from the top of the lower bridge 18 to the top of the upper bridge 13, while the height ^h11 is measured from the inner surface of the bottom edge 12 of the skirt 11 to the skirt 11 ( FIGS. 2B and 4E ), which corresponds to the radial face of the upper face of the top wall 10 of the cover 1 . For example, h ⁵ ≈ h ¹¹ /3.

Furthermore, the neck 2 has an outer face 2° which, from the open top end 6 downwards, successively comprises a thread 7 , a locking ring 8 with an outer peripheral end 20 , and a support ring 9 . Thus, during the first opening of the bottle 3 by unscrewing the cap 1, the shoulder 15 of the cap 1 abuts the locking ring 8 of the neck 2, which involves the breaking of the frangible bridge 13 and the separation of the upper 4 and lower 5 parts of the cap. The TEB remains on the neck 2 of the bottle 3 as a marker of first opening, while the upper part 4 is removed. The upper part 4 can then be screwed back onto the neck 2 again. The broken bridge 13 indicates visually and when unscrewed again that the first opening has occurred.

The results of the first legal opening of the bottle 3 are illustrated with reference to Figures 13A-13B-13C, which show the dynamics of a conventional first opening by unscrewing the cap, including the rupture of the frangible bridge 13, which enables the cap to be removed (Figure 13C ). ). The lid 1 of Figure 13A is in its closed position, ie its initial position. Figure 13B shows the intermediate position of the cover 1 after being partially unscrewed. The shoulder 15 of the inner face 14 of the cover 1 abuts the locking ring 8 . Figure 13C shows a further step where the unscrewing has been further completed and the frangible bridge 13 is broken. After this break, unscrew further until the cap 1 is removed from the neck 2 .

Each shoulder 15 of the cover 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention described herein has a downwardly and inwardly extending slope 15°, the angle of which is from 10° to 60°, eg relative to the vertical of the axis Y-Y is 30°. This bevel is close to the bevel of the lower edge of the locking ring 8 , which is the abutment of the shoulder 15 .

Furthermore, the removable upper part 4 also comprises a top wall 10 and an annular skirt 11 extending downwardly from the top wall 10 and having a bottom edge 12 connected to the lid 1 by a frangible bridge 13 The non-removable lower part 5. The outer surface of the skirt 11 of the cap 1 according to this first embodiment is a grip portion for unscrewing the cap. As shown in the variant of FIG. 11 , the grip of the lid can be improved by means of a plurality of ribs 35 extending parallel to the central axis Y and uniformly distributed on the outer surface of the skirt 11 . The inner face 111 of the skirt ¹¹ has threads 17 designed to cooperate with the complementary threads 7 of the outer face of the neck 2 of the bottle.

As shown in Figure 4E and in order to provide intimate contact between the cap 1 and the neck 2 of the bottle 3, the top wall 10 has an annular crown 30 extending downwardly perpendicular to its inner surface 31 . The crown 30 defines a groove 32 with an annular sealing lip 33 . To increase the tightness, on the one hand, an annular projection 34 is provided on the outer surface of the free end of the crown 30 and, on the other hand, an annular sealing lip 35 . In other embodiments, the tight attachment of the cap 1 to the neck may be provided in any other suitable manner.

According to the example shown in FIG. 4E , the frangible connecting bridges 13 are distributed approximately regularly over the circumference of the cover 1 . Said bridges 13 are separated by openings 24 whose projection on the plane may be rectangular (see eg the variant in FIG. 11 ); Closed, as shown in Figures 1, 2A, 2B, the bridge 25 extends upward in the Y-Y direction. According to a variant not shown, the opposing bridges 25 may extend downward to form the upper edge of the opening 24 .

These opposing bridges 25 prevent compression of the TEB when the cap is snapped onto the bottle 3, thereby plugging the filled bottle 3 during bottling.

On first opening, below its inner shoulder 15 of the locking ring 8 against the neck 2 , in addition to the frangible upper marking 13 , the TEB 5 has some additional lower portions formed by annular and regularly distributed bridges 18 Reference 18, bridge 18 connects the lower part 40 of the TEB 5 to the upper part 41 .

Like the frangible upper bridge 13 , the lower bridge 18 is separated by a rectangular (in front view) opening 24 (see FIG. 11 ), or by an opening 24 partially closed by a rectangular (front view 2A and 2B) opposing bridge 25 . The openings 24 have the same function as the homologues of the upper openings between the upper bridges 13 .

These additional lower markings 18 are designed to indicate any damage to the system consisting of the genuinely filled bottle 3 and the closure cap 1 before the first opening. Whether broken by mechanical and/or thermal action, the bridge 18 will deform or rupture significantly.

Not only does the TEB 5 carry additional lower markings 18 for damage, but it is also designed to prevent any damage until it is first opened. For this purpose, firstly, there is a lower horizontal shoulder 16 extending inwardly from the lower inner face 14 of the TEB, and secondly, an additional lower marked inner annular face 19 (ie, frangible additional bridge 18) , as close as possible to the opposite outer face 2° of the neck 2 and arranged inwardly and rearwardly with respect to the outer peripheral end 20 of the locking ring 8 of the neck 2 .

The vandal-resistant lower shoulders 16 are advantageously distributed regularly and annularly at the bottom edge of the TEB 5 (see eg FIG. 1 ). As shown in Figures 4E and 5, the shoulder 16 is received in the neck groove 22:

- the bottom face of which is the top face of the support ring 9 of the neck 2,

- the back 26 of the groove 22 is closer to the interior of the neck 2 than the outer face 2° of the neck 2 facing the additional bridge 18,

- and its top face 21 is delimited outwards by the aforementioned outer face 2°.

In order to prevent the removal of the entire lid 1 by misuse of tools, the inner end 27 of each shoulder 16 is advantageously in contact or nearly in contact with the back 26 of the neck groove 26 before opening it for the first time.

Furthermore, the upper face 28 of each shoulder 16 preferably serves to approach (eg, abut) the top face 21 of the groove 22 of the neck 2 during the first opening of the container 3 .

With regard to the shoulders 16, it should also be emphasized that each space between two adjacent shoulders 16 is in line along an axis parallel to the axis Y-Y of the cover 1, just above which the additional connecting bridge 18 is located. According to an alternative not shown in the figures, the shoulder 16 may be replaced by a single shoulder 16, which is an inwardly extending ring of the axis Y-Y.

Any damage is also complicated by the fact that:

• The inward spacing (I) between the inner annular face 19 of each additional lower marker (ie the frangible bridge 18 ) and the outer peripheral end 20 of the locking ring 8 is shown in FIG. 5 .

• The inner annular face 19 of each additional lower marker 18 (ie the frangible bridge 18 ) is at a minimum clearance distance d from the outer face 2° of the neck 2 . For example d=0.01+/-10%.

Figures 1 and 2 show lugs 23° at the bottom and lugs 23 ¹ on top of each additional frangible bridge 18 (additional lower mark). These lugs 23 extend outwardly from the lower and upper portions of the TEB 5 respectively and serve as reinforcement for the cap 1 for manufacture and bottling, without compromising the vandal resistance of these additional lower markings 18 .

It should also be noted that the cover 1 shown in Figures 1 , 2 and 3D comprises two diametrically opposed stacked structure protruding units 23 ⁰¹ , 23 ¹¹ , which are composed of three upper lugs 23 ¹ and three A 23° aggregation of the corresponding lower lugs results. These protruding units 23 ⁰¹ , 23 ¹¹ are useful undercuts, especially when the cover 1 is manufactured by slip forming.

Before being opened for the first time, the cap 1 according to this first embodiment is protected against illegal opening by any tool that could be used to attempt to remove the entire cap 1 and possibly perform any illegal interaction, such as illegal filling of genuine bottle contents Replaced with counterfeit products. Figures 14A and 14B show the mark left by the tool 50, the infringer tried unsuccessfully to insert the tool between the TEB 5 of the cover 2 and the bottle neck 2 (left side of Figures 14A and 14B), or the mark was due to heating Cover 1 (right side of Figures 14A and 14B) remains.

As shown in Figure 14B, the lower marker (ie, the connecting bridge 180) is broken (left: mechanical failure) and/or deformed (right: thermal failure).

Second Embodiment

The cover 1 according to the second embodiment shown (FIGS. 6, 7, 7A, 7B, 8, 8C, 8D, 9, 9E, 10, 12) is the same as the cover according to the first embodiment described herein, except for the following aspects 1 same, these aspects include:

→ The several inwardly extending shoulders 15 of the inner face 14 of the lid are replaced by a single shoulder 15 which serves to abut against the locking ring 8 of the neck 2 during the first opening and which relates to the frangible connecting bridge 13 fracture and separation of the upper part 4 and the lower part 5 of the cover;

→ The additional lower marking of the TEB 5, the frangible bridge 18, is replaced by a rib 180 extending outwardly and radially;

→The two diametrically opposed stacked structural protruding units 23 ⁰¹ , 23 ¹¹ correspond to two diametrically opposed single structural protruding units 181 .

The single shoulder 15 of the cover 1 according to the second embodiment of the invention as described herein also has a slope of 15° as in the first embodiment.

The outwardly and radially extending ribs 180 are regularly distributed annularly. They also have triangular cross-sections as shown in Figures 6 and 8D. Their height (in a direction parallel to the axis Y-Y of the cover 1 ) corresponds approximately to the height of the lower part of the TEB 5 . These ribs are sensitive to mechanical and/or thermal effects that can be used to illegally remove the entire lid 1 before opening it for the first time.

Each of the two diametrically opposed single structural protruding units 181 results from the aggregation of three ribs 181 . The two diametrically opposed protruding units 181 are undercuts, which are useful especially when the cover 1 is manufactured by slip forming.

Before being opened for the first time, the cap 1 according to this second embodiment is protected against illegal opening by any tool that can be used to try to remove the entire cap 1, and any illegal activities that may be carried out, such as filling: genuine bottle contents Replaced with counterfeit products. Figures 15A and 15B show the mark left by the tool 50, the infringer tried unsuccessfully to insert the tool between the TEB5 of the cover 2 and the bottle neck 2 (left side of Figures 15A and 15B), or the mark was due to heating the cover 1 (right side of Figures 15A and 15B) remains.

As shown in Figure 15B, the lower marker (ie, the rib 180) is deformed.

Variations of Figures 11 and 12

The lid 1 of FIG. 11 comprises an upper first opening mark constituted by a frangible connecting bridge 13 and an additional lower breaching mark, which is constituted by the frangible bridge 18 on the one hand and the outwardly and radially extending rib 180 on the other hand constitute.

In this variant, the connecting bridges 13 and 18 are made by cutting a prefabricated cover, more precisely by cutting a prefabricated skirt 110 .

The lid 1 of FIG. 12 comprises an upper first opening mark constituted by the frangible connecting bridge 13 and an additional lower breaking mark constituted by an outwardly and radially extending rib 180 , the height of which is greater than the marking rib of the variant of FIG. 11 . 180 height.

In this variant, the connecting bridge 13 is made by cutting a prefabricated cover, more precisely by cutting a prefabricated skirt 110 .

The cover 1 of FIGS. 11 and 12 also has a plurality of ribs 40 extending parallel to the central axis YY and distributed uniformly on the outer surface of the skirt 11 . Ribs 40 are used to facilitate gripping of cap 1 by bottling devices and consumers on industrial bottling lines.

raw material

For the cap 1 it is for example a thermoplastic polymer such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), while for the bottle 3 it can be a thermoplastic polymer such as PET.

Objects other than cover 1

The invention also relates to a cap 1/bottle 3 system such as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9 . The container can be different from the bottle 3. It can be a manufactured preform for injection/blow moulding of the bottle, or it can be a bottle filled and closed by the entire cap 1 .

method of making a cover

The cap according to the invention can be obtained by a compression moulding process which directly leads to the cap 1, or by a two-step injection moulding process, in which a prefabricated cap is made comprising a shell made of a top wall and a prefabricated skirt. The prefabricated skirt does not define the openings 24 of the connecting bridges 18 , 13 . These missing elements are then realized by cutting prefabricated skirts.

transform

The present invention has disclosed a cap 1 with rotational symmetry, having a circular top wall 10, an annular skirt 11 of circular cross-section. However, the present invention is not so limited, and the cover 1 may be of any other suitable shape, the top wall 10, skirt 11 and double indicia being adapted accordingly.

Claims (30)

1. A screw cap (1) for a neck (2) of a container (3), said screw cap comprising an upper part (4) removable from said neck (2) and a non-removable upper part (4) from said neck (2) the lower part (5) with the part (2) removed, the lower part (5) being a tamper-evident tape, Said neck (2) has an external face (2°) which successively comprises, from the open top end (6) downwards: at least one thread (7), a locking ring (8) and a support ring (9); The upper part (4) of the cover (1) comprises: top wall (10) and An annular skirt (11) extending downwards from the top wall (10) and having a bottom edge (12), when the cap (1) is secured to the neck (2) after bottling, the bottom edge is connected to the lower part (5) of the cover (1); the tamper evident tape connected to the bottom edge (12) of said skirt (11) by means of an annularly distributed upper frangible bridge; has an inner face (14) with at least one inwardly extending upper shoulder (15) for opening the container for the first time by screwing the upper part (4) of the lid (1) During (3) the locking ring (8) against the neck (2), the first opening of the container (3) involves the rupture of the upper frangible bridge, which is therefore the container (3). ) of the first legal opening of the upper mark; wherein the tamper-evident tape on the one hand indicates the first legal opening of the container (3), On the other hand any damage to the lid (1) prior to the first legal opening of the container (3); Wherein, the tamper-evident tape includes some additional damage to the lid (1) prior to the first legal opening of the container (3) below the marking (13) of the first legal opening of the container (3) the lower mark. 2. The screw cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inner annular surface (19) of at least one additional lower mark is set back inwardly with respect to the outer peripheral end (20) of the locking ring (8). 3. Screw cap (1) according to claim 2, wherein the inner annular surface (19) of at least one additional lower mark is located at a minimum clearance distance d of the outer surface (2°) of the neck (2) , the distance is defined as: d≤3mm. 4. A screw cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein given by an upper marking for the first opening of the container (3) and by an additional lower marking for the container (3) being destroyed The traces are visible to the naked eye. 5. The screw cap (1) according to claim 1, comprising at least one lower shoulder (16) extending inwardly from the inner face (14) of the tamper-evident tape for use in the container (3) The top face (21) of the groove (22) near the neck (2) during the first opening of the neck. 6. The screw cap (1) according to claim 5, wherein the upper shoulder (15) and/or the lower shoulder (16) comprise a plurality of protrusions. 7. The screw cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the additional lower marking is mechanically and/or thermally deformable and comprises: at least one lower frangible bridge connecting the lower portion of the tamper evident tape to the upper portion of the tamper evident tape, and/or at least one outwardly extending rib (180). 8. The screw cap (1) according to claim 7, wherein the lower frangible bridge and/or the outwardly extending rib (180): The ring is distributed around the tamper evident belt, and/or parallel to the axis Y-Y of the cover (1). 9. The screw cap (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the bottom and/or the top of the at least one lower frangible bridge of the additional lower marking comprises the lower part of the tamper-evident tape and/or the tamper-evident The lugs (23) extending outwardly from the upper part of the strap are opened. 10. The screw cap (1) according to claim 7, wherein the upper frangible bridge and/or the lower frangible bridge are separated from each other by openings (24), at least one of the openings (24) Partially closed by opposing bridges (25) extending upwards from the bottom from the underside of the opening (24) or downwards from the upper side of the opening (24). 11. The screw cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the container (3) is a bottle. 12. The screw cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the tamper-evident tape is connected to the bottom edge (12) of the skirt (11) by regularly distributed upper frangible bridges. 13. The screw cap (1) according to claim 2, wherein the inner annular surface (19) of each additional lower mark is set back inwardly with respect to the outer peripheral end (20) of the locking ring (8). 14. The screw cap (1) according to claim 3, wherein the inner annular surface (19) of each additional lower mark is located at the minimum clearance distance d. 15. A screw cap (1) according to claim 5, wherein the at least one lower shoulder (16) rests against the groove of the neck (2) during the first opening of the container (3) (22) top face (21). 16. The screw cap (1) according to claim 6, wherein the protrusions are distributed annularly and regularly. 17. The screw cap (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the ribs (180) extend outwardly in a mirror image and/or the ribs (180) are regularly distributed around the tamper-evident tape. 18. Screw cap (1) according to claim 9, wherein each lower frangible bridge is located between a lower lug (23°) and ^an upper lug (231). 19. The screw cap (1) according to claim 10, wherein the projection of the opening on the plane is an independent rectangle, trapezoid or ellipse. 20. The screw cap (1) according to claim 3, wherein the distance d is defined as: d≤2mm. 21. The screw cap (1) according to claim 20, wherein the distance d is defined as: d≤1 mm. 22. The screw cap (1) according to claim 21, wherein the distance d is defined as: d≤0.5mm. 23. The screw cap (1) according to claim 22, wherein the distance d is defined as: d≤0.01 mm. 24. A system comprising a container (3) and a screw cap (1) according to any of claims 1-23. 25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the container (3) is a bottle. 26. A container (3) or a preform for manufacturing said container by blow moulding, comprising a neck designed to be closed by a cap (1) according to any of claims 1-23. 27. The container (3) or preform according to claim 26, wherein the container is made of polyester; the polyester comprises polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyfurandicarboxylic acid Ethylene glycol ester (PEF). 28. A method for manufacturing a lid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 23, comprising the steps of: moulding a lid (1) with a top wall (10) and a prefabricated skirt in a mould cavity; Cutting said prefabricated skirt to form an annular opening (24) to obtain upper and lower frangible bridges that define the upper skirt (24) of the lid (1) 11), the upper and lower parts of the tamper-evident tape or the lower part (5) of the cover (1); The lid (1) is demolded. 29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the annular opening (24) between the upper frangible bridges on the one hand and the annular opening (24) between the lower frangible bridges on the other hand are provided by means of simultaneous Made with a tool cutting the prefabricated skirts of the cover (1) at two different heights, or with two tools cutting the prefabricated skirts of the cover (1) at two different heights one after the other. 30. A method for bottling a container (3) with a cap (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 23, said method comprising the steps of: provide a container (3); filling the container (3) with liquid; providing a prefabricated skirt for said cover (1); closing the container with the lid (1); cutting the prefabricated skirt to form an annular opening (24) to obtain an upper frangible bridge and a lower frangible bridge; Packaging closed container (3).

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