[0001] The stopper is provided with a non-refillable mechanism; formed by a pourer, a valve,
and a valve seat or gasket, which allow the liquid out but not the entrance of the
same.
[0002] A tube that forms one single piece with the non-refillable mechanism when it is joined
to the base of the pourer by ultrasonic welding or using glue. The tube has on its
inner cylindrical surface, a series of angled anchors that lodge themselves in a band
on the bottleneck and which does not allow the stopper to be removed once it has been
placed on the bottle. On the inner cylindrical surface of the tube, a series of ribs
have been designed that avoid the spinning of the stopper when it is placed on the
bottle, by being set against a series of teardrops on the bottleneck.
[0003] This invention constitutes a stopper improvement for bottles such as those mentioned
in Mexican patents No's 156456, 165266, 171075 and 176414.
SCOPE OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention refers to stoppers for bottles or containers for liquids such as alcoholic
drinks, that require an inviolable top and a non-refillable mechanism that allows
the exit of the liquid from inside the bottle, but does not allow the entrance of
liquid into the bottle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] There exist on the market various designs of inviolable or non-refillable stoppers
or others with both characteristics, that have several faults, which therefore do
not fully meet the need, more and more important, to protect the contents of bottles
and guarantee to the consumer that the bottle has not been refilled or the original
liquid of the bottle tampered with.
[0006] The objective of the invention is to get over these faults and provide the bottler
with a stopper that meets the requirements of having an inviolable screwtop combined
with a non-refillable mechanism.
[0007] The design of the screwtop guarantees that, once it has been placed on the bottle,
it cannot be unscrewed without removing the lower ring which breaks into two parts,
making it obvious that it has been opened and due to the fact that it has a superimposed
top of a different color to the screwtop so as to make the absence of the ring more
obvious.
[0008] In order to assure an airtight seal, a central shank has been placed inside the stopper
which presses the valve against the valve seat resulting in the first seal and a circular
vertical surface which presses the perimeter of the liquid-exit cavity in the pourer,
forming the second seal.
[0009] In order to avoid that the stopper can be removed from the bottleneck, the tube for
molded using a thermoplastic resin with high heat resistance, such as ABS (acrylo-nitrile-butadienestyrene)
or polycarbonate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] This invention refers to a particular design of stoppers for liquids, of an inviolable
and non-refillable nature. The non-refillable characteristic is achieved by means
of a mechanism that consists of a valve seat or gasket, a valve, and a pourer. This
mechanism allows the liquid out of the bottle and avoids the entrance of the liquid
into the bottle.
[0011] When the liquid is poured, the valve separates itself from the seat and when it is
attempted to refill the bottle, the valve blocks the access to the inside of the bottle.
To prevent the valve from sticking to the valve seat, a vertical shank has been placed
on the inside of the top which ends in a crosshead which is introduced into an angled
vertical cavity in the valve which makes the valve turn when the top is unscrewed.
[0012] A tube that forms the lower exterior surface of the stopper is manufactured from
highly resistant and flexible thermoplastic resins, with the purpose of preventing
the removal of the stopper from the bottleneck for its refilling and later replacement
of the stopper in its original position. The upper interior part of the tube has a
series of angled anchors that allow it to be slipped onto the bottleneck and which
lodge themselves on a band of the bottle, which prevents the stopper from being removed
once it has been placed on the bottleneck. The tube also has on the inside surface,
a series of vertical ribs that when set against the teardrops on the bottleneck, avoid
the stopper from spinning when placed on the bottle. The pourer is secured to the
upper inside surface of the tube by welding both parts ultrasonically or by using
a glue, which firmly fixes the non-refillable mechanism to the tube.
[0013] To achieve an airtight seal, the interior of the top has been provided with a circular
vertical shank which ends in the form of a cross that presses the valve against the
seat and at the same time makes the valve turn when the top is unscrewed by introducing
the crosshead into an angled cavity in the valve. A second seal is achieved by means
of a vertical cylindrical surface in the top which comes into close contact with the
vertical exterior wall of the pourer through which the liquid comes out of the bottle,
blocking this exit.
[0014] The screwtop has a ring on its lower outside surface, adhered to the upper body of
the top by means of several small ribs or bridges that are broken when the top is
unscrewed for the first time as the ring has a series of angled teeth on its inside
surface which allow the top to be screwed on and prevent the ring from turning when
the top is unscrewed, by hooking onto other set of teeth at an opposite molded into
the pourer, at the level of the top's ring.
[0015] The vertical cylindrical body of the top has a smaller diameter than the ring with
the objective of placing a superimposed top with the same diameter as the ring, giving
the possibility that when the top is molded in a different color to the superimposed
top, the ring is more noticeable and when the top is removed the absence of the ring
is more obvious.
[0016] The sets of teeth on the ring and pourer, by being angled allow the top to be screwed
onto the pourer, but prevent the ring from turning when the top is unscrewed as the
angle of the two sets of teeth are opposed, which causes the small bridges or ribs
to break when the body of the top is turned further. In this way, the inviolable characteristic
of the stopper is achieved.
[0017] The upper inside part of the pourer has a concentric cylinder whose purpose is to
guide the movement of the valve along the vertical axis of the top, when the liquid
is poured out. On its exterior vertical cylindrical surface, the pourer has a thread
with two entrances onto which the top is screwed.
[0018] The upper inside part of the valve seat or gasket has a cylinder with rings on the
outer vertical surface, which fit on the lower cylindrical surface of the pourer and
form an airtight seal. The lower surface of the valve seat or gasket has been provided
with a series of rings that form an airtight seal with the inside of the bottleneck
when the stopper is placed on the bottle.
[0019] The central part of the valve seat or gasket has a vertical shank which enters into
a cavity on the lower part of the valve and which has the purpose of guiding the valve
during its movement along the vertical axis of the stopper. The valve seat or gasket
also has a horizontal ring in the center which acts as a valve seat and forms an airtight
seal when the valve is pressed by the shank on the stopper, preventing the passage
of liquid through the central cavity in the valve seat or gasket.
[0020] The novelty, as well as the singular characteristics of this invention and its workings,
will be better understood by referring to the description of the pieces by means of
the attached drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a cross section of the non-refillable/inviolable stopper assembled with
all its parts and which is shown placed on the neck of the bottle or container.
Figure 2 is a cross section and plan view of the superimposed top.
Figure 3 is a cross section and plan view of the inviolable screwtop.
Figure 4 is a cross section and plan view of the pourer.
Figure 5 is a cross section and plan view of the valve.
Figure 6 is a cross section and plan view of the valve seat or gasket.
Figure 7 is a cross section and plan view of the tube.
Figure 8 is a cross section and plan view of the bottleneck.
[0021] With reference to Figure 1, this shows the superimposed top "A"; the top "B"; the
pourer "C"; the valve "D"; the valve seat or gasket "E"; the tube "F"; and the bottleneck
"G".
[0022] Figure 2 shows the superimposed top "A" that has a vertical wall 1 which may have
a series of grooves 2 to better secure the superimposed top "A". The inside vertical
wall 1 has a series of vertical ribs 3, which end in angles 4 which are lodged between
the vertical ribs 12 (see figure 3), located on the upper exterior wall 14 of the
screwtop "B". The object of these vertical ribs 3 and 12 is to join the superimposed
top "A" to the top "B" so that both parts turn together. The lower part of the vertical
cylinder 1 of the superimposed top "A" ends in a horizontal ring 6 which had a series
of braids 5 on its inner face which join between another series of braids 17 on the
lower horizontal cylindrical surface 14 with the object of assembling the superimposed
top "A" with the top "B" and prevent the separation of the two parts. The lower horizontal
cylindrical surface 7 of the top "A" makes contact with the upper cylindrical surface
of the ring 20 of the top "B".
[0023] The cylindrical surface 14 of top "B" has on its inside a helicoidal thread 2 entrances
18, which screws onto the thread of the pourer "C" in figure 4.
[0024] Figure 3 of the horizontal surface 8 shows the vertical shank 13 which ends in the
form of a crosshead 16 and which has the object of pressing the valve "D" on the horizontal
circular surface 38 and at the same time the valve blocks the cavity 53 in the valve
seat or gasket "E" (see figure 6) by the angled surfaces 41 and 42 of the valve "D"
being placed into contact with the horizontal circular ring 47 of the valve seat or
gasket "E". The crosshead 16 of the shank 13 is introduced into the upper cavity 37
of the valve "D" and has the object of turning the valve "D" when the top "B" is turned,
due to the fact that the vertical wall 39 of the cavity 37 is lightly angled so that
the crosshead which has a greater diameter, makes contact with the vertical wall 39
of the valve "D". When the top "B" is screwed on the pourer "C", the circular horizontal
surface 15 of the shank 13, presses valve "D" onto the horizontal circular surface
38 so that the valve "D" blocks the circular hole 53 in the valve seat or gasket "E".
[0025] A second seal is achieved by means of the cylinder 10 of the top "B" which has a
braid 11 that is introduced into the cavity 25 of the pourer "C" and results in an
airtight seal when the braid 11 of the top "B" comes into contact with the vertical
wall 26 of the pourer "C".
[0026] The lower part of the top "B" contains the ring 20 which on its inside face has a
series of angled teeth 19 which join the ring to the vertical wall 14 of the top "B"
and which have the object of allowing the ring 20 to be turned when the top "B" is
screwed onto the pourer "C" but which prevents the turning of the ring 20 when the
top "B" is unscrewed due to the fact that the angled teeth 31 of the pourer "C" hook
on, causing the separation of the teeth 19 from the cylindrical body 14 of the top
"B" and causing the ring 20 to detach, falling off in two parts, due to the fact that
it has two vertical cuts 21.
[0027] As can be appreciated in figure 4, the center of the horizontal surface 23 of the
pourer "C" has a hole 22 through which the shank 13 of the top "B" is introduced.
[0028] The upper part of the pourer "C" has a circular hole 25 through which the liquid
comes out of the inside of the pourer "C". The vertical wall 26 of the pourer "C"
ends in a radius 24 with the aim of returning the liquid to the inside of the pourer
when the pouring has ceased.
[0029] The upper part of the pourer "C" has a vertical cylinder 27 joined to the outer body
by a series of vertical ribs 28 which has the object of guiding the movement of the
valve "D" along the vertical axis of the pourer "C".
[0030] The lower horizontal surface 32 of the pourer "C" has an angled wall 33 which ends
in a horizontal surface 34 which is joined to the horizontal surface 59 of the tube
"F" by ultrasonic welding or using glue. When the pourer "C" is fixed to the tube
"F", the horizontal surface 32 of the pourer "C" is at the height of the horizontal
surface 58 of the tube "F".
[0031] The circular surface 36 of the pourer "C" has a small braid 35 which hooks onto a
series of braids 48 on the vertical surface of the valve seat or gasket "E" and which
result in an airtight seal by joining the pourer "C" to the valve seat or gasket "E".
[0032] The valve seat or gasket "E" has in its center a vertical shank 44 with the wall
45 slightly angled which is introduced into the lower cavity 43 of the valve "D" with
the object of guiding the movement of the valve "D" along its vertical axis. The shank
44 is joined to the vertical cylindrical surface 49 of the valve seat or gasket "E"
by means of the horizontal ribs 54 and form with the cylindrical surface 49 the cavity
53 through which the liquid flows from inside the bottle. The cylindrical surface
49 ends in a horizontal cylindrical surface 47 on which the valve "D" is seated and
which form an airtight seal, with surfaces 41 and 42.
[0033] The valve seat or gasket "E" has a concentric cylinder 46 which prevents the passage
of the liquid with the cylindrical surface 40 of the valve "D" with the objective
of making the top even more non-refillable. When the bottle is inclined for pouring
the liquid, the valve "D" moves along its vertical axis and frees the passage of the
liquid.
[0034] The horizontal surface 51 of the valve seat or gasket "E" has on its inner face a
series of braid 52 which form an airtight seal with horizontal surface 70 of the bottleneck
"G". The vertical cylindrical surface 56 has on its outer face a series of braids
55 which form an airtight seal with the surface 73 of the bottleneck "G".
[0035] The vertical cylindrical surface 56 ends in a radius 57 so as to facilitate the introduction
of the bottleneck "G", which also has a radius 71 for the same purpose.
[0036] The tube "F" has a series of vertical ribs 60 whose purpose is to limit the entrance
of the valve seat or gasket "E" by making contact with the horizontal surface 51.
[0037] In order to fix the tube "F" to the bottleneck "G", a series of angled anchors 62
have been placed which are positioned on the ridge 74 when coming into contact with
the surface 61 of the anchors 62. Due to the fact that the tube is molded from a flexible
material, this allows the angled anchors 62 to slide over the angled surface 72 and
to be placed on the ridge of the bottleneck "G".
[0038] The inner part of the cylindrical surface 67 has a series of vertical ribs 63 and
64 which end in angles 65 and 66 and which are located between the vertical ribs 75
on the bottleneck "G" with the object of preventing the tube "F" from turning when
the top is placed onto the bottleneck "G". In order to guide the positioning of the
tube "F" on the bottleneck "G", a series of vertical ribs 68 have been used which
end in the radii 69. The lower part of the circular surface 67 ends at the height
of the radius 76 of the bottleneck "G", providing a continuous silhouette as they
have the same diameter.
Assembly of the Top
[0039] First of all the non-refillable mechanism is assembled by pressing the valve "D"
into the valve seat or gasket "E" and the pourer "C". Once the mechanism has been
assembled, the lower part of the pourer "C" is joined to the upper part of the tube
"F" by means of ultrasonic welding or by using some kind of glue. The top "B" is assembled
by pressure with the superimposed top "A". Finally, the top "B" is screwed onto the
pourer "C", turning the top "A" until it meets the upper horizontal surface of the
pourer "C".
1. A stopper for bottles or similar containers that consist of a cylindrical tube, a
valve seat or gasket, a valve, a pourer and a inviolable screwtop characterized because
the inside of the tube has a series of anchors that fix the stopper to the bottleneck,
when these anchors are set against a horizontal ridge on the bottleneck; the lower
part of the top has a ring with angled teeth that join it to the body of the top and
which are separated when the top is unscrewed by setting these teeth against another
set on the pourer, causing the ring to fall off and a superimposed top which is placed
on top of the top and which has the same diameter as the lower ring of the top.
2. A stopper for bottles or similar containers, exactly as claimed in clause 1, characterized
because the lower part of the top has a ring joined to the body of the top by a series
of angled teeth which allow the top to be screwed on and which separate from the body
of the top when the top is unscrewed due to the fact that they hook onto a series
of angled teeth on the pourer.
3. A stopper for bottles or similar containers, exactly as claimed in clause 1, characterized
because the top's ring has two or more vertical cuts which separate the ring into
several parts when the ring's angled teeth are separated from the body of the top.
4. A stopper for bottles or similar containers, exactly as claimed in clause 1, characterized
because the superimposed top which is placed on the top has a series of vertical ribs
on the walls to join them together.
5. A stopper for bottles or similar containers, exactly as claimed in clause 1, characterized
because on the horizontal inside wall of the top a ring or skirt is molded that shuts
off the passage of the liquid when it is introduced in a horizontal cavity in the
pourer.
6. A stopper for bottles or similar containers, exactly as claimed in clause 1, characterized
because the top has a vertical central shank that ends in the form of a cross in order
to press the valve against the valve seat or gasket, forming an airtight seal and
because the crosshead enters an angled cavity in the valve, making it turn when the
top is unscrewed, in order to unstick the valve from the valve seat or gasket.
7. A stopper for bottles or similar containers, exactly as claimed in clause 1, characterized
because the pourer has a vertical cylindrical surface in its center which acts as
a guide for the movement of the valve along its vertical axis.
8. A stopper for bottles or similar containers, exactly as claimed in clause 1, characterized
because the pourer has a circular cavity through which the liquid comes out and which
makes it difficult to introduce foreign objects in order to lever the valve out of
its seat, when the bottle is in a vertical position.
9. A stopper for bottles or similar containers, exactly as claimed in clause 1, characterized
because the valve seat or gasket has a series of rings or braids on the upper cylindrical
surface with the purpose of forming an airtight seal with the inner cylindrical surface
of the pourer when both pieces are assembled and which prevents the passage of liquid
between these two surfaces.
10. A stopper for bottles or similar containers, exactly as claimed in clause 1, characterized
because the valve seat or gasket has a cylinder or bolt on the upper central part
which is introduced into the lower cavity in the valve with the object of guiding
the movement of the valve along its vertical axis, when the liquid is poured out from
inside the bottle or container.
11. A stopper for bottles or similar containers, exactly as claimed in clause 1, characterized
because the valve seat or gasket has a series of rings or braids on the upper cylindrical
surface with the purpose of preventing the seat or gasket from being separated from
the pourer, when the rings or braids of the seat are set against the ring or braid
that the pourer has on its inner cylindrical surface.
12. A stopper for bottles or similar containers, exactly as claimed in clause 1, characterized
because the valve seat or gasket has a series of rings or braids on the lower cylindrical
surface with the purpose of forming an airtight seal with the inner cylindrical surface
of the bottle when the top is put on and which prevents the passage of liquid between
these two surfaces.
13. A stopper for bottles or similar containers, exactly as claimed in clause 1, characterized
because the valve forms an airtight seal through the contact of two inclined surfaces
with a circular surface that forms the central hole of the valve seat or gasket.
14. A stopper for bottles or similar containers, exactly as claimed in clause 1, characterized
because the tube has a series of angled anchors on the inner cylindrical surface that
prevent the removal of the stopper from the bottleneck by setting it against a ridge
with a larger diameter than that of the bottleneck.
15. A stopper for bottles or similar containers, exactly as claimed in clause 1, characterized
because the tube has a series of vertical ribs on the inner cylindrical surface that
prevent the stopper from turning with respect to the bottle, when these vertical ribs
are set against several ribs of a larger diameter on the bottle; the lower part of
these vertical ribs terminate in a radius to facilitate the placing of the stopper
on the bottleneck.
16. A stopper for bottles or similar containers, exactly as claimed in clause 1, characterized
because the tube has a series of vertical ribs on the upper cylindrical part that
prevent the valve seat or gasket from moving inside the tube.
17. A stopper for bottles or similar containers, exactly as claimed in clause 1, characterized
because the tube has a radius on its lower cylindrical surface that allows the forming
of a continuous outline with the bottleneck.