The present invention refers to a closing device for bottles. In particular, the present invention refers to a closing device for bottles of the type provided with anti-tampering means capable of giving an immediate visual indication to the user of whether the bottle has or has not been opened at least once. Even more specifically, the present invention refers to a closing device for bottles of the type provided with anti-tampering means where such anti-tampering means are arranged in a position not accessible when the cap is assembled.

Currently, different closing devices for bottles are known that, in general, are made up of a cap and a pourer or diffuser. The cap has an internal threading adapted for engaging, to open or close the bottle, with a corresponding threading provided on the outer surface of the pourer. The latter is press-fit in the opening of the neck of the bottle or, through known means, to the neck of the bottle. Moreover, it is also possible to provide a further jacket for covering the cap, made of aluminum or plastic film.

Currently, the market requires the end user to be able to clearly recognize the state of integrity of the bottle and, consequently, of its content. The indication of a prior "first opening" of a bottle is indeed necessary, since once the bottle has been opened it is possible to alter the content thereof.

Therefore different closing devices are known comprising anti-tampering means for bottles capable of making a prior first opening of the bottle immediately visible. Most of these anti-tampering means consist of mobile, elastic or in any case shaped portions inside the cap, configured so that, after the first opening of the bottle, they interpose internally between cap and diffuser, limiting the reclosing stroke of the cap. Such a lower stroke leaves a previously hidden portion of the closure in view, therefore reliably highlighting that the first opening of the bottle has occurred.

Unfortunately, due to the fact that the portions of the cap that act as anti-tampering means are formed inside the cap itself, such portions are per se accessible from inside the closure also when the closure is assembled. Since they are accessible, it is not possible to exclude tampering, for example by acting with scissors or similar objects, and such tampering is unfortunately visible when the closure is assembled on the bottle. Of course, by tampering with the cap to remove the anti-tampering portions thereof, the visual function of first opening does not take place, even if from the outside the closure applied on the bottle seems perfectly intact, which unfortunately is only the case on the outside.

Document US 2010/0170898 Al illustrates a closing device for bottles that comprises an inner cap, rotatably associated with the diffuser, and an outer cap, fitted and associated with such an inner cap. On the outer side surface of the inner cap there are anti- tampering means made in the form of a plurality of teeth of a ratchet mechanism. The teeth engage with a corresponding plurality of counter-teeth formed on the inner side surface of the outer cap. The teeth and the counter-teeth of the closing device illustrated in document US 2010/0170898 Al are shaped in a diametrically symmetrical manner, so that the mutual rotation of the outer cap with respect to the inner cap can take place freely in a single direction. In other words, during the opening of the closing device the teeth of the inner cap can pass beyond the corresponding counter-teeth of the outer cap. During closing, on the other hand, the teeth of the inner cap are locked by the corresponding counter- teeth of the outer cap, limiting the re-screwing stroke of the outer cap on the inner cap.

In the closing device illustrated in document US 2010/0170898 Al the engagement between the teeth of the inner cap and the corresponding counter-teeth of the outer cap thus takes place by friction, consequently needing the outer and inner side surfaces of the inner cap and of the outer cap, respectively, to undergo elastic deformations, even if minimal. In order for these anti-tampering means of the ratchet type to be able to operate, it is therefore essential for both the inner cap, and the outer cap of the closing device illustrated in document US 2010/0170898 Al to be manufactured with a sufficiently elastic and deformable material as to ensure that, during opening, the teeth of the inner cap can pass beyond the corresponding counter-teeth of the outer cap. However, the elasticity of the material may not always ensure that, during closing, the teeth of the inner cap are locked by the corresponding counter-teeth of the outer cap.

The purpose of the present invention is therefore to make a closing device for bottles that provides an alternative solution to those currently known for clearly showing whether a bottle has been opened at least once after its original packaging, wherein the anti-tampering means intended for this purpose are not accessible, either from inside or outside, when the closing assembly is assembled.

Another purpose of the present invention is to make a closing device for bottles, of the type provided with an inner cap and with an outer cap, wherein the anti- tampering means can effectively operate irrespective of the type of material with which such inner cap and outer cap are manufactured.

These purposes according to the present invention are accomplished by making a closing device for bottles as outlined in claim 1.

Further characteristics of the closing device for bottles are the object of the dependent claims.

The characteristics and advantages of a closing device for bottles according to the present invention will become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which: figures 1 and 2 are partial section views of an embodiment of the closing device for bottles according to the present invention in the original closing configuration and in the closing configuration subsequent to the first opening;

figures 3 and 4 are perspective partial section views of the device of the previous figures in the original closing configuration and in the closing configuration subsequent to the first opening;

figures 5-8 are partial section views of the device of figures 1-4 where an outer jacket is also present; figure 9 is an exploded view of the closing device of figure 1; and

figures 10, 11 and 12 show perspective views of the cap group of the present invention.

With reference to the figures, a closing device for bottles is shown, wholly indicated with 10. Such a closing device for bottles 10 comprises:

- a cap group 11 and 12, which is operable in rotation by the user to open and close the device;

- a diffuser 14, which is arranged to be coupled at the top with the cap group 11 and at the bottom with the neck of a bottle; and

- anti-tampering means integrated in the cap group 11 and 12, configured to make it visually evident that the device 10 has been opened at least once.

The cap group comprises an inner cap 11, rotatably associated with the diffuser 14, and an outer cap 12, fitted and associated with the inner cap 11.

In such a configuration, the anti-tampering means are configured for limiting the re-screwing stroke of the outer cap 12 on the inner cap 11, thus exposing a previously hidden portion thereof. These anti-tampering means comprise on one side, in a per se known way, a plurality of teeth 29 of a ratchet mechanism, projecting from the outer side surface 16 of the inner cap 11, and on the other side a plurality of first rigid barrier projections 30, arranged on the inner side surface 18 of the outer cap 12.

According to the invention, the anti-tampering means also comprise, on one side, a plurality of side flaps 15 manufactured with a deformable elastic material, arranged at an angle in a radial pattern starting from the outer side surface 16 of the inner cap 11, and on the other side a plurality of second rigid barrier projections 17 arranged on the inner side surface 18 of the outer cap 12. Each elastic side flap 15 projects radially from the outer side surface 16 of the inner cap 11 by a greater length with respect to the length of each tooth 29.

By acting in rotation on the outer cap 11, thanks to the threaded coupling 24, 25, the latter rotates about the inner cap 11, so that during opening both the first rigid barrier projections 30, and the second rigid barrier projections 17 can respectively pass beyond the teeth 29 and the elastic side flaps 15, the inclination of which facilitates such passing.

During closing, the inclination of the teeth 29 and of the elastic side flaps 15 carries out the exact opposite effect, locking the respective rigid barrier projections 30 and 17 and thus limiting the re-screwing stroke of the outer cap 12 on the inner cap 11.

Since the side walls 16, 18 of the inner 11 and outer 12 caps are devoid of cracks, with assembled closure, the teeth 29, the elastic side flaps 15 and the respective rigid barrier projections 30 and 17 are not accessible either from the inside or from the outside of the closure 10.

Of course, the cap group also comprises means for locking the relative opening rotation of the outer cap 12 on the inner cap 11 that are configured so that, after an initial relative rotation where the rigid barrier projections 30 and 17 respectively pass beyond the teeth 29 and the elastic side flaps 15, the cap group rotates as a single rigid body with respect to the diffuser 14 along a suitable threaded coupling 26, 27.

In particular, the means for locking the relative opening rotation of the outer cap 12 on the inner cap 11 comprise an annular projection 19 formed on the inner side surface 18 of the outer cap 12 that, after the relative opening rotation of the outer cap 12 on the inner cap 11, rests on an abutment 28 formed on the outer side surface 16 of the inner cap 11.

Finally, the closing device 10 can comprise a covering jacket 20, in turn comprising an upper portion 21 and a lower portion 22 connected together along a breaking line 23 equipped with a plurality of connecting bridges. The upper portion 21 of the covering jacket 20 is arranged to mate and cover the outer cap 12.

From the description that has been made the characteristics of the closing device for bottles object of the present invention are clear, just as the relative advantages are also clear.

Finally, it is clear that the closing device for bottles thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all of which are covered by the invention; moreover, the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the sizes, can be whatever according to the technical needs.