Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to a closure and particularly to a closure of the type known as a sport cap.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a closure and particularly to a closure of the type known as a sport cap. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In recent times the use of so-called sport caps has increased. Sport caps differ from the more traditional so-called single caps in that they have two areas of sealing: i) between the closure and the container neck (which single caps have); and ii) between two parts of the closure. The two parts of the closure may include, for example, a spout and a lid or a push-pull spout and a base. 
         [0003]    Hotfill is a filling technique in which containers are filled with product at process temperature, hot, to ensure continued sterility of the container and the product during and after the fill process. When such containers are capped the closure must be suitable for application. 
         [0004]    It is known to provide closures having two or more components, such as a body and a spout. In many cases it is necessary for extraneous fluid to be applied to such closures. For example, cooling or cleaning fluid is sprayed onto closures during the manufacturing process. It is difficult to produce closures which can reliably prevent the ingress of water between various parts of a body and an insert. The result is that the fluid can become trapped within the closure which is undesirable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention seeks to address the problems with known sports cap closures. 
         [0006]    According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a linerless, hotfill, sports cap closure. 
         [0007]    According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a hotfill sports cap closure comprising a body having two or more parts and two or more sealing areas, the first sealing area being sealable to a container neck and the second sealing area being between two body parts. 
         [0008]    According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a hotfill sports cap closure comprising a body formed with an absence of a sealing liner, and having a base with a spout, and a lid for sealing the spout. 
         [0009]    The closure comprises a single piece. For example a base may be formed with an integral spout and an integrally formed lid may be provided. 
         [0010]    Alternatively the closure may be formed from two or more separate components. For example, the closure may comprise a body and an insert. Such closure may have a drainage system for allowing fluid applied to the closure to pass between the exterior of the insert and the interior of the body to allow removal thereof. 
         [0011]    According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a closure comprising a body and an insert, and having a drainage system for allowing fluid applied to the closure to pass between the exterior of the insert and the interior of the body to allow removal thereof. 
         [0012]    By providing a drainage system the closure is particularly, although not exclusively, suitable for hotfill applications in which spraying of the closure following capping for cooling and/or sterilisation purposes is common. 
         [0013]    The drainage system may comprise one or more drainage paths formed at the interface between the insert and the body. 
         [0014]    The drainage path/s may be formed wholly or partly in either or both of the body and the insert. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, each drainage path may comprise one or more slots formed at the periphery of the insert. 
         [0016]    The insert may comprise a plurality of ribs or radial projections at its periphery. The slots may be formed between the ribs. 
         [0017]    The one or more slots may comprise an inclined drainage face to assist drainage. 
         [0018]    The insert may comprise a plurality of mutually spaced retention spokes. The spokes may define, at least in part, the drainage paths. 
         [0019]    The insert may comprise a spout. For example, a drinking spout would require sterilisation with a cleaning fluid and thereafter the fluid needs to be removed so as not to affect the user&#39;s taste. 
         [0020]    The body of closure formed according to the present invention may comprise a base and a lid. The base and lid may be joined by a hinge, such as a snap-hinge. The interface between the lid and the base is a likely point at which fluid will enter. 
         [0021]    Closure formed according to the present invention may be provided with tamper-evident means. 
         [0022]    According to a further aspect there is provided an insert for a closure body, comprising one or more drainage paths for allowing fluid applied to the closure to pass between the exterior of the insert and the interior of the body to allow removal thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a section of a closure formed according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation of the closure of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a section of a closure formed according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation of the closure of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5   a  is an exploded perspective view of the components making up the closure of  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5   b  is a side elevation of the view of  FIG. 5   a;    
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a spout insert forming part of the closure of  FIGS. 3 to 5 : 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the closure of  FIGS. 3 to 6  shown with a cut-out section illustrating the internal structure; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is a magnified view of the cut-out section of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    The present invention describes a linerless, hotfill, sports cap closure. More particularly, the hotfill sports cap closure of the invention is one which comprises a body having two or more pads and two or more sealing areas, the first sealing area being sealable to a container neck and the second sealing area being between two body parts. The sports cap closure is one that is without a sealing liner, and preferably has a base with a spout, and a lid for sealing the spout. 
         [0034]    In some embodiments, the closure is a single piece whereas in other embodiments, the closure is made from two or more separate components such as a body and an insert. The closure will preferably have a drainage system that allows fluid to be passed between the exterior of the insert and the interior of the body. 
         [0035]    The drainage system in the closure is useful in that it allows spraying of the closure in for example hotfill applications in which it is desirable to spray the closure following capping for cooling and/or sterilisation purposes. 
         [0036]    The drainage system may comprise one or more drainage paths formed at the interface between the insert and the body. These drainage paths may be located either wholly or partly in the body of the closure, partly or wholly in the insert of the closure, or partly or wholly in both the insert and the body of the closure. 
         [0037]    The drainage paths may be configured to comprise one or more slots formed at the periphery of the insert. For example, the insert may contain a plurality of ribs or radial projections at its periphery and the slots may be formed between the ribs. Drainage may be facilitated by configuring one or more of said slots to comprise an inclined drainage face. The insert may also comprise a plurality of retention spokes which may define at least in part, the drainage paths for the closure. The retention spokes preferably are evenly spaced. 
         [0038]    The insert may comprise a spout, e.g. a drinking spout would require sterilisation with a cleaning fluid and thereafter the fluid needs to be removed so as not to affect the user&#39;s taste. 
         [0039]    The body of the closure may comprise a base and a lid. Preferably the base and lid are joined by a hinge, such as a snap-hinge. The interface between the lid and the base is a likely point at which fluid will enter. The closure also may be provided with a device to show tampering. 
         [0040]    In a preferred closure there is provided an insert that comprises one or more drainage paths for allowing fluid applied to the closure to pass between the exterior of the insert and the interior of the body to allow removal of the fluid. 
         [0041]    The above aspects of the invention are depicted in the attached drawings. Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 2  there is shown a sports cap closure generally indicated  10 . The closure  10  comprises a body with a base  15  and a lid  30 . 
         [0042]    The body  15  comprises a generally cylindrical side wall  16  having at one end a tamper-evident annular ring  17  connected thereto by a plurality of frangible bridges  18 . 
         [0043]    The side wall  16  terminates at its end opposite the band  17  with an annular shoulder  16   c  which extends radially inwards. A generally turret-like lid  30  is connected to the free end of the shoulder  16   c  via a hinge  32 . 
         [0044]    The interior of the side wall  16  comprises internal screw thread formations  16   a  for engaging corresponding external screw thread formations on a container neck. The interior of the side wall  16  further comprises an annular retention bead  16   b.    
         [0045]    The interior of the band  17  comprises a plurality of upturned flaps  17   a  for engagement under a locking bead on a container neck so that if the closure is unscrewed the band will remain on a container neck. 
         [0046]    The lid  30  is generally frustoconical and comprises a generally circular top plate  34  from the centre of which depends a spigot  36  and from the periphery of which depends an inclined sidewall  35 . Opposite the hinge  32  the lid  30  includes a small peak  38  used to lift the lid and flip it open with respect to the base  15 . 
         [0047]    A tamper-evident strip  40  is frangibly connected between the lid  30  and the base  15 . The strip  40  terminates with a tab  42  at either end to allow it to be torn away prior to first opening of the lid. 
         [0048]    The base includes a spout portion  20  which extends from the shoulder  16   c.  The spout  20  comprises a generally cylindrical lower portion  50  and a generally frustoconical upper portion  52 . The upper portion  52  comprises a curved, generally frustoconical outer surface defining a spout. At the end of the spout side wall opposite the lower portion  50  is a cylindrical terminal portion  70 . An annular orifice wall  72  extends inwards from the free end of the portion  70  and defines an orifice. In the closed position of the closure shown the orifice is sealed by the lid spigot  36 . 
         [0049]    It is to be noted that the closure as a whole is formed without a liner. In use the closure  10  can be applied to a hot-filled container neck. 
         [0050]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 to 5  there is shown a closure generally indicated  110 . The closure  110  comprises a body  115 , a spout insert  120  and a self-closing valve assembly  125 . 
         [0051]    The body  115  comprises a generally cylindrical side wall  116  having at one end a tamper-evident annular ring  117  connected thereto by a plurality of frangible bridges  118 . 
         [0052]    The side wall  116  terminates at its end opposite the band  117  with an annular shoulder  116   c  which extends radially inwards. A generally turret-like lid  130  is connected to the free end of the shoulder  116   c  via a hinge  132 . 
         [0053]    The interior of the side wall  116  comprises internal screw thread formations  116   a  for engaging corresponding external screw thread formations on a container neck. The interior of the side wall  116  further comprises an annular retention bead  116   b.    
         [0054]    The interior of the band  117  comprises a plurality of upturned flaps  117   a  for engagement under a locking bead on a container neck so that if the closure is unscrewed the band will remain on a container neck. 
         [0055]    The lid  130  comprises a generally hexagonal top plate  134  from which depends a spigot  136 . Opposite the hinge  132  the lid  130  includes a small peak  138  used to lift the lid and flip it open with respect to the base  115 . 
         [0056]    A tamper-evident strip  140  is frangibly connected between the lid  130  and the base  115 . The strip  140  terminates with a tab  142  at either end to allow it  10  be torn away prior to first opening of the lid. 
         [0057]    Referring now also to  FIG. 6 , the spout  120  comprises a generally cylindrical lower portion  150 , a generally cylindrical central portion  151  and a generally frusta conical upper portion  152 . 
         [0058]    The lower portion  150  comprises an annular sealing part  154  having an external sealing bead  156 . In use, the sealing part  154  enters a container neck such that the sealing bead  156  seals against its inner surface (as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). 
         [0059]    The central retention portion  151  comprises an annular base  158  from which project a plurality of spaced axial ribs  160  which are used to secure the insert  120  in the body  115 . 
         [0060]    The base  158  further includes a plurality of radially outwardly extending retention spokes  162  positioned at the bottom of each rib  160 . Between each spoke  162  is an inclined ledge  164  which extends radially outwardly approximately the same extent as the ribs  160 . The spokes  162  are generally L-shape with the shorter leg projecting away from the upper portion  152 . 
         [0061]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the upper portion  152  comprises a curved, generally frusta conical outer surface defining a spout. At the and of the spout side wall opposite the central portion  151  is a cylindrical terminal portion  170 . An annular orifice wall  172  extends inwards from the free end of the portion  170  and defines an orifice  174 . An annular retention bead  176  depends internally from the base of the terminal portion. 
         [0062]    The self-closing valve assembly  125  comprises a body  126  and a valve  127 . This structure is itself known from the Applicant&#39;s international Patent Application No PCT/EP2005/053917. The valve body  125  includes a retention bead  128  which clips over the spout retention bead. The valve assembly  125  is received between the retention bead  176  and the annular wail  172  as shown best in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0063]    Referring now also to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the spout  120  is received into the body  115 . The retention spokes  162  engage over the retention bead  116   b  and the ribs  160  fit tightly within the orifice defined by the shoulder  1160  so that the spout is held firmly in position. The ribs  160  also fit tightly within the lid  130  to hold it in the closed position. The spigot  136  enters the orifice  174  and abuts against the valve  127  to prevent it from opening with the lid closed. 
         [0064]    As will be appreciated by referring to  FIGS. 6 to 8 , with the insert  120  in position slots are formed between the spokes  162  and ledges  164  of the central portion  151  and the side wail  116 . Furthermore, a passage between the lid  130  and the base  158  is established by the ribs  160 . 
         [0065]    As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , when fluid is sprayed at the closure  110 , it may enter the interior of the closure via the hinge line interface between the lid  130  and the base  115 . If this happens, the fluid can pass between the ribs  160  and down over the ledges  164  before passing through the slots and then between the closure and container screw threads and out at the bottom of the side wall  116 . This means that there is an unobstructed drainage path for fluid to follow if it enters the closure. It may be necessary to force fluid through the drainage path, for example by blowing air at the closure.