TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a tamper evident closure, i.e. a closure comprising devices that can provide evidence of first opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

WO 2011/086407 discloses a tamper evident closure with inner and outer parts, wherein the outer part moves relative to the inner part upon first opening. The inner part may be made of cork, possibly of synthetic nature, or of screw type, adapted to be tightened to a threaded pouring device applied to the neck of the bottle. The outer part is adapted to be grasped by a user to open the closure and move the outer part relative to the inner part from a first position, prior to first opening, to a second position, after first opening. Irreversible attachment means are provided to prevent the outer part to move back to the position prior to first opening once the outer part is in the second position. Various embodiments of the irreversible attachment means are proposed.

With some embodiments, the attachment means are made integral with the inner part. This has the drawback that the design of the attachment means is bound by the inner part.

With other embodiments, the attachment means are separate from the inner part but their structure does not guarantee a reliable locking of the outer and inner parts in the second position. Moreover, their arrangement makes difficult to assembly the closure.

In view of the above prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a tamper evident closure having a strong locking between outer and inner parts, which can be simply manufactured and which makes available a wide range of choice for designing the attachment means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, this purpose is fulfilled by a tamper evident closure according to claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description of one practical embodiment, which is given as a non limiting example with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

- figure 1 shows a closure according to a first embodiment of the invention, applied to a bottle neck, prior to first opening,

- figure 2 shows a sectional view of the closure of figure 1 ,

- figure 3 shows the closure of figure 1 upon first opening, which is the same configuration it has when it is reclosed,

- figure 4 shows a sectional view of the closure of figure 2,

- figures 5 and 6 show exploded views of the closure of figure 1,

- figure 7 shows a closure according to a second embodiment of the invention, applied to a bottle neck, prior to first opening,

- figure 8 shows a sectional view of the closure of figure 7,

- figure 9 shows the closure of figure 7 upon first opening, which is the same configuration it has when it is reclosed,

- figure 10 shows a sectional view of the closure of figure 9,

- figure 11 shows the sectional view of a closure according to a third embodiment of the invention, applied to a bottle neck, prior to first opening,

- figure 12 shows the closure of figure 11 upon first opening, which is the same configuration it has when it is reclosed, - figure 13 shows a closure according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, applied to a bottle neck, prior to first opening,

- figure 14 shows a sectional view of the closure of figure 13,

- figure 15 shows a sectional view of the closure of figure 13, with the tear off band removed,

- figure 16 the sectional view of a closure according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, applied to a bottle neck, prior to first opening,

- figure 17 shows a closure according to a sixth embodiment of the invention, applied to a bottle neck, prior to first opening,

- figure 18 shows the closure of figure 17 upon first opening, which is the same configuration it has when it is reclosed,

- figure 19 shows a closure according to a seventh embodiment of the invention, applied to a bottle neck, prior to first opening,

- figure 20 shows the closure of figure 19 upon first opening,

- figure 21 shows the closure of figure 20 when reclosed,

- figure 22 shows a closure according to a eighth embodiment of the invention, applied to a bottle neck, prior to first opening,

- figure 23 shows the closure of figure 22 upon first opening, which is the same configuration it has when it is reclosed,

- figure 24 shows a closure according to a ninth embodiment of the invention, applied to a bottle neck, prior to first opening,

- figure 25 shows the closure of figure 24 upon first opening, which is the same configuration it has when it is reclosed..

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the figures 1 to 6, there is shown a tamper evident closure 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

The closure 1 is intended to close the mouth 11 of a container 10, e.g. a bottle, such as a glass bottle, e.g. for spirits.

The container 10 comprises a neck 12 that terminates in the mouth 11.

The closure 1 extends along a longitudinal direction X-X and comprises an inner part 20 and an outer part 30.

While the closure 1 in itself may be oriented in any direction, for the purposes of the present direction, conventionally the lower side will be the side of the closure 1 designed to face towards the container 10, and the upper side will be the opposite one.

The outer part 30 is able to be grasped for opening and closing the closure 1 and is movable relative to the inner part 20 from a first position, corresponding to the position prior to first opening, to a second position.

The outer part 30 comprises a tubular sleeve 31 extending longitudinally from a lower portion 32 and an upper portion 33. The tubular sleeve 31 has an outer surface 34 able to be grasped for opening and closure the closure 1 and an inner surface 35 facing the inner par 20.

The outer part 30 is movable relative to the inner part 20 along the longitudinal direction X-X.

The closure 1 comprises first reversible attachment means 40, capable of attaching the inner part 20 to the container 10 for opening and closing the container 10 and second irreversible attachment means 50 capable of locking longitudinally the outer part 30 relative to the inner part 30 in the second position.

Prior to first opening, the outer part 30 is, in a first configuration, free to rotate relative to the inner part 20 so that a user is forced to move the outer part 30 longitudinally upward to perform first opening of the closure 1.

However, as it will be explained with reference to a different embodiment, third attachment means 70 may be provided to prevent longitudinal and/or rotational movement of the outer part 30 relative to the inner part 20 until said third attachment means are released.

It is also pointed out that figures 1-16 show an unthreaded closure 1 according to different embodiments of the present invention. According to these embodiments, the first attachment means 40 comprise a stopper 41 configured to allow sealable engagement inside the neck 12 of the container 10. Such stopper may be made of cork, synthetic cork or other materials.

Alternatively, the first attachment means 40 may comprise threads for engagement with threads associated with the container 10. The container may be threaded itself or a threaded pouring device may be fixed to the neck 12 of the container 10.

The inner part 20 comprises a tubular member 21 firmly attached, longitudinally and rotationally to the first attachment means 40. The tubular member 21 extends longitudinally from a lower portion 22 and an upper portion 23. At the upper portion 23, the tubular member 21 comprises a transverse wall 24 extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal directions X-X.

The lower portion 22 is directly engaged with the upper edge of the neck 12 defining the mouth 11.

A cover 24a is positioned above the transverse wall 24 and firmly attached to the transverse wall 24, such as by ultrasonic welding, glue or other means able to create a firm bond.

In the figures 1-6, the upper portion 33 defines a upper opening 33a for accommodating the cover 24a.

The stopper 41 has a lower part 42 capable of engaging inside the neck 12 of the container 10 and an upper part 43 attached to the tubular member 21, in particular to the transverse wall 24. In order to attach the stopper 41 to the transverse wall 24, ultrasonic welding may be used. Alternatively, glue or other means to create a firm bond may be used.

Upon first opening, the inner part 20 remains longitudinally stationary with respect to the container 10 and the outer part 30 moves relative to the inner part 20 and the container 10 from the first position to the second position. In the second position, the second attachment means 50 lock longitudinally the outer part 30 relative to the inner part 20 so that the outer part 30 cannot be moved back to the first position.

When the second part 30 reaches the second position, the first reversible attachment means 40 can be released to remove the closure 1 from the container 10.

In other words, the second attachment means 12 allow the outer part 30 to move relative to the inner part 20 from the first position to the second position and lock irreversibly the outer part 30 relative to the inner part 20 in the second position once the outer part 30 has reached the second position.

Upon reclosing the container 10 and reapplying the closure 1 to the neck 12, the outer part 30 cannot be moved back to the first position.

According to the embodiment of figures 1-18 and 22-25 a portion of the inner part 20, such as the lower portion 22 of the tubular member 21, is visible in the second position thereby giving evidence that the container 10 has been opened. This visible portion of the inner part 20 represents a first tamper evident feature of the closure 1. It is pointed out that, in this embodiment, in order to perform this first tamper evident feature, the visibility of the lower portion 22 - visible in the second position - has to be prevented in the first position. Furthermore, the inner part 20 has at least one stop portion 27 configured to abut against the mouth 11 in the first position. Upon reclosing the closure 1 , the stop portion 27 abuts against the mouth 11 and prevents the visible portion, such as the lower portion 22 of the tubular member 21, to move downward longitudinally inside the neck 12 of the container 10, thereby the visible portion remains visible and gives evidence that the container 10 has been opened.

According to the embodiment of figures 1-6, the closure 1 has a top surface defined by a portion of the inner part 20 and a portion of the outer part 30. In the figures, the portion of the inner part 20 is the cover 24a and the portion of the outer part 30 is the upper portion 33 of the tubular sleeve 31. In particular, prior to first opening, the cover 24a is substantially flush with the upper portion 33. When the outer part 30 is in the second position, the cover 24a is lowered relative to the upper portion 33 so that an upper portion 35a of the inner surface 35 of the outer part 30 is visible through the upper opening 33a. This represents a second tamper evident feature of the closure 1.

The second attachment means 50 comprise a deformable annular member 51 housed in the closure 1 and cooperating with the inner part 20 and the outer part 30 to lock the outer part 30 relative to the inner part 20 in the second position. The annular member 51 is separate from the inner part 20 and the outer part 30.

Since the annular member 51 is a separate element from the inner part 20 and the outer part 30, it can be made of any material, even different from the material of the inner and outer parts. Furthermore, the annular member 51 may undergo elastic deformations independently of the inner part 20 and outer part 30. This further improves the reliability and strength of the locking between these two parts.

Advantageously, the locking surface made available by the annular member 51 develops substantially over an entire circumference thereby improving the locking strength.

According to one embodiment, upon first opening, the annular member 51 remains longitudinally stationary with respect to the inner part 20 and the container 10 and the outer part 30 moves relative to the annular member 51 from the first position to the second position. In the second position, the annular member 51 engages a locking surface 36 of the outer part 30. To this purpose, the annular member 51 comprises a locking surface 52 intended to engage the locking surface 36 of the outer part 30 in the second position.

The locking surface 36 is defined by a lower surface of an annular protrusion 37 formed on the inner surface 35 of the outer part 30.

According to one embodiment, the annular member 51 is positioned in a annular seat 25 formed between the inner part 20 and the outer part 30. Therefore, the inner part 20 and the outer part 30 delimit radially the annular seat 25. The annular seat 25 is closed on the lower side by an upper portion 38 of the annular protrusion 37 and on the upper side by the cover 24a. In the example, the annular member 51 has a lower portion 55 resting on the upper portion 38 of the annular protrusion 37 and an upper portion 56 on which a lower surface 24b of the cover 24a rests. By this way, the annular member 51 can be easily positioned within the annular seat 25 during the manufacturing process. Then the annular seat 25 can be closed on the upper side by placing the cover 24a.

Upon first opening, the outer part 30, and therefore the annular protrusion 37, moves relative to the inner part 20 and the annular member 51. The minimum diameter Dl of the annular protrusion 37 is smaller than the maximum diameter D2 of the annular member 51. Due to the fact that the annular member 51 is deformable, it deforms inwardly in order to let the annular protrusion 37 to pass over longitudinally. As soon as the annular protrusion 37 passes over the annular member 51, the locking surface 52 of annular member 51 engages beneath the locking surface 36 of the outer part 30. The engagement of the locking surfaces 52,36 is irreversible so that any disengagement of these locking surfaces 52,36, following an effort of a forger to recover the position of the outer part 30 prior to first opening, such as by pressing downwards the outer part 30, is prevented.

In order to avoid any downward movement of the annular member 51 after first opening, when the outer part 30 is in the second position, the lower portion 55 engages an annular groove 56 formed in the inner surface 35 of the outer part 30.

According to a preferred embodiment, the annular member 51 is at least radially deformable.

In the example shown in the figures, the annular member 51 is a split ring having two separate ends 53,54.

Advantageously, the annular protrusion 37 exhibits a continuous locking surface 36 developing circumferentially aver substantially the entire length of the split ring 51.

Alternatively, the annular member 51 may be a closed ring. In this case, it is advantageous to provide a plurality of protrusion and a plurality of depressions in the outer part 30. During first opening, portions of the annular member 51 may pass through corresponding depressions of the outer part 30 to allow passage of the remaining portions of the annular member 51 over corresponding protrusions of the outer part 30. Advantageously, in the second position, the outer part 30 becomes also rotationally locked relative to the inner part 20. To this purpose, the inner part 20 comprises longitudinal ridges 26 adapted to engage longitudinal ridges 39 formed on the inner surface 35 of the outer part 30.

The second embodiment of figures 7-10 will be now described with the assumption that the differences with the first embodiment will be only mentioned, whereby all that is not expressly described as different may be intended to be provided in a similar or identical manner.

In this embodiment, prior to first opening, a portion 25 of the cover 24a is offset relative to the upper portion 33. When the outer part 30 is in the second position, this portion 25 of the cover 24a is flush with the upper portion 33.

According to the third embodiment of figures 11,12, an outer capsule 60 is arranged around the outer part 30. The outer capsule 60 comprises a tubular element 61 extending longitudinally between a lower portion 62 and an upper portion 63 and closed on the upper side by a transverse wall 64 at the upper portion 63. The tubular element 61 is attached rotationally and longitudinally to the tubular sleeve 31 while the transverse wall 64 is positioned above the cover 24a and it is longitudinally movable relative to the cover 24a together with the outer part 30. In other words, the cover 24a and the transverse wall 64 are unbound.

With this embodiment, the top surface of the closure 1 is defined by the top surface of the outer capsule 60, that is by the transverse wall 64. When the outer part 30 is in the second position, the cover 24a is lowered relative to the upper portion 33 and relative to the transverse wall 64. In case the transverse wall 24 is partially transparent, an upper portion 35a of the inner surface 35 of the outer part 30 is visible through the upper opening 33a as for the first embodiment. According to the fourth embodiment of figures 13-15, third attachment means 70 are provided to prevent longitudinal and/or rotational movement of the outer part 30 relative to the inner part 20 until said third attachment means are released.

In the figures, the third attachment means 70 comprise a tear off band 71 connected with the outer part 30 by a frangible portion 72, in the example a plurality of bridges. When the tear off band 71 is torn, the frangible portion 72 breaks and the outer part 30 can be moved longitudinally away from the inner part 20 to open the closure 1.

According to the fifth embodiment of figure 16, the tear off band 71 is connected with the inner part 20 by a frangible portion 72 which breaks when the tear off band 71 is torn.

According to the sixth embodiment of figures 17-18, in the closed position before first opening, the lower portion 32 of tubular sleeve 31 is positioned longitudinally below the lower portion 22 of the tubular member 21.

Advantageously, the mouth 11 has an inner part 11a designed to form an abutment for the lower portion 22 of the tubular member 21 and an outer part l ib lowered with respect this inner part 11a and designed to form an abutment for the lower portion 32 of the tubular sleeve 31.

This configuration of the tubular sleeve 31 conceals the lower portion 22 in the first position thereby preventing access to inner part 20 of the closure 1 unless the outer part 30 is activated to move from the first to the second position. This prevents tampering of the closure 1. In particular, if a forger attempts to gain access to the inner part 20 to remove the closure 1 without activating the second attachment means 50 by acting with a tool between the lower portion 32 and the outer part 1 lb, the tubular sleeve 31 moves upwards until second attachment means 50 lock longitudinally the outer part 30 relative to the inner part 20. With the outer part 30 locked in the second position the tampering activity of the forger becomes vain.

According to the seventh embodiment of figures 19-21, a portion of the inner part 20, in particular a lateral portion 41a of the stopper 41 is visible in the second position. However, upon reclosure, this lateral portion 41a returns concealed. Therefore, in this embodiment, the closure 1 is provided with the first tamper evident feature as above described, for example with respect to figures 1-6.

In addition, the outer part 30 may be provided with a security step 80 extending inwardly. Advantageously, this security step 80 is formed at the lower portion 32 of the tubular sleeve 31. In the second position, the security step 80 engages an abutment surface 27a of the inner part 20 to prevent dissembling of the closure 1. In particular, the security step 80 engages the abutment surface 27a in the second position to prevent the outer part 30 to further move from this second position longitudinally upward relative to the inner part 20. The engagement of the security step 80 with the abutment surface 27a in the second position prevents a disassemble the closure 1 by a forger.

According to the eighth embodiment of figures 22-23, the visible portion of the inner part 20, in the example the stop portion 27, comprises an annular colored band 28. This colored band 28 is visible in the second position and upon reclosure of the container 10 and represents a third tamper evident feature of the closure 1.

According to the ninth embodiment of figures 24-25, the outer part 30 is provided with a security step 80 extending inwardly. Advantageously, this security step 80 is formed at the lower portion 32 of the tubular sleeve 31. In the second position, the security step 80 engages the abutment surface 27a of the inner part 20, in the example formed in the stop portion 27, to prevent dissembling of the closure 1. In particular, the security step 80 engages the abutment surface 27a in the second position to prevent the outer part 30 to further move from this second position longitudinally upward relative to the inner part 20. The engagement of the security step 80 with the abutment surface 27a in the second position prevents a disassemble the closure 1 by a forger.

The way in which the invention has been described shall not be intended to limit its operation and implementation in any manner.

It will be appreciated that the closure of the present invention fulfills the intended purposes. Also, the present closure combines the advantages of simple manufacturing process with strength and simplicity of use and handling.

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.