Patent Publication Number: US-2006000791-A1

Title: Anti-fraud cap for bottles

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates generally to caps for bottles containing fluids such as water or liquid and, more particularly, to an anti-fraud bottle caps that prevent foreign materials or fake contents from being inserted into the bottle.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Generally, bottle caps are coupled to bottle openings, in which fluids such as water or liquid are contained. When a user desires to store the remaining fluids after drinking a portion thereof, a bottle cap functions to close the opening of the bottle. The bottle cap may be classified into a structure in which a bottle cap is fitted into an opening of a bottle, and a structure in which a bottle cap is coupled to an opening of a bottle by screw coupling.  
      However, because such bottle cap can be easily removed and re-coupled back onto the opening of a bottle, the bottle cap cannot protect a person having malicious intent to insert foreign liquids or materials into the bottle. For example, if a person having malicious intent collects previously used bottles, inserts fake contents into the bottles with new caps, and then markets the bottles having fake contents, consumers may purchase them without knowing that the bottles have been tampered.  
      Particularly, fraud relating to expensive liquor has frequently occurred. Fake liquor may be seriously harmful to the health of consumers. In addition to the consumers who are affected by the fake liquor, the person who markets the fake liquor may make an excessive illicit profit. As described above, conventional bottle caps are problematic in that foreign materials or fake contents are easily inserted into bottles.  
      To overcome the problems experienced with conventional bottles caps, various kinds of anti-fraud bottle caps have been proposed. As a representative example, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 0304873, entitled “ANTI-FRAUD BOTTLE CAP”, was filed by the inventor of the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the conventional anti-fraud bottle cap  30  is provided at an opening  3   a  of a bottle  3 . The anti-fraud bottle cap  30  includes a valve seat  32 , a lower end of which is fitted to the opening  3   a  of the bottle  3  to guide the outflow of fluid contained in the bottle  3 . The anti-fraud bottle cap  30  further includes a valve unit  34 , which is seated in the valve seat  32  and moves outwards and inwards in the valve seat  32  to open and close a fluid flow passage of the valve seat  32 . The valve unit  34  defines a spiral flow path to control the current speed of the fluid coming out from the bottle  3 . The anti-fraud bottle cap  30  further includes a valve cap  36  which is fitted over a circumference of an upper end of the valve seat  32  to guide the outflow of the fluid, and a lid  38  which is removably coupled to and removed from the valve cap  36  by screw coupling. The lid  38  holds and releases the valve unit  34  when being coupled to and removed from the valve cap  36 .  
      The valve seat  32  has a cylindrical body  32   a . A valve seat hole  32   b  is formed along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body  32   a . A constant gap (for example, ø 1 mm) exists between a sidewall of the valve seat hole  32   b  and an outer edge of a screw part of the valve unit  34 , which will be explained later herein. A sealing contact edge  32   c  extends upwards from a circumferential upper end of the valve seat hole  32   b  so as to increase the sealing efficiency when a circular valve plate of the valve unit  34 , which will be explained later herein, comes into close contact with the upper end of the valve seat hole  32   b . A flange  32   e  is provided around an outer surface of the upper end of the cylindrical body  32   a  of the valve seat  32 . The flange  32   e  has an uneven upper surface  32   d  and is in close contact both with an upper surface of a flange  3   b  of the bottle  3  and a flange of the valve cap  36 .  
      Furthermore, an upper coupling ring  32   f  of the valve seat  32  is integrally provided on the cylindrical body  32   a  between the sealing contact edge  32   c  and the flange  32   e  so that the upper coupling ring  32   f  is fitted into a lower end of the valve cap  36 . A lower coupling ring  32   g  is integrally provided under a lower surface of the flange  32   e  so that the lower coupling ring  32   g  is fitted into the opening  3   a  of the bottle  3 . A cross-shaped rib  32   i  is integrally provided on an inner surface of a lower end of the valve seat hole  32   b . The cross-shaped rib  32   i  has a support hole  32   h  at the center thereof such that the lower end of the valve unit  34 , which moves outwards and inwards in the valve seat hole  32   b , is inserted in the support hole  32   h.    
      The valve unit  34  has at an intermediate portion thereof the circular valve plate  34   a  which has a predetermined area and detachably contacts the sealing contact edge  32   c  which extends upwards from the circumferential upper end of the valve seat hole  32   b  of the valve seat  32 . The valve unit  34  further has an upper support shaft  34   b  which is integrally provided at a central portion on an upper surface of the circular valve plate  34   a  and is inserted into the lower end of the valve cap  36  to allow the valve unit  34  to move inwards and outwards. A locking hole  34   c  is formed at a central portion in the upper support shaft  34   b  to a predetermined depth, so that a locking shaft  38   a , which is provided under a lower surface of the lid  38  and will be explained later herein, may be inserted into the locking hole  34   c.    
      The valve unit  34  further has a screw part  34   d  which is integrally provided at the central portion under the circular valve plate  34   a  and is inserted into the valve seat hole  32   b  of the valve seat  32 . The screw part  34   d  moves inwards and outwards along with the circular valve plate  34   a  and defines a spiral flow path to maintain a constant current speed of the fluid contents which come out of the bottle  3 . Furthermore, a lower support shaft  34   e  is integrally provided on a lower part of the screw part  34   d . The lower support shaft  34   e  is inserted into and supported by the support hole  32   h , which is formed in the lower end of the valve seat  32 , thus maintaining a constant gap (for example, ø 1 mm) between the screw part  34  and the sidewall of the valve seat hole  32   b  of the valve seat  32 .  
      The circular valve plate  34   a  of the valve unit  34  has a diameter larger than that of the screw part  34   d . The screw part  34   d  has a spiral shape such that opposite edges of the screw part  34   d , which are spaced apart from each other at an angular interval of 180°, spiral in the same direction, thus creating a spiral current when fluid contents come out of the bottle  3 . Valley parts of the screw part  34   d  have streamlined shapes to minimize resistance and achieve a smooth flow when the fluid contents pass through the screw part  34   d.    
      The valve cap  36  includes a valve cap body  36   a  having a cylindrical shape. A connection cap  36   c  is provided at a central portion in the valve cap body  36   a  The connection cap  36   c  has a through hole  36   b  through which the upper support shaft  34   b  of the valve unit  34  is inserted such that the locking hole  34   c , which is formed at a central portion in the upper support shaft  34   b , is concentric with the through hole  36   b . The connection cap  36   c  is integrally coupled to an inner surface of the valve cap body  36   a  by a plurality of connection ribs  36   d  which are provided around a circumferential outer edge of the connection cap  36   c  at regular intervals. Outlets  36   e are formed among the connection ribs  36   d , the connection cap  36   c , and the inner surface of the valve cap body  36   a.    
      Furthermore, an upper flange  36   f is integrally provided on a circumferential upper edge of the valve cap body  36   a  so that the upper flange  36   f comes into close contact with an inner surface of the lid  38  when the valve cap  36  is covered with the lid  38 . A lower flange  36   h  is integrally provided on a circumferential lower edge of the valve cap body  36   a  so that the lower flange  36   h  is in close contact with the flange  32   e  of the valve seat  32 . A plurality of stop protrusions  36   g is provided under the lower surface of the lower flange  36   h . The stop protrusions  36   g of the lower flange  36   h  engage with the uneven surface  32   e  of the valve seat  32  such that the valve cap  36  does not rotate with respect to the valve seat  32 . Moreover, an external thread  36   i  is formed on an outer surface of a sidewall of the valve cap  36  to correspond to the lid  38 .  
      The lid  38  has a cap shape which is opened at a lower end thereof. The locking shaft  38   a , having a cross-shaped cross section, is provided at the center under a lower surface of an upper plate of the lid  38 . When the lid  38  is coupled to the valve cap  36 , the locking shaft  38   a  of the lid  38  is fitted into the locking hole  34   c  of the valve unit  34  through the through hole  36   b  of the valve cap  36  to prevent the valve unit  34  from rotating freely. Thus, when the lid  38  is rotated in a direction that locks the lid  38  to the valve cap  36 , the locking shaft  38   a  compresses the valve unit  34  downwards. A contact ring  38   b  is integrally provided under the lower surface of the upper plate of the lid  38  so that the contact ring  38   b  comes into close contact with the upper flange  36   f of the valve cap  36  when the lid  38  is coupled to the valve cap  36 . An internal thread  38   c  is formed on an inner surface of a sidewall of the lid  38  and engages with the external thread  36   i  formed on the outer surface of the sidewall of the valve cap  36 .  
      In the conventional anti-fraud bottle cap having the above-mentioned construction, the valve unit  34  prevents foreign materials from being inserted into the bottle and provides a spiral flow path for fluid contents which come out of the bottle. However, the conventional anti-fraud bottle cap is problematic in that when the valve unit moves outwards, because the interior of the bottle communicates with the outside, a person having malicious intent may intentionally insert foreign material into the bottle after moving the valve unit outwards.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an anti-fraud cap for bottles which has a stop plate that contacts an upper end of a valve unit and is removably attached to a valve cap, so that it will be impossible for a user to insert foreign materials or fake contents into the bottle because the opening of the bottle closed by the valve unit before the stop plate is removed from the valve cap, and if the stop plate is removed to insert fake fluid contents, a consumer may easily observe that the bottle cap has been tampered with  
      In order to accomplish the above object, the anti-fraud bottle cap of the present invention includes a valve seat fitted into an opening of the bottle, a valve cap seated on the valve seat and coupled along with the valve seat to the opening of the bottle by a sealing unit which holds outer edges of the opening, valve seat and valve cap, a valve unit provided between the valve seat and the valve cap and sliding inwards and outwards to close and open a passage defined in the valve seat, a lid removably coupled to the valve cap by screw coupling, and a stop plate provided at a central portion of the valve cap and contacting an upper end of the valve unit to interfere with the inward and outward movement of the valve unit.  
      The stop plate may include a base having a ring shape and a plurality of connection protrusions provided on a circumferential edge of the base and coupled to an inner surface of the valve cap.  
      The stop plate may further include a through hole defined at a central portion of the base and a plurality of stop protrusions provided inwards on an inner edge of the base and spaced apart from each other at regular intervals.  
      The anti-fraud cap may further include a lid cover fitted over the lid and an opening unit provided on an outer surface of the lid cover with a plurality of stop grooves formed on a circumferential outer surface of the opening unit, so that, when the opening unit is inserted into the through hole of the stop plate, the stop protrusions of the stop plate are inserted into the stop grooves of the opening unit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an anti-fraud cap for bottles, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view showing an enlargement of an important part of the anti-fraud bottle cap of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view showing a part of the anti-fraud cap of  FIG. 1  coupled to the bottle;  
       FIG. 4  is a view showing a method of removing a stop plate from a valve cap using an opening unit of a lid cover according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a view showing the valve cap of the anti-fraud bottle cap from which the stop plate is removed;  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing another example of an opening unit according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional anti-fraud bottle cap; and  
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view showing the usage of the anti-fraud bottle cap of  FIG. 7 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Reference should be made to the drawings in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , an anti-fraud bottle cap  30  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided at an opening  3   a  of a bottle  3 . The anti-fraud bottle cap  30  includes a valve seat  32 , a lower end of which is fitted into the opening  3   a  of the bottle  3  to guide the outflow of fluid contained in the bottle  3 . The anti-fraud bottle cap  30  further includes a valve unit  34 , which is seated in the valve seat  32  and moves outwards and inwards in the valve seat  32  to open and close a fluid flow passage of the valve seat  32 . The valve unit  34  defines a spiral flow path to control the rate at which the fluid contents come out of the bottle  3 . The anti-fraud bottle cap  30  further includes a valve cap  36  which is fitted over a circumference of an upper end of the valve seat  32  to guide the outflow of the fluid contents, and a lid  38  which is removably coupled to and removed from the valve cap  36  by screw coupling. The lid  38  holds and releases the valve unit  34  when coupled to and removed from the valve cap  36 . The anti-fraud bottle cap  30  further includes a stop plate  37 , which is provided at a central portion of the valve cap  36  and limits the movement of the valve unit  34 . When a predetermined greater pressure (rotational force) is applied to the stop plate  37 , the stop plate  37  is removed from the valve cap  36 .  
      In detail, the stop plate  37  has a base  37   a  having a ring shape and a plurality of connection protrusions  37   c  which are provided on a circumferential edge of the base  37   a  and are integrally coupled to an inner surface of the valve cap  36 .  
      The stop plate  37  further has a through hole  37   b  which is defined at a central portion of the base  37   a  and a plurality of stop protrusions  37   d  which extend inwards on an inner edge of the base  37   a  and are spaced apart from each other at regular intervals.  
      That is, the base  37   a  of the stop plate  37  is integrally coupled to a connection cap  36   c  of the valve cap  36  by the plurality of connection protrusions  37   c  of the stop plate  37 . The connection protrusions  37   c  are broken when a predetermined rotational force is applied to the stop plate  37 , so that the stop plate  37  is removed from the valve cap  36 .  
      Furthermore, a plurality of contact ribs  37   e  protrudes downwards under a lower surface of the base  37   a  of the stop plate  37 , so that the contact ribs  37   e  contact an upper surface of an upper support shaft  34   b  of the valve unit  34 .  
      A first sidewall of each stop protrusion  37   d  is perpendicular to the inner edge of the base  37   a  of the stop plate  37  and a second sidewall of the stop protrusion  37   d  is inclined with respect to the inner edge of the base  37   a.    
      Furthermore, the present invention provides an opening unit  40 . The opening unit  40  has a plurality of stop grooves  42  formed at an outer surface of the opening unit  40  to correspond to the stop protrusions  37   d  of the stop plate  37 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the opening unit  40  may be provided on an upper surface of a lid cover  39  into which the lid  38  is forcibly inserted. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 6 , an opening unit  40  may be separately manufactured and used like an opener, but not be provided on the lid cover  39 .  
      The opening unit  40  shown in  FIG. 6  has a circular plate and an opening protrusion  41  which is perpendicularly provided on an upper surface of the circular plate. A plurality of stop grooves  42  is formed in a circumferential outer surface of the opening protrusion  41  to correspond to the stop protrusions  37   d  of the stop plate  37 .  
      Meanwhile, the valve unit  34  includes at an intermediate portion thereof a circular valve plate  34   a  having a predetermined area and contacting a sealing contact edge  32   c  which extends upwards from a circumferential upper end of a valve seat hole  32   b  of the valve seat  32 . The upper support shaft  34   b  is integrally provided at a central portion on an upper surface of the circular valve plate  34   a  and is inserted into the lower end of the valve cap  36  to allow the valve unit  34  to move inwards and outwards.  
      The valve unit  34  further includes a screw part  34   d  integrally provided at the central portion under the circular valve plate  34   a  and is inserted into the valve seat hole  32   b  of the valve seat  32 . The screw part  34   d  moves inwards and outwards along with the circular valve plate  34   a  and defines the spiral flow path to maintain a constant speed of the fluid contents when flowing out from the bottle  3 . Furthermore, a lower support shaft  34   e  is integrally provided on a lower part of the screw part  34   d . The lower support shaft  34   e  is inserted into and supported by a support hole  32   h , which is formed in a lower end of the valve seat  32 , thus maintaining a constant gap (for example, φ 1 mm) between the screw part  34  and a sidewall of the valve seat hole  32   b  of the valve seat  32 . Such construction of the valve unit  34  is the same as that of the conventional art.  
      The operation of the present invention having the above-mentioned construction will be explained herein below.  
      First, a user rotates the lid cover  39  along with the lid  38  in a predetermined direction and removes the lid  38  from the bottle  3 . In this state, even if the user inclines the bottle  3  at a predetermined angle to pour fluid contents such as water or liquor into a cup, fluid does not come out of the bottle  3 . That is, only when the valve unit  34  is moved outwards by gravity can the fluid contents come out of the bottle  3 , but in the above state, because the stop plate  37  is not removed from the valve cap  36 , the stop plate  37  interferes with the outward movement of the valve unit  34 , so that the fluid contents cannot come out of the bottle  3 .  
      As such, if the stop plate  37 , which is integrally coupled to the valve cap  36  by the connection protrusions  37   c , is not removed from the valve cap  36 , because the lower surface of the stop plate  37  contacts the upper support shaft  34   b  of the valve unit  34 , the valve unit  34  cannot move inwards or outwards.  
      Therefore, to pour the fluid contents, the user must remove the stop plate  37  from the valve cap  36  after the lid  38 , along with the lid cover  39 , is opened. To achieve this, the user inserts the opening unit  40  into the through hole  37   b  of the stop plate  37  such that the stop protrusions  37   d  of the stop plate  37  correspond to the related stop grooves  42  of the opening unit  40 . Thereafter, the user rotates the opening unit  40  with respect to the bottle  3 . Then, the stop plate  37 , which has been integrated with the valve cover  36  by the connection protrusions  37   c , is removed from the valve cover  36 .  
      As such, when the stop plate  37  is removed from the valve cover  36 , each connection protrusion  37   c  of the stop plate  37  partially remains on the connection cap  36   c  of the valve cap  36 , or it may be partially left on the outer edge of the stop plate  37 . Furthermore, the stop plate  37 , which is detached from the valve cap  36 , is removed while still fitted over the opening unit  40  through its through hole  37   b.    
      Thereafter, when the user inclines the bottle  3  at a predetermined angle, the valve unit  34  moves outwards because of gravity and hydraulic pressure of the fluid contents contained in the bottle  3 . Then, the circular valve plate  34   a  of the valve unit  34  is spaced apart from the sealing contact edge  32   c  of the valve cover  32 . Thus, the valve seat hole  32   b  of the valve seat  32  is opened.  
      When the fluid contents come out of the bottle  3 , the fluid contents flow along the spiral flow path defined by the screw part  34   d  of the valve unit  34 . The fluid contents, which pass through the screw part  34   d , pass through a gap between the valve seat hole  32   b  and the circular valve plate  34   a  Subsequently, the fluid contents come out of the bottle  3  through an outlet  36   e  of the valve cap  36 .  
      As such, when the fluid contents such as water or liquor come out of the bottle  3 , the circular valve plate  34   a  of the valve unit  34  opens the valve seat hole  32   b  of the valve seat  32 . Simultaneously, the screw part  34   d , which is integrally coupled to the circular valve plate  34   a , makes it possible for the fluid contents, which pass through the valve seat hole  32   b , to form a spiral current, thus maintaining a constant outflow speed of the fluid contents regardless of the inclination angle of the bottle  3 . Furthermore, the valve unit  34  minimizes a turbulent sound occurring when the fluid contents come out of the bottle  3  and prevents the fluid contents from undesirably splashing.  
      Meanwhile, when the user places the bottle  3  upright, causing the opening  3   a  of the bottle  3  to face upwards, the valve unit  34  moves inwards due to gravity and the circular valve plate  34   a  comes into close contact with the sealing contact edge  32   c  which protrudes from the valve seat hole  32   b  of the valve seat  32 , thereby closing the valve seat hole  32   b . Then, the aroma and alcoholic ingredients of the fluid contents are prevented from evaporating into the atmosphere. Also, foreign materials or fake contents are prevented from being inserted into the bottle  3 .  
      In the present invention, if a person having malicious intent intends to insert foreign materials or fake contents into the bottle  3  by, for example, using an injector, the stop plate  37  must be removed from the valve cover  36 . As such, because foreign materials or fake contents cannot be inserted into the bottle  3  before the stop plate  37  is removed from the valve cover  36 , the present invention can prevent fraud of the fluid contents. In addition, when viewing a bottle from which a stopper plate  37  is removed, a consumer can realize that fluid contents contained in the bottle has been tampered with. In particular, in a place of business, if a consumer directly shows that the stop plate  37  has been removed from the valve cap  36 , reliability is enhanced and a good atmosphere is maintained.  
      As described above, the present invention provides an anti-fraud bottle cap, which is coupled to an opening of a bottle to guide the outflow of fluid contents such as water or liquor and to prevent foreign materials or fake contents from being inserted into the bottle. In the present invention, a valve unit opens or closes a valve seat hole of a valve seat and controls the current of the fluid contents which pass through the valve seat hole. Furthermore, a stop plate, which contacts an upper end of the valve unit to stop the valve unit, is temporarily attached to a valve cap. Consequently, even if a person having malicious intent intends to insert foreign materials or fake contents into the bottle, because the opening of the bottle closed by the valve unit before the stop plate is removed from the valve cap, fraud is impossible. Furthermore, if the stop plate is removed to insert fake fluid contents or foreign materials, a consumer can easily observe that the bottle cap has been tampered with.  
      Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.