FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to non- refillable devices adapted to be secured within an outlet of a container for liquid, for example, as an insert in a neck of a bottle.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION Devices to prevent refilling of bottles, particularly bottles intended to contain alcoholic drinks, eg spirits, are well known but although such devices may make it extremely difficult to introduce replacement liquid into a bottle, the manufacture and design of such devices may be complicated and therefore the devices, however desirable, may be expensive to produce.

It is an object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a device which is effective in use and avoids an excessive cost penalty.

It is a further object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a device that may be applied to a container neck in a combined condition and in a single operational step, so as to improve the speed of operation and the efficiency and versatility of the container filling and closing line.

WO 96/04179 entitled'Non-Refilling Devices", also by the present Applicant, discloses a non-refilling device for insertion within a neck portion of a container for liquids, the device comprising a tubular assembly adapted to be received at least substantially within said neck portion and having engagement means provided on an external surface thereof adapted for firm engagement with an internal surface of said

neck portion, said assembly including a sleeve means a lower end portion of which is directed in use towards the interior of said container, said sleeve means being provided with a valve seat surface, there being provided a valve member adapted to seat against said seat surface in a closed position, said assembly further comprising a pouring member received in a force-or interference-fit within an upper, open end portion of said sleeve means and provided with an annular pouring lip, the device being further provided with a container closure means including an annular sealing surface adapted in use to be in sealing engagement with said container neck portion, said annular sealing surface surrounding and annularly arranged projecting means adapted to engage removably with engagement means provided on the tubular assembly when the device is in a fully assembled condition, the construction and arrangement being such that, prior to use, the device is self-maintaining in said fully assembled condition in which each component thereof is engaged with an adjacent component prior to and during the application of the device to a container neck portion.

The content of WO 96/04179 is incorporated herein by reference.

It is an object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to obviate and/or mitigate one or more problems in the prior art.

It is an object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to improve upon the non-refillable device disclosed in WO 96/04179, eg by providing an improved non-refillable device which is less expensive and/or easier to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a non-

refillable device assembly having a non-refillable device for insertion within a neck portion of a container for liquid, the device comprising: a sleeve having means far engaging with an internal surface of the neck portion, and a pouring means, and wherein the sleeve and the pouring means are formed in one piece.

The sleeve and pouring member therefore comprise a unitary or one-piece body, ie a non-refillable device body.

Preferably, the non-refillable device also provides a valve seat also formed in one piece with the sleeve and the pouring means.

Preferably, the sleeve and the valve seat are joined by a plurality af radially spaced longitudinally extending members.

Preferably, within the sleeve there is provided a tubular member.

The tubular member and sleeve may be joined by a plurality of radially spaced support members.

An end of the tubular member distal from the valve seat may be closed by a baffle.

The baffle may be attached to the tubular member by at least one frangible, tearable or weakened portion such as a plurality of webs.

The non-refillable device may further comprise means for releasable engagement with a closure means, the releasable engagement means optionally being integrally formed with and disposed radially externally to the pouring member.

The releasable engagement means may be attached to, for example, a pouring lip of the pouring member by at least one further frangible, tearable or weakened portion, such as a plurality of further webs.

The tubular member may be at least partly hollow and an end of the tubular member proximal the valve seat may be open and flare towards the valve seat.

A liquid outlet path may be provided from an aperture in the valve seat, between the plurality-of radially spaced longitudinally extending members and between the sleeve and tubular member.

The means for engaging with an internal surface of the neck portion may comprise at least one flange radially extending around the sleeve.

The non-refillable device assembly may also comprise a valve member.

The valve member may be substantially spherical.

In an assembled state the valve member may be provided between the valve seat member and the proximal end of the tubular member. In a closed position the valve member may sit in the aperture in the valve seat. In a pouring position the valve member may be received by the proximal end of the tubular member.

The valve member may be positioned between the valve seat and the proximal end of the tubular member by pushing the valve through the aperture in the valve seat.

The non-refillable device assembly may also comprise a closure means. The closure means may comprise a cap member and a disc member received in a closed end of the cap member. The disc member may be retained in the closed end of the cap member by means of a radially reduced portion provided adjacent the closed end of the cap member.

In an assembled state, prior to insertion into a neck portion of a container for liquid, the non-refilling device and closure means may be retained in association with one another by retaining means which may comprise the releasable engagement means and the radially reduced portion.

The retaining means may have a first release force Fl.

When the non-refillable device is inserted into a neck portion of a container for liquid, the engaging means may retain the sleeve within the neck portion of the container.

The engaging means may have a second release force, F2.

Preferably, the first release force, F1 is less than the second release force F2.

By this arrangement the non-refillable device assembly may be presented to the neck of the container for liquid in a single action, and when the non-refillable device is inserted into the neck of the container for liquid the closure means can be repeatedly removed therefrom and replaced thereupon, while leaving the non- refillable device in the neck.

Advantageously, the non-refillable device body, eg all parts of the non- refillable device assembly excepting the valve member and closure means, comprise a unitary or one-piece body which may be formed by moulding, eg by injection moulding.

The non-refillable device body may be made from a plastics material, eg polyethylene, polypropylene or a combination thereof, eg low density polyethylene.

The valve member may be made from a polystyrene material.

The cap member may be made from a metallic material, eg aluminium, while the disc member may be made from a plastics material, eg polyethylene, polypropylene or a combination thereof, eg low density polyethylene.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a non- refillable device for insertion within a neck portion of a container for liquid, the device comprising: a sleeve having means for engaging with an internal surface of the neck portion, and a pouring means, and wherein the sleeve and the pouring means

are formed in one piece.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a combination of a container for liquid and a non-refillable device assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a drinks product, such as an alcoholic drinks product, comprising a container for liquid, a liquid such as an alcoholic beverage, and a non-refillable assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention.

The container preferably comprises a bottle.

The alcoholic beverage may comprise or include a fine spirit such as one of vodka, gin, whisky, brandy or the like.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a non- refillable device assembly including a non-refillable device for insertion within a neck portion of a container for liquid, the device comprising: a sleeve having means for engaging with an internal surface of the neck portion, a pouring member, and means far releasable engagement with a closure means, the releasable engagement means being integrally formed with and disposed radially externally of the pouring member.

Preferably, a release force, Fl of the releasable engagement means is sufficient to retain the non-refillable device in association with the closure means, eg during transportation.

Preferably also, the release force, Fl of the releasable engagement means is less than a release force, F2 of the means for engaging the sleeve in the neck portion

of the container for liquid.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a non- refillable device assembly including a non-refillable device for insertion within a neck portion of a container for liquid, the assembly comprising: a valve member and a valve seat member having an aperture formed therein, the valve member being dimensioned such that when the valve member sits in the valve seat member, the aperture is closed, and wherein the valve member is inserted or insertable into the device through the aperture.

The aperture may be substantially circular and the valve member may be substantially spherical, a diameter of the aperture being less than a diameter of the valve member.

Preferably, the valve member may be pushed through the aperture so as to provide the assembly.

The valve member may be made of a first substantially resiliently flexible material, and the valve seat member of a second substantially rigid material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are : Figure 1 a perspective view of a non-refillable device comprising a non-refillable device body and valve member in a disassembled state, comprising part of a non-refillable device assembly according to the present invention; Figure 2 a sectional side view of the non-refillable device of Figure 1 in a disassembled state;

Figure 3 a sectional side view of the non-refillable device of Figure 1 in an assembled state; Figure 4 an exploded perspective view of a non-refillable device assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention including the non- refillable device of Figure 1; Figure 5 a sectional side view of the non-refillable device assembly of Figure 4 in an assembled state prior to application to a neck portion of a container for liquid; Figure 6 a sectional side view of the non-refillable device assembly of Figure 4 subsequent to application to a neck portion of a container for liquid but prior to initial opening; and Figure 7 a sectional side view of the non-refillable device of the non-refillable device assembly of Figure 4 subsequent to application to the neck portion of the container for liquid with a closure means of the non-refillable device assembly removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Referring initially to Figures 4 and 5, there is provided a non-refillable or non-filling device assembly, generally designated 5, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring next also to Figures 1 to 3 the non-refillable device assembly 5 comprises a non-refillable device 10 for insertion within a neck portion

of a container for liquid which device 10 comprises a non-refillable device body 15 and a valve member 20.

The non-refillable device body 15 comprises a sleeve 25 having means 26 for engaging with an internal surface of the neck portion and a pouring means 30, the sleeve 25 and the pouring means 30 being formed in one piece. The sleeve 25 and the pouring member 30 therefore comprise a unitary or one-piece body, ie non-refillable device body 15.

The non-refillable device 10 also provides a valve seat 35, also formed in one piece with the sleeve 25 and the pouring means 30. The sleeve 25 and the valve seat portion 35 are joined by a plurality of radially spaced longitudinally extending members 40.

Within the sleeve 25 there is provided a tubular member 45. The tubular member 45 and sleeve 25 are joined by a plurality of radially spaced support members 50. An end 55 of the tubular member 45 distal from the valve seat 35 is closed by a baffle 60. The baffle 60 is attached to the tubular member 45 by at least one frangible portion 64, and in this embodiment a plurality of frangible webs 65.

The non-refillable device 10 further comprises means 70 for releasable engagement with a closure means 75, the releasable engagement means 70 being integrally formed with and disposed radially externally to the pouring means 30. The releasable engagement means 75 are attached to a pouring lip 80 of the pouring means 30 by at least one further frangible portion 85, such as a plurality of further frangible webs 90. Such further frangible webs 90 assist in prevention of removal of the device body 15 from a neck portion, in use, as will be discussed further hereafter.

The tubular member 45 is at least partly hollow and an end 95 of the tubular member 45 proximal the valve seat 35 is open and flares towards the valve seat 35. A

liquid outlet path indicated by arrows'A'in Figure 3 is provided from an aperture 100 in the valve seat 35, between the plurality of radially spaced longitudinally extending members 40, and between the sleeve 25 and tubular member 45.

The means 26 for engaging with an internal surface of the neck portion comprises at least one resiliently flexible flange 105 radially extending around the sleeve 25, and in this embodiment three such flanges 105 are provided.

The non-refillable device assembly 5 also comprises valve member 20. The valve member 20 is substantially spherical. As can be seen from Figure 3, in an assembled state the valve member 20 is provided between the valve seat 35 and the proximal end 95 of the tubular member 45. In a closed position the valve member 20 sits in the aperture in the valve seat 35. In a pouring position the valve member 20 is received by the proximal end 95 of the tubular member 45. The valve member 20 is positioned between the valve seat 35 and the proximal end 95 of the tubular member 45 by pushing the valve member 20 through the aperture 100 in the valve seat 35, as will be described hereinafter in greater detail.

The non-refillable device assembly 5 also comprises closure means 75. The closure means 75 comprises a cap member 115 and a disc member 120 received in a closed end 125 of the cap member 115. The disc member 120 is retained in the closed end 125 of the cap member 115 by means of a radially reduced portion 130 provided adjacent the closed end 125 of the cap member 115.

Referring to Figure 5, in an assembled state, and prior to insertion into a neck portion of a container for liquid, the non-refilling device 10 and closure means 75 are retained in association with one another by retaining means 135 which comprise the co-acting releasable engagement means 70 and the radially reduced portion 130. The retaining means 135 have a first release force, Fl.

Referring now to Figure 6, when the non-refillable device 10 is inserted into a neck portion 140 of a container for liquid 145, the engaging means 26 retains the sleeve 25 within the neck portion 140 of the container 145. The engaging means 26 has a second release force, F2.

The first release force, F1, is less than the second release force, F2. By this arrangement the non-refillable device assembly 5 can be presented to the neck portion 140 of the container 145 for liquid in a unitary action, and when the non- refillable device 10 is inserted into the neck portion 140 of the container 145 for liquid the closure means 75 can be repeatedly removed therefrom and replaced thereupon while leave the non-refillable device 10 in the neck portion 140.

As can be seen from the Figures, the non-refillable device body 15, ie all parts of the non-refillable device assembly 5 excepting the valve member 110 and closure means 75, comprise a unitary or one-piece body, which can be formed, eg by injection moulding.

The non-refillable device body 15 is likely made from a plastics material, eg polyethylene, polypropylene or a combination thereof, eg low density polyethylene, while the valve member 20 is likely made from a harder material, eg a polystyrene material. Further, the cap member 115 is typically made from a metallic material, eg aluminium, while the disc member 120 is likely made from a plastics material, eg polyethylene, polypropylene or a combination thereof, eg low density polyethylene.

Figure 6 illustrates a combination of the container 145 for liquid and the non- refillable device assembly 5. The combination may provide an alcoholic drinks product comprising the container 145 for liquid, a liquid comprising an alcoholic beverage (not shown), and the non-refillable device assembly 5. In this example, the container 145 comprises a bottle. Further, the alcoholic beverage likely comprises or

includes a fine spirit such as one of vodka, gin, whisky, brandy or the like.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, in use, the non-refillable device body 15 and valve member 20 are provided. Referring to Figures 1,2 and 3, the non-refillable device body 15 and valve member 20 are assembled together as follows.

The valve member 20 is dimensioned such that when the valve member 20 sits in the valve seat 35 the aperture 100 is closed, the valve member 20 being insertable into the device body 15 through the aperture 100. The aperture 100 is substantially circular and the valve member 20 substantially spherical, a diameter of the aperture 100 being less than a diameter of the valve member 20. The valve member 20 can be pushed through the aperture 100 so as to provide the assembly 5.

The valve member 20 is therefore made of a first substantially resiliently flexible material, and the valve seat 35 of a second substantially rigid material. In this way the valve member 20 can be entrapped in the device body 15 between valve seat 35, tubular member 45 and radially spaced longitudinally extending members 40.

Referring to Figure 5, the non-refillable device body 15 is then retained with the closure means 75 by the releasable engagement means 70 co-acting with radially reduced portion 130. Release force Fi of the releasable engagement means 70 is sufficient to retain the non-refillable device 10 in association with the closure means 75, eg during transportation.

Referring next to Figure 6, during a"bottling"process, container 145 is at least partly filled with a liquid. The self-maintaining assembly 5 is then presented to the container 145 and attached to the neck portion 140 thereof. The cap member 115 can then be formed over the neck portion, eg by bending an end 150 of the cap member 115 under a radial rib 155 on the neck portion 140, and conforming a portion 160 of the cap member 115 with a screw thread 165 on the neck portion 140.

In this way the cap member 75 can be replaceably removed from the neck portion 115 by a conventional twisting action thus allowing opening, reclosure and reopening of the container 145.

As can also be seen from Figures 5 and 6, the cap member 115 is formed with a frangible ring 170 connected to the cap member 115 by frangible links 175 which break upon initial opening.

As can also be seen from Figure 6, when the closure means 75 is on the container 145, the disc member 120 abuts pouring lip 80 and/or releasable engagement means 70, which essentially comprise a washer. Such abutment provides a seal between the closure means 75 and the device 10 thereby preventing egress of liquid from the container 145.

Referring now to Figure 7, the cap member (excluding ring 170) can be removed from the neck portion 140 since the release force Fi of the releasable engagement means 70 is less than the release force F2 of the means 26 for engaging the sleeve 25 in the neck portion 115 of the container 145 for liquid.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment of the present invention hereinbefore described is given by way of example only, and is not meant to be limiting of the scope of the invention.

It will particularly be appreciated that the frangible webs 65 attaching the tubular member 45 to the baffle 60 act to prevent removal of the non-refillable device body 15 from the neck portion 140. This is because if a counterfeiter seizes or grips the tubular member 45, the tubular member 45 tends to collapse thereby shearing the frangible webs 45. A visual tamper indication is therefore provided.

Further, the further frangible webs 90 attaching the releasable engagement means 75 to the pouring means 30, act to prevent removal of the non-refillable

device body 15 from the neck portion 140. This is because if a counterfeiter seizes or grips the releasable engagement means 75, the further webs 90 tear, thereby separating the releasable engagement means 75 from the pouring means 30, leaving the pouring means 30 within the neck portion 140. A further visual tamper indication is therefore provided.

Finally, it will be appreciated that the non-refillable device of the present invention may be termed an"in-bore"fitment. Providing the non-refillable device body as a single piece in-bore fitment provides an advantage of being able to fabricate such from a single moulding, thereby providing savings in manufacturing and assembly costs.