KR20120027261A - Tamper-proof insert for liquid containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an in-bore insert suitable for use in the mouth of the neck 60 of a liquid container. The in-bore insert includes a tubular portion 26 suitable for insertion into the neck 60 of the container and a tamper-evidence member 16 suitable for insertion into the neck of the container, wherein the tamper-evidence member includes: It is movable relative to the tubular portion 26 between an initial position before the container is first opened and an operating position indicating that the container is first opened.

Description

TAMPER-PROOF INSERT FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS}

The present invention relates in particular to innovative closures for beverage bottles or similar liquid containers.

In the art, closures are disclosed which allow for application to the mouth of a neck of a bottle, for example a beverage bottle.

A closure of this type is disclosed in EP 1585684.

This patent discloses a closure provided with a non-refill device for insertion into the neck of a bottle. The refillable device includes a ball valve to prevent the bottle from being emptied and subsequently refilled, for example in a supermarket or store.

The closure also includes an outlet member provided with an outlet opening for the liquid and a cap (or closure member) screwed onto the outlet member to close the bottle. It also includes an outer sleeve provided with means for securing the closure to the neck of the bottle.

Moreover, the closure includes a tamper-evident element made of a suitable disk located inside the neck of the bottle. After the disc is first opened it is possible to move between the raised initial position and the lowered position, indicating that the bottle has been opened at least once. The disc is connected via the arm to the ball of the valve of the refillable device. Before opening for the first time, the ball is held in an elevated position through means for holding the closure. When the bottle is in the reference vertical position, when the cap is removed from the bottle, the ball is freed from the retaining means and dropped to occupy the seat of the valve on the bottom of the refillable device, lowering the tamper-evidential disc into the operating position. Can be kept on.

According to this prior art, since the tamper-evidence member 16 is disposed in the bottle, it is possible to reliably indicate whether the bottle is initially opened, and the bottle cannot be easily touched because the user is inaccessible. (tamper).

While this prior art is done, however, it involves a series of problems.

In particular, the ball of the valve is made of one part with a tamper-evidence member. This part is somewhat complicated and made of plastic. Thus, the quality of the refillable device is, for example, lower than that of conventional valves with glass balls that have a certain weight and ensure greater and more reliable operability.

Plastic refillable devices are also easily accessible. The closure also has a specific bulk in the axial direction of the bottle, as the tamper-evidence member projects below the refillable device.

In order to keep the tamper-evidential disk in a hidden position before it is first opened, it is necessary to have an outer sleeve with a particular extension on the neck of the bottle.

In view of the above description, it is an object of the present invention to provide a closure for a liquid container having a simple structure which is easily made.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a closure so that a safe and reliable refillable operation can be obtained.

One object of the present invention is to provide a closure having a defined volume in the axial direction with respect to the bottle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a closure which allows for an effective and reliable tamper-avid operation that is not easily touched.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an in-bore insert that enables the closure to be used in various types and sizes and to achieve the advantages outlined above.

In accordance with the present invention, in view of this object, an in-bore insert suitable for use in the mouth of the neck of a liquid container is contemplated, the in-bore insert having a substantially cylindrical portion suitable for insertion into the neck of the container; A tamper-evidence member suitable for insertion into the neck of the vessel, wherein the tamper-evidence member is substantially cylindrical between an initial position before the vessel is first opened and an operating position indicating that the vessel is first opened. Is characterized in that it is movable relative to.

The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the preferred embodiments of the invention described below by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is an exploded view of a closure according to the invention,
2 is a second exploded view of the closure of FIG. 1,
3 is a cross-sectional view of the closure applied to the mouse of the bottle before the closure is first opened,
4 is a second cross-sectional view of the closure applied to the mouth of the bottle before the closure is first opened,
5 is a cross-sectional view of the closure applied to the mouth of the bottle after the closure is first opened,
6 is a second cross-sectional view of the closure applied to the mouse of the bottle after the closure is first opened.

In the figure, the closure 11 is shown to be applied to the mouth of the neck of a liquid container, for example a glass beverage bottle.

The closure 11 comprises a closure member 12, an outlet member 13, a member 14, an in-bore insert 15 and a tamper-evidence member 16.

The closure member 12 is suitable for being detachably fixed to the outlet member 13. Preferably, the closing member 12 may be fixed to the outlet member to be screwed through an inner thread 33 which may be coupled to the outer thread 19 of the outlet member 13.

It may be advantageous for the closure member 12 to have a ridge 17 on the outer side so that the user can easily grip it.

The outlet member 13 preferably has an outlet lip 18 which extends on the upper circumferential periphery of the member.

The outlet member 13 forms an outlet opening 80 for the liquid of the bottle.

Moreover, the outlet member 13 preferably comprises a lower flange 19 for attaching the member to the neck 60 of the bottle (FIGS. 3-6).

On the bottom side, the flange 19 has a corresponding radius formed on the top flange 25 of the in-bore insert 15 to prevent reciprocating rotation of the two parts when the closure is applied to the mouth of the bottle. It is provided with a radial rib 35 suitable for engaging the directional groove.

The outflow member 13 preferably comprises an axial bore 21a for the passage of the pin 34, which protrudes from the inside of the closure member 12 on the axis of this member.

In-bore insert 15 includes a substantially cylindrical portion 26 suitable for insertion into the neck 60 of the bottle. In particular, the substantially cylindrical portion 26 is received in the neck 60 leaving an annular gap 62 (FIG. 3) between the outer wall of the tubular portion 26 and the inner wall of the neck 60.

Preferably, the in-bore insert 15 can realize a refillable impossibility device, provided with valve means suitable for preventing undesired ripping of the container after it has been opened at least once.

Substantially cylindrical portion 26 is preferably a tubular portion, the tubular portion having a longitudinal cavity inside the tubular portion that forms the seat of the refillable valve.

From the initial position before the bottle was first opened, the tamper-evidence member 16 closing the mouth of the bottle, and the mouth of the bottle indicating that the bottle was opened at least once after the bottle was opened at least once. It is movable from a remotely located operating position.

In the initial position, the tamper-evidence member 16 is hardly visible or completely visible from the outside. In this position the member 16 is actually located immediately after the various parts of the closure. Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 3-6, in the initial position the tamper-evidence member 16 is on the inside of the outer sleeve 50 while in the operating position it is on the outside of the sleeve 50. .

The in-bore insert 15 preferably has a first retaining means 29 for holding the tamper-evidence member 16 in its initial position. The in-bore insert 15 preferably also has a second retaining means 30 for holding the tamper-evidence member in the operating position.

Retaining means 29, 30 are means that operate to hold the tamper-evidence member in a particular position when the bottle is at least in a reference vertical position. In addition, such means 29-30 may not hold the tamper-evidence member 15 in a specific fixed position when the bottle is turned upside down.

Preferably, the first and second retaining means comprise restraining means 29, 30 between the outer wall of the tubular portion 26 and the tamper-evidence member 16.

Preferably, the first retaining means is made of a projection 29 suitable for receiving each abutment surface of the tamper-evidence member 16 placed against the first retaining means. There are advantageously four such protrusions 29 arranged regularly spaced along the circumference of the tubular portion 26. A protrusion 29 is formed in the rise 28 extending longitudinally on the outer sidewall of the tubular portion 26. The member 16 is positioned near the flange 25 of the in-bore insert 15 to allow the protrusion 29 to rest on the upper edge of the mouth of the container, so that the bottle 16 is in use when the bottle is in the reference vertical position. Support at an elevated position.

A second retaining means is formed of the projection 30, which is formed on the outer surface of the tubular portion 26 of the device 15 at a position remote from the flange 25 with respect to the projection 29. Advantageously there are four protrusions 30, which are made between the rises 28. The protrusion 30 is suitable for receiving a corresponding abutment face of the tamper-evidence member 16 placed on the protrusion.

Advantageously, the projection 30 is located near the bottom 64 of the device 15.

At the top, the insert 15 forms a seat 70 for receiving the member 14 rotatably around the axis of the device 15.

The lower end 64 of the device 15 forms a seat of the refillable non-valve valve (FIG. 4). Preferably, the lower end 64 forms a seat of the ball 63 of the valve.

Preferably, the valve means of the in-bore insert 15 comprises a ball valve with a glass ball. In an alternative embodiment of the closure, the two balls are also placed inside the tubular cavity of tubular portion 26, making it more difficult to touch the refillable system.

The tamper-evidence member 16 includes an annular portion 31 suitable for wrapping around the tubular portion 26 of the device 15. Ring 31 supports four protrusions 32. These protrusions 32 are regularly spaced along the circumference of the annular portion 31. The protrusion 32 projects inward with respect to the ring 31 at the top, in the axial direction and in the radial direction. These protrusions 32 are inserted into grooves formed on the outer surface of the tubular portion 26 between the raised portions 28 so as to rest on the protrusions 30 after the closure is first opened.

At the top, the protrusion 32 is suitable for contacting the cap 36 formed on the member 14.

Preferably, before the closure is first opened, the projections 32 of the tamper-evidence member 16 are inserted into four respective holes 27 formed in the body of the insert 15, so that Accessible.

The closure 11 comprises means for freeing the tamper-evidence member 16 with the first retaining means 29 in its initial position. This freeing means consists of a member 14 fixed to the closing member 12 to control the passage of the tamper-abyssal member 16 to the operating position when the closing member 12 is first opened.

The member 14 is provided with a protrusion 21, which extends along the axis of the closure and into the disc-shaped portion 23.

The protrusion 21 is provided with an axial hole 22 into which the pin 34 of the closure member 12 is inserted during use. Holes 22 and pins 34 are connected together to deliver torque around the axis of the closure. For this purpose, for example, there may be four ribs in the side wall of the pin 34 which are inserted into corresponding grooves formed on the inner side wall of the hole 22.

The disc-shaped portion 23 is suitable for being accommodated in the seat 70 formed in the body of the in-bore insert 15 so that it can rotate in an axis coinciding with the axis of the closure.

A cam 36 suitable for operating on the protrusion 32 of the tamper-evidence member 16 is formed in the portion of the disc facing the in-bore insert 15. There are preferably four cams (one on each projection 32) and these caps extend in the circumferential direction so as to pressurize the member 16 downward when rotating in the same manner as the opening rotation of the closing member 12. Is formed.

The member 14 also includes means for centering and positioning the ball 63 as the liquid flows out, on the side facing the in-bore insert 15. The outer sleeve 50 is suitable for securing to the neck of the bottle.

The sleeve 50 has an operation to fix the outlet member 13 and the outlet device 15 to the neck of the bottle. The sleeve 50 generally has a C-shaped cross section to secure the flanges 19 and 25 of the outlet member and the in-bore insert to the neck 60 of the bottle. In particular, the sleeve 50 can be made of a bent metal sheet, for example aluminum. The sleeve 50 preferably has a lower bend 51 that attaches the sleeve to the neck of the bottle. The bends 51 operate on flanges 61 formed in the neck 60 of the bottle at the mouse.

The flanges 19 and 25 lie on top of each other. All of them are placed on top of the upper edge of the mouth of the neck 60 of the bottle.

3 and 4 show the closure applied to the bottle before the bottle is first opened.

The tamper-evidence member 16 is located in an initial position closer to the mouth of the bottle, ie in the raised position when the bottle is in the reference vertical position.

The protrusion 32 is inserted into the hole 27 of the body of the refillable device 15, in contact with the cap 36 of the member 14 (FIG. 3).

The member 14 is preferably disposed substantially without an axial gap between the outlet member 13 and the in-bore insert 15.

4 shows the projection 29 which holds the ring 31 in its initial position to prevent the bottle from falling when in the reference vertical position.

The ring 31 is located near the various members of the closure and, due to the sleeve 50 covering the closure, is almost invisible or completely invisible from the outside.

The closure member 12 is screwed into the outlet member 13.

5-6 show the closure after the bottle is first opened. Rotation of the closure member 12 forces the member 14 to rotate upon engagement between the pin 34 and the aperture 22. Thus, the cap 36 of the member 14 is rotated to push the tamper-evidence member away from the member 14, in particular downwards when the bottle is in the reference vertical position.

Pressing the cam 36 onto the protrusion 32 of the tamper-evidence member 16 is sufficient to ensure that the ring 31 passes through the retaining protrusion 29. The tamper-evidence member 16 and the protrusion 29 made of plastic are installed with a certain amount of elasticity so that the tamper-evidence member can snap out of the constraint provided by the protrusion 29. The member 16 can thus be moved towards the operating position by the center of gravity, as shown in FIGS. 5-6. In this position, the ring 31 is supported by the projection 30 (FIG. 5), which is clearly visible from the outside of the sleeve 50 and thus from the outside.

During the opening of the bottle for the first time, due to the engagement of the member 14 in the seat 70 of the refill-impossible device 15, the correct position and movement of the cap 36 is the protrusion of the tamper-evidence member 16. It can be held relative to 32 to ensure that the ring 31 moves from the initial position to the operating position, indicating that the bottle is actually open. The passage of the tamper-evidence member 16 from the initial position to the operating position occurs by snapping.

The ring 31 may have visual indicators (letters or specific colors that require user attention) on the outer surface that clarifies that the bottle is already open.

It is advantageous for the in-bore insert, outlet member, closure member and member 14 to be made of plastic.

In this respect, it is clear how the object of the present invention is achieved.

In particular, the closure is provided with a relatively simple and cost-saving structure in which tamper-avid operation and refillable operation can be reliably obtained.

The valve may be made of a conventional glass ball of a certain weight, which ball reliably ensures that the passage is blocked when the bottle is in the reference vertical position. Moreover, the in-bore inserts are made relatively short, limiting the volume in the axial direction.

In addition, since the tamper-evidence member in the initial position is very close to the mouth of the bottle, it is possible to use an outer sleeve that does not excessively cover the tamper-evidence member in the initial position for a long time.

Moreover, the tamper-evidence member is inside the bottle, which is inaccessible from the outside and thus cannot be easily touched.

Of course, although a person skilled in the art may make many modifications and variations to the above-described configuration in order to meet empirical and specific requirements, it will be appreciated that all such modifications and changes are included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims below. There will be.

For example, the second retaining means of the tamper-evidence member can also be left.

Moreover, according to another variant embodiment, there may also be a film of material closing the hole 27, while still a pressing action is possible with the cap 36 on the protrusion 32 of the tamper-evidence member. This may make it more difficult for the bottle to be refilled after it is first opened.

It will be appreciated that in accordance with the present invention any circle of the portion described above may be replaced by an interrupted circle formed of many circle parts.

All closures or in-bore inserts belonging to the prior art are made for the purpose of the prior art and are not within the scope of the claims.

Claims (15)

In-bore insert suitable for use in the mouth of the neck 60 of the liquid container,
A substantially cylindrical portion 26 suitable for insertion into the neck 60 of the container and a tamper-evidence member 16 suitable for insertion into the neck of the container, wherein the tamper-evidence member is In-bore suitable for use on a mouse of the neck 60 of a liquid container, characterized by being movable in relation to a substantially cylindrical portion 26 between an initial position prior to first opening and an operating position indicating that the container is first opened. Insertion part. The method according to claim 1,
A shaving of the neck 60 of a liquid container, characterized in that it comprises first retaining means 29 for holding the tamper-evidence member 16 in the initial position, at least when the container is in the reference vertical position. In-bore insert suitable for use. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
A shaving of the neck 60 of a liquid container, characterized in that it comprises a second holding means 30 for holding the tamper-evidence member 16 in the working position, at least when the container is in the reference vertical position. In-bore insert suitable for use. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The first retaining means 29 and / or the second retaining means 30 provide a restraining means between the tamper-evidence member 16 and the outer surface of the substantially cylindrical portion 26 of the in-bore insert. An in-bore insert suitable for use in the mouth of the neck of a liquid container, characterized in that it comprises a. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The neck 60 of the liquid container, characterized in that the tamper-evidence member 16 is arranged at least partially at the height of the substantially cylindrical portion 26, near the cylindrical portion 26 outside the member at an initial position. In-bore insert suitable for use with mouse. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The tamper-evidence member 16 comprises a ring 31 which surrounds the substantially cylindrical portion 26 at least in its initial position and is suitable for use in the mouse of the neck 60 of the liquid container. Bore insert. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
Neck portion of the liquid container, characterized in that it comprises means (14, 36) for freeing the tamper-evidence member (16) from the first retaining means (29) and movable from the initial position to the operating position. In-bore insert suitable for use with the mouse of (60). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The means 14, 36 are formed on the temper-evidence member 16 through openings 27 formed in the body of the in-bore insert 15 forming the substantially cylindrical portion 26. An in-bore insert suitable for use in a mouse of the neck 60 of a liquid container, characterized in that it comprises a body 14 provided with a working cam 36. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
Said means (14, 36) comprise a body (14) provided with a cam (36) operable to rotate about an axis of said in-bore insert and acting on said temper-evidence member (16). An in-bore insert suitable for use in the mouth of the neck 60 of a liquid container. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
An in-bore insert suitable for use in the mouth of the neck (60) of a liquid container, characterized in that the substantially cylindrical portion (26) forms a valve means for preventing filling of the container. According to any one of claims 1 to 10, the liquid container closure suitable for use in the mouth of the neck 60 of the liquid container,
An outlet member 13 provided with an outlet opening 80 for a liquid adapted to be secured to the neck of the bottle, and
For said liquid container suitable for use on a mouse of the neck 60 of a liquid container, characterized in that it comprises a member 12 for closing said bottle removably secured to said outlet member 13. Closure. The method of claim 11,
An outer sleeve 50 secured to the neck and suitable for enclosing around an end of the neck 60 of the container, wherein the tamper-evidence member 16 in its initial position is positioned inside the outer sleeve 50 And the tamper-evidence member 16 in the operating position is positioned outside the sleeve 50 to indicate that the closure has been opened at least once. Closure for said liquid container suitable for: 12. The method according to claim 11 or 12,
The outer sleeve 50 secures the flange 26 of the in-bore insert 15 and the flange 19 of the outlet member 14 to the outer flange 61 of the neck 60 of the container. A closure for a liquid container suitable for use on a mouth of a neck of a liquid container, characterized in that it generally has a C-shaped cross-section. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13,
The means 14 for freeing the tamper-evidence member 16 from engagement with the first retaining means 29 is such that the first tamper-evidence member 16 opens when the closure member is first opened. The liquid container closure suitable for use on the mouse of the neck (60) of the liquid container characterized in that it is constrained with the closure member (12) to be free from the retaining means (29). The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14,
The body 14 forming the cam 36 of the means 14 is rotatable about the axis of the closure and is disposed between the outlet member 13 and the in-bore insert 15 without substantially an axial gap. Said liquid container closure suitable for use with a mouth of a neck of said liquid container.

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