TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of closures for containers in particular wine bottles. In particular, the present invention relates to a closure containing an RFID (radio frequency identification) tag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

RFID tags, incorporate passive RF antennas that can emit a unique identification signal when energised by an external RFID reader. RFID tags have many advantages over more commonly used bar codes which generally require a flat surface where the bar code can be printed on. On most containers the preferred location for a bar code is a label applied to the container. This can be part of the main label that also serves to visually identify the container and its contents or it can be a separate adhesive label applied to an outer surface of the container.

A problem with printed bar codes is that they are susceptible to external damage by environmental conditions such as moist environments where the label can become wet and the barcode unreadable. In addition, the printed barcode can be physically damaged making it unreadable or even removed and potentially replaced with an incorrect barcode.

RFID tags have the capacity to store larger amounts of data and there is no need to have a flat surface upon which to place the RFID tag, and more information can be attributed to an RFID tag. The RFID tag can be placed in a location where it is less susceptible to physical damage or unauthorised removal, for example in the cap of a container, inside a container, integrated with a robust label, allow for rapid information retrieval by RFID readers, incorporated into container integrity/security devices such as wine capsule integrity mechanisms, where the antenna or similar component of the RFID, is operatively connected to a feature of the closure such that opening of the closure results in a disruption/breakage in the antenna or similar component of the RFID causing the RFID to either emit no signal or emit a signal that incites that the closure has been compromised. One of the drawbacks of reading a passive RFID is the that the RFID must be a close as possible to the reader in order to provide a quick and efficient read. When, for example, the RFID tag is incorporated onto the outside label of a plastic container the RFID can be easy to read from a distance, however having the RFID on the outer side of the bottle exposes it to possible damage and thus reduces its reliability and increases the likelihood of inadvertent damage which thus impacts on the ability to read the tag and process the information in a quick and efficient manner.

When the RFID is in a protected position, for example, within a container closure, or embedded within the container, interference with the container or cap occurs the strength of signal is greatly reduced, especially when elements of the container or capsule are made from materials than can hinder radio frequency signals, such as metals, requiring the reader and RFID to be brough closer together to obtain a reliable signal read.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention there is a closure for a container, the closure having a cap portion adapted to releasable engage with the container, the cap having an opening beneath which is located an RFID (radio frequency identification) chip, and a sealing layer, the sealing layer having an open end and a closed end, the closed end shaped to extend into an opening of the container.

In preference, the sealing layer is captively held within the cap.

In preference, the closed end extends into a neck of the container.

In preference, the sealing layer is a foil liner.

In preference, the foil liner is a metal foil liner.

In preference, the foil liner is a metalized polymer film layer

In preference, the foil liner is a polymer film layer In preference, the sealing layer is a gas impervious sealing layer.

In preference, the sealing layer includes a compressible liner.

In preference, the container is a bottle.

In preference, the bottle is a wine bottle.

In an exemplary embodiment, the closure is a screw cap closure.

In a further form of the present invention there is a closure for a container, the closure including a liner component that is shaped to extend into an opening of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure l is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the embodiment of figure 1;

Figure 3 is a close up view of the cap components from figure 2;

Figure 4 is 4 shows an underside view of the assembled cap components from figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross section view of the figure 1;

Figure 6 is an exploded view of a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a close-up view of the cap components from figure 6;

Figure 8 is 4 shows an underside view of the assembled cap components from figure 7;

Figure 9 is a cross section view of the assembled cap of figure 6; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the figures, as well as in the following detailed disclosure, the closure as depicted and discussed as a bottle closure for wine products. However, the various embodiments can be applicable as a closure for use in sealing and retaining any desired product in any desired closure system. It should be understood that this discussion is provided merely for exemplary purposes and is not intended to limit the embodiments disclosed herein to this particular application and embodiment.

Referring to Figure 1 there is a screw cap closure 10, with capsule 15, which can be a metal capsule, having a head 20, an outer sleeve skirt 25 and a frangible breakaway portion 30 located between the head 20 and the outer sleeve skirt 25. A cap cover 40, made from a non- conductive material, such as a plastics material, is shown through the opening 35 in the head of the capsule 20.

In Figure 2, the capsule 15 is shown with the cap cover 40, RFID chip 50, which includes the RFID antenna, cap 60 with internal threads 61, compressible liner 70 and sealing layer 80, which is continuous and unbroken. The sealing layer 80 has an annular flange 82, with upper surface 84 and lower surface 86, a closed end 88 (the bottom of the sealing layer 80), annular side wall 89 and open end 90. The RFID chip 50 is located between the cap cover 40 and the top of the cap 60, with the cap cover 40 being held in place by an inner perimeter of the capsule opening. In some forms of the cap cover 40, there is an annular groove adjacent an outer perimeter of the cap cover for positive location of an annular bead close to or at the edge of the inner perimeter of the capsule opening to form a press fit location of the cap cover 40. Figure 3 shows an alternate view of the arrangement of the cap 60, compressible liner 70 and sealing layer 80, revealing the open end 90 with the cavity 92 and inner surface 94 of the annular side wall 89.

In some embodiments the compressible liner/layer 70 is a foam polymer material layer that can be compressed upon a tightening of the cap 60 to the container (wine bottle). The compressible layer 70 can be a layer of single material or a combination of materials selected from, for example, polymer materials such as polyethylene, polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) and laminates thereof, saran film, and wadding material such as foamed polymer material or fibre card (paper). In some embodiments the sealing layer 80 is a barrier layer and is constructed from a foil to form a foil layer, such as a metal foil or other such suitable material or laminate material that may include a foil layer, such as a foil/polymer laminate or foil/plastic, and other combinations, for example foil and PDVC (poly vinylidene chloride) layer, metalized polymer film layer, polymer film layer, to prevent or reduce the permeation of gasses through the cap. The sealing layer 80 can be formed using usen known formation techniques, such as deep-drawn, punched, extruded, or the like and the formed part may or may not be hollow.

Figure 4 is an underside view of the cap 60 with internal threads 61 to thread onto mating threads on the neck of a container such as a wine bottle, the sealing layer 80 can also be seen with the lower surface of 86 of the annular flange 82.

Referring to the cross section of figure 5, the closure 10 is shown with the cap 60 having an inner annular groove 100 shaped to receive the compressible liner/layer 70 and the annular flange 82 of the sealing layer 80. The closed end 88 of the sealing layer 80 extends into the neck portion of the container/bottle of wine so that the closed end is further away from the RFID 50 compared to the annular flange 82 of the sealing layer 80. The distance between the RFID 50 and the closed end 88 of the sealing layer 80 is designated as di, the distance between the upper surface of the annular flange 82 of the sealing layer 80 is dz, so that di > d2 and the RFID 50 is positioned above the annular flange 82,

Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of the present invention, there is a screw cap closure 210, with capsule 215 having a head 220, an outer sleeve skirt 225 and a frangible breakaway portion 230 located between the head 220 and the outer sleeve skirt 225. A cap cover 240 is shown through the opening 235 in the head 220.

In Figure 7, the capsule 215 is shown with the cap cover 240, RFID chip 250, which includes the RFID antenna, cap 260 with internal threads 261, compressible liner 270 and sealing layer 280, which is continuous and unbroken. The sealing layer 280 has an annular flange 282, with upper surface 284 and lower surface 286, a closed end 288 (the bottom of the sealing layer 280), annular side wall 289 which provides a dome shape, and open end 290. Figure 8 shows an alternate view of the arrangement of the cap 260, compressible liner 270 and sealing layer 280, revealing the open end 290 with the cavity 292 and inner surface 294 of the domes annular side wall 289.

Figure 8 is an underside view of the cap 260 with internal threads 261 to thread onto mating threads on the neck of a container such as a wine bottle, the sealing layer 280 can also be seen with the lower surface of 286 of the annular flange 282.

Referring to the cross section of figure 9, the closure 210 is shown with the cap 260 having an inner annular groove 300 shaped to receive the compressible liner/layer 270 and the annular flange 282 of the sealing layer 280. The closed end 288 of the sealing layer 280 extends into the neck portion of the container/bottle of wine so that the closed end is further away from the RFID 250 compared to the annular flange 282 of the sealing layer 280. The distance between the RFID 250 and the closed end 288 of the sealing layer 280 is designated as di the distance between the upper surface of the annular flange 282 of the sealing layer 280 is di so that di > d2.

Advantageously, with the RFID 250 located laterally from the sealing layer 280 by distance di, this has resulted in a dramatic and unexpected decrease in the read distance of an RFID reader relative to the cap 210 when the sealing layer 280 is made from an otherwise radio frequency attenuating material such as a metal foil containing material, which is the preferred material used in the wine industry as a sealing/barrier layer.

This then results in a closure that can utilise a preferred barrier material, including industry standard metal foil barrier/sealing liners, in combination with RFID chips, to provide an integrated RFID bottle closure that provides improved read distances to facilitate quick scanning and identification of bottles comparted.

A. A closure for a container, the closure having a cap portion adapted to releasable engage with the container, a capsule having an upper opening beneath which is located an RFID (radio frequency identification) chip, and a sealing layer, the sealing layer having an open end, a cavity and a closed end, the closed end shaped to extend into an opening of the container.

B. The closure of A, wherein the sealing layer is captively held within the cap. C. The closure of any one of A or B, wherein the sealing layer extends into a neck of the container.

D. The closure of any one of A-C, wherein the sealing layer is a foil liner.

E. The closure of D, wherein the foil liner is a metal foil liner.

F. The closure of any one of D-E, wherein the foil liner is a metalized polymer film layer.

G. The closure of any one of A-F, wherein the foil liner is a polymer film layer

H. The closure of any one of A-G, wherein the sealing layer is a gas impervious sealing layer.

I. The closure of any one of A-H, wherein the sealing layer includes a compressible liner.

J. The closure of any one of A-I, wherein the container is a bottle.

K. The closure of any one of A- J, wherein the bottle is a wine bottle.

L. The closure of any one of A-K, wherein the closure is a screw cap closure.

M. The closure of any one of A-L, wherein a distance, di, between the RFID and the closed end of the sealing layer is greater than a distance, d2, between the RFID and annular flange.