FR3080610A1 - BOTTLE CONTAINING A LIQUID TO BE DRINK, IN PARTICULAR AN EFFERVESCENT LIQUID, COMPRISING A OVERLAYING CAP AND A SLEEVE SLEEVE - Google Patents

Abstract

The bottle comprises a bottle body 12 containing a liquid to be drunk, especially an effervescent liquid, and provided with a neck 14, a plug 16 for closing said neck and a cap 20 covering said cap and at least in part said neck . The bottle further comprises a covering sleeve 22 mounted around said neck 14 and at least partially covering said cap 20. Said covering sleeve has a through opening 44 extending over at least part of its height from a face front 22a upper of said sleeve.

Description

Bottle containing a drinking liquid, in particular an effervescent liquid, comprising an overcap and a covering sleeve

The present invention relates to the field of bottles containing drinking liquids, in particular effervescent drinking liquids.

A particularly interesting application of the invention relates to bottles of Champagne wines.

Conventionally, a bottle containing such an effervescent drink is equipped with a retaining cap to prevent the expulsion of the stopper under the pressure of the liquid contained inside the bottle.

The muselet is generally made up of metallic wires intended to come into abutment against the head part of the stopper and includes vertical branches connected to a belt which is twisted until it comes to tighten under a collar fastening ring. of bottle. Once twisted, the belt shows locally a so-called uncorking loop.

Generally, such a bottle also includes a cap conventionally called overcapping cap which covers both the stopper, the muselet and the neck of the bottle. This cap does not participate in the corking of the bottle and is only intended to contribute to the dressing and to the improvement of the aesthetics of the bottle. The cap is generally provided with tear lines to facilitate the removal of the upper part of this cap and to then be able to remove the muselet for uncorking the bottle. The upper part of the cap can also fulfill the function of supporting a tax stamp linked to the legislation on the marketing of wines.

The lower part of the cap, which is located below the tear lines, remains in place on the bottle and generally has decorative elements or advertising information, for example brands, logos, etc.

The lower part of the cap generally has folds. Indeed, before installing the cap which initially has a cone shape, it is necessary that this lower part is sufficiently open to allow the passage of the assembly formed by the plug and the wire cap. This then involves during the installation of shrinking by pleating the lower part of the cap so that it comes to follow the shape of the bottle, which generates the formation of folds which are generally four in number.

Such pleating of the lower part of the cap significantly limits the decorative or information elements that may be provided on it, both graphically taking into account the four distinct planes formed by the folds and structurally taking into account the design of this lower part.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

The subject of the invention is a bottle comprising a bottle body containing a drinking liquid, in particular an effervescent liquid, and provided with a neck, a stopper closing said neck, and a cap covering said stopper and at least partially said neck. .

According to a general characteristic, the bottle also comprises a covering sleeve mounted around said neck and covering at least partially said cap. The covering sleeve has a through opening extending over at least part of the height of the sleeve from an upper front face of said sleeve.

By "through opening" is meant an opening made through the radial thickness of the covering sleeve. Considering the cross section of the sleeve at the opening, this section is not continuous in the circumferential direction. By "radial" direction is meant a direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bottle.

The through opening of the sleeve can have any type of shape. The passage section of the opening can be constant or variable along its length.

The covering sleeve is an independent and separate element from the overcapping cap which can therefore be mounted on the neck of the bottle body after the capping and removing the cap operations. The opening gives the covering sleeve a radial elasticity which enables it to be mounted on the bottle body already fitted with the cap. It is therefore not necessary to provide a modification of the conventional bottling lines for the mounting of the covering sleeve.

The open covering sleeve can carry decorative and / or informative elements. These elements can have all kinds of dimensions, thicknesses and exterior and / or interior shapes. The decorative and / or information elements of the covering sleeve can replace those conventionally provided on the cap, or even supplement these.

These elements of information and / or decoration of the covering sleeve can be advertising information, information relating to the liquid contained, brands, logos, coats of arms, etc., intended to be visible to the purchaser of the bottle. These elements can be attached to the covering sleeve or be made in one piece, i.e. made in one piece, with the sleeve. The decorative function of the covering sleeve can also be based on the particular aspect of it thanks to its shape, color, etc.

It is also possible to provide a security function for the covering sleeve by having an electronic chip which, unless deactivation or neutralization by appropriate means, triggers for example an alarm when passing the detectors installed at the outlet of the store, or even an electronic chip allowing the identification of the bottle. The cover sleeve may also include a light emission source, for example an LED. The covering sleeve can therefore have a decorative, and / or informative and / or security function.

Preferably, the covering sleeve is removably mounted around said neck. In other words, the covering sleeve is not integral with the bottle body or the cap. Once the liquid in the bottle has been consumed, the covering sleeve can be removed from the bottle body and stored or used, for example, for decorative purposes.

In a particular embodiment, the covering sleeve extends axially beyond the free end of the cap. By "axial" direction is meant a direction which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bottle.

Thus, the folds of the overcap can be completely masked by the covering sleeve. Alternatively, it remains possible to provide a covering sleeve which remains axially set back from the free end of the cap.

In order to facilitate its mounting on the bottle body, the covering sleeve can be deformable. The deformability of the sleeve can be obtained depending on the material used and / or the size of said sleeve.

According to a particular design, the opening extends over the entire height of the covering sleeve. This arrangement facilitates the mounting and dismounting of the sleeve on the neck of the bottle body.

According to an alternative design, the opening may however extend only over part of the height of the covering sleeve.

In a particular embodiment, the covering sleeve comprises holding means for maintaining the relative position of the edges of the opening. The holding means can be made in one piece with the sleeve or be attached to it. The holding means may be provided to hold the edges of the opening contiguous over at least part of the length of said opening, or on the contrary to keep these edges apart over the entire length of the opening.

So as to reduce shocks or slipping, the bore of the covering sleeve may be covered at least in part with a damping coating, and / or with a non-slip coating, for example made of elastomer, silicone, foam, double-sided foam, etc.

When the bottle body contains an effervescent liquid, the bottle also comprises a device for holding the stopper in the neck of the bottle body provided with a means of attachment to a counter-ring of said neck, the cap covering at least in part of the holding device. In this case, the covering sleeve is mounted axially below the attachment means of the holding device.

According to a first design, the holding device comprises a wire cap comprising a belt tightened on the neck of the bottle body and coming to bear against the counter-ring of said neck. The belt then forms the attachment means.

The operation of placing the wire cap on the bottle cap remains unchanged compared to a conventional bottle devoid of such a covering sleeve. Furthermore, the opening of the muzzle by the consumer with a view to uncorking is also carried out in a strictly identical manner to the opening of a conventional bottle.

According to a second design, the plug holding device comprises a staple, the free ends of the staple bearing against the collar counter-ring and forming the attachment means. According to a third design, the muselet can be replaced by one or more strings also comprising a belt bearing against the collar against the ring.

In order to facilitate the uncorking of the bottle, the cap may include weakening means for tearing the latter. In this case, the covering sleeve is mounted axially below the weakening means.

According to a particular design, the weakening means comprise at least two tear lines or perforations delimiting between them on the cap a tear strip. Alternatively, it is possible to provide a single line of perforations. It is also possible to provide other designs for the weakening means, for example a succession of alternating reliefs and hollows on the cap.

In an advantageous embodiment, the covering sleeve is held on the neck of the bottle body by tightening said sleeve against the cap. The mounting of the covering sleeve on the bottle body is thus carried out without the use of additional means, such as glues or adhesives. In the alternative embodiment in which the covering sleeve remains axially set back from the free end of the cap, the sleeve is advantageously held on the neck of the bottle body by tightening said sleeve against the cap and against said bottle body .

In a particular embodiment, the covering sleeve can be at least partially perforated to reveal the cap.

The present invention will be better understood on studying the detailed description of embodiments, taken by way of non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial view of a bottle according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention,

- Figure 2 is a partial view of the bottle of Figure 1 after removal of the upper part of a cap,

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of covering sleeves according to exemplary embodiments of the invention,

FIGS. 5 and 6 are partial views of bottles according to other exemplary embodiments of the invention, and

- Figures 7 to 9 are perspective views of cover sleeves according to still other embodiments of Γ invention.

In Figures 1 and 2 is shown a bottle 10, of axis XX 'longitudinal, in a supposedly vertical position. The bottle 10 contains, for example, an effervescent or gaseous drinking liquid, in particular Champagne wine.

The bottle 10 comprises a body 12 of the bottle containing the liquid to be drunk and provided with a neck 14, a stopper 16 closing off the neck 14, a wire cap 18 mounted on the stopper and tightened on said neck, and a cap 20 of overcapping covering the plug 16 and a part of the body 12.

The term "overcapping cap" means a cap which does not participate in the corking of the bottle 10.

As will be described in more detail below, the bottle 10 also comprises an open covering sleeve 22 which is mounted on the neck 14 of the bottle body and which partly covers the cap 20. The covering sleeve 22 forms a separate element separate from the cap 16, the cap 20 and the wire cap 18. The covering sleeve 22 is removably mounted on the neck 14 of the bottle body.

The bottle body 12 is closed at its lower end (not visible) by a bottom which is extended axially upwards by a barrel and then by the neck 14, the upper open end of which is closed by the stopper 16. The body part 12 of the bottle located between the barrel and the neck 14 is conventionally called the shoulder. The bottle body 12 can be made of glass or also of plastic.

In a manner known per se, the cap 16 comprises an upper head part 24 projecting and projecting from the neck 14 of the bottle body, and a closure part (not visible) extending this head part and inserted into the neck. The plug 16 can be made of cork or synthetic material.

The wire cap 18 allows the stopper 16 to be held in the neck 14 of the bottle body. The wire 18 is mounted on the head portion 24 of the plug. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the wire cap 18 comes to bear on the head portion 24 of the stopper by means of a plate 26 of the bottle wire cap. The wire plate 26 may be made of metallic material or of synthetic material by molding or thermoforming. Alternatively, the bottle 10 may not include the wire plate, the wire 18 then being mounted to bear directly against the head portion 24 of the cap.

The wire 18 is made from metal wires. The muselet 18 comprises branches 28 substantially vertical, here four in number, and a belt 30 surrounding the neck 14 of the bottle body and on which are hung the lower ends of the branches. The belt 30 of the muselet is located axially below a counter-ring 32 of the neck of the bottle body. The belt 30 comes to bear axially against the lower surface of the counter-ring 32.

The belt 30 of the muselet is twisted until it comes to tighten on the neck 14 of the bottle body. Once twisted, the belt 30 shows locally a loop 34 called uncorking. The loop 34 is here folded so as to extend upwards along the neck 14 of the bottle body as illustrated in the figures.

In a manner known per se, the cap 20 can for example be made of metallic material, in particular aluminum or tin, or also of heat-shrinkable plastic material, of wax. Alternatively, the cap 20 can be obtained by molding a flexible elastic synthetic material, in particular a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The cap 20 is made in one piece.

The cap 20 covers the wire plate 26, the cap 16, the wire 18 and the neck 14 of the bottle body. The cap 20 covers the neck 14 from the rim against which the plug 16 abuts up to the part of the neck located below the belt 30 of the muselet. The cap 20 also partially covers the shoulder of the bottle body 12. Before installation, the cap 20 is in the form of a truncated cone closed at its upper end and open at its lower end. The upper end of the cap 20 covers the plug 16 and the lower end of the latter covers the part of the neck 14 located below the belt 30 of the wire cap.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, a window 36 is provided in the thickness of the cap to allow the passage of the loop 34 for unclogging the wire cap. Alternatively, it is possible to provide that the cap 20 also covers the unclogging loop 34.

In order to easily provide for tearing and removing the upper part 20a of the cap with a view to uncorking the bottle 10, the latter comprises two lower perforation lines 38 and upper 40 delimiting between them a tear strip 42. The perforation lines 38 , 40 of the cap are substantially parallel, the perforations 38, 40 of each line being spaced relative to each other in the circumferential direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the perforation lines 38, 40 are horizontal. Alternatively, part of these lines could be tilted.

The perforation lines 38, 40 are arranged so as to completely uncover the muselet 18 after removal of the upper part 20a of the cap. The upper line of perforations 40 is located here at the level of the counter-ring 32 of the neck of the bottle body. As a variant, it is possible to provide other arrangements for a line of upper perforations 40, for example at the level of the head portion of the plug 16.

The lower perforation line 38 of the cap axially delimits the upper part 20a of the cap intended to be removed from the bottle of the lower part 20b of said cap which remains on the body 12 of the bottle. In order to promote the obtaining of a clear break in the lower line of perforations 38, the upper part 20a of the cap may include axial grooves (not shown).

As indicated above, the covering sleeve 22 mounted around the neck 14 of the bottle body partially covers the cap 20. The covering sleeve 22 covers the lower part 20b of the cap.

The covering sleeve 22 is mounted on the neck 14 axially at a distance from the counter-ring 32 from the neck of the bottle body. The covering sleeve 22 is mounted axially below the belt 30 of the wire cap and the lower perforation line 38 of the cap. The covering sleeve 22 here extends axially beyond the lower free end of the cap 20.

As indicated previously, the covering sleeve 22 is open. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening of the sleeve is in the form of a slot 44. The slot 44 of the sleeve extends over the entire axial height of the covering sleeve 22. The slot 44 is through, i.e. made in the entire radial thickness of the sleeve. The covering sleeve 22 therefore has an open tubular shape.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the slot 44 extends axially along the covering sleeve 22. Alternatively, it is possible to provide a slot 44 which extends obliquely along the sleeve 22, i.e. both in an axial direction and in a radial direction.

The slot 44 of the covering sleeve is delimited in the circumferential direction by two opposite edges 44a, 44b. In the illustrated embodiment, the edges 44a, 44b of the slot are non-contiguous, i.e. separated from each other, over the entire length thereof, by a non-zero distance. As an indication, the space separating the edges 44a, 44b of the slot can for example be between 1 cm and 2 cm. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the space separating the edges 44a, 44b increases along the slot 44 taking into account the curve of the shoulder of the body of the bottle 12. As a variant, it is possible to provide that the space between the edges 44a, 44b varies differently along the slot 44.

The covering sleeve 22 is axially delimited by two opposite front faces 22a upper and 22b lower. The upper front face 22a of the sleeve is located axially opposite the counter-ring 32 of the neck of the bottle body. The lower front face 22b is oriented axially on the side of the bottom of the bottle body 12. The slot 44 of the sleeve extends axially from the upper front face 22a to the lower front face 22b.

The covering sleeve 22 is delimited radially by an outer surface 22c and an opposite inner surface (not referenced) forming a bore. The through slot 44 opens radially into the bore of the sleeve and onto the outer surface 22c. The outer surface 22c of the covering sleeve here has a general flared shape substantially in concordance with the curve of the shoulder of the bottle body 12. Alternatively, the outer surface 22c of the sleeve can have other shapes.

The bore of the covering sleeve 22 is mounted radially in contact against the cap 20, more precisely against the lower part 20b of the cap, and against the body 12 of the bottle. The covering sleeve 22 is held on the bottle body 12 by tightening the sleeve against the cap 20 and against the shoulder of the bottle body 12. The slot 44 of the covering sleeve gives it a radial elasticity which makes it possible to obtain this tightening by compressing the sleeve radially.

To mount the covering sleeve 22 on the body 12 of the bottle, the sleeve is radially deformed to increase its internal diameter by spreading the edges 44a, 44b of the slot. The covering sleeve 22 is deformed so that it can be mounted around the neck 14 of the bottle body. Then, the covering sleeve 22 is tightened against the cap 20 and against the bottle body 12 by exerting a radial compression towards the inside so as to bring the edges 44a, 44b of the slot. These operations can be performed manually.

In order to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the covering sleeve 22 on the neck 14 of the bottle body, the sleeve can be made of a deformable material. By way of example, the sleeve 22 can for example be made of metallic material, in particular tin, aluminum, zamak, or else of synthetic material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, silicone, etc.

As indicated above, the covering sleeve 22 can carry on the external surface 22c, or even on its bore, information and / or decoration elements. FIGS. 3 and 4 are shown purely by way of indication of examples of decorations which may be provided, in this case circumferential ribs projecting from the outer surface 22c and patterns in the form of through stars piercing the covering sleeve 22. Of course, other types of decorative elements and / or information elements can be provided.

In an alternative embodiment, it is possible to provide, in the lower part of the covering sleeve 22 which has an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the counter-ring 32 of the neck of the bottle body, a portion with an internal diameter less than the external diameter the part of the body of the bottle covered by this portion. Thus, this portion of the covering sleeve 22 is tightened on the body of the bottle.

In the previous exemplary embodiments, the covering sleeve 22 comprises an opening in the form of a slot 44 extending over the entire height of said sleeve. Alternatively, it is possible to provide on the covering sleeve 22 a slot 44 of reduced length as illustrated in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, or an opening 46 of different shape and also of reduced length as illustrated in the example in FIG. 6. In these two figures, the identical elements have the same references.

In these examples, the slot 44, respectively the opening 46, extends axially from the upper front face 22a of the covering sleeve without, however, opening onto the lower front face 22b. The slot 44, respectively the opening 46, extends to the area of the covering sleeve 22 having an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the counter-ring of the neck of the bottle body and the external diameter of the stopper. Thus, the open covering sleeve 22 can easily pass around this counter-ring and be threaded onto the neck of the bottle body.

In the example of FIG. 5, the circumferential dimension of the slot 44 gradually decreases from the upper front face 22a of the covering sleeve. In the example of FIG. 6, the through opening 46 comprises a first part extending axially from the upper front face 22a of the sleeve and having a small circumferential dimension, and a second part extending this first part and having a circumferential dimension. higher. Similarly to the slot 44, the opening 46 is delimited in the circumferential direction by two edges 46a, 46b opposite. The edges 46a, 46b are here non-contiguous over the entire length of the opening 46. The first part of the opening leaves on the sleeve 22 covering two flaps 48, 50 coming to tighten on the cap 20 after mounting on the neck 14 of the bottle body. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the flaps 48, 50 are spaced from one another. Alternatively, the flaps could be joined.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, on which the identical elements bear the same references, the covering sleeve 22 comprises holding means 52, 54 made of material to maintain the relative position of the edges of the opening 44. The holding means 52, 54 are here in the form of two pairs of catching tabs, each pair of tabs projecting from one of the edges 44a, 44b of the opening in the direction of the tabs the other pair. Alternatively, it is possible to provide a sleeve comprising attached and removable retaining means 56, 58 as illustrated in the variant embodiments of FIGS. 8 and 9 in which the identical elements bear the same references. Such attached and removable holding means may for example be in the form of elastic bands, laces, paper strips, etc.

The invention was illustrated on the basis of a bottle containing an effervescent drink, of the Champagne wine type, and equipped with a muselet. The invention is also applicable to a bottle containing a still wine and devoid of the muzzle. In this case, the covering sleeve can come to bear against the ring of the bottle neck or remain at a distance from this ring.

Claims (15)

1. Bottle comprising a bottle body (12) containing a drinking liquid, in particular an effervescent liquid, and provided with a neck (14), a stopper (16) closing off said neck and a cap (20) covering said stopper and at least partly said neck, characterized in that it further comprises a covering sleeve (22) mounted around said neck (14) and covering at least partly said cap (20), the covering sleeve having a through opening (44; 46) extending over at least part of its height from an upper front face (22a) of said sleeve. 2. Bottle according to claim 1, in which the covering sleeve (22) is removably mounted around said neck (14). 3. Bottle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the covering sleeve (22) extends axially beyond the free end of the cap (20). 4. Bottle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the covering sleeve (22) is deformable. 5. Bottle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the opening (44; 46) extends over the entire height of the covering sleeve. 6. Bottle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the covering sleeve (22) comprises holding means (52; 54; 56; 58) for maintaining the relative position of the edges (44a, 44b; 46a, 46b) of the opening. 7. Bottle according to claim 6, wherein the holding means (56; 58) are attached to said covering sleeve (22) and removable. 8. Bottle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the bore of the covering sleeve (22) is covered at least in part with a damping coating and / or with a non-slip coating. 9. Bottle according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a device for holding (18) the cap in the neck (14) of the bottle body provided with a hooking means (30) on a counter ring. (32) of said neck, the cap (20) at least partially covering the holding device (18). 10. Bottle according to claim 9, in which the covering sleeve (22) is mounted axially below the attachment means (30) of the holding device. 11. Bottle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the cap (20) comprises weakening means (38, 40) for tearing said cap, the covering sleeve (22) being mounted axially in- below the weakening means. 12. Bottle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the covering sleeve (22) is held on the neck (14) of the bottle body by tightening said sleeve against the cap (20), or by tightening said sleeve against said cap and against said bottle body. 13. Bottle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the covering sleeve (22) is at least partially perforated revealing the cap (20). 14. Bottle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the covering sleeve (22) comprises decorative elements and / or information elements produced in one piece with said sleeve. 15. Bottle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the covering sleeve (22) comprises an electronic chip and / or a light emission source.