GB2199814A

GB2199814A - Bottle closure

Info

Publication number: GB2199814A
Application number: GB08728298A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Davies
Original assignee: Robinson and Sons Ltd
Current assignee: Robinson and Sons Ltd
Priority date: 1986-12-12
Filing date: 1987-12-03
Publication date: 1988-07-20
Also published as: GB8728298D0; GB8629801D0

Abstract

A bottle closure, e.g. for a flexible gear oil bottle comprises a body portion 1 which forms a tamper-evident seal with the neck of the bottle and which has frangibly connected thereto a cap 2 which initially closes a central opening 9 formed in the body portion. A spout member 14 is received in the opening 9 and forms a fluid tight seal with the inner wall 19 of a central portion 20 of the body portion. The upper end of the spout member is received within a groove 13 provided in the cap whereby the cap may be broken from the body portion and used to pull the spout outwardly to a use position before the cap 2 is remove from the spout member. <IMAGE>

Description

BOTTLE CLOSURE This invention relates to a bottle closure, and more particularly to a tamper evident bottle closure which incorporates a dispensing spout.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a bottle closure comprising a body portion which, in use, is secured to a bottle in a tamper evident manner; a cap frangibly connected to the body portion to cuer an opening in the body portion; and a spout member releasably secured to the cap and movable relative to the body portion from a storage position in which the spout member is stored within the enclosure defined by the bottle closure and its associated bottle, and a use position in which the spout member projects from the body portion through the opening to form a spout for the bottle, the arrangement being such that, in use, when the cap is frangibly connected to the body portion the opening is sealed against the escape of fluid from the enclosure but the cap may be broken from the body portion and used to pull the spout member into its use position before the cap is removed from the spout member to permit dispensing of the bottle contents through the spout.

The term "secured to a bottle in a tamper evident manner" as used herein means that the body portion is, in use, secured to an associated bottle in a manner which precludes ready removal of the body portion from the bottle, and is such that if the body portion is forcibly removed from the bottle and is subsequently replaced, this can readily be determined from the appearance of the bottle and/or the closure.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the cap interengages with the spout member in a manner which permits removal of the cap from the spout member after the spout member has been pulled into its use position, and subsequent replacement of the cap on the spout to effect re-closing of the bottle. Preferably, the spout member is provided with means which maintain the spout member in the use position after it has been initially moved into the use position upon opening of the bottle.

Preferably, when the spout member is in the use position it forms a seal with the body portion which seal is substantially impervious to the contents of the bottle.

In this way, if the bottle is made of a flexible material it can be squeezed to eject the contents through the spout under pressure.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the frangible connection between the cap and the body portion is provided by a plurality of spaced apart legs which interconnect the cap and the body portion, the cap being spaced from the body portion except at the legs. In this case, both the cap and the body portion sealing engage the spout member so as to prevent fluid loss through the space between the cap and the body portion. In effect, the cap is raised from the body portion on the legs, and the gap so created is spanned by a portion of the spout member.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is particularly well suited to bottles of highly viscous fluids, for example gear oil, and in the event that it is used for gear oil the spout is preferably adapted to receive a flexible tube whereby the gear oil may be squeezed from a flexible bottle through the spout and tube into a gear housing, e.g. the gear box of a motor vehicle.

The invention will be better understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an enlarged cross-section showing the body portion and cap of a preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted on the neck of a bottle; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on a smaller scale than Figure 1 showing a spout member for use in a preferred embodiment of the invention; and Figure 3 is a section on the line III-III of Figure 2.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is shown in axial cross-section half of the body portion 1 and cap 2 of a preferred embodiment of the invention. It will be understood that the portions to the left of the axial centre line 3 of the closure are mirror-images of the portions shown.

The body portion 1 includes an annular wall 4 terminating in a skirt 5 which closely encircles the adjacent portion of a bottle 6. The wall 4 is provided on the inner surface thereof with means 7 for engaging beneath a projection 8 formed on the bottle 6. The engaging means 7 may consist of a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart projections, or a continuous circumferential ridge. In any event, interengagement of the members 7 and 8 retains the body portion 1 on the neck of the bottle in a manner such that it cannot be removed without causing permanent damage to the cap or the bottle which will be evident upon examination of the bottle.

It will be appreciated that whilst a particular form of tamper evident retaining means has been illustrated, other tamper evident retaining arrangements are possible, and the particular form of tamper evident retaining mechanism used to retain the body portion on the bottle is not critical to the present invention.

The body portion defines a central opening 9 which is initially sealingly closed by the cap 2. The cap 2 is formed integrally with the body portion 1 and is connected to the body portion 1 by means of a frangible connection 10 whereby the cap 2 can be broken from the body portion 1 by hand pressure to expose the opening 9.

The cap 2 includes annular outer and inner walls 11,12 respectively which define therebetween an annular groove 13. A spout member 14 (Figure 2) has an upper end region 15 sized to be snuggle received within the groove 13 and retained therein by interference fit with the walls 11,12.

In use, the spout member 14 is firstly preassembled with the cap/body portion moulding so that the end region 15 of the spout member is snuggle received within the groove 13. The bottle 6 is then filled, and the bottle closure is mounted on the bottle, e.g. by applying sufficient downward force to the top of the body portion to cause the projection 7 to snap over the projection 8. When it is desired to dispense the contents of the bottle the cap 2 is manually grasped and broken from the body portion 1 at the frangible connection 10, and is then used to pull the spout member upwardly out of the interior of the bottle. Outward movement of the spout is continued until the flange 16 at the bottom of the spout member engages the lower end surface 17 of the central portion of the body member 1.The spou-s member is preferably provided with a plurality of projections 18 which serve to maintain the spout in its use position unless it is forcibly pushed back into the bottle. Once the spout has been fully raised to its use position further upward force on the cap 2 will cause the cap to be released from the region 15 of the spout member, and the contents of the bottle can thereafter be dispensed.

Subsequently, if it is desired to re-close the bottle the cap member 2 is simply pressed onto the end region 15 of the spout member to effect temporary closure of the aperture 19 in the spout.

If desired, a plastic tube can be forced over the spout member 14-in order to permit injection of the contents of the bottle into a gear housing.

The projections 18 may have a barb profile so that once they have engaged the inner surface 19 of the central portion 20 of the body member 1, subsequent move ment of the spout member back into the bottle 6 is strongly resisted, or they may have a shape which resists movement of the spout member back into the bottle during normal use, including normal closure of the spout by means of the cap 2, but which permits the spout to be moved back into the bottle if substantial force is applied to the spout member.

Claims

1. A bottle closure comprising a body portion which, in use, is secured to a bottle in a tamper evident manner; a cap frangibly connected to the body portion to cover an opening in the body portion; and a spout member releasably secured to the cap and- movable relative to the body portion from a storage position in which the spout member is stored within the enclosure defined by the bottle closure and its associated bottle, and a use position in which the spout member projects from the body portion through the opening to form a spout for the bottle, the arrangement being such that, in use, when the cap is frangibly connected to the body portion the opening is sealed against the escape of fluid from the enclosure but the cap may be broken from the body portion and used to pull the spout member into its use position before the cap is removed from the spout member to permit dispensing of the bottle contents through the spout.

2. A bottle closure according to claim 1 wherein the cap interengages with the spout member in a manner which permits removal of the cap from the spout member after the spout member has been pulled into its use position, and subsequent replacement of the cap on the spout member to effect re-closing of the bottle.

3. A bottle closure according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the spout member is provided with means which maintain the spout member in the use position after it has been initially moved into the use position upon opening of the bottle.

4. A bottle closure according to any preceding claim wherein the spout member forms a seal with the body portion at least when the spout is in the use position.

5. A bottle closure according to claim 4 wherein the spout member forms a seal with the body portion when the spout member is in the storage position, and the cap forms a seal with the spout member when the cap is frangibly connected to the body portion, whereby escape of fluid through any spaces provided at the zone of interconnection of the cap and the body portion is prevented by the spout member.

6. A bottle closure according to any of claims 1-4 wherein the cap sealingly closes the opening in the body portion when it is frangibly connected to the body portion.

7. A bottle closure according to any preceding claim wherein the cap comprises annular inner and outer walls which define therebetween an annular groove for receipt of the spout member.

8. A bottle closure according to any preceding claim wherein the portion of the spout which is received within the cap is formed with an interlock profile for forming a snap-fit with the cap or with an extension tube.