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EP3515829B1 - Doppelte originalitätsverschlusskappe für einen hals eines behälters, system mit besagter kappe und behälter und verfahren zur herstellung der besagten kappe - Google Patents

Doppelte originalitätsverschlusskappe für einen hals eines behälters, system mit besagter kappe und behälter und verfahren zur herstellung der besagten kappe Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3515829B1
EP3515829B1 EP16788797.5A EP16788797A EP3515829B1 EP 3515829 B1 EP3515829 B1 EP 3515829B1 EP 16788797 A EP16788797 A EP 16788797A EP 3515829 B1 EP3515829 B1 EP 3515829B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cap
container
opening
neck
teb
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP16788797.5A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3515829A1 (de
Inventor
Renaud GALLAY
Philippe Nusbaum
Michel Roussy
Romain SAVAJANO
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Societe des Eaux Minerales dEvian SA SAEME
Original Assignee
Societe des Eaux Minerales dEvian SA SAEME
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of EP3515829A1 publication Critical patent/EP3515829A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3515829B1 publication Critical patent/EP3515829B1/de
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D1/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material or by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
    • B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
    • B65D1/023—Neck construction
    • B65D1/0246—Closure retaining means, e.g. beads, screw-threads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
    • B65D41/34—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt
    • B65D41/3442—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with rigid bead or projections formed on the tamper element and coacting with bead or projections on the container
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
    • B65D41/34—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt
    • B65D41/3442—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with rigid bead or projections formed on the tamper element and coacting with bead or projections on the container
    • B65D41/3447—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with rigid bead or projections formed on the tamper element and coacting with bead or projections on the container the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges

Definitions

  • the 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 (generically drinking water hereafter).
  • the cap according to the invention is a screw cap manufactured by moulding (i.a injection-molding or compression molding) of plastic material, such as a polyolefin, e.g polypropylene, a High Density PolyEthylene (HDPE), a Low Density PolyEthylene (LDPE), a Linear Low Density PolyEthylene (LLDPE), and mixtures and/or alloys thereof.
  • plastic material such as a polyolefin, e.g polypropylene, a High Density PolyEthylene (HDPE), a Low Density PolyEthylene (LDPE), a Linear Low Density PolyEthylene (LLDPE), and mixtures and/or alloys thereof.
  • a polyolefin e.g polypropylene
  • HDPE High Density PolyEthylene
  • LDPE Low Density PolyEthylene
  • LLDPE Linear Low Density PolyEthylene
  • the container is usually a bottle, e.g a plastic ISBM bottle (ISBM: Injection Stretch Blow Molding).
  • ISBM Injection Stretch Blow Molding
  • the constituent material of these bottles is typically a thermoplastic polymer for instance a PolyEthyleneTerephtalate (PET) or a PolyEthyleneFuranoate (PEF).
  • PET PolyEthyleneTerephtalate
  • PEF PolyEthyleneFuranoate
  • the cap includes an upper removable part (opening by unscrewing) and a non-removable part which is a Tamper Evidence Band TEB.
  • the system including such a cap container closed with said cap as well as the method for manufacturing said cap, and a method for bottling a container comprising said cap, are encompassed in the present invention.
  • Containers especially bottles, are prone to infringement through the filling offence. This latter consists in filling empty containers bearing an authentic registered trademark, with a liquid (e.g. drinkable water) which is not the authentic liquid.
  • a criminal act is not only deleterious for the brand image of the owner of the trademark, but represents also a major health risk, in view of the doubtful quality of the infringing liquid.
  • WO2011064489 (A1 ) discloses a lid 1, intended to be screwed onto the neck 2 of a bottle, which is open at its lower end and closed at its upper end with a bottom wall 10, at the outer periphery of which a tubular skirt 11 centered on the axis X-X and with a circular base extends axially downward.
  • the skirt 11 is adapted so as to separate into two distinct portions, i.e. an upper portion 121, made with the bottom wall 10 in the same material, and a lower portion 122 initially connected to the upper portion 121 at a peripheral break line 20 axially located in the running portion of the skirt.
  • the skirt 11 further comprises a peripheral break segment 28 distinct from the break line 20.
  • the break segment 28, which is delimited distinctly from the break line 26 so as to form, between the break line 26 and the break segment 28 along the direction of the axis of the skirt 11, a strand 32 extending along the periphery of the skirt 11, wherein either each of both peripheral ends, or the running portion of said strand, is bound in a non-breakable way to a first of the removable and non-removable skirt portions, while, respectively either the running portion, or each of both peripheral ends of said strand is connected to the second of the skirt portions through a breakable bridge which is adapted, during the first opening of the lid, for successively resisting to failure while the break line is already broken, and for then breaking after plastic deformation of the strand and for thus separating the removable and non-removable skirt portions from each other.
  • CN102514807B describes a double etched line anti-fake bottle cap, comprising an upper sleeve (1) and a lower sleeve (2) that are connected with each other by an upper etched line.
  • a lower etched line is provided below and in parallel with the upper etched line.
  • a fracture zone (3) is formed between the upper and lower etched lines.
  • the upper etched line is constituted by several upper notches (4) and upper connecting points (5) that are arranged in an alternative manner.
  • the lower etched line is constituted by several lower notches (6) and lower connecting points (7) that are arranged in an alternative manner.
  • the upper connecting points (5) correspond to the lower notches (6) longitudinally
  • the lower connecting points (7) correspond to the upper notches (4) longitudinally.
  • the fracture zone between two etched lines can be fractured under the shearing forces of the upper and lower sleeves in opposed directions such that the fracture zone is separated from the cap or deformed obviously.
  • the upper and lower sleeves are not recoverable and the fracture zone cannot be connected with the upper sleeve again. It is a simple and obvious visible change to inform the user that this container has been opened before.
  • EP1851128 describes a tamper evident screw cap according the preamble of claim 1, comprising a secondary tamper evidence element.
  • TAB Tamper Evidence Band
  • the problem is that before said bottle normal first opening, the lawbreakers who want to fill fake and inferior products in the bottle, compete of ingeniousness to break in the bottle cap without damaging the TEB. Such a breaking in could be done by means of tools which play on the elasticity of the plastic material to remove the cap. Instead of or in addition to such a mechanical action, the lawbreakers can try to distend the cap through heating it (steaming).
  • the invention aims at fulfilling at least one of the following objectives: Said cap makes it possible to prevent breaking in of the bottle, by removing the cap without breaking the TEB, through inserting of a tool, possibly with heating of the cap to deform the plastic material of the cap.
  • the invention aims at fulfilling the above mentioned objectives.
  • the invention provides a screw cap for a neck of a container -preferably a bottle- comprising an upper part removable from the neck and a lower part non-removable from the neck, said lower non-removable part being a tamper evidence band (TEB);
  • TAB tamper evidence band
  • the cap according to the invention proceeds from combining the typical tamper evidence band (TEB) including the break line defining frangible bridges with evidence of prior breaking in which are located below the known break line of the TEB and which also constitutes an obstacle to any illicit mechanical and/or thermic cap removal.
  • TEB typical tamper evidence band
  • the cap according to the invention is an improved container (e.g bottle) cap which is a single use leakproof closing, which shows obvious indications of an illicit opening and re-use, having tamperproof means which make easier the opening of the cap and which enables non-waterproof re-closings after a first opening.
  • the invention offers a reinforced safety against misuses and infringements.
  • the inner annular face of at least one - preferably of each - additional lower marker is inwardly set back (interval I) with respect to the peripheral end of the lock ring of the neck.
  • Said interval I is the smallest as possible, while enabling the setting up of the cap onto the neck of container, during the bottling, after the filling of the container, on an industrial line.
  • the inner annular face of at least one - preferably of each - additional lower marker is preferably at a minimum interstitial distance d of the facing external face of the neck, said distance being defined as follows, in an increasing order of preference: d ⁇ 3 mm ; d ⁇ 2mm; d ⁇ 1mm; d ⁇ 0,5 mm ; d ⁇ 0,01mm .
  • the invention pertains to a molded plastic screw cap for a neck of a container -preferably a bottle-,
  • the cap according to the invention does not include an in-bore fitment, especially an in-bore non return pouring fitment (one-way valve), which is secured within the container neck and within the cap and which is an additional piece between the cap and the container, so that the lower face of the top wall of the cap is not in sealed contact with the top edge of the edge in the original position of the cap closing the container.
  • an in-bore fitment especially an in-bore non return pouring fitment (one-way valve), which is secured within the container neck and within the cap and which is an additional piece between the cap and the container, so that the lower face of the top wall of the cap is not in sealed contact with the top edge of the edge in the original position of the cap closing the container.
  • the height h 5 of the top ring of the TEB is lower than the height h 11 of the skirt (11), preferably h 5 ⁇ [h 11 / 2]; more preferably h 5 ⁇ [h 11 / 3].
  • the cap comprises comprising at least one lower shoulder which extends inwardly from the inner face of the TEB, and which is intended to come close, and preferably to abut, the top face of a groove of the neck, during the container first opening.
  • a lower shoulder which extends inwardly from the inner face of the TEB, and which is intended to come close, and preferably to abut, the top face of a groove of the neck, during the container first opening.
  • the upper shoulder and/or the lower shoulder is composed of several protusions, which are for instance annularly and regularly distributed.
  • the marks given by the upper markers of said container first opening and by the additional lower markers of said container breaking in are visible to the naked eye.
  • the additional lower markers are mechanically- and/or heat-deformable and include:
  • frangible additional bridges and/or the outwardly - preferably radially- extending ribs are:
  • the bottom and/or the top of said at least one frangible additional bridges comprise(s) a lug which extends outwardly from the lower portion of the TEB and/or from the upper portion of the TEB, each additional bridge being preferably located between a lower lug and an upper lug.
  • the cap includes at least two undercuts, advantageously two diametrally opposed undercuts, each undercut being for instance composed of at least three of the upper lugs and the three corresponding lower lugs, are gathered three by three, at the upper and lower levels, to form a superposed structural protruding unit, which is designed to improve the mechanical performances, said cap preferably comprising two superposed structural protruding units, advantageously diametrically opposed.
  • At least, preferably at least three of the outwardly extending ribs are gathered to form a single structural protruding unit, which is designed to improve the mechanical performances , said cap preferably comprising two single structural protruding units, advantageously diametrically opposed .
  • the bridges of the upper markers and/or the additional bridges of the lower markers are separated from each other by openings which projections on a plane have a shape which is preferably and independently rectangular, trapezoidal or ovoid.
  • a mold cap without openings in the course of the manufacture of the whole cap by compression moulding, rather than by slitting afterwards a mold cap without openings, after the bottling, at least one of said opening being possibly partially closed by a counter-bridge extending upwardly from the bottom from the lower side of the opening or downwardly from the upper side of the opening.
  • the counter-bridges make it possible to hinder crashing of the openings, especially during the setting up of the cap onto the container for closing the filled container, during the bottling.
  • the cap is a plastic molded (e.g. compression, injection) cap, made from thermoplastic material chosen in the group comprising a polyolefin and preferably polypropylene, a High Density PolyEthylene (HDPE), a Low Density PolyEthylene (LDPE), a Linear Low Density PolyEthylene (LLDPE), and mixtures and/or alloys thereof.
  • a plastic molded (e.g. compression, injection) cap made from thermoplastic material chosen in the group comprising a polyolefin and preferably polypropylene, a High Density PolyEthylene (HDPE), a Low Density PolyEthylene (LDPE), a Linear Low Density PolyEthylene (LLDPE), and mixtures and/or alloys thereof.
  • thermoplastic material chosen in the group comprising a polyolefin and preferably polypropylene, a High Density PolyEthylene (HDPE), a Low Density PolyEth
  • the cap according to the invention can further comprise a plurality of ribs extending parallel to the central axis (A) on the outer surface of the skirt of the upper removable part of the cap.
  • the invention concerns a system composed of a screw cap according to at least one of any preceding claims and a container (3) -preferably a bottle-.
  • the disclosure concerns a container -preferably a bottle- or preform for the manufacture by blowing of said container, comprising a neck finish designed to be closed by a cap according to at least one of any preceding claims, said container being preferably made of polyester(s), advantageously, PolyEthyleneTerephtalate (PET) or PolyEthyleneFuranoate (PEF).
  • PET PolyEthyleneTerephtalate
  • PEF PolyEthyleneFuranoate
  • the invention concerns a method for manufacturing a cap (1) according to the invention comprising the steps of:
  • the annular openings between the upper frangible bridges, on the one hand, and the annular openings between the lower frangible bridges, on the other hand are made by means of a tool which slits simultaneously the pre-skirt of the cap at two different heights, or with two tools which slit successively the pre-skirt of the cap, at two different heights.
  • the invention concerns a method for bottling a container -preferably a bottle- with a cap according to the invention comprising the steps of:
  • the disclosure also encompasses, in its sixth aspect not covered by the claimed invention, a method for licitly opening a container -preferably a bottle- filled with a genuine commercial product and closed by the cap according to the invention.
  • Figures 1 , 11 & 6 , 12 represent two embodiments of a screwed cap 1 for closing the opening of a container 3, such as a plastic bottle, adapted to receive a product, and especially a liquid product such as water, optionally flavoured and/or carbonated, soda, fruit juice, milk based liquid product or other.
  • a container 3 such as a plastic bottle
  • a liquid product such as water, optionally flavoured and/or carbonated, soda, fruit juice, milk based liquid product or other.
  • the bottle (3) shown on Figures 4, 4E , 9, 9E , 12 comprises a neck 2 delimiting the opening for pouring the product.
  • the cap 1 presents a symmetry of revolution about a central axis Y and comprises a molded shell which is substantially annular and which is composed of an upper part 4 removable from the neck 2 of the bottle 3, and a lower part 5 non-removable from the neck 2.
  • the removable upper part 4 and the non-removable lower part 5 forms a whole which is snap-fitted by deformation on the neck 2 of the bottle 3, just after the filling of the bottle 3, to close it in the bottling industrial process.
  • the non-removable lower part 5 is a Tamper Evidence Band (TEB) linked to the upper part 4 by frangible connection bridges 13, and the inner face 14 of which presents several inwardly extending shoulders 15, which are annularly distributed.
  • TEB Tamper Evidence Band
  • the TEB 5 comprises a top ring 5 t and a bottom ring 5 b linked to the top ring 5 t by the two annularly and regularly distributed additional frangible bridges 18.
  • frangible bridges 13 and additional frangible bridges 18 are below the top edge 2 t of the neck 2 in the original position.
  • the height h 5 of the top ring 5 t is measured from the top the lower bridges 18 to the top of the upper bridges 13, whereas the height h 11 is between the inner face of the bottom edge 12 of the skirt 11 and the top of the skirt 11 ( Figures 2B , 4E ), corresponding to the diametral plane of the upper face of the top wall 10 of the cap 1. For instance, h 5 ⁇ h 11 /3.
  • the neck 2 has an external face 2° which includes downwardly and successively from the open top end 6: a thread 7, a lock ring 8 having a peripheral end 20 and a support ring 9. Therefore, during the first opening of the bottle by unscrewing of the cap 1, the shoulders 15 of the cap 1 abut the lock ring 8 of the neck 2 which involve the breaking of the frangible connection bridges 13 and the splitting of the upper 4 and lower 5 parts of the cap.
  • the TEB remains on the neck 2 of the bottle 3, as marker of the 1 st opening, whereas the upper part 4 is removed. This latter 4 can be then screwed back again on the neck 2.
  • the broken bridges 13 indicate visually and also at the time of the further unscrewings that the 1 st opening has occurred.
  • FIGS. 13A-13B-13C show the cinematic of a regular 1 st opening by unscrewing of the cap, including the rupture of the frangible connection bridges 13 which enables the removal of the cap (Figure 13D).
  • the cap 1 of the figure 13A is in its closed position, namely its original position.
  • the figure 13B shows an intermediary position of the cap 1, after a partial unscrewing.
  • the shoulders 15 of inner face 14 of the cap 1 abut the lock ring 8.
  • Figure 13C represents the further step wherein the unscrewing has been done further and so as the frangible bridges 13 are broken. After this breakage, the unscrewing goes further till the removal of the cap 1 from the neck 2.
  • Each shoulder 15 of the cap 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention herein described has a slope 15° which extend downwardly and inwardly, with an angle comprised between 10 and 60°, i.a of 30 ° regarding the perpendicular to the axis Y-Y. This slope is close from the slope of the lower edge of the lock ring 8, which is the abutment of the shoulder 15.
  • the upper removable part 4 further 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 lower non-removable part 5 of the cap 1, through the frangible bridges 13.
  • the outer surface of the skirt 11 of the cap 1 according to this first embodiment is the grip part for the cap's unscrewing.
  • the grasping of the cap can be improved by means of a plurality of ribs 35 extending parallel to the central axis Y and equally distributed on the outer surface of the skirt 11, as shown on the variant of figure 11 .
  • the inner face 11 1 of the skirt 11 presents a thread 17 which is designed to cooperate with the complementary thread 7 of the outer face of the bottle's neck 2.
  • 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 the annular seal lip 33.
  • an annular bulge 34 is provided on the outer surface of the free end of the crown 30, and, on the other hand, there is also an annular seal lip 35.
  • a tight attachment of the cap 1 to the neck could be provided in any other suitable manner.
  • the frangible connection bridges 13 are roughly regularly distributed on the circumference of the cap 1, according to the example shown on Figure 4E . Said bridges 13 are separated by openings 24 which projection on plane can be rectangular (see for instance the variant of figure 11 ) or almost rectangular because said opening is partially close by an annular counter-bridge 25, which extends upwardly in the direction Y-Y, as represented on figures 1 , 2A , 2B . According to a non-represented variant, the counter-bridges 25 could extend downwardly form the upper rim of the openings 25.
  • the TEB 5 has also, in addition to the frangible upper markers 13, some additional lower markers formed by annularly and regularly distributed bridges 18 which join a lower portion 40 of the TEB 5 to an upper portion 41.
  • the lower bridges 18 are separated by rectangular (in front view) openings 24 -see Figure11 -, or openings 25 partially closed by rectangular (front view Figures 2A & 2B ) counter-bridges 25. These latter have the same function as their homologs of the upper openings inter upper bridges 13.
  • the TEB 5 not only bears the additional lower markers 18 of breaking in, but is also designed to hinder any breaking in before the first opening.
  • the anti-breaking lower shoulders 16 are advantageously regularly and annularly distributed at the bottom edge of the TEB 5 (see e.g Figure 1 ). It appears on Figures 4E & 5 that the shoulders 16 are housed in a neck's groove 22:
  • each shoulder 16 is advantageously in contact or almost in contact with the back 26 of the neck's groove 26.
  • each shoulder 16 is preferably intended to come close, and for instance to abut, the top face 21 of the groove 22 of the neck 2, during the container 3 first opening.
  • each space between two adjacent shoulders 16 is in line, along an axis parallel to the axis Y-Y of the cap 1-with an additional connection bridge 18, just above placed.
  • the shoulders 16 can be replaced by a single shoulder 16, which would be an inwardly extended ring of axis Y-Y.
  • Figures 1 & 2 show a lug 23° at the bottom and a lug 23 1 at the top of each frangible additional bridges 18 (additional lower markers).
  • These lugs 23 which extend outwardly, respectively, from the lower portion and the upper portion of the TEB 5, act as strengthening pieces of the cap 1 useful for the manufacture and the bottling, but which are not detrimental to the anti-breaking in function of these additional lower markers 18.
  • the cap 1 represented on Figures 1 , 2 , 3D includes two diametrally opposed superposed structural protruding units 23 01 , 23 11 resulting from the gathering of three of the upper lugs 23 1 and three corresponding lower lugs 23°.
  • These protruding units 23 01 , 23 11 are undercuts useful notably as the cap 1 is manufactured by means of slides molds.
  • the cap 1 Before its first opening, the cap 1 according to this first embodiment is protected against illicit opening by means of any tool which can be used to try to remove the whole cap 1, and to possibly commit any offence such as filling offence : the genuine bottle's content is replaced a fake product.
  • Figures 14A and 14B show the marks left either by a tool 50 which the infringer unsuccessfully tried to insert between the TEB 5 of the cap 2 and the bottle's neck 2 (left side of Figures 14A &14B), or by a heating of the cap 1 (right side of Figures 14A &14B).
  • connection bridges 180 are broken off (left side: mechanical breaking in) and/or deformed (right side: thermic breaking in).
  • the cap 1 according to the illustrated second embodiment ( Figures 6 , 7, 7A, 7B , 8, 8C, 8D , 9, 9E , 10 , 12 ), is identical to the cap 1 according to the first embodiment herein above described, except concerning the following points:
  • the single shoulder 15 of the cap 1 according to the second embodiment of the invention herein described has also a slope 15°, as in the first embodiment.
  • the outwardly and radially extending ribs 180 are regularly annularly distributed. They also have a triangular cross section as shown on Figures 6 & 8D . Their height (in the direction parallel to the axis Y-Y of the cap 1) roughly correspond to the height of the lower portion of the TEB 5. These ribs are sensitive to the mechanical and/or thermic action which can be used to unlawfully remove the whole cap 1, before the 1 st opening.
  • Each of the two diametrally opposed single structural protruding units 181 results from the gathering of three ribs 181.
  • These two diametrally opposed protruding units 181 are undercuts useful notably as the cap 1 is manufactured by means of slides molds.
  • the cap 1 Before its first opening, the cap 1 according to this second embodiment is protected against illicit opening by means of any tool which can be used to try to remove the whole cap 1, and to possibly commit any offence such as filling offence : the genuine bottle's content is replaced a fake product.
  • Figures 15A and 15B show the marks left either by a tool 50 which the infringer unsuccessfully tried to insert between the TEB 5 of the cap 2 and the bottle's neck 2 (left side of Figures 15A &15B), or by a heating of the cap 1 (right side of Figures 15 &15B).
  • the cap 1 of Figure 11 comprises 1 st opening upper markers constituted by frangible connection bridges 13 and additional breaking in lower markers constituted, on the one hand, by frangible bridges 18, and on the other hand, by outwardly and radially extending ribs 180.
  • connection bridges 13 and 18 are made slitting a molded pre-cap, and more precisely a pre-skirt 110.
  • the cap 1 of Figure 12 comprises 1 st opening upper markers constituted by frangible connection bridges 13 and additional breaking in lower markers constituted by outwardly and radially extending ribs 180 which height is greater than the height of the marking ribs 180 of the variant of Figure 11 .
  • connection bridges 13 are made by slitting a molded pre-cap, and more precisely a pre-skirt 110.
  • the cap 1 of Figures 11 & 12 has also a plurality of ribs 40 extending parallel to the central axis Y-Y and equally distributed on the outer surface of the skirt 11.
  • the ribs 40 are intended to facilitate the grasping of the cap 1 by the bottling device on the industrial bottling line and by the consumer.
  • the cap 1 it is for instance a thermoplastic polymer such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), whereas for the bottle 3 it can be a thermoplastic polymer such as PET.
  • HDPE high density polyethylene
  • PET thermoplastic polymer
  • the invention also pertains to a system cap 1/bottle 3 such as the one shown on Figures 4 and 9 .
  • the container can be different from a bottle 3. It can be the preform for the manufacture of the bottle injection/blowing molding, as well as the bottle filled and closed by the whole cap 1.
  • the cap according to the invention can be obtained by a compression molding process which leads directly to the cap 1 or by a 2-steps injection molding process, wherein a pre-cap consisting of a shell made of a top-wall and of a pre-skirt is manufactured.
  • the pre-skirt is free from the openings 24, 25 delimiting the connection bridges 18,13. The achievement of these missing elements is then done by slitting the pre-skirt.
  • the invention has been disclosed with a cap 1 presenting a symmetry of revolution with a circular top wall 10, an annular skirt 11 of circular cross-section.
  • the invention is however not limited thereto and the cap 1 could be of any other suitable shape, the top wall 10, the skirt 11 and the double level of markers being adapted accordingly.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Claims (14)

  1. Schraubkappe (1) für einen Hals (2) eines Behälters (3) - vorzugsweise einer Flasche - mit einem oberen Teil (4), der vom Hals (2) abnehmbar ist, und einem unteren Teil (5), der vom Hals (2) nicht abnehmbar ist, wobei der untere, nicht abnehmbare Teil (5) ein Manipulationsschutzband (TEB) ist,
    ➢ wobei der genannte Hals (2) eine Außenfläche (2°) aufweist, die vom offenen oberen Ende (6) aus nach unten und aufeinanderfolgend Folgendes umfasst: mindestens ein Gewinde (7), einen Verschlussring (8) und einen Stützring (9);
    ➢ der obere abnehmbare Teil (4) der Kappe (1) umfasst:
    - einer oberen Wand (10) und
    - eine ringförmige Schürze (11), die sich von der oberen Wand (10) nach unten erstreckt und einen unteren Rand (12) aufweist, der mit dem unteren, nicht abnehmbaren Teil (5) der Kappe (1) verbunden ist, sobald die Kappe (1) nach dem Abfüllen auf dem Hals (2) befestigt ist;
    ➢ wobei das TEB (5)
    - mit dem unteren Rand (12) der Schürze (11) durch ringförmig -vorzugsweise regelmäßig- verteilte zerbrechliche Verbindungsbrücken (13) verbunden ist;
    - mit einer Innenfläche (14), die mindestens eine sich nach innen erstreckende, obere Schulter (15) aufweist, die dazu bestimmt ist, bei der ersten Öffnung des Behälters (3) durch Abschrauben des oberen abnehmbaren Teils (4) der Kappe (1) an dem Verriegelungsring (8) des Halses (2) anzuliegen, wobei die erste Öffnung des Behälters (3) das Brechen der Verbindungsbrücken (13) beinhaltet, die so obere Markierungen (13) der ersten Öffnung des Behälters (3) sind;
    → dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das TEB (5) einerseits die erste zulässige Öffnung des Behälters (3) und andererseits ein eventuelles Aufbrechen des Verschlusses (1) vor der ersten zulässigen Öffnung des Behälters (3) anzeigt;
    → wobei das TEB (5) unterhalb der Markierungen (13) der ersten zulässigen Öffnung des Behälters (3) einige zusätzliche untere Markierungen (18) des Einbrechens der Kappe (1) vor der ersten zulässigen Öffnung des Behälters (3) aufweist.
  2. Schraubkappe (1) nach Anspruch 1, bei der die innere Ringfläche (19) mindestens einer - vorzugsweise jeder - zusätzlichen unteren Markierung (18) gegenüber dem Umfangsende (20) des Verschlussrings (8) nach innen zurückgesetzt ist (Intervall I).
  3. Schraubkappe (1) nach Anspruch 2, wobei die innere Ringfläche (19) mindestens einer - vorzugsweise jeder - zusätzlichen unteren Markierung (18) einen Mindestabstand d von der zugewandten Außenfläche (2°) des Halses (2) hat, wobei dieser Abstand wie folgt definiert ist, in aufsteigender Reihenfolge:
    d≤ 3 mm ; d≤ 2mm ; d≤ 1mm; d ≤ 0,5 mm ; d ≤ 0,01mm .
  4. Schraubkappe (1) nach mindestens einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Markierungen, die durch die oberen Markierungen (13) des sich zuerst öffnenden Behälters (3) und durch die zusätzlichen unteren Markierungen (18) des Behälters (3) gegeben sind, beim Brechen mit dem bloßen Auge erkennbar sind.
  5. Schraubkappe (1) nach mindestens einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, die mindestens eine untere Schulter (16) aufweist, die sich von der Innenfläche (14) des TEB (5) nach innen erstreckt und die dazu bestimmt ist, sich während des ersten Öffnens des Behälters (3) der oberen Fläche (21) einer Nut (22) des Halses (2) anzunähern und vorzugsweise an diese anzustoßen.
  6. Schraubkappe (1) nach Anspruch 5, wobei die obere Schulter (15) und/oder die untere Schulter (16) aus mehreren Vorsprüngen (15, 16) zusammengesetzt ist, die vorteilhafterweise ringförmig und regelmäßig verteilt sind.
  7. Schraubkappe (1) nach mindestens einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die zusätzlichen unteren Markierungen (18, 180) mechanisch und/oder thermisch verformbar sind und umfassen:
    ▪ mindestens eine zerbrechliche zusätzliche Brücke (18), die den unteren Teil des TEB mit dem oberen Teil des TEB verbindet,
    ▪ und/oder mindestens eine sich nach außen, vorzugsweise radial, erstreckende Rippe (180).
  8. Schraubkappe (1) nach Anspruch 5 und gegebenenfalls nach Anspruch 6 oder 7, wobei die zerbrechlichen Zusatzstege (18) und/oder die nach außen - vorzugsweise radial - verlaufenden Rippen (180) sind:
    ▪ ringförmig - vorzugsweise regelmäßig - um das TEB herum verteilt (5),
    ▪ und/oder parallel zur Achse Y-Y der Kappe (1).
  9. Schraubkappe (1) nach Anspruch 5 und gegebenenfalls nach mindestens einem der Ansprüche 6 bis 8, wobei die Unterseite und/oder die Oberseite mindestens einer zerbrechlichen zusätzlichen Brücke (18) der zusätzlichen unteren Markierungen (18) eine Lasche (23) aufweist, die sich von dem unteren Abschnitt des TEB (5) und/oder von dem oberen Abschnitt des TEB (5) nach außen erstreckt, wobei jede zusätzliche Brücke (18) vorzugsweise zwischen einer unteren Lasche (23°) und einer oberen Lasche (23 1) angeordnet ist.
  10. Schraubkappe (1) nach mindestens einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Stege (13) der oberen Markierungen (13) und/oder die zusätzlichen Stege (18) der unteren Markierungen (18) durch Öffnungen (24) voneinander getrennt sind, die in einer Ebene projiziert eine Form aufweisen, die vorzugsweise und unabhängig voneinander rechteckig, trapezförmig oder eiförmig sind, wobei mindestens eine der Öffnungen (24) gegebenenfalls teilweise durch eine Gegenbrücke (25) verschlossen ist, die sich von der Unterseite der Öffnung (24) nach oben vom Boden her oder von der Oberseite der Öffnung (24) nach unten erstreckt.
  11. System bestehend aus einem Schraubverschluss (1) nach mindestens einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche und einem Behälter (3) - vorzugsweise einer Flasche -.
  12. Verfahren zur Herstellung einer Kappe (1) nach mindestens einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, umfassend die Schritte:
    - Gießen in einem Hohlraum einer Form, wobei die Kappe (1) eine obere Wand (10) und eine Vorschürze aufweist;
    - gegebenenfalls Aufschlitzen der Vorschürze, um die ringförmigen Öffnungen (25, 24) herzustellen, die so die zerbrechlichen Brücken (13, 18) erhalten, die die Schürze (11) des abnehmbaren Teils (4) der Kappe (1), den oberen und den unteren Bereich des TEB (5) oder des nicht abnehmbaren Teils (5) der Kappe (1) begrenzen;
    - Entformen der Kappe (1).
  13. Verfahren nach Anspruch 13, bei dem die ringförmigen Öffnungen (25) zwischen den oberen zerbrechlichen Stegen (13) einerseits und die ringförmigen Öffnungen (24) zwischen den unteren zerbrechlichen Stegen (18) andererseits mit einem Werkzeug, das die Vorschürze der Kappe (1) gleichzeitig auf zwei verschiedenen Höhen schlitzt, oder mit zwei Werkzeugen, die die Vorschürze der Kappe (1) nacheinander auf zwei verschiedenen Höhen schlitzen, hergestellt werden.
  14. Verfahren zum Abfüllen eines Behälters (3) - vorzugsweise einer Flasche - mit einer Kappe (1) nach mindestens einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, umfassend die Schritte::
    - Bereitstellen eines Behälters (3) - vorzugsweise einer Flasche -;
    - Füllen des Behälters (3) mit einer Flüssigkeit;
    - Versehen der Kappe (1) mit einer Vorschürze;
    - Verschließen des Behälters mit der Kappe (1);
    - gegebenenfalls Aufschlitzen der Vorschürze, um die ringförmigen Öffnungen (25, 24) zu schaffen, so dass die zerbrechlichen Brücken (13, 18) entstehen;
    - Verpacken des geschlossenen Behälters (3).
EP16788797.5A 2016-09-23 2016-09-23 Doppelte originalitätsverschlusskappe für einen hals eines behälters, system mit besagter kappe und behälter und verfahren zur herstellung der besagten kappe Active EP3515829B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IB2016/001555 WO2018055429A1 (en) 2016-09-23 2016-09-23 Double tamper evidence cap for a neck of a container, system including said cap and a container and method for manufacturing said cap

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EP3515829A1 EP3515829A1 (de) 2019-07-31
EP3515829B1 true EP3515829B1 (de) 2022-01-26

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EP (1) EP3515829B1 (de)
CN (1) CN109890708B (de)
ES (1) ES2911700T3 (de)
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DE102018218552A1 (de) * 2018-10-30 2020-04-30 Josef Müller Flaschenverschluss zum axialen aufstecken auf einen mündungsbereich einer flasche sowie flasche mit einem mündungsbereich zum axialen aufstecken eines flaschenverschlusses
ES2951519T3 (es) 2019-09-30 2023-10-23 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Conjunto de cierre para un recipiente y un recipiente que tiene un conjunto de cierre
FR3101617B1 (fr) * 2019-10-03 2022-03-25 Sa Des Eaux Minerales D’Evian Et En Abrege S A E M E Objet a tenir par un utilisateur, comprenant une coque et une bouteille
US20230399150A1 (en) * 2019-10-17 2023-12-14 Csp Technologies, Inc. Bottle screw caps and methods for making and using same
JP7494638B2 (ja) * 2020-08-06 2024-06-04 Ｔｏｐｐａｎホールディングス株式会社 射出成形体の製造方法並びにヒンジキャップ及びタンパーエビデンスキャップ
WO2024197380A1 (en) * 2023-03-24 2024-10-03 Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. Closures and mold assemblies for making closures

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US4706828A (en) * 1986-09-19 1987-11-17 Kardon Industries Tamper resistant cap
US4771923A (en) * 1987-11-03 1988-09-20 Kardon Industries, Inc. Tamper evidencing cap
US4984701A (en) * 1986-09-24 1991-01-15 Alplast S.P.A. Tamper-evident closure
US5676269A (en) * 1995-03-22 1997-10-14 Closures And Packaging Services Limited Tamper-evident closure with captive band

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US4572387A (en) * 1985-03-01 1986-02-25 Sunbeam Plastics Corporation Screw-type safety cap
GB0503623D0 (en) * 2005-02-22 2005-03-30 Camlab Ltd Secure sample collection
NZ600144A (en) 2009-11-27 2014-07-25 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Lid having a break line
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US4706828A (en) * 1986-09-19 1987-11-17 Kardon Industries Tamper resistant cap
US4984701A (en) * 1986-09-24 1991-01-15 Alplast S.P.A. Tamper-evident closure
US4771923A (en) * 1987-11-03 1988-09-20 Kardon Industries, Inc. Tamper evidencing cap
US5676269A (en) * 1995-03-22 1997-10-14 Closures And Packaging Services Limited Tamper-evident closure with captive band

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN109890708A (zh) 2019-06-14
ES2911700T3 (es) 2022-05-20
WO2018055429A1 (en) 2018-03-29
CN109890708B (zh) 2020-12-25
EP3515829A1 (de) 2019-07-31
PL3515829T3 (pl) 2022-07-18

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