SAFETY SYSTEM FOR REMOVING BOTTLE CAPS

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a safety system for the ejection of bottle caps, in particular bottles containing carbonated or sparkling beverages with such an internal pressure that the bottle cap may be ejected in an unintentional or otherwise uncontrolled way.STATE OF THE ART

[0002] As known, bottles containing pressurised beverages, such as carbonated or sparkling liquids, e.g. Champagne, Prosecco and sparkling wines in general, may experience increases in the pressure of the liquid therein as a result, for example, of a rise in the external temperature and / or shaking of the bottle itself.

[0003] This increase in pressure may lead to unintentional ejection of the closing cap of the bottle.

[0004] To overcome this problem, in some types of bottles the cap is retained in the bottle itself by certain safety devices, such as a metal cage or a string of twine, or similar material.

[0005] These known safety devices make it possible to hold the cap in its original position, but cannot prevent unintentional ejection of the cap from the bottle once the safety device has been removed.

[0006] Not only, even when the user is about to open the bottle, it often happens that the pressure of the liquid therein causes an abrupt and uncontrolled opening of the bottle, with the cap being ejected forcefully.

[0007] Such unintentional and / or uncontrolled ejection of the cap from the bottle, after the removal of the safety device, may even cause permanent damage to the person impacted, since, according to some studies, the ejected cap can reach speeds of up to 80 Km / h. In fact, accidents and injuries caused by the unintentional escape of the cap from the bottle are well known in the news, with damages in particular to the subject's eye, which have also led to loss of sight, and even complications leading to death.

[0008] The problem of injuries caused by an unintentional ejection of the cap from the bottle is so strongly felt in the European community that it was even discussed in a European Parliament question (see "Written Question E-6680 / 09 by Wim van de Camp (EPP)").

[0009] On that occasion, it was pointed out, first of all, that the number of people injured by an unintentional ejection of bottle caps, in particular of bottles containing Champagne, is higher than the number of victims due to an unintentional use of fireworks, and that the European Commission should take action to adopt consumer protection measures to reduce the number of accidents and victims of such incidents.

[0010] Earlier documents EP1953093 and DE2200857 disclose various retaining elements to prevent the cap from being ejected in an unintentional and / or uncontrolled way and causing damage to persons or property after it has been ejected from the bottle.

[0011] However, none of these earlier documents teach the use of safety systems capable of absorbing the tearing force of the cap during ejection, retaining the cap but at the same time dissipating the tearing force caused by the kinetic energy of the cap itself, limiting the force of impact against objects and / or persons but also the subsequent return, or rebound, of the cap towards the bottle and the hand of the person holding it.

[0012] Document US4513870 discloses a safety system according to the preamble of claim 1.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In light of the above, the task of the present invention is to create a safety system for the ejection of bottle caps that overcomes the limits of the prior art making it possible to limit the maximum distance between the cap and the bottle after the escape process, so as to avoid any possible impact with persons close to the bottle.

[0014] In the context of this task, the object of the present invention is also to create a safety system for the ejection of bottle caps that may reduce the speed at which the cap escapes from the bottle, and thus the danger of unintentional ejection of the cap from the bottle.

[0015] A further object of the invention is to create a bottle cap ejection safety system that is able to provide the broadest guarantees of reliability and safety in use.

[0016] Yet another object of the invention is to create a safety system for the ejection of bottle caps that is easy to manufacture and economically competitive if compared to the prior art.

[0017] The task set forth above, as well as the objects mentioned and others that will better appear later, are achieved by a safety system for the ejection of bottle caps according to claim 1.

[0018] Other features are provided in the dependent claims.LIST OF FIGURES

[0019] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the exemplary but non-limiting description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated with the aid of the attached drawings in which: Figure 1 represents a perspective view of an embodiment of a safety system for the ejection of bottle caps, according to the invention; Figure 2 represents an enlargement of Figure 1; Figure 3 represents a side section view of the invention illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 4 represents a perspective view of a component of the invention of Figure 1; Figures 5 to 7 represent three side section views of the invention, illustrating the removal of the cap from the bottle, according to a first variant; Figures 8 to 10 represent three side section views of the invention, illustrating the removal of the cap from the bottle, according to a second variant; Figure 11 shows a schematic view of the retaining element configured as a chain with a plurality of rings of a substantially circular shape, at a time of maximum extension of the retaining element; Figure 12 shows the chain retaining element of Figure 11 after it has plastically deformed, with the rings having deformed and having a substantially elongated, oval shape. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] With particular reference to Figures 1 to 4, the safety system for the ejection of bottle caps, globally indicated by reference number 1, is applicable to a bottle 70 comprising a respective cap 60 and containing pressurised beverages.

[0021] Such a safety system 1 further comprises at least one flexible retaining element 40 with a first end 500, constrained to the neck of the bottle 70, and a second end 300, opposite the first end 500 and constrained to the cap 60 of the bottle 70. The flexible connecting element 40 is configured to limit the maximum receding distance of the cap 60 from the bottle 70 at the end of the ejection process of the cap 60 from the bottle 70.

[0022] According to the invention, such a retaining element 40 is plastically deformable so as to dissipate, and thereby reduce, the tearing force given by the pressure ejection of the cap 60 from the bottle 70. Part of the kinetic energy is spent in the plastic deformation of the retaining element 40, as it may be seen by way of example in Figures 11 and 12, which show a retaining element initially shaped like a chain with substantially circular rings that take on a deliberately oval, elongated shape as a result of the plastic deformation which, in addition to retaining the cap by limiting its movement, dissipates at least part of the kinetic energy by preventing the rebound of the cap from hitting the user with force.

[0023] The retaining element 40 increases its overall length as a result of the plastic deformation, and the ejection energy of the cap is absorbed in the plastic deformation of the rings, thus avoiding the annoying rebound of the cap as a result of uncontrolled ejection.

[0024] Preferably, this flexible retaining element 40 is a filiform element, such as a chain, having a length in extension L corresponding to the maximum receding distance of the cap 60, following the pressure ejection from the bottle 70, from the first end 500 constrained to the bottle 70.

[0025] Preferably, the first end 500 of the retaining element 40 is constrained to the bottle 70 by means of a ring 50 positioned on the neck of the bottle 70. More preferably, the first end 500 of the connecting element 40 is constrained to the bottle 70 by means of a hook 5 attached to the ring 50.

[0026] Preferably, the ring 50 placed on the bottle 70 may be configured so that it can be easily removed in order to separate the various materials for separate waste disposal (glass, metal, etc.), if required.

[0027] Preferably, the second end 300 of the flexible retaining element 40 is constrained to a pin 30, inserted into the hemispherical part of the cap 60, which is external to the bottle 70.

[0028] More preferably, this second end 300 of the flexible retaining element 40 comprises a hook 3 attached to the pin 30.

[0029] The pin 30, inserted in the semi-spherical part of the cap 60, may also be configured so that it can be easily removed in order to separate the various materials for selectively waste disposal (glass, metal, etc.), if required.

[0030] The safety system 1 may comprise a plurality of flexible retaining elements 40. For example, two or more filiform elements, associated with a same ring 50 and appropriately attached to the cap 60, may be provided.

[0031] Preferably, the safety system 1 for the ejection of bottle caps comprises at least one vent channel 20, 64 configured to put in fluid communication the internal volume of the bottle 70, containing the pressurised fluid, with the environment outside the bottle 70 when the bottle cap 60 is partially disengaged from the neck of the bottle 70, during the process of ejection of the bottle cap 60 from the bottle 70.

[0032] In particular, as illustrated in the sequence of Figures 5 to 7, or 8 to 10, the cap 60 is partially disengaged from the neck of the bottle 70 when it is in an intermediate position between the completely closed one and the completely removed one, illustrated in particular in Figures 6 and 9.

[0033] The communication of the fluid inside the bottle 70 with the environment outside the bottle 70, thanks to the vent channel 20, 64, makes it possible to reduce the pressure of the fluid contained in the bottle 70. This reduction in pressure leads to a lower ejection rate of the cap 60 from the bottle 70, and thus to a lower danger of unintentional, or intentional, ejection of the cap 60 from the bottle 70.

[0034] According to a first variant, illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, the vent channel 20 comprises a through-hole 21 formed in the neck of the bottle 70. In particular, the through-hole 21 is formed at a point on the side surface of the bottle 70 in the correspondence with internal seat 700 wherein the cap 60 is inserted. This vent channel 20 is configured to reduce the pressure of the fluid contained in the bottle 70 by means of the connection with the outside of the bottle 70 during the ejection process of the cap 60 from its internal seat 700 of the bottle 70, as explained in detail below with particular reference to Figures 5 to 7.

[0035] Figure 5 shows, in fact, the cap 60 fully inserted into the internal seat 700 of the respective bottle 70. In this configuration, the cap 60 totally interposes itself between the vent channel 20 and the fluid contained in the bottle 70, not enabling fluid communication of the fluid contained in the bottle 70 with the environment outside the bottle 70, and thus keeping the fluid itself contained in the bottle 70 under pressure.

[0036] Figure 6 represents an intermediate step of the process of ejecting the cap 60 from the bottle 70. In particular, in this step the lower end of the cap 60, during the outward movement of the bottle 70, no longer completely interposes itself between the vent channel 20 and the fluid contained in the bottle 70, enabling an incremental fluid communication of the fluid contained in the bottle 70 with the outside environment. In this step, the pressure of the fluid contained in the bottle 70 begins to decrease due to the fact that the lower end of the cap 60 no longer obstructs the vent channel 20.

[0037] The maximum decrease in the internal pressure of the fluid contained in the bottle 70 occurs when the lower end of the cap 60 does not interpose at any point with the channel 20, as represented in Figure 7.

[0038] This solution therefore makes it possible to significantly reduce the ejection speed of the cap 60 from the bottle 70, thus further limiting its dangerousness.

[0039] According to a second variant, shown in Figures 8 to 10, the vent channel 64 is formed in the cap 60, and preferably comprises at least one conduit 10, 15 passing through the cap 60 from its lower surface to its side surface.

[0040] Preferably, the vent channel 64 comprises a pair of conduits 10, 15 in communication with each other, where a first conduit 15 faces the lower surface of the cap 60 and a second conduit 10 faces the side surface of the cap 60.

[0041] This vent channel 64 is configured to reduce the pressure of the liquid contained in the bottle 70 by connecting the liquid contained in the bottle 70, thanks to the conduit 15, with the outside of the bottle 70, thanks to the conduit 10, during the process of ejecting the cap 60 from its internal seat 700 of the bottle 70, as explained in detail below.

[0042] Figure 8 represents in fact the cap 60 fully inserted into the internal seat 700 of the respective bottle 70. In this configuration, the neck of the bottle 70 closes the end of the second conduit 10, thus totally interdicting the fluid communication of the fluid contained in the bottle 70 with the outside environment, keeping the fluid inside the bottle 70 under pressure.

[0043] Figure 9 represents an intermediate step in the process of ejection of the cap 60 from the bottle 70, in particular when the second conduit 10 is totally external to the bottle 70, allowing, through also the first conduit 15, the total fluid communication of the fluid contained in the bottle 70 with the environment outside the bottle 70. In this intermediate step, the cap 60 has not completely left its internal seat 700, but the pressure of the fluid contained in the bottle 70 may be reduced thanks to the vent channel 64.

[0044] Figure 10 represents the final state of complete ejection of the cap 60 from the internal seat 700 of the bottle 70. In this state, thanks to the presence of the channel 64, the internal pressure of the fluid contained in the bottle 70 has already sensibly decreased, leading to a reduced ejection speed of cap 60, thus limiting its dangerousness.

[0045] Preferably, the at least one conduit 10, 15 formed in the cap 60 of the bottle 70 may incorporate reinforcing elements, such as, for example, tubes made of a rigid material, configured to maintain the internal cross-section of the at least one conduit 10, 15 unchanged even after the forced insertion of the cap 60 into the bottle 70, thereby resisting the compression generated by the smashing undergone by the cap 60 when it is inserted into the bottle 70.

[0046] In practice, it has been found that the safety system for the ejection of bottle caps according to the present invention fulfils the task as well as the intended objects in that it allows to limit the maximum receding distance between the cap and the bottle when it is unintentionally or intentionally ejected, so as to avoid any possible impact with subjects or objects placed along the cap ejection trajectory.

[0047] Another advantage of the safety system for the ejection of bottle caps according to the invention is that it reduces the speed at which the cap escapes from the bottle, and thus the danger of unintentional cap ejection from the bottle.

[0048] The safety system for the ejection of bottle caps thus conceived is susceptible to several modifications and variants all within the scope of the inventive concept, which is solely defined by the appended claims.

[0049] Furthermore, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practice, any materials can be used according to requirements, as long as they are compatible with the specific use, the dimensions and the contingent shapes.

Claims

1. Safety system (1) for the ejection of bottle caps, applicable to a bottle (70) comprising a respective cap (60) and containing pressurised beverages, further comprising at least one flexible retaining element (40) comprising a first end (500) constrained to the neck of said bottle (70) and a second end (300) opposite said first end (500) constrained to the cap (60) of said bottle (70), said flexible connecting element (40) being configured to limit the maximum receding distance of said cap (60) from said bottle (70) as a result of the pressure ejection of said cap (60) from said bottle (70), said retaining element (40) being configured to plastically deform as a result of the pressure ejection of said cap (60) from said bottle (70), so as to reduce and absorb the tearing force given by the pressure ejection of said cap (60) from said bottle (70), characterised in that said retaining element (40) is a chain formed, in a first non-deformed condition, by a plurality of rings having a substantially circular shape, adapted to plastically deform by taking on an elongated shape as a result of the application of the tearing force given by the pressure ejection of said cap (60) from said bottle (70).

2. Safety system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the tearing force given by the pressure ejection of said cap (60) from said bottle (70) is dissipated in the plastic deformation of said retaining element (40).

3. Safety system (1) according to claim 1, wherein said flexible retaining element (40) is a filiform element having a length L corresponding to said maximum receding distance.

4. Safety system (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a ring (50), positioned on the neck of said bottle (70), wherein said first end (500) of said at least one flexible retaining element (40) is constrained to said ring (50).

5. Safety system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said first end (500) of said at least one flexible retaining element (40) comprises a hook (5) attached to said ring (50).

6. Safety system (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a pin (30), inserted into said cap (60), wherein said second end (300) of said at least one flexible retaining element (40) is constrained to said pin (30).

7. Safety system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said second end (300) of said at least one flexible retaining element (40) comprises a hook (3) attached to said pin (30).

8. Safety system (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises at least one vent channel (20, 64) configured to put in fluid communication the internal volume of said bottle (70) with the environment outside said bottle (70) when said cap (60) is partially disengaged from said neck of said bottle (70).

9. Safety system (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said vent channel (20, 64) comprises a through hole (21) formed in the neck of the bottle (70).

10. Safety system (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that said vent channel (20, 64) comprises at least one conduit (10, 15) formed in said cap (60) so as to pass through said cap (60) from its lower surface to its side surface.

11. Bottle (70) comprising a respective cap (60) and containing pressurized beverages, characterised by comprising a safety system (1) for ejecting caps as recited in one or more of the preceding claims.