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(11) | EP 0 631 945 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Security stopper |
| (57) It is threaded on the necks (C) of bottles, flasks (F) and other containers. It is
characterized in that it comprises two caplike bodies (1,2) of which one body (1)
is larger and is attached over the other body (2), which is housed inside the larger
one and is the one having the inner side surface threaded for fitting to the neck
(C) of the pertinent container (F), said bodies (1, 2) having on one of their side
contact surfaces at least one projection (3) penetrating in a peripheral slot (4)
of the other and allowing the larger body (1) to rotate about the smaller one (2),
at the same time preventing separation from the latter, which comprises externally
an upper chase (8) for manipulation, by a key (7) or convenient tool, through an upper
aperture (5) of the larger body (1). The stopper has means (10, 11) for closing the
container (F) without the need of tools (7). |
[0002] This stopper is of the type screwed on to the neck of bottles, flasks and other containers, with the peculiarity that it cannot be applied thereto or removed therefrom without the use of a suitable key or tool.
[0003] This prevents everyday packaged products, which are extremely hazardous when used for other purposes than the specific one for which they were designed, from being accessible to children and other persons unaware of such hazard and the consequences of misuse thereof, although the stopper may also obviously be used for containers whose content the user does not wish to share without his knowledge.
[0004] To this end, the stopper of the invention comprises two caplike bodies, one of which is larger and is unreleasably engaged on the other due, at least, to a suitably shaped projection formed on one of the two side contact surfaces of said bodies and which is inserted in a peripheral groove of the other, while at the same time the larger body is allowed freely to rotate about the smaller one.
[0005] The smaller body is the one screwed on the neck of the pertinent container, being manipulated for such purpose by a key or tool, which will be inserted in an external upper chase in said smaller body through an upper aperture of the larger body.
[0006] Advantageously the stopper comprises a shoulder formed on one of the contact surfaces between the two bodies of the stopper and which, when the latter is rotated for screwing on the container neck, will abut a stop formed on the contact surface between the two bodies opposite the one surface, whereby the outer body will pull along the inner one to enable it to be screwed up without the aid of the key or tool.
[0007] On the contrary, it will still be impossible to unscrew the stopper from the container neck unless the said key or tool is used, because it has been contemplated that at least the shoulder shall comprise, in the area where it contacts the stop in said unscrewing action, a recess allowing it to slide over said stop without pulling the inner body of the stopper along with the outer one.
[0008] All of this has been implemented to avoid the bottle being left open and within reach of children and other persons who may misuse the contents thereof, exposing themselves to the risks which it was intended to avoid, because of the loss of the tool or key for the stopper after the pertinent container has been opened.
[0009] Obviously, the said shoulder and stop may be disposed both on the upper contact surfaces of both bodies forming the stopper and on the side surfaces, and both also comprise them (although it is not necessary) and the stop may be formed within a channel whereby the shoulder would advantageously be guided therein without the possibility of it being deformed on abutting said stop and no movement occurring.
[0010] There may also be more than one said shoulder and stop and they may be of any desirable shape. The peripheral slot and consequent projection penetrating therein formed on the side contact surfaces of the two bodies forming the stopper to prevent one from being separated from the other may also comprise them, with the shoulder being in the slot and said projection forming the stop, which, if it is peripheral, may have a wedge-shaped notch, the step of which forms the said stop.
[0011] These and other features will be better understood from the following detailed description, to facilitate which there are provided two sheets of drawings in which two embodiments given only as a non-limiting example of the scope of the present invention have been shown.
[0012] In the drawings:
Figure 1 is an elevation view of the upper portion of a flask closed with the stopper of the invention in section, and a key disposed thereon;
Figure 2 is a plan view in cross section of the neck of the flask of Figure 1 along the line II-II thereof;
Figure 3 is an elevation view of the top of a flask closed with the stopper in section, in the case in which it may be closed without tool;
Figure 4 is a detail of the stopper of Figure 3 along the line IV thereof;
Figure 5 is a cross section plan view of the stopper along the line V-V of Figure 3; and
Figure 6 is a further detail of the stopper, on a larger scale, along the line VI of Figure 3.
[0013] According to Figures 1 and 2, the stopper shown is formed by two caps 1 and 2, the former being larger and engaged over the second one on which it may rotate freely but without being able to be separated therefrom, because the outer surface of said body 2 has a peripheral wedge-shaped projection 3 which engages in an also peripheral slot 4 of the same shape on the inner side surface of the body 1.
[0014] The body 1, which may externally have any shape further to the one shown, is provided at the top thereof with an aperture 5 allowing the passage of a portion 6 of a key 7 which will engage in an upper external chase 8 of the body 2 to manipulate it on the threaded neck C of the flask F, to screw it thereon or unscrew it therefrom, the said body 2 having for this purpose a threaded inner surface, the thread form of which will be the suitable one for each container.
[0015] The key 7 shown is of discoid shape, with the edge 9 peripherally knurled for better handling, and a lower central projection forming the said part 6 to be inserted in the chase 8 of the stopper. The key 7 and the said projection 6 and chase 8 may be of any shape deemed to be desirable.
[0016] According to Figures 3 to 6, the body 1 of the stopper has at the top on the inner surface thereof around the aperture 5 allowing access of the part of the operating key or tool to the external upper chase 8 of the body 2, three equidistantly spaced shoulders 10 which, when the body 1 rotates, will abut against the corresponding teeth 11 provided in a peripheral channel 12 of the external surface of the body 2, pulling the latter along only when screwing the stopper on the pertinent flask F, since said shoulders 10 and teeth 11 are provided with respective recesses 10' and 11' in the respective contact areas when the stopper is unscrewed from the neck C of said flask F, causing one to slide over the other without pulling it along.
[0017] The peripheral slot 4 in which the projection 3 preventing separation of the two stopper bodies is inserted, may be slightly wider than the said projection 3 with the excess space being on the underside, to allow the shoulder 10 to ride over the tooth 11 where the stopper material is only slightly resilient or completely non-resilient, and provided always that said shoulder and tooth are in the top of the stopper, as shown in the example.
[0018] Also, the shoulder and the tooth may also be arranged on the side contact surfaces of the two stopper bodies, being included in the slot 4 and projection 3 (as shown in Figure 6) or away from them, with the shoulder projecting from said slot 4, shown here with the reference 10a, while the function of the tooth will be performed by the shoulder 11'a of a wedge-shaped notch lla formed on the peripheral projection 3.
1.- A security stopper, of the type screwed on the necks (C) of bottles, flasks (F) and
other containers, characterized in that it comprises two caplike bodies (1,2) of which
one body (1) is larger and is attached over the other body (2), which is housed inside
the larger one (1) and is the one having the inner side surface threaded for fitting
to the neck (C) of the pertinent container (F), said bodies having on one of their
side contact surfaces at least one projection (3) which is inserted in a peripheral
slot (4) of the other and allows the larger body (1) to rotate about the smaller one
(2), while at the same time preventing separation therefrom, which body comprises
externally an upper chase (8) for manipulation, by a key (7) or convenient tool, through
an upper aperture (5) of the larger body (1).
2.- The security stopper of claim 1, wherein one (1) of said two bodies (1, 2) has at
least one shoulder (10, 10a) in at least one of its contact surfaces with the other
which, by operation on the outer body (1) of the stopper to screw it on the neck (C)
of the container (F), will abut the corresponding stop (11, 11'a) provided on the
contact surface of the other body (2) facing the former, with the said outer body
(1) pulling the inner body (2) with the said action alone, whereby the key (7) or
tool will not be required, which will still be necessary to unscrew the stopper, since
at least the shoulder (10, 10a) has, for this action, a recess (10') in the area of
contact with the stopper (11) causing it to slide thereover, preventing the said pulling
along and consequent unscrewing of the stopper.
3.- The security stopper of claim 2, wherein said stop (11) is located within a peripheral
channel (12) on the corresponding contact surface of one (2) of the two bodies (1,
2) forming the stopper, with the shoulder (10) of the contact surface of the other
body (1) facing it inserted in the said slot (12), which aids for a perfect pull of
the inner body (2) of the stopper by the outer body (1) by means of said stop (11)
and shoulder (10).
4.- The security stopper of claim 2, wherein the shoulder (10a) and the stop (11'a) are
comprised in the peripheral slot (4) and the corresponding projection (3) penetrating
therein of the side contact surfaces between the two bodies (1, 2) forming the stopper
to prevent one body from being separated from the other.