NEW WINE CAPSULE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a new cap for replacing traditional bottle caps for beverages. The cap of the invention has a design that locks onto the bottle cap and is optimized for ease of application, conforming to the bottle, and printing of markers positioned at the bottle neck.The invention relates in particular to a wine bottle cap, said cap comprising a central disc having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the upper neck of the bottle it is intended to cover, and characterized in that it comprises: - two lateral arms respectively provided on one side and the other of the central disc, each arm having a distal portion and an intermediate portion connecting said distal portion to the disc, and in that - the intermediate portion has a narrower width compared to the diameter of the central disc and compared to the width of the distal portions of the arms. Figure 2.

Description

Title of the invention: NEW WINE CAPSULE Field of invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of bottles and flasks containing liquids, and more particularly to the field of means for locking the closures of said bottles.

[0002] The invention proposes in particular a new bottle capsule incorporating traceability and authentication markers, the manufacture and installation of which are simplified as well as having a more favorable ecological footprint. Technological background

[0003] The use of capsules to lock the closure of a bottle is almost universal in the wine industry. It is a circular metal disc placed above the opening of the bottle and covering the cork closing said opening. This circular disc also serves as a support for the tax holiday, the latter being typically used in France and serving to certify the payment of taxes, to inform the type of wine producer "negociant" or "producer", as well as incorporating the effigy of the French Republic. The typical capsules on wine bottles are also provided with a metal skirt enveloping the upper part of the neck of the bottle.

[0004] These capsules typically fulfill several functions, such as protecting the closure both in terms of health and as an anti-tamper indicator, supporting the tax holiday and the aesthetics of the bottle. Deterioration of the capsule is also an alert of a possible tampering, whether successful or not, for example recorking after replacing the original wine or liquid. Generally, the capsule is destroyed to access the removal of the cork. The capsules can also integrate traceability and authentication markers.

[0005] The skirt of the capsule can also be used to integrate visuals, or information on the product, however their printing is restrictive if one wishes to print this information flat, due to the conformation of this skirt to the neck of the bottle.

[0006] These traditional capsules, however, pose constraints in terms of price, implementation, environmental impact and installation and for the integration of printed markings. The present invention aims to provide a new capsule having an optimized shape to reduce manufacturing and implementation costs and to facilitate said installation and marking of the capsules, while reducing the raw material necessary to manufacture said capsule and facilitate the recycling of glass bottles. Presentation of figures

[0007] [Fig.l] Schematically illustrates a wine capsule according to the invention.

[0008] [Fig.2] Schematically illustrates a capsule of the invention according to one integrating a printed marking and an authentication tag called a “bubble code”. Description of the invention

[0009] The present invention relates to a new capsule for replacing traditional capsules used on bottles of wine, alcohol or other beverages. The capsule of the present invention is designed to lock the cap of a bottle, and is optimized to facilitate its installation, its conformation to the bottle, as well as the printing of the markers positioned at the level of the bottle. Advantageously compared to the current state of the art which requires prior forming adapted to the neck of the bottle, this new capsule is directly formed on the bottle from a flat presentation.

[0010] In particular, the invention proposes a new form of capsule optimized to fulfill the basic functions of said capsule, and to facilitate its manufacture and installation. [Fig. 1] illustrates a preferred embodiment of said capsule. As illustrated in [Fig. 1], the beverage bottle capsule 100 comprises a central disc 1 having a diameter DI substantially equal to a diameter of an upper neck of the bottle that it is intended to cover, and is characterized in that it comprises:

[0011] - two lateral arms 5.5' provided respectively on one side and on the other with the disc 1 central, each arm 5, 5', having a distal part 3, 3' and an intermediate part 2, 2' connecting said distal part 3, 3' to the disc 1, and in that

[0012] - each intermediate part 2, 2' has a width l2 narrowed relative to the diameter DI of the central disc 1, and in relation to a width l3 of the distal parts 3, 3' of the arms. This narrowed part is crucial in the implementation on the bottle in order to obtain maximum contact between the capsule and the glass.

[0013] Compared to a traditional capsule, the capsule of the invention retains a body having a central disc 1 sized to cover the upper opening of a wine bottle and its cork, and possibly serve as a support for the tax leave or another marker. The diameter of the central disc is therefore close to the diameter of the opening of the neck of a wine bottle. The central disc 1 also protects the cork and the neck of the bottle against pollution.

[0014] Advantageously, the skirt of traditional wine capsules is replaced by two arms 5, 5' in the present invention. These arms extend along the same longitudinal axis and will allow the disc 1 to be fixed to the upper neck of the bottle. In particular, the intermediate part 2, 2' of each arm is sized to facilitate the folding and shaping of said capsule on the upper neck of the bottle.

[0015] Indeed, the Applicant's experiments have made it possible to demonstrate that the conformation of the arms 5, 5' was optimal on a neck rim of the bottle when the arms have a reduced width compared to the diameter of the capsule. The distal part also has dimensions smaller than the diameter DI of the capsule, but larger than those of the intermediate part, so that it facilitates installation and has a larger surface area for integrating markings.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, said width l2 of each intermediate part 2, 2' is 3 to 6 times narrower than the diameter DI of the capsule disc. The dimensions of the intermediate part will therefore be significantly reduced, and the optimal narrowing will be chosen according to any raised areas on the upper edge of the neck of the bottle, and in particular the presence of a ring or collar on the upper neck of the bottle, i.e. to adapt to the rounded edge of a champagne bottle cork.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment and as illustrated in [Fig.l], each intermediate part 2, 2' comprises symmetrical edges curved towards the inside of said intermediate part, a vertex of said curved edges defining a section of maximum narrowing of the intermediate part, and preferably being at least four or five times narrower than a diameter of the capsule. This embodiment allows the arms of the capsule to easily conform to the vertical walls of the upper neck of the bottle, in particular in the presence of the conventional collar of wine bottles at the level of said upper neck of the bottle.

[0018] According to another characteristic of the invention, the arms 5 and 5' comprise pre-cuts or break points at the intermediate parts 2, 2' and / or the distal parts 3, 3' configured to ensure tearing of the arms when the bottle is opened and the capsule is removed. This irreversible deterioration therefore ensures the function of an opening indicator.

[0019] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the capsule may have the following dimensions adapted to a wine bottle provided with a collar: the diameter DI of the central disc is 24mm, a width of the narrowest section of the intermediate part is 4.5mm, a width of the distal parts is 12mm, a total length of the capsule L1 is 85mm, a length of the intermediate parts L2 is equivalent to a length L3 of the distal parts and is close to 15mm. In another embodiment, the length of the distal parts is different and adapted according to the dimensions of the rounded edge to which said intermediate part must conform.

[0020] The curved edges respectively define an arc of a circle and gradually reduce the section of the intermediate part from its junction with the central disc and with the distal parts, and until reaching said maximum narrowing part at the apex of each curve.

[0021] In one embodiment, a perimeter of the disc adjacent to the side arms has breakable or folding lines 4 to facilitate removal of the capsule and / or folding of side arms onto the neck of the bottle.

[0022] The arms of the capsule of the invention thus make it possible to replace the skirt of traditional capsules, and to fix the central disc 1 on the upper opening and the cap. This new form of capsule with optimized dimensions also makes it possible to significantly reduce the raw material used in the manufacture of the capsules. The ecological footprint of the packaging produced is therefore improved. In addition, this raw material can be chosen more flexibly because it will no longer have to conform to a tubular shape. The capsule of the invention can therefore be made of aluminum or plasticized aluminum, polymer or any cellulose material optionally plasticized or metallized, such as cardboard with a metallic coating. The capsule can be fixed to the bottle by means of an adhesive applied at least on the distal parts.

[0023] Furthermore, when the bottle is opened, this new type of capsule is systematically destroyed, thus ensuring its role as an opening indicator, unlike traditional capsules which can easily be removed without being damaged and then re-crimped.

[0024] This new type of capsule is suitable for bottles sealed with all types of stoppers, whether made of cork, synthetic material or glass.

[0025] The invention also proposes to integrate at least one printed marking on one of the distal parts 3, 3' of the arms, said arms having a width (13) of the distal parts of the arms (5, 5') is less than the diameter of the central disc. Advantageously, the printing can be carried out flat and facilitate the printing of a two-dimensional code, such as a Data Matrix 7 code, a QR code or a bar code.

[0026] Preferably, at least one of said distal portions 3, 3' comprises said printed marking, such as a two-dimensional code like a Data Matrix 7 code ([Fig.2]). The length 13 of the distal portions 3, 3' is also less than the diameter DI of the central disc 1, but is nevertheless adapted to provide a sufficient surface area to integrate a Data Matrix 7 code. In a preferred embodiment, the distal portions have a substantially rectangular or square shape, with optionally rounded edges, and have dimensions of at least 10 mm by 10 mm and preferably 12 mm by 15 mm, and in which the width 13 of the distal portions is equal to 12 mm.

[0027] The QR code 7 includes a URL link to access an interface for accessing a traceability system, a website or any database or a file to download.

[0028] Of course, the invention relates to a bottle with a capsule according to the invention.

[0029] The invention also proposes to integrate at least one marker into the capsule authentication, preferably of the chaosmetric type, and / or an anti-theft label. In a preferred embodiment, said authentication marker is a tag 8 composed of bubbles embedded in a polymer matrix. This tag forms a three-dimensional visual whose identical reproduction is extremely difficult, and can therefore be used as an authenticating element. This tag is for example a bubble code such as those marketed by the company Prooftag® and is illustrated schematically in [Fig.2]. Advantageously, this capsule can also integrate at least one electronic marker of the radiofrequency type.

[0030] The new capsule greatly facilitates the use of contactless electronic chips such as RFID or NFC. Indeed, this new type of capsule can be made from a greater number of non-metallic materials and / or materials compatible with radio frequency technologies. Indeed, tin or aluminum capsules are not compatible with radio frequency technologies.

[0031] The new capsule of the invention thus makes it possible to replace traditional wine or champagne capsules, and to optimize the manufacturing operations and installation of said capsule.

[0032] Indeed, in the current state of the art, there is a prior forming of the capsule adapted to the dimension of the neck with specific machines for positioning and crimping the capsule on the neck. In contrast, in the present invention the new capsule is deposited in the manner of a label from a flat presentation without the need for prior forming. It is the gluing of the two arms on a bottle neck which replaces the crimping in the analogous blocking function. More particularly, the invention proposes a method for placing a capsule on a bottle or container neck, said method comprising a step of forming the arms 5, 5' directly carried out on said neck from a flat presentation of said capsule, and a step of fixing said capsule by gluing said arms 5', 5' on said neck. Optionally, the central disc is also glued by means of a point of food-type adhesive below the central disc.

Claims

Claims

1. Capsule for a beverage bottle, said capsule comprising a central disc (1) having a diameter (Dl) substantially equal to a diameter of an upper neck of the bottle which it is intended to cover, and characterized in that it comprises: - two lateral arms (5, 5') provided respectively on one side and on the other of the central disc (1), each arm (5, 5') having a distal part (3, 3') and an intermediate part (2, 2') connecting said distal part (3, 3') to the disc (1), and in that - the intermediate part (2, 2') has a width (12) narrowed relative to the diameter of the central disc and relative to a width (13) of the distal parts of the arms, and in which, said width (13) of the distal parts of the arms (5, 5') is less than the diameter of the central disc, and at least one of said distal parts has a printed marking (7), such as a code two dimensions (7).

2. Capsule according to one of the preceding claims, in which said capsule integrates at least one authentication marker, preferably of the chaosmetric type, and such as a tag (8) composed of bubbles embedded in a polymer matrix, and / or an anti-theft label.

3. Capsule according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the width (12) of each intermediate part (2, 2') is 3 to 6 times narrower than a diameter (Dl) of the capsule.

4. Capsule according to one of the preceding claims, in which each intermediate part (2, 2') comprises symmetrical edges curved towards the inside of said intermediate part, a vertex of said curved edges defining a section of maximum narrowing of said intermediate parts (2, 2'), and preferably being at least 4 or 5 times narrower than a diameter (Dl) of the capsule.

5. Capsule according to one of the preceding claims, said capsule incorporating at least one electronic marker of radiofrequency type.

6. Capsule according to one of the preceding claims, in which a perimeter of the central disc adjacent to the lateral arms (5, 5') has breakable or folding lines (4).

7. Capsule according to one of the preceding claims, in which the arms (5, 5') comprise pre-cuts or break incipients at the level of the intermediate parts (2, 2') and / or the distal parts (3, 3') configured to ensure arm tearing when opening the bottle and removing the cap.

8. Bottle comprising a capsule according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Method for placing a capsule according to one of claims 1 to 7 on a bottle or container neck, characterized in that it comprises a step of forming the arms (5, 5') directly carried out on said neck from a flat presentation of said capsule, and a step of fixing said capsule by gluing said arms (5', 5') on said neck and optionally the central disc is also glued by means of a point of food-type adhesive below the central disc.

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