DESCRIPTION

The present invention concerns a closing element for a container. More precisely, the invention concerns a closing element for a container configured to hold a liquid, preferably a carbonated liquid, even more preferably a carbonated drink.

In the context of the present invention, the expression “carbonated liquids” means sparkling or fizzy liquids. Said carbonated liquids are preferably but not necessarily intended for human consumption, and can be alcoholic drinks such as, for example, wine or beer, or soft drinks.

It is known that carbonated drinks or liquids are generally supplied inside non- reusable containers such as bottles having an opening that is closed through screw closing means or plugs, or containers such as cans with ring pull. However, to disadvantage, all of these closing systems are affected, sometimes remarkably, by the release of liquids at the moment when the container is opened for the first time and the pressurized gas contained therein is let out.

Very often the user who intends to open the container, for example the container of a carbonated soft drink, is aware of this situation and, for example in the case of a screw cap, tries to reduce the quantity of pressurized gas to be let out during the opening process by unscrewing the screw cap incrementally, little by little, so that said pressurized gas is slowly released towards the outside. However, these techniques are not always effective.

Furthermore, in the case of carbonated alcoholic drinks such as, for example, sparkling wines, the use of cork plugs or plugs in synthetic materials is preferred. In this case, the quantity of gas released when opening the container cannot be easily controlled and, disadvantageously, in the case of a sudden release of the pressurized gas, the liquid contained in the container often loses its sparkling effect or, even more disadvantageously, said sudden release of pressurized gas determines an equally sudden and abundant release of the liquid itself.

The present invention intends to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks of the known art.

More specifically, it is the object of the invention to provide a closing element for containers which is capable of enabling the controlled release of a pressurized gas present inside the same container before the removal of the closing element itself.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a closing element for containers which can be easily reused.

Again, it is an object of the invention to provide a closing element for containers which is easy to use.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a closing element for containers which is sturdy and not liable to be accidentally broken and damaged.

The objects specified above are achieved by providing a closing element for containers made according to claim 1 .

Further characteristics of the closing element for containers that is the subject of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The invention includes also the container, preferably for carbonated liquids, made according to claim 12 and comprising a closing element according to the invention.

Said objects, together with the advantages that are illustrated below, are highlighted in greater detail in the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention that is provided by way of non-limiting example making reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 shows an exploded axonometric view from above of a first embodiment of the closing element of the invention;

- Figure 2 shows an exploded axonometric view from below of the closing element of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 shows a plan view of the closing element of Figure 1 with the protection cover arranged in a first position;

- Figure 4 shows an axonometric view of the closing element of Figure 1 with the protection cover arranged in the first position shown in Figure 3;

- Figure 5 shows a plan view of the closing element of Figure 1 with the protection cover arranged in a second position;

- Figure 6 shows an axonometric view of the closing element of Figure 1 with the protection cover arranged in the second position shown in Figure 5;

- Figure 7 shows a side sectional view, according to a vertical section plane, of the closing element of the invention shown in Figure 1 in the rest position; - Figure 8 shows a side sectional view, according to a vertical section plane, of the closing element of the invention shown in Figure 1 when pressure is exerted on the activation means;

- Figure 9 shows an axonometric view of the closing element of Figure 1 applied to a container;

- Figure 10 shows a side sectional view, according to a vertical section plane, of the closing element of Figure 1 applied to a container shown in Figure 9;

- Figure 11 shows an exploded axonometric view from above of a second embodiment of the closing element of the invention;

- Figure 12 shows an exploded axonometric view from below of the closing element of Figure 11 ;

- Figure 13 shows a side sectional view, according to a vertical section plane, of the closing element of Figure 11 in the rest position;

- Figure 14 shows a side sectional view, according to a vertical section plane, of the closing element of Figure 11 when pressure is exerted on the activation means.

The closing element of the invention for containers suited to hold a liquid, preferably a carbonated liquid, is shown in a first preferred embodiment in Figures 1 and 2, where it is indicated as a whole by 1, and in a second preferred embodiment in Figures 11 and 14, where it is indicated as a whole by 51

More specifically, the closing element 1 and the closing element 51 of the invention are of the type which can be removed with respect to the container 100, as described in detail below.

As far as the closing element 1 is concerned, according to the first embodiment, it comprises a main body 2 in which a housing 3 delimited by a base 4 and by side walls 5 is defined, in which a through hole 6 is defined.

Preferably, the side walls 5 of the main body 2, at the level of their external surface, have a concave shape, so that a user can hold the closing element 1 more firmly when grasping said side walls 5 with the fingers in order to remove the closing element 1 itself from the container 100. It cannot be excluded, however, that according to different embodiments of the invention said external surface of the side walls 5 can be smooth or have a convex shape.

Furthermore, always according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the side walls 5 are defined with a non-slip surface, more specifically with a surface configured according to a saw tooth pattern, with the various teeth oriented in the opening direction of the closing element 1 with respect to the container 100.

As regards, moreover, said housing 3, as can be seen in Figure 1 , it is configured to be arranged facing towards the outside when the closing element 1 is applied to a container, the latter being indicated by 100.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing 3 has a circular shape.

Furthermore, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, a tubular body 7 is defined inside the housing 3, at the level of said through hole 6, said tubular body having a height hi from the base 4, as indicated in Figure 7.

Furthermore, again according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of radial ribs 8 is defined in the housing 3 of the main body 2, wherein said radial ribs extend between the side walls 5 and the central point of the same housing 3. The function of said radial ribs 8 is to reinforce the structure of the main body 2. Furthermore, the presence of said radial ribs 8 in the housing 3 determines the division of the inner volume defined by the same housing 3 and consequently makes it possible to slow down, if not even to prevent, the outflow of the liquid present inside the container 100 once the closing element 1 has been activated to open it.

The closing element 1 of the invention furthermore comprises a secondary element 9, movable with respect to the main body 2, at the level of the wall 4a of the base 4 of the latter, opposite the housing 3, as shown in the sectional views of Figures 7 and 8.

More specifically, the secondary element 9 can assume a rest position with respect to said base 4, as can be seen in Figure 7, according to which it is substantially in contact with said wall 4a so as to close the through hole 6.

Preferably but not necessarily, said secondary element 9 has a generally cylindrical shape.

Always according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, said secondary element 9 comprises a sealing ring 10, more specifically an O ring, configured to provide a tight coupling with said wall 4a in said rest position.

It cannot be excluded that, according to alternative embodiments of the invention, said sealing ring 10 can have an L-shaped cross section, in such a way as to allow a tight coupling to be obtained both with the wall 4a and with the inner walls of the through hole 6.

For the reasons that will be clarified below, according to the preferred embodiment the wall 4a, at least at the level of the portion intended to come into contact with the secondary element 9, is preferably but not necessarily defined so that it lies on a plane which is tilted with respect to the plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the main body 2. More specifically, said plane on which the wall 4a lies defines an angle larger than 90° with the longitudinal axis of the main body 2.

Furthermore, preferably but not necessarily, the same wall 4a has a concave shape.

Said characteristic advantageously allows the gas present inside the container 100 to flow towards the centre of the same wall 4a when the closing element 1 is activated to open the container itself. Again, preferably but not necessarily, said wall 4a has a grid structure in relief, not represented in the figures, in such a way as to define a plurality of areas, substantially separated from one another, in order to channel and partition the gas present inside the container 100 and distribute the pressure exerted by the same gas on the wall 4a as homogeneously as possible.

Furthermore, said grid structure in relief makes it also possible to reduce the surface movement of the liquid present inside the same container 100.

As regards, once again, the closing element 1 of the invention, according to the first preferred embodiment it comprises activation means 11 in turn comprising a pressable portion 12.

According to said first preferred embodiment, as can be seen in Figures 7 and 8, said activation means 11 comprise a disc-shaped rigid body 26 coupled with the main body 2 at the level of the housing 3, and the pressable portion 12 is defined in said rigid body 26 and is integral with it.

In other words, the activation means 11 are made as a single body.

Preferably, said pressable portion 12 is made from a flexible material.

More specifically, at the level of the housing 3 said activation means 11 are coupled with the main body 2, in such a way that the same pressable portion 12 is suited to be pressed manually so as to allow the secondary element 9 to be moved away with respect to the wall 4a, as shown in Figure 8, in turn defining a space capable of allowing the inside of the container 100 to communicate with the external environment via said through hole 6. Said communication consequently allows a pressurized gas present inside the same container 100 to be released.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, elastic compression means, not represented in the figures, are interposed between the base 4 of the main body 2 and the internal wall of the activation means 11, at the level of the pressable portion 12, said elastic compression means being capable of exerting opposing thrusting forces on the base 4 and on the internal wall of the activation means 11 for the purpose of maintaining the secondary element 9 in said rest position with respect to the base 4 itself.

Preferably, said elastic compression means are obtained through a moulding process together with the activation means 11.

Alternatively, said elastic compression means may comprise a helical compression spring or two or more Belleville washers arranged in series and suited to exert said opposing thrusting forces.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the pressable portion 12 comprises a compression disc 13 and a rod 14 projecting downwards from said compression disc 13.

As can be observed in Figures 7 and 8, when the activation means 11 are coupled with the main body 2 said rod 14 is slidingly inserted in the through hole 6 and, furthermore, is fixedly coupled to the secondary element 9 with its free end 14a.

According to the preferred embodiment, said coupling between the rod 14 and the secondary element 9 is obtained by making a thread and a counter thread respectively on the free end 14a and on the secondary element 9 itself.

It cannot be excluded, however, that according to other alternative embodiments of the invention said coupling can be obtained by providing a rapid coupling system between said free end 14a and the secondary element 9, such as, for example, a bayonet coupling system or another type of coupling system.

In this way, advantageously, the lowering of the rod 14 of the activation means 11 into the through hole 6, caused by the downward pressure exerted on the compression disc 13, causes the lowering of the secondary element 9, as can be seen in Figure 8. The distance covered by said secondary element 9 is very limited but sufficient to define said space and allow a small quantity of gas to be let out from the container 100 to discharge the pressure present inside the same container 100. The secondary element 9 does not move downwards enough to affect the level of the liquid, which otherwise would exert an upward force on the liquid itself and cause the latter to flow out of the container 100. Following said operation of release of the pressure present inside the container 100, it will be easy to remove the closing element 1 from the container itself, preferably by unscrewing the closing element 1 and, at the same time, preventing the outflow of the liquid held in the container 100 itself.

Furthermore, the initial release of gas is controlled in such a way that the liquid remains fizzy and does not go flat.

The closing element 1 of the invention comprises also a protection cover 15 removably applied to the top of the pressable portion 12, as can be seen in Figures from 3 to 6.

Advantageously, said protection cover 15, when applied to the top of the pressable portion 12, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 and in the sectional view of Figure 7, makes it possible to prevent the pressure from being accidentally released from the container 100.

According to the invention, as shown in the exploded views of Figures 1 and 2 and in the details of Figures from 3 to 6 and in the sectional views of Figures 7 and 8, the through hole 6 and the pressable portion 12 are respectively defined on the housing 3 of the main body 2 and on the activation means 11, in a decentred position.

Even more preferably, since according to the preferred embodiment of the invention the activation means 11 are disc-shaped and the housing 3 is circular, the pressable portion 12 and the through hole 6 are defined inside one of the two semicircles which can be identified on the circular surfaces of said elements.

Clearly, the through hole 6 and the pressable portion 12 are defined on said surfaces in such a way that they are concentric with each other when the activation means 11 are coupled with the main body 2, at the level of the housing 3.

Always according to the invention, the protection cover 15 is hinged to the activation means 11 in such a way that it passes from a first position, according to which the protection cover 15 itself is applied to the top of the pressable portion 12, within the perimeter defined by the activation means 11, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, to a second position, according to which said protection cover 15 allows the pressable portion 12 to be accessed, but however, also in this case, it is positioned within the perimeter defined by the activation means 11 , as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Clearly, said protection cover 15 is also configured in such a way that it can pass from said second position to the first position.

Advantageously, the fact that in both positions, that is, both in the first position, in which it protects the pressable section 12, and in the second position, which allows a user to act on said pressable portion 12, the protection cover 15 is arranged against the same activation means 11, within the perimeter of the latter, reduces, if not eliminates, the risk of damaging the same protection cover 15, and therefore makes the closing element 1 of the invention sturdier for a possible reuse of the same.

Furthermore, said configuration minimizes the overall dimensions of the closing element of the invention.

According to the preferred embodiment, in which the activation means 11 are disc-shaped, the protection cover 15 is hinged along a diametrical direction of the activation means 11 themselves.

Again, preferably but not necessarily, the protection cover 15 is equipped with first rapid coupling and uncoupling means 16 and the activation means 11 are equipped with second rapid coupling and uncoupling means 17, complementary to said first rapid coupling and uncoupling means 16. Said first and second rapid coupling and uncoupling means 16 and 17 allow the protection cover 15, when arranged in the first position or in the second position, to remain in said positions, preventing any accidental movement of the latter.

Clearly, when the user exerts a sufficient traction force on said protection cover 15, the same user is able to release the first rapid coupling and uncoupling means 16 from the second rapid coupling and uncoupling means 17, thus succeeding in changing the position of said protection cover 15.

Furthermore, according to said first preferred embodiment of the invention, at the level of its end opposite the end hinged to the activation means 11, said protection cover 15 is provided with a slit 22 defined in a direction that is substantially parallel to the hinging direction, in such a way as to make it easier for a user to hold said protection cover 15 with a fingernail. Advantageously, this makes it possible to facilitate the handling of said protection cover 15. Furthermore, at the level of its surface suited to be facing the pressable portion 12 in said first position, the protection cover 15 has a concave shape 23, in such a way as to avoid any accidental contact of said surface with the same pressable portion 12 and thus in such a way as to prevent the gas present inside the container 100 from being involuntarily let out.

According to the first preferred embodiment of the invention, as can be seen in Figure 1 and in the sectional views of Figures 7 and 8, the main body 2 comprises a rigid element 18 projecting from the base 4 into the housing 3 for a height h2.

In particular, said rigid element 18 is defined in the housing 3 in a symmetrical position with respect to the through hole 6 according to an axis of symmetry of the same housing 3, so that, when the activation means 11 are applied to the main body 2, they are in contact with said rigid element 18, at the level of a portion 19 different from said pressable portion 12. More specifically, the height h2, over which said rigid element 18 extends, exceeds the height hi of the tubular body 7 defined around the through hole 6. This means that when the activation means 11 are applied to the main body 2 they are not in contact with the tubular body 7, while they are in contact with the rigid element 18, as explained above.

In even greater detail, since, according to the preferred embodiment of the closing element 1 of the invention, the housing 3 has a circular shape and the activation means 11 are disc-shaped, the rigid element 18 is defined in a symmetrically opposite position with respect to the through hole 6, according to an axis of symmetry corresponding to a diameter of the same housing 3 and, in the same way, said portion 19 can be identified on the surface of the activation means 11 in a symmetrically opposite position with respect to the pressable portion 12, according to an axis of symmetry corresponding to a diameter of the activation means 11 themselves. In particular, said last diametrical axis of symmetry corresponds to the diametrical direction along which the protection cover 15 is hinged to the activation means 11.

The presence of said rigid element 18, when the protection cover 15 is arranged in said first position, that is, when it is arranged on the top of the pressable portion 12, advantageously prevents any accidental contact with said portion 19 from moving the secondary element 9 downwards and allowing the gas present inside the container 100 to be involuntarily let out. In other words, the presence of the rigid element 18 avoids any deformation of the activation means, if not exclusively in the pressable portion 12.

According to the first preferred embodiment, a further aspect of the closing element 1 of the invention is related to the fact that the side walls 5 of the main body 2 comprise first coupling means 20 suited to be coupled in a reversible manner with corresponding second coupling means 101 defined on the container 100, as can be seen in Figures 1 , 7, 8, 9 and 10.

In even greater detail, said first coupling means 20 comprise a thread 21, preferably a thread facing towards the outside, and said second coupling means 101 comprise a counter thread 102, preferably an internal counter thread.

Once the closing element 1 has been unscrewed and removed, the fact that the counter thread 102 on the container 100 is oriented towards the inside makes it possible to avoid any contact of the user’s mouth with said counter thread 102, which otherwise may cause irritation or damage to the skin. The external surface of the container 100 can thus be completely smooth.

As can be observed, always in said figures, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention at the level of the side walls 5 there is an annular housing 24 in which the first coupling means 20, in particular the thread 21 facing outwards, are defined, in such a way that said thread 21 can be coupled with the counter thread 102 provided inside the container 100 and in such a way that when the cap is applied to the container the side walls 5 make it possible to protect the upper edge of the same container 100 from the direct contact with the external environment.

This advantageously makes it possible to maintain the edge of the container 100, on which the user will rest his/her mouth after removing the closing element 1, as hygienized as possible.

Furthermore, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention described up to now, a sealing ring 25, in particular an O ring, is inserted in said housing defined in the side walls 5, in such a way as to allow a tight closure to be obtained between the container 100 and the closing element 1. As regards the material used to make said elements which constitute the closing element 1 of the invention, it is preferably PETG.

However, it cannot be excluded that, according to different embodiments of the invention, said elements can be made with any material suitable for use in a closing element for a container. For example, they could be made of a silicone, plastic or biodegradable material. Furthermore, it cannot be excluded that the various elements making up the closing element 1 of the invention can be made of different materials.

As explained above, a second preferred embodiment of the closing element of the invention will be now described, which is represented in Figures from 11 to 14, where it is indicated as a whole by number 51.

Where not specified otherwise, said second embodiment of the invention has the same characteristics as the first embodiment previously described. In this regard, all the characteristics of the first embodiment of the invention which are considered to be present also in the second embodiment of the invention, which will be described soon, are indicated in Figures from 11 to 14 and in the description below with the same reference number used for said first embodiment of the invention.

In greater detail, said second embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above substantially for the configuration of the activation means 11.

In particular, as can be observed in Figures 11 and 12, according to said second preferred embodiment the activation means 11 comprise a discshaped rigid body 56 provided with a through hole 57. The rigid body 56 is coupled at the level of the housing 3 in such a way that the through hole 57 of the rigid body 56 itself is arranged in a coaxial position with respect to the through hole 6 of the main body 2.

Furthermore, again as represented in Figures 11 and 12, the activation means 11 comprise also a pressure-operated element 58 which is distinct from the rigid body 56 and defines the pressable portion 12.

The pressure-operated element 58 is associated with the rigid body 56 on the opposite side with respect to the housing 3.

According to said second preferred embodiment of the closing element 51 of the invention, elastic compression means 59 are interposed between the base 4 of the main body 2 and the pressure-operated element 58, said elastic compression means being able to exert opposite thrusting forces on the base 4 and on the internal wall of the pressure-operated element 58, in order to maintain the secondary element 9 in said rest position with respect to the base 4 itself.

Preferably, said elastic compression means are obtained through a moulding process together with the pressure-operated element 58.

Alternatively, said elastic compression means 59 may comprise a helical compression spring or two or more Belleville washers arranged in series and suited to exert said opposite thrusting forces.

As mentioned above, the invention concerns also a container 100 suited to hold a liquid, preferably a carbonated liquid.

In particular, said container 100 can be a wine or beer glass, even if it can have any other shape and be made with any material.

According to the invention, said container 100 comprises the closing element 1 of the invention, which is applied onto it in a removable manner and has the characteristics described above.

According to what has been explained above, the closing element for containers which is the subject of the invention and the container comprising said closing element of the invention achieve all the objects described above. More specifically, it is achieved the object to provide a closing element for containers which is capable of allowing a pressurized gas present inside the same container to be released in a controlled manner before the removal of the closing element.

The invention furthermore achieves the object to provide a closing element for containers which can be easily reused.

The invention also achieves the object to provide a closing element for containers which is simple to use.

Another and yet not the least object achieved is to provide a closing element for containers which is sturdy and not liable to be accidentally broken and damaged.