Opening / closing device for a container for pourable products

Abstract

Opening / closing device (1) for container (100) or bottle for pourable products, comprising a cap (2), a control ring (3), a hinge (35) for connecting said cap (2) to said control ring (3), said control ring (3) can be combined to a collar (4) at least rotatably about a longitudinal axis (X) between a first angular range (P1), in which said device has not been manipulated, and a second angular range (P2) distinct from said first angular range (P1), in which said device has been manipulated, said cap (2) being movably constrained with respect to said control ring (3) by means of said hinge (35) between a closed position (C), in which the passage of said pourable product through said collar is prevented, and an open position (O), in which the passage of said pourable product through said collar (4) is allowed, said opening / closing device (1) being characterized by comprising a first reference element (39) integrally constrained to said collar and a second reference element (40) integrally constrained to said control ring (3), said second reference element (40) being substantially aligned with said first reference element (39) along said longitudinal axis (X), at least when said control ring (3) is in said first angular range (P1), said device (1) further comprising preventing means to prevent said control ring (3) from returning to said first angular range (P1) after having been rotated for the first time to move from said first angular range (P1) to said second angular range (P2), so that said second reference element (40) stays misaligned with respect to said first reference element (39), said first rotation of said control ring (3) being able to occur only in one rotation direction.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention concerns an opening / closing device for container for pourable products.Known prior art

[0002] According to the known art, there are opening / closing devices for pourable products which comprise an upper cap, a control ring, a hinge for connecting the cap to the control ring. Such device further comprises a collar and a tamper evident element arranged below the control ring in a first position in which such opening / closing device has not been tampered with. Such control ring is combinable at least rotatably with a collar about a longitudinal axis and the cap is rotatable with respect to the control ring about an axis orthogonal to the aforementioned longitudinal axis between a first position, in which the passage of the pourable product through the collar is prevented, and a second position, in which the pourable product is allowed to pass through the collar. Finally, the opening / closing device further comprises means for preventing the rotation of the tamper evident element with respect to the collar when the control ring is rotated for the first time with respect to the collar itself and a plurality of connecting elements between the control ring and the tamper evident element, preferably of the ring-shaped type (in this case known under the English term "tamper evidence ring" or "tamper evident"). These connecting elements comprising, in a known way, frangible bridges which break at the first rotation of the control ring with respect to the collar. Actually, the rotation prevention means, by preventing the rotation of the tamper evident ring with respect to the collar while the control ring is rotated, cause these bridges to break and the subsequent descent of the tamper evident element.

[0003] Unfortunately, in some opening / closing devices, the collar is not very extended in the longitudinal direction, therefore, the tamper evident element is almost close to the control ring, making it difficult for the user to understand if the opening / closing device was actually tampered with.

[0004] Moreover, a device comprising the tamper evident element certainly is complex from a structural point of view since, as stated, it must include means for preventing the rotation of the tamper evident element with respect to the collar.

[0005] Therefore, object of the present invention is to make an opening / closing device for containers for pourable products which allows the user to understand if the container has been opened or not, however decreasing the structural complexity of the devices of the known art which comprise a tamper evident element that separates from the control ring.

[0006] Further object of the present invention is to make an opening / closing device which is anyhow simple to make.Summary of the invention

[0007] The objects mentioned above are achieved thanks to an opening / closing device according to claim 1.

[0008] In particular, such opening / closing device for container or bottle for pourable products comprise a cap, a control ring, a hinge for connecting said cap to said control ring, said control ring can be combined to a collar at least rotatably about a longitudinal axis between a first angular range, in which said device has not been manipulated, and a second angular range distinct from said first angular range, in which said device has been manipulated, said cap being movably constrained with respect to said control ring by means of said hinge between a closed position, in which the passage of said pourable product through said collar is prevented, and an open position, in which the passage of said pourable product through said collar is allowed, said opening / closing device being characterized by comprising a first reference element integrally constrained to said collar and a second reference element integrally constrained to said control ring, said second reference element being substantially aligned with said first reference element along said longitudinal axis, at least when said control ring is in said first angular range, said device further comprising preventing means to prevent said control ring from returning to said first angular range after having been rotated for the first time to move from said first angular range to said second angular range, so that said second reference stays misaligned with respect to said first reference, said first rotation of said control ring being able to occur only in one rotation direction.

[0009] In practice, unlike the devices of the known art, the claimed solution does not provide for the presence of a real tamper evident element which separates, in part or fully, from the control ring, but of a first reference element and a second reference element which are aligned as soon as the device is assembled and which are misaligned as soon as the control ring is rotated for the first time and which also stay misaligned with each other during the subsequent rotations of the control ring due to the presence of the preventing means to prevent said control ring from returning to said first angular range after having been rotated for the first time to move from said first angular range to said second angular range. The user will therefore be able to visibly check, in a simple and immediate way, any opening of the container, i.e. if the opening / closing device has been tampered with, by only observing any alignment or misalignment of the second reference element with respect to the first reference element.

[0010] According to a preferred but not limiting embodiment, said second reference element comprises a recessing portion integral with said control ring, wherein said recessing portion preferably has cross dimensions substantially identical to those of said first reference.

[0011] Moreover, said first reference element comprises a first radial projection integral with said collar, wherein said first radial projection is arranged in a position so as to not interfere with said recessing portion during the first rotation of said control ring with respect to said collar.

[0012] Still, said first reference element comprises a second radial projection, distinct from the first radial projection, integral with said collar; said second radial projection is arranged in a position so as to interfere with said recessing portion and is shaped for being deformed upon contact with said control ring during the first rotation of said control ring with respect to said collar.

[0013] In practice, at the first rotation of the control ring with respect to the collar, the second radial projection comes into contact with the control ring at the recessing portion, therefore deforming. This way, the user will be able to check if the container or bottle, on which the opening / closing device is mounted, was tampered with or not, not only by checking if the first reference element is still aligned with the second reference element but also if the second radial projection is still visible from the outside. Actually, once the second projection comes into contact with the control ring and deforms, it positions itself between the collar and the control ring, therefore being no longer visible to the observer.

[0014] Furthermore, the device comprises one or more frangible bridges between said control ring and said cap.

[0015] According to a preferred but not limiting embodiment, said cap can be opened or closed only at said second angular range.

[0016] In particular, said first angular range extends between 1 and 5 degrees of rotation of said control ring with respect to said collar and said second angular range extends between 20 and 350 degrees of rotation, preferably between 30 and 190 degrees of rotation, of said control ring with respect to said collar.

[0017] In practice, the first angular range can also be represented by a single angular position, i.e. the one obtained once the opening / closing device has been assembled.

[0018] According to a preferred but not limiting aspect, said preventing means comprise one first abutment element and one second abutment element which are integral with said collar and arranged, respectively, in a first angular position and in a second angular position of said second angular range, wherein said first abutment element comprises a first surface lying on a plane inclined with respect to a surface tangent to said collar at said first position and a second surface, opposite said first surface, substantially orthogonal to said surface tangent to said collar, and wherein said second abutment element comprises a further second surface substantially orthogonal to the surface tangent to said collar at said second position. Said preventing means further comprise an abutment element integral with said control ring and shaped so as to slide on said first surface to go beyond said first abutment element at the first rotation of said control ring and to be engaged with said second surface and said further second surface when said control ring is in said second angular range at said first position and said second position, respectively.

[0019] Moreover, the device comprises means for the bayonet connection between said collar and said cap in said second angular range to allow the opening and closing of said cap. According to a preferred but not limiting embodiment, the device comprises an interaction element adapted to interact with said control ring to prevent said control ring form disengaging from said collar, wherein said interaction element restricts the movement of said control ring along said longitudinal axis. This interaction element comprises a radial portion jutting out from said collar.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the invention, the device comprises said collar.

[0021] The objects are also achieved by a container for pourable products, comprising a main body which can be filled with said pourable product and an opening / closing device according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, wherein said main body comprises a pouring section and wherein said opening / closing device is fastened to said main body around said pouring section.

[0022] The objects are also achieved by means of a bottle comprising a main body and an opening / closing device according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, said main body comprising said collar for pouring said pourable product.

[0023] The objects are also achieved by means of a method of operating an opening / closing device for container or bottle for pourable products according to at least claim 1, comprising the step of: a) rotating said control ring for the first time with respect to said collar between a first angular range, in which said device has not been manipulated, and a second angular range distinct from said first angular range, said first rotation of said control ring being able to occur only in one rotation direction; b) preventing said control ring from returning to said first angular range after having been rotated for the first time during said step a), so that said second reference element stays misaligned with respect to said first reference element.

[0024] Furthermore, the method comprises the step c) of deforming said second projection upon contact with said control ring at the first rotation of said control ring with respect to said collar during said step a).Brief description of the figures

[0025] Reference will be made to the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1A shows an axonometric view of the opening / closing device according to the invention; figure 1B shows a rear view of the device of figure 1A; figure 2A shows a sectional view of the device of figure 1B, in which the cutting means were not made visible; figure 2B shows a further sectional view of the device of figure 1B; figure 2C shows a detailed view of the section of figure 2B; figure 3 shows a detailed view of figure 1A; figure 3A shows an axonometric view of the device of figure 1A after its first opening, when the cap is in its closed position; figure 3B shows a side view of the device of figure 3A; figure 3C shows a detailed view of the device of figure 3B; figure 3D shows a cross sectional view of the device of figure 3B, in which the cutting means were not made visible; figures 4A to 4D show four axonometric views of only the collar of the device rotated by 90°; figure 5 shows an axonometric view of the control ring and cap of the device of figure 1A; figure 6 shows an axonometric view of the container on which the device of figure 1A is mounted; figure 7 is an exploded view of the device of figure 1A, in which the cutting means are visible. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0026] Various embodiments and variants of the invention will be described hereunder, and this with reference to the figures set forth above. In particular, the opening / closing device according to the invention will be referred to as 1.

[0027] The opening / closing device 1 is applied on a container 100 for pourable products.

[0028] This container 100 for pourable products comprises a main body 101. This main body 101 can be made by means of a laminated material and take a parallelepiped shape, for example. The main body 100 comprises a plurality of faces (shown only in part in figure 6 for simplicity) and a pouring section (not shown, but know to the technician of the field). The opening / closing device 1 is fastened to the main body 101 at its upper face 102, around that pouring section.

[0029] The opening / closing device 1 comprises a cap 2, a control ring 3, a hinge 35 to connect the cap 2 to the control ring 3.

[0030] In the preferred embodiment described herein, the control ring 3 can be combined only rotatably with a collar 4 about a longitudinal axis X between a first angular range P1, in which the device has not been manipulated (see figure 2B), and a second angular range P2, distinct from the first angular range P1, in which the device 1 has been manipulated. Furthermore, the cap 2 is movably constrained with respect to the control ring 3 by means of said hinge 35 between a closed position C, in which the passage of the pourable product through the collar 4 is prevented, and an open position O, in which the pourable product is allowed to pass through the collar 4. According to the embodiment described herein, it should be observed that the rotation of the cap 2 with respect to the control ring 3 occurs about an axis Y orthogonal to the longitudinal axis X. In practice, the hinge 35, which is of the plastic type, has a longitudinal axis corresponding to the axis Y and allows the cap 2 to rotate about that axis Y.

[0031] The opening / closing device 1 comprises a first reference element 39 integrally constrained to the collar 4 and a second reference element 40 integrally constrained to the control ring 3. This second reference element 40 is substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis X with the first reference element 39, at least when the control ring 3 is in the first angular range P1. Furthermore, the device 1 further comprises preventing means to prevent the control ring 3 from returning to the first angular range P1 after having been rotated for the first time to move from the first angular range P1 to the second angular range P2, so that the second reference 40 stays misaligned, along a vertical axis parallel to the longitudinal axis X, with respect to the first reference 39. The first rotation of the control ring 3 can occur in one rotation direction only. This rotation direction is preferably anticlockwise.

[0032] According to the solution suggested, the first reference element 39 is therefore aligned with the second reference element 40 when the device 1 is still in its initial assembled form and therefore the container 100 has not yet been opened, whereas once the container 100 has been opened, and the device 1 has therefore been tampered with, the second reference 40 will no longer be aligned along the longitudinal axis X with that first reference element 39. The user, simply by observing the position of the second reference 40 with reference to the first reference 39, will therefore be able to understand whether the container 100 has been opened or is still closed.

[0033] According to an embodiment shown herein, the second reference element 40 comprises a recessing portion integral with the control ring 3. The recessing portion 40 preferably has cross dimensions substantially identical to those of the first reference element 39.

[0034] According to a preferred but not limiting embodiment, the first reference element 39 comprises a first radial projection 39a integral with the collar 4. This first radial projection 39a is arranged in a position so as not to interfere with the recessing portion 40 during the first rotation of the control ring 3 with respect to the collar 4. More specifically, that first radial projection 39a is below the control ring 3 and will therefore never be able to come into contact with the control ring 3, not even when the control ring is in the second angular range P2.

[0035] Still, according to a further preferred but not limiting embodiment, the first reference element 39 comprises a second radial projection 39b integral with the collar 4. This second radial projection 39b is arranged in a position so as to interfere with the recessing portion 40 and is shaped for being deformed upon contact with the control ring 3 during the first rotation of the control ring 3 with respect to the collar 4.

[0036] In practice, during the first rotation of the control ring 3, the second radial projection 39b comes into contact with the control ring 3 itself at the recessing portion 40, therefore being deformed by the latter. After the first rotation, this second radial projection 39b, which was clearly visible by the user before the first rotation of the control ring 3, will become invisible to the eye of the observer. This way, the user will be able to understand whether the device 1 has been manipulated or not.

[0037] Although both the first radial projection 39a and the second radial projection 39b are present in the embodiment described herein, it should be observed that one of the two projections could also be missing in another embodiment, without thereby departing from the protection scope of the present invention.

[0038] It should further be underlined that in other embodiments not shown herein, that first reference 39 and that second reference 40 could anyhow comprise, for example, two vertical symbols, such as two arrows, for examples, made in relief or by carving at the control ring 3 and the collar 4, or two tabs or other similar references, without thereby departing from the protection scope of the present invention. Similarly, these reference elements 40 and 39 could be made of a color different from the color of the rest of the device 1, by using appropriate pigments inside the molding plant, so as to color the plastic according to the manufacturer's requirements.

[0039] According to an embodiment not shown herein, the device 1 can comprise one or more frangible bridges (not shown herein) between the control ring 3 and the cap 2.

[0040] Still, according to the embodiment shown herein, the cap 2 can be opened or closed only at the second angular range P2.

[0041] In particular, the first angular range P1 extends between 1 and 5 degrees of rotation of the control ring 3 with respect to the collar 4 and the second angular range P2 extends between 20 and 350 degrees of rotation of the control ring 3 with respect to the collar 4, preferably between 30 and 190 degrees of rotation.

[0042] In the embodiment described herein, the first angular range extends three degrees only, whereas the second angular range extends 180 degrees.

[0043] According to a preferred but not limiting embodiment, the preventing means comprise a first abutment element 80 and a second abutment element 81 integral with the collar 4 and arranged, respectively, in a first angular position L1 and in a second angular position L2 of the second angular range P2. The first abutment element 80 comprises a first surface 80a lying on an inclined plane Q with respect to a surface T1 tangent to the collar 4, at the first position L1, and a second surface 80b, opposite the first surface 80a, substantially orthogonal to the surface T1 tangent to the collar 4. The second abutment element 81 comprises a further second surface 81a substantially orthogonal to the surface T2 tangent to the collar 4 at the second position L2. The preventing means further comprise an abutment element 83 integral with the control ring 3 and shaped so as to slide on the first surface 80a to go beyond the first abutment element 80 at the first rotation of the control ring 3 and to be engaged with the with the second surface 80b and the further second surface 81a when the control ring 3 is in the second angular range P2 at the first position L1 and second position L2, respectively.

[0044] In practice, once the control ring 3 has been rotated for the first time in the anticlockwise direction, it will not be able to return to the starting position, i.e. within the first angular range P1, but will operate within the second angular range P2 which is restricted by the first abutment element 80 and the second abutment element 81, against which the abutment element 83 is engaged in abutment when the control ring 3 is rotated in the clockwise or anticlockwise direction within the second angular range P2.

[0045] In the particular embodiment described herein, the collar 4 comprises a pair of bumps 88 and 89 which are in the second angular range P2, at the first abutment element 80 and the second abutment element 81, respectively, along the circular path traveled by the abutment element 83. These bumps 88 and 89 have the task of braking, making it smoother, for the control element 3 to reach the two abutment elements 80 and 81 against which the abutment element 83 goes into abutment.

[0046] Furthermore, the collar 4 comprises a third abutment element 92 arranged angularly between said second abutment element 81 and said first abutment element 80 in a region outside the aforementioned second angular range P2. This third abutment element 92 restricts the travel of the control ring 3 in the first angular range P1.

[0047] According to a particular embodiment described herein, that collar 4 also comprises a further first abutment element 95 and a further second abutment element 96, whereas the control ring 3 comprises a further abutment element 97. This further first abutment element 95 and further second abutment element 96 are at a ring-shaped region of the collar 4 of a lesser height, along the longitudinal axis X, than the first abutment element 80 and the second abutment element 81 and - in cooperation with the further abutment element 97 - have the task of keeping the control ring 3 within the second angular range P2. In practice, the further first abutment element 95 and the further second abutment element 96 carry out the same task as the one carried out by the first abutment element 80 and the second abutment element 81. This increases the efficacy of the preventing means which prevent the control ring 3 from returning to the first angular range P1.

[0048] According to the embodiment described herein, the opening / closing device 1 comprises an interaction element 30 adapted to interact with the control ring 3 to prevent the control ring 3 from disengaging from the collar 4. This interaction element 30 restricts the movement of the control ring 3 along the longitudinal axis X.

[0049] In the case of the embodiment described herein, the control ring 3 can only rotate with respect to the collar 4 and cannot therefore translate longitudinally along the axis X.

[0050] It should be observed that the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures and described up to now provides that the collar 4 is part of the opening / closing device 1 and that the latter is mounted on the main body 101 of the container 100, around the pouring section. In this embodiment, the collar 4 preferably comprises a flange 41 which rests on the surface 102 of the container 100 when the device 1 is mounted on the body 101 of the container 100.

[0051] In any case, although not shown in the accompanying figures, the opening / closing device 1 can anyhow be mounted on the main body of a bottle (not shown herein). In this case, the collar 4 is not part of the opening / closing device 1, but represents the neck of the bottle itself and does not have any flange. In this case, the opening / closing device 1 is combined with the neck of the bottle.

[0052] In the case of the opening / closing device 1 comprising the collar 4, in a preferred but not limiting embodiment it is provided that it further comprises cutting means 50 configured to sever a separating membrane and means of actuating said cutting means 50 configured to actuate, at the first rotation of the control ring 5, the cutting means 50 from a rest position to a working position.

[0053] In particular, the actuating means comprise two thrust elements 55, 56 integrally constrained to the cap 2 and corresponding countering elements 58 with these thrust elements 55, 56 constrained to the cutting means 50 when the control ring 3 is rotated for the first time. This way, at the first rotation of the control ring 3, the two thrust elements 55, 56 come into contact with the corresponding countering elements 58, therefore rotating the cutting means 50 which will have severed the membrane present on the container 100, at the end of the rotation of the control ring 3. The cutting means 50 consist in a tubular element comprising, at its terminal end, a plurality of teeth 57 to sever the aforementioned membrane. This membrane is arranged at the pouring section of the container 100.

[0054] The cap 2 comprises a covering wall 21 and a perimeter wall 22 which in part surrounds the covering wall 21, along the inner surface 21a.

[0055] The two thrust elements 55,56 are arranged jutting out from the inner surface 21a of the covering wall 21.

[0056] According to a preferred but not limiting embodiment, the device 1 comprises means for the bayonet connection between the collar 4 and said cap 2 in the second angular range P2 to allow the opening and closing of the cap 2.

[0057] In particular, when the cap 2 is combined with the collar 4, it is in the closed position C, whereas when it is disengaged from the collar 4, it is in its open position O.

[0058] In this regard, the collar 4 has a guide 44 for an engagement element 45 integral with the cap 2. In a first rotation section of the control ring 3 within the second angular range P2, this engagement element 45 stays engaged with the lower surface of the guide 44, actually preventing the cap 2 from opening, i.e. its rotation about the horizontal axis Y. Beyond this first angular rotation section, the engagement element 45 is no longer engaged with the guide 44 and the cap 2 can therefore rotate about the axis X to move from its closed position C to the open position O and vice-versa.

[0059] The cap 2 has an edge 23 facing the edge of the control ring 3, when the cap 2 is in its closed position C.

[0060] The operating method of the opening / closing device 1 is described here below.

[0061] This method of operating the opening / closing device 1 for container 100 or bottle for pourable products according to what is described above and anyhow according to at least claim 1, comprises the step of: a) rotating said control ring 3 for the first time with respect to the collar 4 between a first angular range P1, in which the device 1 has not been manipulated, and a second angular range P2 distinct from the first angular range P1, wherein said first rotation of the control ring 3 can occur only in one rotation direction (preferably anticlockwise); b) preventing the control ring 3 from returning to the first angular range P1 after having been rotated for the first time during step a), so that the second reference element 40 stays misaligned with respect to the first reference element 39.

[0062] According to a preferred but not limiting aspect, the method further comprises the step c) of deforming the second projection 39b upon contact with the control ring 3 at the first rotation of the control ring 3 with respect to the collar 4 during the step a).

Claims

1. Opening / closing device (1) for container (100) or bottle for pourable products, comprising a cap (2), a control ring (3), a hinge (35) for connecting said cap (2) to said control ring (3), said control ring (3) can be combined to a collar (4) at least rotatably about a longitudinal axis (X) between a first angular range (P1), in which said device has not been manipulated, and a second angular range (P2), distinct from said first angular range (P1), in which said device has been manipulated, said cap (2) being movably constrained with respect to said control ring (3) by means of said hinge (35) between a closed position (C), in which the passage of said pourable product through said collar is prevented, and an open position (O), in which the passage of said pourable product through said collar (4) is allowed, said opening / closing device (1) being characterized by comprising a first reference element (39) integrally constrained to said collar and a second reference element (40) integrally constrained to said control ring (3), said second reference element (40) being substantially aligned with said first reference element (39) along said longitudinal axis (X), at least when said control ring (3) is in said first angular range (P1), said device (1) further comprising preventing means to prevent said control ring (3) from returning to said first angular range (P1) after having been rotated for the first time to move from said first angular range (P1) to said second angular range (P2), so that said second reference element (40) stays misaligned with respect to said first reference element (39), said first rotation of said control ring (3) being able to occur only in one rotation direction.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said second reference element (40) comprises a recessing portion integral with said control ring, said recessing portion preferably having cross dimensions substantially identical to those of said first reference element (39).

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said first reference element (39) comprises a first radial projection (39a) integral with said collar (4), said first radial projection (39a) being arranged in a position so as to not interfere with said recessing portion (40) during the first rotation of said control ring (3) with respect to said collar (4).

4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said first reference element (39) comprises a second radial projection (39b) integral with said collar, said second radial projection (39b) being arranged in a position so as to interfere with said recessing portion (40) and being shaped for being deformed upon contact with said control ring (3) during the first rotation of said control ring (3) with respect to said collar (4).

5. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized by comprising one or more frangible bridges between said control ring (3) and said cap (2).

6. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said cap (2) can be opened or closed only at said second angular range (P2).

7. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said first angular range (P1) extends between 1 and 5 degrees of rotation of said control ring (3) with respect to said collar (4) and said second angular range (P2) extends between 20 and 350 degrees of rotation of said control ring (3) with respect to said collar (4), preferably between 30 and 190 degrees of rotation.

8. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said preventing means comprise at least one first abutment element (80) and one second abutment element (81) that are integral with said collar (4) and arranged, respectively, in a first angular position (L1) and in a second angular position (L2) of said second angular range (P2), said first abutment element (80) comprising a first surface (80a) lying on an plane (Q) inclined with respect to a surface (T1) tangent to said collar (4) at said first angular position (L1), and a second surface (80b), opposite said first surface (80a), substantially orthogonal to said surface (T1) tangent to said collar (4), said second abutment element (81) comprising a further second surface (81a) substantially orthogonal to the surface (T2) tangent to said collar (4) at said second angular position (L2), said preventing means further comprising at least one abutment element (83) integral with said control ring (3) and shaped so as to slide on said first surface (80a) to go beyond said first abutment element (80) at the first rotation of said control ring (3) and to be engaged in abutment with said second surface (80b) and said further second surface (80a) when said control ring is in said second angular range (P2) at said first position (L1) and said second position (L2), respectively.

9. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized by comprising means for the bayonet connection between said collar (4) and said cap (2) in said second angular range (P2) to allow the opening and closing of said cap.

10. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized by comprising an interaction element (30) adapted to interact with said control ring (3) to prevent said control ring from disengaging from said collar (4), wherein said interaction element (30) restricts the movement of said control ring (3) along said longitudinal axis (X).

11. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, characterized by comprising cutting means (50) configured to sever a separating membrane and means of actuating said cutting means (50) configured to actuate, at the first rotation of said control ring (3), said cutting means (50) from a rest position to a working position.

12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said actuating means comprise one or more thrust elements (55,56) integrally constrained to said cap (2) and one or more countering elements (58) for countering said one or more thrust elements (55,56) combined with said cutting means (50) at least when said control ring (3) is rotated for the first time.

13. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising said collar (4).

14. Container (100) for pourable products, comprising a main body (101) which can be filled with said pourable product and an opening / closing device (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, wherein said main body (101) comprises a pouring section and wherein said opening / closing device (1) is fastened to said main body (101) around said pouring section.

15. Bottle comprising a main body and an opening / closing device according to one or more of claims 1 to 14, said main body (101) comprising said collar (4) for pouring said pourable product.

16. Method of operating an opening / closing device (1) for a container (100) or bottle for pourable products according to at least claim 1, comprising the steps of: a) rotating said control ring (3) for the first time with respect to said collar (4) between a first angular range (P1), in which said device has not been manipulated, and a second angular range (P2) distinct from said first angular range (P1), said first rotation of said control ring (3) being able to occur only in one rotation direction; b) preventing said control ring (3) from returning to said first angular range (P1) after having been rotated for the first time during said step a), so that said second reference element (40) stays misaligned with respect to said first reference element (39).

17. Method according to claim 16, comprising the step c) of deforming said second projection (39b) upon contact with said control ring (3) at the first rotation of said control ring (3) with respect to said collar during said step a).

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