A VESSEL CLOSURE FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of vessel closures.

In one form, the invention relates to a vessel closure for bottles, such as those which are adapted to contain wine, spirits, drugs or medicine.

It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in relation to wine bottles, however it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to that use only, BACKGROUND ART The discussion throughout this specification comes about due to the realisation of the inventors and/or the identification of certain prior art problems by the inventors.

The inventors have realised that forgery and the substitution of false products for genuine products is an increasing probfem worldwide. There is a need to address counterfeiting or illegal substitution of many different goods, such as for example high value wine, spirits, medicines, drugs, samples etc.

Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material forms a part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Austraiia or elsewhere on or before the priority date of the disclosure and claims herein.

An object of the present invention is to provide a means of authenticating various goods stored in vessels by use of an RFID device.

A further object of the present invention is to alleviate at least one disadvantage associated with the prior art. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides, in one aspect of invention, a RFID device adapted to operate in association with a vessel closure, comprising a substrate adapted to be associated in proximity to the vessel closure, a RFID circuit, and an antenna disposed on the substrate.

Preferably, a portion of the substrate is adapted to be disposed over a portion of the vessel or vessel closure and is adapted to be damaged upon opening of the vessel. The antenna may be disposed on the portion of the

substrate. The portion of the substrate may be a tab. The tab may be cut or otherwise damaged to render the RFID device inoperative upon opening of the vessel.

The present invention also provides, in an aspect of invention, a vessel closure comprising sealing means adapted to form a relative seal of the contents in a vessel, and associated with the sealing means, an RFID identification means adapted to provide authentication of the vessel and/or its contents.

Preferably, a gap formed between the RFiD means and the sealing means to enable, in operation of the RFlD means, passage of electromagnetic field around the RFID means.

The present invention also provides, in another aspect of invention, a vessel and a vessel closure as herein disclosed.

The present invention provides, in a further aspect of invention, a vessel and a RFID device as herein disclosed. in a still further aspect of invention, the vessel is a wine bottle, medicine container or food vessel.

Also, there is an aspect of invention directed to a method of associating a means of RFID identification with a vessel closure, and the closure itself comprising providing a substrate which can be associated with the closure, disposing on the substrate an RFID device and an antenna, and affixing the substrate to the vessel closure.

Other aspects and preferred aspects are disclosed in the specification and/or defined in the appended claims, forming a part of the description of the invention. In essence, in one aspect of invention, is the application of an RFiD device onto or in a vessel such as wine and drug or medicine bottle or container as to enable identification of the vessel {and accordingly its contents if desired). In another aspect of invention, the RFID device is disposed distal from a metal closure such that vessels which ordinarily are fitted with metal closures can be identified using RFID techniques. This overcomes a problem in which an RFID device cannot ordinarily be identified because the metal of the closure cap stops the RF field from operating the RFID device. In yet another aspect of invention, the RFID device is disposed on a frangible substrate serving to evidence and / or

disable the operation of the RFID device and therefore provide a tamper-evident means to indicate unauthorised tampering with the vessel or RFID device. in other words, the present invention provides an RFID inlay in, associated with or on a vessel, such as a bottle or other container, where the antenna is arranged in such a way that the functionality or operability of the RFiD device is destroyed or altered, for example when the antenna on the inlay is pierced by a corkscrew or is cut by a knife, or is in some other way rendered inoperative.

Throughout this specification, 'inlay' is intended to include, without limitation, an RFID device comprising a microchip placed on a powering, transmitting and/or receiving antenna carried on a substrate (inlay ) and that is powered externally by an inductive filed or by a battery. It also includes a token, insert, transponder, chip, label, identification device, badge, tag, ticket, or any other form of RFID identifiable device and may be rendered in any technology which enables identification. For example, and without limitation, the identification device may be an ASIC, other microchip, an ASIC with an associated antenna assembly, or an antenna without a chip where electronic circuitry included in the printed antenna structure, provides the intelligence of the device, logic means or is a tuned antenna.

Throughout this specification the term Vessel' includes many form or any means of carrying and/or storing any product (solid, liquid and/or, gas). For example/without limitation, a vessel includes a bottle or container for wine, spirits, drugs, medicine and/or any other product.

The present invention has been found to result in a number of advantages, such as: • Authenticating products by the provision of a tamper evident RFID device;

• Providing electronic evidence of tampering by the destruction of the RFID device;

• Providing an audit trail from factory to retailer;

• Providing an anti-counterfeiting solution to manufacturers and their . customers by the incorporation of authentication means such as an RFID device; and

• Deterring the removal or the substitution of the inlay by use of frangible or tamper-evident means in association with the RFlD device. Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention wilt become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further disclosure, objects, advantages and aspects of the present application may be better understood by those skilled in the relevant art by reference to the following description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and in which: Figures 1 and 2 illustrate embodiments of the RFID inlay according to an aspect of the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention as applied to a vessel with a cork vessel closure;

Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention as applied to a vessel with a plastic sleeve fitted over a metallic closure;

Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention as applied to a vessel with a metallic closure;

Figure 6 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention as applied to a vessel with a metallic closure; Figures 7 to 10 illustrate tamper evident embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of an inlay in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The inlay 100 has a RFID device 101 , such as in the form of an ASIC, and operatively coupled to this is an antenna 102. The inlay also has a substrate 103 upon which the RFID device 101 and antenna 102 are disposed. The substrate 103 acts as a carrier for the RFID device 101 and antenna 102 and may be formed of any shape, thickness, material, compound

and/or composition as deemed suitable for the particular application to which the present invention is applied. Alternatively, the RFID device 101 and antenna 102 may be disposed within or partially within or laminated on the substrate. The antenna 102 is formed for Ultra High Frequency operation. Figure 2 illustrates another embodiment of an inlay according to the present invention. Similar to Figure 1 , the inlay 100 has a RFID device 101 , antenna 102 and substrate 103. It can be seen that the antenna is disposed in this embodiment for relatively Low and High Frequency operation.

Figures 3 to 6 illustrate embodiments of the vessel closure embodiment, Figure 3 shows a cork top and RFID inlay placement and illustrates a vessel 300 having a (typical) interference fit closure, such as a cork in a wine bottle. The ^• interference fit closure, such as a cork 301 forms a closure against the vessel walls 302. In accordance with the present invention, there is additionally provided an RFID inlay 303, preferably inset within the confines of the vessel walls. The inlay for example may be as disclosed in any one or a combination of Figures 1 , 2, or 6 to 9. A decal 304 may be optionally provided in order to provide indicia indicative of the identification process or for any other purpose, such as advertising. A sleeve 305, of plastic or any other suitable material, may be placed over the inlay and be in contact with the vessel walls in order to inhibit relatively easy removal of the RFID device and/or inhibit unauthorised access to the vessel contents. The sleeve may be made to interference fit and/or be heated to form a snug fit against the vessel walls. In a still further embodiment, the sleeve may be formed of or incorporate features as disclosed in Figures 6 to 9 to be described later herein, As illustrated in Figure 4, in its application to a metal screw top, RFID inlay placement with plastic sleeve and showing a plastic sleeve fitted over a metallic closure 400, the inlay as herein disclosed can be applied as a vessel closure in the form of a RFID label of 'sandwich construction', comprising a base 401 , such as a metal cap or other suitable means adapted to form a barrier between the contents of the vessel and the RFID device, optionally a spacer 402, preferably of any non metallic materia! of approx 2-3mm thickness, an RFID inlay 403, (optionally) a decal 404 and (optionally) a sleeve 405, such as a cover. The spacer 402 is necessary when a metallic base is used, otherwise use of the

spacer is considered optional, The spacer may be made of any suitable material. The sleeve 405 may be disposed over the label. If a metallic cap is used as base 401 , the sleeve may be disposed to substantially cover the cap, and along the vessel walls if required, If the base is not used, the sleeve 405 may have the RFlD label disposed at one end, and then may be fitted directly onto the vessel, such as forming a closure for the vessel and being disposed against the vessel walls also.

Figure 5 illustrates present invention as applied to a vessel with a metallic closure, particularly a metal top, indented for RFID inlay. The metallic closure 500 is adapted to fit with the vessel walls 501. The closure 500 includes raised walls 502 in which an RFID inlay may be disposed. The RFID inlay may otherwise be provided in a depression in the closure 500, The raised walls provide a form of protection for the RFID. A spacer 504 is provided to provide a space between the closure and the RFID device. The RFID device and raised walls are designed to provide a gap 505 allowing the passage of electro-magnetic fields when the RFID Is operable. Optionally a decal 506 and/or sleeve 507 may be disposed over the RFID for protection and/or for information purposes, such as having indicia thereon. The sleeve 507 may further, optionally, extend over the sides of the closure 500 and along the vessel walls (not shown), if desired. Figure 6 illustrates a screw top, RFID inlay placement being a further embodiment of the present invention as applied to a vessel with a metallic closure. An RFID label 600 is disposed on top of a cap 601, whether metallic, plastic or any other substance, an optional spacer 602, the RFID inlay 603 and an optional decal 604. The various components are fixed together via any suitable means, such as glue 605. A protective coating (not shown) and of any suitable substance may be formed over the label 600, if desired.

The inlay of the present invention, in association with the vessel, can be loaded with authentication indicia and/or information, and thus in the future when the vessel is interrogated, the vessel (and preferably even the contents of the vessel) via its associated iniay can be authenticated. The loading and interrogation may be performed in any known manner. Other information that may be provided in the RFID device may include a use-by-date, factory or

manufacturing information, an 'audit' trail of the vessel and / or the vessel contents, temperature or other environmental history, etc.

In one embodiment, and as illustrated in Figure 6, the present inlay may be mounted externally on the top or be a part of the bottle cap, In application of this invention in the wine industry, it has been found that the top part is not submitted to relatively large pressure when the cap is mounted on the bottle at the wine producer, During the caps production process the inlay may be camouflaged by painting (normal process for the caps) or decal as herein disclosed, The caps/inlay may also have embossing and/or with a multi coloured picture and/or a hologram on it, There may also be a reader activated light (LED) in the closure.

Figures 7 to 10 illustrate various embodiment of inlays formed on various substrates. The substrates and/or the RFID and/or antenna design may be rendered in a manner to provide a tamper-evident feature particularly, but not solely, suitable for use in association with the vessel closures as disclosed in Figures 3 to 6.

Figure 7 illustrates an inlay 700 which has an antenna 701 which is disposed on the substrate 702. When the vessel closure is opened, the RFID label is removed from the bottle and thus the vessel on longer has its means of being identified. As shown, the RFID is designed so that a corkscrew cuts the antenna. In another form, the substrate may be provided in such a manner that when the vessel closure is opened,, the inlay is rendered in-operative. For example, when used in association with the interference fit closure of Figure 3, if a cork screw or other means is used to open the vessel, the cork screw will pass through the inlay and destroy a portion of the inlay by way of puncturing or breaking a portion of the inlay. This destructive force will, for example, cause the antenna to become inoperative due to a break in the electrical continuity of the antenna or destroy the RFID chip 703.

Likewise, Figure 8 illustrates an inlay 800 which has an antenna 801 which is disposed on the substrate 802, and may be provided on a substrate which will be cut or destroyed when the vessel closure is opened thereby rendering the inlay in-operative. In this embodiment the substrate also has one or more frangible or tamper evident portions, such as 'wings' or tabs 803 which carry a portion of the RFID inlay, such as the antenna. These wings or tabs are designed

to be damaged or destroyed when the vessel is opened or the inlay is removed for the vessel. As shown, the closure wraps around the bottle so that antenna is cut when cap is removed. When the embodiment illustrated is used in association with the vessel closure of any of Figures 3, 4 or 5, in use, in order to open the vessel, the frangible portion 803 is cut or can be removed, thus enabling access to or removal of the vessel contents. If the vessel closure of Figures 3, 4 or 5 are removed without first tearing the wings 803, the act of removing the closure (cork or screw cap) will itself serve to tear the wings 803,

The inlay 800 may be used directly as a closure over the vessel as is contemplated in Figure 6, The wings 803 may be removed or cut prior to or in the act of opening the vessel.

The consequence of tearing or interfering with the frangible portion 803 is that the antenna, RFID chip or other circuitry mounted on the substrate and/or a part of the substrate is destroyed, again rendering the inlay inoperative. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a further embodiment of the inlay substrate.

The substrates 901 and 1001 respectively have weakened regions or frangible sections 902, 1002 for tamper evidence. When used in association with the vessel closure of Figure 3, 4 or 6, in particular, the inlay having a substrate such as disclosed in Figures 9 or 10, can be at least partially attached to the vessel walls 406 as well as the base 401. Thus when the closure is removed, the inlay will fracture along the weakened regions 902, 1002 and thus cause the inlay to be damaged and/or inoperative, for example by breaking the substrate, the antenna and/or the chip. Also, where the substrate is releasably coupled between the vessel walls and the closure, opening of the vessel will induce force upon the weakened region(s) causing damage to the substrate, antenna and/or other parts of the identification device.

The RFID inlay may include or be associated with Special Effects such as an embossed trade mark, various colours, a temperature sensor, a hologram and a light or other light emitting material such as a phosphor that will emit light when stimulated by an RF field such as disclosed in Australian provisional patent application AU 2005904722 (Purton).

The present invention may be used in conjunction with any vessel, but may be particular applicability to relatively expensive wines, alcohols and medicines.

where substitution or counterfeiting is a known problem. The authentication provided by the adoption of the present invention serves to address this problem.

Jn another application, the inlay may be used in association with a logistics system. For example a system similar to PCT/2005/00417 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Examples of inlays applicable to the present invention include the disclosure of (the disclosure of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety):

• AU provisional application 2005902550 filed 19 May 2005;

• AU provisional application 2005903134 filed 20 June 2005; , .

• AU provisional application 2005903238 filed 20 June 2005; • US 6 659 875;

. • Preferably, the method of communicating is substantially in accordance With PCT/AU2003/001072 and EP application 98960933.4. Whiie this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications). This application is intended to covet any variations uses or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth. As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above described embodiments are not to limit the present invention unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. ^' Various modifications and equivalent arrangements are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention and appended claims. Therefore, the specific embodiments are to be understood to be illustrative of the many ways in which the principles of the present invention may be practiced. In the following claims, rneans-plus-function clauses are intended to cover structures as performing the defined function and not only structural equivalents, but afso equivalent structures. For example, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure

wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface to secure wooden parts together, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw are equivalent structures.

"Comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof." Thus, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words 'comprise',

'comprising', and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".