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EP2822869A1 - Tamper-evident closure with tear-off seal - Google Patents

Tamper-evident closure with tear-off seal

Info

Publication number
EP2822869A1
EP2822869A1 EP13720031.7A EP13720031A EP2822869A1 EP 2822869 A1 EP2822869 A1 EP 2822869A1 EP 13720031 A EP13720031 A EP 13720031A EP 2822869 A1 EP2822869 A1 EP 2822869A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tear
closure
tamper
seal
container
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP13720031.7A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2822869B1 (en
Inventor
Luca Viale
Marco Giovannini
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.)
Guala Closures SpA
Original Assignee
Guala Closures SpA
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
Application filed by Guala Closures SpA filed Critical Guala Closures SpA
Publication of EP2822869A1 publication Critical patent/EP2822869A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2822869B1 publication Critical patent/EP2822869B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

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
    • 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
    • B65D41/62—Secondary protective cap-like outer covers for closure members
    • 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
    • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
    • B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
    • B65D41/0407—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means
    • B65D41/0414—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means formed by a plug, collar, flange, rib or the like contacting the internal surface of a container neck
    • 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
    • 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
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
    • B65D47/08—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures
    • B65D47/0804—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage
    • B65D47/0833—Hinges without elastic bias
    • B65D47/0838—Hinges without elastic bias located at an edge of the base element
    • 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
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/18—Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures
    • 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
    • B65D55/00—Accessories for container closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D55/02—Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure
    • B65D55/024—Closures in which a part has to be ruptured to gain access to the contents
    • 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
    • B65D55/00—Accessories for container closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D55/02—Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure
    • B65D55/06—Deformable or tearable wires, strings, or strips; Use of seals, e.g. destructible locking pins
    • B65D55/08—Annular elements encircling container necks
    • B65D55/0863—Plastic snap-on cap-like collars having frangible parts
    • 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
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0006—Upper closure
    • B65D2251/0015—Upper closure of the 41-type
    • 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
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0068—Lower closure
    • B65D2251/0078—Lower closure of the 41-type
    • 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
    • B65D2401/00—Tamper-indicating means
    • B65D2401/15—Tearable part of the closure
    • B65D2401/25—Non-metallic tear-off strips

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a tamper-evident closure with a tear-off seal.
  • Tamper-evident closures are known in the art. These closures generally include a cap proper, which is removably associated with the rest of the closure, and a tamper-evident element, which is used to provide first opening evidence.
  • GB 2 285 623 discloses a tamper-evident closure that comprises a pouring device defining a pouring orifice, a skirt for fixing the pouring device to the container neck, a cap for engaging and disengaging the pouring device to close the pouring orifice and a hood that internally surrounds the skirt and the cap and has an annular portion permanently engaging a lower portion of the skirt.
  • the hood comprises a tear strip which is configured to leave the annular portion engaged with the skirt when the tear strip is torn, thereby providing evidence of first opening of the closure.
  • EP 1 818 272 discloses a tamper-evident closure comprising a cap for engaging and disengaging the pouring orifice of a pouring device fixed to the mouth of a container and a hood that surrounds the cap and has an annular portion permanently engaging the container neck.
  • the hood comprises a tear strip which is configured to leave the annular portion engaged with the container neck when the tear strip is torn, thereby providing evidence of first opening of the closure.
  • US 5,667,086 discloses a tamper-evident closure that comprises a cap connected via a breakable portion to a skirt fixed to a container neck, and a hood that surrounds the cap and is fixed to the container neck via the skirt of the cap.
  • the hood comprises a lower portion and an upper portion.
  • the upper portion has a tear strip that allows removal of the upper portion, when it is torn, while leaving the lower portion fixed to the cap skirt and, through the latter, to the container neck.
  • the above closures have the drawback of not being immune from fraudulent attempts to restore the closure into the configuration it had prior to the first opening by counterfeiters.
  • a counterfeiter may remove not only the part joined to the strip but also, rather easily, the part that remains on the container. Then, the counterfeiter may open the cap, replace the content of the container with some other low-quality content, close the cap and apply a new hood with a seal strip, thereby exactly restoring the closure and container to the configuration they had prior to the first opening.
  • the provision of the breakable portion in US 5,667,086 also cannot obviate this drawback, as the cap may be tightened again until the edges of the cap and the skirt coincide, thereby not providing evidence that the breakable portion has been broken.
  • the object of the present invention is to at least partially fulfill the above need, while at least partially obviating prior art drawbacks.
  • FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a closure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in a first configuration
  • FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the closure of Figure 1, in a second configuration
  • Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the closure of Figure 1, in a third configuration
  • Figure 4a shows a side view of the closure of Figure 1
  • Figure 4b shows a sectional view of the closure of Figure 4a
  • Figure 5a shows a side view of the closure of Figure 2
  • Figure 5b shows a sectional view of the closure of Figure 5a
  • Figure 6a shows a side view of the closure of Figure 3
  • Figure 6b shows a sectional view of the closure of Figure 6a
  • FIG. 7a shows a side view of a closure according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in a first configuration
  • Figure 7b shows a sectional view of the closure of Figure 7a
  • Figure 8a shows a side view of the closure of Figure 7a, in a second configuration
  • Figure 8b shows a sectional view of the closure of Figure 8a
  • Figure 9a shows a side view of the closure of Figure 7a, in a third configuration
  • Figure 9b shows a sectional view of the closure of Figure 9a.
  • numeral 1 generally designates a tamper-evident closure.
  • the closure 1 is intended to close the mouth of a container 2, e.g. a bottle, such as a glass bottle, e.g. for spirits.
  • a container 2 e.g. a bottle, such as a glass bottle, e.g. for spirits.
  • the container 2 is a bottle and comprises a neck 4 that terminates in a mouth 3 defining a pouring orifice 3 a.
  • the vertical axis will be defined as the longitudinal axis X-X of the closure 1 and conventionally the bottom side is the side of the closure 1 designed to face towards the container 2, and the top side is the one designed to face towards the consumer; this is actually the normal orientation of the closure when fitted onto a normally oriented bottle (as shown in the figures).
  • a pouring body may be applied to the neck 4 of the container 2 and fixed thereto by known fixing means, which are adapted to prevent any rotational or longitudinal movement of the pouring body relative to the container neck 4.
  • the pouring body and the closure 1 form together a closure assembly.
  • the pouring body has a pouring orifice, that defines the pouring orifice of the container 2.
  • the closure 1 comprises a cap 10 adapted to close the mouth 3 of the container 2, and particularly adapted to close the pouring orifice 3a of the mouth 3.
  • the cap 10 comprises a tubular element 11 that is open at its bottom and closed at its top by a transverse wall 12.
  • the tubular element 1 1 extends in a longitudinal direction X-X between a bottom end 13, where it is open, and a top end 14, where the transverse wall 12 is provided.
  • the cap 10 has an outer surface 11a and an inner surface l ib which are defined by the outer surface and the inner surface of the tubular element 11 respectively.
  • the outer surface 1 la corresponds to the part of the cap 10 that can be grasped by a user for opening and closing the mouth 3 of the closure 2.
  • the closure 1 comprises attachment means 24 for reversibly attaching the cap 10 to the mouth 3 of the container 2. This will allow normal opening and closing of the mouth 3 of the container 2.
  • the attachment means 20 include snap fit means 20 allowing snap engagement of the cap 10 with the mouth 3.
  • the snap fit means 21 include an annular ridge formed on the inner surface l ib of the tubular element 11 and designed for engagement with a corresponding annular ridge 5 formed on the neck 4 of the container 2.
  • the attachment means 20 advantageously include, in addition to the snap fit means 21, hinge means 22 adapted to allow articulated movement of the cap 10 between a closed position, in which the cap 10 is placed on the mouth 3 to close it, and an open position, in which the cap 10 is disengaged from the pouring orifice 3 a defined by the mouth 3.
  • the hinge means 22 include a tubular band 23 associated with the neck 4 and a hinge element 24 that connects the tubular band 23 with the cap 10 thereby connecting in articulated fashion the cap 10 to the tubular band 23.
  • the attachment means 20 may include threads formed on the inner surface 1 lb of the cap 10 and designed to engage with threads associated with the container 2 and formed, for example, on the outer surface of the mouth 3.
  • the closure 1 comprises a capsule 30 associated outside with the cap 10 and having means 31 for fixing the capsule 30 to the container 2.
  • the fixing means 31 include first fixing means 32 for preventing longitudinal displacements of the capsule 30 relative to the container 2 and second fixing means 33 for preventing angular displacements of the capsule 30 relative to the container 2.
  • the first fixing means include an annular ridge 32 formed in the interior of the capsule 30 and designed for snap engagement of a collar 6 formed on the neck 4 of the container 2, and the second fixing means include axial ribs 33 arranged in the interior of the capsule 13 and designed for engagement of corresponding grooves 7 on the neck 4 of the container 2.
  • the closure 1 further comprises tamper-evident means for providing evidence of first opening of the closure 1.
  • the tamper-evident means comprise a first tear-off seal 36 configured to remove at least one portion of the capsule 30, once it has been torn off.
  • the closure 1 is adapted to irreversibly move from a first configuration, before tear-off of the first seal, to a second configuration, after tear-off of the first seal.
  • the capsule 30 is adapted to irreversibly move from a first configuration, before tear-off of the first seal, to a second configuration, after tear-off of the first seal.
  • the sleeve 34 comprises a first lower portion 34a and a second upper portion 34b which are connected by a line of weakening 35.
  • the first tear-off seal comprises at least one first tear-off tab, in this example the tear-off tab 36, formed in the capsule 30 for removing the second upper portion 34b of the sleeve 34 once it has been torn off.
  • the fixing means 31 are arranged to fix the first lower portion 34a to the container 2.
  • the second upper portion 34b has a flange 39 extending transverse to the longitudinal direction X-X toward the inside of the sleeve 34.
  • the sleeve 34 further comprises a pair of lines of weakening, here consisting of two cuts 37, 38 formed in the sleeve 34.
  • the cuts 37, 38 both extend from a portion of the flange 39 and longitudinally along the upper portion 34b toward the circumferential line of weakening 35, to form the tear- off tab 36.
  • the tamper-evident means further comprise a second tear-off seal for attaching the cap 10 to the container 2 and allowing removal of the cap 10 from the mouth 3 of the container 2, once it has been torn off.
  • the closure 1 is adapted to irreversibly move from the second configuration, before tear-off of the second seal, to a third configuration, after tear-off of the first seal.
  • the closure 1 is configured to prevent tear-off of the second seal when the closure 1, i.e. the capsule 30, is in the first configuration and only allow tear-off of the second seal 40 when the closure is in the second configuration.
  • the capsule 30 is configured to prevent tear-off of the second seal when the closure 1 is in the first configuration and only allow tear- off of the second seal when the closure is in the second configuration, i.e. only after tear-off of the first seal.
  • the second tear-off seal comprises at least one second tear-off tab, in this example the tear-off tab 40, attached to the cap 10 via a breakable portion 41.
  • the tear-off tab 40 has a pull portion 40a which is adapted to be pulled to tear off the tear-off tab 40.
  • Second attachment means 42 are provided for attaching the tear-off tab 40 to the container 2, particularly to the neck 4. These attachment means 42 include an annular ridge formed on the interior of the tear-off tab 40 and designed for engagement with a corresponding annular ridge 8 formed on the neck 4 of the container 2. Therefore, the cap 10 is attached to the container 2 by the reversible attachment means 21 and, via the breakable portion 41, by the attachment means 42 of the tear off tab 40.
  • the tear-off of the tear-off tab 40 causes disengagement of the attachment means 42 from the container 2 and breaking of the frangible portion 41, and hence separation of the cap 10 from the tear-off tab 40.
  • the capsule 30 externally surrounds at least one portion of the second seal.
  • the capsule 30 externally surrounds at least the pull portion 40a of the tear-off tab 40.
  • the capsule 30 is configured such that this upper portion 34b to be torn off externally surrounds at least the pull portion 40a of the tear-off tab 40. If the first tear-off seal is configured to remove the capsule 30, once it has been torn off, then said capsule 30 is configured to externally surround at least the pull portion 40a of the tear-off tab 40.
  • the capsule 30 is configured to make at least one portion of the second seal 40 visible.
  • a portion of the second seal 40 is visible through the two cuts 37, 38 formed in the sleeve 34.
  • the sleeve 34 may be made of a transparent material or have at least one transparent portion, which is arranged to make at least one portion of the second seal 40 visible, in the first configuration.
  • the fixing means 31 for fixing the capsule 30 to the container 2 act upon elements fixed to the container 2 and placed between the capsule 30 and the container 2.
  • the tear-off tab 40 has an annular rib 43 that radially projects toward the capsule 30, the latter having a corresponding annular ridge 44 radially projecting toward the tear-off tab 40.
  • the annular ridge 44 of the capsule 30 engages the annular rib 43 of the tear-off tab 40, thereby fixing the capsule 30 to the container 2 through the tear-off tab 40.
  • the tubular band 23 of the attachment means 20 has an annular ridge 23a radially projecting toward the capsule 30 and designed for engagement of the corresponding annular ridge 44 of the capsule 30, in the first configuration.
  • closure of the present invention fulfills the intended purposes.
  • Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that a number of changes and variants may be made to the arrangements as described hereinbefore to meet incidental and specific needs.
  • the continuity of the closure components may be broken in any manner, provided that no functional alteration to the relevant component is caused thereby.

Landscapes

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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tamper-evident closure (1) for a container (2) having a mouth (3). The closure (1) comprises a cap (10) for closing the mouth (3) of the container (2), a capsule (30) associated outside with the cap (10) and having fixing means (31) for fixing the capsule to the container, tamper-evident means for providing evidence of first opening of the closure (1). The tamper- evident means comprise a first tear-off seal (36) configured to remove at least one portion of the capsule (30), once it has been torn off, and a second tear-off seal (40) for attaching the cap (10) to the container (2) and allowing removal of the cap (10) from the mouth (3) of the container (2), once it has been torn off.

Description

Tamper-evident closure with tear-off seal.
The present invention relates to a tamper-evident closure with a tear-off seal.
Tamper-evident closures are known in the art. These closures generally include a cap proper, which is removably associated with the rest of the closure, and a tamper-evident element, which is used to provide first opening evidence.
GB 2 285 623 discloses a tamper-evident closure that comprises a pouring device defining a pouring orifice, a skirt for fixing the pouring device to the container neck, a cap for engaging and disengaging the pouring device to close the pouring orifice and a hood that internally surrounds the skirt and the cap and has an annular portion permanently engaging a lower portion of the skirt. The hood comprises a tear strip which is configured to leave the annular portion engaged with the skirt when the tear strip is torn, thereby providing evidence of first opening of the closure.
EP 1 818 272 discloses a tamper-evident closure comprising a cap for engaging and disengaging the pouring orifice of a pouring device fixed to the mouth of a container and a hood that surrounds the cap and has an annular portion permanently engaging the container neck. The hood comprises a tear strip which is configured to leave the annular portion engaged with the container neck when the tear strip is torn, thereby providing evidence of first opening of the closure.
US 5,667,086 discloses a tamper-evident closure that comprises a cap connected via a breakable portion to a skirt fixed to a container neck, and a hood that surrounds the cap and is fixed to the container neck via the skirt of the cap. The hood comprises a lower portion and an upper portion. The upper portion has a tear strip that allows removal of the upper portion, when it is torn, while leaving the lower portion fixed to the cap skirt and, through the latter, to the container neck.
The above closures have the drawback of not being immune from fraudulent attempts to restore the closure into the configuration it had prior to the first opening by counterfeiters. A counterfeiter may remove not only the part joined to the strip but also, rather easily, the part that remains on the container. Then, the counterfeiter may open the cap, replace the content of the container with some other low-quality content, close the cap and apply a new hood with a seal strip, thereby exactly restoring the closure and container to the configuration they had prior to the first opening. The provision of the breakable portion in US 5,667,086 also cannot obviate this drawback, as the cap may be tightened again until the edges of the cap and the skirt coincide, thereby not providing evidence that the breakable portion has been broken.
Therefore, a need arises in the art as described above for a tamper- evident closure with a tear-off seal, whereby restoration of the closure to the configuration it had prior to the first opening is prevented or at least becomes highly complicated and expensive.
In view of the above prior art, the object of the present invention is to at least partially fulfill the above need, while at least partially obviating prior art drawbacks.
According to the present invention, this object is fulfilled by a closure as defined in claim 1.
The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description of one practical embodiment, which is illustrated without limitation in the annexed drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a closure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in a first configuration,
- Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the closure of Figure 1, in a second configuration,
- Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the closure of Figure 1, in a third configuration,
- Figure 4a shows a side view of the closure of Figure 1,
- Figure 4b shows a sectional view of the closure of Figure 4a,
- Figure 5a shows a side view of the closure of Figure 2,
- Figure 5b shows a sectional view of the closure of Figure 5a,
- Figure 6a shows a side view of the closure of Figure 3,
- Figure 6b shows a sectional view of the closure of Figure 6a,
- Figure 7a shows a side view of a closure according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in a first configuration,
- Figure 7b shows a sectional view of the closure of Figure 7a,
- Figure 8a shows a side view of the closure of Figure 7a, in a second configuration,
- Figure 8b shows a sectional view of the closure of Figure 8a,
- Figure 9a shows a side view of the closure of Figure 7a, in a third configuration,
- Figure 9b shows a sectional view of the closure of Figure 9a.
Although this is not expressly shown, the individual features described with reference to each embodiment shall be intended as auxiliary and/or interchangeable with other features, as described with reference to other embodiments.
Referring to the figures, numeral 1 generally designates a tamper-evident closure.
The closure 1 is intended to close the mouth of a container 2, e.g. a bottle, such as a glass bottle, e.g. for spirits.
In the illustrated example, the container 2 is a bottle and comprises a neck 4 that terminates in a mouth 3 defining a pouring orifice 3 a.
While the closure 1 in itself may be oriented in any direction, for the purposes of the present direction the vertical axis will be defined as the longitudinal axis X-X of the closure 1 and conventionally the bottom side is the side of the closure 1 designed to face towards the container 2, and the top side is the one designed to face towards the consumer; this is actually the normal orientation of the closure when fitted onto a normally oriented bottle (as shown in the figures).
According to one embodiment, a pouring body may be applied to the neck 4 of the container 2 and fixed thereto by known fixing means, which are adapted to prevent any rotational or longitudinal movement of the pouring body relative to the container neck 4. The pouring body and the closure 1 form together a closure assembly. The pouring body has a pouring orifice, that defines the pouring orifice of the container 2.
Reference will be made hereinbelow, without limitation, to a closure 1 for closing the mouth 3 of the container 2.
The closure 1 comprises a cap 10 adapted to close the mouth 3 of the container 2, and particularly adapted to close the pouring orifice 3a of the mouth 3. According to one embodiment, the cap 10 comprises a tubular element 11 that is open at its bottom and closed at its top by a transverse wall 12. Particularly, the tubular element 1 1 extends in a longitudinal direction X-X between a bottom end 13, where it is open, and a top end 14, where the transverse wall 12 is provided.
The cap 10 has an outer surface 11a and an inner surface l ib which are defined by the outer surface and the inner surface of the tubular element 11 respectively. The outer surface 1 la corresponds to the part of the cap 10 that can be grasped by a user for opening and closing the mouth 3 of the closure 2.
The closure 1 comprises attachment means 24 for reversibly attaching the cap 10 to the mouth 3 of the container 2. This will allow normal opening and closing of the mouth 3 of the container 2.
In the embodiment as shown in Figures 1 to 6b, the attachment means 20 include snap fit means 20 allowing snap engagement of the cap 10 with the mouth 3. Particularly, the snap fit means 21 include an annular ridge formed on the inner surface l ib of the tubular element 11 and designed for engagement with a corresponding annular ridge 5 formed on the neck 4 of the container 2.
In the embodiment as shown in Figures 7a to 9b, the attachment means 20 advantageously include, in addition to the snap fit means 21, hinge means 22 adapted to allow articulated movement of the cap 10 between a closed position, in which the cap 10 is placed on the mouth 3 to close it, and an open position, in which the cap 10 is disengaged from the pouring orifice 3 a defined by the mouth 3. The hinge means 22 include a tubular band 23 associated with the neck 4 and a hinge element 24 that connects the tubular band 23 with the cap 10 thereby connecting in articulated fashion the cap 10 to the tubular band 23. In accordance with a different embodiment, the attachment means 20 may include threads formed on the inner surface 1 lb of the cap 10 and designed to engage with threads associated with the container 2 and formed, for example, on the outer surface of the mouth 3.
The closure 1 comprises a capsule 30 associated outside with the cap 10 and having means 31 for fixing the capsule 30 to the container 2.
According to one embodiment, the fixing means 31 include first fixing means 32 for preventing longitudinal displacements of the capsule 30 relative to the container 2 and second fixing means 33 for preventing angular displacements of the capsule 30 relative to the container 2.
In this example, the first fixing means include an annular ridge 32 formed in the interior of the capsule 30 and designed for snap engagement of a collar 6 formed on the neck 4 of the container 2, and the second fixing means include axial ribs 33 arranged in the interior of the capsule 13 and designed for engagement of corresponding grooves 7 on the neck 4 of the container 2.
The closure 1 further comprises tamper-evident means for providing evidence of first opening of the closure 1.
The tamper-evident means comprise a first tear-off seal 36 configured to remove at least one portion of the capsule 30, once it has been torn off.
The closure 1 is adapted to irreversibly move from a first configuration, before tear-off of the first seal, to a second configuration, after tear-off of the first seal.
Particularly, the capsule 30 is adapted to irreversibly move from a first configuration, before tear-off of the first seal, to a second configuration, after tear-off of the first seal. In this example, the sleeve 34 comprises a first lower portion 34a and a second upper portion 34b which are connected by a line of weakening 35.
The first tear-off seal comprises at least one first tear-off tab, in this example the tear-off tab 36, formed in the capsule 30 for removing the second upper portion 34b of the sleeve 34 once it has been torn off. For this purpose, the fixing means 31 are arranged to fix the first lower portion 34a to the container 2.
The second upper portion 34b has a flange 39 extending transverse to the longitudinal direction X-X toward the inside of the sleeve 34.
The sleeve 34 further comprises a pair of lines of weakening, here consisting of two cuts 37, 38 formed in the sleeve 34. The cuts 37, 38 both extend from a portion of the flange 39 and longitudinally along the upper portion 34b toward the circumferential line of weakening 35, to form the tear- off tab 36.
The tamper-evident means further comprise a second tear-off seal for attaching the cap 10 to the container 2 and allowing removal of the cap 10 from the mouth 3 of the container 2, once it has been torn off.
The closure 1 is adapted to irreversibly move from the second configuration, before tear-off of the second seal, to a third configuration, after tear-off of the first seal.
According to one embodiment, the closure 1 is configured to prevent tear-off of the second seal when the closure 1, i.e. the capsule 30, is in the first configuration and only allow tear-off of the second seal 40 when the closure is in the second configuration.
Particularly, the capsule 30 is configured to prevent tear-off of the second seal when the closure 1 is in the first configuration and only allow tear- off of the second seal when the closure is in the second configuration, i.e. only after tear-off of the first seal.
The second tear-off seal comprises at least one second tear-off tab, in this example the tear-off tab 40, attached to the cap 10 via a breakable portion 41.
The tear-off tab 40 has a pull portion 40a which is adapted to be pulled to tear off the tear-off tab 40.
Second attachment means 42 are provided for attaching the tear-off tab 40 to the container 2, particularly to the neck 4. These attachment means 42 include an annular ridge formed on the interior of the tear-off tab 40 and designed for engagement with a corresponding annular ridge 8 formed on the neck 4 of the container 2. Therefore, the cap 10 is attached to the container 2 by the reversible attachment means 21 and, via the breakable portion 41, by the attachment means 42 of the tear off tab 40.
The tear-off of the tear-off tab 40 causes disengagement of the attachment means 42 from the container 2 and breaking of the frangible portion 41, and hence separation of the cap 10 from the tear-off tab 40.
According to one embodiment, the capsule 30 externally surrounds at least one portion of the second seal. Advantageously, the capsule 30 externally surrounds at least the pull portion 40a of the tear-off tab 40.
Particularly, if the first tear-off seal is configured to remove a portion of the capsule 30, for example the upper portion 34b, once it has been torn off, then the capsule 30 is configured such that this upper portion 34b to be torn off externally surrounds at least the pull portion 40a of the tear-off tab 40. If the first tear-off seal is configured to remove the capsule 30, once it has been torn off, then said capsule 30 is configured to externally surround at least the pull portion 40a of the tear-off tab 40.
According to one embodiment, the capsule 30 is configured to make at least one portion of the second seal 40 visible.
In the example of the figures, a portion of the second seal 40 is visible through the two cuts 37, 38 formed in the sleeve 34.
If the capsule 30 has no cut 37, 38 thereon, the sleeve 34 may be made of a transparent material or have at least one transparent portion, which is arranged to make at least one portion of the second seal 40 visible, in the first configuration. According to one embodiment, the fixing means 31 for fixing the capsule 30 to the container 2 act upon elements fixed to the container 2 and placed between the capsule 30 and the container 2.
In the example of Figures 1 to 6b, the tear-off tab 40 has an annular rib 43 that radially projects toward the capsule 30, the latter having a corresponding annular ridge 44 radially projecting toward the tear-off tab 40. In the first configuration, the annular ridge 44 of the capsule 30 engages the annular rib 43 of the tear-off tab 40, thereby fixing the capsule 30 to the container 2 through the tear-off tab 40.
In the example of Figures 7b to 9b, the tubular band 23 of the attachment means 20 has an annular ridge 23a radially projecting toward the capsule 30 and designed for engagement of the corresponding annular ridge 44 of the capsule 30, in the first configuration.
It will be appreciated that the closure of the present invention fulfills the intended purposes. Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that a number of changes and variants may be made to the arrangements as described hereinbefore to meet incidental and specific needs.
For example, unless otherwise imposed by evident technical limitations, any feature described in a preferred embodiment may be clearly used in another embodiment, with appropriate adaptations.
Likewise, the continuity of the closure components may be broken in any manner, provided that no functional alteration to the relevant component is caused thereby.
Also, slight tapers may be imparted to the portions described above as having an annular, cylindrical shape, in response to technological requirements.
All the changes will fall within the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A tamper-evident closure (1) for a container (2) having a mouth (3), said closure (1) comprising:
- a cap (10) for closing the mouth (3) of the container (2),
- a capsule (30) associated outside with said cap (10) and having fixing means (31) for fixing the capsule (30) to the container (2),
- tamper-evident means for providing evidence of first opening of the closure (1),
wherein said tamper-evident means comprise a first tear-off seal (36) configured to remove at least one portion of said capsule (30), once it has been torn off, characterized in that:
- said tamper-evident means comprise a second tear-off seal (40) for attaching the cap (10) to the container (2) and allowing removal of the cap (10) from the mouth (3) of the container (2), once it has been torn off.
2. A tamper-evident closure (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cap (10) comprises attachment means (20) for reversibly attaching the cap (10) to the mouth (3) of the container (2).
3. A tamper-evident closure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said fixing means (31) include first fixing means (32) for preventing longitudinal displacements of the capsule (30) relative to the container (2) and second fixing means (33) for preventing angular displacements of the capsule (30) relative to the container (2).
4. A tamper-evident closure (1) as claimed in any claim from 1 to 3, wherein said closure (1) is adapted to irreversibly move from a first configuration, before tear-off of the first seal (36), to a second configuration, after tear-off of the first seal (36).
5. A tamper-evident closure (1) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said closure (1) is adapted to irreversibly move from the second configuration, before tear- off of the second seal (40), to a third configuration, after tear-off of the second seal (40).
6. A tamper-evident closure (1) as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein said closure (1) is designed to prevent tear-off of the second seal (40), when the closure (1) is in the first configuration and only allow tear-off of the second seal (40) only when the closure (1) is in the second configuration.
7. A tamper-evident closure (1) as claimed in any claim from 1 to 6, wherein said capsule (30) comprises a first lower portion (34a) and a second upper portion (34b) which are connected by a line of weakening (35), the first tear-off seal (36) comprises at least one first tear-off tab formed in the capsule (30), for removing the second upper portion (34b) once it has been torn off.
8. A tamper-evident closure (1) as claimed in any claim from 1 to 7, wherein said second tear-off seal (40) comprises at least one second tear-off tab, which is attached to the cap (10) through a frangible portion (41).
9. A tamper-evident closure (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second tear-off tab (40) has a pull portion (40a) which is adapted to be pulled to tear off said second tear-off tab (40), said capsule (30) exteriorly surrounding at least one portion of the second seal (40).
10. A tamper-evident closure (1) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said capsule (30) exteriorly surrounds at least the pull portion (40a) of the second tear-off tab (40).
11. A tamper-evident closure (1) as claimed in any claim from 8 to 10, wherein second attachment means (42) are provided for attaching said second tear-off tab (40) to the container (2), the tear-off of said second tear-off tab (40) causing disengagement of said second attachment means (42) from the container (2) and breaking of said frangible portion (41), and hence separation of the cap (10) from the second tear-off tab (40).
12. A tamper-evident closure (1) as claimed in any claim from 1 to 11, wherein said capsule (30) is designed to make at least one portion of said second tear-off seal (40) visible.
EP13720031.7A 2012-03-07 2013-02-26 Tamper-evident closure with tear-off seal Active EP2822869B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000361A ITMI20120361A1 (en) 2012-03-07 2012-03-07 TAMPER-EVIDENT CLOSURE WITH RIPPED SEAL
PCT/IB2013/051532 WO2013132384A1 (en) 2012-03-07 2013-02-26 Tamper-evident closure with tear-off seal

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2822869A1 true EP2822869A1 (en) 2015-01-14
EP2822869B1 EP2822869B1 (en) 2016-07-20

Family

ID=45999986

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP13720031.7A Active EP2822869B1 (en) 2012-03-07 2013-02-26 Tamper-evident closure with tear-off seal

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2822869B1 (en)
CN (1) CN104136336B (en)
EA (1) EA025981B1 (en)
ES (1) ES2598854T3 (en)
IT (1) ITMI20120361A1 (en)
UA (1) UA113973C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2013132384A1 (en)

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IT201900002515A1 (en) * 2019-02-21 2020-08-21 Nicola Fabiano LOCKING DEVICE FOR BOTTLES WITH IMPROVED ANTI-TAMPERING SYSTEM.

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EA201400817A1 (en) 2014-11-28
UA113973C2 (en) 2017-04-10
EA025981B1 (en) 2017-02-28
ES2598854T3 (en) 2017-01-30
CN104136336B (en) 2017-07-28
WO2013132384A1 (en) 2013-09-12
ITMI20120361A1 (en) 2013-09-08
EP2822869B1 (en) 2016-07-20
CN104136336A (en) 2014-11-05

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