Abstract:
The cap ( 1 ) comprises a head and skirt and is characterised in that it comprises two assembled parts:
       a) an inner part ( 3 ) comprising a so-called inner head ( 30 ) and a so-called inner skirt ( 31 ), typically with a rotation axis ( 12 ), carrying out the so-called technical functions of said cap,   b) an outer part ( 4 ) carrying out all or part of the decorative function of said cap ( 1 ), so as to be able to modify the appearance of said cap ( 1 ) at will without having to modify said technical functions.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to the field of caps and, more especially, screw closure caps intended for the closure of recipients or bottles in which the glass ring comprises threading. 
   These bottles are typically bottles containing aperitifs, liqueurs, alcohol or alcoholic beverages, the consumption of which is typically spread out over time, thus requiring the possibility to close and open said bottles, possibly a large number of times. 
   These caps most frequently comprise a pilfer-proof or guarantee seal. 
   DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
   A large number of sealing caps with guarantee seals are already known. 
   Some of these caps are made of plastic, as described in the European patent No. 0107 680 in the applicant&#39;s name, and typically intended for the closure of plastic water bottles. 
   Others are made of metal, as described in the French patent No. 2 677 333 or in the French patent applications No. 9705182 or 9706009 in the applicant&#39;s name, and typically intended for the closure of bottles containing alcohol, aperitifs and spirits. 
   Sealing caps form an important part of the packaging of liquids and make a significant contribution to the final appearance and the image of the packaged product. 
   The invention aims to meet an increasing demand for products enabling a differentiation, a new aesthetic feature in a field involving many constraints and, given these constraints, where the possibilities for modifications are very limited. 
   These constraints, other than those resulting from obvious functions for use, are firstly constraints related to the industrial manufacturing of caps at high capacities, at a cost that is not prohibitive. 
   Then, constraints at the packaging company processing the product to be packaged are involved. For the latter, any modification in the cap must not affect the packaging processes, equipment and standard production capacities, unless in the case of an overall reduction in production costs. 
   In addition to these constraints, those related to the end user, whose habits or possibilities in terms of opening recipients or bottles must always be taken into account in sealing cap design. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The sealing cap according to the invention, intended for the screw closure of a recipient intended to contain alcoholic beverages, typically a bottle with a neck comprising threading and a pilfer-proof ring, is equipped with sealing means and pilfer-proof means, comprising two assembled parts attached in rotational and axial terms:
         a) an inner part, or insert, made of plastic, comprising a so-called inner head and a so-called inner skirt, typically with a rotation axis, with said inner head comprising sealing means and said inner skirt comprising inner threading on its inner surface intended to co-operate with the threading of said neck,   b) an outer part, or cap, enclosing and hiding at least said inner skirt, with the outer surface of said inner part and the inner surface of said outer part co-operating in view of said assembly of said inner  3  and outer parts, and is characterised in that,   1) said inner part carries out all the so-called technical functions of said cap, and comprises pilfer-proof means, with said inner skirt connected by bridges to a guarantee seal, intended to be held by the ring of said neck and separated from said skirt after a first opening of said cap,   2) said outer part carries out all or part of the decorative function of said cap, and comprises a so-called outer skirt, the length of which is such that it hides, at least before said first opening of said cap, said inner skirt and said guarantee seal, so as to be able to modify the appearance of said cap at will without having to modify said technical functions, with said guarantee seal becoming typically visible after said first opening.       

   These means according to the invention make it possible to solve the problem described, as illustrated with the figures described below. 

   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
   All the figures, except  FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  relate to cap embodiments according to the invention which comprise an inner part  3  and an outer part  4 , with the references starting with a “ 3 ” typically relating to said inner part  3 , and those starting with a “ 4 ” typically relating to said outer part  4 . 
     FIGS. 1   a  to  6   b  are partial vertical half-sections along the axis  12  of the cap  1  screwed onto a neck  2  of a bottle. 
   For convenience purposes, two embodiments have been represented opposite each other in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b ,  2   a  and  2   b ,  3   a  and  3   b ,  5   a  and  5   b ,  6   a  and  6   b . In these figures, the cap is sealed by an added seal  35 , except in  FIG. 3   b  where sealing is performed by a lip seal  36 . 
     FIGS. 7 and 8  are transversal sections perpendicular to the axis  12  of the cap  1 . 
     FIGS. 1   a  and  2   a , as for  FIGS. 3   a ,  5   a  and  6   a , correspond to a first guarantee seal embodiment, before a first opening in  FIG. 1   a  and after a first opening in  FIG. 2   a , wherein the ends of both the inner skirt  31  and the outer skirt  41  comprise a series of bridges  33 ,  42  and a guarantee seal  34 ,  43 . 
   The inner guarantee seal  34  comprises an inner ring  340  and flexible clips  341  that tend to deflect towards the neck. 
   The outer guarantee seal  43  comprises a rim  430  which passes under the lower end of the inner guarantee seal  34 , such that, upon opening, the two guarantee seals  34  and  43  fall onto the neck and clearly indicate that a first opening has already taken place. 
     FIGS. 1   b  and  2   b , as for  FIGS. 3   b ,  5   b  and  6   b , correspond to a second guarantee seal embodiment, before a first opening in  FIG. 1   b  and after a first opening in  FIG. 2   b , wherein only the inner skirt  31  comprises a series of bridges  33  and a guarantee seal  34 . In this case, the outer skirt  41  is sufficiently long to hide the guarantee seal  34  before the first opening, but sufficiently short so that, once the bridges  33  have been broken, the guarantee seal becomes visible (in  FIG. 2   b ) and clearly indicates that a first opening has already taken place. 
   In  FIGS. 1   b  to  2   b , said outer part  4  covers said inner part  3  entirely and is typically cylindrical in shape, the head  40  being flat, and the skirt  41  being cylindrical. 
     FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b ,  5   a ,  5   b ,  6   a ,  6   b  and  7  particularly relate to variants of said outer part  4 . 
     FIG. 3   a : the outer part  4  forms a mushroom cap. 
     FIG. 3   b : said outer skirt  41  comprises a two-segment profile of bridgeed straight lines. 
   This outer part may be made of either moulded plastic or pressed metal and then assembled with said inner skirt  31 . 
     FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b : said outer part  4  is limited to an outer skirt  41 , which covers said inner skirt  31  completely in  FIG. 5   a , and to a significant extent in  FIG. 5   b , the diameter of said inner part  3  being greater where said outer skirt  41  is absent so that said cap has a cylindrical skirt  11  of the same radius over its entire height. 
     FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b : said inner head  30  is partially covered by said outer head  40 . 
   In  FIG. 6   a , the thickness of the inner head  30  is increased where the outer head  40  is absent to obtain a uniform, plane head  10 , unlike the case in  FIG. 6   b.    
     FIG. 7 : said outer skirt  41  has any non-cylindrical shape. 
     FIGS. 4   a  to  4   e  represent portions of inner  31  and outer  41  skirts and illustrate assembly embodiments of said inner  31  and outer  41  parts using circular attachment means  44  formed by the co-operation of male circular components on one part, with female components on the other opposite part, so as to eliminate the possibility of a relative movement, in the axial direction, between said inner part  3  and said outer part  4 . 
     FIG. 8  illustrates an assembly embodiment of said inner  31  and outer  41  parts using vertical or axial attachment means  45  formed by the co-operation of axial ribbing on the outer surface of said inner skirt  31  with axial grooves on the inner surface of said outer skirt  41 , so as to bridge said inner  3  and outer  4  parts in rotation using mechanical means. 
     FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  illustrate an assembly embodiment in which the inner skirt  31  comprises a cylindrical taper  37  on its outer surface in which a skirt  41  may be pressed. 
     FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  illustrate another embodiment according to the invention in which said outer part  4  is itself composite and composed of an assembly of a head  400  and a skirt  410 , with the possibility of using the same or different constituent materials for said head  400  and said skirt  410 , increasing creation possibilities further. 
     FIGS. 11   a  to  11   d  illustrate the decorative possibilities with the localised surface treatment of an aluminium skirt, so as to obtain a contrast in colour, shine, roughness, in a word, appearance, between the hatched part  410  and the non-hatched background  411 . 
     FIGS. 12   a  to  12   f  are partial axial section ( FIG. 12   a ) or enlarged  12   b  to  12   f  views illustrating radial and/or compression means embodiments intended to increase tightness; 
     FIG. 12   a  illustrates two embodiments of radial compression means. 
   In the embodiment represented in the left section of  FIG. 12   a , which is enlarged in  FIG. 12   b , the compression means forms a step with Ea&gt;Er and the inner head is shaped like an annular rim which approximately covers the edge  22  of the neck. 
   However, in the embodiment represented in the right section of  FIG. 12   a , which is enlarged in  FIG. 12   c , the compression means forms a step with Ea similar to Er and the inner head  30  is solid. 
     FIG. 12   d  illustrates an example of axial compression using a circular rib  300 . A circular rib or holding rim  312  enables the seal to remain attached to the cap before use. 
     FIG. 12   e  illustrates an example of an insert applying radial compression with a curved part  311 , with the insert not comprising an inner head. 
     FIG. 12   f  illustrates an example of an insert applying radial compression with compression means attached to said inner head  30  and not said skirt  31 . 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the invention, said outer part  4  may comprise a so-called outer skirt  41 , and, if applicable, head  40 . 
   Most of the figures illustrate this embodiment. 
   However, special decorative effects could be obtained if the skirt of the cap  1  was partly composed of a portion of said inner skirt  31  and partly of a portion of said outer skirt  41 , as would be the case in  FIG. 5   b  with a shorter outer skirt  41 . 
   Typically, said outer part  4  may comprise a straight, typically cylindrical, skirt  41 , which corresponds to the most common case, but the invention can also be used to create originally shaped caps, with a non-cylindrical straight skirt  11  as represented as a section in  FIG. 7 , or a non-straight skirt, as represented in  FIG. 3   a.    
   Said outer part  4  may form a rotation surface, of a constant radius or not depending on the height in question, as illustrated in  FIG. 3   a.    
   In any case, said outer part  4 , of any outer shape, is attached to said inner part  3 ; for this, said outer part  4  and said inner part  3  use mechanical  44 ,  45  or chemical attachment means, typically by gluing, as the means for said assembly. 
   Mechanical attachment means have been represented in  FIGS. 4   a  to  4   e  and  8 . The inner  3  and outer  4  parts may also be assembled using a snap-on or clip-on mechanism, with the materials and/or thickness of the parts  3  and  4  enabling elasticity and spring effects enabling their assembly. 
   In the other figures, the attachment means has not been represented, since it consists of gluing, using a layer of adhesive, or heat-sealing, of all or part of said inner part  3  on all or part of said outer part  4 . 
   According to the invention, said inner part  3  may be a PP insert, comprising inner threading  32 , on which the guarantee seal  34  comprises clips  341 . 
   Such an insert may be obtained by PP moulding or injection. It is possible to obtain such a plastic insert as described in the European patent No. 107 680 in the applicant&#39;s name. 
   According to an embodiment of the invention, said outer part  4  may be of metal, or comprise a metal part inside, and be attached to said insert  3  by gluing. 
   In this case, said outer part  4  may be made of surface-treated aluminium, typically brushed or anodised, to create a “metallic” colour or appearance. 
   According to another embodiment of the invention, said outer part  4  may be made of plastic, typically polystyrene, and attached to said insert by mechanical assembly or by gluing. Preferably, said plastic outer part  4  is metal-coated. 
   Whether by using surface-treated aluminium or coating plastic with metal, the invention makes it possible to obtain a wide variety of decorative effects. 
   The caps according to the invention may comprise any type of guarantee seal known in itself. Typically, said guarantee seal  34  comprises an inner ring  340  equipped with fastening components  341 , typically clips or hooks, turned towards the inside of said cap, and snapped under said ring  20  such that, during said first opening, the bridges  33  break, with said guarantee seal  34  prevented from moving upwards by the co-operation of said components  341  with said ring  20 , such that said guarantee seal  34 , separated from the rest of said cap, is the visible proof of said first opening. 
   An example of a guarantee seal, among the many known, is given in the European patent No. 107 680. 
   In the cases of caps illustrated in  FIGS. 1   b ,  3   b ,  5   b  and  6   b , the outer skirt  41  hides said guarantee seal  34 , before said first opening. However, at the first opening, during which the bridges  33  are broken, the guarantee seal, separated from the rest of the skirt, falls and is lowered by a few millimeters on the neck and becomes visible as a result, even on a closed bottle, as illustrated in  FIG. 2   b.    
   According to another embodiment illustrated particularly in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b , said outer skirt  41 , like the inner skirt  31 , comprises bridges  42  attaching it to a so-called outer ring  43 , with said outer ring locked upwards by said inner ring  340 , typically by means of a lower rim  430  of said outer ring  43 , such that, during said first opening, the outer  43  and inner  340  rings are separated from the rest of said cap. 
   In any case, the ring  20 , by locking, during the first unscrewing, the clips  341  or any component of a guarantee seal of said inner part  3 , fulfilling an equivalent function, breaks the bridges  33 , and, if applicable, the bridges  42 , and therefore causes the guarantee seal to fall onto the neck of the bottle, making it possible to see, unequivocally, that a first opening has already taken place. 
   The caps according to the invention may comprise any sealing means known in itself, typically by using either a circular lip  36  attached to said inner head, as illustrated in  FIG. 3   b , or an added seal  35  as illustrated in the other figures concerning the cap  1 . 
   More precisely, the caps may comprise, in order to guarantee the tightness of the recipient once closed, an added seal  35  of sufficient diameter to cover the edge  22  of the neck  2  and axial and/or radial compression means on the inner surface of said insert, to apply said seal in a tight manner onto said edge  22  of said neck  2  during said closure. 
   A compression means is said to be axial when it is applied onto the upper part  220  of the edge, and it is said to be radial in the other cases, when it is applied either onto the curved part  221  or onto the vertical part  222  of the edge, as illustrated in  FIG. 12   d.    
   Said axial compression means may comprise a circular rib  300  formed on the inner wall of said inner head  30  intended to compress said seal onto the upper part  220  or said edge  22 , typically plane, as illustrated in  FIG. 12   d.    
   Said radial compression means may comprise an annular extra thickness  310 ,  302  formed on said inner skirt  31  or on said inner head  30 , typically at the bridge  301  between the inner head  30  and the inner skirt  31 , and intended to compress said seal onto all or part of the curved part  221 , typically inclined, and/or onto the radial part  222 , typically vertical, of the edge  22 . This extra thickness may be attached to the inner skirt  31 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 12   a  to  12   e  with the reference “ 310 ”, or attached to the inner head  30  as illustrated in  FIG. 12   f  with the reference “ 302 ”. 
   According to a variant illustrated in  FIGS. 12   a  to  12   d , said annular extra thickness  310  may take the form of an annular step positioned at the inner annular angle formed at the bridge of the inner head  30  and the inner skirt  31 . 
   According to another variant illustrated in  FIG. 12   b , said inner head  30  may comprise an annular rim  38  with a punched central part, typically opposite the mouth  23  of said neck  2 . This variant makes it possible to save weight and material for the plastic insert  3 , particularly in the case of radial compression means. 
   Indeed, the applicant has observed that, the greater the radial type of compression effort, the greater the possibility to reduce the thickness of said inner head  30 . 
   In this case, as illustrated in  FIG. 12   e , the cap will have the following characteristics:
         a) said inner head  30  has a thickness ranging from 0 to 0.5 mm,   b) said compression means is typically radial, and   c) this compression means comprises a curved part  311  with a curvature typically similar to that of the curved part  221  of said edge which is opposite.       

   This embodiment makes it possible to reduce the height of the cap, typically by 1 to 2 mm, which may be very useful in practice, given the standardisation constraints in the field of packaging. 
   The specialist may adapt the shape and exact dimensions of the insert and the axial and/or radial compression means, e.g. the thickness Ea and Er as illustrated in  FIG. 12   b . Indeed, he may choose the thickness of said compression means as a function of the thickness Ej of the seal and the space Eo between said neck and said cap in particular, such that said recipient is closed in a tight manner by said cap, the thickness of the locally compressed seal or the distance E between the end of said compression means and said edge being typically between 0.2 Ej and 0.7 Ej, where Ej is typically between 1 and 2.5 mm. 
   Said axial and/or radial compression may be an integral part of said insert  3  or form an added part. 
   Preferably, said compression means is an integral part of said insert, as illustrated in  FIGS. 12   a  to  12   f.    
   It is advantageous for the cap according to the invention to comprise holding means for said added seal, typically a holding rim  312  attached to said inner skirt  31 . 
   Examples of Applications 
   Firstly, we manufactured inner parts or inserts  3  in PP with a cylindrical outer surface, with a guarantee seal  34 , according to the process described in the European patent No. 107 680, and according to a common model for the figures attached, such as  FIGS. 1   a  to  2   b.    
   Secondly, we manufactured different outer parts or caps  4 :
         in aluminium as represented in  FIGS. 1   a  to  2   b , with different surface treatments, as illustrated in  FIGS. 11   a  to  11   d,      in metal-coated polystyrene, as represented in  FIGS. 1   a  to  2   b.          

   Finally, we assembled the caps  4  and the inserts  3  using an adhesive. 
   We also manufactured caps according to  FIGS. 12   b  and  12   e  using a commercially available seal  35 . 
   Advantages of the Invention 
   The invention makes it possible to solve the problem described and paves the way for a wide diversity in terms of appearance. However, these caps offer the same usage behaviour in response to the constraints encountered. 
   Therefore, the invention enables individualisation and customisation of caps acceptable in economic terms, using the concept according to the invention separating technical functions and aesthetic functions. 
   LIST OF REFERENCES 
   
       
       SEALING CAP . . .  1   
       HEAD . . .  10   
       SKIRT . . .  11   
       ROTATION AXIS . . .  12   
       NECK OF RECIPIENT . . .  2   
       PILFER-PROOF RING . . .  20   
       THREADING . . .  21   
       EDGE . . .  22   
       UPPER PART . . .  220   
       CURVED PART . . .  221   
       VERTICAL PART . . .  222   
       MOUTH . . .  23   
       INNER PART OR INSERT . . .  3   
       INNER HEAD . . .  30   
       CIRCULAR RIB . . .  300   
       HEAD-SKIRT BRIDGE . . .  301   
       ANNULAR EXTRA THICKNESS . . .  302   
       INNER SKIRT . . .  31   
       ANNULAR EXTRA THICKNESS . . .  310   
       CURVED PART . . .  311   
       HOLDING RIM . . .  312   
       INNER THREADING . . .  32   
       BRIDGES . . .  33   
       GUARANTEE SEAL . . .  34   
       INNER RING . . .  340   
       CLIPS . . .  341   
       ADDED SEAL . . .  35   
       LIP SEALS . . .  36   
       TAPER . . .  37   
       HEAD/ANNULAR RIM . . .  38   
       OUTER PART OR CAP . . .  4   
       OUTER HEAD . . .  40   
       COMPOSITE HEAD . . .  400   
       OUTER SKIRT . . .  41   
       COMPOSITE SKIRT . . .  410   
       BRIDGES . . .  42   
       OUTER RING . . .  43   
       LOWER RIM . . .  430   
       CIRCULAR ATTACHMENT MEANS . . .  44   
       VERTICAL ATTACHMENT MEANS . . .  45