Patent Description:
Closures with tear-off seals are known in the art. These closures generally include a cap proper, which is removably associated with the rest of the closure, and an element for providing first-opening evidence.

<CIT> discloses a closure which comprises a pouring device <NUM> defining a pouring orifice, a skirt for fixing the pouring device to the neck of the container, a cap adapted to engage and disengage the pouring device to close the pouring orifice and a hood that permanently surrounds the skirt and the cap and has an annular portion permanently engaging a lower portion of the skirt. The hood comprises a tear strip which is configured to leave the annular portion engaged with the skirt when the tear strip is torn off, to provide evidence that the closure has been opened for the first time.

<CIT> describes a closure comprising a cap adapted to engage and disengage the pouring orifice of a pouring device fixed to the mouth of a container and a hood surrounding the cap and having an annular portion that stably engages the neck of the container. The hood comprises a tear-off tab which is configured to leave the annular portion engaged with the neck of the container when the tear-off tab is torn to provide evidence that the closure has been opened for the first time.

<CIT> describes a tamper-evident closure which comprises a cap connected via a breakable portion to a skirt fixed to the neck of a container and a hood which surrounds the cap and, via the skirt of the cap, is fixed to the neck of the container. The hood comprises a lower portion and an upper portion. The upper portion is equipped with a tear-off tab which, when torn, allows removal of the upper portion, leaving the lower portion fixed to the skirt of the cap and, as a result, to the neck of the container.

The aforementioned closures have the drawback of not being immune to fraudulent acts committed by a counterfeiter who wants to restore the closures to the configuration prior to the first opening.

A counterfeiter can remove in a relatively easy manner not only the part that is rigidly joined to the tab but also the part remaining on the container. Then, the counterfeiter can open the cap, replace the contents of the container with other contents of poor quality, close the cap and apply a new hood with a tear-off seal, thereby restoring the closure and the container exactly in the configuration prior to the first opening.

Even the provision of the breakable portion in document <CIT> does not obviate this drawback, since the cap can be screwed back to a position in which the edges of the cap and of the skirt match, thereby hiding the rupture of the breakable portion.

A closure that obviates the above drawbacks is described in <CIT>, by the Applicant hereof. This closure with a tear-off seal causes the action of restoring the closure to its configuration prior to first opening to be overly complex and expensive for a counterfeiter. In detail, the closure comprises a cap adapted to close the mouth of the container, a capsule associated with the exterior of the cap and having fixing means for fixing the capsule to the container and tamper-evident means for providing evidence of first opening of the closure. The tamper-evident means comprise a first tear-off seal configured, when torn, to remove at least one portion of the capsule and a second tear-off seal for attaching the cap to the container and, when torn, allowing removal of the cap from the mouth of the container.

Alternative closures with tear-off seals have also been provided in the art, which at least partially obviate the above discussed drawbacks. Examples of such closures are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>. <CIT> discloses a closure according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

Nevertheless, the production of such closures is expensive and their assembly is complex and cost-ineffective.

In view of the above discussed prior art, the object of the present invention is to fulfill the above requirements, while obviating the prior art drawbacks.

According to the present invention, this object is fulfilled by a closure as defined in claim <NUM>.

The present invention provides a closure with a tear-off seal that can be manufactured in comparatively easy and inexpensive manner, while still affording the advantages of the closures with tear-off seals of the prior art.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description of one practical embodiment, which is illustrated without limitation in the annexed drawings, in which:.

Even when not expressly stated, the individual features as described with reference to the particular embodiments shall be intended as auxiliary to and/or interchangeable with other features described with reference to other exemplary embodiments.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the present invention relates to a closure <NUM>.

The closure <NUM> is intended to close the mouth of a container <NUM>, e.g. a bottle, such as a glass bottle, e.g. for spirits.

In the example of the figures, the container <NUM> is a bottle and comprises a neck <NUM> that terminates in a mouth <NUM> defining a pouring orifice 3a.

While the closure <NUM> 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 <NUM> and conventionally the bottom side is the side of the closure <NUM> designed to face towards the container <NUM>, and the top side is 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).

According to one embodiment, not forming part of the invention, a pouring body (not shown) can be coupled to the closure <NUM> to form a closure assembly and can be applied to the neck <NUM> of the container <NUM> and fixed thereto by known fixing means adapted to prevent relative rotational and longitudinal movements of the pouring body with respect to the neck <NUM> of the container <NUM>. The pouring body has a pouring orifice which defines the pouring orifice of the container <NUM>.

Reference will be made below without limitation to a closure <NUM> for closing the mouth <NUM> of the container <NUM>.

The closure <NUM> comprises a cap <NUM> for closing the mouth <NUM> of the container <NUM>, namely for closing the pouring orifice 3a of the mouth <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the cap <NUM> comprises a sleeve <NUM> open at its bottom and closed at its top by a the top wall <NUM>.

Namely, the sleeve <NUM> extends in a longitudinal direction X-X between a lower edge <NUM>, at which the sleeve <NUM> is open, and an upper end <NUM>, having the top wall <NUM> thereat.

The cap <NUM> has an outer surface 11a and an inner surface 11b, consisting of the outer and inner surfaces of the sleeve <NUM> respectively. The outer surface 11a is the part of the cap <NUM> that can be grasped by a user to open and close the mouth <NUM> of the container <NUM>.

The cap <NUM> comprises attachment members <NUM> for reversibly attaching the cap <NUM> to the mouth <NUM> of the container <NUM>. This affords normal opening and closing operations to be performed on the mouth <NUM> of the container <NUM>.

Preferably, the attachment members <NUM> comprise a thread formed on the inner surface 11b of the cap <NUM> and designed to be engaged with a thread 4a associated with the container <NUM> and, for example, formed on the outer surface of the mouth <NUM> or on the outer surface of a pouring body.

Alternatively, the attachment members may comprise snap-on members for flip-top caps.

The closure <NUM> comprises a tubular element <NUM> configured to surround the neck <NUM> of the container <NUM>.

The closure <NUM> is equipped with fixing members <NUM> for fixing the tubular element <NUM> to the neck <NUM> of the container <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, the fixing members <NUM> comprise first fixing members <NUM> for preventing longitudinal displacements of the tubular element <NUM> relative to the container <NUM> and second fixing members <NUM> for preventing angular displacements of the tubular element <NUM> relative to the container <NUM>.

In this example, the first fixing members <NUM> comprise an annular ridge 22a formed on the interior of the tubular element <NUM>, and designed for snap engagement of a collar <NUM> formed on the neck <NUM> of the container <NUM> and the second fixing members <NUM> comprise axial ribs 23a arranged on the interior of the tubular element <NUM> and designed to engage corresponding grooves <NUM> on the neck <NUM> of the container <NUM>.

According to an alternative embodiment, the fixing members <NUM> act on elements fixed to the container <NUM> and arranged between the tubular element <NUM> and the container <NUM>. For example, the fixing members <NUM> can fix the tubular element <NUM> to a pouring body which, in turn, is intended to be stably fixed to the neck <NUM> of the container <NUM>.

The closure <NUM> further comprises tamper-evident members for providing evidence of first opening of the closure <NUM>.

The tamper-evident members comprise a first tear-off seal <NUM> and a second tear-off seal <NUM>.

The first tear-off seal <NUM> is attached to the second tear-off seal <NUM> and is configured, when torn, to allow the second tear-off seal <NUM> to be torn.

The second tear-off seal <NUM> is attached to the cap <NUM> and to the tubular element <NUM> and is configured, when torn, to allow the cap <NUM> to be removed from the container <NUM>.

The cap <NUM>, the tubular element <NUM>, the first tear-off seal <NUM> and the second tear-off seal <NUM> define a unitary body, formed of one piece. This configuration allows the closure <NUM> to be manufactured in a cost-effective manner, by eliminating the assembly steps. Also, this configuration can provide a closure that can be entirely removed from the neck <NUM> of the container and is therefore separable from the container.

In one embodiment, the one-piece unitary body is made of a compostable biodegradable material. In this case, the closure <NUM> is both easily separable from the container, for example made of glass, and is disposable as normal organic waste.

The first tear-off seal <NUM> comprises a first tear-off tab <NUM> configured to be grasped to tear off the first tear-off seal <NUM>.

The first tear-off tab <NUM> has a grip portion 44a which is adapted to be grasped to tear off the first tear-off tab <NUM>.

The second tear-off seal <NUM> comprises a second tear-off tab <NUM> configured to be grasped to tear off the second tear-off seal <NUM>.

The second tear-off tab <NUM> has a grip portion 31a adapted to be grasped to tear off the second pull-tab <NUM>.

Preferably, the first tear-off seal <NUM> is arranged to prevent the second tear-off seal <NUM> from being grasped prior to removal of the first tear-off seal <NUM> and to allow the second tear-off seal <NUM> to be grasped upon removal of the first tear-off seal <NUM>.

In the first, second and third embodiments of <FIG>, at least a part of the first tear-off seal <NUM> extends radially outwards beyond the radial extent of second tear-off tab <NUM>.

In the fourth embodiment of <FIG>, at least a part of the first tear-off seal <NUM> surrounds the cap <NUM> and at least partially the second tear-off seal <NUM>, and namely surrounds at least the second tear-off tab <NUM>.

Thus, in all the embodiments, the second tear-off seal <NUM> can only be torn after tearing and then removing the first tear-off seal <NUM>. This is because the first seal <NUM> prevents access to the tab <NUM> of the second seal <NUM>.

In the embodiments of <FIG>, the second tear-off tab <NUM> cannot be accessed by the user since it is arranged radially inside a part of the first tear-off seal <NUM> which prevents the grip portion 31a from being grasped.

In the fourth embodiment of <FIG>, possibly also in combination with the embodiments of <FIG>, the second tear-off tab <NUM> cannot be accessed by the user because it is covered by a part of the first tear-off seal <NUM>.

In particular, the closure <NUM> is adapted to irreversibly move from a first configuration, before tearing of the first seal <NUM> to a second configuration, after tearing of the first seal <NUM>.

Therefore, the first seal <NUM> is configured to prevent tearing of the second seal <NUM> when the closure <NUM> is in the first configuration and to only allow tearing of the second seal <NUM> when the closure <NUM> is in the second configuration.

When the closure <NUM> is in the second configuration, the second seal <NUM> may be torn to move the closure to a third configuration.

According to one embodiment, the second tear-off seal <NUM> comprises a circumferential band <NUM> joined to the second tab <NUM>.

The circumferential band <NUM> of the second tear-off seal <NUM> is attached to the first tear-off seal <NUM> and to the tubular element <NUM> via respective breakable portions 33a, 33b. The breakable portions 33a that attach the circumferential band <NUM> to the first tear-off seal <NUM> are configured to break upon tearing of the first tear-off seal <NUM>, whereas the breakable portions 33b that attach the circumferential band <NUM> to the tubular element <NUM> are configured to break upon tearing of the second tear-off seal <NUM>. Alternatively, the circumferential band <NUM> is a peelable tear-off band, which is still connected to the first tear-off seal <NUM> and to the tubular element <NUM>.

In the first embodiments of <FIG>, the tubular element <NUM> comprises a longitudinal tear-off band <NUM> which is configured, when torn, to allow removal of the tubular element <NUM>. The longitudinal tear-off band <NUM> extends in the longitudinal direction X-X.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, the longitudinal tear-off band <NUM> is connected to the second tear-off seal <NUM>. More preferably, the longitudinal tear-off band <NUM> is connected to the circumferential band <NUM> to define a single tear-off band of the second tear-off seal <NUM>. In this embodiment, removal of the second tear-off seal <NUM> also causes removal of the tubular element <NUM>. In this embodiment, tearing of the longitudinal band <NUM> can occur in two different modes. In a first mode, a lower portion of the longitudinal band <NUM> remains attached to a lower end <NUM> of the tubular element <NUM> so that the user can also remove with a single tear the tubular element <NUM> of the neck <NUM>. In a second mode, the longitudinal band <NUM> is removable and separable entirely from the tubular element <NUM> so that, once the longitudinal band <NUM> has been removed, the tubular element <NUM> will have a C shape with facing longitudinal edges and can be removed by the user when desired.

In the embodiments of <FIG>, the longitudinal tear-off band <NUM> is separated from the second tear-off seal <NUM>. In these embodiments, when the closure <NUM> is in the third configuration, the longitudinal tear-off band <NUM> can be torn to also remove the tubular element <NUM> according to one of the two modes as described above.

In one embodiment, the longitudinal band <NUM> comprises two longitudinal weakness lines 25a, 25b which are adapted to break upon tearing of the longitudinal band <NUM>.

The longitudinal weakness lines 25a, 25b extend in the longitudinally direction X-X- from an upper end <NUM> of the tubular element <NUM> along at least a section of the tubular element <NUM>.

Preferably, the longitudinal weakness lines 25a, 25b extend in the longitudinal direction X-X from the upper end <NUM> of the tubular element <NUM> along the entire longitudinal extent of the tubular element <NUM> to its lower end <NUM>.

The first tear-off seal <NUM> comprises an annular element <NUM> which surrounds the cap <NUM> and extends in the longitudinal direction X-X between a lower end portion <NUM> and an upper end portion <NUM>.

The cap <NUM>, in particular its lower edge <NUM>, is attached to the circumferential band <NUM> of the second tear-off seal <NUM> by breakable portions <NUM>. Therefore, as the second tear-off seal <NUM> is torn, it causes the breakable portions <NUM> to break, thereby releasing the attachment between the second tear-off seal <NUM> and the cap <NUM>, which can be thus removed by the user.

Preferably, the attachment between the first tear-off seal <NUM> and the second tear-off seal <NUM>, formed by the breakable portions 33a, is weaker than the attachment between the second tear-off seal <NUM> and the cap <NUM>, formed by the breakable portions <NUM>. This will prevent tearing of the first tear-off seal <NUM> from causing the release of the second tear-off seal <NUM> from the cap <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, the first tear-off seal <NUM> is open at its top, level with the top wall <NUM> of the cap <NUM>.

In particular, the upper end portion <NUM> defines the upper opening of the first tear-off seal <NUM> and delimits the top wall <NUM> of the cap <NUM>.

Therefore, the closure <NUM> of the present invention fulfills the intended purposes.

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.

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.

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.

Also, slight tapers may be imparted to the portions described above as having an annular or tubular shape, in response to technological requirements.

Claim 1:
A closure (<NUM>) for a container (<NUM>) having a neck (<NUM>) ending with a pouring orifice (3a), comprising:
- a cap (<NUM>) configured to close the pouring orifice, the cap (<NUM>) comprising a top wall (<NUM>) and a sleeve (<NUM>) extending from the top wall to a bottom edge (<NUM>),
- a tubular element (<NUM>) configured to surround at least a section of the neck (<NUM>) of the container,
- a first tear-off seal (<NUM>) and a second tear-off seal (<NUM>);
wherein:
- the first tear-off seal (<NUM>) is configured, when torn, to allow the second tear-off seal (<NUM>) to be torn,
- the second tear-off seal (<NUM>) is attached to the cap (<NUM>) and to the tubular element (<NUM>) and is configured, when torn, to allow the cap (<NUM>) to be removed from the container,
characterized in that:
- the first tear-off seal (<NUM>) is attached to the second tear-off seal (<NUM>), and
- the cap (<NUM>), the tubular element (<NUM>), the first tear-off seal (<NUM>) and the second tear-off seal (<NUM>) define a unitary body.