Patent Grant
10336515
This invention relates to the field of different industrial techniques and, among them, to locks for containers.
More particularly, it refers to a short rotation safety lock for containers that, based on a rotating assembly and on a rotation limiter device, allows the closing or opening through a simple and brief rotating movement of its external structure regarding its internal structure, with the possibility of using a safety device that maintains it sealed until used. The invention also refers to a bottle specifically adapted for above-mentioned lock.
At present many means for closing containers are known.
For example, the closure disclosed in patent document U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,204 which shows a locking system and a specific container that work associated, is known. The system works in a rotating manner and has grip members and an end with a forced rubbing cam. The inner part only closes the opening of the container, but lacks a press-on cap that immobilizes it. Therefore, in order that the external part can rotate, it requires the assistance of both user hands simultaneously pressing over the container, as it is explained in the description of its procedure. This fact also evidences that there is a necessary relation between the lock and the container and that, mainly, it refers to a system that prevents the accidental opening of the container. Furthermore, the absence of a cap that works in association with the internal structure makes it not applicable to containers' necks such as bottles that contain liquids, in general, and soft drinks, in particular.
Patent document U.S. Pat. No. 2,483,055 shows another rotating system with an lower cover fitted with a set of clamping fingers and an upper cover with a set of locking fingers. It lacks a clamping frame and a cap that fits forced into the mouth of the container.
Other rotating locks can be found in patent documents US 34976 and U.S. Pat. No. 1,341,177 wherein we can find devices with locking means over which sliding cams work forcibly.
There also other known devices which mechanisms work with axial or axial and rotating movements. For example, document WO03037738 shows an external cover provided with cams that work over clamping fingers that fit into the neck. In this case the lock works combining a rotating movement with an axial vertical movement.
In documents U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,582, US 20120298613, WO 2011022756 and AR 07702A1, there is a system of fingers embracing the neck and a cam system, which are fitted with protrusions over which the nails or locking members act. It works combining a rotating movement with an axial vertical movement.
Document FR 2684965 shows a system that combines a rotating movement with an axial displacement through the use of a thread.
In other devices, the locking closure is produced by axial vertical displacement of a lock, which is mounted over a plurality of members or elastic fingers that fit into one entrance of the neck. Such are the cases, for example, of the closures disclosed by documents US 20100012615 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,332.
One of the purposes of this invention is to provide a lock means that can be easily handled and that, with a brief rotating movement, can be opened or closed.
Another purpose is that it cannot only be provided applied to the commercialization of full containers—for example, beverages—but also that it can be reused to preserve the part of the content that is not initially consumed or also reused applying it to other containers to preserve their content.
A further purpose is to provide a closure means that can be commercialized independently from the container, in such a way that the consumer can reuse it as many times as necessary.
A further purpose is to provide a closure means that can be applied to the sale of full containers, in combination with a safety seal that guarantees the status of its content. An advantage of this safety lock is that it can be operated with only one hand, without efforts and with minimum movements.
Another advantage is that it works with brief rotating movements, without the need to use axial vertical forces that, many times and especially in the case of bottles, can cause imbalances and the slipping, falling and breaking of the container.
Another advantage is its versatility since it can be used both as the closure provided with packaged goods—with or without seal—and as an independently sold item to preserve the content of containers that are provided with conventional closure means, such as covers, caps, corks, etc.
Another advantage is its great adaptive capacity to different production necessities, due to the fact that its mechanism allows multiple variations regarding the placement of the rotating assembly and the rotation limiter device, in different places of its structures, separated, adjacent, combined, etc.
Another advantage is that the link between the internal structure, the cap and the external structure form an extremely strong, simple and efficient mechanism that eases the operation among the different component parts.
Another advantage is the small quantity of component parts, quality that highlights if it is compared with the majority of known locks used in similar functions.
Another advantage of the component pieces is their constituent simplicity which makes them very easy to produce and at an extremely lower cost.
A further advantage is that, the few component pieces and its simplicity, allow their manufacture through an extremely simple assembly procedure.
Another advantage of the production procedure is that it allows the mass manufacture of great quantities of this lock, which has a favorable impact on the reduction of costs per unit.
For better clarity and understanding of the object of the invention, it is illustrated with several figures where it has been represented in one of its preferred embodiments, everything as an illustrative example, without limitation:
Drawing A, a longitudinal cut of an exploded internal perspective of the safety lock without safety device and
Drawing B, a longitudinal cut of an exploded internal perspective of present safety lock in an embodiment in which it includes a safety device, with unidirectional rotation mechanism and sealing means with a detachable sector and a link member that is projected from the internal structure.
Drawing A, an exploded perspective view of present lock without safety device and
Drawing B, an exploded perspective view of present lock with safety device with. unidirectional rotation mechanism and sealing means.
Drawing A, a previous view of a longitudinal cut of an exploded internal perspective of present lock without safety device and
Drawing B, a back view of a longitudinal cut of an exploded external perspective of the safety lock of drawing A.
Drawing A, a previous view of a longitudinal cut of an exploded internal perspective of present lock with safety device that includes an unidirectional rotation mechanism and sealing means and
Drawing B, a back view of a longitudinal cut of an exploded internal perspective of present lock of drawing A.
Drawing A, a lower perspective view that shows the grip fingers that are released when facing the straight edges unblocking cavities and
Drawing B, a lower perspective view that shows the grip fingers blocked by the mobile blocking members.
Drawing A, a lower perspective view, that shows the grip fingers that are released when facing the chamfered edges unblocking cavities and
Drawing B, a lower perspective view that shows the grip fingers blocked by the mobile blocking members.
Drawing A, a previous view of a longitudinal cut of an internal exploded view of present lock with safety device that includes an unidirectional rotation mechanism and sealing means and
Drawing B, a lower perspective view of the upper wall and an upper perspective view of the internal structure, in which central part it can be seen how the link member is projected.
Drawing A, an upper perspective view of present lock with safety device;
Drawing B, a longitudinal cut of present lock that allows the appreciation of the link between the upper wall, the detachable sector, the unidirectional rotation mechanism and the link member that is projected from the internal structure;
Drawing C, an upper perspective view that shows the sinking of the detachable sector below the upper wall and the extremity of the link member and
Drawing D, a longitudinal cut of present lock that allows the appreciation of the dissociation between the upper wall and the detachable sector that remains sunken.
Drawing A, a longitudinal cut that shows the positioning of arrangement in the container mouth;
Drawing B, another longitudinal cut where it can be seen how the grip fingers elastically yield to surpass the position of the annular cordon and how the cap enters into the container;
Drawing C, another longitudinal cut where it can be seen how the cap fully penetrates and the grip fingers are placed behind the annular cordon of the container and
Drawing D, another longitudinal cut where it can be seen how the rotating movement of the external structure makes the mobile blocking members be placed behind the grip fingers, preventing safety lock from going out.
Drawing A, a transversal cut of the safety lock in passive position, with the grip fingers released and
Drawing B, a transversal cut of the safety lock in active position, with the grip fingers blocked.
Drawing A, a lower perspective view of the upper wall of the external structure;
Drawing B, a lower perspective view of the internal structure with the upper wall on top and
Drawing C, an upper perspective view of the internal structure assembled in the external structure, without the upper wall.
Drawing A, a partial longitudinal cut in which the fixed forced couplings can be observed in the upper wall and the fixed ends can be observed in the upper edge of the external body;
Drawing B, another partial longitudinal cut in which the fixed forced couplings and the fixed ends can be observed in the upper wall;
Drawing C, another partial longitudinal cut in which the fixed forced couplings and the fixed ends can be observed in the upper edge of the external body;
Drawing D, another partial longitudinal cut in which the fixed forced couplings can be observed in the upper edge of the external body and the fixed ends can be observed in the upper wall.
Drawing E, another partial longitudinal cut in which the fixed forced couplings can be observed in the upper edge of the external body and in the upper wall and the fixed ends can be observed in the upper edge of the external body;
Drawing F, another partial longitudinal cut in which the fixed forced couplings can be observed in the upper edge of the external body and in the upper wall and the fixed ends can be observed in the upper wall;
Drawing G, another partial longitudinal cut in which the fixed forced couplings can be observed in the upper edge of the external body and in the upper wall (upside down regarding drawing E) and the fixed ends can be observed in the upper edge of the external body.;
Drawing H, another partial longitudinal cut in which the fixed forced couplings can be observed in the upper edge of the external body and in the upper wall (upside down regarding drawing F) and the fixed ends can be observed in the upper wall and
Drawing I, another partial longitudinal cut in which the fixed forced couplings of double effect can be observed in the upper edge of the external body and in the upper wall and the fixed ends can be observed in the upper wall and in the upper edge of the external body.
In all above-mentioned drawings of
Drawing A, a schematic representation in which the rotation sliders are horizontal and are placed in the upper part of the safety lock;
Drawing B, another schematic representation in which the rotation sliders are horizontal and are placed in an intermediate part of the safety lock;
Drawing C, another schematic representation in which the rotation sliders are inclined and are in an intermediate part of the safety lock;
Drawing D, another schematic representation in which the rotation sliders are inclined and extend between the upper part and the intermediate part of the safety lock and
Drawing E, another schematic representation in which the rotation sliders are horizontal and are in the lower part of the safety lock.
Drawing A, a previous view of a longitudinal cut of an internal exploded perspective of present lock with a safety device in which the link member is projected from the detachable sector of the upper wall;
Drawing B, a back view of a longitudinal cut of an external exploded perspective of the lock of drawing A and
Drawing C, an exploded perspective view of the device of drawing A that allows the observation of details of the component parts.
Drawing A, a longitudinal cut of the external structure of present lock, in the same embodiment as shown in
Drawing B, a longitudinal cut of the internal structure of the lock of
Drawing C, a longitudinal cut of the lock of
Drawing D, a longitudinal cut of the lock of drawing C, with the detachable sector being sunken.
Drawing A, a lateral view, in elevation, of a bottle with flat cordon;
Drawing B, a lateral view, in elevation, of a bottle with annular entrance between the cordon and the opening;
Drawing C, a longitudinal cut of a bottle such as the one of drawing B with the present lock being applied and
Drawing D, a longitudinal cut of a bottle of the conventional type with the present lock being applied.
In the different figures, the same numbers and/or reference letters indicate equal or corresponding parts.
In general terms, the present inventions consists of a short rotation safety lock for containers wherein a fixed internal structure (1) linked to a closure cap (3), includes a clamping frame (12) that acts over an annular cordon or protrusion (61,62) of the application container (6). This internal structure (1) gives rotating assembly (4) to an external structure (2) which rotation movement, limited by a rotation limiter device (5), determines the movement of some mobile blocking members (24), between an active position behind said grip fingers (13) and a passive position in said intermediate spaces (14). In some variations, a safety device (7) having a unidirectional rotation mechanism (73) that links the internal structure (1) with a detachable sector (70) of the external structure (2) is included.
More particularly, present safety lock may be applied to different containers (6)—such as bottles, jars, pots, containers in general—around which opening there are protrusions such as an annular cordon (61), an annular protrusion (62) o the like.
In one embodiment, the safety lock includes a supportive internal structure (1) linked to a cap (3) placed in its central part. This cap (3) forcibly fits into the opening of the container (6), closing the access to the container cavity (64) thereof. In different variations, said cap (3) can be, totally or partially, composed of its own internal structure (1) o even be assembled in this last one through some retentive supporting members (11).
Different variations regarding the mentioned cap (3) have also been foreseen. In one of them, it includes a shutter (30) which hollow body is projected forming an expansion cavity (31). Through the lower opening (32) of said expansion cavity (31), there is an internal lock (33), that can be provided with one or more gas passages (34) that, eventually, come from the container content (6). In this way, the pressure of this gas is used to exert an expansive and contributing influence with the function of the cap lock (3).
As this last one is linked to the internal structure (1), it is arranged around the opening (63) of the container (6) in such a manner that the clamping frame (12) is projected over the adjacent area to said opening (63), where the annular cordon (61) or other protrusions of the container (6) are usually found.
The clamping frame (12) includes a plurality of grip fingers (13)—two or more—that form said clamping frame (12), alternating with intermediate spaces (14). It has been foreseen that the grip fingers (13) elastically yield in such a way that, if normally closed, they do not impede the fitting of the clamping frame (12) in the annular cordon (61) or annular protrusion (62). This is also valid for the case in which they are normally opened, since their elasticity will allow the action of the external structure (2).
On the other hand, the external structure (2) includes an external body (20) that, while its upper edge (21) ends closed through an upper wall (23), is internally provided with a plurality of mobile blocking members (24) among which a plurality of unblocking cavities (25), also mobile, are inserted. Underneath these means, the mentioned external body (20) ends in a lower edge (22) that surrounds the adjacent opening.
When the external structure (2) is assembled in the internal structure (1), the external body (20) surrounds the internal structure (1) in such a way that the blocking members (24) and the unblocking cavities (25) remain adjacent to the grip fingers (13) and to the intermediate spaces (14). It has been foreseen that the dimensions of the unblocking cavities (25) be the appropriate ones to allow the complete retraction of the grip fingers (13), when these last ones face the maximum protrusion of the annular cordon (61) or of the annular protrusion (62).
Moreover, the external structure (2) is linked with the internal structure (1) through a rotating assembly (4) that can offer different variations [as can be appreciated in
In one embodiment, the rotating assembly (4) can be composed of upper members (15) ending in extremities (16). These extremities (16) are equipped with fixed sliders (40) that are arranged into contact with mobile sliders (41).
In other embodiments, fixed sliders (40) can be in an intermediate part of the internal body (10), be horizontal or inclined, extend between the intermediate part and the upper part or even be in the lower part. The same occurs with mobile sliders (41) that, in consistency with the arrangement of the fixed sliders (40), can be in the upper part of the external body (20), be horizontal or inclined, extend between the intermediate part and the upper part or even be in the lower part.
Although the rotating assembly (4) allows that the external structure (2) rotates regarding the internal structure (1), this rotation movement is limited by the presence of a rotation limiter device (5). This last one includes some fixed ends (50) of the internal structure (1) against which some mobile ends (51) of the external structure (2) act.
In different variations, the fixed ends (50) can be arranged adjacent to the fixed sliders (40), as limiters of the mobile sliders (41) race, at which ends the mobile ends (51) are placed.
The rotation limiter device (5) can also include some forced couplings (52,53) that allow the obtaining of a positional fixing of the external structure (2), at the limit positions of its rotating race. Fixes forced couplings (52) can be in the upper, intermediate or lower part of the internal structure (1), while the mobile forced couplings (53) can be in the upper, intermediate or lower part of the external structure (2).
Many variations have been foreseen—such as can be appreciated in
In this manner, the rotation ends (50,51) determine that the external structure (2) can rotate in one direction until a limit, in which the mobile blocking members (24) are active behind the grip fingers (13), in such a way that these last ones (13) act below the annular cordon (61) or annular protrusion (62) of the container (6).
The other ends (50,51) of opposite rotations, determine that the external structure (2) can rotate in the opposite directions until the opposite limit, in which the mobile blocking members (24) remain passive in the intermediate spaces (14) and the grip fingers (13) can elastically move back, up to the unblocking cavities (25). This elastic setback allows the extraction of the safety lock of the container mouth (6).
In each rotation limit position, the external positional fastening means (52,53), in this case forced couplings (53,53), allow the immobilization of the external structure (2) in these positions.
The handling of the lock is done using an external structure (2) as command grip. This external structure (2) includes the upper wall (23) with which it is related through the respective lower (81) and upper (80) couplings that, formed by their respective walls, can be of the forced fit type.
The possibility of incorporating a safety system of the type of a seal that links the upper wall (23) of the external structure (2) with the internal structure (1) has also been foreseen
In this way, the rotating capacity of the external structure (2) is limited by the rotation limiter device (5) and by a unidirectional rotation mechanism (73), that allows rotation in the direction of blocking but that prevents rotation in the opposite directions. This mechanism (73) includes an upper tooth (74) that is placed in a detachable sector (70) of the upper wall or lock (23) of the external structure (2). The mentioned upper tooth (74) engages in unidirectional form—that is, in only one of the rotation directions—with the lower tooth (75) placed in the internal structure (1).
Said internal structure (1) includes an internal body (10) from which both the grip fingers and the lower tooth (75) are projected. The possibility of including a supporting central body (10a) that assembled in said internal body (10), on the one hand, provides a retentive supporting member (11) for the cap (3), while on the other hand, allows the link with the upper wall (23) through the link member (76), has been foreseen.
On the other hand, above-mentioned detachable sector (70) is linked to the mentioned upper wall (23) through a sectorial weakening (71) that eases its detachment through pressure and sinking.
In one embodiment [see drawing B of
In another embodiment [see
Operation:
As the present safety lock only operates through rotation movements to the opposite sides, to be placed in a container (6), it should be rotated until the limit in which the mobile blocking members (24) are passive in the intermediate spaces (14) and the grip fingers (13) can elastically move back to the unblocking cavities (25).
In this manner, upon placing the safety lock in the opening (63) of the container (6), the grip fingers (13) elastically yielding allow exceeding the position of the annular cordon (61) or of the annular protrusion (62). The associative linking between the internal structure (1) and the cap (3) determines that, at the same time, the cap (3) closes said opening (63) of the container (6).
Once the safety lock is positioned with its internal structure (1) immobilized by the cap (3), the external structure (2) can rotate in the opposite direction to that of the opening until the limit, in which the mobile blocking members (24) are active behind the grip fingers (13) in a way that these last ones (13) are hold below the annular cordon (61) or annular protrusion (62) of the container (6).
In all cases, when reaching the limit rotation positions, the forced couplings (52,53) that positionally immobilize the external structure (2) regarding the internal structure (1) act.
In the cases in which the safety lock (7) is used, the initial operation is the same. However, to open and close again, it is necessary to push and sink the detachable sector (70) that acts as seal until it is detached from the upper wall (23). In these conditions, the unidirectional rotation mechanism (73) stops acting over the upper wall (23) and, consequently, over the external structure (2), and therefore this last one can freely rotate in both directions to get the lock of the neck (201) of the bottle (200) of application in and out.
Bottle:
A bottle (200) was developed specifically for this safety lock. It has an annular clamping entrance (204) that, being compatible with the grip position of the safety lock, it is interposed between the discharge mouth (202) and the annular cordon (203) of the neck (201).
Undoubtedly, upon putting the present invention into practice, modifications may be introduced regarding certain construction details and folio, without leaving the essential principles that are clearly explained in the claims below.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20140104487 | Dec 2014 | AR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2015/059245 | 12/1/2015 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2016/088034 | 6/9/2016 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34976 | Nicholson | Apr 1862 | A |
| 1341177 | Kaye | May 1920 | A |
| 2483055 | Krasberg | Sep 1949 | A |
| 3773204 | Stroud | Nov 1973 | A |
| 3779412 | Kirton | Dec 1973 | A |
| 3893582 | Kowalik | Jul 1975 | A |
| 4723672 | Puma | Feb 1988 | A |
| 5085332 | Gettig et al. | Feb 1992 | A |
| 5269429 | Schumacher | Dec 1993 | A |
| 5421469 | Lee | Jun 1995 | A |
| 5890610 | Jansen | Apr 1999 | A |
| 5957314 | Nishida | Sep 1999 | A |
| 6604643 | Michael | Aug 2003 | B1 |
| 7004340 | Belden, Jr. | Feb 2006 | B2 |
| 8333288 | Miller | Dec 2012 | B2 |
| 8544665 | Bogle | Oct 2013 | B2 |
| 8562582 | Tuckwell | Oct 2013 | B2 |
| 8950609 | Aneas | Feb 2015 | B2 |
| 20100012615 | Brooks | Jan 2010 | A1 |
| 20120298613 | Brooks | Nov 2012 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 077902 | Sep 2011 | AR |
| 098591 | Jun 2016 | AR |
| 2684965 | Jun 1993 | FR |
| 2907765 | May 2008 | FR |
| 03037738 | May 2003 | WO |
| 2011022756 | Mar 2011 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| The International Search Report dated Apr. 12, 2016; PCT/IB2015/059245. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20170327283 A1 | Nov 2017 | US |
