The present invention relates to a fitment for a bottle, particularly, but not exclusively those bottles from which one might drink directly, such as small bottles containing alcoholic beverages .

The "spiking" of drinks with a drug or more potent or alcoholic drink has been known for many years. The spiking agent, usually in the form of a liquid or tablet, is dropped into the drink and dissolved. The spiking is generally performed without the knowledge of the drinker and may be done for sinister or malicious purposes. The seriousness of such incidents has recently increased with the availability of so-called "date rape drugs" such as GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid) , Rohypnol® (flunitrazepam) and Ketamine (ketamine hydrochloride) . These drugs have been used to spike drinks to assist in the perpetration of rape and other sexual assaults.

Spiking of drinks may be inhibited by providing a closure or dispenser on the drink' s container that inhibits ingress of foreign agents. Stoppers and caps that inhibit ingress of foreign agents are well-known. Many of these do not allow access to the contents of the bottle without removing the stopper or cap and so the stopper has to be replaced in between drinking in order to prevent spiking. This, of course, relies on the user replacing the stopper which may not be convenient for the user. Furthermore, such stoppers and caps are, by their very nature, removable when the bottle is in an upright orientation. UK patent application GB2376226 describes a dispensing device for a bottle in which the device is provided with a means of inhibiting contaminants from entering the container, such means being a mesh or a pivotal gate valve. Such a dispensing device inhibits ingress of contaminants, but it would be relatively simple, however, to remove the dispensing device when the container is in an upright position, allowing a foreign agent to be administered to the drink.

The Spika Stoppa device (GR Tool and Jigwork, South Wales) provides a dispensing device that fits onto the top of a bottle and inhibits ingress of contaminants, but allows a straw to penetrate a membrane at the top of the device so that the drinker can access the contents of the bottle. Such a dispensing device inhibits ingress of contaminants, but it would be relatively simple, however, to remove the dispensing device when the container is in an upright position, allowing a foreign agent to be administered to the drink.

The consumption of beverages, in particular alcoholic beverages, directly from bottles has increased dramatically in the recent past. This has lead to an increased incidence of infections associated with drinking from dirty bottles. For example, the incidence of leptospirosis or Weils Disease, usually only contracted by those undertaking certain water sports such as canoeing, has increased. There is therefore a desire to provide a clean, hygienic device ■ that reduces the risk of contracting infections from dirty bottles. The device in accordance with the present invention seeks to address some of the problems mentioned above.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fitment for the neck of a bottle, the fitment comprising

a sealing means for sealably interfacing with a bottle opening and

an engagement member that, in use, engages with the bottle to resist removal of the fitment from the bottle,

wherein, when the bottle is in a first orientation, the engagement member is readily movable from a first engagement member position in which the engagement member resists removal of the fitment from the bottle to a second engagement member position in which the fitment may be readily removed from the bottle

and, when the bottle is in a second orientation, the movement of the engagement member from the first to the second engagement member position is inhibited.

This provides a fitment that may, for example, only be readily removable when the bottle is inverted, removal causing loss of at least part of the contents of the bottle. Such a fitment may be desirable to hinder "spiking" of the contents of the bottle. Alternatively, a fitment may, for example, only be readily removable when the bottle is upright, thus inhibiting removal of the fitment when the bottle is inverted which may lead to loss of some of the contents of the bottle which, in some cases, may by- undesirable.

The meaning of the term "inhibited" is not intended to be limited to "prohibited" or "prevented", but is also intended to include "resisted".

The fitment may further be provided with an aperture for dispensing a beverage from the bottle therethrough.

The fitment may comprise a plurality of engagement members arranged such that, when the bottle is in the first orientation, each engagement member is readily movable from the first to the second engagement member position so as to enable removal of the fitment from the bottle, and when the bottle is in the second orientation, movement of each engagement member to the second engagement member position is inhibited. The provision of more than one engagement member may make unwanted removal of the fitment more difficult.

It is preferred that the fitment comprises at least three engagement members . Such an arrangement may provide a fitment that is very difficult to remove without the bottle being in the first orientation.

If there is more than one engagement member, then the said engagement members may be substantially equidistant from adjacent engagement members. This provides an efficient and simple geometrical arrangement of the engagement members. When the bottle is moved into the first orientation, at least one of the engagement members (and preferably all of the engagement members) may move into the second engagement member position. For example, this may be under the influence of gravity.

At least one and preferably each of the engagement members may be movable between the first and second engagement member positions by pivotal or translational movement of the respective engagement member.

When the bottle is in the first orientation, one or more of the engagement members may be movable from the first to the second engagement member position by gravity. One or more of the engagement members may move on movement of the bottle into the first orientation or further action may be required on behalf of the user to allow the respective engagement member to move into the second engagement member position. This provides a simple and effective way of allowing the user to remove the fitment from the bottle.

When the bottle is in the second orientation, movement of the engagement member from the first engagement member position to the second engagement member position may be inhibited by gravity.

Each engagement member may comprise one of a pivotally- mounted lobe, a ball and a wedge. The ball and wedge may typically undergo translational motion between the first and second engagement member positions. The pivotally-mounted lobe may typically undergo a pivotal motion between the first and second engagement member positions. The fitment may further comprise a housing wherein at least one engagement member is associated with the housing.

When the bottle is in the second orientation, at least one of the engagement members may engage with the bottle and the housing to inhibit removal of the fitment from the bottle.

The housing, when mounted on the bottle may form mutually- spaced first and second regions between the housing and the bottle, the first region being provided with the engagement member when the bottle is in the second orientation, the engagement member inhibiting removal of the fitment from the bottle, and the second region being sufficiently large so that when the bottle is in the first orientation the engagement member may be moved to the second region so that the fitment may be removed from the bottle.

The second region may be formed between the top of the bottle and a portion of the housing near to the top of the bottle, and the first region may be formed between the neck of the bottle and a portion of the housing associated with the neck of the bottle.

Such an arrangement allows for the removal of the fitment from the bottle when the bottle is substantially inverted. Such an arrangement may be facilitated by the fitment being provided with a frustoconical surface that, in use, faces the neck of the bottle.

In this case, the fitment may be arranged such that, in use, the housing is movable, relative to the bottle, from a first housing position in which, when the bottle is in the first orientation, movement of a least one engagement member from the first to the second engagement member position is inhibited, to a second housing position, thereby forming the second region between the housing and the bottle into which the at least one engagement member may be moved. This ensures that a deliberate movement of the housing is required to remove the fitment from the bottle.

More generally, the housing may be movable,- in use, relative to the bottle from a first housing position in which when the bottle is in the first orientation, movement of at least one engagement member from the first to the second engagement member position is inhibited, to a second housing position in which, when the bottle is in the first orientation at least one engagement member is readily- movable from the first engagement member position to the second engagement member position so that the fitment may be readily removed

and when the bottle is in the second orientation, the movement of at least one engagement member from the first to the second engagement member position is inhibited.

This may reduce the likelihood of accidental removal of the fitment.

The housing may be movable from the first housing position to the second housing position in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bottle. Alternatively or additionally, the housing may be movable from the first housing position to the second housing position by rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bottle.

This provides another mechanism that may reduce the likelihood of accidental removal of the fitment.

The housing may be resiliently deformable, the deformation of the housing from the first to the second housing position providing a cavity between the housing and the bottle to allow at least one engagement member to move from the first engagement member position to the second engagement member position. For example, the housing may be resiliently deformable in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bottle.

Alternatively, the housing may be substantially rigid and movement of the housing from the first housing position to the second housing position provides a cavity between the housing and the bottle to allow at least one engagement member to move from the first engagement member to the second engagement member position. Such movement may be a translational motion. This may be achieved, for example, by urging the fitment onto the bottle when the bottle is in the first orientation.

This may reduce the likelihood of accidental removal of the fitment.

It is convenient if the housing is adapted to be placed around the neck of a bottle. When the bottle is in the second orientation, at least one engagement member (and more preferably a plurality or all of the engagement members) may engage with the lip of the bottle, preferably the underside of the lip of the bottle.

At least part of the housing may be resiliently deformable so that it permits the fitment to be mounted on a bottle, but, when the bottle is in a second orientation, resists removal of the fitment. This provides a simple and effective mechanism for mounting the fitment.

The housing may comprise a circumferentially extending skirt with which at least one engagement member is associated. The surface of the circumferentially extending skirt that, in use, faces the bottle may have a generally frusto-conical shape. This allows the creation of a space into which the engagement member may be moved to allow the fitment to be removed from the bottle. The circumferentially extending skirt may be provided with a lip that extends inwardly from the skirt, the lip preferably being provided at one end of the skirt. The lip may provide support for at least one engagement member. An annular aperture may be provided between the sealing means and the lip for allowing the insertion of the top of the bottle therethrough.

The housing may be provided with at least one cage for inhibiting the motion of at least one engagement member. Preferably, each engagement member is associated with a cage and each cage is preferable only provided with one engagement member. Such cages help to mitigate against loss of the engagement member and helps maintain the desired distribution of engagement members relative to the housing. Each cage may be formed by two walls or pillars and optionally one or both of the skirt and lip (if present) .

The housing may comprise one or both of glass and a plastics material. The plastics material may comprise one or more of nylon and polypropylene.

In use, the first orientation may be when the bottle is substantially inverted. The fitment may then only be removed with loss of at least some of the contents of the bottle.

When the first orientation is when the bottle is inverted, then the second orientation may be when the bottle is substantially upright, and preferably includes any orientation other than inverted. Thus, the fitment may only be removed from the bottle when the bottle is substantially inverted.

When the bottle is in the first orientation, the engagement member may be movable from the first position to the second position by gravity. This provides a simple and effective way of allowing the user to remove the fitment from the bottle.

The fitment may comprise a means for resisting ingress of contaminants . The said means may comprise one or more of a stopper, lid, cover, valve and perforated barrier. The means for resisting ingress of contaminants may be adapted so as to permit the passage of a straw or tube therethrough to enable the user to access the contents of the bottle. For example, a cover may be provided with a slit through which a straw may be inserted. A perforated barrier inhibits ingress of foreign materials in tablet, capsule and possibly powder or liquid form.

The fitment may comprise a means for permitting egress of the contents of the bottle, such as an aperture in the housing or a straw. The straw, for example, may be associated with a ball joint, which may be integral with the housing or provided separately from the housing.

The sealing means may form a friction-fit with the inside surface of the neck of the bottle. The sealing means may comprise a hollow substantially cylindrical body, such as a tube. Such a sealing means may seal with a surface of the bottle and also provide a means for permitting egress of the contents of the bottle.

The sealing means may be integrally formed with the housing, for example, by machining or moulding the housing and sealing means from, or in, a single piece of plastic. Alternatively, the housing and sealing means may be provided separately, with the housing and sealing means being assembled together.

The fitment may comprise a mouthpiece.

If the means for resisting ingress comprises a valve, the valve may comprise a valve member that is movable relative to a valve seat, the valve member being provided with a valve member surface that may form a sealing engagement with a surface of the valve seat. Such a valve can be arranged so as not to interfere with the consumer' s drinking experience to such an extent that the drinking experience is no longer pleasurable or satisfactory.

The valve member may be pivotally attached to the valve seat.

Alternatively, the valve member may be slidably displaceable relative to the valve seat. The valve may be provided with a stop mechanism that limits the extent of the displacement of the valve member relative to the valve seat. This may help limit the flow of liquid from the bottle, therefore preventing spillage of the contents of the bottle. In the case where the sealing means comprises a hollow substantially cylindrical body, the stop mechanism may comprise a stop member connected by a substantially inelastic connector to the valve member, the stop member, in use, engaging with the body, preferably an end of the body, so as to limit the extent of displacement of the valve member relative to the valve seat. This provides a simple and effective mechanism for limiting the extent of the displacement of the valve member. The connector may be substantially rod-shaped. The connector may extend through the internal cavity of the body. In this case, the stop member may be elastically deformable so that, on construction of the fitment, the stop member may be deformed, permitting the stop member and connector to be introduced into one end of the body. On exit from the second end of the body, it is preferred that the stop member substantially regains its pre-deformation shape. This allows a one-piece stop member/connector/valve member to be made and introduced separately into the fitment. The said valve member surface and the valve seat surface may be provided by substantially frustoconical portions of the valve member and the valve seat. This provides a good seal between the valve member and the valve seat.

The valve seat may be provided with a recess such that when the valve member forms a sealing engagement with the valve seat, access to the valve member is inhibited. This helps deter someone from manually lifting the valve member in order to introduce foreign agents into the bottle. The mouthpiece may form the valve seat. This allows the mouthpiece to function also as a valve seat.

When the bottle is in the second orientation, the valve member may be in sealing engagement with the valve seat. In this configuration, the valve is closed and removal of the fitment is resisted.

When the bottle is in the first orientation, the valve member may be displaced from the valve seat. In this configuration, the valve is open and therefore permits egress of the contents of the bottle when the bottle is in an orientation that permits the fitment to be readily removed. Such an arrangement further provides more difficulty for the person wishing to remove the fitment with a view to spiking the contents of the bottle.

In use, movement of the bottle into a tipping or pouring orientation may cause the valve member to move relative to the valve seat so as to permit egress of the contents of the bottle. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a fitment for a bottle, the fitment comprising:

a sealing means for sealably interfacing with a bottle opening;

an aperture for dispensing a beverage from the bottle therethrough; and

a means for inhibiting ingress of contaminants into the bottle,

wherein said means for inhibiting ingress of .contaminants into the bottle comprises a valve, the valve comprising a valve member that is slideably displaceable relative to a valve seat, and the valve member is provided with a valve member surface that may form a sealing engagement with a surface of the valve seat.

The fitment may comprise a means for permitting egress of the contents of the bottle.

The valve may comprise those features described above in relation to such a valve with reference to the fitment of • the first aspect of the present invention.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fitment for a bottle, the fitment comprising: a sealing means for sealably interfacing with a bottle opening;

an aperture for dispensing a beverage from the bottle therethrough; and

a means for inhibiting ingress of contaminants into the bottle,

wherein the fitment is arranged such that, in use, when the bottle is in a first orientation, the fitment may be readily removed from the bottle and when the bottle is in a second orientation, removal of the fitment from the bottle is inhibited.

It is preferred that the first orientation is an orientation in which at least some of the contents of the bottle (if present) would be discharged. Such an orientation may be an orientation that is typically used to pour the contents of a bottle from the bottle. It is preferred that the first orientation is a substantially inverted orientation. It is preferred that, in use, removal of the fitment from the bottle is inhibited" when the bottle is in a substantially upright orientation.

The fitment may be provided with an engagement member. The engagement member may, in use, engage with the bottle when the bottle is in the second orientation to resist removal of the fitment from the bottle. It is preferred that when the' bottle is in the first orientation, the engagement member is readily movable from a first engagement member position in which the engagement member resists removal of the fitment from the bottle to a second engagement member position in which the fitment may be readily removed from the bottle.

It is further preferred that when the bottle is in the second orientation, the movement of the engagement member • from the first to the second engagement member position is inhibited.

The fitment of the third aspect of the present invention may comprise those features described above with reference to the fitment of the first aspect of the present invention.

The invention also provides a bottle comprising a fitment in accordance with one or more of the first, second and third aspects of the present invention.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures of which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-section through a fitment of the present invention, the fitment being provided with a valve to inhibit ingress of contaminants to the bottle;

Figure 2 shows several schematic cross-sectional images through the fitment of Figure 1 as the fitment is being removed from the bottle;

Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-section through an alternative fitment of the present invention, the fitment being provided with a straw to allow access to the contents of the bottle; Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-section through a further alternative fitment- of the present invention, the fitment being provided with pivotally-mounted lobes to inhibit removal of the fitment from the bottle; and

Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-section through a further alternative fitment of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-section through a fitment 1 in accordance with the present invention, the fitment 1 being mounted on a bottle B. The bottle is shown in an upright position. The fitment 1 comprises a housing 2 that is provided with a skirt portion 3 that extends circumferentially around the neck of the bottle. The skirt portion 3 has a generally frusto-conical shape, providing a cavity 9 between the skirt portion 3 and the bottle B. Three engagement members are provided, only one of which (4) is shown for the purposes of clarity. The engagement members are all spherical balls which conveniently engage with lip of the bottle B in order to resist removal of the fitment 1. Each of the three engagement members is spaced equidistantly from the other two engagement members so as to provide three evenly-spaced points of contact between the fitment 1 and the bottle B.

Each of the engagement members is a ball that is located within a cage portion of the housing 2. The cage portions, which have been omitted from the figure for the purpose of clarity, prevent loss of the engagement members and ensure that they are substantially equidistantly spaced whilst allowing engagement members to engage with the bottle. Each cage portion is formed by a respective portion of the skirt 3 and two pillars or posts, one either side of the respective engagement member.

The fitment is further provided with a cylindrical sealing member 5 that forms' a seal with the internal surface of the neck of the bottle. The seal ensures that liquid passes out of the fitment 1 via the desired route, limiting undesired leakage.

The fitment 1 is provided with a valve V comprising a valve member 6 attached to a stop member 8 by a spacer shaft 7, and a valve seat 10. The valve member 6 is of a frusto- conical shape and may engage with the valve seat 10 which is formed from a frusto-conical surface of a portion of the housing 2. When the bottle B is in an upright position, the valve member 6 is in sealing engagement with the valve seat 10. The valve member 6 forms a sealing engagement in such a position that it is recessed into the housing 2. This inhibits access to the valve member 6. The length of the spacer shaft 7 is selected so that, in use, the displacement of the valve member 6 relative to the valve seat 10 may be limited.

The operation of the fitment 1 when fitted to a bottle B will now be described. When the bottle is tipped into a pouring orientation the pressure of the liquid in the bottle against the valve member 6 causes the valve member 6 to move away from the valve seat 10 so that liquid may leave the bottle. Furthermore, the action of gravity on the valve member 6 itself may cause the valve member 6 to move away from the valve seat 10, depending on the orientation of the bottle. The maximum- displacement of the valve member 6 from the valve seat 10 is determined by the length of the spacer shaft 7 which connects the valve member 6 to the stop member 8. The stop member 8 abuts against the end of the sealing member 5 to prevent further movement of the valve member 6 from the valve seat 10. The stop member 8 does not significantly inhibit egress of liquid from the bottle.

When the bottle B is returned to the upright position, the valve member 6 falls back into sealing engagement with the valve seat 10 through the action of gravity.

The fitting of the fitment of the present invention is now described. Referring to figure 1, the fitment 1 is introduced onto the top of bottle B. The bottle B will typically be at least partially filled with liquid to be drunk directly from the bottle or poured into another receptacle for subsequent drinking. The bottle B would usually be relatively upright in order not to spill any of the contents of the bottle B. Sealing member 5 forms a sealing engagement with the inside of the neck of bottle B. Skirt portion 3 is -resiliently deformable so that movement of the fitment 1 onto the bottle causes the skirt portion 3 to be deformed outwards. Once the fitment 1 has been fitted onto the bottle, the skirt portion 3 engages with the engagement members (exemplified as 4) so that the engagement members engage with the bottle so as to resist removal of the fitment 1 from the bottle B.

The removal of the fitment of the embodiment of the present invention from the bottle is now described. When the bottle B is in an upright position as shown in figure 1, the engagement members (exemplified as 4) engage with the lip of the bottle B so as to resist removal of the fitment from the bottle.

The fitment may be removed as shown in Figure 2. The fitment may only be readily removed from the bottle when the bottle is in a substantially inverted orientation. When the bottle is in this orientation, simply pulling the fitment away from the bottle will not readily remove the fitment. In order to remove the fitment, the housing 3 is urged onto the bottle B as shown in Figure '2B. This allows the engagement member 4 to fall under the influence of gravity into cavity 9. The engagement members may no longer engage with the bottle to prevent removal of the fitment 1 and the fitment may therefore be removed from the bottle B as shown in Figure 2C..The bottle is inverted throughout the removal process and it is therefore highly likely that at least some of the contents of the bottle will have been lost during the removal process. Furthermore, the bottle B is inverted through the removal process and when the bottle is in such an orientation, valve member 6 is displaced from valve seat 10 and thus any liquid in the bottle B may be discharged during the removal process. The loss of the contents may warn the user that the bottle has been tampered with. Furthermore, the loss of contents during such a process may alert onlookers that something suspicious is occurring.

If the bottle is in an upright position, then it is difficult to remove the fitment readily from the bottle B. Referring to Figure 1, when the housing 2 is urged downwards onto bottle B then skirt portion 3 and engagement member 4 are moved down the length of 'the bottle neck. The cavity 9. formed by the skirt portion 3 and the bottle B is capable of receiving engagement member 4, but the engagement member 4 will not remain in the cavity 9 for any significant period of time so that the fitment may be removed from the bottle. B. Even if the engagement member 4 is moved into cavity 9, for example by shaking the bottle B up and down, then the engagement member 4 merely moves quickly under the influence of gravity to a position in which it may engage with the lip of the bottle should attempts be made to try to withdraw the fitment 1 from the bottle.

The fitment 1 of figures 1 and 2 is provided with a valve in order to inhibit ingress of foreign agents. Figure 3 shows an alternative fitment 31 using a drinking tube 41 to inhibit ingress of foreign agents. Fitment 31 comprises housing 32 having a skirt portion 33 that, in use, causes engagement member 34 to engage with the bottle B. The fitment 31 further comprises a sealing member 35 that forms a seal with the inner surface of the neck of the bottle B. The fitment 31 is mounted and removed in substantially the same manner as described with reference to fitment 1 of Figures 1 and 2. Instead of a valve, the fitment 31 is provided with a ball joint 40 that has a drinking tube 41 incorporated therethrough. The ball joint 40 is mounted in housing 32. The drinking tube 41 extends through the ball joint 40 so that the user can access the contents of the bottle B. The drinking tube 41 is provided with a perforated barrier 42 that is located across the mouth of the tube. The perforated barrier 42 is in this case a plastic mesh that inhibits ingress of tablets, capsules and possibly powders and liquids. The engagement members may be shaped other than spherical balls. For example,- ovoid balls or wedge shapes may be used.

The embodiments of Figures 1, 2 and 3 show one particular arrangement in which removal of a fitment may be inhibited. A further possible arrangement is shown in Figure 4. The fitment 51 comprises a housing 52 having a skirt portion 53. Four engagement members (two of which are shown as 54a, 54b) are attached to the skirt portion 53. The engagement members 54a, 54b comprise lobes 64a, 64b pivotally attached to the skirt portion 53 at pivot points 60a, 60b respectively. When the fitment 51 is fitted over the top of a bottle B, the lobes 64a, 64b are readily moved so as to permit fitting of the fitment 51. Once the fitment 51 is in position the lobes 64a, 64b are oriented by the effect of gravity so as to engage with the bottle B if attempts are made to withdraw the fitment 51 from the bottle B when the bottle is in an upright position. The fitment 51 may be withdrawn from the bottle B when the bottle B is inverted. With the bottle in an inverted orientation, the housing 52 is urged against the bottle B. The orientation of lobes 64a, 64b changes under the effect of gravity, moving the lobes into an orientation that permits removal of the fitment 51 from the bottle B. The fitment 51 is further provided with a sealing member 55 that forms a seal with the inner surface of the neck of the bottle B. The fitment further comprises a membrane 56 that extends across the fitment 51 so as to inhibit ingress of foreign agents. The membrane is provided with a slot (not visible) through which a drinking straw may be inserted in order to access the contents of the bottle B. Other possible arrangements for inhibiting removal of a fitment in accordance with the present invention may be provided. For example, a fitment may be provided with a centrally-mounted tube or column to which is pivotally attached one or two' lobes. When the fitment is mounted on the bottle with the bottle in a substantially upright position, the centrally-mounted tube or column is deployed inside the neck of the bottle, with the lobes being deployed under the influence of gravity. The lobes are arranged so as to engage with the neck or shoulder of the bottle if an attempt is made to remove the fitment when the bottle is in an upright orientation, and further resist removal of the fitment. When the bottle is inverted, the lobes may either spontaneously fall into a position in which the fitment may be removed, or the fitment may be arranged so that a movement of the fitment is required (such as a push of the fitment onto the neck of the bottle as described with reference to the fitments of Figures 1 to 4) for sufficient space to be generated to allow the lobe or lobes to adopt an orientation that readily permits removal of the fitment from the bottle.

Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-section through a fitment 101' in accordance with the present invention, the fitment 101 being mounted on a bottle B. The bottle is shown in an upright position. The fitment 101 comprises a housing 102 that is provided with a skirt portion 103 that extends circumferentially around the neck of the bottle. The lower edge of the skirt portion 103 is provided with a lip 111 that extends from the skirt portion 103, forming an annular gap G between the lip 111 and a sealing member 105. The inner surface 103a 'of the skirt portion 103 has a generally frusto-conical shape, providing a cavity 109 between the skirt portion 103 and the bottle B. The frustoconical shape of the inner surface 103a of the skirt portion 103 ensures that the size of the cavity 109 in an area 113 adjacent to the lip of the bottle B is larger than the cavity 109 in an area 112 lower down the neck of the bottle B. Three engagement members are provided, only one of which (104) is shown for the purposes of clarity. The engagement members are all spherical balls which conveniently engage with lip of the bottle B in order to resist removal of the fitment 101. Each of the three engagement members is spaced equidistantly from the other two engagement members so as to provide three evenly-spaced points of contact between the fitment 101 and the bottle B.

Each of the engagement members is located within a cage portion of the housing 102. The cage portions, which have been omitted from the figure for the purpose of clarity, prevent loss of the engagement members and ensure that they are substantially equidistantly spaced from adjacent engagement members whilst allowing engagement members to engage with the bottle. Each cage portion is formed by a respective portion of the skirt 103 and two pillars or posts, one either side of the respective engagement member.

The fitment is further provided with a cylindrical sealing member 105 that forms a seal with the internal surface of the neck of the bottle B. The seal ensures that liquid passes out of the fitment 101 via the desired route, limiting undesired leakage. The fitment 101 is provided with a valve comprising a valve member 106 attached to a stop member 108 by a spacer shaft 107, and a valve seat 110. The valve member 106 is of a frusto-conical shape and may engage with the valve seat 110 which is formed from a frustό-conical surface of a portion of the housing 103. When the bottle B is in an upright position, the valve member 106 is in sealing engagement with the valve seat 110. The valve member 106 forms a sealing engagement in such a position that it is recessed into the housing 103. This inhibits access to the valve member 106. The length of the spacer shaft 107 is selected so that, in use, the displacement of the valve member 106 relative to the valve seat 110 may be limited.

The valve operates substantially in the same manner as described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

The fitting of the fitment of Figure 5 is now described. The bottle B would usually be relatively upright in order not 'to spill any of the contents of the bottle B. Referring to Figure 5, the fitment 101 is introduced onto the top of bottle B. The top of the bottle B would pass through the annular gap G between the lip 111 and sealing member 105. The engagement members 104 would initially be located towards the bottom of the fitment (analogous to area 112) before the bottle B is inserted into the fitment. When the bottle B is inserted into the fitment 101, the engagement member 104 is pushed upwards by the top of the bottle B until the space between the inner surface 103a and the bottle B is sufficiently large that the ball 104 may fall by the action of gravity past the bottle B into area 112. Sealing member 105 forms a sealing engagement with the inner surface of the neck of bottle B. Attempts to remove the fitment 101 by pulling the fitment 101 upwards merely urge the ball 104 into engagement with the underside of the lip of the bottle B.

The removal of the fitment of Figure 5 is now described.

The fitment may only be readily removed from the bottle when the bottle is in a substantially inverted orientation. When the bottle is in this orientation, the balls pass from the narrow region 112 into the wider region 113. The balls can no longer engage with the lip of the bottle and thus the fitment 101 may be simply removed by pulling away from the bottle B.

The bottle is inverted throughout the removal process and it is therefore highly likely that at least some of the contents of the bottle will have been lost during the removal process. Furthermore, the bottle B is inverted through the removal process and when the bottle is in such, an orientation, valve member 106 is displaced from valve seat 110 and thus any liquid in the bottle B may be discharged during the removal process. The loss of the contents may warn the user that the bottle has been tampered with. Furthermore, the loss of contents during such a process may alert onlookers that something suspicious is occurring.

In an alternative embodiment, the housing 102 may be arranged so that simply pulling the fitment 101 away from the bottle will not readily remove the fitment, even when the bottle is inverted. In this case, the space formed on mere inversion of the bottle between the housing 102 and the lip of the bottle may not be large enough to allow passage of the ball 104. In' order to remove the fitment, the housing 102 is urged onto the bottle B. Due to the frustoconical shape of the inner surface 103a, the action of urging the fitment 101 onto the bottle B causes a larger space to be formed between the bottle and the housing 102, the space now being sufficiently large to allow the ball 104 to fall under the influence of gravity past the top of the bottle B. The' engagement members may no longer engage with the bottle to prevent removal of the fitment 1 and the fitment may therefore be removed from the bottle B.

If the bottle is in an upright position, then it is difficult to remove the fitment readily from the bottle B. Referring to Figure 5, when the housing 102 is urged downwards onto bottle B then skirt portion 103 and engagement member 104 are moved down the length of the bottle neck. The space between the top of the bottle and the adjacent portion of housing 102 is capable of receiving engagement member 104, but the engagement member 104 will not remain in this position for any significant period of time so that the fitment may be removed from the bottle B. Even if the engagement member 104 is moved into this position, for example by shaking the bottle B up and down, then the engagement member 104 merely moves quickly under the influence of gravity to a position in which it may engage with the lip of the bottle should attempts be made to try to withdraw the fitment 101 from the bottle.

Those skilled in the art will realize that other valve arrangements are possible than the one described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. For example, a slit valve may be provided to replace the valve of the embodiments of the present invention. Such a valve may open on one or both of pressure exerted from liquid in the bottle when the bottle is tipped and pressure exerted by a sucking action of the user. A cuspid valve having a geometry similar to that of the cuspid valve in the human heart may also be used.

The fitments described above with reference to Figures 1 to 5 are arranged such that the fitment may only be readily removed when the bottle is in a substantially inverted orientation. It is also possible to adapt the fitment so that it may be removed from the bottle when the bottle is in a substantially upright position. This may be of use, for example, when the fitment is a dispenser to be mounted on a spirits bottle. Such spirits bottles are typically mounted in a substantially inverted position for the dispensing of spirits therefrom. It may therefore be undesirable to be able to remove the fitment when the bottle is in the inverted position (for example, if loss of the contents of the bottle is not desired) .

A number of embodiments have been described above and it will be apparent that any of the skirt or housing arrangements described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 may be used in combination with any suitable kind of engagement member and/or with any suitable kind of valve. Any of the . engagement members specifically described above (including those described with reference to Figures 1 to 5) may be used in combination with any suitable kind of housing or skirt arrangement and/or valve.