U.S. patent application number 16/063024 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-20 for translucent gasket comprising a watermark that is not visible in reflected light.
The applicant listed for this patent is MANUFACTURE GENERALE DE JOINTS. Invention is credited to Remy BISCHOFF, Stephane TRIQUET.
Application Number | 20180362230 16/063024 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55236788 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180362230 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TRIQUET; Stephane ; et
al. |
December 20, 2018 |
TRANSLUCENT GASKET COMPRISING A WATERMARK THAT IS NOT VISIBLE IN
REFLECTED LIGHT
Abstract
The invention relates to a light-transmitting gasket intended to
be positioned on the base of a stopper or cap, in the form of a
support having a light-transmitting coating applied to at least one
of the surfaces thereof. The gasket is characterised in that the
coating contains a watermark, i.e. an image visible in transmitted
light, but not visible in reflected light.
Inventors: |
TRIQUET; Stephane; (Ecully,
FR) ; BISCHOFF; Remy; (Limas, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MANUFACTURE GENERALE DE JOINTS |
Chazay D'azergues |
|
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
55236788 |
Appl. No.: |
16/063024 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
December 6, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR2016/053233 |
371 Date: |
June 15, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/045 20130101;
B65D 53/04 20130101; B65D 55/066 20130101; B65D 51/20 20130101;
B65D 51/245 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 53/04 20060101
B65D053/04; B65D 51/24 20060101 B65D051/24; B65D 55/06 20060101
B65D055/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 17, 2015 |
FR |
1562564 |
Claims
1. A light-transmitting gasket intended in particular to be
inserted at the bottom of a stopper or cap, in the form of a
support on at least one of the faces of which a light-transmitting
coating is applied, characterized in that the coating contains a
watermark, that is to say an image visible in transmitted light and
not visible in reflection.
2. The gasket according to claim 1, characterized in that the
light-transmitting coating comprises a paper sheet and/or at least
one polymeric film.
3. The gasket according to claim 1, characterized in that the
support is made of a foamed material and is advantageously chosen
from the group comprising low density polyethylene (PE),
polypropylene (PP), PET, and polystyrene (PS).
4. The gasket according to claim 3, characterized in that a density
of the foamed material is between 30 and 500 kg/m.sup.3.
5. The gasket according to claim 3, characterized in that thickness
of the foamed material is between 1 and 3 mm.
6. The gasket according to claim 1, characterized in that the
support is made of a non-foamed material and is advantageously
chosen from the group comprising polyethylene, polyethylene
copolymers, thermoplastic elastomers, PP, PET, and PS.
7. The gasket according to claim 6, characterized in that the
material has a density between 800 and 1500 kg/m.sup.3.
8. The gasket according to claim 1, characterized in that the
support is made of a non-foamed, non-extruded material.
9. The gasket according to claim 8, characterized in that the paper
has a density between 40 and 600 kg/m.sup.3.
10. The gasket according to claim 2, characterized in that the
polymer film is selected from the group comprising PET, PVDC,
polyester, PP, PA, and PE.
11. The gasket according to claim 2, characterized in that the
polymeric film is white in color.
12. The gasket according to claim 2, characterized in that the
watermark is in the form of a white-colored printing.
13. The gasket according to claim 1, characterized in that the
watermark is in the form of a printing applied between the support
and the light-transmitting coating.
14. The gasket according to claim 1, characterized in that the
watermark is applied to the back of the light-transmitting
coating.
15. The gasket according to claim 8, wherein the material comprises
paper.
Description
[0001] The subject of the invention is a novel gasket whose
essential characteristic is to be provided with a watermark.
[0002] In the remainder of the description and in the claims, the
term "watermark" denotes a drawing or an image that is observable
or visible in transmitted light. By "observable or visible in
transmitted light" is meant an element (here the watermark) that it
is visible, in particular with the naked eye, when placed between
the eye of the observer and a light source, so that the eye
perceives the rays of the light source through the observed
element. In practice, the watermark is visible by transparency in
visible light, that is to say at a wavelength between 380 and 780
nm.
[0003] The watermarks are visible in transmitted light, but they
are not visible in reflection, i.e. when the eye of the observer
and the light source are placed on the same side of the element to
be observed, so that the eye perceives the rays of the light source
reflecting on the observed element.
[0004] The seal of the invention is of the type used for the
sealing of consumer products, in particular in the food or cosmetic
industry.
[0005] These include notably a one-piece gasket. In a known manner,
the one-piece gasket consists of a foamed or non-foamed support. In
the case of foam, they are foams of polypropylene (PP),
polyethylene (PE) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), optionally
laminated with PP, PE or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The
purpose of these seals is to ensure the sealing of the packages
against, first of all, the content, liquid or not, but also against
the oxygen, as well as against aromas and odors.
[0006] These seals are usually delivered to the stopper or cap
manufacturer. The manufacturer inserts them at the bottom of a
stopper or a cap and delivers them to the final customer. The final
customer fills the containers (flacon, bottle, pot . . . ) and then
closes them by means of the stopper or the cap provided with its
joint.
[0007] The invention also relates to the double-piece joints
intended to be glued or sealed on the container lip. These seals
consist of two parts, respectively a lid and a support. The lid is
placed over the entire periphery of the upper rim of the finish of
the container or a lip, thus isolating the container from the
outside. The support is generally thicker. It is inserted, without
being fixed, at the bottom of the cap. Prior to the first opening
of the container, the support and the lid may be secured by means
of a temporary adhesive. We can distinguish double-piece joints
that are glued or heat-sealed.
[0008] With regard to the glued double-piece, the bonding is
conventionally carried out by means of glue compatible with the lip
and the underside of the lid.
[0009] When the seal is intended to be sealed on the container, it
has a sealing layer applied on its underside. Sealing is performed
by induction heat sealing through the cap. This heat sealing is
made possible by the combined action of a conductive material
inserted into the thickness, preferably of the cap, which, as an
effect of the magnetic induction, heats, causing the melting of the
sealing film on the lip.
[0010] The distribution channel of these joints is identical to
that functioning and described previously for one-piece
gaskets.
[0011] Numerous solutions have been proposed to make it possible to
verify that the product purchased by the consumer was an original
product and/or had never been opened.
[0012] As an example, in the field of wine stoppers, document
US2003/0127846 describes an anti-counterfeiting device in the form
of sealing strip inner face of which is covered by an image
appearing only on contact with oxygen. As the strip is removed, the
image, in particular the brand of the beverage, is revealed in
contact with the oxygen.
[0013] Document US Pat. No. 2014/0224800 describes a double-piece
gasket of the lift n peel.RTM. type, where one of the layers of the
lid is covered with a hologram. The hologram appears when the lid
is removed, which guarantees the origin of the product. Moreover,
the application of the hologram over the entire surface of the
layer, including on the part secured to the lip, means that the
membrane cannot be put back once separated. Therefore, the
described seal makes it possible to guarantee the inviolability of
the product.
[0014] For manufacturers of cosmetic and food products it is
essential to guarantee the consumer the origin of the products and
their inviolability. From the manufacturer's point of view, it is
also essential that the seal supplied to him comes from the
original joint manufacturer. Since most of the time the joints are
not delivered to the manufacturer of the final product directly by
the joint manufacturer but by an intermediary manufacturer of the
stopper, there is a risk that the joint that is inserted in the
stopper is not the original one. Taking into account the
specificity of the joints as an oxygen, aroma, odor barrier,
depending on the nature of the product to be protected, it is easy
to imagine the consequences of inserting a joint not responding to
the specific requirements.
[0015] The necessary solution is the marking of the joint to
represent the joint manufacturer. The constraint for the consumer
product manufacturer is that he does not wish that this marking be
visible to the final consumer. This is not desirable, apart from
the aesthetic aspect that could be affected.
[0016] Document U.S. Pat. No. 3,628,271 describes a stopper outer
surface of which is covered with a layer revealing an expiration
date under UV light.
[0017] Document U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,074 describes a gasket
consisting of a compressible layer on which a transparent film is
applied. The compressible layer is structured. It is in the form of
a series of extruded filaments. The structure of the compressible
layer is visible in reflection whatever the side of the joint so
that it is not a watermark.
[0018] The problem which the invention proposes to solve is to
develop a gasket provided with an identification means that is not
visible to the consumer.
[0019] To do this end, the Applicant had the idea to integrate a
watermark into the thickness of the gasket.
[0020] More precisely, the subject of the invention is a light
transmitting gasket, in practice visible light, intended in
particular to be inserted at the bottom of a cap or a stopper in
the form of a support transmitting itself the light and
advantageously made of a foamed material on at least one of the
faces on which is applied a material, referred to in the remainder
of the description and in the claims by the term "coating" and also
transmitting the light.
[0021] This gasket is characterized in that the face of the support
on which the coating is applied, and more precisely the coating
itself, has a watermark, that is to say an image visible in
transmitted light and not visible in reflection.
[0022] According to the invention, the gasket of the invention is a
one-piece gasket or the support part of a double-piece gasket.
[0023] In the case of a one-piece gasket, whether it is the stopper
or cap manufacturer or the manufacturer of the final product, who
receives the stopper+seal assembly or, more rarely, the seal
directly, all of them can perfectly identify the origin of the
gasket. In the case of a double-piece seal, the identification of
the joint, in practice of its support, can only be carried out
after the support has been separated from the lid.
[0024] In fact it is sufficient to place the gasket between the eye
and a light source to detect the watermark pattern. The term
"drawing" of course covers any type of marking, whether it is a
logo, a name, a drawing, an image, a pattern, etc.
[0025] As already mentioned, the verification can be done directly
when the joint is a one-piece gasket. In the case of a two-piece
gasket, verification can be carried out after separation of the
support and the sealing cap or without prior separation if the seal
is not completely opaque.
[0026] According to a first embodiment, the material constituting
the support is an foamed material that is preferably chosen from
the group comprising low density polyethylene (PE), polypropylene
(PP), PET, polystyrene (PS). In practice, the density of the foam
is between 30 and 500 kg/m.sup.3, advantageously between 150 and
400 kg/m.sup.3, that is to say an average density.
[0027] According to another characteristic, the thickness of the
foam is advantageously between 1 and 3 mm.
[0028] According to a second embodiment, the material constituting
the support is a non-foamed material which is preferably chosen
from the group comprising polyethylene, polyethylene copolymers,
thermoplastic elastomers, PP, PET, PS. In practice, the density of
the support is in this case between 800 and 1500 kg/m.sup.3.
[0029] In the two previous embodiments, the support is extruded, in
view of the nature of the materials used.
[0030] In another embodiment, the support is made of a non-foamed,
non-extruded and light-transparent material. It may be, for
example, cardboard with a density advantageously between 40 and 600
kg/m.sup.3.
[0031] According to the invention, the light-transmitting coating
applied to the support comprises a paper sheet and/or at least one
polymer film.
[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the light transmitting coating
comprises at least one polymeric film.
[0033] In practice, the polymeric film is chosen from the group
comprising PET, PVDC, PP, polyester, PA (polyamide), PE
(polyethylene). The film preferably has a thickness between 5 and
100 micrometers.
[0034] In one particular embodiment, the light transmitting coating
comprises two polymer films.
[0035] They can be two coextruded films or two films associated by
means of an adhesive. In a particular embodiment, the light
transmitting material is a complex consisting of a polyester top
film and a polyethylene bottom film.
[0036] The two films once associated are then calendared or
laminated onto the support.
[0037] The light transmitting coating is applied to one or both
sides of the support that can be extruded or not. When the support,
extruded or not, is covered only on one side, the watermark is
applied to the face comprising the light-transmitting coating.
[0038] The seal can be positioned at the bottom of the stopper or
cap in any direction.
[0039] Of course, the shape of the joints of the invention will be
determined as a function of the shape of the stopper or of the
cap.
[0040] According to an essential characteristic, the light
transmitting coating has a watermark. This watermark can be
obtained in various ways, recalling that, by definition, it is a
pattern visible in passing light.
[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the light transmitting coating is
white in color and the foamed or non-foamed material is
advantageously also white in color. At the same time, the watermark
is in the form of a white print and is preferably applied to the
back of the light transmitting coating. In this case, the coating
is advantageously a polymer film.
[0042] Finally and according to another feature, the watermark is
applied between the support and the light-transmitting coating, in
particular the film. As already stated, the watermark, that is to
say an image visible in passing light and not visible in
reflection, is preferably applied to the back of the
light-transmitting coating.
[0043] The invention and the advantages thereof will become
apparent from the description which follows.
[0044] A repeated pattern of white color is printed on a strip of
white PET polymer film. The PET film has a thickness of 25
microns.
[0045] This strip of film is laminated on a white foamed PE strip.
The foam has a thickness of 1 mm and a density of 200 kg/m3.
[0046] The gaskets of the desired size are cut out in the thickness
of the complex obtained.
[0047] If the gasket is placed between the eye and a light source,
the watermark is visible between the support and the light
transmitting material.
[0048] The invention and the advantages which result therefrom are
well apparent from the foregoing description. In particular, it is
possible to guarantee the manufacturers of consumer products the
origin of the gaskets used in the packaging.
* * * * *