FIELD OF INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to a container closure.

The invention relates particularly to a container closure for a bottle-type container, i.e. a container that has a neck including a rim at the end of the neck that defines an orifice. Any reference hereinafter to a container must be interpreted as a reference to a bottle- type container of the above type.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

The container closure for a bottle-type container particularly is a plastics closure of the type that includes a dispensing part including a base formation having an operatively depending skirt, for seating on and sealingly engaging the rim defined by the neck of a container around its orifice, and a dispensing nipple formation that projects from the base formation and through which a liquid contained in the container can be dispensed/ consumed. The container closure includes also a cap part that defines a dome formation, the cap part being integrally formed with the dispensing part and being connected thereto by a plastic hinge formation that permits displacement of the cap part between a covering position, in which the dome formation partially covers the dispensing part and blocks the nipple formation of the dispensing part via internal formations defined thereby, and an open position, in which the nipple formation is exposed and products contained in an associated container can be dispensed/consumed.

A container closure of the above type also commonly includes one or more of the following:

a first anti-tamper arrangement, including typically a tamper indicating ring, secured to the skirt of the dispensing formation via a frangible formation, for operatively indicating first removal of the entire closure from a container by complete or partial separation of the ring from the skirt;

a second anti-tamper arrangement, including at least one portion of a skirt formation, extending along at least a part of the periphery of the dome formation of the cap part and being attached to the cap part via a frangible formation, and the base formation of the dispensing part, which define complementary engagement formations configured to permanently inter-engage one another upon first displacement of the cap part into its covering position, i.e. following injection moulding which occurs commonly with the cap part in an open position, and thus requiring separation of at least part of the said portion of the skirt formation of the cap part from the remainder of the cap part upon first displacement of the cap part into its open position; and

sealing formations defined by the cap part that hermetically seal the nipple formation of the base formation of the closure when the cap part is in its covering position.

A problem that has been identified with the use of a container closure of the above type is associated with its use in conjunction with a container containing, for example, a beverage that does not include preservatives and that requires to be effectively protected against bacteria. Although the nipple formation projecting from the base formation of such a closure is effectively protected, the operative relationship between the base formation and the cap part, when in its covering position, is such that air and liquid can enter the space defined within the cap part externally of the base formation. As such, entering of bacteria into the space is not effectively protected against. It also is common to dip a container closure into an acid that has anti-bacterial properties and the said relationship between the base formation and the cap part of the closure referred to will permit acid to enter the space referred to, which again is not satisfactory.

It is thus an object of this invention to provide a container closure of the abovementioned type in respect of which the problems identified above are at least ameliorated.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a container closure, which comprises a plastics body including:

a dispensing part including a base formation having an operatively depending skirt, for seating on and sealingly engaging the rim defined by the neck of a container around its orifice, and a dispensing nipple formation, projecting from the base formation;

a cap part including a dome formation defining at least one internal nipple sealing formation;

a plastic hinge formation connecting the cap part to the dispensing part and permitting displacement of the cap part with respect to the dispensing part between an open position as moulded, in which the nipple formation of the dispensing part is exposed, and a covering position in which an internal space is defined between the cap part and the dispensing part and in which the nipple sealing formation defined by the cap part covers the nipple formation of the dispensing part and hermetically seals the nipple formation, the container closure being characterised in that the cap part and the dispensing part define complementary secondary sealing formations that sealingly engage each other when the cap part is in its covering position for sealing the internal space defined between the cap part and the dispensing part.

According to one particular embodiment of the invention, the dispensing part and the cap part define opposing peripheral abutment faces that abut one another with the cap part disposed in its covering position, said opposing abutment faces defining the complementary secondary sealing formations for sealing the internal space defined between the cap part and the dispensing part.

The abutment face defined by the dispensing part may be a cylindrical, peripheral outer face portion of a raised crest formation defined by the base formation of the dispensing part and the abutment face defined by the cap part may be a complementary inner face portion that, in the covering position of the cap part with respect to the dispensing part, overlappingly engages the raised crest formation defined by the base formation of the dispensing part.

For the above abutment faces, the complementary secondary sealing formations may include a projecting peripheral rib formation projecting radially inwardly from the abutment face defined by the cap part and a peripheral groove defined within the abutment face of the dispensing part, which sealingly engage one another with the cap part disposed in its covering position with respect to the dispensing part. The peripheral rib formation and the complementary peripheral groove forming the complementary secondary sealing formations may provide for the cap part to clip into its covering position when displaced from its open position into its covering position.

Further according to the invention, the container closure may include a first anti-tamper arrangement including a tamper indicating ring secured to the skirt of the dispensing formation via a frangible formation for operatively indicating first removal of the entire closure from a container by complete or partial separation of the tamper indicating ring from the skirt.

The container closure may include a second anti-tamper arrangement which may include at least one portion of a skirt formation extending along at least a part of the periphery of the dome formation of the cap part and being attached to the cap part via a frangible formation and the dispensing formation, the skirt formation of the second anti- tamper arrangement and the base formation of the dispensing part defining complementary engagement formations configured to permanently engage one another upon first displacement of the cap part into its covering position, thus requiring separation of at least a part of the said portion of the skirt formation of the cap part from the remainder of the cap part upon first displacement of the cap part into its open position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described below with reference to two embodiments of a container closure, in accordance with the invention, which are illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a first embodiment of a container closure, in accordance with the invention, in its configuration when first applied to a bottle-type container and prior to first opening thereof;

Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the container closure of Figure 1 , illustrating the operation of the anti-tamper arrangement thereof that indicates first opening of the cap part of the closure;

Figure 3 shows a side view of the container closure of Figure 1 , with the cap part thereof in its open position; Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of the container closure of Figure 1 , in its configuration as shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4B shows detail B of Figure 4;

Figure 4C shows detail C of Figure 4;

Figure 5 shows a three-dimensional view of a second embodiment of a container closure, in accordance with the invention, in its configuration when first applied to a bottle-type container and prior to first opening thereof;

Figure 6 shows a three-dimensional view of the container closure of Figure 5, with the cap part thereof in its open position; and

Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional side view of the container closure of Figure 5, in its configuration as shown in Figure 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, a first embodiment of a container closure, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The container closure 10 is configured particularly for use with a bottle-type container, the closure comprising an integrally formed plastics body 12 that includes generally a dispensing part 14 and a cap part 16 that are connected by a plastic hinge formation 18 (see Figure 3).

The dispensing part 14 includes a base formation 20 having an operatively depending, internally threaded skirt 22, the dispensing part being configured for seating on and sealingly engaging the rim defined by the neck of a bottle-type container around its orifice. The dispensing part 14 includes also a dispensing nipple formation 24 (see Figures 3 and 4) which projects from the base formation 20 and through which the contents of an associated container can be dispensed/consumed. The operative bottom edge of the skirt 22 has a first anti-tamper arrangement in the form of a tamper indicating ring 26 secured thereto via a frangible formation (not clearly shown), the tamper indicating ring 26 separating, completely or partially, from the skirt 22 upon first removal of the closure from its associated container.

The cap part 16 of the container closure 10 includes a dome formation 28, the cap part being displaceable with respect to the dispensing part between an open position, in which the closure is moulded and in which the nipple formation 24 of the dispensing part is exposed (as shown in Figure 3), and a covering position in which the cap part 16 effectively covers the base formation of the dispensing part and in which internal nipple sealing formations 30 defined by the dome formation of the cap part, cover the nipple formation 24 of the dispensing part and hermetically seal the orifice defined by the nipple formation (as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings). In the covering position of the cap part, an internal space 50 is defined between the cap part and the dispensing part.

The cap part 16 includes also a second anti-tamper arrangement, particularly in the form of an anti-tamper tab 32 that is connected to the cap part 16 by a frangible formation along a line 34, the tab 32 defining engagement formations 36 which are configured to permanently engage complementary formations 38 defined by the base formation 14 upon first displacement of the cap part into its covering position, following the manufacture of the closure 10 by an injection moulding process which provides for the cap part to be formed while in its open position. First opening of the cap part 16 thus requires displacement of the tab 32 in the configuration as shown in Figure 2, resulting in severing of a portion of the tab 32 from the remainder of the cap part 16 by severing of the frangible formation, the cap part 16 thus being displaceable into its open position as shown in Figure 3 only after the displacement of the tab, which will render this clearly visible. Insofar as the configuration of the container closure 10 as described above is already known and insofar as this does not form a part of the present invention, this is not described in any further detail herein.

Referring particularly to Figure 4 of the drawings, the base formation 20 of the dispensing part 14 of the closure 10 defines a raised crest formation 40 from which the nipple formation 24 projects, the crest formation 40 defining a cylindrical peripheral outer face portion 42 which is overlappingly engaged by a complementary inner face portion 44 of the cap part 16 (see Figures 4B and 4C). In the region of this overlap of the face portions 42 and 44 which, in practice, abut one another but are shown slightly spaced apart for the sake of clarity, the inner face portion of the cap part 16 defines a peripheral rib formation 46 which operatively clips into a complementary peripheral groove 48 defined within the face portion 42, particularly in a configuration in which the rib formation 46 and groove 48 form complementary secondary sealing formations that provide an effective seal between the base formation 20 of the dispensing part 12 and the cap part 16, this seal being disposed operatively above the tab 32, as is shown clearly in Figure 4B. By the provision of this seal, the internal space 50 defined within the cap part 16 of the closure 10 above the base formation 20 of the dispensing part 12 is effectively sealed from the external environment, preventing the ingress of any liquid, gaseous medium, or dust into this space. This is a preferred requirement in relation to the use of closures of the type in conjunction with containers of which the contents must not be exposed to any bacteria, and the like. This particularly is a requirement in relation to, for example, natural beverages, that do not include the usual preservatives. This seal will prevent also the ingress of an acid into which a closure of the type is conventionally dipped for anti-bacterial purposes.

The container closure 10 is thus particularly suitable for use in conjunction with bottle- type containers of which the contents must be protected against bacteria, and the like.

Referring now to Figures 5 to 7 of the drawings, a second embodiment of a container closure, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 60. The closure 60 is essentially the equivalent of the closure 10, again comprising an integrally formed plastics body 62 which includes a dispensing part 64 and a cap part 66. In this case, the second anti-tamper arrangement includes two tab seal bands 68, each band 68 being a skirt formation part of the cap part 66 connected to the remainder of the cap part via frangible formations 70, the bands being operatively trapped within complementary trap formations 72 defined by the dispensing part 12 upon first displacement of the cap part into its covering position, following manufacture of the closure. First opening of the cap part from its covering position thus requires separation of the bands 68 from the remainder of the cap part 66 by severing of the frangible formations 70, the bands remaining permanently trapped within the trap formations 72 and thereby rendering the fact that the cap part has been opened clearly visible.

For the remainder, the closure 60 again includes a sealing arrangement effective between the cap part 66 and the dispensing part 64, for effectively sealing the internal space within the cap part above the base formation of the dispensing part in an equivalent manner to that described above with respect to the closure 10 (see Figure 4) and as illustrated in detail in Figure 7 of the drawings. This sealing arrangement is thus not again described.

It will be appreciated that the principles associated with the invention, which provide essentially for sealing of the space between the cap part and the base formation of the dispensing part of a closure of the type herein envisaged, can be achieved in different ways and can be associated with container closures of various different configurations, but of the general type. The invention accordingly extends also to all such alternative configurations of container closures which incorporate the essential principles of the present invention.