MXPA05005980A

MXPA05005980A - Stopper closure means for bottles comprising tamper-evident seal.

Info

Publication number: MXPA05005980A
Application number: MXPA05005980A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Torrent Ortega David
Original assignee: Cia De Tapones Irrellenables S
Priority date: 2002-12-13
Filing date: 2003-12-12
Publication date: 2005-08-23
Also published as: BRPI0316573B1; DE60309751D1; EA200301237A1; CO5690626A2; EA006088B1; AU2003288277A1; ES2234378A1; BR0316573A; EP1602591A1; WO2004054890A1; ES2274292T3; CN1726154A; EP1602591B1; AU2003288277B2; ES2234378B2; ATE345283T1; CN100343136C

Abstract

The invention relates to a stopper closure means for bottles. The purpose of the invention is to provide an irreversible indication that the stopper has been opened after the first opening thereof. For said purpose, the invention comprises a differently-coloured peripheral tab which projects out and which is visible in the form of a ring even if the stopper is closed.

Description

MEDIUM OF CLOSURE OF PLUGS FOR BOTTLES WITH EVIDENCE OF OPENING DESCRIPTION OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a means of closing caps for bottles with evidence of opening, that is to say, it is established as an objective that it becomes apparent after the first opening of the cap, that such opening has occurred. It characterizes the present invention its special configuration and design obtaining a closure means for bottle caps with a configuration such that before an opening, this is evidently evident without any possibility of restoration, which is why it constitutes a seal safe and effective Therefore, the first priority is circumscribed within the field of liquor bottle closures and, more particularly, of bottle stop closures that permanently demonstrate that the opening of the bottle has taken place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION So far, the most common means of evidence of breakage are as those described in the patent with publication number ES2126651 consisting of a perimeter band attached to the plug by means of bridges of easy break. Said skirt separates from the body of the stopper once the bottle is opened for the first time thanks to the fact that in the body of the bottle there is a retaining flange which, in collaboration with a series of ribs arranged on the inside face of the bottle The skirt of the plug produces the separation of the skirt of the plug at the moment of the first opening. Other bottle opening evidence systems are like those described in the patent with publication number WO92 / 05085 which consists of the use of an internal closure means and a stopper. The front closing means is directly positioned in the mouth of the bottle counting said closing means with a flange that emerges outwards and remains folded over the outer surface of the cap. The presence of said tab is evidence that the bottle has not been opened. This means of evidence prevents any unauthorized opening by providing means of signaling the opening of the bottle. In the patent with publication number W097 / 38912 there is described an evidence of opening means for closing bottle caps also based on a perimetral skirt-shaped element emerging from the lower edge of the cap to which it is attached by means of lines of weakening. In order to achieve the separation of the plug of said skirt at the moment of opening, the skirt has a series of hook-shaped projections, regularly distributed, which are retained in perimetric projections with which the neck of the bottle has. . In any case, all the means of evidence of the opening of the closures of bottle caps can be easily concealed. The object of the present invention is to achieve an evidence of opening means based on a double action, on the one hand the separation of the two parts of the aluminum outer capsule and on the other, the release of a previously distorted perimeter tab.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The means for closing bottle caps with evidence of opening according to the present invention consists in showing the opening of the bottle by means of a double action, the separation of the aluminum capsule in two parts and the release of a tongue, which adopts a position that prevents re-arranging a new continuous capsule. The bottle closure object of the invention consists of a plug that is screwed on its inside against the external thread that has the spout and can be of the non-refillable type. Said stopper, along its lower part, has a sealing ring attached to the stopper by means of weakening or breakable bridges, which break at the moment of opening, producing the separation between the stopper and the sealing ring. Said seal has perimetrally and in its upper outer part with a tongue. Before assembly, the tongue is slightly curved upwards, leaving a notch underneath it. After the placement of the aluminum capsule a notch operation is established on the outside of the capsule coinciding with the notch of the seal ring. This operation has several simultaneous effects: to achieve the perimeter cut of the capsule by defining two lips, one on each side of the cut, these lips are bent towards the inside of the notch, the lower one holding down the perimeter ring and the second, holding up the perimeter tongue, the perimeter tongue suffers a certain degree of deformation that generates a tension such that from this moment onwards it offers an effort to lower by closing the notch, a fact that is not produced thanks to the lip The upper part of the capsule prevents it. At the moment of opening by turning the plug, the bridges that connect the plug with the lower seal break up, separating both parts. On the one hand and simultaneously, the outer aluminum capsule is separated in the two parts defined by the perimeter cut on the notch so that the upper lip corresponding to the capsule overcomes the tongue of the sealing ring releasing it. The tension created by deformation of the tongue at the time of notching is released so that the tongue recovers a lower position closing the cavity corresponding to the notch. The seal ring is attached to the bottle completely or partially by the upper lip of the lower part to the cut of the aluminum capsule. The upper part of the aluminum capsule is covering the cap with the lower lip curved internally. On the other hand, the upper perimeter tongue of the sealing ring, when recovering its lowest position closing the cavity corresponding to the notch, is covering the curved lip in the lower section of the aluminum capsule that completely or partially holds the seal ring. In this way the most visible, even after closing the cap, is the tongue. When the tongue is of a different color than that of the aluminum it is easily distinguished and shows the evidence of the opening.

In the posterior closure, the lower lip of what is now the upper part of the aluminum capsule can no longer raise the tongue and embrace it because it has already escaped from its grip at the time of the first opening and has bent towards down. This fact demonstrates the irreversibility of the seal ring arrangement. Now, once closed, instead of seeing a notch, you can see from the outside a ring of another color that indicates that the cap has already been opened. In order to favor the slight flexion that the tongue of the seal undergoes, a series of cuts can be made on the tongue to improve its flexibility. On the other hand, in order to increase the strength of the aluminum capsule to present the folded lower edge at the notch point, the aluminum used is alloyed thereby increasing its strength.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present specification is complemented with a set of drawings, illustrative of the preferred example and never limiting the invention. Figure 1 shows in a sectioned and simplified manner the evidence means located in the closure assembly of a bottle before opening according to a first embodiment of the invention. A detail A is also included in which the area corresponding to the seal ring section is extended. Figure 2 shows the same previous figure after opening. A detail B is also included in which the area corresponding to the seal ring section is extended. Figure 3 shows a sectionalized and simplified detail of the evidence means located in the closure assembly of a bottle before opening according to a second embodiment of the invention. For greater clarity the capsule has not been represented. Figure 4 shows in simplified form the evidence means of a bottle that has been opened.

EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In view of the mentioned figures, two exemplary embodiments of the invention and the explanation of the drawings are described below.

First example of realization.

Figure 1 shows a plug (1) attached at the bottom with a ring (2) seal by breakable bridges (4). These bridges (4) are those that will break at the moment of the first turn of the plug. The rotation of the cap (1) results in a helical movement, that is, a rotation and an axial displacement are combined. If the seal ring (2) is immobilized, as in the case of this first example, the rotation generates a cutting voltage on the breakable bridges (4). In turn, the axial displacement applies a tensile stress on the same breakable bridges (4) due to the deformation that prints the separation between the plug (1) and the ring (2). The result of the helical rotation of the plug (1) is a tensional stress resulting from both stresses, one of traction plus one of shear resulting in the break after exceeding the admissible tension of the material.

To immobilize the ring (2) seal, it (2) is attached to the body (3) pouring and therefore prevented from relative rotation. The means that prevent the relative rotation consist of external teeth (3.1) that have the pouring body (3) applied against the ring (2) seal. The number and dimension of the bridges (4) of rupture will depend on the breaking strength that the unit offers. The ring (2) seal has in its upper part and a protrusion or tongue (2.1) emerges peripherally, defining a cavity (2.1.1) immediately below it. Covering the whole assembly is a cover or capsule (5) made of aluminum that has a perimetal recess (6) after the application of a cut in such a way that causes the lips of the cut to be housed in the cavity (2.1.1) at be curved inwards. The perimeter cut that gives rise to the notch (6) of the aluminum capsule (5) is carried out during assembly. After arranging the aluminum capsule (5) on the cap (1), a machine presses perimetrally, notching the capsule (5) until the cut is obtained, at which time the tongue (2.1) undergoes a slight upward flexion. Optionally, in order to improve its flexibility a series of perimeter cuts are made. Figure 2 shows how the whole remains after the first opening of the bottle. After this first opening of the bottle, the aluminum capsule (5) is separated into two parts: one upper (5.2) and one lower (5.1), both with the lips of the cut tucked inwards. In the upper part (5.2) of the aluminum capsule (5), after separation, its lip (5.3) tucked inwards stops retaining the tongue (2.1) producing the recovery of the natural position to which it tends, this is, down. On the other hand, and thanks to the notch (6) of the aluminum capsule (5), the lower lip (5.3) of the upper part (5.2) of the aluminum capsule (5) remains with the given shape covering the lower edge of the plug (1). As regards the lip (5.4) of the lower part (5.1) of the aluminum capsule (5), it also has the shape given in the notch (6) so that said lip (5.4) is housed in the cavity (2.1.1) and partially covered under the tongue (2.1) of the ring (2) seal. Thanks to this configuration after opening, the tab (2.1) remains visible even when the cap is closed again, in this case seeing a ring of the color of the tongue (2.1), and it is not possible to hide or restore the situation prior to the opening by folding the tongue (2.1) and the lips (5.3, 5.4) of the parts into which the aluminum capsule (5) is divided. Figure 4 shows how the tab (2.1) is visible and the ring (2) sealed with the portion (5.1) of the lower aluminum capsule (5) through its upper lip (5.4), which is complemented by fixation with the teeth (3.1) of the plug (3) that prevent the rotation of the ring (2) seal. In this same figure, the outer rib (1.1) with which the stopper (1) is shown is shown in this graphical representation, the upper section of the aluminum capsule (5.2) has been partially removed in order to show said groove (1.1) that facilitates the grip of the cap (1) with the capsule (5) and prevents them from rotating between them.

Second example of realization. Figure 3 shows a second example of the invention that slightly modifies the configuration of the seal ring (2) to establish another mode of breaking of the breakable bridges (4). In this second example of the invention, the pouring body (3) does not include external teeth (3.1) that impede the relative rotation between it (3) and the ring (2) seal. It does additionally have a perimeter (3.2) projection with a pronounced step below it, preferably in a sharp edge, arranged under the threads (3.3) of the thread. Likewise, the seal ring (2) also has another internal perimetric projection (2.2) that supports under the perimeter projection (3.2) of the pouring body (3). The mechanical ligation between the sealing ring (2) and the pouring body (3) is only axial, since now the sealing ring (2) is not prevented from turning. The result of this configuration is that at the moment of the first opening, the rotation of the plug (1) remains helical, that is, one rotation plus one axial displacement; and, the ring (2) presents the same rotation as the plug (1) since this degree of freedom is not impeded. Therefore, the relative movement between the plug (1) and its ring (2) seal is that of a spacing in the axial direction. The axial spacing between both bodies causes the tension of the breakable bridges (4) to be mainly due to a tensile stress, the shear stress being reduced to the minimum required to overcome the frictional forces of the seal ring (2). As a result, the seal ring (2) is retained axially by two means, one the pair of internal projections (3.2, 2.2) operating together, and the fastener offered by the lip (5.4) not shown in this third figure for clarity. In this way it becomes independent of the adjustment of the machinery carried out by CLAIMS 1a.- Closure means for bottle caps with evidence of opening, characterized in that it consists of a plug (1) attached inferiorly to a ring (2) sealed by breakable bridges (4), this ring (2) having a seal tongue (2.1) perimeter in its upper outer part that inferiorly defines a perlmetral concavity (2.1.1), and where the whole set is covered by a capsule (5) that is cut and notched (6) resulting in two lips (5.3, 5.4 ), one on each side of the cut, housed inside the cavity (2.1.1) of the ring (2) sealed in such a way that the tongue (2.1) is bent upwardly forced and retained by the lower lip (5.3) of the upper section (5.2) of the capsule (5) for its release at the moment of the first opening of the stopper (1) in such a way that this (2.1) assumes its natural shape, remaining visible even after the closure as a ring and that the lip (5.3) of the upper section (5.2) of the capsule (5) is arranged so that it covers the lower part of the cap (1) while the lip (5.4) of the lower section (5.1) of the capsule (5) is housed under the tongue (2.1) in the cavity (2.1). 2a.- Closure means for bottle caps with evidence of opening according to claim 1, characterized in that the capsule (5) is made of aluminum. 3a.- Closure means for bottle caps with evidence of opening according to claim 2 characterized in that the aluminum used in the capsule (5) is made of alloyed aluminum in order to increase its strength. 4a.- Closure means for bottle caps with evidence of opening according to claim 1 characterized in that the color of the tongue (2.1) is different from that of the capsule (5) to highlight the evidence before opening. 5a.- Closure means for bottle caps with evidence of opening according to

Claims

notch (6) to provide a good grip of the tongue (2.1) the influence of the degree of deformation of the upper lip (5.4) before only responsible for the fastening of the ring (2) seal; and in turn, it is now the fastening means of the ring (2) seal which reduces the probability of failure due to inadequate fastening. The rest of the elements of this example of the embodiment of the invention are not described as being coincident with those described in the first embodiment. The essentiality of this invention does not alter variations in materials, form, size and arrangement of the component elements, described in a non-limiting manner, this being sufficient to proceed to its reproduction by an expert. claim 1 characterized in that the tongue (2.1) has cuts to improve its flexibility. 6a.- Closure means for bottle caps with evidence of opening according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal ring (2) is fixedly joined to the pouring body (3) by means of teeth (3.1) that prevent it from turning, and lip (5.4) of the lower section (5.1) of the capsule that retains it axially. 7a.- Closure means for bottle caps with evidence of opening according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal ring (2) is not retained in front of the rotation by the pouring body (3) (3) which has a projection (3.2) ) annular under the threads (3.3) thread on which rests another ring (2.2) inner ring (2) seal for axial retention, axial retention that is increased by offering the lip (5.4) of the stretch ( 5.1) bottom of the capsule (5). 8a.- Closing means for caps for bottles with evidence of opening according to claim 7, characterized in that the annular projection (3.
2) under the threads (3.
3) of the thread of the pouring body (3) shows a step in sharp edge in its lower part . RESU IN The present invention relates to a means for closing caps for bottles that establishes as an objective that it becomes apparent after the first opening of the cap, that such opening has occurred; and the way in which he carries out the evidence of the opening is irreversible. The way to show the first opening is by means of a perimeter tongue of a differentiated color that emerges and that even if the cap is closed, it is visible as a ring.