CN1325338C - Safety sealing device for bottles, with optical indicator for displaying opened unallowed - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a safe closing device (1) which is used for articles, such as a bottle (2) and is provided with an optical indicator displaying unauthorized opening. The present invention is characterized in that the closing device comprises at least one circular disc element (40) along the direction of the transversal section of a cap (4), wherein at least one convex part (43) is arranged on the upper surface (41) of the circular disc element (40) and coupling devices (39, 50) are arranged on the lower surface (42) of the circular disc element (40), a container device (19) which is easy to break is arranged between the convex parts (43) of the upper surface of the circular disc element (40), and a substance loaded in the container device (19) can change the state of a region which can be seen by transparent parts (20, 21) of the cap (4). Particularly, when the cap (4) is screwed off by a user, the relative movement between the circular disc element (40) and the container device (19) which is easy to break is determined by the coupling devices (39, 50), and the convex parts (43) can penetrate the container device.

Description

Security closures for bottles etc. with optical indicator showing tampering

technical field

The present invention relates to a security closure for a bottle or the like having an optical indicator showing a tamper, providing the user with information that the closure of the bottle has previously been tampered or removed.

Background technique

Purchasers of containers often request to ascertain whether closures have been previously tampered with or removed.

Optical indicators are known to fulfill this requirement and are used as a control to determine whether the container is in its original closed state or has been opened and/or has been opened without authorization.

In particular, US Patent 4480760 provides a container closure having on its upper surface several microcapsules which provide information about opening and/or tampering. The microcapsules rupture when the container cap is removed from the container.

Thus, for example for food or fluids, such an optical indicator can be controlled both from a hygiene point of view and a storage point of view.

However, existing closures with optical indicators have the disadvantage that additional operations are required to install them on the container, once the container has been filled, the cost economically and in the time required for this installation will increase.

For other existing sealing devices with optical indicators, once this sealing device is used, a specific operation sequence must be followed to obtain the contents of the container, which is not easy for users to realize.

Contents of the invention

In light of the above-mentioned prior art, the object of the present invention is to realize a closure device that does not require expensive additional operations on installation, with an indicator that changes appearance when it is opened for the first time, so that the user can be aware of the closure. Closure has been opened and/or tampered with.

Another object of the invention is to incorporate in the closure an indicator which changes appearance when first opened.

A further object of the invention is to facilitate the first opening of the closing device.

According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a safety sealing device for fluid containers, especially liquid bottles, etc., in particular, the invention provides a safety sealing device for fluid containers, the container having An opening defined by an axially extending neck of the bottle body, the container comprising: a cap having at least one transparent surface, a shell and a bottom; said shell extending along a longitudinal axis X-X perpendicular to the cap, which passes through multiple A rib engages on the neck of the container and is connected with a safety seal by a line of weakening; the opening is closed by a lock; the lock is connected to the housing and has a collar; the collar extends axially to the The bottle body of the container extends and engages with the neck of said container; characterized in that said safety sealing device comprises: a disc element arranged on the upper part of said lock, transverse to the housing, the diameter of which is substantially equal to said The diameter of opening, and have upper surface and lower surface; Said upper surface of described disc member, this upper surface has at least one protrusion extending toward the bottom of cap; Breakable container means, is positioned at described at least one protrusion and Between the bottom of the cap, it is used to hold a substance capable of changing the state of the area visible through at least one transparent surface of the cap; engagement means, which are used to define the circle when the housing moves along the rib. Relative movement between the disc element and said breakable containment means such that said at least one protrusion penetrates the breakable containment means.

With the present invention, the safety sealing device for liquid bottles and the like can be realized without additional operations on installation. Moreover, the safety sealing device for liquid bottles and the like obtained by the present invention is simple and intuitive to use.

Finally, the security closure device for liquid bottles and the like obtained with the present invention has easily visible and identifiable indicators showing tampering and/or opening.

Description of drawings

In order that the features and advantages of the present invention may be more clearly understood, embodiments are illustrated below by way of non-limiting examples in the accompanying drawings. In the attached picture:

Fig. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention when it is in a rest position;

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of the same embodiment in Fig. 1 when it is in the use position;

Figure 3 is a perspective top view of a component in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is another perspective bottom view of the same element in Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the present invention when it is in a rest position;

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view of the same embodiment in Fig. 5 when it is in the use position;

Figure 7 is a perspective top view of a component in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is another perspective bottom view of the same element in Figure 7;

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view of the third embodiment of the present invention in a rest position;

Fig. 10 is a partial sectional view of the same embodiment in Fig. 9 when it is in the use position;

Figure 11 is a perspective top view of a component in Figure 9;

FIG. 12 is another perspective bottom view of the same element in FIG. 11 .

Detailed ways

In Figures 1-2 and 5-6, reference numeral 1 generally shows a safety sealing device for liquid bottles 2 and the like.

The device 1 comprises a cap 4 with a housing 5 , a sleeve 6 and a safety seal 7 connected to the housing 5 via a weakening line 8 .

The bottle 2 has an opening 9 delimited by a neck 10 having an outer surface 11 and an inner surface 12 .

The cap 4 has an inner surface 13 and the housing 5 comprises a hollow cylinder extending a predetermined length from the inner surface 13 of the cap 4 towards a free end 14 along an axis X-X perpendicular to the plane of the cap 4 .

In particular, the inner surface 13 of the cap 4 is a base 13 substantially in the shape of a planar disc, here the inner surface 15 of the housing 5 extends along the axis X-X up to the level of the free end 14 .

Furthermore, the housing 5 has support means 16 comprising a projection towards the axis X-X, for example this projection is a shoulder.

This support means or shoulder 16 preferably consists of a stepped profile on the inner surface 15 of the housing 5 in such a way as to form a bulge 17 substantially perpendicular to the inner surface 15 of the housing.

In particular, according to FIGS. 1-2 , the shoulders support changing means 18 made of absorbent paper or woven fabric or litmus paper, above which is a breakable container means 19 .

The changing device 18 consists, for example, of a suitably treated endless felt. For example, the breakable container 19 is also an annular fluid-filled container.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, it can be noted that the cap 4 has a transparent surface 20 at the portion of the cap 4 located on the housing 5 . For example, the transparent surface 20 is located at the felt 18 .

In this way, a transparent strip is formed on the shell 5 of the cap 4 .

According to Figures 5-6, the shoulder supports a container 19 in the form of a microcapsule, also containing a fluid.

Moreover, in this embodiment, it can be noted that the cap 4 has a transparent surface 21 at the head of the cap 4 . This transparent surface 21 is also located at the variation device 18 .

In this way, a substantially planar transparent surface is formed on the entire head surface of the cap 4 .

According to the two embodiments in FIGS. 1-2 and 5-6, it will be understood that the free end 14 of the housing 5 is connected to the safety seal 7 via a plurality of connection keys 22 which will be connected to the bottle 2 first. disconnected when first opened.

Note also the presence of the lock 23 , which is rigidly connected to the inner surface 15 of the housing 5 by means of a partial contact surface 24 .

The lock 23 has a collar 25 extending towards the body of the bottle 2 in a direction parallel to the axis X-X of the cap 4, completely engaging with the inner surface 12 of the neck 10 of this bottle.

Furthermore, near the safety seal 7 , the housing 5 has an annular projection or thread 26 for engaging with a corresponding groove 27 of the sleeve 6 .

Sleeve 6 is put on the neck 10 of bottle 2 according to the technique well known to those skilled in the art, and it is substantially cylindrical or circular tube shape, has the same axis X-X with cap 4, has on its outer surface A rim 28 and a thread 29 consisting of at least one pair of ribs 30 and 31.

In particular, the upper edge 28 forms a flange-like upper surface extending substantially perpendicularly to the axis XX-X towards the outside of the bushing 6 .

Also, at the same time, the rim 28 is a portion extending a predetermined length on the sleeve 6 integrally with the rib 32 .

For example, the rib 32 has a first portion 33, a second portion 34 and a third portion 35, the first portion is substantially straight or flat, the second portion is substantially raised or chamfered, and the third portion The neck is basically straight or flat. Such a configuration of the rib 32 is advantageous from the point of view described below.

The rib 31, whose length is predetermined in the design process, can engage with the helical form on the inner surface 15 of the shell 5 of the cap 4, and, for example, like the rib 30, has a substantially The rectilinear or flat first portion 36 and the substantially raised or chamfered second portion 38bis also facilitate engagement with the helical form on the inner surface 15 of the housing 5 of the cap 4 . In fact, the bead 30 has a substantially straight or flat first portion 37 and a substantially raised or chamfered second portion 38 .

Such a configuration of ribs 31 and 30 is advantageous from the viewpoint described below.

Furthermore, the upper edge 28 also serves as a support seat for the rod-shaped protrusion 39 .

Therefore, the disc member 40 has at least one pair of rod-shaped protrusions 39 .

In fact, the disc element 40 has a thickness predetermined during the design process, so that an upper surface 41 and a lower surface 42 are formed. The protrusion 39 is part of the lower surface 42 .

Furthermore, this disk element 40 also has on its upper surface 41 a further protrusion 43 extending towards the bottom 13 of the cap 4 in a direction parallel to the axis X-X of the cap 4 .

It can be understood from the series of FIGS. 1-8 that there is a difference between the length of the protrusions 43 belonging to the upper surface 41 of the disc element 40 and the length of the protrusions 39 belonging to the lower surface 42 of the disc element 40 . The difference between these two lengths is advantageous from the point of view described below.

In the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the position of the disc member 40 is particularly important. In fact, this disc element 40 is arranged in the upper part of the lock 23 .

It can be understood especially from FIG. 1 that the protrusion 43 is wedged in a special seat 44 formed in the protuberance 17 and that this protrusion 43 extends until it lightly touches the annular container 19 .

On the other hand, it can be understood from FIG. 5 that the protrusion 43 extends as far as the frangible microcapsule-like container means 19 without passing any seat.

According to FIGS. 3-4, a perspective top view and a bottom view of the disc element 40 of the first embodiment, ie the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-2, respectively, can be seen.

In Figures 3-4, a plurality of protrusions 43 can be seen on the upper surface 41 of the disc member 40. These protrusions 43 are arranged at the outer periphery of the disc member 40 in a mutually symmetrical manner.

It may also be noted that the lower surface 42 has fewer rod-like protrusions 39 than the upper surface 41 has protrusions 43 . This is because only one pair of rod-shaped protrusions 39 is sufficient for the desired purpose.

It can be noted from this particular embodiment that the protrusions 43 of the surface 41 are perforating elements having such a conical shape for piercing the container 19, but they could also be of such a shape that the Action to break the elements of the container means 19. For example, container means 19 is made of a glass sheet.

According to the perspective views of the disc member 40 of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-8, it can be noticed that, compared with the perspective views shown in FIGS. At the innermost position, the protrusions 39 on the lower surface 42 are arranged in a manner similar to that shown in the perspective view in Figs. 3-4.

Still considering the embodiment shown in Figures 7-8, the projections 43 are perforating elements having this conical shape for piercing the container 19, but they could also be of such a shape that they are punched by a squeezing action. The elements of the container device 19 are broken.

In both embodiments, the safety closure device 1 according to the invention is assembled in one piece, which can be easily handled to apply pressure to the neck 10 until it engages with the neck of the bottle 2 .

This is the situation shown in Figures 1 and 5, ie when the first and second embodiments of the invention are in the so-called rest position.

As soon as the user performs the act of opening the safety device, ie unscrews the cap 4 relative to the sleeve 6 , the threaded portion 26 engages with the groove of the sleeve 6 , causing an angular displacement of the cap 4 .

In other words, this angular displacement applied by the user will only cause a rotational movement of the cap 4 about its axis X-X, causing the coupling key 22 of the safety seal 7 to break.

Simultaneously, the rod-shaped protrusion 39 acting as the engagement means between the rib 32 and the disc element 40 moves along the straight line or flat portion 33 of the rib 32, since this protrusion 39 is in line with the inner surface 15 of the housing 5 of the cap 4. The shaft is rigidly connected.

In other words, during this first step of rotating the cap 4 , the disc element 40 and the upper protrusion 43 and the lower protrusion 39 move only along the horizontal portion 33 of the rib 32 .

At the same time, the threaded portion (or protrusion) 26 of the housing 5 moves along the groove 27, which is composed of the same portion of the ribs 31 and 30 in a straight line, that is, the portion 36 of the rib 31 and the portion 36 of the rib 30 respectively. 30 consists of 37 parts.

In this step, as already described, the rotation disconnects the connection cap 4 from the line of weakening 8 of the safety seal 7 .

In fact, this safety seal 7 is rigidly connected to the end of the sleeve 6 in order to prevent rotation of the seal by suitable connection means 7a.

As the user continues to rotate the cap 4 , the rod-like protrusion 39 reaches the chamfered (rising) portion 34 of the rib 32 , thereby causing the disc element 40 to undergo an axial movement along the axis X-X together with its protrusions 39 and 43 . This axial movement of the disc element 40 causes the protrusion 43 to pierce the breakable container means 19, thereby allowing the fluid contained in the container 19 to flow out.

The fluid pours onto the felt 18 causing a color change of the felt as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 .

In the first embodiment, as shown in Figures 1-2, when the color of the inner area is different from the original color, the user can see through the transparent surface or transparent strip 20, so that the security sealing device 1 can be easily confirmed. Has been opened and/or opened without authorization.

In the second embodiment, as shown in Figures 5-6, the fluid flowing from the microcapsules 19 causes a color change, which can be seen through the entire head surface 21 of the cap 4, which ensures rapid and intuitive Confirm that the safety sealing device 1 has been opened and/or opened without authorization.

At the end of the rising part 34 of the rib 32 there is further a straight or flat part 35 which locks the disc 40 by means of protrusions 39 and 43, allowing it to pass through suitable means 15a on the inner surface 15 of the housing 5. Deadly against the surface 17 of the bulge 16 .

At the same time, as the projection 26 continues, it reaches the rises 38 and 38bis of the ribs 30 and 31; Unscrew the casing 6, as shown in Figures 2 and 6.

In the two embodiments described above, in the final operation of unscrewing the cap 4, the disc member 40 and the protrusion 43 of the upper surface 41 and the rod-shaped protrusion 39 of the lower surface 42 are always kept in the same position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 . The position shown is the so-called use position.

Figures 9-10 show a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein the elements already described use the same symbols, and it can be immediately noted from Figures 9-10 that the bottle 2 is provided according to conventional techniques well known to those skilled in the art. A pouring element 45 is installed. The housing 5 of the cap 4 has support means 46 comprising a projection towards the axis X-X, which projection is a shoulder.

This support means or shoulder 46 preferably consists of a stepped protrusion on the inner surface of the housing 5 in such a way as to form a bulge 47 substantially perpendicular to the inner surface 15 of the housing. This bead 47 acts as a rib or thread 48 supporting the casting element 45 .

For example, the rib 48 has a substantially straight or flat first portion 49 and a substantially raised second portion 52 .

Such a configuration of the rib 48 is advantageous from the point of view described below.

Furthermore, it can be noted that the cap 4 has a transparent surface 21 at the head of the cap 4 . This transparent surface 21 is located at the changing device 18 .

In particular, the substantially cylindrical or tubular casting element 45 has the same axis as the axis X-X of the cap 4 . Because it has threads 48 on the outside, it can be threadedly engaged with the inner surface 15 of the housing 5 of the cap 4 .

Unlike the previously shown embodiments in FIGS. 1-2 and 5-6 , this embodiment has engagement means 50 disposed between the lock 23 and the disc member 40 .

In fact, it can be noticed from the perspective views in FIGS. 11-12 that this engagement means 50 consists of ribs on the lower surface 42 of the disc element 40 .

In fact, this rib 50 has a flat portion 51 and a raised portion 52, the purpose of which is explained below.

Moreover, it can be noted from FIG. 12 that there is a grooved rib 53 extending axially along the axis X-X of the cap 4 and coaxial with the opening 9 of the pouring element 45 of the bottle 2 .

In this last embodiment, as soon as the user opens the safety device 1 , ie unscrews the cap 4 from the pouring element 45 , the shoulder 46 moves along the thread 47 , causing an angular displacement of the cap 4 .

In other words, this angular displacement applied by the user simultaneously causes a rotational movement and a translation of the cap 4 about its axis X-X, causing the weakening line 8 to break and the protrusion 43 to pierce the container 19 .

Thus, when the user rotates the cap 4, the cap 4 pulls the lock 23 in rotation, since the lock is rigidly connected to the inner surface 15 of the housing 5 by the contact 24, while the disc element 40 is held by the centrally located grooved The ribs 53 are fixed and stand still.

The disc member 40 remains stationary both angularly and axially until the raised portion 52 of the rib 50 is engaged.

When this situation occurs, the disc element 40 is moved axially along the axis X-X to be pierced by the projection 43 , ie the conical projection, resulting in the piercing of the breakable container means 19 .

Thereafter, the fluid contained in the container 19 flows out, which pours onto the changing means 18, causing its color to change.

Since the cap 4 has a transparent surface 21, the user can immediately see whether the cap 4 has been opened and/or tampered with.

Preferably, all of the embodiments described above also allow the breakable container means 19 to contain substances other than fluids, which can also be activated by gaseous elements present in the atmosphere.

In particular and preferably, this solution allows the removal of the variation means 18, thus saving costs and production time.

In fact, the container can be broken, for example, by piercing or squeezing, and once the protrusions have broken the container device, the substance contained in the container oxidizes on contact with oxygen, changing its appearance.

This substance can be a gel or salt particles that change color when in contact with air.

Claims (19)

1. A safety closure device for a fluid container (2) having an opening (9) delimited by a neck (10) extending axially from the body of said container (2), The container includes: a cap (4) having at least one transparent surface (20; 21), a housing (5) and a bottom (13); Said housing (5) extends along a longitudinal axis X-X perpendicular to the cap (4), which engages on the neck (10) of said container (2) by a plurality of ribs (30; 31; 32; 48) , and connect with the safety seal (7) through the weakening line (8); Said opening (9) is closed by a lock (23); said lock (23) is connected to the housing (5) and has a collar (25); The collar (25) extends axially toward the body of the container (2) and engages with the neck (10) of the container (2); It is characterized in that the safety sealing device includes: a disc element (40), arranged in the upper part of said lock (23), transverse to the housing (5), having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said opening (9) and having an upper surface (41) and a lower surface (42); said upper surface (41) of said disc member (40) having at least one protrusion (43) extending towards the bottom (13) of the cap (4); Breakable container means (19), located between said at least one protrusion (43) and the bottom (13) of the cap (4), is used to accommodate at least one transparent surface ( 20; 21) and the visible region of the state of matter; Engagement means (39; 50) for securing said disc element (40) in relation to said breakable container means ( 19) such that said at least one protrusion (43) penetrates the breakable container means (19). 2. Security closure device according to claim 1, characterized in that said engaging means (39; 50) further comprises at least one protrusion (39) extending from said lower surface ( 42) starts protruding and extends longitudinally along the axis of said neck (10) towards the body of said container (2). 3. Security closure device according to claim 2, characterized in that said neck (10) has a tubular sleeve (6) with a plurality of ribs (30; 31; 32) and is fixed on the outside of the neck (10). 4. The security closure device according to claim 3, characterized in that said at least one protrusion (39) is further in contact with one of said plurality of ribs (30; 31; 32) of the tubular sleeve (6) (32) ENGAGEMENT. 5. The security closure device according to claim 4, characterized in that the length of one rib (32) of said plurality of ribs (30; 31; 32) is smaller than the length of the other ribs. 6. The security closure device according to claim 5, characterized in that one rib (32) of said plurality of ribs (30; 31; 32) is a raised rib as a whole. 7. The security closure device according to claim 5, characterized in that one rib (32) of said plurality of ribs (30; 31; 32) has a first portion ( 33) and a second portion (34) with raised ribs. 8. The safety sealing device according to claim 7, characterized in that, at the end of the rising portion (34), the second portion (34) of the rib is further a portion (35) of the rib in a linear shape. 9. The security closure device according to claim 1, characterized in that said engagement means (39; 50) are a plurality of ribs (50) and grooved ribs (53) extending from said disc Said lower surface (42) of the element (40) begins to protrude. 10. The safety sealing device according to claim 9, characterized in that, the plurality of ribs (50) are arranged along the circumference and have a flat portion (51) and a rising portion (52). 11. The security closure device according to claim 6, characterized in that said grooved rib (53) is coaxial with said disc element (40). 12. The security closure device according to claim 1, characterized in that said breakable container means (19) consists of a plurality of microcapsules. 13. The security sealing device according to claim 1, characterized in that said breakable container means (19) is annular in shape. 14. The security closure device according to claim 1, characterized in that said substance capable of changing the state of the area visible through at least one transparent surface (20; 21) of the cap (4) is sensitive to gas elements. 15. The security closure device according to claim 1, characterized in that said upper surface (41) of said disc element (40) has changing means (18) for changing the color state. 16. The security sealing device according to claim 15, characterized in that said changing means (18) for changing the color state is selected from the group consisting of felt cloth, braided fabric, absorbent paper, litmus paper, Gel, salt grains. 17. The security closure device according to claim 16, characterized in that said substance capable of changing the state of an area visible through at least one transparent surface (20; 21 ) of the cap (4) is formed in combination with said The fluid composition that above-mentioned felt cloth (18) reacts. 18. The security closure device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transparent surface (20) of the cap is an annular portion of the housing (5). 19. The security closure device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transparent surface (21) of the cap (4) is an upper planar portion of the cap.

Images