AUTOMATICALLY REMOVABLE TOP BOTTLE COVERING CUP BY WASHING MACHINE

Abstract: Capsule of plastic sheet (A) for covering taps/corks and bottle tops (B), prearranged for removing automatically, when washing the bottle, the adhering portion left thereon, wherein, for joining the respective longitudinal edges (1) a degradable joint is provided, such as adhesive material or welding or also an intermediate joining material like a strip constituted of degradable material which loses resistance characteristics thereof (2) in the presence of normal washing treatment for bottles (B), so as to cause automatic removal thereof by means of the mechanical action of said washing.

Description: Automatically removable lop bottle covering cup by washing machine The preseiit invention relates to all automatically removable top bottle covering cup by washing machine, consisting in a capsule for coverillg bottle tops aiid relative cap/cork, prearranged so as to remove automatically, wheii washing the bottles, the adherent portioii left thereof, aiid bottles provided with these capsules. The invention is particularly suitable for use in wine bottles. At the preseiit state of the art, the same applicant has already devised capsules, such as plastic sheet capsules, for covering caps/corks and bottle tops, wherein the main feature consists iti that the capsules are prearranged for tear opening, reference beiiig made to Italiati Patent Application No. 83369A/83 of 20.04.1983 atid Italiatt Utility Model No. 60375B/83 of 26.05.1983. The embodimetits ill accordallce with the above-mentioned applicatiotts use as tearing means a strip or thread placed lonitudinally utider the plastic sheet of the capsule, with respective free end below ill order to allow longitudinal tear opening of the capsule pressed aroutid the tieck top of the bottle for removitig said capsule. Other knowti embodimetits provide only partial removal, that is removal of the capsule head by means of strip with free tab for tearing iii annular directioti, practically at the upper end of the capsule. The first embodimetit has the great advantage of allowing total removal of the capsule but involves fairly high cost, while the second embodiment, already widely adopted on the market, has the coiisiderable disadvantage of leaviiig around the neck of the bottle the capsule strip which must be llecessarily removed afterwards with other meals for reusillg the bottle. Allyway, ill both the embodiments removal must be carried out each time by halls. The invention as claimed is intended to provide a remedy to the above-mentioiied disadvalltages. It solves the problem providing a longitudinal joint of the two edges of the capsule, being said joint physically degradable, thus losing its resistance characteristics when the bottle is normally washed. The advantages offered by this invention are mainly that automatic removal of the capsule left portion is carried out duriiig washing without any maiiual operation. 0lle way of carrying out the invelltioll is described in detail below with reference to drawings which illustrate some preferred embodiments, ill which: Figures 1 is a front perspective view of the fleck top of a bottle with a heat treated capsule accordiiig to the present invention applied thereon, in a first preferred embodiment, using in this specific case a paper strip which loses its consistency in the presence of water; Figure 2 is a view of a capsule applied as in Figure 1 but slightly different, before heat treatiiig; Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention with the degradable joint strip applied inside; Figure 4 shows in partial sectional traiisversal view how to apply the degradable strip in the first preferred embodiment, that is outside as ill Figure 2; Figure 5 shows iii similar view how to apply the degradable joint strip iiiside, that is betweeii the bottle and the joint edges. According to the above figures the invention provides joint of the two longitudinal edges of the capsule (1) by means of a strip of degradable material (2). This material can be for instance atiy material which iii hot water alld soda (normal washing solution for bottles) gets mashed or anyway loses its resistaiice characteristic so that jets of washing solutions and/or maceratioll allow removal thereof, for example the strip can be of paper. In the embodiments illustrated in the figures the paper strip has been applied oil or under the capsule, but it is obvious that said strip call be applied underneath at oiie side aid over at the other side. Futhermore, the paper strip (2) illustrated ill Figures 1 and 3 has the same lexlgth as the capsule but could obviously be longer or anyhow have a tab (2') for manual tear as shown in Figure 2. Instead of the strip joining the edges beiiig degradable, au alternative call obviously be provided by the adhesive or weldiiig being degradable, for instaiice the former can be water-soluble while the latter call be degradable due to heat preseilt in the washing aqueous solution, since it is well kllown that heat, for iiistance in the case of plastic material, weakens resistance characteristics thereof. Anyhow, weakening level of the joint resistance can be also not excessive, provided that the mechanical action of washing (e.g. more or less violent jets of washiiig solution, associated or not with brushillg) causes removal thereof. Obviously, washing solutioll will be suitable for performing the object of the invention, therefore said solution may contain also possible chemical age'its which obviously should not corrode the bottle material but the materials constituting the capsule and in particular its longitudiiial joint, weakeiiiiig same so as to permit automatic spontaneous removal or successive removal by means of the above-mejitioiied integrative mechallical action. Udiiie, October 18, 1984.

Claims: Claims: 1. Capsule for covering bottles tops and relevant cap/cork, prearrailged for removiilg automatically, durillg washing, the adhering portion left on the bottles, characterised ill that a degradable joint is provided which loses its resistance characteristics wheti the bottle is washed with a washillg solutioll using a fluid with more or less chemical agents or having solvent effectiveness, with possible aid of heat, and wherein joint weakening is ailyhow such that with a possible mechanical action of the same washing (brushing, more or less violent jets of the washing fluid,...) automatic removal from the bottle is obtaiiied. 2. A capsule as claimed ill claim 1, characterised in that joint degradability is due to the adhesive or weldillg material. 3. A capsule as claimed in claims 1 and/or 2, characterised ill that joint degradability is due to the material (2) joiili1lg the joint. 4. A capsule as claimed in ally one of the preceding claims, of the type made of plastic sheet (A) for covering caps/corks and neck top of bottles (B), prearranged for removillg automatically, when washing the bottle, the adhering portioll left thereon, characterised in that, for joillillg the respective longitudinal edges (1), a strip is provided consisting of degradable material which loses resistatice characteristcs thereof (2) ill the preseiice of normal washiiig treatment for bottles (B), so as to cause automatic removal thereof by means of the mechanical action of said washing. 5. A capsule as claimed iii claim 4, characterised ill that said strip of degradable material (2) is a strip of paper glued or heat-glued or heat-welded betweell the edges. 6. A capsule as claimed in claims 4 alld/or 5, characterised in that said strip of degradable material has a tab for tear. 7. A capsule as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised ill that said strip of degradable material (2) is applied loiigitudiiially along the joint line of the two opposite edges to be joiiled, outside oil at least one respective edge (1). 8. A capsule as claimed in ally oiie of the preceding claims, characterised in that said strip of degradable material (2) is applied loiigitudinally along the joint line of the two opposite edges to be joiiied, iiiside on at least oiie respective edge (1). 9. A capsule as claimed ill ally one of the precediiig claims, characterised ill that said strip of degradable material (2) is applied loiigitudinally aloiig the joint liiie of the two opposite edges to, be joined, inside at one side atid outside at the other side respectively of the respective opposite edges (1). 10. A capsule as claimed in ally oiie of the preceding claims, characterised in that said strip of degradable material (2) is applied loiigitudinally aloiig the joint line of the two opposite edges to be joiiied, between the respective opposite edges placed in superimpositioii (1). 11. A capsule as claimed ill any oiie of the precediiig claims, characterised ill that said strip of degradable material (2) is associated with a resistaiit thread or further strip applied longitudinally aloiig the joint line of the two opposite edges to be joilled (1), with free end projectillg upwards or downwards for tearing the capsule. 12. Bottle provided with a capsule accordillg to ally olle of the preceding claims. Udine, October 18, 1984.

Inventors: FABBRO, ALBERTO
Applicants: FABBRO, ALBERTO
Application year: 1984
Main classification: B65D41
IPC codes: B65D55