EP3110714B1

EP3110714B1 - Reclosable stopper revealing a first opening

Info

Publication number: EP3110714B1
Application number: EP15707548.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Guglielmo Ferrari
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-02-28
Filing date: 2015-02-24
Publication date: 2017-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2035-02-24
Also published as: WO2015128091A1; EP3110714A1

Description

The present invention relates to a reclosable stopper revealing a first opening.
Particular stoppers are currently used in the field of containers for drinks and other liquid products, such as juices, tea, vitamin supplements, water with additives, etc., which, on the one hand, must be able to be reclosed after the first opening and on the other hand, must be able to show that said first opening has already been effected or that there has been a suspected unauthorized opening.
These stoppers are generally composed of various elements in which specific frangible portions are envisaged, which cannot be integrally reconstituted, showing that the stopper has already been opened. This reveals a possible opening on the part of third-parties who wish to substitute the product contained in the container with a less expensive and lower-quality product.
Once opened, these stoppers must also be able to be reclosed, to allow the product contained in the container to be tasted or consumed by the user in the quantities and with the frequency desired until it has been completely consumed. They must therefore have features of "openable and closable" stoppers that can be effected with extreme simplicity and precision, with a certain preservation of the contents of the container even after the stopper has been reclosed to maintain the quality of the product.
Various solutions are present on the market, which are more or less functional. There is, however, a continual search for a solution that can provide greater protection of the integrity of the product, that is easy to use and also satisfies the requirements of the user in its simplicity of use.
A further problem connected to these stoppers relates to being able to sterilize their interior directly on-line with particular spray or soaking systems of the stopper, or other means, in the presence of a closed configuration of the stopper.
DE 10025265 A1 relates to a reclosable stopper revealing a first opening according to the preamble of claim 1 and positioned on a threaded mouth of a container. The stopper comprises a base body with a pouring element and a closing cap produced in a single piece, connected by means of a connecting bridge in the form of a strip.
These stoppers, in fact, are not sterile when constructed, but should be, on the other hand, when applied to the container, to prevent the bacterial charge potentially present in them from affecting the product to be consumed by the user.
Numerous attempts have been made in this respect in recent years for finding a solution to the problem and various systems have been developed which are not capable of solving all of these drawbacks.
A general objective of the present invention is to solve the above drawbacks of the known art in an extremely simple, economical and particularly functional manner.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a reclosable stopper revealing a first opening with a minimum number of components and which is easy to use.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a reclosable stopper which does not have the complexity of construction, at the same time maintaining a good resistance and robustness that allow an easy application.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to guarantee that liquids or washing and sterilization products of the stopper do not come into contact with the distributing element of the contents, thus avoiding health problems for the user.
In view of the above objectives, according to the present invention, a reclosable stopper revealing a first opening has been conceived, having the characteristics specified in the enclosed claim 1 with further options in the dependent claims.
The structural and functional characteristics of the present invention and its advantages with respect to the known art will appear even more evident from the following description, referring to the enclosed drawings, which, inter alia, show a schematization of an exemplificative embodiment of a reclosable stopper revealing a first opening produced according to the same invention. In the drawings:

figure 1 shows a schematic and synthetic perspective view of a reclosable stopper revealing a first opening according to the present invention closed on an end section of a container, only partially shown;
figure 2 shows a sectional view of part of a half of the stopper and the end section of the container according to figure 1;
figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the area F indicated in figure 1;
figure 4 shows an enlarged view of a detail in a. perspective section of the stopper of the area shown in figure 3, from a different observation point, when the group revealing the first opening is beginning to be opened;
figure 5 shows a perspective view of the whole stopper positioned on the end section of the container, split into a vertical segmented portion thereof, also when it is beginning to be opened;
figure 6 shows a sectional view of the stopper of figure 1 alone, completely open when it has been moulded;
figure 7 shows a perspective view of the stopper of figure 1 open, as shown in the position of figure 6.

With reference to the figures, these illustrate a reclosable stopper revealing a first opening produced according to the invention, of the openable and reclosable type, indicated with 11, positioned on a container shown only by means of a threaded mouth 12 of an end section 10 of the container.
The stopper 11 is generally screwed onto the threaded mouth 12 of the container 10 thanks to the presence of a complementary internal threading 13.
The stopper 11 essentially comprises a base body comprising a guarantee ring 14 connected through frangible bridges 15 to a collar 16 provided in its interior with an internal threading 13. A pouring element or distributor 17 extends from said collar 16, which therefore defines the whole base body, pouring element or distributor which, for example, is brought to the user's mouth.
A connection bridge 18 in the form of a strip, which acts as a hinge, connects the base body to a protection and closing cap 19 suitable for being firmly positioned on the base body.
As already indicated, the whole stopper schematically described is moulded in a single piece, in two parts reclosable over each other.
More specifically, the collar 16 comprises in the non-limiting embodiment shown, a radial crown which extends inwardly 20 on which the protection and closing cap 19 is buffered.
The pouring element 17 formed by means of a cylindrically shaped element having a differentiated diameter and ending with a central opening 21 having an upper edge 34, extends upwardly from said annular crown 20.
A group is provided according to the present invention, which reveals a first opening between the base body 16-17 and the protection and closing cap 19.
In order to ensure improved and maximum safety, said group which reveals a first opening between the base body 16-17 and the protection and closing cap 19 comprises a double connection system that can be actuated towards the outside of the stopper.
A tooth 22, in fact, positioned on the periphery of the annular crown 20 and provided with a connecting extension 23 which extends radially outwardly, extends upwardly from the annular crown 20 in the same direction as the pouring element 17.
Said extension 23 is such as to be inserted inside a window 24 situated in a flap 25 which is articulately connected below the protection and closing cap 19. In particular, a strip extension 26 connects said flap 25 below the protection and closing cap 19 with a pair of foldable lines 27.
The flap 25, moreover, is also composed of two portions foldable with respect to each other, thanks to a further intermediate foldable line 28. A first lower portion 225, in which there is most of the window 24, is connected by means of frangible bridges 29, to a hollow housing 30 of the protection and closing cap 19. A second upper portion 325, connected by means of the above-mentioned further foldable line 28 to the first lower portion 225, is also connected by means of frangible bridges 31, to the hollow housing 30 of the protection and closing cap 19.
The protection and closing cap 19, in addition to an outer casing 32, comprises internal walls coaxial to the pouring element 17 which collaborate with the outer surface of the pouring element 17 defining a airtight chamber.
More specifically, said coaxial internal walls comprise two cylindrical concentric lips 33, which extend downwardly inside the cap 19, to be inserted internally inside the opening 21 and externally outside the upper edge 34 of the opening 21.
A further lip 35, also cylindrical and coaxial with respect to the pouring element 17 and which extends downwardly, rests in an external intermediate shaped area of the same, as a seal.
This further lip 35, the outer lip 33, the outer casing 32 of the cap and the outer wall of the pouring element 17, thus define an annular airtight chamber 36 which prevents the penetration of liquids or other sterilization components of the stopper, when completely assembled as shown in figure 1, and also in an initial opening phase as illustrated in figure 5.
In this non-limiting example, all the most important features forming part of the present invention, can be found.
According to the invention, a reclosable stopper revealing a first opening, is therefore provided, positioned on a threaded mouth of a container, which envisages a double detection security of possible tampering that has taken place.
When a user is holding a container provided with a. stopper according to the invention, he can immediately notice whether the stopper is intact and has never been previously opened.
Having verified that the stopper is intact, he acts on the flap 25 which is connected to the strip extension 26 below the protection and closing cap 19 and by means of two pairs of frangible bridges 29 and 31 in the hollow housing 30 of the protection and closing cap 19.
This action causes an outward pulling of the second upper portion 325 of the flap 25 (as clearly shown in figures 4 and 5).
This action first of all breaks the frangible bridges 31 which connect the second upper portion 325 to the hollow housing 30 of the protection and closing cap 19.
This second upper portion 325 can be articulated with respect to the first lower portion 225 of the flap 25 thanks to the presence of the intermediate foldable line 28.
Subsequently, by continuing the pulling action towards the outside of the flap 25, the user also causes breakage of the frangible bridges 29 of the first lower portion 225 with respect to the housing 30. The first lower portion 225 of the flap 25 is therefore free to rotate outwardly so that most of the window 24 deviates with respect to the extension 23 of the tooth 22 which is integrally positioned on the periphery of the annular crown 20 and which was engaged in the window 24. With this action described above, a double disengagement of the tooth 22, 23 is therefore obtained with respect to the window 24, and also of the flap 25 with respect to the housing 30.
This allows a complete rotation of the flap 25 in both of its portions 225, 325 around the pair of foldable lines 27.
Only then can the protection and closing cap 19 be pulled upwards and rotated around the connection bridge-18 in the form of a strip, acting as a hinge, which connects it to the base body of the stopper.
It is therefore evident that a possible breakage of the bridges reveals an improper opening of the container.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the stopper has a further characteristic.
The production of an airtight chamber 36, in fact, in the area around the pouring element 17 avoids contact between the liquids or similar washing and sterilization products of the container.
In this way, harmful or potentially harmful products will not be brought into contact with the user's lips.
This is due to the collaboration of the internal walls 33, 35 coaxial with the pouring element 17 which collaborate with the outer surface 32 of the pouring element 17 defining the airtight chamber 36.
In particular, as previously indicated, the reclosable stopper of the invention comprises, inside the cap 19, two cylindrical concentric lips 33, which extend downwardly and are inserted internally inside an opening 21 of the pouring element 17 and externally outside the upper flattened edge 34 of the opening 21.
Furthermore, the stopper also envisages the further lip 35, which is cylindrical and coaxial inside the pouring element 17, which extends downwardly and rests in an external intermediate shaped area of the same pouring element 17.
It should also be pointed out that a stopper according to the present invention can envisage, in correspondence with the opening 21, a specific check valve which prevents the outflow of the product in the case of accidental overturning of the container when the cap is open.
The objective mentioned in the preamble of the description has consequently been achieved.
The protection scope of the present invention is therefore defined by the enclosed claims.

Claims

A reclosable stopper (11) revealing a first opening, positioned on a threaded mouth (12) of a container (10), the reclosable stopper essentially comprising a base body, from which a pouring element (17) extends upwards, and a protection and closing cap (19) having an outer casing (32) and produced integrally with the base body in a single piece and connected to said base body by means of a connecting bridge (18) in the form of a strip, acting as a hinge, wherein said base body also comprises a guarantee ring (14) connected by means of frangible bridges (15) to a collar (16), the latter provided in its interior with an internal threading (13), complementary to that of the threaded mouth (12), wherein the protection and closing cap (19) is firmly positioned on the base body for closure, wherein a group is provided between said base body with said pouring element (17), and said protection and closing cap (19), which reveals a first opening comprising a double frangible connection system (22, 23, 24; 25, 30, 29, 31) which can be actuated towards the outside of the protection and closing cap (19) of the stopper, wherein said protection and closing cap (19) comprises, in addition to the outer casing, at least one internal wall coaxial to the pouring element (17), which collaborate with an outer surface (32) of the pouring element (17) defining an airtight chamber (36), characterized in that said coaxial internal walls comprise an outer lip (33) and a further lip (35), also cylindrical, coaxial to the pouring element (17) and which extends downwards and rests in an intermediate external shaped area of the same pouring element (17), the further lip (35), the outer lip (33), the outer casing (32) of the cap and the outer wall of the pouring element (17) defining the airtight chamber (36).
The reclosable stopper according to claim 1, characterized in that said group which reveals a first opening comprises a tooth (22, 23) which extends from said base body and is inserted in a window (24) situated in a flap (25) integral with said protection and closing cap (19), said flap (25) extending by means of foldable lines (27) from said protection and closing cap (19), and being inserted in a housing (30) positioned in an outer wall (32) of said protection and closing cap (19) and being constrained to said housing (30) by means of frangible bridges (29, 31).
The reclosable stopper according to claim 2, characterized in that said flap (25) comprises two portions foldable with respect to each other in an intermediate foldable line (28), a first lower portion (225), in which there is most of said window (24), and a second upper portion (325), connected by means of said foldable line (28) to the first lower portion (225).
The reclosable stopper according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said collar (16) comprises a radial crown which extends inwardly (20) on which said protection and closing cap (19) is buffered, wherein the pouring element (17), produced by means of a cylindrical shaped element having a differentiated diameter and terminating with a central opening (21) having an upper edge (34), extends upwardly from said annular crown (20).
The reclosable stopper according to one or more of the previous claims 3 or 4, characterized in that an extending strip (26) connects said flap (25) beneath the protection and closing cap (19) with a pair of foldable lines (27).
The reclosable stopper according to claim 1, characterized in that said coaxial internal walls comprise two cylindrical concentric lips (33), which extend downwards inside the cap (19), which are inserted inside an opening (21) of said pouring element (17) and externally outside an upper edge (34) of the opening (21).