Patent Grant
11993958
This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2020 211 267.3, filed in Germany on Sep. 8, 2020, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by this reference.
The invention relates to a bottle lock for a bottle, comprising a housing part which is designed to enclose an upper portion of the bottle neck of the bottle to be secured, including the bottle cap of the bottle lock, a plurality of claws arranged in the housing part, which are designed and intended to engage non-releasably with the upper portion of the bottle neck when the bottle lock is in a secured state and to allow the bottle lock to be released and removed away from the upper portion of the bottle neck in a released state of the bottle lock, and a locking mechanism which is designed and intended to assume an unlocked state in which the bottle lock can be transferred from the secured state to the released state, and to assume a locked state in which the bottle lock cannot be transferred from the secured state to the released state.
Locking devices of the generic type are often also known under the designation “bottle caps” or “bottle locks” and are used, for example, to secure wine bottles or the like in publicly accessible sales areas. Due to the fact that such locking devices can be attached to a bottle cap, they have the advantage of being able to prevent, in addition to theft per se, i.e. the unauthorised removal of the goods to be secured together with the bottle lock from a publicly accessible sales area of a shop, also the unauthorised opening of the bottle within this sales area.
For this purpose, such generic locking devices have, on the one hand, an anti-theft element, for example an RFID chip or an EAS element (electronic article surveillance), which is set up to interact with an external anti-theft system, for example a transmitter/receiver unit for electromagnetic radiation of a suitable wavelength, so that when the bottle lock equipped with the RFID chip or the EAS element is passed by, a signal is generated and an alarm can be triggered.
On the other hand, an unauthorised removal of the bottle lock from the bottle to be secured must be prevented, which is why a locking mechanism is generally also provided on generic locking devices, which is designed and intended, in a locked state, i.e. a secured state of the locking mechanism, to substantially ensure non-releasable engagement between the bottle lock and the bottle to be secured.
Due to the fact that the bottles to be secured and their caps can have greatly varying dimensions, a large number of different bottle locks often have to be kept ready to secure an entire range of bottles. In addition to high costs, this also leads to disadvantageous handling, since the appropriate bottle lock must first be determined for each bottle.
It has also been shown in the past that bottle locks attached to secured bottles can often be removed by force from the bottle to be secured without permission and unnoticed, since the locking mechanism is often only designed for comparatively low actuation forces.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a remedy here.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, the object is achieved by a bottle lock of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the plurality of claws is subdivided into at least a first and a second claw arrangement, wherein each claw arrangement is assigned a part of the plurality of claws, wherein the first claw arrangement differs from the second claw arrangement with regard to at least one claw design feature.
The difference can only be in the form of a respective claw design feature. In addition, it is also conceivable, for example, that the first claw arrangement comprises a claw design feature that does not include the second claw arrangement, which can be, for example, a projection and/or a depression and/or the like. As a result, a large number of different bottle types can be secured with a single bottle lock, which bottle types differ, for example, with regard to diameter and/or bottle neck length and/or bottle neck shape and/or cap.
The difference can only be in the form of a particular design feature. In addition, it is also conceivable, for example, that the first claw arrangement comprises a design feature which the second claw arrangement does not include, wherein it is possible for example for this to be a projection and/or a depression and/or the like. As a result, a large number of different bottle types can be secured with a single bottle lock, which bottle types differ, for example, with regard to diameter and/or bottle neck length and/or bottle neck shape and/or cap.
The claws can act in particular according to the principle of a barb and, for example, interact with a bead on the bottle neck in the secured state of the bottle lock in such a way that the bottle lock is prevented from being pulled off the bottle neck.
According to one development, the at least one design feature can correspond to a length and/or a width and/or an angle and/or a shape of the claws.
In addition, in order to be able to provide a large number of possible attachment positions of the bottle lock on the bottle to be secured as well as a particularly high level of security against unauthorised removal, it can additionally or alternatively be provided that the first claw arrangement and/or the second claw arrangement each consist of a plurality, preferably along a direction of attachment of the bottle lock, of claws arranged in a row.
In order to be able to ensure an adequate distribution of force in the circumferential direction of the housing, the first claw arrangement and the second claw arrangement can be arranged adjacent to one another, preferably in an alternating manner, along a circumferential direction of the housing part.
In principle, the claws themselves can be deformable, which ensures adaptation to varying types of bottles. According to a further embodiment, however, at least some of the plurality of claws can be attached in a displaceable or pivotable manner to the housing or a part connected thereto and can be biased in the direction of the bottle neck by a resilient element, for example a spring, in particular a spiral spring. In addition to an improved contact between the claws and the bottle to be secured, this also results in a further increased adaptability of the bottle lock.
In order to be able to ensure particularly good assembly of the bottle lock on the bottle to be secured, according to a further embodiment, the housing can comprise at least a first housing part and a second housing part, which are connected to one another so as to be movable relative to one another and can be transferred between the secured state, in which the plurality of claws of the bottle lock engages non-releasably with the upper portion of the bottle neck, and the released state, in which a detachment of the bottle lock from the bottle neck is made possible.
In order to be able to securely and non-detachably connect the two housing parts to one another in the secured state, the locking mechanism can be assigned to one of the first and the second housing part and can be set up to lock the first and the second housing part in the secured state.
In principle, the first and the second housing part can be present as two separate components in the released state of the bottle lock. In order to allow improved manageability of the bottle lock at this point, in particular in the open, i.e. in the released state of the bottle lock, it is proposed that the first and the second housing part are connected to one another by a hinge in a pivotable manner relative to one another, wherein preferably a pivot axis of the hinge is arranged in the secured state above the bottle neck or parallel thereto.
In order to allow particularly convenient opening of the bottle lock in this context, as soon as the locking mechanism has released a movement of the two housing parts relative to one another, it is further proposed that the first and the second housing part are preloaded to their released state by a second resilient element, for example a spring, in particular a spiral spring.
In order to be able to keep the two housing parts also securely in the secured state, it can be provided according to a further embodiment that the locking mechanism comprises an actuating element which can be displaced between a released position and a secured position, a blocking element which is operatively connected to the actuating element and which in the secured position of the actuating element engages with the other of the first and the second housing part in order to fix the two housing parts in their relative orientation, and
a release element which is assigned to the actuating element and is set up to block a movement of the actuating element from the secured position into the released position in the locked state of the locking mechanism, and to allow a movement of the actuating element from the secured position into the released position in the unlocked state of the locking mechanism.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, which can preferably be combined with the first aspect, the object is achieved by a bottle lock of the type mentioned at the outset, which comprises an insert portion which is designed and intended to be inserted into the housing part of the bottle lock, wherein the plurality of claws is attached to or encompassed by the insert portion.
Due to the fact that the claws are attached to the insert portion or encompassed thereby, the producibility of the bottle lock can be improved, since a large number of different variants of bottle locks can be produced for a large number of different bottle types, wherein only a separate insert portion has to be produced in each case, but otherwise an identical housing and an identical locking mechanism can be used.
In a development, it is also proposed that the insert portion is also designed and intended to be releasably inserted into the housing part. As a result of this, the insert portion can be designed to be exchangeable for reasons related to the purpose or wear, which not only increases the ease of maintenance of the bottle lock according to the invention.
According to a further aspect, the invention also relates to a kit comprising at least one bottle lock according to the invention in accordance with the second aspect having at least two of the above-described insert portions.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, which can preferably be combined with the first and/or the second aspect, the object is achieved by a bottle lock for a bottle, comprising a first and a second housing part, which are designed to non-releasably enclose an upper portion of the bottle neck of the bottle to be secured, including the bottle cap, in a secured state, wherein the first and the second housing part are connected to one another such that they can move relative to one another and can be transferred between the secured state and a released state in which the bottle lock can be released from the bottle neck, and a locking mechanism which is assigned to one of the first and the second housing part and is set up to lock the first and the second housing part in the secured state, wherein the locking mechanism comprises an actuating element which can be displaced between a released position and a secured position, a blocking element which is operatively connected to the actuating element and which, in the secured position of the actuating element, engages with the other of the first and the second housing part in order to fix the two housing parts in their relative alignment, and
a release element which is assigned to the actuating element and is set up to block a movement of the actuating element from the secured position into the released position in the locked state of the locking mechanism and to allow a movement of the actuating element from the secured position into the released position in the unlocked state of the locking mechanism, wherein the blocking element is arranged substantially transversely to the actuating element.
In particular, the blocking element can be oriented at an angle of 70° to 110°, preferably at an angle of approximately 90°, relative to the actuating element and/or a direction of movement of the actuating element.
The configuration according to the invention of the locking mechanism has the result that the force holding the two housing parts in the secured state is not provided by the actuating element itself, but rather by the blocking element. In this case, the blocking element is preferably also arranged such that it is stressed in the tension-compression direction. As a result, the resistance of the locking mechanism compared to known locking mechanisms can be increased significantly.
According to one embodiment, the blocking element can be designed as an elongated strip made of sheet metal, which is preferably at least partially sheathed with plastics material, and/or is substantially completely made of plastics material. In this way, sufficient resistance can be ensured together with sufficient deformability of the blocking element.
In order to be able to adequately transfer the force exerted by the blocking element to the second housing part, it is further proposed that the other of the first and the second housing part comprises a recess which is designed and intended to interact with the blocking element.
According to one embodiment, it can be provided that the actuating element is movably connected to the blocking element, wherein one end of the actuating element is preferably designed as a pin and/or is nail-shaped and/or the blocking element is fork-shaped. As a result, a reliable movement coupling between the actuating element and the blocking element can be realised which, however, at the same time ensures the required kinematic degrees of freedom.
In addition or as an alternative to this, the release element can be designed as a slide which has an opening through which the actuating element is guided, and/or the release element can be displaced substantially orthogonally to a direction of movement of the actuating element in order to selectively block or release the movement of the actuating element. In the locked state of the locking mechanism, the release element can engage with the actuating element, preferably in a form-fitting manner, in such a way that a movement of the actuating element from the secured position into the released position is prevented, and in the unlocked state of the locking mechanism it can be disengaged from the actuating element such that a movement of the actuating element from the secured position into the released position is allowed.
In the event that the bottle lock is in the released state, i.e. an opened state, but the locking mechanism has already assumed its locked state, it may be that the bottle lock cannot be transferred to the locked state, i.e. a closed state, without it first being necessary to transfer the locking mechanism into the unlocked state. In order to ensure improved, in particular more time-efficient, handling of the bottle lock at this point, it is proposed according to a further embodiment that the release element has a projection which is designed and intended to interact with a further projection formed on the other of the first and the second housing part when the bottle lock is transferred to the secured state in such a way that the release element releases the movement of the actuating element in the direction of its released position.
In addition, in order to allow a substantially automated opening movement of the actuating element from the secured position into the released position as soon as the release element has released the movement of the actuating element, the actuating element can be preloaded to its released position by a third resilient element, for example a spring, in particular a spiral spring.
In principle, the release element can be actuated mechanically and/or magnetically. However, if the actuation can also be carried out remotely, for example, it is advantageous that the locking mechanism further comprises an actuator which is operatively coupled to the release element, wherein the actuator is preferably at least partially formed by a shape memory alloy and/or a piezoelectric element.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, which can preferably be combined with at least one of the first to third aspects, the object is achieved by a bottle lock for a bottle, comprising a housing part which is designed to enclose an upper portion of the bottle neck of the bottle to be secured, including the bottle cap of the bottle lock, a plurality of claws arranged in the housing part, which are designed and intended to engage non-releasably with the upper portion of the bottle neck when the bottle lock is in a secured state, and to allow the bottle lock to be released and removed away from the upper portion of the bottle neck in the released state of the bottle lock, and a locking mechanism which is designed and intended to transfer the bottle lock from the secured state into the released state and from the released state into the secured state, wherein the bottle lock further comprises a first sensor unit, which is set up to detect whether the bottle lock is in the secured state or in the released state, and a second sensor unit, which is set up to detect whether the upper portion of the bottle neck of the bottle to be secured is enclosed or not.
As a result, it is possible to detect not only whether the bottle lock is in the secured state or in the released state, but also whether the upper portion of the bottle neck of the bottle to be secured is enclosed or not, i.e. whether the bottle lock is located on the bottle to be secured or not. As a consequence of this, in order to save energy, the bottle lock can, for example, be put into an idle mode if the bottle lock is in the released state, preferably for longer than a predetermined time period. If the bottle lock is then closed again, i.e. transferred to the released state, the bottle lock, on the other hand, can be switched back to an active mode. Since the second sensor unit can also detect whether the bottle lock is located on the upper portion of the bottle neck of the bottle to be secured, the bottle lock can be put into an alarm mode, preferably automatically, as soon as it is attached to the bottle. Also, if the bottle lock is removed from the bottle in the alarm mode without having previously been unlocked, for example by receiving a release signal or the like, a corresponding acoustic or visual alarm signal can be emitted.
The first sensor unit and/or the second sensor unit can preferably comprise a light barrier and/or an ultrasonic sensor and/or a magnetic sensor and/or a pushbutton switch and/or a Hall sensor.
According to a fifth aspect, which can be combined with the fourth aspect, the above object is also achieved by a method for operating a bottle lock, in particular according to the fourth aspect, comprising the following steps:
With regard to the advantages and effects of the method according to the invention, reference is made to the above statements with regard to the bottle lock according to the invention, which also apply in an analogous manner to the method according to the invention.
The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of an embodiment using the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
In
In order to be able to non-releasably engage with the upper portion of the bottle neck H, the bottle lock 100 further comprises a plurality of claws 104 which, in the embodiment shown, are designed in the form of a plurality of barbs.
In contrast,
In order to also be able to ensure that the bottle lock 100 can be held securely in the secured state, it further comprises a locking mechanism 110 which, in the embodiment shown, is assigned to the housing part 102a or is arranged thereon. The locking mechanism 110 is designed and intended to assume a locked state in which the relative pivoting movement of the two housing parts 102a and 102b from the secured state into the released state is prevented, and to assume an unlocked state in which the pivoting movement of the two housing parts 102a and 102b from the secured state into the released state is allowed.
The locking mechanism 110 will be described in more detail below.
In order to be able to ensure an adequate distribution of force in a circumferential direction U of the housing part 102b, the first claw arrangement 104a and the second claw arrangement 104b are arranged adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction in an alternating manner. It should also be pointed out here that the housing 102 can also comprise further claws or claw arrangements, which substantially correspond to the claw arrangements 104a or 104b, which are not shown here for the sake of simplicity.
Furthermore, the claws 104 can be attached to the housing 102 in a displaceable or pivotable manner and can be biased in the direction of the bottle neck H by a further spring, for example a spiral spring.
The bottle lock 100 further comprises an insert portion 108, which in the illustrated embodiment is formed by an insert sub-portion 108a assigned to the first housing part 102a and an insert sub-portion 108b assigned to the second housing part 102b (see, for example,
With reference to
With reference to
A free end 112a of the actuating element 112 is operatively connected to a blocking element 116 which, in the embodiment shown, is designed as an elongated strip made of sheet metal. A front end of the blocking element 116 is sheathed with a cap 118 made of plastics material.
In
In order to be able to control the movement of the actuating element 112 from its secured position into its released position, a release element in the form of a slide 122 is also provided, which has an opening 122a through which the actuating element 112 is guided substantially transversely to its direction of movement B. If the locking mechanism 110 of the bottle lock 100 is in the locked state (see
If the bottle lock is to be transferred from the secured state shown in
The actuation of the slide 120 will be explained again in more detail with reference to
As can be seen in
In order to be able to ensure that the operative connection between the actuating element 112 and the blocking element 116 has sufficient wear resistance, the plastics sheathing 118 already briefly mentioned above is also provided on the fork-shaped end of the blocking element 116. At this point, however, it should be pointed out that, if desired, the entire blocking element 116 can also be formed from plastics material.
The actuation of the slide 122 already explained in
In order to provide the energy required for this, the actuator 124 is operatively connected to an energy supply unit 126, which can be designed as a battery, for example. Furthermore, the actuator 124 can be operationally connected to a signal receiving unit 128, so that the actuator 124 preferably only actuates the slide 122 when a corresponding release initiation signal has previously been received by the signal receiving unit 128.
In the event that the bottle lock 100 is in the released state (see
It should also be added that the bottle lock 100 can further comprise a first sensor unit 140, which is set up to detect whether the bottle lock 100 is in the secured state, i.e. the state shown in
In order to also be able to check whether the bottle lock 100 is attached to a bottle F to be secured or not, the bottle lock 100 can further comprise a second sensor unit 142, which can also be designed as a pushbutton switch, a light barrier or the like.
In order to be able to prevent the bottle lock 110 from being removed from a secured area, it can finally include an anti-theft element which is set up to interact with an external anti-theft system so that an alarm signal can be emitted if the bottle lock is removed from the secured area without authorisation.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2020 211 267.3 | Sep 2020 | DE | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7007523 | Belden, Jr. | Mar 2006 | B2 |
| 10180018 | Simpson | Jan 2019 | B1 |
| 20130062303 | Serell | Mar 2013 | A1 |
| 20150353246 | Coupland | Dec 2015 | A1 |
| 20160004951 | Norman et al. | Jan 2016 | A1 |
| 20160321894 | Schneider | Nov 2016 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 69403641 | Sep 1997 | DE |
| 602004012623 | May 2009 | DE |
| 102015003042 | Sep 2016 | DE |
| 2777031 | Sep 2014 | EP |
| 2777031 | Mar 2017 | EP |
| WO-02056820 | Jul 2002 | WO |
| 2017202986 | Nov 2017 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| German Application No. 10 2020 211 267.3, German Search Report dated Apr. 19, 2021, 7 pages. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20220074237 A1 | Mar 2022 | US |
