In this regard, closures for containers are known where a cap element of the closure is hingeably mounted to a main body element, the main body element being itself received on the neck of a container. Such closures are disclosed in, for example, W003/016162 and W003/010061. In such known closures, the cap element is arranged to pivot between open and closed positions of the closure, the cap element having a plug element for sealing an aperture in a spout provided on the main body element in the closed position of the closure.

A problem with closures of this type arises from their intended usage. More particularly, a user of such a closure is often pausing their sporting activity in order to replenish bodily fluid. Hence, they will require relatively easy and fast access to the bottle's contents. There may be a requirement that the closure can be opened and closed with only one hand and that the spout of the closure is readily accessed and remains clear from obstruction whilst the user takes their refreshment. In this connection, the closures of W003/016162 and W003/010061 suffer certain problems. In

both cases, the respective cap elements can be moved out of the way of the spout only to the point where the cap's outer surface engages with the closure main body element. This in practice allows the cap to pivot through around 180 degrees.

Further, in W003/010061, the hinge mechanism comprises a thinned or weakened area of material connecting the cap and the main body element, thereby affording a relatively flexible connection between the two. With this arrangement, the cap is naturally biassed back into a closed position on the main body element. This can prove highly irritating to the user in reducing the usability of the bottle, as the user has to continually move the cap away from covering the spout.

The present invention is directed to trying to resolve the problems associated with the prior art.

In this regard, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container closure comprising:- a main body element for attachment to a container, said main body element having a spout member ; a tapered cap element for covering the spout member; wherein the cap element is hingeably connected to a shoulder portion of the main body element by way of a hinge member and moveable between open and closed positions, the cap element covering the spout member in the closed position; the main body element including a recess on an outer surface, at or adjacent the hinge member, the cap element having a protrusion, which is received in the recess when

the cap element is moved to a fully open position.

In this way, the cap element can pivot to a further extent, to therefore allow greater access for the user to the spout member. The shoulder portion projects the pivot point of the cap element away from the main body element.

This, as well as the tapered nature of cap element, enhances the extent to which the cap element can pivot out of the way. The outer surface of the shoulder portion may be provided with ridges or knurls to assist with its gripping in use.

Further, the recess and protrusion can be arranged to inter-engage to thereby hold the cap in position in the open position, against a restoring force generated in the hinge member. In this way, the cap element can be temporarily retained out of the way of the spout member so as to enhance the usability of the bottle with such a closure.

The protrusion may comprise a rib, extending in a substantially longitudinal direction of the closure on an exterior surface of the cap element. This longitudinal direction may be substantially parallel to the main axis of the closure, where the closure has a substantially cylindrical form.

The rib can extend at right angles to the axis of rotation of the hinge, the recess in the main body element extending similarly. The rib may take the form of a flange projecting radially outwardly from the cap element. The

recess may take the form of a slot projecting radially into the main body element. On engagement of the protrusion and the recess, the sides of the flange-like protrusion can engage the faces of the slot-like recess, the further the protrusion moves into the slot, the increased engagement between the protrusion and recess and hence the greater the forces promoting retention of the protrusion in the recess.

The protrusion may be arranged to have an interference fit with the recess provided to the main body element.

The sides of the protrusion and/or the sides of the recess may be inclined to progressively increase the level of interference as the protrusion moves further into the slot.

The protrusion and recess may moreover include positive inter-engagement means, such as ridges and grooves provided on respective inter-engaging components, to thereby form a catch between the protrusion and the recess. Such positive inter-engagement means can reliably hold the cap element in an open position, and may moreover provide an audible indication, say a click, when the cap element reaches the open position.

In forming the cap element and main body element such that respective parts thereof can inter-engage at or adjacent the hinge member, the cap element can rotate away from the spout member to a greater angle, affording enhanced access to the spout member.

The top portion of the main body element, on which is formed the spout member, may have a substantially concave form. More particularly, the top portion may have an upward facing surface around the spout member that undulates and which is scalloped, whereby the point at which the cap element is hinged and its diametrically opposed point on the main body element are relatively high.

The curved top portion is hence shaped to conform to the shape of a user's mouth as they take refreshment, thereby preventing spillages.

The profile of the top portion is also advantageous in facilitating rinsing of the closure during manufacture to assist in conforming to aseptic/sterile requirements.

The cap element and main body element may be provided with a tamper-evident coupling. This tamper-evident coupling is arranged to afford a visible warning that the cap element has been opened for a first time. In this regard, the tamper-evident coupling may comprise a tab provided to one of the cap element and main body element and an aperture on the other of the cap element and main body element with which the tab inter-fits. The tab may comprise a substantially right angled element having a radially outwardly projecting portion and an axially downwardly projecting panel portion for insertion in the aperture. A catch mechanism may be provided between the tab and the aperture. The catch can in this connection take the form of an outstanding lip provided in the aperture for engaging an

opening in the tab. The lip in the aperture may present an inclined surface to the tab on an initial insertion to facilitate the initial closure of the cap element on the main body element.

The tab may be connected to the cap element by way of a line of weakness in the cap element material, such as a plurality of frangible bridges between the cap element and the tab. On a first opening of the cap element, the tab will become detached therefrom, being held by the action of the catch. The aperture provided to the main body element can in this regard incorporate an enlarged area to accommodate the tab, so that once detached from the cap element it drops into the aperture, out of the way. Whilst out of the way of the cap element, the tab remains retained in the aperture, due to the catch, as a visible reminder that the cap element has been opened.

One of a plug element provided to the cap or the spout is conveniently afforded with a rib arranged to snap or click into a recess provided to the other of the plug element or spout, when the cap element is moved to a closed position on the main body element. The action of snapping of the rib into the recess causes an audible confirmation that the cap element is correctly seated. The audible confirmation only occurs once the plug element provided on the cap element is sealably seated with respect to the spout member.

The rib may be an external ring on the plug element and the recess may be circumferential recess in the spout.

The plug element provided to the cap element may have a liquid tight seal with the spout, by way of an interference fit between the two components.

The closure may itself be provided with a tamper-evident band to show if the whole closure has been removed or attempted to be removed.

The main body element may take the form of a top portion, at which is formed the spout member, and a dependent skirt, the radially inner surface of which is formed with screw thread. The skirt portion can terminate in a circumferential line of weakness, such as a plurality of frangible bridges, to which is attached a tamper-evident band. The band is provided with a plurality of radially inwardly directed protrusions. These protrusions inter-engage with a shoulder or the like on the a bottle neck to which the closure is attached and prevent the tamper-evident band moving with the closure, if the closure is urged off the bottle neck. Rather than move with the closure, the bridges will fracture, leaving the band as evidence that the closure has been tampered with.

On initial capping of the closure on a bottle-neck, the frangible bridges must not fracture. To avoid fracture of the bridges, the inwardly directed protrusions on the band have an arcuate profile, to assist in easing the protrusions over the shoulder on the bottle-neck with minimal stress to the frangible bridges. The arcuate profile is formed as a substantially compound curve.

The circumferential spacing between bridges in the line of weakness may further be provided with buffer elements which protect the bridges on capping, limiting the extent of distortion that they can undergo. The buffers may comprise portions of a lower edge of the skirt or an upper edge of the tamper-evident band which extend into the spacing between the lower edge of the skirt or an upper edge of the tamper- evident band. On capping, the tamper-evident band will be pushed towards the skirt, thereby compressing and distorting the bridges. However the buffers limit the extent of this distortion.

The buffers also protect the bridges during de-moulding as the closure is stripped from the mould by forces applied to a lower edge of the tamper-evident band.

Further, it has been found that it is advantageous to afford the tamper-evident band with a high degree of flexibility. In this connection, the tamper-evident band is preferably relatively flimsy in construction. This makes the band considerably harder to defeat, without showing evidence of tampering.

However on initial capping, a certain degree of rigidity of the tamper-evident band in the longitudinal direction of the closure is required, to ensure that the closure can be applied to a bottle-neck without'distorting uncontrollably.

In this respect, the tamper-evident band can be provided with a plurality of reinforcing portions, in a longitudinal direction of the closure, the reinforcing portions, reliably

transferring forces applied in a longitudinal direction of the closure. The. reinforcing members may be thickened, longitudinally extending, areas of the tamper-evident band.

The number, size and dimensions of the reinforcing members is tailored to not greatly influence the overall flimsiness of the band and thereby not affect it resistance to obvious defeat.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a container closure comprising:- a main body element for attachment to a container, said main body element having a spout member; a cap element for covering the spout member ; wherein the cap element is hingeably connected to the main body element by way of a hinge member and moveable between open and closed positions, the cap element covering the spout member when in the closed position ; and a tamper-evident coupling between the cap element and the main body element, the tamper-evident coupling comprising a tab detachably provided to the cap element and an aperture provided to the main body element, with which the tab inter- fits, the aperture incorporating an enlarged area to completely accommodate the tab, so that once detached from the cap element, the tab can drop into a recessed position in the aperture.

According to yet a further aspect of the present invention there is provided container closure comprising:- a main body element for attachment to a container, said

main body element having a spout member; a cap element for covering the spout member; wherein the cap element is hingeably connected to a shoulder portion of the main body element by way of a hinge member and moveable between open and closed positions, the cap element covering the spout member when in the closed position ; the spout member having formed thereon a removable internal sealing element, which seals the spout member, the internal sealing element being arranged to connect with the cap element on initial assembly, whereby on first opening of the closure to an open position of the cap element, the sealing element is removed from the spout member.

Conveniently, the internal sealing member comprises an internal cap member which fuses with a plug element on the cap element during the assembly process.

The present invention also encompasses a method of forming a closure as defined above, where the internal cap member and the plug element are urged together during the assembly process whilst they are still plastically soft.

Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:- Figure 1 shows a part cross-sectional side view of a closure of the present invention with a cap in a closed position ; Figure 2 shows a view from one side of the closure of

Figure 1 with the cap in an open position ; Figure 3A shows a perspective view of the closure of Figure 1 with the cap yet to be applied to the main body element; Figure 3B shows a perspective view of the closure of Figure 1 with the cap applied ; Figure 3C shows a perspective view of the closure of Figure 1 with the cap moved to an open position ; Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view showing detail of a catch mechanism between the cap and a main body element of the closure of Figure 1.

Figure 5A shows a rear view of the closure of Figure 1 with the cap applied to the element ; Figure 5B shows a view of the closure of Figure 1 from one side with the cap applied; Figure 5C shows a front view of the closure of Figure 1 with the cap applied in the closed position ; Figure 6 shows a plan view from below of a tamper-evident band of the present invention; Figure 7 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a modified closure ; and

Figures 8 to 12 show cross-sectional views of further closure embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to the figures, a closure 1 of the present invention comprises a cap 2 and a main body element 3 hingeably attached thereto. The main body element 3 is moulded in one piece from a resilient plastics material and has a spout member 4 and a dependent skirt 5 formed with an internal screw thread 6.

The skirt may terminate in a plurality of frangible bridges 7 supporting a tamper evident band 8 for cooperation with a plain security band on the outer neck portion of a container neck (not shown) in a substantially conventional manner.

The cap 2 is hingeably connected to the main body element 3 by way of a hinge member 10 and moveable between open and closed positions, the cap covering the spout member 4 in the closed position.

From Figure 5, it will be seen that the main body element 3 has a recess 11 on an outer surface, at or adjacent the hinge member 10, the recess receiving a protrusion 12 provided to the cap, when the cap is moved to a fully open position, as shown in Figure 2.

In this way the cap 2 can pivot to a further extent, to therefore allow greater access for the user to the spout member 4. Further, the recess 11 and protrusion 12 are

arranged to inter-engage to thereby hold the cap in position in the open position, against a restoring force generated in the hinge member. In this way, the cap can be temporarily but effectively retained out of the way of the spout member so as to enhance the usability of the bottle with such a closure. In this regard, the hinge member 10 may be formed from a thinned portion of the cap material, such that it would generate a naturally restoring bias to a closed position of the cap 2.

The protrusion 12 may comprise an external flange or rib, extending longitudinally along the cap in an axial direction of the closure on an exterior surface of the cap 2.

The rib 12 is shown extending at right angles to the axis of rotation of the hinge 10, the recess 11 in the main body element extending in a similar orientation to the rib.

As shown, the rib 12 projects radially outwardly from the cap and the recess 11 takes the form of a narrow slot projecting radially into the main body element 3. On engagement of the rib and the recess, the sides of the rib engage the faces of the slot-like recess, the further the rib moving into the slot-like recess, the increased engagement there is between the rib and recess and hence the greater the forces promoting retention of the rib in the recess.

The rib 12 can have an interference fit with the recess 11 provided to the main body element. The sides of the rib

and/or the sides of the recess may moreover be inclined, to thereby progressively increase the level of interference as the rib moves further into the slot. The protrusion and recess may moreover include positive inter-engagement means, such as ridges and grooves 22 provided on respective inter- engaging components. These inter-engagement means serve to reliably hold the cap in an open position, and may also provide an audible indication, such as a click, that the cap has been moved into the open position.

In forming the cap 2 and main body element 3 such that respective parts thereof can inter-engage to a degree at or adjacent the hinge member 10, the cap can rotate away from the spout member 4 to a greater angle, affording enhanced access to the spout member. The permitted angle of rotation of the cap (9) can be at least 210 degrees.

In this regard, shoulder portion 19 projects the pivot point of the cap element away from the main body element.

This, as well as the tapered nature of cap element, enhances the extent to which the cap element can pivot out of the way.

The cap 2 may include cut away area 30 for affording grip when opening. In particular, the area 30 comprises an area for engaging a user's thumb so allowing the closure to be operated one handed. A lip 37 may be provided at the top of the area 30 for engaging a user's thumb.

As shown in the figures, the cap 2 and main body

element 3 may further be provided with a tamper-evident coupling. This tamper-evident coupling is arranged to afford a visible warning that the cap 2 has been opened a first time. Referring in particular to Figures 1 and 3A, the tamper-evident coupling comprises a tab 13 provided to the cap 2 and an aperture 14 provided on main body element with which the tab inter-fits. The tab 13 may comprise a substantially right angled element having a radially outwardly projecting portion and an axially downwardly projecting portion for insertion in the aperture 14. A catch mechanism may be provided between the tab and the aperture.

The catch can in this connection take the form of an outstanding lip 15 provided in the aperture for engaging an opening 16 in the tab. The lip in the aperture presents an inclined surface to the tab on an initial insertion, to facilitate the initial closure of the cap on the main body element. The aperture may of course be provided on the cap with the tab on the main body element.

The tab 14 is connected to the cap 2 by way of a line of weakness 17 in the cap material, such as a plurality of frangible bridges between the cap and the tab. On a first opening of the cap, the tab will become detached from the cap, being held by the action of the catch. The aperture provided to the main body element can in this regard incorporate an enlarged area 18 to accommodate the tab, so that once detached from the cap it drops into the aperture.

Whilst moved out of the way of the cap, the tab remains retained in the aperture, due to the catch, as a visible reminder that the cap has been opened.

As shown in Figure 7, the plug element 20 of the cap can conveniently be afforded with a rib 35 on its external circumferential surface. This plug rib is arranged to click into a spout recess 36 when the cap element is moved to a closed position on the main body element. The action of snapping of the plug rib into the spout recess causes an audible confirmation that the cap element is correctly seated. The audible confirmation only occurs once the plug element provided on the cap element, is sealably seated with respect to the spout member. The plug rib may be an external ring on the plug element and the spout recess may be circumferential recess.

The plug element 20 provided to the cap 2 has a liquid tight seal with the spout, by way of an interference fit between the two components.

The closure 1 may itself be provided with a tamper-evident band 21 to show if the whole closure has been removed from a bottle-neck or attempted to be so removed.

In this respect, the main body element 3 takes the form of a top portion 31, on which is formed the spout member 4, and the downwardly dependent skirt 5, whose radially inner surface is formed with screw thread 6. The top portion 31 of the main body portion has, in side profile, a substantially concave form. The curved top portion is shaped to conform to the shape of a user's mouth as they take refreshment, thereby preventing spillages. The profile of the top portion

is also advantageous in facilitating rinsing of the closure during manufacture to assist in conforming to aseptic/sterile requirements.

The skirt portion terminates in a circumferential line of weakness, such as the plurality of frangible bridges 7, to which is attached the tamper-evident band 8. The band is provided with a plurality of radially inwardly directed protrusions 23. These protrusions inter-engage with a shoulder or the like on a bottle neck to which the closure is attached and prevent the tamper-evident band moving with the closure, if the closure is urged off the bottle neck.

Rather than move with the closure, the bridges will fracture, leaving the band 8 as evidence that the closure has been tampered with.

On initial capping of the closure on a bottle-neck, the frangible bridges can not be allowed to fracture. To avoid fracture of the bridges, the inwardly directed protrusions 8 on the band have an arcuate profile, to assist in easing the protrusions 8 over the shoulder on the bottle-neck with minimal stress to the frangible bridges 7. The arcuate profile of the protrusions can be formed as a compound curve.

The circumferential spacing between bridges 7 in the line of weakness may further be provided with buffer elements 24 which protect the bridges 7 on capping, limiting the extent of distortion that they can undergo. The buffers 24 may comprise portions of a lower edge of the skirt and/or an

upper edge of the tamper-evident band which extend into the spacing between the lower edge of the skirt 5 and the upper edge of the tamper-evident band 21. On capping, the tamper- evident band will be pushed or urged towards the skirt, thereby distorting the bridges. However, the buffers limit the extent of this distortion.

In this connection, it has been found that it is advantageous to afford the tamper-evident band 21 with a relatively high overall degree of flexibility. In this connection, the tamper-evident band is preferably relatively flimsy in construction. This makes the band considerably harder to defeat, without showing evidence of tampering.

However on initial capping, a certain degree of rigidity of the tamper-evident band in the longitudinal direction of the closure is preferred, to ensure that the closure can be applied to a bottle-neck without distorting uncontrollably.

In this respect, the tamper-evident band is provided with a plurality of reinforcing portions 25, in a longitudinal direction of the closure, the reinforcing portions, reliably transferring forces applied in a longitudinal direction of the closure. The reinforcing members 25 may be thickened longitudinally extending areas of the tamper-evident band, acting as pillars.

As shown in Figure 6, the reinforcing members 25 are spaced at regular intervals around the outer circumference of the closure. Moreover, the protrusions 23 are positioned in the spaces between the reinforcing members 25, on the

inner wall of the closure. The number, size and dimensions of the reinforcing members is tailored to not greatly influence the overall flimsiness of the band and thereby not affect it resistance to obvious defeat. The relative dimensions of the thickness of the band to the thickness of the pillars is 5: 8, for example if the band thickness is 0. 5mm the pillar thickness will be 0.8mm.

The tamper-evident band may include a ratchet mechanism for co-operation with a dog configuration formed on a bottle with which the closure is used.

The cap 2 is formed separately from the main body element and hingeably attached thereto by way of a hinged clip element 27 as shown in Figure 4. The hinging action is provided by a thinned section 28 of the clip element 27, the clip being secured in a hinge recess by way of a clip 29.

The thinned section affords the material the necessary flexibility to allow the cap 2 to rotate between open and closed positions.

In Figure 8, there is shown a further closure of the present invention. In this embodiment, a plug element 40 comprises an outwardly flared annular member 41, the ends of which are arranged to resiliently engage with the sides of aperture 42 in the spout member 4.

Figure 9, a further sealing arrangement is shown, where a plug element 50 is provided as a straight walled annular member. In this case the spout member 4 comprises an

inwardly directed skirt seal 51 which is dimensioned so as to resiliently engage with the plug element as it is pushed through the aperture in the spout member 4. The material used for the spout member can be made relatively resilient for this purpose.

In Figure 10, a similar plug element to that of Figure 9 is used, but in this embodiment the spout member comprises a skirt seal 52 hinged from the top end 53 of the spout member 4. The free end (s) of the skirt seal engage in a groove 54 provided in the plug element 55. This configuration is designed to deal with relatively high internal pressures.

The sealing arrangement of closure of Figure 11 comprises a back up sealing member 65. In this connection a main seal is formed by a bead 61 formed on the spout member 4 engaging with a groove 62 in the plug element 60.

Engagement of the bead with the groove also affords an audible indication, namely a click, when the two are correctly engaged. However, a secondary seal is provided by the sealing flap member 65.

Figure 12 shows a further sealing arrangement, where an internal cap member 70 is initially formed on the spout member 4. The internal spout member is connected through a frangible annular member 71 to the spout member on forming of the spout member in the moulding assembly.

On forming the main body 3, the spout member 4 and internal cap member 70 are hence moulded, whereupon the cap

member 2 is moved over the spout member 4. Whilst within the tooling assembly, with the moulded components still soft, plug element 73 is pushed over the internal cap member 70.

An external surface 74 of the internal cap member 70 and an internal surface 75 of the plug element are each provided with ridges which inter-engage as the plug element is pushed onto the internal cap member 70, forming a friction connection. The frangible annular member 71 remains intact due to the presence of the tooling members which support the components as they are moved together.

The finished closure therefore is completely hermetically sealed, the frangible annular member 71 affording a complete seal, not dependent upon the relative dimensions of the components or resilience characteristics of any sealing elements.

This allows the closure to be subjected to aseptic/sterile cleaning processes, where, for example, temperatures are raised to levels that might adversely affect conventional sealing components, thereby destroying the aseptic/sterile guarantee.

The closure as applied to a container, and before being opened a first time, is able to withstand increased internal pressures, up to 1.5 bar.

On a first opening of the closure, the frangible annular member 71 will break and that the internal cap member 70 will remain fixed within the plug element as the cap member

is pivoted away. The contents of a bottle on which the closure is mounted will be available for consumption. The cap member 2 will, on re-closure rely on the inter-engagement of the outer surface 76 of the plug element 72 and the inwardly directed surface 77 spout for sealing.

Closures of this type may be produced, preferably by injection moulding, with or without a tamper evident band.

Two-shot moulding techniques may be used to form the cap and main body element.