U.S. patent application number 10/376248 was filed with the patent office on 2003-09-11 for closure device particularly for bottles and/or containers.
Invention is credited to Tomasella, Alessandro.
Application Number | 20030168456 10/376248 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27742277 |
Filed Date | 2003-09-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030168456 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tomasella, Alessandro |
September 11, 2003 |
Closure device particularly for bottles and/or containers
Abstract
A closure device particularly usable for temporarily closing a
container for liquids, comprising a first cap, which is provided
with first elastically deformable elements for connection to the
outer neck of the container; a second coaxial and external cap
being slidingly and selectively associated with the first cap and
comprising second elements for the temporary activation of the
first elements and third elements suitable to remove the closure
device from the neck of the container.
Inventors: |
Tomasella, Alessandro;
(Vittorio Veneto, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MODIANO & ASSOCIATI
Via Meravigli, 16
MILANO
20123
IT
|
Family ID: |
27742277 |
Appl. No.: |
10/376248 |
Filed: |
March 3, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/257.1 ;
215/250; 215/278 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 51/1672 20130101;
B65D 2251/07 20130101; B65D 45/322 20130101; B65D 55/024 20130101;
B65D 41/0421 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/257.1 ;
215/250; 215/278 |
International
Class: |
B65D 051/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 6, 2002 |
IT |
TV2002A000025 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A closure device particularly for a container with an outer neck
for liquids, comprising a first body which is provided with first
elastically deformable means for connection to the outer neck of
said container, a second body being slidingly and selectively
associated with said first body and being arranged coaxially and
externally, said second body comprising second means for temporary
activation of said first means and third means for removing said
closure device from said neck.
2. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein said first
connection means protrude from said first body so as to allow
selective and temporary connection to one or more grip elements
protruding externally with respect to said neck of said
container.
3. The closure device according to claim 2, wherein said first body
comprises a first upper surface, perimetrically to which there
protrudes approximately axially a first perimetric rim for
supporting said first connection means.
4. The closure device according to claim 3, wherein said connection
means, which are elastically deformable, are constituted by a
plurality of wings that protrude approximately axially from said
first perimetric rim of said first body and are arranged mutually
side by side so as to constitute a first crown.
5. The closure device according to claim 4, wherein said wings,
which are mutually equidistant, are elastically deformable at least
along a radial direction with respect to the shape of said first
body, so as to allow to vary the diameter of said first crown.
6. The closure device according to claim 4, wherein said wings of
said first body have, at free ends thereof, at least one grip hook
or tooth, which protrudes inward for temporary and selective
connection to said one or more grip elements of said neck.
7. The closure device according to claim 4, wherein said one or
more grip elements of said neck are constituted by an annular lip,
which protrudes outward from said neck of said container.
8. The closure device according to claim 7, wherein said lip
protrudes from said neck at a preset distance from the opening of
said container, said distance being approximately equal to the
height of said first crown plus the height of said first perimetric
edge, so as to ensure that the grip of said teeth on said lip
occurs approximately simultaneously with the resting on said neck
of said first upper surface of said first body.
9. The closure device according to claim 8, wherein said annular
lip has a profile that is approximately trapezoidal and is formed
by an oblique upper side, so as to ensure the insertion of said
first body along said neck, and by a lower side, which is
orientated approximately at right angles to the first lateral
surface of said neck, so as to ensure effective grip of said grip
teeth.
10. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein said second
body is constituted by a second cap, which is provided with a
lateral surface that at least partially surrounds said first body
which is constituted by a first cap, and with means for limiting
the stroke of mutual axial sliding of said first and second
caps.
11. The closure device according to claim 10, wherein said second
body is constituted by a circular ring that is provided with a
lateral surface that at least partially wraps around said first
body and with means for limiting the stroke of the mutual axial
sliding of said first and second caps.
12. The closure device according to claim 2, wherein said second
body comprises a second upper surface, perimetrically to which a
second perimetric rim protrudes approximately axially, said second
rim comprising said second means for activating said first
means.
13. The closure device according to claim 12, wherein said second
means for temporary activation of said first means are constituted
by inner surfaces of said second perimetric rim of said second
body.
14. The closure device according to claim 13, wherein said inner
surfaces of said second body, which constitute said second
activation means, comprise a second lateral surface that is shaped
approximately complementarily to said first perimetric edge of said
first body.
15. The closure device according to claim 14, wherein said inner
surfaces of said second body, which constitute said second
activation means, comprise a third lateral surface which has a
slightly larger diameter than said first perimetric rim of said
first body.
16. The closure device according to claim 15, wherein said second
lateral surface of said second cap is provided above said third
lateral surface and is connected thereto by means of a recess.
17. The closure device according to claim 4, wherein after resting
said first upper surface of said first body on the opening of said
neck, a downward movement of said second cap forces an axial
sliding thereof with respect to said first body, consequently
activating said first connection means.
18. The closure device according to claim 17, wherein the downward
movement of said second cap with respect to the first body forces
an elastic deformation of said wings, preloading them and placing
them in abutment against said first lateral surface of said neck,
so as to achieve temporary connection between said grip teeth and
said annular lip.
19. The closure device according to claim 16, wherein said second
lateral surface of said second cap has a diameter that is
approximately equal to the diameter of said first perimetric rim of
said first body.
20. The closure device according to claim 4, wherein the tips of
said wings are provided so as to protrude slightly outward.
21. The closure device according to claim 20, wherein said third
lateral surface of said second cap has a diameter that is
approximately equal to the minimum diameter of said first crown of
said first body, measured at said free ends of said wings.
22. The closure device according to claim 15, wherein an annular
recess is obtained below said third lateral surface of said second
cap and is suitable to allow to temporarily contain said protruding
tips of said wings.
23. The closure device according to claim 22, wherein the lifting
of said second cap with respect to the first cap allows to move
said previously preloaded wings away from said first lateral
surface of said neck and to accommodate said wings in said recess
of said second cap, consequently disengaging said first crown from
said annular lip of said neck.
24. The closure device according to claim 14, wherein said third
means for removing said closure device from said neck are
constituted by an annular rim that protrudes inward from said
second body so as to delimit said recess in a lower region.
25. The closure device according to claim 24, wherein said annular
rim has a minimum diameter that is comprised between the diameter
of said annular lip and the diameter of said first crown, measured
with said wings in the inactive position.
26. The closure device according to claim 25, wherein said annular
rim constitutes a stroke limiting means during the lifting of said
second cap with respect to the first one, by interacting with said
tips of said wings.
27. The closure device according to claim 3, further comprising
fourth means for indicating visually that a first opening of said
container has occurred, said means being constituted by a seal that
is associated with, or monolithically coupled to, said second upper
surface of said second body.
28. The closure device according to claim 27, wherein said seal is
constituted by a plate that protrudes downward from said upper
second surface, so as to interact with a seat that is shaped
approximately complementarily and is formed in said first upper
surface of said first body.
29. The closure device according to claim 28, wherein said plate,
which lies on a plane that is approximately parallel to, and lower
than, the plane of said second upper surface, is associated with it
or monolithically coupled to it by means of two or more tabs.
30. The closure device according to claim 29, wherein each one of
said tabs, which are equidistant, has at least one weaker region,
such as a region having a reduced cross-section.
31. The closure device according to claim 28, wherein the distance
between said plate and said second upper surface is approximately
equal to the depth of said seat formed in said first upper surface
of said first body.
32. The closure device according to claim 28, wherein said plate is
suitable to interact with said seat following the first closure of
said device, so as to produce, when said second cap rises, the
breakage of said tabs.
33. The closure device according to claim 28, wherein said plate
has third perimetric rims that interact by interference in said
seat so as to provide a locking force that is greater than the
force required to break said tabs at said weaker regions.
34. The closure device according to claim 12, further comprising
separate means for balancing the internal pressure of said bottle
to a value proximate to the external pressure, said means being
activatable automatically during the opening of said bottle.
35. The closure device according to claim 34, wherein said separate
pressure balancing means comprise a through hole, which is provided
approximately centrally in said first upper surface of said first
body and can be closed temporarily, when said second body is
lowered, by means of a complementarily shaped protrusion that
protrudes downward from said second upper surface of said second
body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a closure device that is
particularly suitable for temporarily closing a bottle or more
generally a container that can be used for example for liquids such
as water or beverages, for creams and hygiene products, for
medicines or fluids of other kinds, including gasolines, oils and
other derivatives of the refinement of petroleum.
[0002] Bottles provided with single-use closures, such as for
example known types of closure commonly known as crown caps, are
currently commonly used for example in the food sector.
[0003] Such crown caps, used for example in the bottling of wines
and beers in glass bottles, are usually removed from the bottles by
applying to the caps a rigid deformation that prevents their re-use
in order to obtain a new effective closure of the bottle.
[0004] Another drawback of the known types of crown cap is that the
bottling step requires the presence of specific machines that allow
to close the lateral edges of the crown caps around the outer rim
of the neck of each bottle.
[0005] This makes it particularly onerous to use the crown caps in
the domestic and handicraft sector.
[0006] In the field of re-usable caps, bottles. that can be
reclosed by means of circular screw caps of a known type are
currently commercially available; such caps can be screwed on and
off with respect to a complementary thread formed along the outer
rim of the circular opening provided at the upper end of the
bottles.
[0007] The main drawback of those known types of screw cap is that
providing the thread along the inner lateral surfaces increases
considerably the complexity of the manufacture of the caps,
requiring the use of expensive and complicated machines and
molds.
[0008] The disengagement of the caps from the mold in which they
have been produced in fact requires the execution of complicated
unscrewing movements, which cause the manufacturing process to be
slow and expensive and at the same time require constant
maintenance of the complex machinery.
[0009] Likewise, the production process required to obtain the
preforms for plastic bottles, for example used commonly in the
field of food beverages, is complicated and expensive.
[0010] The preforms, obtained by injecting plastic material into a
first mold, are then moved into a second larger mold, in which they
are subjected to blow-molding.
[0011] As in the case described above of the manufacture of screw
caps, the production process of preforms also has the considerable
drawback of having to provide a thread at the outer neck of the
bottles.
[0012] This leads to the problem of having to provide manufacturing
and bottling lines that require a screw-on motion.
[0013] Another important drawback of known types of screw cap is
that opening and closing a bottle, or more generally a container,
is slow and complicated, since it requires extended rotary screwing
and unscrewing motions.
[0014] As in most food products, moreover, in the case of beverage
bottles and more generally for many other commercially available
products, a first opening seal must be present.
[0015] Such seal is suitable to ensure, by means of its integrity,
that no tampering has occurred to the bottle if it uses closures of
the reusable type, such as for example in the case of screw
caps.
[0016] The seal for known types of screw cap is usually constituted
by a ring, which is made of the same material as the screw cap and
is arranged outside the neck of the bottle, below the threaded
region of said neck.
[0017] At the output of the bottling facilities, the ring is
associated with the lower rim of the screw cap, usually at a series
of retention points.
[0018] In this manner, unscrewing the cap necessarily breaks the
connection in the retention points and therefore causes the visible
and permanent mutual separation of the ring and the cap.
[0019] The known type of annular seal described above has the
important drawback of requiring the user to generate a considerable
unscrewing force; breaking the retention points and performing the
first opening are therefore tiring and often difficult, especially
if the user is an elderly person, a young person or in any case a
person with limited hand strength.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The aim of the present invention is to solve the
above-mentioned problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited
known art, by providing a closure device for containers that allows
a considerable simplification of manufacturing processes both for
the containers and for the closure devices, with a consequent
containment of design and manufacturing costs of the machines
intended for said manufacturing processes.
[0021] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a
closure device is that allows to achieve easy closure and opening
of the containers, which can be performed easily and simply by any
user.
[0022] Another object is to provide a closure device whose
manufacture requires the use of machines that are simple because
they substantially have no screw-off movements, with a reduction in
production and maintenance costs.
[0023] Another object is to provide a closure device that allows to
simplify and speed up also the process of bottling said
containers.
[0024] Another object is to provide a closure device that has a
first opening seal that is effective and at the same time easy to
break, so as to ensure easy and simple opening even on the part of
particularly weak users.
[0025] Another object is to provide a closure device that is
structurally simple and has low manufacturing costs.
[0026] This aim and these and other objects that will become better
apparent hereinafter are achieved by a closure device particularly
for a container with an outer neck for liquids, characterized in
that it comprises a first body which is provided with first
elastically deformable means for connection to the outer neck of
said container, a second body being slidingly and selectively
associated with said first body and being arranged coaxially and
externally, said second body comprising second means for temporary
activation of said first means and third means for removing said
closure device from said neck.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will
become better apparent from the following detailed description of a
particular embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of
non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0028] FIGS. 1 and 2 are respectively a top perspective view and a
bottom perspective view of the first body;
[0029] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the first body;
[0030] FIGS. 4 and 5 are respectively a top perspective view and a
bottom perspective view of the second body;
[0031] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the second body;
[0032] FIGS. 7 and 8 are respectively side sectional views of the
second and first bodies;
[0033] FIG. 9 is a side view of the neck of a bottle with which the
invention is associable;
[0034] FIGS. 10 and 11 are side sectional views of the closure
device respectively before and after performing the first
connection between the cap and the neck of the bottle;
[0035] FIG. 12 is a side sectional view of the invention after
breaking the seal in a partially open position;
[0036] FIG. 13 is a side sectional view of a different embodiment
of the closure device, used for example in the field of glass
bottles;
[0037] FIGS. 14 and 15 are two different side sectional views of a
different embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0038] With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1
designates a closure device that is particularly suitable to be
used to temporarily close containers such as for example bottles or
flasks.
[0039] Those bottles are usually provided with an upper neck 2,
which is advantageously cylindrical and forms an opening 3 that
allows the passage of substances, particularly liquids, from the
inside of the bottle toward the outside and vice versa.
[0040] To allow the closure of the opening 3, which is usually
circular, it is possible to use the device 1, which is constituted
by a first body 4 and a second body 5, which are mutually coaxially
associated so as to allow selective sliding along an axial
direction.
[0041] The first body 4 is conveniently constituted by a first cap,
shown in detail in FIGS. 1 to 3, whose shape is similar to that of
the opening 3 and therefore, in the particular embodiment
illustrated here, substantially circular.
[0042] The first body or cap 4 is provided with first connection
means that are elastically deformable and are constituted for
example by a plurality of wings 6, which protrude approximately
axially from the first perimetric rim, designated by the reference
numeral 7, of the first cap 4, and are arranged mutually side by
side so as to constitute a first crown, designated by the reference
numeral 8.
[0043] The wings 6 are slightly spaced apart and are elastically
deformable at least along a radial direction with respect to the
shape of the first cap 4, so as to allow the first crown 8 thus
formed to undergo slight variations in its diameter.
[0044] The wings 6 have, at their free ends, grip teeth, generally
designated by the reference numeral 9, which protrude inward so as
to allow temporary and selective connection to an annular lip 10,
which protrudes outside the neck 2 of the bottle.
[0045] The annular lip 10 protrudes from the neck 2 at a preset
distance from the opening 3 which is approximately equal to the
height of the first crown 8 plus the height of the first perimetric
rim 7: in this manner, the teeth 9 grip the lip 10 at the same time
when the first upper surface, designated by the reference numeral
11, of the first cap 4 closes the neck 2 of the bottle (see FIG.
11).
[0046] To allow effective temporary locking of the teeth 9 of the
wings 6 on the annular lip 10, the profile of the lip 10 is
approximately trapezoidal, so as to comprise an oblique upper side
10a, which is suitable to facilitate the insertion of the first cap
4 over the neck 2 of the bottle, and a lower side 10b, which is
orientated approximately at right angles to the first lateral
surface of the neck 2, designated by the reference numeral 2a in
FIG. 9, so as to ensure effective engagement of the grip teeth
9.
[0047] The first cap 4 preferably also comprises first and/or
second sealing means, designated by the reference numerals 12 and
13, which are suitable to prevent, after achieving the connection
between the closure device 1 and the neck 2, any escape of liquid
from the bottle and at the same time ensure tightness against any
pressure applied by the contained liquid.
[0048] The first sealing means 12 are constituted for example by
one or more circular profiles that protrude inward and in an
annular fashion with respect to the first perimetric edge 7: in the
illustrated embodiment, three mutually superimposed circular
profiles have been obtained which are suitable to abut, when the
device 1 closes, against the lateral surface 2a of the neck 2, thus
acting as gaskets.
[0049] The second sealing means 13 can instead be constituted for
example by a second crown, which protrudes inside the first upper
surface 11 of the first cap 4 and is shaped complementarily to the
opening 3.
[0050] The temporary connection between the grip teeth 9 of the
wings 6 and the annular lip 10 is conveniently achieved by way of
second means, designated by the reference numeral 14, for
temporarily activating said first means constituted by the wings
6.
[0051] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the second means 14 are
advantageously constituted by the internal surfaces of the second
body 5, which can be constituted for example by the second cap or
cover, shown in detail in FIGS. 4 to 6, or also by a circular ring,
not shown, that surrounds externally the first cap 4 and is
provided with stroke limiting means for mutual axial sliding.
[0052] In particular, the second activation means 14 are
constituted by a second lateral surface 15a and optionally also by
a third lateral surface 15b, both of which are obtained inside the
second perimetric rim, designated by the reference numeral 16, of
the second body or cap 5.
[0053] The second lateral surface 15a is obtained above the third
lateral surface 15b and is connected to it by means of a recess 17
that is suitable to provide a difference in diameter between said
lateral surfaces.
[0054] In particular, the second lateral surface 15a is shaped
approximately complementarily to the first perimetric rim 7 of the
first cap, while the third lateral surface 15b has a slightly
larger diameter.
[0055] In this way, once the first upper surface 11 of the first
cap 4 has been rested on the opening 3 (FIG. 10), a lowering of the
second cap 5 on the part of the user forces an axial sliding
thereof with respect to the first cap 4, with interaction between
the wings 6 and the second and third lateral surfaces 15a and
15b.
[0056] This interaction forces an elastic deformation of the wings
6, which are pre-loaded and placed in abutment against the first
lateral surface 2a of the neck 2 of the bottle, thus ensuring the
interconnection between the grip teeth 9 and the annular lip 10 (as
shown in FIG. 11).
[0057] In order to facilitate the activation of the first
connection means, constituted by the wings 6, the tips 18 of the
wings 6 are provided so as to protrude slightly outward, so as to
obtain a shape of the crown 8 that is approximately complementary
to the second perimetric rim 16.
[0058] When the second cap 5 is raised with respect to the first
cap 4 (FIG. 12), the previously pre-loaded wings 6 can move away
from the first lateral surface 2a, disengaging from the annular lip
10 and allowing therefore to remove the closure device 1 from the
neck 2 of the bottle.
[0059] To ensure effective disengagement of the wings 6 from the
lip 10, the second cap 5 advantageously has an annular recess,
designated by the reference numeral 19, that is suitable to act as
a seat for temporarily containing the protruding tips 18 of the
wings 6.
[0060] The second cap 5 also comprises third means for removing the
closure device 1 from the neck 2, which are advantageously
constituted by the annular rim, designated by the reference numeral
20, of the recess 19.
[0061] The annular rim 20, by protruding internally so as to
delimit in a lower region the annular recess 19, when the second
cap 5 rises with respect to the first cap, interacts with the tips
18 of the wings 6, therefore acting as a stroke limiting means and
at the same time ensuring the connection between said first and
second caps 4 and 5.
[0062] Moreover, the closure device 1 can comprise fourth means for
visually indicating that the first opening of the bottle has
occurred.
[0063] The fourth means are constituted for example by a seal 21,
which is obtained advantageously at the second upper surface,
designated by the reference numeral 22, of the second cap 5, and
protrudes downward so as to interact with an approximately
complementarily shaped seat 23 formed in the first upper surface 11
of the first cap 4.
[0064] In the illustrated embodiment, the seal 21 is constituted by
a plate 24, which lies on a plane that is approximately parallel
and lower with respect to the plane of the second surface 22 and is
associated or monolithically coupled thereto by way of a plurality
of tabs, generally designated by the reference numeral 25.
[0065] In particular, the tabs 25 are preferably equidistant and
have at least one weaker region 26, such as for example a region
that has a considerably reduced cross-section with respect to the
dimensions of the plate 24.
[0066] In this manner, once the first closure of the device 1 has
occurred and once the second cap 5 has been lowered from the
position of FIG. 10 to the position of FIG. 11, the interconnection
by interference between third perimetric edge 27 of the plate 24
and the lateral edges of the seat 23 is achieved.
[0067] The plate 24 can be for example substantially circular or
oval or cross-shaped, such as the one shown in the figures, or
rectangular or square or any other advantageously flat shape, so
long as it has third perimetric edges 27 that interact by
interference in the seat 23 so as to ensure effective clamping of
the plate 24.
[0068] The interconnection of the plate 24 and the seat 23 must
ensure the generation of a force that is greater than the force
required to break the tabs 25 at their weaker region 26.
[0069] This is ensured thanks to an appropriate choice of
dimensions for the plate 24 with respect to the seat 23, so that
the elastic deformation that has occurred in the interconnection
and the friction between the contact surfaces are such as to cause,
when the second body 5 is lifted, the breakage of the tabs 25 and
therefore break the seal 21, as shown in FIG. 12.
[0070] The closure device 1 can be used with bottles or flasks made
of plastics or other kinds of container, provided that they have,
along the first lateral surface 2a of the neck 2, grip means for
the teeth 9 of the wings 6, such as for example the annular lip 10
shown in the figures.
[0071] FIG. 13, for example, illustrates the upper part of a known
type of glass bottle, commonly used to contain beverages such as
wine or beer: like the plastic bottle, in this case also it is
possible to associate with the neck 2 of the glass bottle a closure
device 1 of appropriate dimensions.
[0072] Operation is therefore as follows: with reference to FIGS.
10, 11 and 12, the first connection of the closure device to the
neck of the bottle consists in resting the device on the opening of
the bottle so that the first perimetric rim of the first cap lies
outside the first lateral surface of the neck.
[0073] Then the second outer cap is lowered with respect to the
first cap, so as to make the wings of the first cap abut against
the neck of the bottle, achieving an interconnection between the
grip teeth of the wings and the annular lip that protrudes on the
outside of said neck.
[0074] At the same time, interconnection occurs between the plate
of the seal and the respective seat formed on the upper surface of
the first cap.
[0075] The bottle can be opened by removing the closure device and
therefore by lifting the second cap.
[0076] In the first upward motion of the second cap, the seal is
broken by breaking the tabs that connect the plate to the second
cap.
[0077] Then, as the second cap continues to rise with respect to
the first one, the third removal means are activated by means of
the contact between the annular rim that protrudes downward from
the second cap and the tips of the wings of the first cap, which
are pre-loaded beforehand and have moved apart so as to occupy at
least partially the annular recess formed inside the second
perimetric rim of the second cap.
[0078] Further lifting of the second cap entails removing the
device and therefore opening the bottle.
[0079] Actually, the opening sequence described above consists of a
single movement performed by the user: such movement is very
difficult to obtain accidentally, since the lower rim of the device
rests adjacent to, or against, the base of the neck of the bottle,
as shown in FIG. 11.
[0080] Moreover, if the liquid contained in the bottle is for
example sparkling wine, beer or any carbonated beverage, the
presence of an internal pressure that is higher than the
atmospheric pressure does not entail a danger of accidental removal
of the closure device, since the pressure acts on the first inner
cap, which is locked between the second cap and the neck, and in no
way acts on the second cap.
[0081] It has thus been found that the invention has achieved the
intended aim and objects, a closure device for containers having
been provided which can be obtained by means of a considerable
simplification of the manufacturing processes suitable to
manufacture the containers and the closure devices, since it is no
longer necessary to perform complicated molding processes to obtain
the thread or to perform unscrewing movements in order to follow
the thread.
[0082] This leads to a great simplification of the manufacturing
process and of the step of the bottling process and to a consequent
reduction of design and manufacturing costs of machines intended
for these processes.
[0083] At the same time, the closure and opening obtainable with
the invention are easy and straightforward and at the same time
ensure maximum safety against accidental openings of the
container.
[0084] The invention is extremely simple to use even for a first
bottling of liquids such as wine, since instruments or machines for
bottling are not required: this is particularly advantageous in the
case of domestic or handicraft use.
[0085] Moreover, the invention is provided with a first opening
seal that is highly effective and at the same time simple, since it
can be obtained monolithically with said first or second body.
[0086] The seal can be broken by means of a translational motion or
a combined rotational and translational motion, which can be
obtained with a limited force since the distance of the rim of the
seal from the axis of the device 1 is much smaller than the
distance between the point of application of the force and the
axis.
[0087] The invention is of course susceptible of numerous
modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of
the appended claims. Thus, for example, it is possible to provide a
device that is suitable to close containers having non-circular
openings, for example oval, rectangular or polygonal openings.
[0088] This leads to the considerable advantage of being able to
provide bottle necks, and the corresponding closure devices, whose
shape is square, rectangular or in any case different from
circular.
[0089] In particular, it is possible to use for example an oil
container provided with a closure device according to the invention
that is hexagonal and therefore does not require devices commonly
known as drip-stops.
[0090] Likewise, the closure device can comprise the first opening
seal described above or a seal of another kind, for example
associated with the first body rather than with the second body, or
might not comprise any type of seal at all.
[0091] The invention can be used not only to close containers for
liquids but also, for example, to close jars of jams or creams,
bottles or tubes for food substances or medical substances or
hygienic substances, and more generally for any fluid, substance or
granular material that requires storage or transport.
[0092] In FIGS. 14 and 15, the reference numeral 101 designates a
different embodiment of the closure device that can be used
particularly for example to close containers for carbonated
beverages.
[0093] The device 101 is constituted by a first body 104 and a
second body 105, which are mutually coaxially associated so as to
allow selective sliding along an axial direction.
[0094] The first body 104 is shaped like the first body 4 described
above, and therefore has first elastically deformable connection
means constituted by a plurality of wings 106, which protrude
axially from the first perimetric rim 107 of the first body
104.
[0095] The wings 106 have, at their free ends, engagement hooks or
teeth 109, which protrude inward so as to allow temporary and
selective connection to an annular lip 110, which protrudes
externally and perimetrically with respect to the neck, designated
by the reference numeral 102, of the bottle.
[0096] The temporary connection between the grip teeth 109 of the
wings 106 and the annular lip 110 of the bottle is achieved by way
of second means 114 for temporarily activating the first means or
wings 106.
[0097] In particular, the second means 114 are constituted by the
internal surface, designated by the reference numeral 115, of the
second body 105, which is constituted for example by a cap that
surrounds at least partially the first body 104.
[0098] As in the previous embodiment, when the second body 105 is
moved down over the first body 104, the first means close around
the neck 102 of the bottle and therefore the bottle is clamped.
[0099] In this embodiment, the lowering of the second body 105 is
also accompanied by the closure, by means of a protrusion 180 that
protrudes centrally and downward with respect to the second body
105, of a complementarily shaped hole, not shown in the figures,
which is obtained in the first upper surface 111 of the first body
104.
[0100] In this manner, when the second body 105 is first lifted
with respect to the first body 104, the protrusion 180 disengages
from the respective hole, allowing the escape of the excess gases
and therefore the balancing of the internal pressure and of the
external pressure before the bottle is opened completely.
[0101] The materials used, as well as the dimensions that
constitute the individual components of the invention, may of
course be more pertinent according to specific requirements.
[0102] The various means for performing certain different functions
need not certainly coexist only in the illustrated embodiment but
can be present per se in many embodiments, including ones that are
not illustrated.
[0103] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No.
TV2002A000025 from which this application claims priority are
incorporated herein by reference.
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