The present invention refers to a delivering tap of liquids from containers, in particular the so-called containers of the “bag-in-box” type (herein below also called BIB).
A feature of the present invention is devising a tap which is completely made of plastic material (therefore, easily recyclable) and which is configured for various systems (dispensers) nowadays present on the market, actually replacing the old tap versions which are currently marketed, providing a product which guarantees more protection for the product, both in terms of seal to liquids, and in terms of tamper prevention of the product itself, which is a very important item nowadays.
Some prior art tap configurations are known, which use a technology composed of silicone valves with self-closure and self-seal to liquids: they have been on the market for several years and are, for example, self-closing valves manufactured by US Company Liquid Molding Systems Inc., which is the first instance of this product meant as flexible, self-closing silicone valve.
There are several manufacturers of self-closing silicone valves like the one manufactured by LMS Inc. (with small geometric differences), which can be used as part of the tap described below, but which will not be mentioned here (for example, companies Vernay, Mini Valve, etc.).
Document WO-A1-98/58847 discloses a tap according to the preamble of Claim 1.
Object of the present invention is providing a tap which uses one of these silicone valves present on the market, and provides the end user with a delivering tap which contains this silicone valve technology, but has better guarantees and/or advantages, with respect to already known taps, regarding liquid seal (when the tap is closed in its storage and/or transport position) and also more guarantees that the liquids inside the container (preferably BIB) have not been tampered with and/or polluted, two to the multiple tamper-preventing systems present on the various components of the tap.
Currently, the manufacturers of closures present on the market and which contain therein flexible silicone valves are three:
The first two manufacturers use as “core” of the system the silicone valve manufactured by company LMS Inc. (or similar, self-produced ones), as can be seen in
All three companies have filed patent applications, as follows:
As regards the front valve of
With respect to the existing tap manufactured by company Rapak, which is composed of different, mutually divided parts (in particular it comprises three components plus the silicone valve LMS which is common to all three taps, and namely main body, fastening ring and small closing/sealing plug for the tap), the tap of the invention allows adding a tamper evident system, capable of pointing out the first opening, which the Rapak tap has not.
In all known taps, once having removed the main upper tap, which keeps the system closed before its first opening, one relies upon the sealing of the silicone valve only, which, as known, is deemed of the “normally open” type, since it is produced with through cuts to guarantee the chance of being opened by darts or dilating pins (which will be better described below); therefore, a small counter-pressure coming from inside the container (in this case BIB) is enough to make the liquid blows-by from the slits (notches created ad hoc during the step of manufacturing the silicone valve) present on the silicone valve and a liquid leakage occurs. This type of valves rely, for their seal to liquids, to walls vertically created in the notches, performing the seal also due to the used material (namely soft silicone). The third tap analyzed (manufactured by company Liqui-box), instead, once having removed the upper plug, has a valve of the Duckbill model which, as known, has still more sealing problems, so that it will have still more sealing problems, so that, to enable the liquid seal, a particular spring component has been added, which helps keeping closed the edges of the Duckbill valve, which otherwise would not be able alone to guarantee a perfect liquid seal.
Therefore, in none of the three currently marketed taps, which use this technology with silicone valve, there is no device which allows keeping the tap completely sealed, till its first opening, in a sure and safe way.
Moreover, there is no tap (with two different parts) which has a tamper evident system, which provides evidence of the first opening and allows the end user to see if possibly the tap has been tampered with before its first use.
Still more, the plugs which are placed on the upper part of the delivering tap (to seal the system) sometimes are not able to guarantee an optimum liquid seal, and also to pass the test which then determines that the delivering device is aseptic or not (namely, the 0.5 bar pressure test).
As will be described below in more detail, in the delivering tap of the invention, a system with flap (optional) is inserted on the lower part of the tap, which remains closed and sealed till the delivering pin of the systems present on the market (quick connection systems present on automatic and non-automatic dispensers, which are dilated, and therefore open the silicone valve) do not open the system with total safety during the automatic penetration step.
Moreover, by sealing the system also from its lower part, a seal is provided for the 0.5 bar pressure test to obtain the requirements of aseptic seal, which currently the other delivering devices not always are capable to guarantee with 100%.
Still more, the system with flap of the invention has its main feature, due to its arrangement, of increasing the liquid seal in case of counter-pressure, since this latter one pushes the tap under seal still more.
On delivering taps manufactured by companies Rapak and Liqui-box, the system (tap) can be opened and closed without the end user becoming aware of the performed opening.
On the delivering tap of the invention, instead, there are two different tamper evident systems, which provide evidence of a possible opening to the consumer, the first which occurs once having assembled the two components, and the other with systems with jumpers which will be described below in detail.
If the rear sealing system with flap is then also taken into account, a tap according to the invention is obtained, which, in addition to the two tamper evident systems, is also equipped with a counterfeit-preventing system, since the flap will be opened only and exclusively upon the first opening for delivering, and then it will be impossible to close it again by possible counterfeiters, making it thereby unique on the market.
Moreover, the tap of the invention allows making a delivering device which allows having a very high oxygen barrier and, as described below, this feature will be obtained also due to the counterfeit-preventing system with flap present on the back of the tap.
A further object of the present invention is providing a simple and eco-compatible tap which however allows adapting to systems present on the market, not requiring their modification.
The tap of the invention is able to be adapted without problems to all versions of delivering pins present on the market. Herein below, the known solutions present on the market will be described, more specifically those of Taylor and Carpigiani dispensing devices.
Analyzing the opening steps of the three delivering devices present on the market, the following can be summarized:
A further object of the present invention is providing a tap as described above, which performs a perfect liquid seal and a proof of the aseptic test, guaranteeing a perfect seal when the tap is in its closing and/or transport position and till the upper plug has been removed due to the use of different materials and correct geometries of the components.
A further object is providing tamper evident and counterfeit-preventing systems which provide evidence of the removal of the upper plug due, as will be described below, to the cooperation of various geometries once having assembled the tap.
A further object is providing the customer with the chance of choosing to have a further counterfeit-preventing system (optional) which protects the contents of the container (in this case BIB) till the delivering tap is opened by the delivering pin of the liquid distribution machine, due to the integrated system with flap integrated, and therefore one does not rely any more, as occurs with the other delivering taps present on the market, only on the seal of the upper plug and of the silicone valve once having removed/opened the upper tap/flap, but also this additional and optional system with flap will be used.
A further object is creating a delivering device where all components are placed in the rear part of the delivering device, thereby obtaining a strong decrease of oxygen which enters in the bag (in case of use of a BIB container), since the space which is normally occupied by air will be occupied by the components forming the tap.
A further object of the present invention is constraining two components due to different technologies. The main one is screwing (which can also have its version with flap, not shown), where the necessary geometries are made, useful for a stable screwing of the two components, and for blocking them to avoid their unscrewing.
Moreover, an object of the present invention is making a tap which allows stably constraining the rear component with flap (or without flap) to the tap body due to the use of innovative welding technologies between two components (laser or ultrasound), in order to obtain a single piece which stably contains the silicone valve.
A further object of the present invention is providing a tap which allows stably constraining the rear component with flap (or without flap) to the tap body exploiting the threading, which will be described below in detail, in order to create a single piece which stably contains the silicone valve and allows applying a sealing force for compressing an upper and lower flange of the silicone valve.
A further object of the present invention is designing a rear sealing mechanism which allows having an oxygen barrier increase, optional, if this additional guarantee is required for specific needs.
Moreover, there will be a strong decrease of the amount of oxygen inside the bag once having finished to fill it, since all system members are housed on the back of the tap with respect to the delivery area, thereby occupying the volume which is normally free and therefore full of air, like in known taps on the market.
A further object of the present invention is providing a tap as mentioned above, which is equipped with warranty seal of the tamper evident type, both on the upper plug and, above all, on the main body. When the tap is assembled, the upper plug is fastened to the ring present on the body and creates a double sealing, counterfeit-preventing and tamper evident system, which will irreversibly show its opening once having opened it, and will keep the components in place during the various manufacturing steps, when it is in its closing phase.
The inventive tap, being provided with a high oxygen barrier, is suitable for aseptic applications.
A further object of the present invention is providing a tap with a plug which is equipped with two handles to enable the first opening and the removal, which will however remain plate when handling the product and removing/inserting during its filling phase.
A further object of the present invention is providing the delivering tap of a counterfeit-preventing system with flap integrated on the delivering device, which allows the opening only once (upon the first delivery) and above all does not allow a new closing by possible counterfeiters, thereby guaranteeing product, manufacture and consumer at 100%. As already explained previously, this is an optional feature which the customer can choose as additional guarantee.
A further object of the present invention is creating parts which are easy to make when molding, and easy to assemble, in order to reduce the manufacturing costs to a minimum.
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will result from the following description are obtained with a delivering tap as claimed in Claim 1. Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawing, in which:
With reference to the Figures, different embodiments, as non-limiting example, of the delivering tap 1 of the invention will be shows and described.
Two embodiments of the tap 1 of the invention will be described, depending on the method used for performing a permanent fastening between a main body 3, 11 and a lower body 4, 6, 12, described below in more detail, and namely through welding or through screwing (which will be the main and preferred configuration).
Moreover, the two embodiments will in turn be divided into a first base version of the lower body (obtained both through fastening by screwing, and through fastening by welding) and a second version of the lower body comprising an integrated tamper-preventing flap (obtained both through fastening by screwing (not shown) and through fastening by welding).
Summarizing, four embodiments will be described of the tap 1 for delivering liquids of the invention, resulting from the coupling of the components listed below:
It will be clear for a skilled person in the art that the described tap can be made with different shapes, sizes and with equivalent parts, and could be used for various types of containers, for example the so-called “Bag-in-Boxes”, but also those of a rigid or semi-rigid type or others.
The tap 1 of the invention is used for delivering liquids from a container (not shown), and substantially comprises:
The lower fastening body 4, 6 with profile 4.5, 6.5 useful for welding on the main body 3 can in turn be configured in two embodiments, depending whether it comprises or not the additional anti-counterfeiting warranty; the configuration with lower fastening body 4 with integrated counterfeit-preventing flap 4.1 (which will be described below in detail) and the configuration 6 without integrated flap. Its purpose is blocking the silicon valve 5, inserted between the lower fastening body 4 and the main body 3, and allow its correct opening.
The lower fastening body 12, comprising a threading 12.12 for screwing with a threading 11.18 obtained on the main body 11, can in turn be configured in two embodiments, depending whether it comprises or not the additional anti-counterfeiting warranty, and namely the version with lower fastening body 12 of
The inventive tap 1 further comprises an upper plug or cap 2, 7, 10, preferably with integrated warranty seal and flexible handles, for its easy removal when first opening it, which is used to create the tamper evident system (once assembled on the main body 3, 11 and fastened to the tamper evident ring 3.1, 11.1 integrated in the body 3, 11.
In its main configuration, shown in
In particular, with reference to
The lower body 12 is inserted below the valve 5 (preferably with screwing and unscrewing-preventing blocking due to the geometries obtained on the two components, main body 11 and lower body 12 which will be described below in more detail), by stably blocking the valve 5 due to an upper surface 12.7 (
It must be noted that, should the lower body be configured with the integrated counterfeit-preventing flap 4.1 (not shown in the Figures for the version with screwing, but being part of an embodiment of the tap 1 of the invention) before being assembled and afterwards screwed onto the main body 11, it will necessarily have to be closed in its assembling position by inserting the tamper-preventing flap 4.1 inside a suitably studied seat of the lower body, similar to the one shown for the versions of the lower body configured for welding, described below.
Going on analyzing
The tap 1 of the invention, as can be seen by
The embodiments of the tap 1 of the invention will now be described, considering the different types of fastening (screwing or welding) between the main body 3, 11 and the lower body 4, 6, 12, comprising the rear counterfeit-preventing flap or without flap.
The purpose is giving the customer a chance of having or not an additional safety system, in addition to the system which is already provided in the basic configuration of the inventive tap 1, due to the upper plug 2, 7, 10 which gets stuck in the ring 3.1, 11.1 of the main body 3, 11, obtaining an efficient front tamper evident counterfeit-preventing system.
The previously described configurations will be better described by some preferred embodiments, provided as a non-limiting example.
The opening step and the connecting step to automatic delivering machines (not shown) of the two embodiments of the invention will be described first.
With reference to
With reference to
The components are mutually stably/operatively connected in the following way to form the inventive tap 1:
on the main body 11, the upper cap 10 will be inserted from the top, and will be fastened to the tamper evident ring 11.1 integrated on the body 11, creating the tamper evident system of the tap, while the upper sealing cylinder of the body 11.8, due to the ring or cylindrical sealing geometry 11.9 (
The upper cap 10 is stably constrained in engagement due to the flexible wings 11.2 (
The upper plug 10 performs a static seal due to an internal sealing cylinder 10.9 present thereon, coupled with the cylindrical sealing geometry 11.9 present on the main body 11. Such coupling allows the tap to have a static seal to liquids and protects the internal silicone valve 5 from dust and from external treatments (for example, sterilization).
The silicone valve 5 (with an upper contact surface 5.1) is placed from the bottom by being inserted into a suitable circular seat 11.3 created in the lower part of the body 11, according to the guidelines imposed by the manufacturers of these silicone valves, which require that, where the seat is placed, their valve must have a particular geometry.
Finally, the lower body 12 is positioned. Such lower body 12 will be coupled with the body 11 and will be fastened thereto, stably constraining it by exploiting the threading 12.12 (
Such process firstly allows a single piece between main body 11 and lower body 12 (this is also true for the lower body version with flap, not shown) and further allows providing the right sealing pre-load to the silicone valve 5, which, in this way, performs its seal to liquids on the main body 11.
The lower body 12 comprises the upper surface 12.7, where the silicone valve 5 is placed (with a lower contact surface 5.4), which operates as lower seat of the silicone valve 5, and always follows the geometric guidelines imposed by manufacturers of silicone valves.
With reference to
The tamper evident ring 11.1 of the main body 11 remains attached to the upper plug 10 due to the flexible winds 11.2 and the small plane 10.1 obtained on the upper plug 10, and provides evidence of opening for the end customer, protecting him from the danger of opening and filling the container (preferably BIB) with counterfeit liquids.
Once having removed the tap 10, it is impossible to correctly re-position the ring 11.1, providing an optimum guarantee to the end customer.
With reference to
Precisely,
In this case, the connecting pin 8, Taylor model, penetrates into the silicone valve 5 centrally, dilating the slits 5.2 (
Moreover, it guarantees a stronger liquid seal and a higher oxygen barrier before the first opening.
It will obviously be possible to remove the pin 8, Taylor model, from the tap 1 of the invention also when the container is not yet empty, by exploiting the self-sealing feature of the silicone valve 5.
Analyzing
In this case, the connection pin 9, Carpigiani model, penetrates into the silicone valve centrally, dilating the through pre-cut 5.2 (
It will obviously be possible to remove the pin 9, Carpigiani model, from the inventive tap 1 also when the container is not yet empty, by exploiting the self-sealing feature of the silicone valve.
Taking into account the embodiment of the tap 1 of the invention, in which the two components, main body 3 and lower fastening body 4, 6, are connected through welding (for example with hot blade, ultrasound or laser) as shown in
In particular, with reference to
The lower body 4 (or 6, if this is the version without tamper-preventing flap 4.1) is inserted below the valve 5 (preferably through ultrasound or laser welding to the main body 3), stably blocking the valve 5 due to an upper surface 4.7 (
It must be noted that the lower body 4, before being assembled and afterwards welded to the body 3, must be closed in its assembling position by inserting a tamper-preventing flap 4.1 inside a seat of the lower body 4. In order to better understand, the tamper-preventing flap 4.1 is bent by following specific guiding geometries 4.12 and 4.14, which connect it to the lower body 4 (
Going on describing
The tap 1 of the invention, as can be seen from
The two embodiments of the inventive tap 1 with and without system with rear counterfeit-preventing flap will now be described.
The purpose is providing the customer with the chance of having or not an additional safety system, taking into account that, already in its basic configuration, the inventive tap 1 is equipped, due to the upper plug 2 which gets stuck into the ring 3.1 of the main body 3, with an efficient front tamper evident, counterfeit-preventing system.
The previously described configurations will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example.
The opening step and the connecting step of automatic delivering machines (not shown) will first be described for the two version disclosed in the present Application.
With reference to
With reference to
The pieces are mutually stably/operatively connected in the following way, to form the inventive tap 1.
The upper plug 2 is inserted from the top on the main body 3.
The upper plug 2 is stably constrained in engagement due to the flexible wings 3.2 of the main body 3 (
The upper plug 2 performs a static seal due to an internal sealing cylinder 2.9 present thereon, coupled with a cylindrical sealing geometry 3.9 present on the main body 3. Such coupling allows the tap to have a static seal to liquids and protects the internal silicone valve from dust and external treatments (for example, sterilization).
The silicone valve 5 (with a contact surface 5.1 is placed from below, by being inserted into a suitable circular seat 3.3 created in the lower part of the body 3 according to the guidelines imposed by the manufacturers of these silicone valves, which require that the seat, where their valve is places, must have a particular geometry.
Finally, the lower body 4 is positioned, which have been previously taken from its molding position shown in
Such lower body 4 will be coupled with the body 3 and will be fastened thereto, stably constraining by exploiting one of the known welding technologies (ultrasound or laser or hot blade) present on the market.
Such process allows firstly obtaining a single piece between main body 3 and lower body 4 with flap, and moreover allows providing the right sealing pre-load to the silicone valve 5, which in this way performs its seal to liquids on the main body 3.
The lower body 4 comprises the upper surface 4.7, where the silicone valve 5 is placed (with a contact surface 5.4), which operates as lower seat of the silicone valve 5, and always follows the geometric guidelines required by the manufacturers of silicone valves.
With reference to
The tamper evident ring 3.1 of the main body 3 remains attached to the upper plug 2 due to the flexible wings 3.2 and the small plane 2.1 obtained on the upper plug 2, and provides evidence of opening to the end customer, protecting him from the danger of opening and filling the container (preferably BIB) with counterfeited liquids.
Once removed the tap, it will be impossible to correctly re-position the ring 3.1, providing an optimum guarantee to the end consumer.
With reference to
Precisely,
In this case, the connection pin 8, Taylor model, penetrates into the silicone valve centrally, dilating the through pre-cut 5.2 (
Such operation guarantees, till the first opening, to have a second counterfeit-preventing seal present on the inventive tap 1, giving a second and additional guarantee to the customer. Moreover, it guarantees a greater seal to liquids and a higher oxygen barrier before the first opening.
It will obviously be possible to remove the pin 8, Taylor model, from the inventive tap also when the container is not yet empty, by exploiting the self-sealing feature of the silicone valve 5.
Taking into account
In this case, the connection pin 9, Carpigiani model, penetrates into the silicone valve centrally, dilating the through pre-cut 5.2 (
Such operation guarantees, till the first opening, to have a second counterfeit-preventing seal present on the inventive tap 1, giving a second and additional guarantee to the customer. Moreover, it guarantees a stronger seal to liquids and a higher oxygen barrier before the first opening.
It will obviously be possible to remove the pin 9, Carpigiani model from the inventive tap also when the container is not yet empty, by exploiting the self-sealing feature of the silicone valve 5.
With reference to
With reference to
The pieces are mutually stably/operatively connected in the following way to form the inventive tap 1.
The upper plug 7 with completely flat profile is inserted from the top on the main body 3.
The upper plug 7 is stably constrained with engagement, due to the flexible wings 3.2 of the main body 3, present on the tamper evident ring 3.1, removable when first opening the inventive tap 1, which get stuck with a small plane 7.1 obtained on the central pin 7.4 of the upper plug 7, by being stably constrained and becoming a single piece therewith.
The upper plug 7 performs a static seal due to an internal sealing cylinder 7.9 present on the upper plug 7 coupled with the cylindrical sealing geometry 3.9 present on the main body 3.
Such coupling allows the tap to have a static seal to liquids and protects the internal silicone valve 5 from dust and external treatments (for example, sterilization).
The silicone valve 5 (with a contact surface 5.1) is placed from below, by being inserted into the suitable seat 3.3 created in the lower part of the body 3 according to guidelines required by the manufacturers of these silicone valves, which require that the seat where their valve is placed, must have a particular geometry.
Finally, the lower body 6 is positioned.
Such lower body 6 will be coupled with the body 3 and will be stably constrained thereto, by exploiting one of the known welding technologies (ultrasound or laser or hot blade) present on the market.
Such process firstly allows obtaining a single piece between main body 3 and lower body 6 and moreover allows giving the right sealing pre-load to the silicone valve 5, which, in this way, will perform its sealing to liquids and will be stably coupled with the main body 3.
The upper part 6.7 of the lower body 6, where the silicone valve 5 (with a contact surface 5.4) is placed, operates as lower seat of the silicone valve 5 and always follows the geometric guidelines required by manufacturers of silicone valves.
Always with reference to
The tamper evident ring 3.1 of the main body 3 remains attached to the upper plug 7 due to the flexible wings 3.2 and the small plane 7.1 obtained on the upper plug 2, and gives evidence of opening to the end customer, protecting him from the danger of opening and filling the container (preferably BIB) with counterfeited liquids.
Once having removed the tap, it will be impossible to correctly re-position the ring 3.1 providing an optimum guarantee to the end consumer.
With reference to
Precisely,
In this case, the connection pin 8, Taylor model, penetrates the silicone valve centrally, dilating the through pre-cut 5.2 (
It will obviously be possible to remove the pin 8, Taylor model, from the inventive tap also when the container is not yet empty, exploiting the self-sealing feature of the silicone valve 5.
Analyzing
In this case, the connection pin 9, Carpigiani model, penetrates the silicone valve centrally, dilating the through pre-cut 5.2 (
It will obviously be possible to remove the pin 9, Carpigiani model, from the inventive tap also when the container is not yet empty, exploiting the self-sealing feature of the silicone valve 5.
The tap 1 of the invention is used for delivering liquids from a container (not shown), and is preferably made as described below.
With reference to
Inside the tamper evident ring 3.1 there are the flexible fastening means 3.2, which are fastened to the upper plug (2 and 7 depending on the handle configuration which is projecting or plane, as described below). To make the sealing cylinder 3.8 flexible, there is a recess obtained on the upper part 3.4.
At the lower opposite end of the main body 3, it is possible to immediately note the fastening means 3.6 to the mouth (not shown) obtained on a lower external cylinder 3.13. Internally, it is possible to note a material recess 3.10 to make more flexible and enable the insertion of the tap on the external geometries of the mouth (not shown).
On the base of the lower external cylinder 3.13, a chamfer is internally provided, to enable the correct entry of the tap into the connecting mouth, which is not shown in these drawings (and is only valid in case of Bag-in-Box container).
The main body 3 comprises an internal cylinder 3.5 with a connecting surface 3.5, which operates as abutment plane for welding the lower body (4 or 6 depending on the configuration being analyzed) with known welding methods. Internally, it is possible to note the geometries which the manufacturers of silicone valves 5 suggest, and especially the upper chute 3.3 (because the valve is assembled from below). Centrally, it is possible to note the geometries obtained on the removable tamper evident ring 3.1, which fully comply with the requirements of manufacturers of silicone valves 5, especially the curved profile of the jumpers 3.15, which abuts onto the valve compensating possible internal counter-pressures when the tap is being closed (before its first opening) and thereby avoiding that the valve is deformed outwards and therefore loses liquids by being deformed. As can be seen below, this sealing profile is completed by the central internal profile of the tap (2 and 7, depending on the handle configuration which is projecting or plane, as described below).
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
This is an optional part which, according to the specific request of a customer, can provide the inventive tap 1 with a supplementary rear counterfeit-preventing system, in addition to those already described before, which opens only when it penetrates into the pin 8, Taylor model, or the pin 9, Carpigiani model, or with any other type of pushing pin (not shown) present on the market, at its first opening.
The lower body with integrated flap 4 is formed of a main body, on which the geometries 4.7 are obtained, necessary and required for the right placement of the silicone valve 5 (always suggested by the manufacturer of silicone valves 5) and possibly a centering cylinder of the piece 4.6, considering that the lower body is inserted from below as last part, and then welded to the main body 3 according to known welding methods (hot blade, laser or ultrasound).
It is possible to note the welding plane 4.5, on which energy addressing devices (not shown) can be obtained, to improve the welding.
On the lower part of the piece, it is possible to note the geometries 4.16 useful to contain the distortion of the silicone valve 5 during the penetration by the pin 8 and/or 9.
The arrangement of the external walls 4.10 and of the chute 4.9 enable the entry of the tap once having completely assembled it in the mouth (not shown).
The curved geometry 4.11 generates the static seal of the piece, and therefore its counterfeit-preventing feature when it cooperates with the recesses 4.2 of the flap 4.1, as shown in
There will be a bending hinge 4.13, which connects in a single piece the body to the flap 4.1. Connecting elements 4.124.14 enable and correctly and simply guide the closure of the flap.
On the flap 4.1, connected to the hinge 4.13 and consequently to the body 8 (everything will be a single piece obtained with the injection molding technique), there will be geometries to enable the entry of the tap 4.4 and 4.2 and a small stopper plane 4.3.
In order to stiffen the structure, a cross with ribs 4.15 is made.
With reference to
This is the second possible configuration making part of the tap of the invention, which, according to the specific request of a customer, can provide the inventive tap 1 with a supplementary counterfeit-preventing system, with or without flap.
The lower body without integrated flap 6 is formed of a main body on which the geometries 6.7 are obtained, necessary and required for the right placement of the silicone valve 5 (always suggested by the manufacturers of silicone valves 5) and possibly a centering cylinder of the piece 6.6, considering that the lower body is inserted from below as last part and then welded to the main body 3 according to known welding methods (hot blade, laser or ultrasound).
It is possible to note the welding plane 6.5, on which energy addressing devices (not shown) can be obtained, to improve the welding.
On the lower part of the piece, it is possible to note the geometries 6.11 useful to contain the distortion of the silicone valve 5 during the penetration by the pin 8 and/or 9.
The arrangement of the external walls 6.10 and the chute 6.9 enables the entry of the tap, once it is completely assembled in the mouth (not shown).
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102017000140741 | Dec 2017 | IT | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/IT2018/000142 | 10/26/2018 | WO | 00 |