Patent Abstract:
The present invention relates to a tamper evident closure in which the outer portion ( 10 ) rises upon first opening, and having means that prevent such outer portion from falling back to the original position once it has risen. Therefore, the tamper evident effect is given by the misalignment of the outer portion and the central portion ( 8 ). The closure may be made of cork, possibly of synthetic nature, or of screw type, adapted to be tightened to a threaded pouring device applied to the neck of the bottle.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a tamper evident closure, i.e. a closure comprising devices that can provide evidence of first opening. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The discussion of documents, deeds, materials, devices, papers and the like is only incorporated in this specification to provide some context for the present invention. These materials shall not be deemed or intended to be wholly or partially part of the prior art, or to be of general knowledge in the field of the present invention, as existing before the priority date of any claim of this application. 
         [0003]    WO03/066467, for instance, discloses a closure assembly for pharmaceutical applications which has both tamper evident and child proof features: the tamper evident feature is provided by a first portion of the outer surface of the closure assembly, which creates a step with respect to a second portion of the same outer surface, whereas the child proof feature is provided by forcing the user to an opening movement that shall necessarily involve two distinct directions. This closure assembly has the undoubted drawback of simple opening, which is inherently disadvantageous in the pharmaceutical field, that requires child proof closure assemblies. 
         [0004]    WO2005/021400, by Guala Closures S.p.A. discloses a tamper evident closure assembly that is opened by a movement that shall not necessarily involve two distinct directions (hence defining a non child proof closure), in which an internal element is broken and moved to expose a surface underneath it, to show that first opening has occurred. The main drawback of this closure assembly consists in the need for internal breakable elements as well as a relatively complex system for breaking them. 
         [0005]    EP1511677B1, granted to Guala Closures UK Limited discloses a tamper evident closure assembly, in which the opening movement exposes a counteracting annular element, the closure of the closure element being unable to be restored to the starting position after first opening. Nevertheless, the simple construction of the structure of this closure unit is a limit to tamper evident features, which necessarily rely on the size of the annular element to be exposed during first opening. 
         [0006]    The above discussion of the prior art shows that there is still a need for a closure assembly that can combine both features of simple construction and effectiveness of the above described tamper evident systems. 
         [0007]    In view of the above prior art, the object of the present invention is to at least partially fulfill the above need, while at least partially obviating prior art drawbacks. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, the present invention provides a closure assembly having advantages in terms of simple fabrication, greater strength, more compact design and/or higher versatility. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    According to the present invention, this purpose is fulfilled by a tamper evident closure  1  for closing the mouth  102  of a container, said closure extending substantially along a longitudinal axis X-X and comprising an outer gripping surface and an inner member (or inner portion)  7  which are movable relative to each other between a first configuration, corresponding to the configuration prior to first opening, and a second configuration, corresponding to the configuration after first opening; said inner member  7  comprising first reversible attachment means  11 , capable of attaching said inner member  7  to said container  100  while normally opening and closing the container  100  and second irreversible attachment means  12  capable of maintaining or locking said closure  1  in said second configuration; wherein the external appearance of said closure  1  in said second configuration is different from the external appearance of said closure  1  in said first configuration. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description of one practical embodiment, which is given as a non limiting example with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: 
           [0011]      FIGS. 1   a - 1   c  shows sequentially partially sectional side views of a closure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, applied to a bottle neck in the following configurations: closed prior to first opening, open after first opening, reclosed after first opening respectively; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1   d  shows an exploded perspective view of the closure of  FIGS. 1   a - 1   c;    
           [0013]      FIGS. 2   a - 2   d  show views like those of  FIGS. 1   a - 1   d,  of a closure according to a second embodiment of the present invention (in which case, the reclosed closure has the same configuration it had during first opening); 
           [0014]      FIGS. 3   a - 3   c  show sectional views of a closure according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a pre-assembled configuration, in an assembled configuration prior to first opening and in a configuration after first opening; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3   d  shows an exploded view under alternate perspectives of the closure of  FIGS. 3   a - 3   c;    
           [0016]      FIGS. 4   a - 4   d  show views like those of  FIGS. 1   a - 1   d,  of a closure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 5   a - 5   c  show sequentially partially sectional side views of a closure according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention, applied to a bottle neck in the following configurations: closed prior to first opening, during first opening, open after first opening, reclosed after first opening respectively; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5   d  shows an exploded perspective view of the closure of  FIGS. 5   a - 5   c;    
           [0019]      FIG. 6   a  is a sectional view of a closure according to a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention, applied to a bottle neck in the closed configuration prior to first opening; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6   b  shows the detail, referenced A, of the closure of  FIG. 6   a;    
           [0021]      FIG. 6   c  shows the detail of the closure of  FIG. 6   b  in the configuration after first opening; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 6   d - 6   e  are top and bottom exploded perspective views of the closure of  FIG. 6   a  respectively. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    As used in the description and claims of the present specification, the terms “comprises”, and its variants, such as “comprising”, are not intended to exclude any other additional elements, parts or components, and any other steps or stages. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 1   a - 4   d  show an unthreaded closure, generally designated by numeral  1 . Such closure  1  is typically a stopper, i.e. comprising a cylindrical inner member  2  having such shape and size as to allow sealable engagement with the interior of the neck  101  of a container  100 . 
         [0025]    The inner member  2  is traditionally made of cork, although alternative solutions have been recently suggested to form such members of a synthetic material known as “synthetic cork”. One of these materials is disclosed, for instance, in patent application EP1423310. 
         [0026]    The shape, size and material of an inner member  2  of the stopper type may fall in a relatively limited range as may be readily recognized by those skilled in the art, but also by ordinary users. 
         [0027]    For the purposes of the present description, by way of illustration and without limitation, the term inner member  2  will be used to designate a stopper as mentioned above, which has a substantially cylindrical shape and is capable of ensuring the desired liquid-tightness in the neck  101  of the container  100 . Such stopper may be made of cork, synthetic cork or other materials, such as a hollow PE stopper with sealing threads such as the ones for sparkling wine. Through the variety of shapes and materials, those of ordinary skill in the art will be anyway able to recognize an inner member  2  corresponding or equivalent to the one as described and/or claimed herein. 
         [0028]    However, in  FIGS. 5   a - 6   e,  the closure  1  comprises internal threads  3  for engagement with external threads  106  integral with the container  100 . In the examples, the container  100  is not threaded in itself, but a lower element  4  is attached thereto, which comprises a pouring device fastened and fixed to the neck  101  of the container  100 . 
         [0029]    The container  100  is advantageously a bottle, and comprises a neck  101  that terminates in a mouth. The neck  101  may comprise an outer projection  103 , delimited by a bottom surface  104  and a top surface  105 . 
         [0030]    While the closure  1  in itself may be oriented in any direction, for the purposes of the present direction the vertical axis will be defined as the longitudinal axis X-X of the closure  1  and conventionally the bottom side will be the side of the closure  1  designed to face towards the container  100 , and the top side will be the one designed to face towards the consumer; this is actually the normal orientation of the closure when fitted onto a normally oriented bottle (as shown in the figures). 
         [0031]    Still referring to the figures, the closure  1  comprises an outer gripping surface  6  and an inner portion  7 , which are movable relative to each other between first and second configurations. The outer gripping surface  6  corresponds to that part of the closure  1  that can be grasped by a user for opening and closing the closure  1  itself. Typically, it coincides with the outer surface of the closure  1  and has a cylindrical shape (or at least a cylindrical symmetry). 
         [0032]    The inner portion  7  is movable relative to the surface  6  between a first configuration, corresponding to the configuration prior to first opening (as shown in  FIGS. 1   a,    2   a,    3   a,    4   a,    5   a,    6   a ) and a second configuration, corresponding to the configuration after first opening (as shown in  FIGS. 1   c,    2   c,    3   c,    4   c,    5   c,    6   c ). 
         [0033]    In the second configuration, a few characteristics are shown which evidence that first opening has occurred. 
         [0034]    In other words, in the closure  1  the inner portion  7  moves down relative to the surface  6  (or: the surface  6  moves up relative to the inner portion  7 ) during first opening, and the closure  1  comprises means for preventing such inner portion  7  from rising again after its descent (or; for preventing the outer surface  6  from descending after rising). 
         [0035]    When the container  100  is taken as a fixed reference, then during first opening, the inner portion  7  initially remains axially stationary with respect to the container  100 , whereas the gripping surface  6  moves axially upwards. 
         [0036]    The container  100  will not always be taken as a fixed reference in the description and claims hereinbelow, and the gripping surface  6  may be also taken as a reference. In the latter case, the inner portion  7  will be lowered relative to the gripping surface  6 . This difference obviously concerns the viewpoint only and will in no way affect the validity of the technical solution and its operation. 
         [0037]    Advantageously, in the second configuration, the inner portion  7  is lowered relative to the gripping surface  6 . 
         [0038]    Conveniently, in the second configuration, a part  8  of the top surface  9  of the closure  1  may be lowered relative to the remaining part  10   m  of the top surface  9 . The part  8  that moves down may be a central disk, a ring concentric with the axis X-X, or may have any other shape (e.g. a polygonal shape, or the logo of the manufacturer of the liquid in the container  100 ). 
         [0039]    The central part  8  is advantageously contained in (or coincident with, if it has a circular shape) a circle having a diameter from 25% to 75% of the diameter of the rest of the top surface  10   m,  preferably from 40% to 60% of such diameter. Conveniently, the diameter of such circle may also be smaller than the diameter of the neck  101  of the container  100 . 
         [0040]    The top surface  9  of the closure  1  is formed on an outer portion (or outer member)  10 , in which at least part of the inner portion  7  is held. 
         [0041]    The outer portion  10  comprises a seat  5 , whose shape, excepting any seats for permanent attachment means (see below), may be substantially cylindrical or composed of concentric cylinders. Alternatively, the shape of the seat  5  may be composed of one or more solids having a triangular, square, rectangular, hexagonal shape or possibly with a larger number of sides. 
         [0042]    In  FIGS. 6   b  and  6   e , the seat  5  is shown to have a substantially cylindrical shape, or to be composed of concentric cylinders, with the exception of ribs  728  and  10   p,  which are used to prevent relative rotation between the inner portion  7  and the outer portion  10 . 
         [0043]    As shown in the figures, the larger diameter of the seat  5  is on the bottom side, and the smaller diameter is on the top side. Thus, the outer portion  10  comprises means that prevent any upward motion of the inner portion  7 ; nevertheless, the inner portion  7  may move downwards within the seat  5 , preferably during first opening, for instance only during first opening. 
         [0044]    The relative motion between the inner portion  7  and the outer portion  10  (and hence the gripping surface  6 ) may be a translational or roto-translational motion. 
         [0045]    Advantageously, the inner portion  7  remains intact during the motion between the first and second configurations; in other words, the inner portion  7  does not require the rupture of bridges or weakened lines, to accomplish its tamper evident task. 
         [0046]    The inner portion  7  comprises first and second attachment means  11 ,  12 , which allows it to be attached to the container  100  and the outer portion  10  respectively. 
         [0047]    The first attachment means  11  are reversible, i.e. can attach the inner portion  7  to the container  100  a number of times without any substantial change. In the embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 1   a - 4   d,  the first attachment means  11  consist of the outer surface  13  of the cork  2 , which has such surface characteristics as to allow reversible engagement thereof with the interior of the neck  101  of the container  100 . Conversely, in the embodiment of  FIGS. 5   a - 6   a,  the first attachment means  11  consist of the internal threads  3 . 
         [0048]    These reversible attachment means  11  are those that are used while normally opening and closing the container  100 . 
         [0049]    Conversely, the second attachment means  12  are irreversible and capable of maintaining or locking the inner portion  7  in the second configuration. 
         [0050]    In short, the second attachment means  12  allow movement of the inner portion  7  with respect to the outer portion  10  from the first to the second configuration and prevent return to the first configuration and preferably lock the relative position of the inner and outer portions  7 ,  10  (possibly with some play) once the second configuration has been reached. 
         [0051]    Advantageously, the second attachment means  12  are snap engagement means. For instance, they may comprise a protrusion  14  that is pushed outwards by an elastic member  15 . 
         [0052]    In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1   a - 2   d,  the second attachment means comprise a pin (the protrusion  14 ), advantageously having a rectangular section, which is housed in a special seat  17  formed in the inner member  7  and is pushed by a spring (the elastic element  15 ) against outer portion  10 . 
         [0053]    In a preferred embodiment, multiple pins are provided, i.e. two. three or four pins. For assembly of the closure  1 , the second attachment means  12  shall preferably extend through less than 360°, preferably not more than 180°, e.g. about 120°. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIGS. 1   a - 3   d,  the inner surface  16  of the outer portion  10  comprises at least one respective seat  17  capable of receiving the second attachment means  12 . Preferably, the shape of the seat/s  17  is substantially complementary to the shape of the attachment means  12 . 
         [0055]    Advantageously, there will be a seat  17 , e.g. one single seat for each protrusion  14 . 
         [0056]    The axial distance between the second attachment means  12  and the seats  17  for engagement thereof may be of a few millimeters, thereby affording a displacement visible to the naked eye. 
         [0057]    The preferred embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 1   a - 3   d  shows that the inner portion  10  may comprise a movable member  18  with the second attachment means  12  applied thereto, that may be visible from the outside together with the cork  2  itself, which is fastened, advantageously glued to the movable member. 
         [0058]    As shown from the comparison between  FIGS. 1   a  an  2   a , the lower end of the movable member  18  may or may not project out of the outer member  10  in which it is inserted: in the embodiment of  FIGS. 2   a - 2   d,  the relative motion between the outer member  10  and the movable member  18  during first opening exposes the lower portion of the outer surface of the movable member  18 , whereas in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1   a - 1   d  the outer surface of the movable member  18  is covered by the outer member  10  even after first opening. 
         [0059]    As shown, prior to first opening, the first attachment means  11  are stronger than the second attachment means  12 , which are not engaged yet. 
         [0060]    At the start of the first opening, the force exerted by the user to open the container  100  allows the closure  1  to move from the first configuration to the second configuration, as the longitudinal resistance of the first attachment means  11  is greater than the longitudinal force that can be transferred between the gripping surface  6  and the inner portion  7 . 
         [0061]    At the end of this starting step, the second attachment means  12  engage and the closure  1  can no longer change its configuration. In other words, the maximum longitudinal force that can be transferred by the second attachment means  12  is higher than the longitudinal resistance of the first attachment means  11 . 
         [0062]    Now, the force exerted by the user may overcome the resistance of the first attachment means  11  and the container  100  may be open. 
         [0063]    Preferably, the above occurs without requiring the rupture of any element of the tamper evident system or optionally of the closure  1  itself. 
         [0064]    The embodiments of the other figures will be now described, starting from  FIGS. 3   a - 3   d,  with the assumption that, considering the important analogies with the embodiments described above, the differences will be only mentioned, whereby all that is not expressly described as different may be intended to be provided in a similar or identical manner. 
         [0065]    In this embodiment, the gripping surface  5  and the inner member  7  may move relative to each other along the axis X-X. The main difference from the previous embodiment lies in the structures of the movable member  118  and the second attachment means  12 . 
         [0066]    The second attachment means  12  comprise a protrusion  114 , advantageously formed of one piece with the inner member  7 . 
         [0067]    In this case, the snap engagement of the second attachment means  12  depends on the conformation of the inner member  7 , which comprises an annular cavity  120  coaxial with the axis X-X. Such annular cavity  120  defines a substantially annular thin wall  121 . 
         [0068]    The protrusion  114  is formed on the thin wall  121  to face radially outwards, advantageously in the proximity of the top end of the wall  121 . 
         [0069]    As shown in  FIG. 3   d , the thin wall  121  may have two slots  122 , for instance placed at each side of the protrusion  114 . Such slots  122  delimit a portion  123  of the thin wall  121  that can be even thinner than the rest of the thin wall  121 . The circumferential extension and the thickness of he portion  123  may be changed to adjust the radial flexibility of the portion of the thin wall  121  with which the protrusion  114  is connected. 
         [0070]    There may be embodiments with one, two, three or even more protrusions  114 . Advantageously, they may be equally spaced along the circumference and lie on a single plane, transverse to the axis X-X. Different arrangements may be also considered, provided that the closure  1  can still be assembled and operated properly. 
         [0071]    As shown in  FIG. 3   d , the protrusion  114  has two upper sides  124  and  125  inclined to the plane perpendicular to the axis X-X. The outer circumferential surface  128  of the protrusion  114  advantageously has a diameter greater than the diameter of the inner surface  116  of the outer member  10 , to allow the portion of the thin wall  123  with which the protrusion  114  is connected to be elastically loaded. 
         [0072]      FIG. 3   d  clearly shows the inner surface  116  of the outer member  10 , which comprises at least one seat  117  capable of receiving the second attachment means  12 . 
         [0073]    Advantageously, there will be one seat  117  for each protrusion  114 . 
         [0074]    The seat  117  may have two upper sides  126  and  127  (the side  126  being only visible in  FIG. 3   d ) inclined to the plane perpendicular to the axis X-X, preferably having the same inclination and/or corresponding to the inclined sides  124  and  125  of the protrusion  114 . 
         [0075]    The bottom surface of the seat  117  advantageously comprises two wall portions  129 ,  130  disposed at different radial depths of the inner surface  116 . 
         [0076]    Thus, the seat  117  may be considered as the resultant of two adjacent distinct seats, not separated from any physical element, each defined by the bottom wall  129 ,  130 , and having different depths. Therefore, a first seat defined by the wall  129  and a second seat defined by the wall  130  may be recognized. 
         [0077]    The wall  129 , placed at a lower depth, has a position that matches the position assumed by the second attachment means  12  in the first configuration (see  FIG. 3   b ). When the second attachment means  12  are engaged in the seat  117  and the closure  1  is in the first configuration, the engagement of the second attachment means  12  in the seat  117  only allows the inner portion  7  to move relative to the gripping surface  6  towards the second configuration. 
         [0078]    The wall  130 , placed at a greater depth and advantageously lower than the wall  129 , allows engagement of the second attachment means  12  when the closure  1  is in the second configuration. 
         [0079]    This particular closure  1  is assembled by first introducing the inner member  7  into the outer member  10 . Advantageously, the inner member  7  is oriented angularly to the outer member  10  so that the second attachment means  12  cannot lock the closure  1  in the second configuration before reaching the first configuration. In other words, the angular orientation is selected so that the protrusions  114  cannot fit into the seat  117  when the inner member  7  is introduced into the outer member  10 . 
         [0080]    This step is useful because insertion occurs in the direction opposite to the direction in which the tamper evident means are actuated, i.e. the relative displacement occurs in a direction opposite to the direction in which the closure  1  moves from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
         [0081]    Once the inner member  7  is fully inserted in the outer member  10 , both are rotated relative to each other, e.g. by 90°, so that the second attachment means  12  can engage in the first configuration. 
         [0082]    In practice, the protrusion  114  fits into the seat  117  and abuts against the shallower surface  129 . The surface  129  is at such a depth as to prevent full relief of the potential elastic energy of the thin wall  123 . 
         [0083]    This axial component moves the closure  1  into the second configuration thereby further relieving the potential elastic energy of the thin wall  123 . 
         [0084]    The depth of the wall  130  is, for instance, larger than the diameter of the circumference circumscribed about the protrusions  114  at rest, which allows full relief of the potential elastic energy of the thin wall  123 . 
         [0085]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4   a - 4   d,  it can be noted that the projection  103  of the container does not extend to the end of the mouth, but is upwardly delimited by a top surface  105  distinct from the mouth. In this case, like in the embodiments of  FIGS. 1   a - 1   d,  the outer member  10  has a longitudinal extension greater than the inner portion  7 . 
         [0086]    In these embodiments, but also in the one as shown in  FIGS. 3   a - 3   d,  the diameter of the seat  5  may be advantageously greater than the one of the neck  101  of the container  100 , thereby covering the portion of the neck  101  above the projection  103 , as shown in  FIG. 4   a.    
         [0087]    In this embodiment, the outer member  10  is like those described above. The outer member  10 , in this case, is not a single member, like in the other embodiments, but also comprises a distinct closure sleeve  231 , comprising a side wall  232  and optionally a bottom wall  233  whose function is to retain the inner portion  7  in the closure  1 , while the container  100  with the closure  1  applied thereon is opened and/or closed. 
         [0088]    Then, the closure sleeve  231  is attached to the outer member, such as by gluing or interlocking arrangement. 
         [0089]    The main difference of the inner portion  7  from the one of the embodiments as shown in  FIGS. 1   a - 3   d  lies in the movable member  218 , which has protrusions  214  formed, preferably in an integral fashion, on its outer surface  234 . 
         [0090]    The protrusions  214  are integrated with the elastic means  215 . The protrusions  214  comprise one or more fingers  235 , inclined to the longitudinal axis X-X to form a conical profile with a downward apex. Advantageously, each protrusion  214  comprises two, three or four fingers  235  and the movable member comprises two, three or four protrusions  214 , for instance equally spaced along the circumference. 
         [0091]    The fingers  235  and the axis X-X form an angle smaller than 60°, advantageously from 40° to 20°, for instance 30°. 
         [0092]    The circumferential extension of the protrusions  214 , in this case, might also cover 360°, but is smaller in the preferred embodiment, e.g. not greater than 180° or about 120°. 
         [0093]    As shown in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   d,  the fingers  235  are connected to the movable member  218  by spacers  236 . 
         [0094]    The inner portion  7  comprises stop means that can prevent it from descending relative to the gripping surface  6 , beyond the position that corresponds to the second configuration. 
         [0095]    Advantageously, these stop means comprise the bottom surface  237  of the spacers, which substantially abuts against the outer member  10 , i.e. the flange  233  of the sleeve  231 . 
         [0096]    The sleeve  231  comprises the seats  217  that receive the protrusions  214 . Like in the other embodiments, the engagement between the protrusion  214  and the seat  217  prevents the inner portion  7  from moving from the second configuration to the first configuration relative to the gripping surface  6 . Like in the other embodiments, engagement is obtained by abutment between two (substantially) horizontal surfaces: the top surface ( 238 , in  FIG. 4   b ) of the protrusion  214  and the inner top surface ( 239 , in  FIG. 4   b ) of the seat  217 . 
         [0097]    Advantageously, the seat/s  217  of the sleeve  231  may extend through the whole thickness of the side wall  232 . 
         [0098]    The sleeve  231  may have insert seats  240 . These seats  240  may be located above the seats  217 . Advantageously, the seats  217  and the insert seats  240  have the same circumferential extension. 
         [0099]    The seats  240  are advantageously open at the top and/or have a bottom surface  241  inclined downwards, preferably at the same angle of inclination of the fingers  235 . 
         [0100]    The movable member  218  may also comprise plates  242 , possibly integrally formed, e.g. alternated with the protrusions  214 . These plates  242  are substantially as thick as the spacers  236 . 
         [0101]    The top surface of the plates  242  is at such a level as to stop the upward movement of the movable member for its top surface to be aligned with the top surface of the outer member  10 . 
         [0102]    Thus, during manufacture of the closure  1 , a mechanical stop allows proper assembly of the parts, even with high speed automatic processes. 
         [0103]    Referring to the embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 5   a - 5   d,  the closure  1  comprises internal threads  3  for engagement with external threads  106  integral with the container  100 . 
         [0104]    The external threads  106  may be formed directly on the neck  101  of the container  100  or, like in the case of the figure, on a closure body  350  designed to be fitted onto the neck  101  of the container  100   
         [0105]    The closure body  350  and the closure  1  form together a closure assembly. 
         [0106]    The closure body  350  comprises the elements integral with the container, whereas the closure  1  is what is integrated with the closure body  350  to prevent liquid from leaking out of the container  100  having the closure assembly thereon. 
         [0107]    The closure body  350  may comprise, for instance, a threaded sleeve  351  with external threads formed thereon. Such threaded sleeve  351  may comprise a pouring spout  352  and/or may be integrated with the container  100  by appropriate attachment means  353 , such as tabs engaging against the bottom surface  104  of the projection  103 . 
         [0108]    The closure body  350  may comprise anti-refill means, such as a washer  354  which holds, possibly in combination with the threaded sleeve  351 , a ball  355 , or a valve like the one disclosed in Application No. PCT/GB2004/000189 (or similar to it) thereby forming a non-refillable valve system. 
         [0109]    For the closure body  350  to be less likely to be released from the neck  101  of the container  100 , the closure body may comprise an additional sleeve  356 . 
         [0110]    All these construction characteristics are known in the art and may be changed as desired by a skilled person, without changing the basic principle of the present invention. Therefore, they will not be further described. 
         [0111]    This closure  1 , which is designed to be opened by an unscrewing action, instead of a longitudinal pulling action, is based on certain concepts of the embodiment of  FIGS. 3   a - 3   d  and certain other concepts of the embodiment of  FIGS. 4   a - 4   d.    
         [0112]    The structure of the outer member  10  is like the one of  FIG. 3   d : it comprises a movable member  318 , having thereon the portion  8  of the top surface  9  of the closure  1  that descends during first opening, as well as the protrusions  314  and the elastic means  315  consisting of thin walls  323 . Although  FIG. 5   d  shows neither the side wall designated by numeral  121  in  FIG. 3   d , nor a clearly defined annular cavity  120 , the two embodiments of the elastic means may be interchanged. 
         [0113]    Likewise, the movable member  318  may be assembled with the outer member  10  of  FIGS. 5   a - 5   d  by axially inserting and then rotating it, like for the corresponding members of  FIGS. 3   a - 3   d.    
         [0114]    Also, two seats  317 ,  340  are visible in  FIGS. 5   a - 5   d,  the second comprising a downwardly inclined surface  341 . Advantageously, the surface  341  is located above the seat  317 . 
         [0115]    In fact, the operation of the second attachment means  312  of this embodiment is similar to the operation of the second attachment means  212  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 4   a - 4   d:  a relative axial movement between the gripping surface  6  and the inner portion  7  first causes the protrusions  314 ,  214  to slide down the inclined surfaces  341 ,  241 , thereby loading the elastic means  315 ,  215 . 
         [0116]    Then, once the relative longitudinal motion has pushed the protrusions  314 ,  214  level with the seats  317 ,  217 , the elastic means  315 ,  215  snap the protrusions  314 ,  214  into their seats  317 ,  217 , thereby causing the top surfaces  338 ,  238  of the protrusions  314 ,  214  to abut against the upper inner surfaces  339 ,  239  of the seats  317 ,  217 . 
         [0117]    Obviously, in the embodiment of  FIGS. 5   a - 5   d.  a rotation shall be accounted for to exactly determine the relative radial extensions of the seats  340  and  317 . 
         [0118]    As shown in  FIG. 5   d , for example, this may involve that only part of the seat  340  has an inclined bottom surface  341 , and the remaining part (e.g. the upstream part, considering the direction of relative rotation) may be substantially perpendicular to the axis X-X. 
         [0119]    In short, this analogy shows that each of the above preferred embodiments may be changed by the use of second attachment means wholly or partially taken from other preferred embodiments, with no effort by any skilled person that should read this description. 
         [0120]    For a more accurate and easier definition of the relative descending movement, the outer member  10  comprises one or more lower seats  360  opening towards seat  5  and the bottom edge  365  of the outer member  10 . 
         [0121]    These lower seats have an inclined wall  362 , which is adapted to cooperate with the corresponding inclined surface  363  of a cam  361  integral with the external threads  106 . 
         [0122]    For example, the cam  361  may be formed on an appropriate flange of the threaded sleeve  351  and/or the outer sleeve  356  and/or another element integral with the external threads  106 . 
         [0123]    The cam  361  is used to convert a relative angular displacement between the gripping surface  6  (i.e. the outer member  10  of the closure  1 ) and the container  100  (or the external threads  106 , or the closure body  350 , or the cam  361  itself) into a relative longitudinal motion between these parts. 
         [0124]    Since the inner member  7  is longitudinally attached to the container by the first attachment means  11  (i.e. the temporary attachment means), in this case by the threaded coupling between the internal threads  3  and the external threads  106 , the cam  361  imparts a longitudinal displacement between the gripping surface  6  and the inner member  7 , thereby actuating the tamper evident feature. 
         [0125]    As shown by the comparison between the  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   d , the inner member  7  is unaffected by the presence of the cam  361 , e.g. because the lower limit of the inner member  7  is at a higher level than the upper limit of the cam  361 . Alternatively, the cam  361  might be radially external to the inner member  7 . 
         [0126]    As shown by the present description and by the comparison of the embodiments of  FIGS. 3   a - 5   d,  the second attachment means (or irreversible attachment means) comprise a protrusion  114 ,  214 ,  314  connected by elastic means  123 ,  223 ,  323  to the inner member  7 . 
         [0127]    The protrusion  114 ,  214 ,  314  is movable between a first position corresponding to the configuration of the closure  1  prior to first opening and a second configuration of the closure  1  after (immediately after) first opening. 
         [0128]    During its movement between the first configuration and the second configuration, the protrusion  114 ,  214 ,  314  is longitudinally displaced relative to the gripping surface  6  and a special relief arrangement allows the elastic energy accumulated in the elastic means to be relieved. 
         [0129]    The relief arrangement may comprise a radial step, whereby as the protrusion  114 ,  214 ,  314  descends relative to the gripping surface  6 , it moves from a position closer to the axis X-X to a position farther from the axis X-X. 
         [0130]    Advantageously, the relief arrangement operates in one way, i.e. does not allow reverse motion. For example, it allows a snap motion. 
         [0131]    Therefore, the relief arrangement may be interposed between two successive radial seats having different depths ( FIGS. 3   a - 4   d ), possibly adjacent ( FIGS. 3   a - 3   d ), or two seats separated by a wall ( FIGS. 4   a - 5   d ). The wall may be an inclined wall  241 ,  341  to allow loading of the elastic means. 
         [0132]    The relief arrangement and the seat/s that define it may be integrally formed in the outer member  10 , or in an added element ( FIGS. 4   a - 4   d ), such as a sleeve  231 , that may be appropriately attached to the outer member  10 . 
         [0133]    Referring now to the embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 6   a - 6   e,  closure  1  comprises internal threading  3  for engagement with external thread  106  integral with the container  100 . 
         [0134]    In this embodiment, the closure body  350  may be very similar or identical to the closure body  350  as described with reference to the embodiment of  FIGS. 5   a - 5   d.    
         [0135]    The main difference from the embodiment of  FIGS. 5   a - 5   d  consists in that the inner member  7  is divided into two members  71 ,  72 , which are fixedly engaged with each other, so that the outer member  10  is trapped between them. 
         [0136]    Advantageously, the two elements  71 ,  72  may engage with each other by snap-fitting, although other fastening arrangements may be envisaged, such as gluing, force-fitting and/or welding, e.g. ultrasonic welding. 
         [0137]    The first member  71  comprises part  8  of top surface  9  of closure  1 , which may be lowered relative to remaining part  10   m  of top surface  9 , whereas second member  72  comprises reversible attachment means  11 . Although the embodiment of 
         [0138]      FIGS. 6   a - 6   d  shows the reversible attachment means  11  as being the thread  3 , it shall be understood that the same closure structure  1  may be used when the reversible attachment means  11  are the outer surface  13  of the cork  2 . 
         [0139]    The second member  72  may comprise a radial surface  721 , e.g. having an annular shape, which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X-X of the closure  1 . The surface  721  forms an abutment for outer member  10 , in the configuration that corresponds to the configuration prior to first opening. 
         [0140]    The second member  72  may also comprise a first inner engagement member  722 , e.g. made of teeth  723  arranged along one or more substantially vertical fingers  724 . For example, fingers  724  may generally have a substantially cylindrical shape, coaxial with axis X-X. Advantageously, more than one finger  724  will be provided to ensure enough flexibility and resistance for the desired functions, as more clearly shown hereinbelow. 
         [0141]    Advantageously, teeth  723  are located at the upper end of fingers  724 , the lower end being integral with the rest of second member  72 . 
         [0142]    In a preferred embodiment, there are four fingers  724 , each extending through a little less than 90° and each having a tooth  723 , e.g. projecting outwards, whose circumferential extension is substantially identical or identical to that of finger  724  on which it is located. 
         [0143]    The first member  71  may substantially have a mushroom shape, delimited at the top by central part  8 . The second inner engagement member  712 , which is adapted to engage with the first inner engagement member  722  so as to provide fixed engagement of the first member  71  with the second member  72 , branches off from below central part  8 . 
         [0144]    As more clearly shown below, the first and second inner engagement members  722 ,  711  are designed so that disengagement during normal operation of the closure  1  is prevented, and namely to cause the first and second members  71 ,  72  to behave as one piece with respect to the working of closure  1 . 
         [0145]    For example, second engagement member  711  may comprise fingers  714  and/or teeth  713  like fingers  724  and teeth  723  of second member  72 . In the embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 6   a - 6   e,  fingers  714  are internal to fingers  724  and teeth  713  project outwards. 
         [0146]    The first member  71  may further comprise an engagement portion  715  for engagement with outer member  10 , as described below. Preferably, such portion  715  is made on the second inner engagement member  712 . 
         [0147]    Advantageously, the radial extension of second inner engagement member  712  is smaller than the radial extension of central part  8 , so that there will be a bottom abutment surface  81  that is large enough to ensure that outer member  10  is gripped between the radial surface  721  and the bottom surface  81 . Preferably, the bottom surface  81  has an annular shape. 
         [0148]    Conveniently, second inner engagement member  722  internally engages with first inner engagement member  712 . 
         [0149]    The outer member  10  may receive first and/or second members  71 ,  72  in seat  5 . Conveniently, outer member  10  comprises a protrusion  10   a  interposed between first and second members  71 ,  72 . 
         [0150]    The projection of protrusion  10   a  on a plane perpendicular to axis X-X, i.e. the direction of relative motion between outer member  10  and central portion  7 , overlaps the projections, on one plane, of both central part  8  and radial surface  721 . 
         [0151]    In one preferred embodiment, protrusion  10   a  comprises a lip  10   b,  e.g. located below bottom surface  9  of closure  1 , advantageously entirely located therebelow. 
         [0152]    The lip  10   b  may have a continuous circumferential 360° extension or less; more advantageously, it is divided into a plurality of mutually spaced elements, globally extending all along the circumference. 
         [0153]    In the embodiment of  FIGS. 6   a - 6   e,  lip  10   b  is located at the lower end of a finger  10   c,  which finger  10   c  is joined at its opposite end to top surface  10   m  of the outer portion  10 , e.g. to the inner edge of upper surface  10   m,  adjacent to first member  71 . 
         [0154]    Advantageously, the surface of finger  10   c  that faces toward axis X-X comprises a first portion  10   d,  adapted to allow a relative axial sliding motion of the first member  71 ; preferably, the shape of this first portion  10   d  substantially mates the shape of the central part  8 , and preferably the first portion  10   d  has a cylindrical shape. 
         [0155]    An abutment surface  10   e  is located below first portion  10   d,  and has the purpose of limiting such relative axial sliding motion by abutting against bottom surface  81  during first opening. The abutment surface  10   e  advantageously has an annular shape and is internal to first portion  10   d.    
         [0156]    The finger  10   c  has a second portion  10   f  below abutment surface  10   e,  with lip  10   b  located at its lower end. Thus, the inner surface of second portion  10   f  may advantageously comprise a conical section  10   g,  with the apex facing downwards, e.g. at the inner surface of lip  10   b.    
         [0157]    The lip  10   b  engages with engagement portion  715  of first member  71 , for instance because engagement portion  715  is directly adjacent to lip  10   b  or conical section  10   g.    
         [0158]    Thus, during the rising motion of the outer portion  10  relative to first member  71 , conical section  10   g  is moved against portion  715 , thereby causing conical section  10   g  to move away from axis X-X. 
         [0159]    It is clear that other configurations are possible, as long as protrusion  10   a  (and/or lip  10   b  and/or finger  10   c ) of outer portion  10  is elastically loaded, e.g. outwards, during longitudinal relative motion relative to first member  71  (and/or relative to first inner engagement member  712  and/or relative to engagement portion  715 ). 
         [0160]    The first member  71  comprises an outwardly facing seat  716  which has such a shape as to cause protrusion  10   a  to prop thereagainst, thereby preventing any downward motion of protrusion  10   a,  relative to first member  71 . In other words, seat  716  is located above engagement portion  715 , so that, as protrusion  10   a  passes over engagement portion  715 , it can fit into seat  716 , which prevents protrusion  10  from passing over engagement portion  715  again in opposite direction, e.g. by means of an abutment surface  717  substantially perpendicular to axis X-X and preferably facing upwards. 
         [0161]    For example, seat  716  may be formed as a circumferential groove or as successive portions of a circumferential groove. 
         [0162]    Advantageously, protrusion  10   a  has at its lower end an abutment surface  10   h  substantially perpendicular to axis X-X, which can ensure a prop engagement with abutment surface  717 . 
         [0163]    Conveniently, the longitudinal distance between surfaces  10   h  and  10   e  is equal or substantially equal to the longitudinal distance between surfaces  81  and  717  so that, after first opening, outer portion  10  can no longer longitudinally move relative to inner member  7  (and/or relative to gripping surface  6 ). 
         [0164]    In a preferred embodiment, protrusion  10   a  can be divided into two, three, four or more identical or substantially identical sectors, in equally circumferentially spaced arrangements. Three or four sectors (four in the figures) are preferably provided. Each sector has one or more lips  10   b,  e.g. two, three, four, five, six, ten, twelve or more teeth, separated by breaks  10   i  in the continuity of the protrusion. Preferably, there are four, five or six lips for each sector (five in the figures). 
         [0165]    The breaks in the continuity of the protrusion may be of either a first type  10   i  and extend longitudinally up to second portion  10   f,  without reaching first portion  10   d  or a second type  10   k  and extend longitudinally up to first portion  10   d  including the entire first portion  10   d  as well. 
         [0166]    Advantageously, at least one tooth  10   b  is delimited at both sides by such breaks  10   k  of the second type. For example, one of such teeth  10   b  may be provided for each sector. 
         [0167]    Conveniently, surface  10   n,  opposite to top surface  10   m,  comprises a tamperproof structure that allows deformation of top surface  10   m  in response to any attempt to force closure  1  to move from the second configuration to the first configuration after first opening. 
         [0168]    The tamperproof structure may be formed by a weakened portion, possibly obtained by radial grooves (not shown). The radial grooves may be arranged in correspondence of one or more breaks of the second type  10   k,  preferably in correspondence of all the breaks of the second type  10   k.    
         [0169]    Thus, the breaks of the second type  10   k,  together with the radial grooves, form a prop that can prop against first member  71 , and which is substantially hinged at a distance from the inner edge of top surface  10   m.  Advantageously, the weakened portion is not obtained by through cuts, to allow shear forces to be transferred to the prop during first opening and to allow tooth  1  Ob associated therewith to more easily pass over engagement portion  715 . 
         [0170]    In other words, closure  1  further comprises tamperproof means that can deform top surface  9 , and advantageously only top surface  10   m  of outer member  10 , before closure  1  can move from the second to the first configurations. 
         [0171]    In order to allow relative motion between gripping surface  6  and the central portion, if the first reversible attachment means  11  are threads  3 , the closure  1  advantageously comprises lower seats  360 , that may be perfectly analogous to those of the embodiment of  FIGS. 5   a - 5   d.    
         [0172]    These lower seats  360  are arranged in correspondence of respective cams  361 , also analogous to those of the embodiment of  FIGS. 5   a - 5   d.  As shown by the comparison of  FIGS. 5   a - 5   d  and  6   a - 6   e,  cams  361  and lower seats  360  do not need to have both an inclined wall, but it is simply needed one inclined wall in either of them, preferably in lower seats  360 . Likewise, the same technical effect may be achieved by a single lower seat  360  coupled to a single cam  361 , a greater number of couplings being advantageous for balancing forces. 
         [0173]    The lower seats  360  may comprise a ridge  360   b  (as shown in  FIG. 6   b ), which prevents any accidental rotation of closure  1  and hence any accidental triggering of the tamperproof device. 
         [0174]    Unlike the embodiment of  FIGS. 5   a - 5   d,  inner member  7  comprises one or more ribs  728 , preferably formed on outer surface  725  of second member  72 , which are designed for abutting engagement with corresponding ribs  10   p  formed in outer member  10 , whose purpose will be clearer below. 
         [0175]    Advantageously, ribs  728  are contained in a cylinder whose diameter is equal to the diameter of lower edge  726  of second member  72  and preferably reach radial surface  721 , and extend along most of the height of second member  72 . Near lower edge  726 , second member  72  may comprise a circumferential annular ridge  727 , whose height is, for instance, about 25-40% the total extension of ribs  728 . Advantageously, there will be 4 ribs  728 , but there may be also three, two or more than four of them. 
         [0176]    The closure  1  of the preferred embodiment is assembled through the following successive steps: 
         [0177]    (a) Second member  72  is constrained to lower element  4 ; 
         [0178]    (b) Then, outer portion  10  is fitted on second member  72 ; 
         [0179]    (c) Later, first member  71  is constrained to second member  72 , with outer portion  10  trapped therebetween. 
         [0180]    The step (b) may advantageously comprise the following step: 
         [0181]    (b1) Outer portion  10  is rotated relative to lower element  4 , until ribs  728  abut against ribs  10   p,  and lower slots  360  are aligned with cam(s)  361 . 
         [0182]    The step (b1) may advantageously occur at the same time as or be followed by a relative longitudinal motion between outer portion  10  and second member  72 , to allow cam(s)  361  to fit into slot(s)  360 . 
         [0183]    Obviously, no limitation shall be implied in that the description has been given with reference to a descending motion of the central portion  7  relative to the gripping surface  6 , as the invention may be likewise described with reference to an ascending motion of the gripping surface  6  relative to the central portion  7 . 
         [0184]    In fact, during first opening, a user will grasp the exterior of the closure  1  (i.e. the gripping surface  6 ) and exerts an upward and/or rotary force thereon. Such force causes the above described relative displacement, where the gripping surface  6  of any bottle on which the closure is applied. However, the way in which the invention has been described shall not be intended to limit its operation and implementation in any manner. 
         [0185]    It will be appreciated that the closure  1  of the present invention fulfills the intended purposes. Also, the present closure combines the advantages of simple and low-cost fabrication with strength and simplicity of use and handling. 
         [0186]    It shall be noted that the claims shall not cover what was known before the priority and/or filing dates (which is meant as specifically disclaimed). 
         [0187]    Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that a number of changes and variants may be made to the arrangements as described hereinbefore to meet incidental and specific needs. 
         [0188]    For example, unless otherwise imposed by evident technical limitations, any feature described in a preferred embodiment may be clearly used in another embodiment, with appropriate adaptations. 
         [0189]    Likewise, the continuity of the closure components may be broken in any manner, provided that no functional alteration to the relevant component is caused thereby. 
         [0190]    Also, slight tapers may be imparted to the portions described above as having a cylindrical shape, in response to technological requirements. 
         [0191]    It will be appreciated by the skilled person that the tamper evident effect does not require the central portion to be perfectly locked after first opening, but any motion (e.g. caused by clearance) tending to move the closure  1  back into the initial configuration will be acceptable, as long as the closure  1  remains in a configuration other than the initial configuration. 
         [0192]    Therefore, the teachings of the present description and claims may be also interpreted in view of this consideration. 
         [0193]    All the changes will fall within the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1