Patent Publication Number: US-2018029761-A1

Title: Obturation device for receptacle comprising a system for checking violation thereof

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an obturation device intended to obturate an opening of a container and comprising a checking system configured to detect any extraction of the obturation device from the opening, particularly in case of violation of the obturation device. 
     Also a subject of the invention is a container whose opening is obturated by such an obturation device. 
     STATE OF THE ART 
     Some products, mainly high value liquids such as spirits for example, or even medicines, are regularly the subject of counterfeiting. 
     To this end, the counterfeiter obtains a container having contained the original product, fills it with a product of lower quality and recloses the container by means of an obturation device, possibly the original one. 
     If this re-stoppering operation has been implemented with enough care, it may not be visible to the subsequent consumer. 
     Systems based on radio-identification have been developed in order to make it possible to reveal a fraudulent re-stoppering of a container. These systems implement a radio protection tag comprising an electronic chip and an antenna, arranged on a thin support. In the existing systems, the tag is arranged such that an attempt to open the stopper is necessarily reflected in a disturbance or an at least partial destruction of the tag. The duly modified tag no longer operates and in particular is no longer capable of communication with a radio-identification transceiver. It is therefore possible, by means of such a transceiver, to detect that the original stopper has been violated. 
     Such a solution is simple and inexpensive because it makes it possible to dispense with the need for an electrical power supply. However, the protection conferred remains basic and can be refined in terms of reliability. The existing systems present the drawback of it being generally possible, if acting with precaution, to dissociate the radio-identification tag and the stopper from the container, without affecting the integrity of the tag. Thus, once the container is filled with the product of lower value, the counterfeiter can replace the original stopper and the tag. Since the latter has not been damaged, it is not possible to detect such a fraudulent re-stoppering. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     One aim of the invention is to design an obturation device which does not present the abovementioned drawbacks and which is in particular more reliable and more robust than the existing systems while remaining inexpensive and simple to design, manufacture and implement. 
     This aim can be achieved through an obturation device intended to obturate an opening of a container and comprising a checking system configured to detect any extraction of the obturation device from the opening, particularly in case of violation of the obturation device, the checking system comprising, on the one hand, at least one sensor determining the value taken by at least one physical quantity representative of a behavior of one of the parts of the obturation device, said at least one physical quantity comprising the acceleration and, on the other hand, an electronic processing unit receiving the value of the physical quantity determined by the sensor and modifying a state variable when the value of the physical quantity determined by the sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold, the modification of the state variable being determined by the electronic processing unit. 
     The predetermined threshold can be known to the electronic processing unit. 
     Said at least one physical quantity can comprise the acceleration undergone by the support of the sensor in the area of the support where the sensor is mounted. 
     The support of the sensor can be configured so as to produce a mechanical amplification of acceleration between the acceleration undergone by the obturation device and the acceleration determined by the sensor over at least a part of the extraction of the obturation device from the opening. 
     Said at least one physical quantity can comprise a deformation undergone by the support in the area where the sensor is mounted. 
     Said at least one physical quantity can comprise the mechanical stresses undergone by the support in the area where the sensor is mounted. 
     The checking system can comprise, on the one hand, an information storage unit communicating with the electronic processing unit and making it possible to save any modification of the state variable and, on the other hand, a communication unit, such as a radio-identification tag antenna, communicating with the information storage unit and/or with the electronic processing unit and making it possible to communicate any modification of the state variable to the outside of the obturation device. 
     The obturation device can be configured in such a way that any extraction of the obturation device from the opening of the container automatically provokes a characteristic and predetermined modification of the behavior of a first part of the obturation device, such as a displacement and/or a deformation and/or a mechanical stressing of the first part, the modification of the behavior being such that it is necessarily accompanied by a variation of the physical quantity determined by the sensor inducing the modification of the state variable. 
     The first part undergoing the characteristic and predetermined modification of behavior can exhibit elasticity properties such that the extraction of the obturation device from the opening provokes an elastic return of the first part to a final configuration adopted at the end of the extraction of the obturation device from the opening. 
     The extraction of the obturation device from the opening can provoke, in succession: 
     an elastic deformation of the first part under the effect of the extraction of the obturation device from the opening, from an initial configuration occupied before its elastic deformation, 
     said elastic return of the first part to its final configuration, during which the value of the physical quantity determined by the sensor exceeds the predetermined threshold, 
     the successive implementation of the elastic deformation and of the elastic return corresponding to the characteristic and predetermined modification of the behavior of the first part. 
     In the initial configuration adopted before the extraction of the obturation device, the first part can be deformed elastically in relation to a configuration of rest of the first part and the extraction of the obturation device from the opening can provoke only the elastic return of the first part varying the first part from said initial configuration to the final configuration, the implementation of this elastic return corresponding to the characteristic and predetermined modification of the behavior of the first part. 
     The support on which the sensor is mounted can consist of the first part. 
     The obturation device can comprise a second part situated on the path of the first part during its elastic return to its final configuration, so as to constitute an abutment in the movement of the first part. 
     The support on which the sensor is mounted can consist of the second part. 
     The obturation device can comprise a stressing member arranged so as to: 
     stress the first part, by physical contact with the first part, 
     abruptly relax said stress, by interruption of the physical contact between the first part and the stressing member, provoking the elastic return of the first part to its final configuration during which the value of the physical quantity determined by the sensor exceeds the predetermined threshold. 
     The obturation device can comprise first and second parts of which at least one is intended to be arranged at least partially inside the opening of the container to obturate it in a seal-tight manner, said parts being secured to one another while allowing a relative displacement of the first part in relation to the second part at least when a pulling force intended to extract the device from the opening is applied to said device, the support belonging to one of said parts and the stressing member belonging to the other of said parts. 
     The obturation device can be configured such that the value determined by the sensor exceeds the predetermined threshold if the pulling force is greater than a predetermined force threshold for which the device has been designed, preferentially greater than the weight of the container comprising the obturation device. 
     The stressing member can progressively stress the first part during a first predetermined travel of the displacement in translation and possibly in rotation of the first part during the extraction of the obturation device, and the relaxing of the stress is performed by the stressing member when the displacement of the first part is prolonged beyond said first predetermined travel. 
     Prior to the extraction of the obturation device and before any displacement of the first part, the stressing member can already stress the first part. 
     The obturation device can comprise elements for rotationally immobilizing the first and second parts in relation to one another about an axis oriented in the direction of extraction of the obturation device from the opening and immobilizing the stressing member in its position where it stresses the first part. 
     A container can comprise an opening obturated by such an obturation device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other advantages and features will emerge more clearly from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention given as nonlimiting examples and represented in the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a first example of obturation device according to the invention, 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the support and of the sensor used in the solution of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a second example of obturation device according to the invention, 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the support and of the stressing member  17  used in the solution of  FIG. 3 , before and during the placement of the stressing, 
         FIGS. 5 to 7  represent, in cross section, a third example of obturation device according to the invention, in three successive configurations adopted during the extraction of the obturation device, 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of an example of checking system that can be used in the devices of the preceding figures. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERENTIAL EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally, and referring to  FIGS. 1 to 8 , the invention relates to an obturation device  10  intended to obturate an opening  12  of a container  11  and comprising a checking system configured to detect any extraction of the obturation device  10  from the opening  12 , particularly in case of violation of the obturation device. 
     The invention also relates to a container  11  whose opening  12  is obturated by such an obturation device  10 . 
     One application that is particularly targeted and for which the solution described is particularly well suited relates to a container  11  consisting of a bottle intended to contain a liquid, in particular a liquid of high value such as alcohol, and equipped with an opening  12  formed by the neck of the bottle. However, this field of application is still not exclusive and can relate to the containers intended to contain medicines, scents, cosmetics, cigars or any other product to be protected, the containers of firearm loader type, extinguishers, or any other container with a single opening. 
     For simplicity, the rest of the description and the figures are associated only with the particular case of a bottle intended to contain a liquid and for which the violation of its opening (for example in order to modify the liquid) is checked by the checking system of the obturation device then placed at least partly in the neck of the bottle in order to obturate it in a seal-tight manner. 
     The checking system to this end comprises, on the one hand, at least one sensor  13  determining the value taken by at least one physical quantity representative of a mechanical behavior of one of the parts of the obturation device  10 , this part for example consisting of a support for the sensor  13 , and, on the other hand, an electronic processing unit  14  receiving the value of the physical quantity determined by the sensor  13  and modifying a state variable when the value of the physical quantity determined by the sensor  13  exceeds a predetermined threshold. The checking system is configured such that the modification of the state variable is determined by the electronic processing unit  14 . The state variable can be formed in any electronic, binary or analog way. 
     In a first variant as represented, the sensor  13  and the electronic processing unit are dissociated elements located at different locations within the obturation device. In a second variant not illustrated, it is possible to provide for the sensor  13  and the electronic processing unit  14  to be formed in one and the same element and located at a same location within the obturation device, for example in the case where the sensor  13  and the electronic processing unit are organized on one and the same electronic chip. In the latter case, the reference  14  will be considered to be merged with the reference  13  in the figures. 
     According to a particular embodiment particularly in the case where the implementation of the predetermined threshold is performed by electronic or electromechanical means, the predetermined threshold is known to the electronic processing unit  14 . This is not however limiting, particularly in the case where the implementation of the predetermined threshold is performed by mechanical means. 
     According to an embodiment that is particularly advantageous and effective in the aim sought, this at least one physical quantity comprises the acceleration undergone by a component of the obturation device  10 , for example the support of the sensor  13  in the area of the support where the sensor  13  is mounted. In this case, the sensor  13  will consist of an accelerometer which can be of any nature provided that it is suited to the implementation of the operation described in this document. 
     Preferentially, in the latter case, the support of the sensor  13  is configured so as to produce a mechanical amplification of acceleration between the acceleration undergone by the obturation device  10  (particularly under the effect of a pulling force F applied to all or part of the obturation device  10  at the moment of its extraction to open the opening  12 ) and the acceleration determined by the sensor  13  over at least a part of the extraction of the obturation device  10  from the opening  12 . Any technique that is known and suited to achieving this function can be envisaged for the implementation thereof. 
     Alternatively or in combination, said at least one physical quantity can comprise a deformation undergone by the support of the sensor  13  in the area of the support where the sensor  13  is mounted, and/or the mechanical stresses undergone by the support of the sensor  13  in the area of the support where the sensor  13  is mounted. In both these cases, the nature of the sensor  13  will be able to be adapted accordingly, for example by taking the form of strain or deformation gauges. The support of the sensor  13  can thus be deformable and/or mobile relative to the obturation device  10 . 
     The sensor  13  can provide for the implementation of the predetermined threshold and the monitoring of the exceeding thereof to be performed by electronic, electromechanical or mechanical means. 
     When the implementation of the predetermined threshold is performed by mechanical means, the sensor  13  can for example comprise a weight that is mobile over a predetermined travel of displacement and mechanical means for stressing the weight in opposition to its displacement. The mechanical stressing means consist, for example, of a magnet or of a spring. The weight establishes an electrical contact at the end of its predetermined travel of displacement. The displacement of the weight is provoked by the movement, in particular the acceleration, undergone by the sensor  13  as a whole and is performed in opposition to the action of the mechanical stressing means. As an example, the electrical contact established by the weight provokes an interruption on a microcontroller which previously was in a standby state. The displacement of the weight beyond the predetermined travel corresponds to the exceeding of the predetermined threshold by the physical quantity measured by the sensor  13 . The implementation of the predetermined threshold and the monitoring of the exceeding thereof by the physical quantity measured by the sensor  13  are performed mechanically in this example. 
     The implementation of the predetermined threshold and the monitoring of the exceeding thereof by the physical quantity measured by the sensor  13  can alternatively be performed by electronic or electromechanical means. In particular, these electromechanical means of the sensor  13  can be produced on the basis of electromechanical microsystems or “MEMS” (microelectromechanical systems). As an example, a comb is mounted on a spring with a test weight or body. When the comb is displaced in relation to the base under an effect of an acceleration, the electrical capacitance changes and this effect is measured. The variation of the capacitance beyond a predetermined value corresponds to the exceeding of the predetermined threshold by the physical quantity (here the acceleration) measured by the sensor  13 . One advantage of this solution is its great robustness. 
     The two examples presented above offer the additional advantage of a very low energy consumption. They can require the presence of an electrical energy source  20  or not, particularly in the case where mechanical means are used. The saving of the modification of the state variable can be done mechanically, for example via an immobilization of the weight at the end of its predetermined travel of displacement, or electrically, for example via a fuse. 
     According to one embodiment and referring to  FIG. 8 , the checking system can advantageously comprise, on the one hand, an information storage unit  15  communicating with the electronic processing unit  14  and making it possible to save any modification of the state variable and, on the other hand, a communication unit  16 , such as a radio-identification tag antenna, communicating with the information storage unit  15  and/or with the electronic processing unit  14  and making it possible to communicate any modification of the state variable to the outside of the obturation device  10 . It becomes possible, from the outside of the obturation device  10 , to observe any modification of the state variable, thus making it possible to detect a theoretical prior opening of the obturation device  10 . 
     According to an embodiment that can be envisaged, the checking system will be able to comprise the electrical energy source  20  cited previously and that makes it possible to power its various sensors, in particular the sensor  13 , as well as the electronic processing unit  14 . It will also be able to comprise a complementary part, not powered by the energy source  20  and, on the contrary, autonomous, and comprising the information storage unit  15  and the communication unit. For example, this complementary part will be able to be formed by all or part of a radiofrequency tag of RFID (radio frequency identification) type: its electrical power supply will come from the stressing signal from the outside of the obturation device. 
     Preferentially, the obturation device  10  is configured such that any extraction of the obturation device  10  from the opening  12  of the container  11  automatically provokes a characteristic and predetermined modification of the mechanical behavior of a first part  18  of the obturation device, such as a displacement and/or a deformation and/or a mechanical stressing of the first part  18 , the modification of the behavior being such that it is necessarily accompanied by a variation of the physical quantity determined by the sensor  13  inducing the modification of the state variable. The choice of the nature of the physical quantity and of the nature of the sensor  13  as presented previously will obviously be made according to the nature of the characteristic and predetermined modification of the mechanical behavior of the first part  18 . 
     Each of the three examples of obturation device  10  thus comprises such a first part  18 , perfectly identifiable at least in  FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 . In these examples, the first part  18  is configured so as to undergo a modification of mechanical behavior of elastic deformation type, in exchange for an elastic return at the moment of the end of its stressing by a stressing member  17  presented later. 
     Thus, according to one embodiment, the first part  18  undergoing the characteristic and predetermined modification of behavior exhibits elasticity properties such that the extraction of the obturation device  10  from the opening  12  provokes an elastic return of the first part  18  to a final configuration adopted at the end of the extraction of the obturation device  10  from the opening  12 . 
     In particular, provision can be made for the extraction of the obturation device  10  from the opening  12  to successively provoke: 
     an elastic deformation of the first part  18  under the effect of the extraction of the obturation device  10  from the opening  12 , from an initial configuration occupied before its elastic deformation, 
     said elastic return of the first part  18  to its final configuration, during which the value of the physical quantity determined by the sensor  13  exceeds the predetermined threshold, 
     the successive implementation of the elastic deformation and of the elastic return corresponding to the characteristic and predetermined modification of the behavior of the first part  18 . 
     Such an operation is implemented in the first example of  FIGS. 1 and 2  and in the third example of  FIGS. 5 to 7 . 
     For the first example, before the application of the extraction force F, the first part  18  is in a natural configuration of rest ( FIG. 1 ), corresponding to the initial configuration. When this force is applied, the first part  18  will be elastically deformed under the action of the stressing member  17 . This involves the elastic deformation described above. At the moment when the stressing of the member  17 , which is substantially in the form of a hook, ceases, particularly when it goes beyond the first part  18  during its displacement and thus frees the first part  18 , the latter effects its elastic return to its final configuration. 
     For the third example, before the application of the extraction force F, the first part  18  is in a natural configuration of rest ( FIG. 5 ), corresponding to the initial configuration. The stressing member  17  does not apply stress to the first part  18 . Then, before the application of the extraction force F, a rotation R 2  is applied to the stressing member  17 , in particular to all the part  100  detailed later. This rotation of the stressing member  17  involves the elastic deformation of the first part  18  explained previously ( FIG. 6 ). Then, the force F is applied, involving a relative translational movement between the stressing member  17  and the first part  18 . At the moment when the stressing of the member  17  ceases ( FIG. 7 ), particularly when it goes beyond the first part  18  during its displacement and thus frees the first part  18 , the latter effects its elastic return to its final configuration. 
     Alternatively, in the initial configuration adopted before the extraction of the obturation device  10 , provision can be made for the first part  18  to be already elastically deformed in relation to a natural configuration of rest of the first part  18 . The extraction of the obturation device  10  from the opening  12  then provokes only the elastic return of the first part  18 , varying the first part  18  from this initial configuration to the final configuration. The implementation of this elastic return corresponds to the characteristic and predetermined modification of the behavior of the first part  18 . 
     Such an operation is implemented in the second example of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . For the second example, before the application of the extraction force F, the first part  18  is already in its initial configuration ( FIG. 3 ) in which it is elastically deformed under the action of a stress applied to the first part  18  by the stressing member  17  following a rotation R 1  applied to the stressing member  17 , and in particular to the part  100 . This initial configuration is therefore distinct from a natural configuration of rest of the first part  18 .  FIG. 4  shows these differences in detail, in plan view. The top and bottom parts of  FIG. 4  show the situations respectively before and after the rotation R 1  applied to the stressing member  17 . Before the implementation of the rotation R 1 , the stressing member  17  does not apply stress to the first part  18  and the latter occupies its natural configuration of rest. Then, before the application of the extraction force F, the rotation R 1  is applied to the stressing member  17 , in particular to all the part  100 , involving the elastic deformation of the first part  18  explained previously (bottom part of  FIG. 4 ) and a local displacement D of the first part  18 . Then, the extraction force F is applied, involving a relative translational movement between the stressing member  17  and the first part  18 . At the moment when the stressing of the member  17  ceases ( FIG. 7 ), notably when it goes beyond the first part  18  during its displacement and thus frees the first part  18 , the latter effects its elastic return to its final configuration, corresponding substantially to the natural configuration of rest. 
     According to a particular but in no way limiting embodiment, the support on which the sensor  13  is mounted consists of the first part  18 . 
     The obturation device  10  can optionally comprise a second part  19  situated on the path of the first part  18  during its elastic return to its final configuration, so as to constitute an abutment in the movement of the first part  18  during the elastic return. That makes it possible to create an abrupt impact between the first part  18  and the second part  19 , that can be detected more easily and that improves its detection reliability when the physical quantity determined by the sensor  13  is the acceleration, in particular by raising the value of the predetermined threshold known to the electronic processing unit  14 . 
     In this particular case, it will be possible for the support on which the sensor  13  is mounted to consist of the second part  19 , although it can consist of the first part  18  in all cases (with or without the second part  19 ). 
     As indicated previously, the obturation device  10  comprises a stressing member  17  arranged so as to: 
     stress the first part  18 , by physical contact with the first part  18 , 
     abruptly relax this stress, by interruption of the physical contact between the first part  18  and the stressing member  17 , provoking the elastic return of the first part  18  to its final configuration during which the value of the physical quantity determined by the sensor  13  exceeds the predetermined threshold. 
     The nature of the stressing member  17  is unimportant as such and any type of stressing member can moreover be used provided that it is suited to the function described in this document. 
     In all the examples thus described, it is understood that the obturation device  10  uses the first part  18  acting as a spring stretched or tensed via the stressing member  17 . Provision can be made for the action of tensioning of the spring by the member  17  to be implemented only at the moment of the extraction of the device  10  and result from the action of the force F (case of the first example) and possibly additionally from the rotation R 2  (case of the third example): the mechanical energy necessary for the variation of behavior of the first part  18  is provided by the user performing the extraction of the device  10 . Alternatively, provision can be made for the action of tensioning of the spring by the member  17  to be performed permanently within the device  10 , even before the start of the extraction of the device  10  (case of the second example): the mechanical energy necessary for the variation of behavior of the first part  18  is incorporated in and borne by the device  10 . 
     In each of the examples illustrated, but without that being limiting, the obturation device  10  comprises first and second parts  100 ,  101  of which at least one is intended to be arranged at least partially inside the opening  12  of the container  11  to obturate it in a seal-tight manner. These parts  100 ,  101  are secured to one other (at least axially) while allowing a relative displacement of the first part  100  in relation to the second part  101  at least when the pulling force F intended to extract the obturation device  10  from the opening  12  is applied to the obturation device  10 . In this organization, the support on which the sensor  13  is mounted belongs to one of the parts  100 ,  101  and the stressing member  17  belongs to the other of the parts  100 ,  101 . In the three examples of  FIGS. 1 to 7 , the support on which the sensor  13  is mounted, also consisting of the first part  18  as defined previously, belongs to the second part  101  whereas the stressing member  17  belongs to the first part  100 . It is clear that a reverse arrangement can perfectly well be envisaged, in which the support on which the sensor  13  is mounted would belong to the first part  100  whereas the stressing member  17  would belong to the second part  101 . 
     In addition, the first part  18  and the second part  19  can in particular belong to the same parts  100  or  101  of the obturation device  10 : in the three examples of  FIGS. 1 to 7 , the parts  18  and  19  belong for example to the second part  101 . 
     In the first and third examples, the stressing member  17  progressively stresses the first part  18  during a first predetermined travel of the displacement in translation and possibly in rotation (case only of the third example of  FIGS. 5 to 7 ) of the first part  100  in relation to the second part  101  during the extraction of the obturation device. The relaxing of the stress is performed by the stressing member  17  when the displacement of the first part  100  is prolonged (particularly in translation in the direction of the pulling force F) in relation to the second part  101  beyond this first predetermined travel (at the moment when the stressing member  17  goes beyond and frees the first part  18  to allow its elastic return to the final configuration). 
     Alternatively, prior to the extraction of the obturation device  10  and before any displacement of the first part  100 , the stressing member  17  already stresses the first part  18 . Such is the case of the second example of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     In this latter particular case, it will be advantageous to provide for the obturation device  10  to comprise elements for rotationally immobilizing (not represented as such and which can be of any nature) the first and second parts  100 ,  101  in relation to one another about an axis oriented in the direction of extraction of the obturation device from the opening and immobilizing the stressing member  17  in its position where it stresses the first part  18 . 
     For a better reliability of the violation detection, the obturation device  10  is potentially configured such that the value determined by the sensor  13  exceeds the predetermined threshold if the pulling force F is greater than a predetermined force threshold for which the obturation device  10  has been designed, preferentially greater than the weight of the container (including its content, for example the liquid) comprising the obturation device  10 . 
     The checking system will be able to comprise, particularly in the part supplied with energy by the source  20 , light indicators  21 , brightness detectors  22  or moisture and temperature detectors  23  to monitor the state of packaging of the container  11  over time, prior to the opening thereof. A temperature detector  23  makes it possible in particular to check that the checking system has not been exposed for certain periods to very low temperatures, which would be likely to render the electrical energy source  20  inoperative and the checking system inactive. 
     Provision can be made to protect the information storage unit  15  containing the opening detection trace when the modification of the state variable has occurred. For example, it is possible to erase a code in memory in case of detection of the opening, or to destroy a fuse irreversibly in order to render the whole useless if the container  11  has been opened. 
     The obturation device  10  therefore addresses the drawbacks of the solutions known currently and is in particular more reliable and more robust than the existing systems while remaining inexpensive and simple to design, manufacture and implement. 
     In particular, once the sensor  13  is triggered, it will reactivate the unit  14  so as to store the event in the unit  15 , for example an RFID memory which will be able to be reread by external means. 
     One advantage of this solution is also the electrical consumption: only the sensor  13  keeps watch, and the setting of a detection threshold arbitrarily and deliberately high since it is possible to manage to provoke a significant impact (much greater than a single blow on the container  11 ), via the scaling down conferred by the behavior of the first part  18  and optionally by the presence of the second part  19 , and therefore a very high acceleration. The discrimination will be easy and reliable in relation to the usual hazards to which a container  11  is conventionally subject.