GB2457813A

GB2457813A - Bottle closure system

Info

Publication number: GB2457813A
Application number: GB0903218A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean-Pierre Trescartes
Original assignee: SEGEDE
Current assignee: SEGEDE
Priority date: 2008-02-26
Filing date: 2009-02-25
Publication date: 2009-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 2029-02-25
Also published as: GB2457813B; FR2927884B1; FR2927884A1; GB0903218D0

Abstract

The system comprises a tubular insert made of an elastically deformable material, eg plastic, which is open at both ends. At the upper end it has an inwardly extending lip 6 and at the lower end it has an annular rib 7 on the inner lateral surface, the rib being closer to the lower end in order to engage the shoulder of a bottle neck when it is force fitted thereon. The insert is further provided with a vertical rib (8, Fig.2) on the inner surface and a vertical groove 10 on the same location on the outer surface. The system is completed with a tubular band or sleeve 11, preferably made of metal or alloy, which has also an inwardly extending lip 13 and vertical rib (12, Fig.2) formed on the inner surface which is arranged to mate with the groove 10 of the insert. In use the insert is force fitted onto the neck of a bottle and rib 8 is arranged to mate with a vertical groove 4 on the neck of the bottle. Then, the tubular band is force fitted over the insert, with rib 12 mating with groove 10. The length of the band is such that it extends below the insert in order to cover it.

Description

NON-DISMANTLABLE CONTAINER

The present invention relates to containers and particularly those in the form of bottles, carafes, vials, flasks or other containers made of glass, crystal or high-quality materials, these materials being encompassed in the prcscnt specification by the term "glass", and intended to hold expensive products such as perfumes or spirits.

It is desirable to give these containers an attractive appearance, notably by decorating the neck with a band of gold-or silver-coloured metal. The band may also be a neck ring or collar for the top of a carafe. This may be produced by gluing the band.

However, applying adhesive in the restricted space between the neck of the container and the band is a tricky, time-consuming and expensive operation.

The invention enables the band to be put into position while ensuring that the band cannot be removed from the neck of the container, but without the use of adhesive.

The invention thus relates to a one-piece tubular insert, open at both ends, made of an elastically deformable material, having an inward lip at one end. The inner lateral surface of the insert has an annular rib which is closer to the other end than to the end comprising the lip.

This insert is force-fitted onto the neck of a container until the rib lodges under an outer annular shoulder of the neck, then a metal band with a vertical length such that it goes past the rib is force-fitted onto the insert.

In this way, a container is obtained, formed by a body made of glass or another quality material, as mentioned hereinbefore, onto the neck of which an insert is force-fitted until its lip comes to bear on the rim of the neck, the insert being of the type according to the invention. The rib is held under an outer annular shoulder of the neck and the lower edge of a band force-fitted onto the insert extends downwards beyond the level of the rib.

The insert is thus held, on the one hand, by the cooperation of the shoulder and the rib and, on the other hand, by the fact that the band grips the part of the insert comprising the rib, pushing it back towards the neck. The insert is prevented from being removed upwardly and is prevented from being removed laterally. The band that tightly grips the insert cannot be detached from it. The top of the container, surrounding the neck and consisting of the insert and the band, therefore cannot be removed from the high-quality container.

Preferably, the neck of the bottle comprises a groove extending parallel to its axis, the inner lateral surface of the insert comprises a rib mating with this groove, hence perpendicular to the lip, and the outer surface of the insert in turn comprises a groove perpendicular to the lip, mating with a rib provided on the inner surface of the band.

Preferably, this groove and this rib of the insert are provided at the same place.

Thanks to these grooves and ribs on the neck, the insert and the band, these three elements are prevented from rotating relative to one another. This also helps to render the assembly non-dismantlable.

The insert is preferably made from a flexible food-grade plastics material, notably polypropylene, preferably containing an added 10 to 50 % by weight, preferably 20 to 40 % by weight, of a food-grade elastomer.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a container according to the invention, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view corresponding to Figure 1 but from below, Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views illustrating the process according to the invention.

The container shown in the drawings comprises a body I having a neck 2 at the bottom of which is provided an outer annular shoulder 3. On the outer surface of the neck 2 is formed a groove 4 which extends vertically when the container is standing on a horizontal support. The container has a rim 5.

The container further comprises a one-piece tubular insert open at both ends made of polypropylene to which 30% by weight of an elastomer has been added, having an inward lip 6 at one end and a rib 7 on the inner lateral surface, which is closer to the other end than to the end having the lip. A rib 8 is provided on the inner surface of the insert, so as to correspond to the groove 4, the width of the ribS being slightly less than that of the groove 4 and the same length.

On the lateral outer surface of the insert a groove 10 is provided at the same place as the rib 8. The groove 10 is parallel to the rib 8 and extends over the same length. 15)

The container further comprises a band 11 of Zamak (zinc aluminium alloy) having an inwardly facing lip 13 at one end and having on its inner lateral surface a rib 12 mating with the groove 10, the rib 12 being slightly smaller than the groove 10, so as to be able to fit into it.

To produce the container, the insert is force-fitted onto the neck 2 as shown in Figure 3 until the rib 7 lodges under the shoulder 3 and until the lip 6 comes into contact with the rim 5. Then the band 11 is force-fitted onto the insert under pressure, the band 11 having a length such that it goes past the rib 7 and such that the lower edge of the band extends beyond the level of the rib 7 and thus holds it in position counter to all lateral forces, i.e. perpendicularly to the axis of the neck, as shown in Figure 4.

Claims

CLAIMSI. A one-piece tubular insert open at both ends, made of an elastically deformable material and having an inward lip at one of its ends, characterised by an annular rib on the inner lateral surface which is closer to the other end than to the end having the lip.
2. An insert as claimed in claim I, characterised by a rib perpendicular to the lip and formed on the inner lateral surface.
3. An insert as claimed in claim 2, characterised by a groove perpendicular to the lip and provided on the lateral outer surface of the insert at the same place as the rib which is perpendicular to the lip.
4. A container formed by a glass body, onto the neck of which an insert is force-fitted until its lip comes to bear on the rim of the neck, characterised in that the insert is as claimed in any of claims 1,2 or 3, and wherein the annular rib is held under an outer annular shoulder of the neck and the lower edge of a band force-fitted onto the insert extends downwards beyond the level of the rib.
5. A container as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the insert is as claimed in claim 3, the neck comprises a groove mating with the rib which is perpendicular to the edge of the insert and the band comprises a rib mating with the groove which is provided on the outer lateral surface of the insert.
6. A method of manufacturing a container formed from a glass body, an insert and a metal band, characterised in that the following steps are carried out successively: -an insert as claimed in any of claims 1, 2 or 3 is force-fitted onto the neck of the glass body until the rib lodges under an outer annular shoulder on the neck, and -the metal band, having a vertical length such that it extends past the rib, is force-fitted onto the insert.
7. An insert substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the drawings.
8. A container substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows:CLAIMS1. A one-piece tubular insert open at both ends, made of an elastically deformable material and having an inward lip at one of its ends, wherein the insert comprises an annular rib on the inner lateral surface which is closer to the other end than to the end having the lip, a rib perpendicular to the lip and formed on the inner lateral surface, and a groove perpendicular to the lip and provided on the lateral outer surface of the insert at the same place as the rib which is perpendicular to the lip.2. A container formed by a glass body, onto the neck of which an insert is force-fitted until its lip comes to bear on the rim of the neck, wherein the insert is as claimed in claim I and wherein the annular rib is held under an outer annular shoulder of the neck and the lower edge of a band force-fitted onto the insert extends downwards beyond the level of the rib.3. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the insert is as claimed in claim 1, the neck comprises a groove mating with the rib which is perpendicular to the edge of the insert and the band comprises a rib mating with the groove which is provided on the outer lateral surface of the insert.4. A method of manufacturing a container formed from a glass body, an insert and a metal band, wherein the following steps are carried Out successively: -an insert as claimed in claim I is force-fitted Onto the neck of the glass body until the rib lodges under an outer annular shoulder on the neck, and -the metal band, having a vertical length such that it extends past the rib, is * *** force-fitted onto the insert. * * * S... * .5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rib of the insert which is perpendicular to the lip mates with a groove on the glass body.6. A method as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein a rib provided on the inner surface of the band mates with the groove provided on the insert.I7. An insert substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the drawings.8. A container substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the drawings. Sa * S S *S * * *SS a * 565 a. * S * ala S. * * * ** * * S * * 5.