Closure with a safety seal

Abstract

 The invention relates to a plug (1) specifically designed for citrus juice or citrus based product juice vessels comprising a plug covering portion (5) for closing the plug (1) at the top thereof, said portion (5) being connected to the plug by a tearable element (4) projecting from the plug contour. The plug (1) is rigid with a cylindric body (3), arranged inside the volume defined by the plug, so as to define a first annular gap (6) in which the neck of the vessel is engaged by a plug-in type of engagement. A second annular gap (10) cooperating with a circular ridge (12) is arranged inside the first annular gap (6), said second annular gap (10) being designed for receiving an essential oil or like aromatic substance holding dispenser (8), which forms a single body with the plug (1) and is provided with a channel coaxial (9) with the juice exiting hole (15).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a plug, specifically designed for citrus juice or citrus based product juice vessels, provided with a safety seal.

[0002] Conventional drinking products obtained from citrus fruits or the like are usually available in packages provided with plugs, which are generally made of plastic materials.

[0003] In particular, a first type of plug for the above mentioned application is a so-called screw-like plug.

[0004] While a plug of this first type can be easily used by a consumer, it, however, does not include therein any safety or anti-tampering elements for allowing the consumer to easily detect a tampered condition of the juice vessel.

[0005] A second type of plug comprises a plug-in connection plug element, i.e. a plug which is bayonet coupled to the vessel.

[0006] These plugs, however, have the problem that they, for accessing the vessel contents, must be cut or perforated by the consumer, in order to allow the fruit juice to be poured from the vessel, which requires very complex cutting and/or perforating operations by using pointed and cutting tools which may damage the consumer.

[0007] Moreover, with respect to the above mentioned citrus juices and, in particular, lemon juices, the vessel holding said juices is conventionally provided with an additional small vessel, or dispensing element, holding therein an essential lemon oil or a natural lemon aromatic oil.

[0008] This lemon essential or aromatic oil, as the juice is consumed, is mixed with the juice by causing said oil to pass through a small hole formed in the dispenser element, thereby providing the juice with an aroma or fragrance analogous to those of a fresh lemon juice.

[0009] However, in prior plugs including dispensing elements for dispensing essential oils, the dispensing element is built-in in the neck of the vessel, thereby, as the plug is removed or screwed off, the dispensing element will be held at a position in which the lemon juice channel is left uncovered.

[0010] This condition would allow an ill-intentioned person to introduce, e.g. by using a syringe, a poisonous liquid into the vessel as an act of industrial sabotage.

[0011] Thus, from the above discussion, it would be apparent that a plug, in particular for citrus juice or citrus based product juice vessels, including means for overcoming the above mentioned problems, would be very desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide such a plug, specifically designed for application to citrus juice vessels, which is very safe in operation.

[0013] Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide a plug for citrus juice vessels which can be easily opened and used by a consumer.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a plug which can be used in a broad range of applications, and also in vessels provided with dispensing or metering elements.

[0015] According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a plug, for citrus juice or citrus based product juice vessels, comprising a covering portion designed for closing the top of the plug, characterized in that said covering portion is connected to the plug by a tearable element projecting from the plug contour, and that a cylindric body is rigidly formed with said plug, said cylindric body being arranged in the volume defined by said plug, and forming a first annular gap in which a neck portion of said vessel is engaged by a plug-in type of connection.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cylindric body arranged in the volume defined by said plug forms, in cooperation with a circular ridge, a second annular gap, inside said first annular gap, and designed for receiving therein a dispensing element holding an essential oil or like aromatic substance, said dispensing element forming a single body with said plug.

[0017] Moreover, the essential oil dispensing element is provided with a channel coaxial with the juice exiting hole.

[0018] The plug for citrus juice vessels according to the present invention has the following advantages.

[0019] At first, the first opening of the plug will be clearly indicated by the fact that the tearable projecting element would have been torn or removed, thereby the opening of the plug can be easily detected.

[0020] Secondly, the plug can be opened and reclosed, as the product is consumed in subsequent times, in a very simple manner, without the need of using tools.

[0021] Moreover, if the plug includes therein the mentioned dispensing element, it will allow to form a single body of the dispensing element and plug which can be split or separated only by cutting the plug thereby leaving clear tampering marks.

[0022] Moreover, in the inventive plug system, the aromatic substance is metered in proportion to the exiting juice, thereby also the end droplets of the juice can be mixed with the aromatic substance, thereby providing the product with a constant aromatic quality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Further advantages and characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following disclosure, given by way of an illustrative but not limitative example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the plug for citrus juice vessels according to the present invention, in an opened position thereof;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the plug for citrus juice vessels according to the invention, in a closed position thereof;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the plug according to the present invention, including an essential oil dispensing element, in an opened position thereof;

Figure 4 is a further cross-sectional view of the plug of Figure 3, in a closed condition thereof; and

Figure 5 is a side view of a citrus juice vessel including the plug according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] In the following disclosure, reference will be made to some preferred embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated by a not limitative example of the possible variations of the invention.

[0025] The plug according to the invention, generally indicated by the reference number 1, comprises a covering portion 5 designed for closing the plug 1 at the top thereof.

[0026] In the closing condition of the plug 1, as clearly shown in Figure 2, the covering portion 5 is coupled to the plug by a coupling element 4 which can be removed by tearing and which projects from the contour of the plug 1.

[0027] The tearable element 4 is moreover provided with sealing points sealing it to the plug 1 and to the plug covering portion 5, said sealing points being torn off during the first opening of the vessel 13, thereby allowing the element 4 to operate as a safety seal for the vessel 13.

[0028] Upon tearing, the covering portion 5 can be rotated about a sealing line 14 connecting said covering portion 5 to the plug 1, and arranged opposite to the element 4, thereby allowing the vessel 13 to be easily opened for drinking the contents thereof.

[0029] Moreover, as shown, the projecting element 4 is slightly slanted with respect to the edge or rim of the plug 1, thereby said element can be clearly seen.

[0030] The covering portion 5 of the plug 1 is provided with a peg 7, which, at the closing condition of the plug 1, will engage in a corresponding hole 15 therethrough the citrus juice is poured.

[0031] At the bottom of the plug 1 is provided a cylindric body 3, arranged inside the volume of the plug 1, and defining a first annular gap 6, in which the neck of the vessel 13 is plugged-in.

[0032] This system would allow the plug to be firmly connected to the vessel 13.

[0033] Moreover, the cylindric body 3, arranged in the volume defined by the plug 1 forms, in cooperation with a circular ridge or rib 12, a second annular gap 10, inside said first annular gap 6, which can be used for engaging therein a dispensing or metering element 8, which holds herein an essential oil or like aromatic substance.

[0034] Thus, a plug-dispensing element system is provided, constituting a single body, and which can be tampered only by tampering operations which will be immediately detected by the consumer.

[0035] With reference to Figures 3-4, it should be apparent that the essential oil dispensing element 8 is provided with a channel 9 coaxial with the hole 15 for pouring the citrus juice.

[0036] Thus, the provision of said essential oil, will allow the product to have the aroma and fragrance of the fresh juice and, as the juice is sprayed, in the channel 9 and hole 15 a negative pressure will be formed, which will also compel the aromatic substance to exit a small hole (not shown) formed in the dispensing element 8.

[0037] Since the plug 1 and dispensing element 8 form a single body, the metering of the aromatic substance will be proportional to the juice being poured, thereby even the last juice droplets can be mixed with the aromatic substance, thereby providing the product being consumed with a constant aromatic quality.

[0038] The plug 1 can be used, as stated, with citrus juice vessels, in particular, but not exclusively, with lemon juice or orange juice vessels, or with vessels containing other type of citrus juices.

[0039] As the dispensing element 8 is used, said dispensing or metering element will hold therein, as it should be apparent, the essential or aromatic oil of the corresponding citrus fruit.

[0040] Finally, alternately to the lemon juice, it would be also possible to use a so-called acidulating product, comprising water, lemon juice, citric acid and C vitamin, by associating it to a lemon or lemon aroma essential oil, held in the dispensing element 8.

Claims

1. A plug, for citrus juice or citrus based product juice vessels, comprising a covering portion designed for closing the top of the plug, characterized in that said covering portion is connected to the plug by a tearable element projecting from the plug contour, and that a cylindric body is rigidly formed with said plug, said cylindric body being arranged in the volume defined by said plug, and forming a first annular gap in which a neck portion of said vessel is engaged by a plug-in type of connection.

2. A plug, for citrus juice or citrus based product juice vessels, according to Claim 1, characterized in that said tearable element is provided with sealing spots sealing said tearable element to said plug and said plug covering portion.

3. A plug, for citrus juice or citrus based product juice vessels, according to Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said plug covering portion may be rotated about a plug sealing line, said sealing line being opposite to said seal.

4. A plug, for citrus juice or citrus based product juice vessels, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plug covering portion is provided with a peg which, at a plug closing position, engages in a corresponding hole therethrough the juice is poured.

5. A plug, for citrus juice or citrus based product juice vessels, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cylindric body inside said volume defined by said plug defines, in cooperation with a circular ridge, a second annular gap, arranged inside said first annular gap, said second annular gap being adapted to receive an essential oil or like aromatic substance holding dispensing element, said dispensing element forming a single body with said plug.

6. A plug, for citrus juice or citrus based product juice vessels, according to Claim 5, characterized in that said essential oil dispensing element is provided with a channel coaxial with said juice exiting hole.

Drawing