GB2200619A

GB2200619A - Combined closure and security seal for bottles

Info

Publication number: GB2200619A
Application number: GB08717452A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jose Fort Prades
Original assignee: Vem de Tapas Metalicas SA
Current assignee: Vem de Tapas Metalicas SA
Priority date: 1987-01-12
Filing date: 1987-07-23
Publication date: 1988-08-10
Also published as: PT8813T; PT86524A; GB8717452D0; ES1001409U; PT8813U; ES1001409Y

Abstract

A combined closure and security seal for bottles comprises a body member (2) and a capsule (60); the body member (2) has the form of an inverted tapering cup, comprising a threaded cap portion (4) separated by a weakened line from a security seal portion (14) provided with a circumferential ridge (34) and inclined fins (46) which mate with means located on the bottle (6) to prevent both axial removal of the security seal portion (14) and rotation thereof in the unscrewing direction. The capsule (60) is unreleaseably engaged with the cap portion (4) and also carries ratchet teeth engaging teeth carried on an inwardly extending shoulder on the security seal portion (14), said engagement allowing the force applied to the capsule (60) to be transmitted to the security seal portion (14) without affecting the weakened line (12) during application of the assembly to the bottle. <IMAGE>

Description

COMBINED STOPPER AND SECURITY SEAL FOR BOTTLES The invention relates to a combined stopper and security seal for bottles, comprising, a body member and a capsule, the body member being made from plastics material and having the form of an inverted tapering cup with a stopper portion comprised between the end wail of the body member and a weakened transverse portion and a security seal portion extending from the solid transverse portion, the stopper portion being provided with a threaded portion on its inner lateral surface and first irregular portions and the security seal portion being provided on its inside with raised portions for engaging mating means of the bottle to prevent axial movement of the security seal portion and thus removal of the seal portion from the bottle, as well as rotation of the security seal portion in the unscrewing direction, the capsule being made from plastics material having on the inside thereof second irregular portions mating with the first irregular portions to ensure an unreleasable engagement of the capsule with the stopper portion.

Drawbacks frequently occur in the known stoppers having the abovementioned features in the bottle closing operations, due to complete or partial fracture of the stopper across the weakened transverse portion. This is because the stoppering operation involves a screwing action on the capsule fixedly attached to the stopper portion and which is transmitted to the security seal portion (which must overcome a certain degree of resistence) through the weakened transverse portion which, by its very definition, is of low strength.

The invention provides a stopper which overcomes the abovementioned drawbacks. Said stopper is characterised in that the security seal portion is provided with a transverse shoulder adjacent the weakened translrerse portion, there being saw-toothed projections on the shoulder, and an inner annular portion of the capsule, extending from the free edge thereof, is provided with protuberances also of saw-toothed shape, adapted to engage the projections, the projections and/or the protuberances forming an unbroken succession at least over a portion of the circumference.

An embodiment of the stopper of the invention is described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawinas in which: Figure 1 is an elevation view of the inverted cup-shaped body member forming part of the stopper of the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross section view on the line 11-11 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an axial sectional view of the said body member.

Figure 4 is an axial sectional view of the capsule which, together with the said body, forms the stopper of the invention.

Figure 5 is a cross section view on the line V-V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an elevation view of the complete stopper.

Figure 7 is an axial sectional view ofthe stopper as applied to a bottle shown unsectioned.

Figure 8 is a cross section view on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7.

The stopper shcw in the drawings canprises a body member 2 made from plastics material and having generally the form of an inverted,.gnightly tapering cup. Said body member 2 is provided with a stopper portion 4 for closing the mouth of the bottle 6 and for surrounding the end portion of the bottle neck 8; the stopper portion extends from the end wall 10 of the body member 2 down to a weakened transverse portion 12, wherein a number of discontinuous incisions, cuts or other similar system providing a frangible joint have been made.

From the said weakened portion 12, on the other side thereof from the stopper portion 4, there extends a security seal portion 14 which is to remain on the neck 8 of the bottle 6 after the latter has been opened for the first time.

The inner lateral surface 16 of the stopper portion is provided with one or more threads 18 allowing the body member 2 to be screwed onto the bottl.e which, in turn, is provided with mating threads 20. This threaded connection allows the stopper to be removed and replaced successively while the bottle is being used.

The outer lateral surface 22 of said stopper portion is provided with transverse striations or ribs 24, defining therebetween grooves 26 which, in the embodiment shown, have a considerable width. Said surface 22 also comprises a number of longitudinal, i.e. axially orientated striations 28, adjacent pairs of striations 28 defining,-sunken portions 30. The terms striations and grooves are used herein in the widest possible senses.

The terms comprehend ribs, sunken portions, and the like or such striations (illustrated in transverse and longitudinal orientation) may be replaced by a knurling or the like providing surface irregularities lacking a definite orientation and which are capable of serving the purpose referred to hereinafter.

The stopper portion 4 should be thin, since otherwise the mould stripping thereof would be extraordinarily difficult, due principally to the existence of the thread 18.

Preferably, a resilient seal 31 is fitted to the inner surface of the end wall 10, to ensure hermetic closing of the bottle.

The security seal portion 14 is preferably smooth on the outer surface thereof and may contain indications, e.g. relating to the bottle contents. The inner surface 32 is provided with a first transverse raised portion 34 for association with a mating means formed on the bottle, such as the shoulder 36. The raised portion 34 and the shoulder 36 tFigurez7) are provided with slightly sloping surfaces 38 and 40, allowing the security seal portion to be easily fitted onto the bottle neck. Also, said raised portion 34 and shoulder 36 are provided with generally facing surfaces 42 and 44 which together prevent the sealing portion from being axially removed from the bottle.

Said inner surface 32 is also provided with other raised portions in the form of resilient sloping fins 46 for engagement with other mating means on the bottle, in this case raised portions 48 provided with a sloping surface 50 and a generally radially oriented surface 52.

Vihen the stopper is being screwed on, the fins 46 slide over the sloping surfaces 50 and yield, whereby such screwing up movement is not prevented. On the other hand, the sealina portion 14 cannot turn when the stopper is unscrewed, since in this case the end of the fin 46 is blocked aaainst the surface 52, preventing the sealing portion turning with the stopper portion.

The security seal portion 14 is provided with a transverse shoulder 54 adjacent the weakened transverse portion 12; this shoulder is provided with projections 56 of saw-toothed form, the apex 58 of which is axially orientated. Further reference will be made to such projections hereinafter.

The stopper 2 comprises also a capsule 60, also made from plastics material and for covering the stopper portion 4. The capsule 60 is provided on the inside thereof with second irregular portions mating with the first irregular portions of the stopper portion 4, formed by the striations 24 and 28 and the grooves or sunken portions 26 and 30. In the embodiment illustrated, said second irregular portions are formed by longitudinal striations 62 and transverse striations 64.

An inner annular portion of the capsule 60 extending from the free edge 65 thereof is provided with protuberances 66 which, like the projections 56, are saw-toothed in shape, having an axial apex 68. The projections 56 and protuberances 66 are adapted'to engage one another so that when the capsule is fitted on the stopper portion 4, the force required to rotate the capsule is transmitted to the security seal portion directly through the protuberances 66 and projections 56.

In the embodiment illustrated, the projections 56 are arranged in an unbroken succession, whereas the protuberances 66 are regularly spaced apart. It is obvious that the same result would be obtained if the protuberances 66 formed an unbroken series and the projections 56 were spaced apart. Also both sets may form unbroken series or such unbroken series may be formed in one or more portions.

It is also within the scope of the invention that such sawteeth may not have the apex orientated precisely axially, although in this case the mutual engagement of projections 56 and the protuberances 66 is harder to obtain.

The stopper is made with two different parts, i.e.

the body member 2 and the capsule 60, whereby various advantages are attained, among which there should be cited the possibility of obtaining colour combinations and - more importantly - of allowing easy, reliable mould stripping of the stopper portion 4, since it may be thin, which is compatible with a notable robustness of the stopper on being formed by the superimposition of tbe stopper portion 4 and the capsule 60.

The two members 2 and 60 are engaged with one another before stoppering the bottle; the interaction of the first and second surface irregular portions ensures an unreleaseable engagement. Furthermore, the projections 4 56 and protuberances 66 also mutually engage.

As stated hereinbefore, the fitting of the stonper 2 on the bottle neck is easy to accomplish due to the sliding of the surface 40 over the surface 44. Semen te stopper is screwed up, there are no difficulties either, since the sloping fin 46 slides over the respective surface 50 of the raised portions 48.

The use of the stopper will now be described.

Thanks to the engagement of the projections 56 with the protuberances 66 the force required applied to the capsule 60 is transmitted to the security seal portion 14 without affecting the weakened portion 12 at all, whereby any possibility of undesired rupture of the stopper at such portion 12 is avoided.

\'Aen the stopper 2 is, unscrewed for the first time, the rotation applied through the capsule 60 causes it to rise upwardly. ,uch,upward movement may not be followed by the security seal portion 14, because of the interaction between the first raised portion 34 and the shoulder 36, causing stress in the weakened portion 12, tending to break it. Furthermore, the rotation of the capsule 60 and of the stopper portion 4 may not be followed by the security seal portion 14 either, because of the interaction between the fins 46 and the surface 52 of the second raised portions 48; thus the said stress is increased whereby the weakened portion 12 fractures cleanly, without forming filaments by stretching of the plastics material which could remain adhered to the security seal portion, showing a tatty appearance.

After the first unscrewing, the security seal portion 14 usually slides slightly downwards, wherebySlen the stopper is replaced, it no longer causes engagement of the capsule 60 with the security seal portion.

Claims

'CLAIMS:

1. Combined stopper and security seal for bottles, comprising, a body member and a capsule, the body member being made from plastics material and having the form of an inverted tapering cup with a stopper portion / comprised between the end wall of the body member and a weakened transverse portion and a security seal portion extending from the said transverse portion, the stopper portion being provided with a threaded portion on its inner lateral surface and first irregular portions and the security seal portion being provided on its inside with raised portions for engaging mating means of the bottle to prevent axial movement of the security seal portion and thus removal of the seal portion from the bottle, as well as rotation of the security seal portion in the unscrewing direction, the capsule being made from plastics material and having on its inside second irregular portions mating with the first irregular portions to ensure an unreleasable engagement of the capsule with the stopper portion, the security seal portion being provided with a transverse shoulder adjacent the weakened transverse portion, there being saw-toothed projections on said shoulder, and an inner annular portion of the capsule, extending from the free edge thereof, is provided with protuberances also of saw-toothed shape, adapted to engage the projections, the projections and/or the protuberances forming an unbroken succession at least over a portion of the circumference.

2. A stopper according to claim 1, in which the projections or the protuberances are regularly spaced apart.

3. A stopper according to claims 1 or 2, in which the apices of the saw-tooth formed by the projections and protuberances are axially disposed.

4. A stopper substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.