IP Library Granted Patent US 8,181,803
Granted Patent B2
US 8,181,803 · App. 12/446,986 · Granted May 22, 2012

Means for sealing bottle caps with evidence of opening

Assignee: Compania de Tapones Irrellenables, S.A.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,181,803
App. No.
12/446,986
Granted
May 22, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention consists of an improvement made on the patent “Means for sealing bottle caps with evidence of opening” with Spanish application number P200202864, which made use of a concealed tongue that was revealed after the first opening without allowing to recover the original situation. The present invention maintains a connection between the top and bottom segments of the capsule, preventing their rotation relative to each other and providing an audible evidence of opening.

Claims (17)

1. Means for sealing bottle caps with evidence of opening, comprising:

a threaded cap ( 5 ) to be placed on a mouth of a bottle ( 1 ),

wherein a bottom portion of the threaded cap ( 5 ) is provided with a grooved ring ( 6 ) having an upper tongue ( 6 . 4 ), wherein the threaded cap ( 5 ) and the grooved ring ( 6 ) are connected by breakable bridges ( 6 . 1 ); and

a capsule ( 7 ) covering the threaded cap ( 5 ), wherein the capsule ( 7 ) includes at least one cut segment and at least one uncut segment ( 7 . 3 ),

wherein the at least one cut segment is notched by a cut at a height of the grooved ring ( 6 ) and separates the capsule into a top segment ( 7 . 1 ) and a bottom segment ( 7 . 2 ), wherein the top segment ( 7 . 1 ) includes a top lip ( 7 . 1 . 1 ) configured to maintain the upper tongue ( 6 . 4 ) bent upwards and concealed and the bottom segment ( 7 . 2 ) includes a bottom lip ( 7 . 2 . 1 ) configured to maintain the grooved ring ( 6 ) in the bottom segment ( 7 . 2 ); and

wherein the at least one uncut segment ( 7 . 3 ) connects the top segment ( 7 . 1 ) and the bottom segment ( 7 . 2 ) of the capsule ( 7 ) preventing their rotation relative to each other such that the at least one uncut segment ( 7 . 3 ) does not modify the process of releasing the upper tongue ( 6 . 4 ) retained in the cut segment.

2. Means for sealing bottle caps with evidence of opening according to claim 1 , further comprising incorporated safety means for preventing fraudulent refilling.

3. Means for sealing bottle caps with evidence of opening according to claim 2 , wherein said safety means for preventing fraudulent refilling comprises a pourer ( 3 ) that incorporates a valve ( 4 ) and a chassis ( 2 ).

4. Means for sealing bottle caps with evidence of opening according to claim 3 , wherein incorporated under the valve ( 4 ) is a sphere.

5. Means for sealing bottle caps with evidence of opening according to claim 3 , wherein incorporated under the valve ( 4 ) are two spheres.

6. Means for sealing bottle caps with evidence of opening according to claim 1 , wherein segments connecting the top and bottom segments are evenly spaced.

7. Means for sealing bottle caps with evidence of opening according to claim 1 , wherein segments connecting the top and bottom segments are three in number.

8. Means for sealing bottle caps with evidence of opening according to claim 6 , wherein the segments that connect the top and bottom segments are three in number.

9. Means for sealing bottle caps with evidence of opening according to claim 1 , wherein the uncut segments produce an audible evidence of opening.

10. Means for sealing bottle caps with evidence of opening according to claim 1 , wherein the cut segments are notched.

11. Means for sealing bottle caps with evidence of opening according to claim 1 , wherein both the cut and uncut segments are notched.

12. Means for sealing bottle caps with evidence of opening according to claim 1 , wherein after a first opening, the upper tongue ( 6 . 4 ) is released and positioned so that said upper tongue ( 6 . 4 ) covers the bottom lip ( 7 . 2 . 1 ) of the bottom segment ( 7 . 2 ) of the capsule ( 7 ) and the top lip ( 7 . 1 . 1 ) of the upper segment ( 7 . 1 ) of the capsule ( 7 ) is placed over the upper tongue ( 6 . 4 ).

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Feb 21, 2025
From: COMPAÑIA DE TAPONES IRRELLENABLES, S.A.
To: CAPSULAS TORRENT, S.A
Reel/Frame 070553/0463 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2009
From: TORRENT ORTEGA, DAVID
To: COMPANIA DE TAPONES IRRELLENABLES, S.A.
Reel/Frame 022590/0500 →
Priority Claims (1)
ES 200602732 · Oct 26, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090289027A1 · Nov 26, 2009