A cap for sealed closing of glass bottles

Abstract

The cap (100) comprising a capsule (1 ) with a folded peripheral annular part (11 ) provided with radial teeth (12) for hooking the cap (100) to the retainer ring (A) projecting from the neck (C) of the glass bottle, and a seal element (2), arranged inferiorly of the capsule (1 ) and conformed to abut the internal walls of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottle for the hermetic seal. The seal element (2) comprises a cavity (20) defining a first helical coupling profile (P1 ) and the disc-shaped central part (10) of the capsule (1 ) comprises an impression (P) having a second coupling profile (P2) conformed in such a way as to interact with the first helical coupling profile (P1 ) so that when the capsule (1 ) is manually rotated with respect to the neck of the bottle, the second coupling profile (P2) of the impression (P), sliding with respect to the first helical coupling profile (P1 ), determines a raising of the capsule (1 ) from the seal element (2), disengaging the radial teeth (12) on the retainer ring (A) enabling the removal of the cap (100) from the neck (C) of the bottles.

Description

[0001] A CAP FOR SEALED CLOSING OF GLASS BOTTLES

[0002] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0003] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention concerns the technical sector relating to the closing of glass bottles containing beverages, in particular drinks, such as, for example gassy drinks, beer, fruit juices, etc. or other types of food products such as liquids, semiliquids, creams, etc.

[0005] In particular, the present invention relates to a cap to be applied to a neck of a glass bottle, at the position of a suitable ring projecting annularly on the neck of the glass bottle for realising the sealed closure thereof.

[0006] DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0007] There have for many years existed caps, usually called crown caps, for realising the sealed closure of glass bottles.

[0008] The known crown caps usually comprise a metal capsule, which must be fitted clinging to the neck of the bottle at the respective projecting ring, and a seal element, for realising the seal, and thus the hermetic seal of the cap, to preserve the drinks contained in the bottle, in particular fizzy drinks.

[0009] The metal capsule comprises a disc-shaped central part and an annular peripheral part which is folded with respect to the disc-shaped central part in order to be fitted clinging to the neck of the bottle at the respective projecting ring, projecting annularly about the neck of the bottle.

[0010] The annular peripheral part is conformed in such a way as to comprise an undulated profile having a series of internal teeth and a series of external teeth, with the internal teeth being destined to go into contact, by interference, with the projecting ring present annularly of the neck of the bottle, in order to realise the closure of the opening of the bottle.

[0011] The application of the metal capsule to the neck of the bottle, realising an interference between the internal teeth of the undulating profile present in the folded annular part of the metal capsule is carried out by means of special capping machines, either manual or automatic.

[0012] The teeth (internal and external) of the undulated profile present in the folded annular part of the metal capsule and realised in such a way that they have an axial extension with respect to the axis of the bottle.

[0013] The seal element is substantially constituted by a seal made of a disc-shaped plastic material which is applied inferiorly of the central part of the metal capsule and which is destined, when the metal capsule is applied by interference to the neck of the bottle to close the opening of the bottle, to go into abutment against the opening of the neck for realising the seal.

[0014] These crown caps are certainly effective for sealed closing of glass bottles, but for their removal and the opening of the bottles the use of a bottle-opener is always required, or other tools, for the purpose of deforming the peripheral part of the metal capsule in an outwards movement, thus detaching the internal teeth of the undulating profile from the ring projecting annularly from the neck of the bottle, in order to free the cap from the neck of the bottle and thus remove it completely.

[0015] This undoubtedly involves drawbacks and difficulties in all those situations in which the user is not in possession of a bottle-opener or any other tool that can be used to open glass bottles and consume the beverages or drinks contained in them.

[0016] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The aim of the present invention is therefore to describe a new cap for sealed closing of glass bottles able to obviate this drawback.

[0018] In particular, an aim of the present invention is to provide a new cap for sealed closing of glass bottles which enables a manual opening of the bottles, and therefore the removal of the cap, without having recourse to any tool.

[0019] The above-mentioned advantages are obtained with a cap according to the contents of the claims.

[0020] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The characteristics of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the cap of the present invention will be described in the following with reference to the appended tables of drawings, in which:

[0022] - figure 1 schematically illustrates the cap of the invention, in a frontal view in vertical section, in a preferred but not for this reason exclusive embodiment, and the upper part of a neck of a glass bottle having a ring projecting annularly from the neck of the bottle on which the cap is to be applied;

[0023] - figure 2 schematically illustrates, and again in a frontal view in vertical section, the cap of figure 1 applied to neck of the bottle, realising the sealed closure of the opening of the neck of the bottle;

[0024] - figure 3 corresponds to figure 2, in which an element of the cap of the invention has been removed;

[0025] - figure 4 illustrates, schematically and in a frontal view in vertical section, the components of the cap of figure 1 in a step of reciprocal assembly prior to the application thereof to the neck of the glass bottle;

[0026] - figure 5 schematically illustrates a plan view from below of the lower part of a first component of the cap of figure 1 ;

[0027] - figure 6 is a view along section plane V-V of figure 5; - figure 7 is a plan view of figure 6 rotated by 180°;

[0028] - figure 8 schematically illustrates, in a slightly perspective view, a second component of the cap of figure 1 ;

[0029] - figure 9 is a view along section plane VI-VI of figure 8;

[0030] - figure 10 schematically illustrates, and in a frontal view, in vertical section, a first step of partial manual removal of the cap of the invention, in the preferred embodiment of figure 1 , from the neck of the glass bottle;

[0031] - figure 11 illustrates, schematically and in a partial frontal view, in vertical section, a second step of total manual removal of the cap of the invention, in the preferred embodiment of figure 1 , from the neck of the bottle;

[0032] - figure 12 schematically illustrates, in a frontal view in vertical section, a possible separation mode of the two components of the cap of the invention, in the preferred embodiment of figure 1 , once it has been removed from the neck of the glass bottle;

[0033] - figure 13 is a schematic illustration in a slightly perspective view of the first component of the cap of the invention in a second further possible preferred embodiment, again utilisable in combination with the second component as in figures 8 and 9;

[0034] - figure 14 is a view along section plane VII-VII of figure 13;

[0035] - figure 15 is the view of figure 14 rotated by 180°;

[0036] - figure 16 is a schematic illustration in a slightly perspective view of the first component of the cap of the invention in a third possible preferred embodiment;

[0037] - figure 17 is a view along section plane VIII-VIII of figure 16;

[0038] - figure 18 is the view of figure 17 rotated by 180°;

[0039] - figure 19 illustrates, schematically and in a frontal view in vertical section, the cap of the invention having the first component made according to the third preferred embodiment of figures 16, 17, 18, coupled to the second component realised, in this regard, in a further possible preferred embodiment;

[0040] - figure 20 illustrates, schematically and in a frontal view in vertical section, the cap of the invention in a further and other possible embodiment, utilisable for sealed closing of the glass bottles in which it is necessary to create the depression internally of the bottles with the purpose of better preserving the product contained therein;

[0041] - figure 21 illustrates the detail denoted by K in figure 20, in larger scale.

[0042] DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0043] With reference to the accompanying tables of drawings, numerical reference (100) denotes, in its entirety, the cap, object of the present invention, for sealed closing of glass bottles (B) having a neck (C) with an opening (I) and a retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) and annularly about the opening (I).

[0044] Figure 1 schematically illustrates the top of a glass bottle having a neck (C) with an opening (I) and a retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) and annularly about the opening (I), to which the cap (100) of the invention is destined to be hooked and coupled, being visible in figure 1 with the components that relate to it and in the configuration ready to be applied (for example using automatic capping machines to the neck of the glass bottle).

[0045] The cap (100) comprises a capsule (1 ) and a seal element (2).

[0046] The capsule (1 ) is for example made of a metal material or of resin, for example of resin HDPE, nylon, polypropylene and the like.

[0047] In its most general characteristics, the cap (100) of the invention is such that the capsule (1 ) is realised in such a way as to comprise a disc-shaped central part (10) and a folded peripheral annular part (11 ), which is folded with respect to the central part (10).

[0048] The capsule (1 ) is conformed in such a way that, when the cap (100) is applied to the neck (C) of the bottles the disc-shaped central part (10) occludes the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles and the folded peripheral annular part (11 ) is positioned at the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles so as to hook the cap (100) to the neck (C) of the bottles.

[0049] In turn, the seal element (2) is arranged internally of the capsule (1 ) and is conformed in such a way as to sealingly occlude the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles when the cap (100) is applied and coupled to the neck (C) of the bottles.

[0050] The special and novel characteristics of the cap (100) of the present invention are described in the following.

[0051] The folded peripheral annular part (11 ) of the capsule (1 ) is made in such a way as to comprise a toothing (D) comprising a series of radial teeth (12) which are arranged radially to a vertical axis (V) of the capsule (1 ), so that the radial teeth (12), when the cap (100) is applied to the neck (C) of the bottles, are facing radially with respect to a vertical axis (Z) of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles so as to go into abutment by mechanical interference with the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles, realising a mechanical seal for coupling and retaining the cap (100) on the neck (C) of the bottles (see for example figures 5, 6 and 7, and also for example figures 1 and 2).

[0052] The seal element (2) is made in a single piece, of a rigid plastic material that is deformable and non-toxic, (for example, and preferably, but not for this reason exclusively, made of PVC or other resins for food use), and is dimensioned and conformed, when the cap (100) is applied to the neck (C) of the bottles, so as to insert with interference internally of the opening (I) and sealingly couple with internal walls of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles so as to realise a hermetic seal.

[0053] In greater detail, the seal element (2) superiorly comprises a cavity (20) which is made in such a way as to define a first helical coupling profile (P1 ) (see for example figure 4).

[0054] Further, the disc-shaped central part (10) of the capsule (1 ), whether made of a metal material or of resin, is made in such a way as to inferiorly comprise an impression (P) which is conformed in such a way as to comprise a second coupling profile (P2) which is shaped so as to be able to interact with the first helical coupling profile (P1 ) present in the cavity (20) of the seal element (2) enabling a rotation of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2) following application of a rotation force on the capsule (1 ) (see for example figure 4).

[0055] The cap (100) of the invention is such that the first helical coupling profile (P1 ) and the second coupling profile (P2) are reciprocally configured and the capsule (1 ) and the seal element (2) are reciprocally arranged: in such a way that the second coupling profile (P2) and the first helical coupling profile (P1 ) are coupled to one another in order that, when the cap (100) is applied to the neck (C) of the bottles, the capsule (1 ) is in a first neared position (A1 ) to the seal element (2) wherein the radial teeth (12) of the folded peripheral annular part (11 ) of the capsule (1 ) are in abutment by mechanical interference with the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles realising the mechanical seal and retaining of the cap (100) on the neck (C) of the bottles (see figure 2); and so that, following a manual application of a rotation force on the capsule (1 ) with respect to the vertical axis (Z) of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles (see for example figure 10), which causes an annular sliding of the radial teeth (12) on the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles and the rotation of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2), the second coupling profile (P2) of the impression (P), sliding with respect to the first helical coupling profile (P1 ), determines a raising of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2) towards a second distanced position (A2) with respect to the seal element (2) forcing the detachment and disengagement of a part of the radial teeth (12) from the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles, enabling the removal of the cap (100) from the neck (C) of the bottles.

[0056] Therefore, owing to the special presence and conformation of the first helical coupling profile (P1 ) present in the cavity (20) of the seal element (2) and the second coupling profile (P2) of the impression (P) present in the lower part of the disc-shaped central part (10) of the capsule (1 ), with the rotation of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the neck of the bottle (obtainable by means of a simple rotation of the hand of the user acting on the cap), it is possible to generate the sliding of the second coupling profile (P2) of the impression (P) with respect to the first helical coupling profile (P1 ) which determines the lifting of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2) and thus the disengagement of a part of the radial teeth (12) from the projecting retainer ring (A) present in the neck (C) of the bottles.

[0057] By doing this, it is possible to overcome the mechanical friction force between the radial teeth of the capsule and projecting retainer ring (A), deconstraining the capsule from the neck of the bottle; then the user can easily remove the cap (therefore both the capsule and the seal element) from the neck of the bottle, thus opening the bottle.

[0058] The radial arrangement of the radial teeth (12) present in the folded peripheral annular part (11 ) of the capsule (1 ), facilitates the rotation of the capsule with respect to the projecting retainer ring, even following applications of forces of a small intensity, and for this reason exertable by any user.

[0059] In fact, the lifting of the capsule with respect to the seal element, and thus the detachment of the capsule from the neck of the bottles will be guaranteed by the reciprocal interaction of the second coupling profile with the first coupling profile, i.e. by the sliding of the second coupling profile of the impression present inferiorly of the central part of the capsule on the first helical coupling profile present in the cavity of the seal element.

[0060] Further advantageous aspects of the cap of the present invention are described in the following.

[0061] In a first preferred aspect the seal element (2) is made in such a way as to comprise (see for example in particular figures 8 and 9): a central body (21 ), comprising the cavity (20) with the first helical coupling profile (P1 ), conformed and dimensioned in such a way as to insert into the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles, when the cap (100) is applied to the neck (C) of the bottles; an annular portion (22), arranged annularly and externally with respect to the central body (21 ) and having a concave or curved shape complementarily profiled with an upper annular edge (B) of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles in such a way as to at least partially embrace the upper annular edge (B) of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles when the cap (100) is applied to the neck (C) of the bottles; an annular lip (23) arranged annularly with respect to the central body (21 ), between the annular portion (22) and the central body (21 ), in such a way that an annular groove (G) is present between the central body (21 ) and the annular lip (23), the annular lip (23) having a greater diameter with respect to a diameter of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles.

[0062] In this way, owing to this particular conformation, when the cap (100) is applied to the neck (C) of the bottles and the central body (21 ) of the seal element (2) inserts into the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles, the annular lip (23) abuts the internal walls of the opening (I) becoming radially and internally deformed towards the annular groove (G), and therefore towards the central body (21 ), realising a mechanical interference having a hermetic seal between the seal element (2) and the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles.

[0063] In this regard, the seal element is made of a plastic material, as indicated above, non-toxic for food use, having a rigidity that is such that the annular lip undergoes a plastic deformation when it is pushed to abut the walls of the opening following the application of the cap to the neck of the bottle, and this plastic deformation, which takes place when the diameter of the annular lip is greater than the diameter of the opening, is made possible by the presence of the annular groove between the annular lip and the central body of the seal element.

[0064] In other words, the annular lip is pushed and deviated, deforming radially towards the central body of the seal element by the action of mechanical resistance given by the internal walls of the opening of the neck of the bottle, when the cap is applied to the neck of the bottle and goes to occupy the space of the annular groove.

[0065] In this way the hermetic seal between the cap and the inside of the bottle is guaranteed, conserving the quality and properties of the relative contents.

[0066] In a further and other advantageous preferred aspect, the cap (100) of the invention is realised in such a way that the annular portion (22) of the seal element (2) comprises an annular end edge (220) defining a first diameter, and so that the toothing (D) of the folded peripheral annular portion (11 ) of the capsule (1 ) is made in such a way that the ends of the radial teeth (12) define a second diameter.

[0067] More in particular, the capsule (1 ) and the seal element (2) are made in such a way that the first diameter defined by the annular end edge (220) of the annular portion (22) of the seal element (2) is greater than second diameter defined by the end of the radial teeth (12).

[0068] In this way, when the capsule (1 ) is manually rotated with respect to the vertical axis (Z) of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles in order to obtain the detachment and disengagement of a part of the radial teeth (12) from the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles, the radial teeth (32) disengaged from the retainer ring (A) go into abutment against the annular end edge (220) of the annular portion (22) of the seal element (2) (see figures 10 and 11 ).

[0069] Owing to this special characteristic, for the user it will be sufficient to exert a manual pushing action (see the direction of the arrow in figure 11 ) on a part of the folded peripheral annular portion (11 ) of the cap (100) disengaged from the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles, enabling removal also of the seal element (2) from the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles.

[0070] Once the cap has been removed from the neck of the bottles, and with it both the capsule and the seal element, the seal element is retained inside the capsule owing to the fact that the first defined diameter of the annular end edge (220) of the annular portion (22) of the seal element (2) is greater than second diameter defined by the end of the radial teeth (12), being arranged with respect to the other for example as in the configuration of figure 4.

[0071] Figure 4 also illustrates, by way of example, the reciprocal position in which the capsule and the seal element of a cap of the invention can be placed when just manufactured and therefore still to be applied to the neck of a bottle, therefore with all the radial teeth in the original position and configuration.

[0072] Should the cap of the invention be placed in this configuration before being applied to the neck of a bottle, it will be sufficient to rotate (manually or with an appropriate work tool) the capsule with respect to the seal element until positioning the second coupling profile of the impression with respect to the first coupling profile present in the cavity of the seal element in such a way that the capsule is in the relative neared position (A1 ) to the seal element, as illustrated in figure 1.

[0073] Once the cap has been removed from the neck of the glass bottle, with the purpose of facilitating separate disposal, and therefore separating the capsule with respect to the seal element, which is made of a plastic material, according to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the central body (21 ) of the seal element (2) can be made insuch a way as to inferiorly comprise a gripping appendage (25) which enables, once the cap (100) has been disengaged and decoupled from the neck (C) of the bottles, removing and extracting the seal element (2) from the capsule (1 ) (see figures 12 in this matter).

[0074] On the basis of another preferred aspect, the seal element (2), in a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, can be made in such a way that the first helical coupling profile (P1 present in the cavity (20) of the seal element (2) is conformed in such a way as to comprise a first helical track (S) having an internal end (S1 ) and an external end (S2) and a first helical path (SE) which extends from the internal end (S1 ) to the external end (S2) (see for example figures 8 and 9).

[0075] When the seal element (2) is made according to the preferred but not exclusive embodiment, of which in the foregoing, then the capsule (1 ), made of a metal material or of resin, can preferably be made in a preferred way, though not exclusively, in the following two possible embodiments, illustrated respectively in figures from 5 to 7 and from 13 to 15.

[0076] For example, in the embodiment illustrated in figures from 5 to 7, the impression (P) present inferiorly in the disc-shaped central part (10) of the capsule (1 ) is realised in such a way as to be shaped in the form of a pin or wedge (T) having an end part (T1 ) defining the second coupling profile (P2).

[0077] In this case, the capsule (1 ) and the seal element (2) are reciprocally arranged in such a way that: when the cap (100) is to be applied and coupled to the neck (C) of the bottles, the end part (T1 ) of the impression (P) in the form of a pin or wedge (T) is positioned in proximity of the internal end (S1 ) of the first helical track (S) of the first helical coupling profile (P1 ) present in the cavity (20) of the seal element (2), in such a way that the capsule (1 ) is positioned in the first neared position (A1 ) with respect to the seal element (2) (figures 1 and 2) and, in that, following a manual application of a rotation force on the capsule (1 ) with respect to the vertical axis (Z) of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles (figure 10), which causes an annular sliding of the radial teeth (12) on the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles and the rotation of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2), the end part (T1 ) of the impression (P) in the form of a pin or wedge (T) slides along the first helical path (SE) of the first helical track from the respective internal end (S1 ) towards the respective external end (S2) determining the lifting of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2) towards the second distanced position (A2) of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2) (figure 11 ), forcing the detachment and disengagement of a part of the radial teeth (12) from the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles, enabling the removal of the cap (100) from the neck (C) of the bottles.

[0078] The impression (P) shaped in the form of a pin or wedge (T) can be realised by drawing a portion of the disc-shaped central part (10) of the capsule (1 ), in a case in which the capsule is made of a metal material, or can be realised by moulding in a case in which the capsule is made of a resin, directly during the moulding of the capsule.

[0079] In the preferred other possible embodiment of the capsule (1 ) of figures from 13 to 14, the impression (P) present inferiorly in the disc-shaped central part (10) of the capsule (1 ) is made in such a way as to be shaped with a second coupling profile (P2) which comprises a second helical track (R), having a shape that is complementary to the first helical track (S) of the first helical coupling profile (P1 ) present in the cavity (20) of the seal element (2), and having an external end (R2) and an internal end (R1 ) and a second helical path (SE) which extends from the external end (R2) to the internal end (R1 ).

[0080] In this case, the capsule (1 ) and the seal element (2) are reciprocally arranged in such a way that: when the cap (100) is to be applied and coupled to the neck (C) of the bottles, the second helical track (R) of the impression (P) fits with the first helical track (S) present in the cavity (20) of the seal element (2), with the external end (R2) of the second helical track (R) facing the internal end (S1) of the first helical track (S) and with the internal end (R1 ) of the second helical track (R) facing the external end (S2) of the first helical track (S), so that the capsule (1 ) is positioned in the first neared position (A1 ) with respect to the seal element (2), and that, following a manual application of a rotation force on the capsule (1 ) with respect to the vertical axis (Z) of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles, which causes an annular sliding of the radial teeth (12) on the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles and the rotation of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2), the second helical path (RE) of the second helical track (R) of the impression (P) slides with respect to the first helical path (SE) of the first helical track (S) present in the cavity (20) of the seal element (2) bringing the external end (R2) of the second helical track towards the external end (S2) of the first helical track (S) determining the lifting of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2) towards the second distanced position (A2) of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2), forcing the detachment and disengagement of a part of the radial teeth (12) from the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles, enabling the removal of the cap (100) from the neck (C) of the bottles.

[0081] According to this embodiment, in a case in which the capsule is made of a metal material, the impression (P) present inferiorly in the disc-shaped central part (10) of the capsule (1 ) can for example be constituted by a plastic body (BP) which is applied by gluing in the lower part of the disc-shaped central part (10) of the capsule (1 ).

[0082] Instead, in a case in which the capsule is made of a resin, then the impression (P) can be realised by moulding directly during the moulding of the whole capsule.

[0083] In a further eventual embodiment of the cap of the invention, the first coupling profile (P1 ) present in the cavity (20) of the seal element (2) and the second coupling profile (P2) of the impression (P) present inferiorly of the disc-shaped central part (10) of the capsule can be realised in the following way (see for example figures from 16 to 19).

[0084] The first helical coupling profile (P1 ) present in the cavity (20) of the seal element (2) is constituted by a first helical threading (F1 ) realised in the lateral walls of the cavity (20) and the second coupling profile (P2) defined by the impression (P) present inferiorly of the disc-shaped central part (10) of the capsule (1 ) can be constituted by a second helical threading (F2), complementary to the first helical threading (F1 ), realised on a shank (PC) projecting inferiorly from the disc-shaped central part (10) of the capsule (1 ).

[0085] The first helical coupling profile (P1 ) present in the seal element (2) and the second coupling profile (P2) present in the impression (P) of the capsule (1 ) can also be realised according to other shapes and profiles that differ to the ones described and illustrated, and which enable a moving away and raising of the capsule from the seal element when the capsule is rotated manually with respect to the neck of the bottle, all however falling within the ambit of protection of the present invention.

[0086] On the basis of a further other preferred aspect of the invention (see for example figures 20 and 21 ), which can be present in all the various possible embodiments of the capsule and of the seal element previously described, the central part (10) of the capsule (1 ) can be realised in such a way as to comprise a first axial through-hole (H) while, in turn, the seal element (2) can be made in such a way as to comprise a second axial through-hole (L), made in such a way as to be opposite the first axial through-hole (H), and a pair of elastic seal elements (L1 , L2) arranged internally of the second axial through-hole (L) and facing one another in such a way as to sealingly occlude the second axial through-hole (L). The pair of elastic seal elements (L1 , L2) are configured in such a way as to be deformable following the introduction through the first axial through-hole (H) of a tool (not illustrated in the figures) to enable the passage of the tool through the second axial through-hole (L) so that the tool can be placed in communication with inside the bottles in order to carry out operations of immission of suitable gaseous substances and / or liquids internally of the bottles and / or aspiration of air from the bottles, to create a controlled atmosphere or a vacuum.

[0087] The cap of the invention, in all the various embodiments described in the foregoing, once decoupled from the neck of the bottle, can be temporarily reapplied to the neck, following the compression of the capsule on the neck, to close the bottle in a case in which there is a part of the original contents still in the bottle, although, however the original mechanical hermetic seal cannot be guaranteed.

Claims

CLAIMS1) A cap (100) for sealed closing of glass bottles (B) having a neck (C) with an opening (I) and a retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) and annularly about the opening (I), the cap (100) comprising: a capsule (1 ); a seal element (2); wherein the capsule (1 ) is made in such a way as to comprise a disc-shaped central part (10) and a folded peripheral annular part (11 ), which is folded with respect to the central part (10), wherein the capsule (1 ) is conformed in such a way that when the cap (100) is applied to the neck (C) of the bottles the discshaped central part (10) occludes the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles and the folded peripheral annular part (11 ) is positioned at the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles so as to hook the cap (100) to the neck (C) of the bottles, wherein the seal element (2) is arranged internally of the capsule (1 ) and conformed in such a way as to sealingly occlude the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles when the cap (100) is applied and coupled to the neck (C) of the bottles, and characterised in that: the folded peripheral annular part (11 ) of the capsule (1 ) is made in such a way as to comprise a toothing (D) comprising a series of radial teeth (12) arranged radially to a vertical axis (V) of the capsule (1 ), so that the radial teeth (12), when the cap (100) is applied to the neck (C) of the bottles, are facing radially with respect to a vertical axis (Z) of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles so as to go intoabutment by mechanical interference with the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles realising a mechanical seal for coupling and retaining the cap (100) on the neck (C) of the bottles; the seal element (2) is made in a single piece, of a rigid plastic material that is deformable and non-toxic, dimensioned and conformed, when the cap (100) is applied to the neck (C) of the bottles, to insert with interference internally of the opening (I) and sealingly couple with internal walls of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles so as to realise a hermetic seal; wherein the seal element (2) superiorly comprises a cavity (20) which is made in such a way as to define a first helical coupling profile (P1 ); wherein the disc-shaped central part (10) of the capsule (1 ) is made in such a way as to inferiorly comprise an impression (P) which is conformed in such a way as to comprise a second coupling profile (P2) which is shaped so as to be able to interact with the first helical coupling profile (P1 ) present in the cavity (20) of the seal element (2) enabling a rotation of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2) following an application of a rotation force on the capsule (1 ), wherein the first helical coupling profile (P1 ) and the second coupling profile (P2) are reciprocally configured and the capsule (1 ) and the seal element (2) are reciprocally arranged: in such a way that the second coupling profile (P2) and the first helical coupling profile (P1 are coupled to one another in such a way that, when the cap (100) is applied to the neck (C) of the bottles, the capsule (1 ) is in a first neared position (A1 ) to the seal element (2) wherein the radial teeth (12) of the folded peripheral annular part (11 ) of the capsule (1 ) are in abutment by mechanical interference with the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottlesrealising the mechanical seal and retaining of the cap (100) on the neck (C) of the bottles; and so that, following a manual application of a rotation force on the capsule (1 ) with respect to the vertical axis (Z) of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles, which causes an annular sliding of the radial teeth (12) on the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles and the rotation of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2), the second coupling profile (P2) of the impression (P) sliding with respect to the first helical coupling profile (P1 ) determines a raising of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2) towards a second distanced position (A2) with respect to the seal element (2) forcing the detachment and disengagement of a part of the radial teeth (12) from the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles, enabling the removal of the cap (100) from the neck (C) of the bottles.2) The cap (100) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the seal element (2) comprises: a central body (21 ), comprising the cavity (20) with the first helical coupling profile (P1 ), conformed and dimensioned in such a way as to insert into the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles, when the cap (100) is applied to the neck (C) of the bottles; an annular portion (22), arranged annularly and externally with respect to the central body (21 ) and having a concave or curved shape that is complementary to an upper annular edge (B) of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles in such a way as to at least partially embrace the upper annular edge (B) of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles when the cap (100) is applied to the neck (C) of the bottles; an annular lip (23) arranged annularly with respect to the central body (21 )between the annular portion (22) and the central body (21 ) in such a way that an annular groove (G) is present between the central body (21 ) and the annular lip (23), the annular lip (23) having a greater diameter with respect to a diameter of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles so that, when the cap (100) is applied to the neck (C) of the bottles and the central body (21 ) of the seal element (2) inserts into the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles, the annular lip (23) abuts the internal walls of the opening (I), becoming radially and internally deformed towards the annular groove (G), and therefore towards the central body (21 ), realising a mechanical interference having a hermetic seal between the seal element (2) and the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles.3) The cap (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the annular portion (22) of the seal element (2) comprises an annular end edge (220) defining a first diameter, and wherein the toothing (D) of the folded peripheral annular portion (11 ) of the capsule (1 ) is made in such a way that the ends of the radial teeth (12) define a second diameter, and wherein the capsule (1 ) and the seal element (2) are made in such a way that the first diameter defined by the annular end edge (220) of the annular portion (22) of the seal element (2) is greater than second diameter defined by the ends of the radial teeth (12), so that, when the capsule (1 ) is manually rotated with respect to the vertical axis (Z) of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles in order to obtain the detachment and disengagement of a part of the radial teeth (12) from the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles, the radial teeth (32) disengaged from the retainer ring (A) go into abutment against the annular end edge (220) of the annular portion (22) of the seal element (2) enabling removal also of the seal element (2) from the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles following a manual pushing action exerted on a partof the folded peripheral annular portion (11 ) of the cap (100) disengaged from the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles.4) The cap (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the central body (21 ) of the seal element (2) inferiorly comprises a gripping appendage (25) which enables, once the cap (100) has been disengaged and decoupled from the neck (C) of the bottles, removing and extracting the seal element (2) from the capsule (1 ).5) The cap (100) as claimed in any one of claims from 1 to 4, wherein the first helical coupling profile (P1 ) present in the cavity (20) of the seal element (2) is conformed in such a way as to comprise a first helical track (S) having an internal end (S1 ) and an external end (S2) and a first helical path (SE) which extends from the internal end (S1 ) to the external end (S2).6) The cap (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the impression (P) present inferiorly in the disc-shaped central part (10 of the capsule (1 ) is shaped in the form of a pin or wedge (T) having an end part (T1 ) defining the second coupling profile (P2), and wherein the capsule (1 ) and the seal element (2) are reciprocally arranged in such a way that, when the cap (100) is to be applied and coupled to the neck (C) of the bottles, the end part (T1 ) of the impression (P) in the form of a pin or wedge (T) is positioned in proximity of the internal end (S1 ) of the first helical track (S) of the first helical coupling profile (P1 ) present in the cavity (20) of the seal element (2), in such a way that the capsule (1 ) is positioned in the first neared position (A1 ) with respect to the seal element (2), and wherein, following a manual application of a rotation force on the capsule (1 ) with respect to the vertical axis (Z) of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles, which causes an annular sliding of the radial teeth (12) on the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles and the rotation of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the sealelement (2), the end part (T1 ) of the impression (P) in the form of a pin or wedge (T) slides along the first helical path (SE) of the first helical track from the respective internal end (S1 ) towards the respective external end (S2) determining the lifting of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2) towards a second distanced position (A2) of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2), forcing the detachment and disengagement of a part of the radial teeth (12) from the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles, enabling the removal of the cap (100) from the neck (C) of the bottles.7) The cap (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the capsule (1 ) is made of a metal material or of resin, and wherein the impression (P) shaped in the form of a pin or wedge (T) is realised by drawing of a portion of the disc-shaped central part (10) of the capsule (1 ), when the capsule (1 ) is made of a metal material, or is realised by moulding when the capsule (1 ) is made of resin, directly during the moulding of the capsule (1 ) made of resin.8) The cap (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the impression (P) present inferiorly in the disc-shaped central part (10) of the capsule (1 ) is shpaed in such a way that the second coupling profile (P2) comprises a second helical track (R), having a shape that is complementary to the first helical track (S) of the first helical coupling profile (P1 ) present in the cavity (20) of the seal element (2), and having a respective external end (R2) and a respective internal end (R1 ) and a second helical path (RE) which extends from the external end (R2) to the internal end (R1 ), and wherein the capsule (1 ) and the seal element (2) are reciprocally arranged in such a way that, when the cap (100) is to be applied and coupled to the neck (C) of the bottles, the second helical track (R) of the impression (P) fits with the first helical track (S) present in the cavity (20) of the seal element (2), withthe external end (R2) of the second helical track (R) facing the internal end (S1 ) of the first helical track (S) and with the internal end (R1 ) of the second helical track (R) facing the external end (S2) of the first helical track (S), so that the capsule (1 ) is positioned in the first neared position (A1 ) with respect to the seal element (2), and wherein, following a manual application of a rotation force on the capsule (1 ) with respect to the vertical axis (Z) of the opening (I) of the neck (C) of the bottles, which causes an annular sliding of the radial teeth (12) on the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles and the rotation of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2), the second helical path (RE) of the second helical track (R) of the impression (P) slides with respect to the first helical path (SE) of the first helical track (S) present in the cavity (20) of the seal element (2) bringing the external end (R2) of the second helical track towards the external end (S2) of the first helical track (S) determining the lifting of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2) towards the second distanced position (A2) of the capsule (1 ) with respect to the seal element (2), forcing the detachment and disengagement of a part of the radial teeth (12) from the retainer ring (A) projecting externally from the neck (C) of the bottles, enabling the removal of the cap (100) from the neck (C) of the bottles.9) The cap (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the capsule (1 ) is made of a metal material or of resin, and wherein the impression (P) present inferiorly in the discshaped central part (10) of the capsule (1 ) is constituted by a plastic body (BP) applied by gluing in the lower part of the disc-shaped central part (10) of the capsule (1 ), when the capsule (1 ) is made of a metal material, or is made by moulding, when the capsule (1 ) is made of resin, directly during the moulding of the capsule (1 ) made of resin.10) The cap (100) as claimed in any one of claims from 1 to 4, wherein the first helical coupling profile (P1 ) present in the cavity (20) of the seal element (2) is constituted by a first helical threading (F1 ) realised in the lateral walls of the cavity (20) and wherein the second coupling profile (P2) defined by the impression (P) present inferiorly of the disc-shaped central part (10) of the capsule (1 ) is constituted by a second helical threading (F2), complementary to the first helical threading (F1 ), realised on a shank (PC) projecting inferiorly from the disc-shaped central part (10) of the capsule (1 ).11 ) The cap (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central part (10) of the capsule (1 ) comprises a first axial through-hole (H) and wherein the seal element (2) in turn comprises a second axial through-hole (L), made in such a way as to be opposite the first axial through-hole (H), and a pair of elastic seal elements (L1 , L2) arranged internally of the second axial through-hole (L) and facing one another in such a way to sealingly occlude the second axial through-hole (L) and so as to be deformable following the introduction through the first axial through-hole (H) of a tool, for enabling the passage of the tool through the second axial through-hole (L) so that the tool can be placed in communication with inside the bottles in order to carry out operations of immission of suitable gaseous substances and / or liquids internally of the bottles and / or aspiration of air from the bottles, to create a controlled atmosphere or a vacuum.

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