GB1596983A - Closure assemblies for bottles - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOSURE ASSEMBLIES FOR BOTTLES (71) We, METAL CLOSURES LIMITED, a British Company, of Bromford Lane, West Bromwich, West Midlands, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention relates to closure assemblies for bottles.

It is well known to provide a bottle for spirits with a non-refillable fitment to prevent the dilution of the contents after the bottle has been opened. After the bottle has been filled with spirits, the non-refillable fitment is secured in the mouth of the bottle. Thereafter, with several of the excellent fitments available on the market, it is only with great difficulty that liquid can be reintroduced into the bottle without removal of the fitment, which acts as a non-return valve.

In many instances the non-refillable fitment is closed by a threaded cap, usually a moulded plastics cap, without any effective security overseal. Frequently spirits are supplied in dark-coloured glass bottles, so that it is perfectly possible for a quantity of liquid to be abstracted from the bottle without it being immediately visible that this has occurred.

Furthermore, although the available nonrefillable fitments in fact are very effective, the purchaser does not have any guarantee that removal of genuine spirits and replacement by water or spirits of indifferent quality has not taken place, either via the nonrefillable fitment or by removal and replacement thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bottle closure assembly which provides the customer with a more effective guarantee that the contents have not been tampered with before opening, while retaining the security after opening provided by existing non-refillable fitments and at the same time presenting an acceptable visual appearance to the overall package.

Non-refillable fitments of the class under discussion are commonly made as assemblies of moulded plastics components, secured together by adhesive to provide a housing for the moving parts of the non-return valve.

The fitment, in order to perform its function, is of substantial axial length. The upper end of the housing has a screw-threaded neck to receive a cap and below the threaded neck there is a laterally projecting collar having a diameter approximately equal to the external diameter of the bottle neck. A sealing gasket is placed between the top end of the bottle and the undersurface of the collar and the fitment is clamped to the bottle by means of a metal sleeve which has an inturned flange to engage the top of the collar. The lower end of the sleeve is rolled into engagement with one or more grooves or shoulders on the bottle neck whilst downward pressure is applied to the upper surface of the shoulder to exert sealing pressure on the gasket. In the described arrangement the lower end of the fitment lies within and is concealed by the sleeve.

In general the object of the present invention is achieved by combining a non-refillable fitment with a so-called pilfer-proof closure of the general type first described in British Patent No. 369,494 and comprising a cup-like metal shell having a top and a generally cylindrical skirt connected to a lower security band portion by a series of angularly spaced bridges. The security band portion is adapted to engage under an abutment on the neck of the bottle, to anchor it against axial movement. A pilferproof closure of the above type is normally screwthreaded for direct engagement with the thread on the bottle neck. The dimensions of the bridges are such that, under the combined tension and shear which arises on unscrewing the upper part, they break, usually sequentially.Such pilferproof closures are usually made from light gauge aluminium alloy sheet, although they are sometimes made as mouldings of plastics materials.

Where the shell is metal, the bridges are made by forming an interrupted peripheral slit line in the skirt.

It is a characteristic of pilferproof seals, particularly metal pilferproof closures, that while the bridges can accept a limited tension force, they cannot accept a corresponding compressive force without buckling and thus marring the appearance of the closure and suggesting that it has been tampered with.

According to the present invention there is provided a combined non-refillable fitment/pilferproof closure assembly for a bottle comprising a non-refillable fitment having a housing, including a collar of the same external diameter as the bottle to which it is to be fitted and a threaded neck of less diameter outwardly of the collar, and an essentially cylindrical metal sleeve to fit closely around the bottle neck and to be deformed into anchoring engagement therewith, said sleeve having an inwardly turned flange to engage over the upper (outer) surface of the collar, a moulded plastics cap, which has an inner cylindrical, internally screw-threaded skirt for engagement with the threaded neck of said fitment and an outer skirt spaced from said inner cylindrical skirt, and an outer metal shell, comprising a top, and a skirt having an upper portion in engagement with said outer skirt of said moulded plastics cap, and a lower portion proportioned to fit closely about the metal securing sleeve of the non-refillable fitment, a line of angularly spaced bridges being provided in said skirt at a level below the lower margin of the outer skirt of said moulded plastics cap and at or above the level of the inwardly turned flange of the sleeve. In use the lower portion of the shell is anchored against upward movement in the axial direction in relation to the bottle and is dimensioned so that when the shell/cap combination is fitted to the bottle, the metal securing sleeve is entirely hidden within it.

In one construction made in accordance with the invention the outer skirt of the plastics cap has an external diameter slightly less than the diameter of the bottle neck so that the upper portion of the skirt of the shell was of less diameter than the lower portion so that a step was formed between these portions for application of downward pressure during the reforming of the lower portion to secure engagement with the bottle to anchor the lower portion against upward axial movement in relation to the bottle. The interrupted slit line, which results in the formation of the spaced bridges, is cut in the step surface. The moulded plastics cap may be fitted into the metal shell after cutting the interrupted slit line and may be of a rigid plastics material or a flexible plastics mate rial.

It will be understood that the metal shell is dimensioned so that there is no more than a slight clearance between the annular portion and the underlying portion of the metal sleeve when the cap is fully screwed down on the threaded neck of the non-refillable fitment.

In an alternative construction the upper and lower portions of the skirt of the metal shell are of substantially equal diameters to improve the appearance of the shell, when on the bottle, by obviating the step. In this case vertical pressure will be applied to the top of the shell and thus imposed on the moulded cap. To avoid bulging of its inner skirt it is preferred that the cap should be formed in a rather rigid grade of plastics material. In this alternative construction the moulded cap is fitted to the shell before the interrupted slit line is cut, because in cutting the slit line there is some inward deformation of the metal.Since the cutting is performed by cooperation of a pair of tools, respectively inside and outside the shell it is essential that the lower margin of the outer skirt of the cap should terminate at a distance above the slit line to accommodate the internal cutter tool.

In general a distance of about I mm between the slit line and the bottom margin of the outer cap skirt is sufficient for this purpose.

Since the slit line lies between the cap outer skirt and the inturned flange of the metal securing sleeve of the non-refillable fitment, it follows that when the moulded cap is fully screwed down onto the non-refillable fitment a gap of at least about 1 mm will exist between the bottom margin of the outer cap skirt and the inwardly turned flange of the sleeve.

Referring now to the accompanying draw inns: Figure 1 shows a non-refillable fitment secured in the neck of a bottle, Figure 2 is a part section of one form of composite cap and pilferproof shell before application to a bottle, Figure 3 is a part section of the composite cap and pilferproof shell of Figure 2 after application to a bottle, and Figure 4 is a part section of an alternative form of composite cap and pilferproof shell.

The non-refillable fitment comprises a housing 1, within which any one of a number of known non-return valves may be located.

The housing comprises a lower part 2 and an upper part 3, having a screw-threaded neck 4 and a collar 5. Since the construction of nonreturn valve forms no part of the present invention, only its housing is shown in the drawings. When the bottle is filled, the housing 1 is pressed downwardly into the bottle to compress a gasket 6 against the upper end of the bottle neck by downward pressure on the annular upper surface of the collar 5. Whilst pressure is maintained the initially cylindrical skirt of a metal sleeve 7 is deformed to engage with a groove 8 and a shoulder 9 on the bottle, thus anchoring the housing 1 firmly in place. To complete the closure of the bottle the composite cap and pilferproof shell illustrated in Figure 2, is threaded onto the neck 4.

The cap 10 of the unit of Figure 2 is preferably moulded in a somewhat resilient plastics, such as polyethylene, and comprises a top 11, a threaded inner skirt 12 to engage the neck 4 and clamp a gasket 14 against it, and an outer skirt 15. The outer surface of skirt 15 is preferably formed with closely spaced serrations to enable it to be gripped and turned by the overlying metal pilferproof shell 16. The upper part 17 of the skirt of the shell 16 closely grips the skirt 15 of the plastics cap and is preferably knurled both for ease of grasping and to prevent it turning with regard to the plastics cap.

Beneath the upper part 17, the shell has an intermediate part 18 of slightly greater diameter to pass easily over skirt 15. A series of spaced slits 19 are cut in part 18 to leave bridges 20, which connect the upper part to a security band 21, having a diameter just greater than the sleeve 7. The intermediate part 18 includes a substantially flat annular surface 22, to which vertical pressure may be applied while the bottom margin of the security band 21 is turned inwardly to lock under the inturned bottom edge of the sleeve 7. In some instances the slits 19 may be formed in the surface 22. In such case there would be no cylindrical part of increased diameter at the bottom of the upper part 17 and the security band.

As will be apparent from Figure 3, the sleeve 7 remains concealed when the upper part of the cap is separated from the security band by unscrewing the cap to shear off the bridges 20.

In Figure 4 the non-refillable fitment and the sleeve by which it is secured to the bottle is as shown in Figure 1.

In the alternative construction of Figure 4 the modified cap 1 0a is formed of a rigid moulded plastics material, such as ureaformaldehyde resin and has an inner threaded skirt 12, top 1 lea and outer skirt 15a, which is provided with vertical knurling on its external surface. The skirt of the outer shell 16a now has an upper part 17a equal in diameter to the lower security band 21, the boundary between these parts being defined by spaced slits 19, which leave bridges 20.

Where each slit 19 forms the security band with a top edge this top edge overlies the corner portion of the sleeve 7 where the sleeve rests on the collar 5. As will be seen there is a definite vertical interval between the slits 19 and the lower margin of the outer skirt 15a for the reason already explained.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A combined non-refillable fitment/pilferproof closure assembly for a bottle comprising a non-refillable fitment having a housing, including a collar of the same external diameter as the bottle to which it is to be fitted and a threaded neck of less diameter outwardly of the collar, and an essentially cylindrical metal sleeve to fit closely around the bottle neck and to be deformed into - anchoring engagement therewith, said sleeve having an inwardly turned flange to engage over the upper (outer) surface of the collar, a moulded plastics cap, which has an inner cylindrical, internally screw-threaded skirt for engagement with the threaded neck of said fitment and an outer skirt spaced from said inner cylindrical skirt, and an outer metal shell, comprising a top, and a skirt having an upper portion in engagement with said outer skirt of said moulded plastics cap, and a lower portion proportioned to fit closely about the metal securing sleeve of the non-refillable fitment, a line of angularly spaced bridges being provided in said skirt at a level below the lower margin of the outer skirt of said moulded plastics cap and at or above the level of the inwardly turned flange of the sleeve.

2. A closure assembly according to claim 1 in which the upper portion and lower portion of the skirt of the metal shell are of substantially equal diameter, the moulded cap being of a rigid grade of material and the lower margin of its outer skirt being spaced away from and above the line of angularly spaced bridges.

3. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the bridges are disposed at the level of the inwardly turned flange of the sleeve, and wherein slits extending circumferentially between adjacent bridges form an upper edge on the lower portion of the skirt which upper edge overlies a corner portion of the flange where said sleeve is turned inwardly over the collar.

4. A closure assembly according to claim 1 in which the skirt of the metal shell comprises a lower cylindrical security band portion, an upper portion of smaller size and in engagement with the outer skirt of the moulded cap and a step-like intermediate portion lying between the lower margin of the outer skirt and the security band portion, said connecting bridges being formed in said intermediate portion.

5. A combined non-returnable fitment/pilferproof closure assembly according to claim í and substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. preferably moulded in a somewhat resilient plastics, such as polyethylene, and comprises a top 11, a threaded inner skirt 12 to engage the neck 4 and clamp a gasket 14 against it, and an outer skirt 15. The outer surface of skirt 15 is preferably formed with closely spaced serrations to enable it to be gripped and turned by the overlying metal pilferproof shell 16. The upper part 17 of the skirt of the shell 16 closely grips the skirt 15 of the plastics cap and is preferably knurled both for ease of grasping and to prevent it turning with regard to the plastics cap. Beneath the upper part 17, the shell has an intermediate part 18 of slightly greater diameter to pass easily over skirt 15. A series of spaced slits 19 are cut in part 18 to leave bridges 20, which connect the upper part to a security band 21, having a diameter just greater than the sleeve 7. The intermediate part 18 includes a substantially flat annular surface 22, to which vertical pressure may be applied while the bottom margin of the security band 21 is turned inwardly to lock under the inturned bottom edge of the sleeve 7. In some instances the slits 19 may be formed in the surface 22. In such case there would be no cylindrical part of increased diameter at the bottom of the upper part 17 and the security band. As will be apparent from Figure 3, the sleeve 7 remains concealed when the upper part of the cap is separated from the security band by unscrewing the cap to shear off the bridges 20. In Figure 4 the non-refillable fitment and the sleeve by which it is secured to the bottle is as shown in Figure 1. In the alternative construction of Figure 4 the modified cap 1 0a is formed of a rigid moulded plastics material, such as ureaformaldehyde resin and has an inner threaded skirt 12, top 1 lea and outer skirt 15a, which is provided with vertical knurling on its external surface. The skirt of the outer shell 16a now has an upper part 17a equal in diameter to the lower security band 21, the boundary between these parts being defined by spaced slits 19, which leave bridges 20. Where each slit 19 forms the security band with a top edge this top edge overlies the corner portion of the sleeve 7 where the sleeve rests on the collar 5. As will be seen there is a definite vertical interval between the slits 19 and the lower margin of the outer skirt 15a for the reason already explained. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A combined non-refillable fitment/pilferproof closure assembly for a bottle comprising a non-refillable fitment having a housing, including a collar of the same external diameter as the bottle to which it is to be fitted and a threaded neck of less diameter outwardly of the collar, and an essentially cylindrical metal sleeve to fit closely around the bottle neck and to be deformed into - anchoring engagement therewith, said sleeve having an inwardly turned flange to engage over the upper (outer) surface of the collar, a moulded plastics cap, which has an inner cylindrical, internally screw-threaded skirt for engagement with the threaded neck of said fitment and an outer skirt spaced from said inner cylindrical skirt, and an outer metal shell, comprising a top, and a skirt having an upper portion in engagement with said outer skirt of said moulded plastics cap, and a lower portion proportioned to fit closely about the metal securing sleeve of the non-refillable fitment, a line of angularly spaced bridges being provided in said skirt at a level below the lower margin of the outer skirt of said moulded plastics cap and at or above the level of the inwardly turned flange of the sleeve.

2. A closure assembly according to claim 1 in which the upper portion and lower portion of the skirt of the metal shell are of substantially equal diameter, the moulded cap being of a rigid grade of material and the lower margin of its outer skirt being spaced away from and above the line of angularly spaced bridges.

3. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the bridges are disposed at the level of the inwardly turned flange of the sleeve, and wherein slits extending circumferentially between adjacent bridges form an upper edge on the lower portion of the skirt which upper edge overlies a corner portion of the flange where said sleeve is turned inwardly over the collar.

4. A closure assembly according to claim 1 in which the skirt of the metal shell comprises a lower cylindrical security band portion, an upper portion of smaller size and in engagement with the outer skirt of the moulded cap and a step-like intermediate portion lying between the lower margin of the outer skirt and the security band portion, said connecting bridges being formed in said intermediate portion.

5. A combined non-returnable fitment/pilferproof closure assembly according to claim í and substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.