FR2709736A1 - Opening indicator device for bottles having a closure cap. - Google Patents

Abstract

Opening indicator device for bottles sealed by a stopper, comprising means connected by a frangible zone to a ring connected in an inviolable manner to the neck, so that said means break at the location of the frangible zone when they are brought from a protective position in which they oppose the removal of the stopper, to a stopper release position. Said means comprise an element (5) of generally circular shape, integral with a connecting part (6) connected by a frangible zone (12) to the ring (4) so that in the protective position, said element (5) ) covers the top of the plug (3) without substantially projecting from the latter neither axially nor radially. Application: in particular to bottles containing precious liquids such as alcohols, perfumes etc.

Description

Opening indicator device for bottles having a

shutter plug.

  The present invention relates to an opening control device for bottles having a closure cap. In the field of bottles, many so-called inviolability devices are known comprising means directly or indirectly associated with the closure members of these bottles in such a way that the first opening of the bottle requires or causes, on said means, a modification irreversible and visible indication to a consumer that the bottle he wishes to acquire has

  already been opened or at least underwent an attempt to open.

  The same problem arises with respect to the guarantee of the authenticity of a product contained in a bottle, at the time of the first opening of this bottle. This problem exists especially for expensive alcohols, perfumes and other liquids, the purpose of the guarantee of authenticity devices being to prevent fraudsters from reusing bottles having contained a quality product, by filling them with a product of lesser quality, and thus try to deceive the

  consumer on the authenticity of the product.

  According to the patent application FR-A-2,675,473, such a guarantee of authenticity device or opening control for bottles comprising a closure cap comprises means connected by a frangible zone to a ring integral with the neck of the bottle, so that said means break at the location of the frangible zone when they are brought from a protective position in which they oppose the removal of the closure member, at a position release of the plug. According to this document, said means comprise a C-shaped guarantee jumper whose at least one of the branches is connected by a frangible zone to the ring integral with the neck. According to this document, the ring which is secured to the rider is attached to the neck of the bottle before filling of the latter, the rider being in the release position, position in which it allows the filling of the bottle and the establishment of the shutter plug. It is only then that the rider is brought into a protective position above the cap, which requires the use of removable means which keep the rider's leg part close to the breakable zone while the remaining part of the rider jumper undergoes a deformation to move from the release position to the protective position of the cap. The fact that with this device, the ring with its rider must be placed on the bottle before filling the latter, and in particular at the time of manufacture of the bottle, and that an intervention requiring implementation retaining means is necessary after filling and sealing the bottle, complicates the manufacture of bottles and the packaging of the products in the bottles, and therefore leads to an increase in the cost of this packaging. In addition, the rider who rides the head of the bottle is a fragile element that exceeds the bottle, which carries a relatively high risk of inadvertent damage to the opening control device and greatly hinders

  the handling, the canning and the storage of the bottles.

  The present invention aims at an opening control device which, while being of greater reliability, is simpler to manufacture and to

  implement and reduced cost.

  The opening control device object of the invention for bottles comprising a closure cap comprises means connected by a frangible zone to a ring which is inviolably connected to the neck of the bottle, so that said means break with the location of the frangible zone when they are brought from a protective position in which they oppose the removal of the closure plug at a release position of the stopper. According to the invention, said means comprise an element of circular general shape integral with a connecting portion connected by a frangible zone to the ring so that in the protective position, said element covers the top of the cap without substantially exceeding

  the latter neither axially nor radially.

  The covering element may, in the context of the invention, be an annular element, in which case the top of the plug is visible through this element, or a solid circular element, so that the

  top of the cap is not visible through this element.

  To facilitate the gripping of the covering element, in order to bring it in the release position of the cap, it is advantageous for this element to protrude somewhat radially above the cap in an area situated opposite the portion link

  between the cover member and the ring.

  The connecting part between the covering element and the ring may advantageously consist of a single branch, of

  preferably substantially parallel to the axis of the plug.

  The frangible zone between the connecting branch and the ring may preferably be formed on the ring by a part of reduced thickness.

  surrounding the connection area of this branch to the ring.

  In view of its connection with the neck of the bottle, the ring may comprise an internal groove receiving a retaining ring

  cooperating with a rim of the neck.

  Preferably, this retaining ring is a split ring.

  This retaining ring may for example have a V-shaped profile, a wing of the V cooperating with the inner groove of the ring and the other wing of the V cooperating with a groove which defines said flange on the

neck.

  In the case where the ring bears on a shoulder of the neck, it is advantageous for the ring to have, below its internal groove, a lower skirt which bears on said shoulder, said skirt comprising rupture primers signaling

  any attempted break-in at the location of this skirt.

  In the case where the neck of the bottle or the stopper closing the neck does not allow the introduction of the opening control device

  from the top, simply by fitting the ring on the neck,

  above the plug, it is advantageous that the ring be formed of two half-rings, the covering element being integral with one of the half-rings and the two half-rings comprising means for their

  inviolable reciprocal assembly in a throat of the neck.

  Although said assembly means can, in the context of the invention, be formed by mechanical snap-fastening means, they comprise, according to a preferred embodiment, holes and tenons nested in said holes and maintained in the latter. by gluing. In this case, said holes may advantageously communicate through passages with the inner surface of the ring to allow, during the assembly of the half-rings, by interlocking the tenons in the holes, a glue transfer of these holes to the interface of the ring with the neck, in order to immobilize the ring on the neck. The opening control device according to the invention can be made in various materials, the covering element, the connecting portion and the ring or one of the half-rings being preferably made in one piece by molding. in light alloy, for example

in "Zamak".

  Referring to the accompanying drawings, will be described below in more detail two illustrative and non-limiting embodiments of an opening control device according to the invention; in the drawings: FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a first embodiment of the device in a protective position on a bottle neck, FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the same device taken in the direction of arrow II. of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the device of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a partial section, on a larger scale, along IV-IV of Figure 3, showing the attachment of the ring to the neck of the bottle; Figure 5 is an elevational view of a second embodiment of the device in a protective position on a bottle neck; Figure 6 is an axial section of the device of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a section along VII-VII of Figure 6, showing the two half-rings of the device before assembly; Figure 8 is a view of one of the half-ring in the direction of the arrow ViII in Figure 7; FIG. 9 is a view of the other half-ring in the direction of the

arrow IX in FIG.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the opening control device 1 for the neck 2 of a bottle, sealed with a stopper 3, comprises a ring 4 and a covering element 5 integral with

  the ring 4 by a connecting branch 6.

  According to Figure 4, the ring 4 has an inner groove 7 in which is mounted a retaining ring 8, preferably split. In the example shown, this retaining ring 8 has a V-shaped profile, with a substantially vertical outer branch 9 engaged in the groove 7 of the ring 4 and an inclined inner branch 10

  in an outer groove 1 1 of the neck 2.

  Around the connecting portion of the connecting branch 6 to the ring 4, the latter has a zone 12 of reduced thickness of which

  the function will appear later.

  The connecting branch 6 extends substantially parallel to

  the axis of the bottle between the ring 4 and the covering element 5.

  The covering element 5 has a generally flat and circular shape whose diameter corresponds to the diameter of the plug 3,

  such that the element 5 covers the top of the plug 3.

  However, the element 5 comprises, in a zone located opposite the connecting branch 6, a crescent-shaped portion 13 protruding on the generally circular shape of the element 5, this portion 13 radially projecting from the plug 3 to the way of a visor (see

Figures 1 and 3).

  After filling the bottle and closing the neck 2 of the latter by the cap 3, the opening indicator device 1 is placed on the neck so that the element 5 covers the top of the cap 3. By the retaining ring 8, the ring 4 is made integral with the neck 2, breaking primers 14 provided on a skirt 15 extending the ring 4 downwards and bearing on a shoulder 16 of the neck 2 may also be provided to report any attempt

  break-in at the point of the ring.

  Since the element 5 covers the cap 3 by preventing any uncoupling, its presence is an absolute guarantee of authenticity

  of the product contained in the bottle carrying device 1 intact.

  Before being able to unclog the bottle, it is necessary to disengage the element 5 from the top of the cap 3. For this purpose, it suffices to engage a finger or a fingernail below the protruding part 13 of the element 5 and exert a force on this part 13 for a break occurs at the point of connection of the connecting branch 6 to the ring 4. Indeed, because of the frangible zone 12 of reduced thickness surrounding this part of connection, a rupture of this zone 12 is irremediable in that it is not possible to restore this connection for example by welding or gluing, without

  this "repair" is clearly perceptible.

  The entire opening control device 1, namely the ring 4, the covering element 5 and the connecting branch 6, is made in one piece by metal molding, for example a light alloy such as the "Zamak", or also other materials, for example

a plastic material.

  The opening control device 1 as illustrated by FIGS. 5 to 9 shows the general characteristics of the device 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 4 (covering element 5 connected by a connection branch 6 to a ring 4 comprising a zone 12 reduced thickness at the connection point of the connecting branch 6). On the other hand, the neck 2 of the bottle is here closed off by a stopper 3 whose diameter is greater than the outside diameter of the neck 2, so that the ring 4 can not be fitted from above onto the neck 2,

over the cap 3.

  This is the reason why the ring 4 here consists of two half-rings 4a and 4b each of which internally has a profile complementary to the outside profile of the neck 2, the two half-rings 4a and 4b being assembled together around the neck 2. The element of

  overlap 5 is connected by the connecting part 6 to one of the half

rings, namely the half-ring 4a.

  According to FIGS. 7 and 8, the half-ring 4a has in each of its two end faces 17 located in the same plane, a blind hole 18 having here a profile composed of two half-circles connected by two parallel straight lines, the section of each hole 18 decreasing towards the rounded bottom of the hole 18. It should be noted that a slot

  19 extends between each hole 18 and the inner surface of the half

  ring 4a, since the opening of the hole 18 on part of the depth

  of the latter, namely to the rounding of the bottom of the hole 18.

  Furthermore, the half-ring 4a externally comprises a tongue 20 projecting from one of the end faces 17 and a step 21 set back in the other end face 17. According to FIGS. 7 and 9, FIG. Another half-ring 4b comprises, on each of two end faces 22 located in the same plane, a stud 23 having a profile adapted to the profile of the holes 18 of the half-ring 4a. Each stud 23 has, distributed around its periphery, four longitudinal zones 24 slightly raised relative to the remaining part

the profile of the post 23.

  Finally, the half-ring 4b externally has a tongue 25 projecting on one of its end faces 22, similarly to the tongue 20 of the half-ring 4a, and a step 26 recessed in

  the other end face 22, similarly to the step 21 of the half

ring 4a.

  To set up this opening indicator device 1 on the bottle neck 2 closed by the stopper 3, according to FIG. 5, a predetermined quantity of glue is deposited in each of the holes 18 of the half-ring 4a. The half-ring 4a is then presented on one side of the neck 2 so that the covering element 5 integral with the half-ring 4a caps the stopper 3, and the other half-ring 4b on the opposite side of the neck 2, so that the two half-rings are face to face in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7. When the two half-rings 4a and 4b are brought together, the tenons 23 of the half-ring 4b penetrate into the holes 18 of the half-ring 4a and the glue previously deposited in the holes 18 is thus pushed back partly towards the end faces 17, in the intervals between the zones 24 in relief on the tenons 23, and partly by the slots 19 towards the interface between the half-ring 4a and the outer surface of the neck 2, thus making the half-ring 4a integral with the neck. The tongues 20 and 25 penetrating the steps 21 and 26 cover the assembly plane of the two half-rings 4a and 4b and thus hide any excess glue that may overflow at the surface of the surfaces.

  end 17 and 22 of the two half-rings 4a and 4b.

  In this embodiment also, the opening control device 1 may be made by molding metal, for example light alloy, or plastic, but in two parts comprising a half-ring 4a, the element 5 and the connecting arm 6, and the other the half-ring 4b. Of course, the embodiments shown and described have been given only by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples and numerous modifications and variants are possible within the scope of the invention. Thus, the covering element 5, instead of being a solid element, generally circular in shape, could also be a hollow element, that is to say an element of generally annular shape, making it possible to see the top of the plug 3 when the element 5 is in

protection position.

  Moreover, the V-shaped retaining ring 8 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 could be replaced by a retaining ring having another profile, depending on the grooves provided for in FIG.

  ring 4, on the one hand, and in the neck 2 of the bottle, on the other hand.

  The covering element 5 and the connecting branch 6 could have different shapes from those shown, in adaptation to the

  general shape of the cap 3 closing the neck 2 of the bottle.

  The frangible zone 12 between the connecting branch 6 and the ring 4

  could also be carried out differently.

  Finally, the holes 18 and tenons 23 of the two half-rings 4a and 4b of the embodiment of Figures 5 to 9 could be replaced by other tamper-proof assembly means, for example snap-fastening means.

Claims (11)

  1. Opening indicating device for bottles comprising a closure cap (3), comprising means (5) connected by a frangible zone (12) to a ring (4) which is inviolably connected to the neck (2) of the bottle so that said means are broken at the location of the breakable zone (12) when they are brought from a protective position in which they oppose the removal of the closure plug at a position of release of the plug, characterized in that said means comprise a member (5) of generally circular shape integral with a connecting portion (6) connected by a frangible zone (12) to the ring (4) so that in protective position, said element (5) covers the top of the plug (3) without   to overflow substantially from the latter axially or radially.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that   the covering element (5) is an annular element.   3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that   the covering element (5) is a circular element.   4. Device according to any one of the claims   characterized in that the cover element (5) radially protrudes a little beyond the top of the plug (3) in an area (13) situated opposite the connecting part (6) between the element   covering (5) and the ring (4).   5. Device according to any one of the claims   preceding, characterized in that the connecting portion (6) is constituted by a single branch, preferably substantially parallel to the axis of the plug.   6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the frangible zone (12) between the connecting branch (6) and the ring (4) is formed on the ring by a portion (12) of reduced thickness.   surrounding the connection area of this branch to the ring.   7. Device according to any one of the claims   preceding, characterized in that the ring (4) has an inner groove (7) receiving a retaining ring (8), preferably split, preferably V-shaped profile, cooperating with a flange (11) of the neck (2).   8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized by the fact that the ring (4) is formed of two half-rings (4a, 4b), that the covering element (6) is integral with one (4a) of said half-rings, and that the two half-rings (4a, 4b) comprise means (18, 23) for their reciprocal assembly   tamper-proof in a throat of the neck (2).   9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said connecting means comprise holes (18) and tenons   (23) nested and glued in said holes.   10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the holes (18) communicate by passage (19) with the inner surface of the half-ring (4a) to allow, during assembly of the half-rings ( 4a and 4b) by interlocking the pins (23) in the holes (18), a glue transfer of said holes to the interface between the ring and the neck, in order to immobilize the ring on the neck.   11. Device according to any one of the claims   preceding, characterized in that the ring (4) or one (4a) of the half-rings, the covering element (5) and the connecting part (6) are made in one piece by molding, for example light alloy.