WO2014184341A1

WO2014184341A1 - Container closure with retractable pouring spout

Info

Publication number: WO2014184341A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/060072
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Dix; Kevin MICALLEF
Original assignee: Greif International Holding Bv
Priority date: 2013-05-17
Filing date: 2014-05-16
Publication date: 2014-11-20
Also published as: KR20160012169A; AU2014267212A1; CN105531194A; BR112015028833A2; EP2996955A1; RU2015153982A; GB201308940D0

Abstract

A container closure assembly (10) comprises a collar (12) permanently connectable about a container filling/dispensing aperture, e.g. a neck (28, Fig. 5) of a container (14, Fig. 5). A cap (18) has a rotatably disengageable connection with the collar, e.g. a press-on, screw-off threaded connection, and the assembly includes a tear strip (64) which is removed to permit rotation of the cap relative to the collar and provide tamper indication. A pouring spout (16) is detachably connected to the cap and telescopically slidable within the collar. The tear strip may be provided on the collar, or in a skirt portion or top face of the cap. An easily grippable panel-like handle may be provided, which also comprises a ratchet detent which acts as part of an alternative tamper indicating mechanism.

Description

CONTAINER CLOSURE WITH RETRACTABLE POURING SPOUT Invention Background

This invention concerns tamper-resistant container closures and closure assemblies. It may be used with particular advantage to provide a pouring spout that can be extended for dispensing the container contents and retracted to a stowed position within the container when not in use; however the closures of the invention have more general applicability.

Many screw closures for containers can be quite difficult to open, particularly for the elderly or others having reduced manual dexterity. One example is the kind of screw cap typically used in motor oil containers or catering-size cooking oil drums, in which the cap has a pair of bail handles which are lifted to provide purchase for unscrewing. Such caps are usually screwed onto the tip of a folding plastics spout, which is collapsed in upon itself and stowed within the container during storage or transport, but which can be pulled out to an extended position for dispensing the container contents. Examples of such caps and folding pouring spouts are disclosed in US6454137 (Sturk), US2009/0212079 (Baughman et al.) and US2011/0049196 (Sturk). An upward pull is applied to the bail handles to extend the spout. Larger diameter spouts of this kind are reasonably easy to extend and collapse. Low strains and a large diameter to length ratio mean that relatively little force is required to collapse or extend the spout and consistent folding without unpredictable off-axis buckling is easy to achieve. However narrower diameter collapsible spouts of this kind are more difficult to manipulate correctly; requiring relatively higher forces to collapse or extend as a proportion of their available flow cross-section, and tending to buckle so as to bend to one side, rather than collapsing smoothly and predictably to fold in upon themselves. The bail handles are narrow and will usually have rough spots caused by the remains of tamper indicating frangible connections. They can be difficult to grasp, will tend to cut into the hands of the user and can twist/deform under the application of the forces and torques normally expected during spout extension and cap removal. They are therefore somewhat awkward and uncomfortable to use, especially for the less dexterous. Narrow spouts also limit venting or anti-surge/anti-glug capabilities when venting viscous liquids. Accordingly there is a need for a container closure with a retractable pouring spout which is easy to use, even in the case of narrower diameter pouring spouts, and which is also tamper evidencing. Frangible connections are typically provided between the bail handles and the remainder of the cap. These provide a degree of anti-tamper security, but in many designs the cap can be "palmed off, i.e. unscrewed without lifting the bail handles by application of pressure and torque from the palm of the hand. Additional security measures are therefore necessary, such as a tear-out membrane across the mouth of the spout, with a pull ring for its removal. Again this can be difficult to manipulate by the less dexterous. In some closure/foldable pouring spout assemblies, frangible links connect the screw cap to an outer shell which is used to clamp the fixed end of the spout to the container neck. The frangible links must be broken before the cap can be pulled out (unfolding the spout) and then unscrewed. The frangible links therefore provide another tamper evidencing feature. Many container closures, although provided with tamper evidencing or like security features, can be circumvented by dishonest or malicious persons, as the closure and associated security features can be completely removed from the container and replaced by a fresh one. "Genuine" containers can thus be recycled with counterfeit, diluted or otherwise adulterated contents and similar illegitimate activities carried out, without any evidence that the original container contents have been disturbed.

EP0502716 (Cap Snap Co.) relates to a spout fitment for permanent attachment to a paperboard container. In one disclosed arrangement, a closure screw cap is moulded in one piece with the spout fitment. A frangible connection is provided which is broken to permit the cap to be sealingly fitted within the spout. Such fitment also brings a tamper-evident band (attached to the cap by frangible bridges) into engagement with ratchets on the spout fitment. Unscrewing the cap will then break the frangible links to provide tamper evidence. The spout fitment serves as a pouring spout to dispense the container contents. When fitted, the cap occupies the entire spout interior and provides no room for guidance of an extendable pouring spout.

EP2641842 (Affaba & Ferrari S.r.l.) and FR 1543442 (Ets Clement Gaget) relate to container closure assemblies including telescopic pouring tubes slidable in guide collars fitted to a container neck. FR2552402 (Astra Plastique) concerns a similar closure assembly in which the pouring tube is slidable directly in the container neck. The guide collars are accessible when the container closure caps are removed, and are themselves easily removable from the container neck, making the containers vulnerable to unauthorised tampering. The closure caps when in place cover the entirety of the guide collars and threadingly engage the container necks. The disclosed guide collars therefore cannot readily serve as a tamper- indicating means, which instead have to be provided at least partially on the container neck. This complicates the moulding of the container. Where frangible tamper indicating means are provided on the container closure cap, these can be circumvented by replacing an opened cap with a new cap whose frangible tamper indicating means are unbroken. Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a dispensing assembly for a container, as defined in claim 1. Because the collar remains permanently attached to the container once the closure assembly has been applied to the container, e.g. at a filling line, the collar will prevent a used closure assembly from being replaced by an unused one, i.e. replaced with a fresh closure assembly which has never been opened by the end user. This mitigates against unauthorised re-use of the container. The part that is broken to permit rotational disengagement of the closure from the collar acts as a tamper-indicating feature and remains with the container. This helps to maintain the integrity of the legitimate container contents. The closure assembly comprises a pouring spout detachably connected to the closure and telescopically slidable within the collar. The telescopically slidable spout is easier to manipulate between the extended and retracted positions (in either direction) than a collapsible spout, especially in the case of narrower spouts. The closure may comprise a press-on, screw-off threadform to provide the re-engageable rotatably disengageable connection. For example the leading flank of the closure thread in the pres sing-on direction has a sufficiently small internal angle to the thread longitudinal axis and co-operates with a complementary shaped thread flank on the collar, so that the threads can snap past each other as the closure is pressed onto or into the collar without relative rotation. The closure thread trailing flank will typically have a larger internal angle and similarly the co-operating collar thread flank, so that the closure cannot readily be "popped off, and can only be non-destructively removed by unscrewing. Further, the closure and collar may be interengaged via a frangible detent mechanism which when intact restrains relative rotation between the closure and collar, but which when broken allows such relative rotation. Alternatively, the closure and the collar or mounting skirt may each comprise a respective complementary one-way feature, the two one-way features interacting mechanically with each other so as to be relatively rotatable as the closure is rotatably engaged with (e.g. screwed onto or into) the collar; but interlocking with each other as the closure is rotatably disengaged (e.g. unscrewed) from the collar; one of the one-way features being mounted to the collar or mounting skirt via a frangible connection which is thereby broken upon disengagement of the closure from the collar, to provide the part which is broken to permit the rotational disengagement of the closure from the collar.

The permanent connection may comprise a snap-fit connection between the collar and the container, e.g. a peripheral rib or groove on a rim or neck that defines the container filling/dispensing aperture, and a complementary rib or groove on the collar, snap- engageable with the rim/neck rib/groove. The cross-sectional profiles of the rib(s)/groove(s) preferably collectively comprise at least one lead-in taper, and interlocking shoulders that snap one behind another such that that the collar can be relatively easily snapped onto the rim or neck, but is more difficult or impossible to remove from the rim or neck without marring the rim, neck, collar or another portion of the container to which the collar is attached.

Alternatively, the permanent connection may comprise a threaded connection between the container and the mounting skirt and co-operating complementary anti-backoff features provided on the container and on the mounting skirt respectively. For example, the anti- backoff features may comprise obliquely radially inwardly extending resiliently flexible blades spaced around the circumference of the mounting skirt, engageable with ratchet teeth or recesses formed around the circumference of the filling/dispensing aperture, e.g. around the base of a container neck, or around the circumference of an upstanding rim surrounding the filling/dispensing aperture. Any other suitable anti-backoff features may be used as well as or instead of the above, e.g. anti-backoff features of per se known kind, incorporated into the mounting skirt and container co-operating threads. Indeed, any other suitable permanent connection may be used to secure the mounting skirt about a container neck or other filling/dispensing aperture. In other embodiments, the closure may comprise a cap having the mounting skirt frangibly attached to it. In yet other embodiments, the permanent connection may comprise a bonded or welded connection.

Preferably the pouring spout is a close sliding fit within the collar, for accurate guidance of the telescopic movement. The pouring spout may comprise an opposed pair of external stops by which it is held captive in the collar for the telescopic sliding movement. One end of the pouring spout (preferably the outer end) may comprise a lead-in taper allowing the adjacent stop to be snap-fitted through the collar to form the captive assembly. At least a portion of the pouring spout (preferably the inner end) may be configured to form a peripheral seal with a surrounding portion of the collar. When extended, the pouring spout is thereby sealed to the collar for leak-free dispensing of the container contents.

The detachable connection between the closure and the pouring spout is preferably a snap-fit or frictional connection, e.g. a wedge fit. When fully retracted, the outer end of the pouring spout is preferably supported in the collar in a position in which the connection with the closure will be made up by fitment of the closure to the collar. The pouring spout may be any suitable size and shape. For example for use in cooking oil containers, the pouring spout may be relatively short and wide. For use in gear oil containers, the pouring spout may be relatively long and thin. The pouring spout may incorporate a curved elbow to permit directed pouring when the spout has been extended; or a flexible bellows that may be set to any desired angle within a particular range, in the manner of a bendable drinking straw. The pouring spout may comprise a plurality of telescopically slidable tubular sections. There is also a need for a container closure which is easier to manipulate for unscrewing, reclosing, etc. and which, although capable of more general use, is advantageously compatible for use with retractable/extensible dispensing spouts. Enhanced security features are also desirable.

EP1514806 (Rieke) relates to a drum closure plug assembly comprising a snap on, screw off overcap. Opposed, sector shaped parts of a top wall of the overcap can be hinged upwardly, to allow the overcap to be unscrewed from the drum closure plug. However this overcap is incapable of being screwed onto the plug and is not readily adaptable to form a container closure as such, because it lacks fluid tight sealing capability and the upwardly hinging parts are incompatible with this requirement.

In a second independent aspect, the present invention provides a container closure as defined in claim 14.

. In the flattened position the handle can for example lie adjacent and generally parallel to an end wall of the body portion, to provide the closure with clean lines and a low profile. In the raised position, the panel-like form of the handle provides a large contact area for manipulation by the user so that it is easy to grip. Even when relatively high forces/torques are applied to the handle, it remains comfortable to hold as the reactive force against the user's fingers is distributed over a large area and there is little distortion of the handle.

Advantageously, the handle may comprise a detent engageable with a container or with a collar securable to the container, to prevent disengagement of the rotatably disengageable connection, the detent preferably being released to allow rotational disengagement (e.g. unscrewing) of the closure when the handle is raised. The detent therefore serves to prevent "palming off of the closure. Preferably, the detent comprises a ratchet member engageable with a stop or recess to prevent rotation of the closure in a direction for disengagement of the connection from the collar or container but which flexes to pass the stop or recess to allow rotation of the closure in a direction for engagement of the connection. The collar is advantageously permanently attachable to the container so that the closure and collar together form a closure assembly for the container. It is also preferred that in its flattened position the handle is initially connected to the body portion by a frangible connection which breaks to indicate when the handle has been raised, hence providing an additional anti-tamper feature. The closure body portion may comprise an upstanding portion to which the handle is hingedly attached, e.g. by a living hinge or flexible web. A gap may be provided between the handle and an opposed part of the upstanding portion, offset from the hinge axis and spanned by a frangible connection, which breaks to indicate when the handle has been raised and which therefore acts as a tamper evidencing feature. The closure may comprise a pair of such handles arranged to either side of a diameter of the closure. With both handles raised, a user can squeeze adjacent faces of the handles together, gripping each handle by its respective exposed face to manipulate the rotatably disengageable connection. One or more tear off parts may be provided which connect the or each handle to the body portion upstanding portion, and/or which connect one of the handles to the other, and which are configured to prevent the associated handle or handles from moving from the flattened to the raised position until the parts are torn off.

The closure assembly may comprise a pouring spout telescopically receivable in a mouth of the collar. The pouring spout may be detachably connected to a portion of the closure so that the handle or handles may be used to move the pouring spout from a retracted to an extended position. Once the spout is extended, the closure can be detached to allow the container contents to be dispensed through the spout. Conveniently, the closure may be connectable to the spout by a frictional or snap connection. A telescopic spout can be made to move between its retracted and extended positions using smaller forces than are generally required to similarly move a folding spout, so the telescopic spout is more suitable than the folding spout for use by people with limited hand strength/dexterity. The force required to detach the closure from the telescopic spout can also be kept relatively low, making this operation easy for the user. The snap or frictional connection may be configured so that the closure is automatically reattached to the spout when the closure is applied to the container or closure collar component. The closure portion is then available again for pulling out the spout for its next use. The spout may be provided with one or more vent passages or "straws". The invention also extends to the combination of a container closure and a container as described above. Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention and some of its additional preferred features and advantages are further described below with reference to illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a container closure assembly forming a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows the collar component of the assembly of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a half- section of the collar component of Figure 2, showing its permanent connection to a container neck;

Figure 4 shows the pouring spout component of the assembly of Figure 1,

Figure 5 corresponds to Figure 3, but shows the pouring spout fitted to the collar;

Figure 6 shows the closure/cap component of the assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal half-section through the container closure assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 7a is a detailed view of a portion of Figure 7 drawn to a larger scale;

Figures 8 and 9 show the container closure assembly of Figure 1 fitted to a container neck; Figure 8 showing the neck and assembly in half- section;

Figures 10-13 show different stages in opening the container closure and preparing to dispense the container contents;

Figures 14 and 15 show stages in the re-closure of the container;

Figures 16a- 16c show a modified form of the closure assembly shown in the preceding Figures, having a two- stage telescopic spout;

Figure 17 shows a further modified form of the closure assembly shown in the preceding Figures, in which a part of the container closure and the collar are permanently engageable with the container;

Figures 18a and 18b are scrap views of a cap skirt and collar respectively, showing an alternative tamper evidencing arrangement; Figures 19a and 19b illustrate a container neck and a part- sectioned collar component respectively, providing another example of a form of permanent connection for these components;

Figures 20a and 20b show container neck and collar thread forms respectively, which incorporate anti-backoff features, thereby providing yet another example of a suitable form of permanent connection for the container neck and collar component;

Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view of another container closure, collar, container top wall and pouring spout assembly embodying the invention;

Figure 22 shows the assembly of Figure 21 installed in a metal container;

Figure 23 is a perspective view of the parts shown in Figure 21;

Figures 24 and 25 are respective perspective and cross-sectional views of the container closure shown in Figures 21-23;

Figure 26 is an alternative perspective view of the closure of Figure 21, viewed from below;

Figure 27 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 26;

Figures 28 and 29 are respective perspective and cross-sectional views of the collar;

Figures 30 and 31 are cross-sectional views of the collar in position in an aperture in the wall of a metal container, Figure 31 being an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 30;

Figure 32 corresponds to Figure 31, but shows an alternative embodiment in which the collar is snap-engageable with a plastics container;

Figure 33 is a detailed view of a portion of Figure 21, showing the snap engagement between the closure and spout;

Figure 34 corresponds to Figure 33, but shows an alternative embodiment;

Figure 35 corresponds to Figure 23, but omits the container top wall and shows the tear-off parts removed and the handles partly raised;

Figure 36 is a scrap cross-sectional view of parts of the closure, handle, collar and spout, with the handle in the position as shown in Figure 35;

Figure 37 corresponds to Figure 26 but shows an alternative embodiment in which the ratchet members are repositioned;

Figure 38 corresponds to Figure 21 but shows the handles raised, and the closure unscrewed and used to pull out the spout;

Figure 39 corresponds to Figure 37 but shows the spout without the closure in place, i.e. with the snap-engagement undone; Figure 40 corresponds to Figure 39 but shows the spout pushed back into the collar;

Figure 41 corresponds to Figure 40 but shows the closure reapplied to the collar;

Figure 42 is a detail view of a portion of Figure 41, showing the spout reconnected to the closure by the snap engagement;

Figure 43 is a schematic top plan view of an alternative embodiment of the container closure; and

Figures 44 and 45 are cross-sectional views on lines A-A and B-B in Figure 43 respectively; Figure 46 shows a further embodiment of the present invention in which a part of the container closure and the collar are permanently engageable with the container;

Figure 47 is a scrap cross-sectional view on line C-C in Figure 46, with details of an anti- backoff feature;

Figure 48 is a scrap view of part of the top face of the closure of Figure 46, showing a lift tab;

Figure 49 is a scrap cross-section on line D-D in Figure 48;

Figure 50 is a schematic perspective view of the container closure of Figures 46-49, and

Figure 51 is a part- sectioned perspective view of a closure assembly similar to that of Figures 16a- 16c, but with a non-retracting spout section.

Detailed Description

Referring initially to Figures 1-7, in the embodiment shown, the container closure assembly 10 includes three main components: (1) a collar 12 for permanent connection to a container 14 (a part of which is visible in Figures 3 and 5) via a mounting skirt 13; (2) a tubular, generally cylindrical pouring spout 16, telescopically slidable within the collar 12, and (3) a push-on, screw-off closure cap 18 removably fitted to the collar 12 and pouring spout 16. All three of these components may be conveniently formed from injection moulded plastics. By "permanent connection", is meant a connection intended to be made up as the collar is initially applied to the container, e.g. at the filling plant, and which is thereafter intended not to be undone again; the end user being provided with other means for accessing and dispensing the container contents, as further described below. For security reasons, the permanent connection is therefore preferably of a nature which is difficult or impossible to undo without cutting or damaging the container and/or collar/mounting skirt, thereby providing tamper evidence and helping to ensure integrity of the container contents. As best seen in Figures 3 and 5, the permanent connection comprises an outwardly projecting circumferential rib 20 near the base of the container neck 28. The rib 20 has a chamfered upper surface 22 which provides a lead-in for guiding the rib into snap-fit engagement in an internal annular groove 24 provided in a stiff, thick cross-sectioned portion 26 of the mounting skirt 13. The lower surface of the rib 20 is not similarly chamfered but is instead substantially flat, lying in a plane normal to the neck axis. As a result, although the mounting skirt 13 can be snap-fitted over the rib 20 (if necessary by using a suitable press tool), it is very difficult to pop off again. Even inserting a screwdriver or similar bladed tool between the base of the mounting skirt portion 26 and the adjacent surface of the container 14 in an attempt to lever off the mounting skirt 13 and collar 12 will not succeed, but is instead likely to mar the surfaces concerned and provide warning of the attempted interference. The mounting skirt portion 26 is internally relieved at 30 to provide a lead-in pocket of complementary shape to the upper chamfer 22 and radially outer profile of the neck rib 20, to assist in initial alignment of the collar 20 to the container neck 28 when forming the snap-fit permanent connection. As shown, the container neck has an optional external thread 32, which makes it compatible with other (threaded) closures, but which is redundant when the container is closed by the illustrated closure assembly.

As best seen in Figure 4, the pouring spout 16 comprises an opposed pair of external stops 34, 36. The lower stop 34 is at the end of the spout disposed towards the container interior in use. It is provided by an upwardly facing planar surface of an annular flange. The downwardly facing surface of this flange is frusto-conical, meeting the upper surface at a relatively sharp edge 38, to provide the flange with a generally triangular cross-sectional profile. The upper stop 36 comprises an annular shoulder formed behind the enlarged end of a tapered top section 40 of the spout 16. This taper forms a lead-in by which the pouring spout 16 can be snap-fitted through an annular rib 42 formed inside the collar 12. That is, the spout is assembled with the collar prior to fitment of the closure assembly to the container by the permanent connection, and from the direction of what will be the "inside" of the closure assembly when so fitted. (Figure 2 shows the permanent connection made, but the spout is omitted for clarity). The lower stop 34 therefore prevents the spout from being pulled completely out of and free from the container 14 once the permanent connection between the collar 12 and container 14 has been made up. The collar inner annular rib 42 has a small countersink 44 in its upper surface, to accept the annular shoulder of the upper stop 36 when the spout 16 is in its fully retracted position (see Figures 3 and 5). In this way, the spout tapered top section 40 is supported at a consistent height in the collar 12 when fully retracted. The collar inner annular rib 42 also carries a depending wedge seal 46, sealingly engageable within the mouth of the container neck 28. The inner bore of this wedge seal also co-operates with the sharp edge 38 of the spout annular flange when the spout 16 is at or near its fully extended position, to provide a fluid tight seal between the spout 14 and collar 12 as the container contents are being dispensed. The wedge seal inner bore is preferably slightly inwardly tapered from its mouth upwards, to assist in forming this seal with the spout flange edge 38.

Referring now mainly to Figures 5, 6, 7 and 7a, the closure cap 18 includes a generally flat top wall 48 and a skirt 50. A detent 52 extends radially from the skirt 50. The cap further comprises an externally threaded, annular wall 54 depending from the top wall 48 concentrically within the skirt 50, and a wedge ring 56 depending from the top wall 48 concentrically within the annular wall 54. The base of the wall 54 may be radially outwardly enlarged, to form a wedge seal 57 receivable inside the upper rim 59 of the collar 12. The cap thread on the annular wall 54 and a co-operating internal thread 58 on the collar

12 above the rib 42 each have an asymmetric profile which provides the cap with a press-on, screw-off action. The leading flank 60 of the cap thread in the pressing-on direction has a relatively small internal angle a to the thread longitudinal axis, and co-operates with a complementary angled flank of the collar thread 58. The cap and collar threads can thereby snap past each other, as the cap is pressed onto the collar without relative rotation. However, the trailing flank 62 of the cap thread in the pressing-on direction and the co- operating flank of the collar thread 58 each have a larger internal angle to the thread longitudinal axis, e.g. 60 - 90 degrees, to provide a buttress-type flank configuration. Hence the cap cannot readily be "popped off from the collar 12, and can only be non-destructively removed by unscrewing. Referring now mainly to Figures 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7, the mounting skirt 13 is shown to comprise a tear off part 64 in the form of a tear strip attached to the remainder of the mounting skirt

13 along a line of weakness 70. The tear strip 64 surrounds the collar 12 to define an upwardly open channel 72, for reception of the cap skirt 50 when the cap 18 is pressed into engagement with the collar 12. The tear strip 64 extends around almost the entire circumference of the collar 12, but is interrupted at one point to define an end 66 and an adjacent, radially outwardly positioned fence 68, which also acts as a tear tab by which the tear strip 64 can be grasped and torn away by rupturing the line of weakness 70. The cap 18 is pressed onto the collar in a particular rotational orientation, so that with the cap skirt 50 received in the channel 72, the detent 52 is trapped between the fence 68 and strip end 66.

With the tear strip in place, the cap 18 is therefore prevented from rotating relative to the collar 12. Removing the tear strip 64 and fence 68 frees the detent 52 and allows the cap 18 to be unscrewed, at the same time providing tamper evidence.

Pressing the cap 18 into place on the collar 12 also pushes the wedge ring 56 into the mouth of the fully retracted pouring spout 16, the spout tapered top section 40 being supported at the correct height in the collar 12 for the pouring spout to become temporarily connected to the cap as a friction fit. The closure assembly 10 can then be pressed onto the container neck 28, making up the permanent connection 20, 24. The retracted pouring spout 16 is housed within the container 14 (Figures 8 and 9). Figures 10-13 show a sequence of steps for opening the container, ready to dispense its contents. Figure 10 shows the tear strip 64 and fence 68 removed so as to free the detent 52. Figure 11 shows the cap unscrewed, rotating the pouring spout in the guide formed by the collar inner annular rib 42 and raising the pouring spout 16 as the cap 18 is raised. The temporary frictional connection between the wedge ring 56 and the spout top section 40 is maintained, so that the pouring spout 16 is pulled out to its extended position as the cap 18 is lifted away from the container 14. When the pouring spout 16 is fully extended, its lower flange enters the wedge seal 46 so that the sharp edge 38 forms a fluid tight peripheral seal. The lower stop 34 butts up against the inner rib 42 to prevent the pouring spout 16 from being pulled completely free of the collar 12. A continued upward pull on the cap 18 frees the temporary frictional connection between the wedge ring 56 and spout top section 40, removing the cap 18 from the end of the pouring spout 16 (Figures 12 and 13). To close the cap again e.g. after dispensing some of the container contents, the pouring spout 16 is pushed down through the collar 12 into the container 14, until the upper stop 36 rests in the countersink 44 (Figure 14). The cap 18 can be used as a tool to do this, to avoid touching the spout 16 with the fingers and possibly contaminating them with the container contents. The cap 18 can then be screwed back onto the collar 12, pressing the wedge ring 56 into the spout top section 40. This re-makes the temporary frictional connection between the spout and the cap (Figure 15), ready to lift the spout again the next time the cap 18 is unscrewed. Figure 16a shows a modification of the container closure assembly of the preceding Figures, in which the spout 16 is provided with a further inner telescopic section 16a. The spout 16 has a transverse web 42a near the upper end, with a central aperture in which the inner telescopic spout section 16a is slidable. The spout 16 is otherwise identical to that described above with reference to the preceding Figures. The spout inner section 16a has a lower stop 34a, upper stop 36a, and tapered top section 40a of equivalent function to the parts 34, 36, 40 of the spout 16 previously described. Thus the inner spout section 16a is slidable in and peripherally sealedly extendable from the aperture in the web 42a. Its upper end is also frictionally engageable over an inner wedge ring 56a provided on the underside of the cap 18. Therefore as the cap is freed for rotation, unscrewed and lifted as described above, the outer tube section 16 is first pulled out to its full extent (Figure 16b) whereupon the wedge ring 56 disengages from its upper end. This then allows the cap to pull the inner spout section 16a up through the aperture in the web 42a until arrested by the stop 34a. A tapered lower portion 16b of the inner spout section wedges in the web aperture to provide a fluid seal between the inner and outer telescopic spout sections 16, 16a. This spout fully extended configuration is shown in Figure 16c. A further upward pull on the cap 18 will release the inner wedge ring 56a from the inner spout section 16a, releasing the cap and opening the inner spout section for dispensing the container contents. The inner spout section 16a provides a small diameter dispensing tube for precision dispensing e.g. of gear oil or the like. Reclosure of the cap 18 is possible in similar manner to what is shown in Figures 14 and 15; with the wedge rings 56, 56a re-engaging the tube sections 16, 16a respectively. Figure 17 shows a modification to the closure assembly of the preceding figures, in which the permanent connection is provided by a frangibly detachable lower portion of the cap skirt. Like reference numerals are used to refer to like parts as shown in the preceding embodiments. The cap skirt 50 comprises a lower portion 13 severable from the remainder of the cap by a tear strip 64 and forming the mounting skirt for a separate collar 12. The tear strip is delineated by a parallel pair of circumferential lines of weakness or thin linear webs 70a, 70b, and is provided with a tear tab 67 of similar form to the fence 68. Rather than the tear strip having a free end 66, one end is joined to the tear tab 67 by a thin linear web 66a contiguous with the lines of weakness 70a, 70b; the other end being solidly joined to the tear tab 67 in a similar manner to how the tear strip is joined to the fence 68 in the preceding embodiments.

The collar 12 has a shortened body compared to the preceding embodiments, terminating in an outwardly extending circumferential flange 104. The cap lower skirt portion/mounting skirt 13 is provided with an inwardly extending circumferential rib 106 which co-operates with the collar flange 104 to permanently lock the collar 12 to the container neck, when the permanent connection 24, 26 permanently secures the cap lower skirt portion/mounting skirt 13 to the container neck. The wedge seal 46 again acts to provide a circumferential fluid seal between the collar 12 and the container neck (not shown in Figure 16). The flange 104 is trapped between the upper rim of the container neck and the rib 106 when the permanent connection 24, 26 is made up.

Prior to applying the closure assembly 10a to the container neck, the top section 40 of the pouring spout 16 is snapped into the collar 12 from the container side of the collar, as before. The collar 12 is then screwed into the cap 18 by engagement of the external thread on the annular cap wall 54 with the internal thread on the collar. This also makes up the temporary frictional connection between the cap wedge ring 56 and the pouring spout top section 40, as before. The threads need not have a press-on, screw-off profile, since the collar 12 can be screwed into position prior to application of the closure assembly 10a to a container. However providing a press-on, screw-off profile (not shown) may simplify assembly of the closure assembly 10a, by allowing the collar 12 to be simply pressed into the cap 50 without relative rotation. The lower face of flange 104 provides a suitable contact surface for a press tool for this purpose.

Upon removal of the tear strip 64, the upper part of the cap is separated from the lower skirt portion/mounting skirt 13, and may be unscrewed from the collar 12 and lifted up, pulling up the pouring spout by means of the temporary frictional connection. The collar 12 remains clamped to the container neck by the lower skirt portion/mounting skirt 13, flange 104, rib 106 and permanent connection 24, 26. When unscrewed from the collar, the upper part of the cap may be disconnected from the upper part of the pouring spout as before, for dispensing the container contents. The container may be re-closed by pushing in the pouring spout as before and re-making the threaded connection between the wall 54 and the collar 12. A gap will exist between the two parts 50, 13 of the cap 18 where the tear strip has been removed, to provide tamper indication. Figures 18a and 18b show an alternative form of tamper-evident connection between the cap skirt 50 and the collar 12. The skirt 50 includes a tamper evidencing ring 50a attached via frangible links 76. The ring 50a carries a one-way feature in the form of obliquely radially inwardly extending resilient blades 78 which can deflect to pass ratchet teeth 80 provided on the collar 12, as the cap is screwed on. The teeth 80 form a complementary one-way feature on the collar 12. Unscrewing the cap causes the ends of the blades 78 to lock against radial faces 82 of the teeth 80 to prevent the ring 50a from rotating relative to the collar 12. Unscrewing the cap for the first time therefore breaks the frangible links 76, causing the ring 50a to become separated from the cap skirt 50, providing tamper evidence. Any other suitable one-way, tamper evidencing features may be used in place of the ring 50a, blades 78, frangible links 76 and ratchet teeth 80. An internal thread 84 on the cap skirt engages an external thread 86 on the collar 12 to form the rotationally disengageable connection between the closure cap and collar. A similar threaded connection can be used between the closure cap and collar in place of the externally threaded cap wall 54 and collar internal thread shown in Figures 1-16. However the threaded connection separate from and concealed by the cap skirt 50 as shown in Figures 1-16 is more secure, and may be used together with the one-way tamper-evidencing arrangement of Figures 18a and 18b (or any other suitable one-way tamper evidencing arrangement). Figures 19a and 19b show an alternative form of the permanent connection between the mounting skirt 13 of collar 12 and container neck 28 shown in Figures 1-16. The collar 12 is screwed onto the container neck by interengageable threads 92, 94. The mounting skirt 13 is provided with a lower edge 88 to which are mounted obliquely radially inwardly extending resilient blades 90 which can deflect to pass ratchet teeth 96 provided at the base of the neck 28, as the mounting skirt 13 is screwed onto the neck 28. Attempting to unscrew the mounting skirt 13 again, causes ends of the blades 90 to jam against radial flanks 98 of the teeth 96, preventing the collar 12/mounting skirt 13 from being unscrewed and thus forming the permanent connection. The lower edge 88, blades 90 and teeth 96 therefore form complementary one-way features of this permanent connection. Figure 19b shows a wedge seal 46a for making a fluid tight peripheral seal with the container neck, and a separate wedge seal 46b for making a fluid tight peripheral seal with the pouring spout inner end. However a single combined wedge seal (as in Figures 1-17) could be used; or the twin seals of Figure 19b may be used in the embodiments shown in Figures 1-17.

Figures 20a and 20b show a further form of permanent connection between the mounting skirt 13 and container neck 28 in which the one-way features are incorporated into the skirt and neck threadforms. The neck thread is interrupted to include deviated portions 100 and the mounting skirt 13 thread similarly includes deviated portions 102 which are configured to snap past each other by outward flexing of the collar 12/mounting skirt 13 as it is screwed onto the neck 28. However, attempted unscrewing of the collar/mounting skirt 13 from the neck 28 causes thread ends at the interruptions to jam against the deviated portions, forcing the co-operating thread flanks into tight engagement and locking the collar/cap lower skirt portion on the neck. Other known forms of one-way thread could equally be used.

Figures 21-23 show an easily openable container closure (more particularly a screw cap) 201, a collar 202, a telescopic pouring spout 203 and a container top 204 all assembled together for use in a metal (e.g. steel) container 231. The cap 201 comprises a body portion having an end wall 213 and a skirt 215. An external thread 210 is provided on the cap skirt 215 which engages an internal thread 216 in the collar 202 to retain the cap 201 in the collar. The cap skirt 215 also comprises an internal bead 211 immediately beneath the end wall 213. A connecting chamfer 225 on the spout 203 is snap-engageable between the bead 211 and the cap end wall 213 to form a detachable snap-connection between the spout and cap. The spout interior wall is formed with four longitudinal, anti-glug, vent passages or straws 226. These are evenly distributed around the spout circumference to provide venting, no matter what the orientation of the container during pouring. Similar straws may also be provided in the pouring spouts described above with reference to Figures 1-17. The cap, collar and spout may again conveniently be made from suitable plastics material, by injection moulding. The spout 203 is telescopically slidable in a retention sleeve 217 forming a part of the collar 202, such sliding movement being further explained below. The cap end wall 213 carries an annular sealing lip 199 which makes a wedge seal with the interior of the spout 203. In the retracted position as shown in Figure 21 a slight circumferential bulge 220 in the outer surface of the spout (not visible in the drawing) makes a wedge seal with the retention sleeve 217. Additionally or alternatively a wedge seal may be generated between an upper external land 209 on the spout retention sleeve 217 and the surrounding inner surface of the cap skirt 215. However in the embodiment shown in Figure 20 a small clearance is shown to exist between these components. The collar 202 is provided with a standard profile 205 by which it is sealingly received in a DIN aperture formed in a top wall 204 of a steel or other metal container 231. Any other suitable profile could also be used for this purpose, e.g. for use with REL, D type or bespoke (non-standard) apertures. The majority of the closure cap, collar and spout assembly lies within the container when the cap is in place and the spout is retracted. The assembly therefore has a low external profile, giving it a neat appearance and making it less vulnerable to damage from accidental knocks. It also allows the stacking of containers such as drums, one on top of another.

As shown in Figures 24 and 25, the cap end wall 213 comprises an upstanding portion 214 extending across a diameter of its outer face. The upstanding portion has a wide central part 214a and narrower ends 214b. These ends 214b partially project beyond the outer circumference of the cap end wall 213 as seen in Figure 26. A pair of panel-like, movable handles 208 are attached to the upstanding portion ends 214b by flexible webs 222. The handles are of solid plastics so as to be relatively inflexible and have a volume whose breadth dimension B and width dimension W are each substantially larger than their thickness dimension t, making the handles panel-like in form. As shown in Figures 24 and 25, the handles 208 are formed to initially lie parallel to the cap end wall 213 but are partially separated from it by respective planar spaces 223 terminating inwardly at the upstanding portion 214. The central part 214a of the upstanding portion is bounded by opposed slots 221 terminating at the flexible webs 222. These slots 221 intersect with the planar spaces 223 to isolate the central part 214a from the corresponding parts of the handles 208. The slots 221 are spanned by a number of rod-like frangible connections 206 (e.g. three per handle). Tear-off parts 212 connect outer faces of the upstanding portion end parts 214b to adjacent edges of the handles 208. Thus the sole connections between the handles 208 and the cap end wall 213 are the tear-off parts 212, the flexible webs 222 and the frangible connections 206. When in place, the tear-off parts are sufficiently stiff to prevent the handles 208 from being lifted, as they lock the handles to each other and to the outer faces of the upstanding portion end parts 214b. But after the parts 212 have been torn away, the handles are free to hinge upwardly about the webs 222. Because the central part 214a of the upstanding portion 214 is wider than its end parts 214b, the frangible connections 206 across the slots 221 are offset from the handle hinge lines which run lengthwise of the webs 222. Lifting the handles 208 will therefore shear and break the frangible connections 206.

Referring to Figures 26 and 27, the underside of the handles 208 projects outwardly beyond the cap end wall 213. Each handle is provided with an anti-backoff ratchet member 207 in the form of a resiliently flexible finger which extends downwardly and in an anticlockwise direction from the projecting underside of the handle, when viewed from above. These ratchet members 207 co-operate with recesses 218 in the upper rim 224 of the collar 202 so that as the cap 201 is screwed into the collar 202 to interengage the threads 210 and 216, the ratchet members 207 click past the recesses 218, allowing the cap 201 to be fully tightened in the collar 202. However when attempting to unscrew the cap, the ratchet members 207 spring into the recesses 218 and their tips bind against the anticlockwise-facing walls of the recesses, which therefore act as anti-backoff stops, preventing the cap from being unscrewed. Lifting the handles 208 lifts the ratchet members 207 out of the recesses 218, freeing the cap for unscrewing, as well as providing a comfortable and easily graspable part for application of the necessary unscrewing force/torque. Figures 29-31 show details of the collar 202 insertion profile 219, which comprises a lead-in chamfer 219a and a groove 219b dimensioned to sealingly receive as a press fit a standard DIN opening profile 205 formed in the container top wall 204. The collar 202 may be readily adapted for use with other forms of container, e.g. a blow moulded plastics container 227 as shown in Figure 32. The insertion profile 219 is shaped to sealingly co-operate with a complementary profile 198 formed on the container neck. Any other suitable means for permanently securing the collar to the container neck or opening can also be used, e.g. adhesives or solvent or laser or ultrasonic welding. Figure 33 is a detailed view showing the snap-engagement between the spout connecting chamfer 225 and the cap 201, when it is snapped over the bead 211 so as to be trapped between this bead and the undersurface of the container end wall 213. The wedge sealing lip 199 also frictionally engages in and peripherally seals the mouth of the pouring spout 203. In this way the pouring spout is detachably connected to the underside of the cap 202. In the modification shown in Figure 34, the cap is provided with an internal thread 210a which engages with an external thread 216a provided at the upper end of the spout retention sleeve 217. A groove 229 is formed around the outer circumference of the sealing lip 199 and circumferentially spaced pips 211a are formed on a co-operating surface near the mouth of the spout 203. The pips 211a snap into the groove 229 to releasably retain the spout end connected to the cap 201. A wedge seal may also be formed between the outer surface of the cap skirt 215 and the inner surface of an outer wall 228 of the collar 202.

Figures 35-39 show the sequence of operations for removal of the cap 201 for the first time and deployment of the pouring spout 203 for dispensing the container contents. In Figure 34, the tear off parts 212 are not shown, as they have been removed so that the handles 208 are free to hinge upward on the webs 222. Lifting the handles frees the anti-backoff ratchet members 207 from the recesses 218, allowing the cap 201 to be unscrewed from the collar 202. Until the handles are lifted, the anti-backoff features 207, 218 remain engaged, so that the cap 201 cannot be "palmed off. Raising the handles also breaks the frangible connections 206 to provide tamper indication. Once the cap has been opened for the first time, the tear off parts 212 will also be missing, and the webs 222 will tend to remain slightly bent, so that the handles rest in a readily noticeable slightly raised position as shown in Figures 35 and 36. Although not shown in these figures (but see Figure 38), the handles can be fully raised so that they touch one another and extend perpendicularly from the cap top wall 213. In this position they are easily grasped by the user, pinched together and used to twist the cap 201 to unscrew it from the collar 202. As the handles are relatively rigid, they do not distort significantly (e.g. in comparison to a bail handle) as torque is applied. This stability and the large contact surface available to the user make unscrewing relatively easy. Figure 37 shows the ratchet member 207 in an alternative position, away from the handle centreline, where it will not impede grasping of the raised handles. When the cap 201 has been unscrewed, it at first remains connected to the end of the pouring spout 203 and so can be used to pull the spout upwardly through the retention sleeve 217, freeing the seal between the bulge 220 and the inner wall of the retention sleeve 217. The pulling force required is less than that typically required to pull out a folding type spout, making the telescopic spout 203 easier to use. The raised handles 208 thus provide a convenient purchase not only for unscrewing the cap 201, but also for pulling out the pouring spout 203 to its extended position as shown in Figure 37. In this position, a stop bead 230 at the base of the spout exterior wall engages a complementary shoulder 232 formed on the inner surface of the retention sleeve 217, to prevent the spout from being pulled completely free of the retention sleeve 217. The spout has a second outer circumferential bulge 220a immediately above the stop bead 230 to provide a wedge seal with the retention sleeve 217 in the extended position. The lower end of the spout 203 has a lead-in chamfer 233, allowing the stop bead 230 to be pressed through the upper part of the retention sleeve 217 to snap in behind the shoulder 232 for initial assembly with the collar 202. A continued upward pull on the cap 201 in the position shown on Figure 37 therefore does not dislodge the spout 203 from the retention sleeve 217. Instead the spout connecting chamfer 225 snaps out from behind the cap bead 211 and the wedge sealing lip 199 is freed from within the end of the spout 203, so that the cap detaches from the spout. The result is shown in Figure 39, in which the spout 203 is extended and open, ready for dispensing the container contents. In this configuration the connecting chamfer 225 also acts as a pouring lip. After use, the spout 203 can be pushed in again, optionally using the cap 201 as a pushing tool to avoid contamination of the fingers or container contents. The result is as shown in Figure 40. The cap 201 may then be screwed into the collar 202 again, as shown in Figures 41 and 42. As the cap 201 is tightened, the spout connecting chamfer 225, supported on the upper end of the spout retention sleeve 217, snaps back behind the bead 211, so that the spout 203 is reattached to the cap 201 ready for future deployment. Alternatively, for single use, non-reclosable applications, the spout may be provided with a ratchet feature to prevent it from being pushed back in or fully back into the collar. This then prevents reapplication of the cap.

Figure 43 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the cap 201, which is generally similar to the caps previously described, but with the following main differences. The end parts 214b of the upstanding portion 214 to which the webs 222 are attached are somewhat shorter, so that they terminate at or closer to the edge of the underlying end wall 213. The tear off parts 212 are made lenticular or fish bellied in plan and occupy a larger proportion of the cap upper surface, as shown (although many other shapes will also be suitable, e.g. a sector shape), so that when removed, a substantial width of the collar rim 224 is exposed, to provide a clear tamper warning. The collar 202 and cap 201 may be made of materials having contrasting colours to enhance this visual warning. The parts 212 are attached to the upstanding portion end parts 214b by a central frangible link 234a and to the handles 208 by endwise frangible links 234b. The parts 212 may be broken away from the remainder of the cap by pressing down on their outer edge opposite to the central frangible link 234a. The undersides of the handles 208 as shown in Figure 42 become the finger contact surfaces when the handles are raised, and are formed with rounded lower edges and a slight central depression (e.g. oval areas 235 as indicated in dotted lines), so that they are easier and more comfortable to grip. The finger contact surfaces may be provided with knurling, through- going apertures, or like texture/patterning for improved grip. The entire cap 202 may be made from a suitable plastics material as a single injection moulding. However, for easier moulding, the handles 208 and central upstanding part 214 may be made as a separately moulded part from the cap body comprising the end wall 213 and skirt 215, with the two parts being secured together as an assembly by any suitable means, e.g. permanent, snap-fit, blind hole-and-dowel or like connections, or ultrasonic welding. For the latter purpose an ultrasound applicator-accommodating recess 236 may be moulded into the upper surface of the central upstanding part 214.

In yet another variant shown in Figures 46-50, the tear-off parts 212 may be replaced by a single tear- away strip or band 238 extending around the entire cap circumference, frangibly connected to the handles 208 and optionally also to the ends 214b of the central upstanding portion 214. The band 238 and handles 208 are provided in an end face of the cap. The band 238 is delineated from the handles 208 and central portion ends 214b by a circular line of weakness or connecting web 240. Similarly, the band 238 is delineated from an outer attachment skirt 242 by a further generally circular line of weakness or connecting web 243, outward of and concentric with the line of weakness 240. The connecting webs 240, 243 lie flush with the upper surface of the closure cap 201 so that, apart from the slots 221 and depressions formed by the handle hinge webs 222, the upper surface of the unopened cap 201 is substantially smooth and uninterrupted.

The attachment skirt 242 has an internal screw thread 244 which mates with an external screw thread 246 on a container neck 248. The attachment skirt is designed to lock permanently onto the container neck 248 when the threaded connection 244, 246 is fully tightened. To that end, it is provided with a series of circumferentially distributed internal projections 250 which co-operate with corresponding recesses 254 in the container neck 248 to form an anti-backoff feature. The projections 250 are wedge-shaped in transverse cross- section as best seen in Figure 47, so that they have a leading face 250a lying at a shallow angle to the attachment skirt circumference, as the cap is screwed onto the container neck 248 in the direction of arrow 252. The wedge shape also provides the projection 250 with a trailing face 250b which lies substantially in a radial plane of the cap attachment skirt 242. The projections 250 co-operate with recesses 254 of complementary shape, moulded into the container neck 248. As the cap 201 is screwed fully home onto the neck 248, the shallow angled leading edges 250a of the projections 250 ride over the recesses 254. Attempting to unscrew the cap again however causes the radially orientated trailing edge surfaces of the projections to butt up and bind against similarly oriented surfaces in the recesses 254, permanently locking the attachment skirt 242 and hence the cap 201 to the container neck 248. For added security, the threads 242, 246 may be left handed. Any other suitable permanent locking connection between the attachment skirt and the container neck (or more generally between the cap and the container) may be used, for example one similar to that shown in Figures 19a and 19b. As another example, the container neck and attachment skirt threads may be one-way threads, i.e. provided with integral anti-backoff features, as shown in Figures 20a, 20b or as are otherwise known in the container art. Additionally or alternatively, the attachment skirt/cap may be secured to the container/container neck by means such as laser, ultrasonic or solvent welding, or by adhesive. Yet alternatively, the cap may be a one-way snap fit with the container neck, e.g. by means of a snap-engageable annular ridge and groove, of similar asymmetric cross-sectional profile to the projection 250 and recess 254; one of the ridge or groove being provided around the cap skirt circumference and the other being provided around the neck circumference; c.f. Figures 1- 15. The asymmetric profiles are arranged so that the cap may be relatively easily snapped onto the container neck, e.g. by hand, or by a suitable tool on an automatic filling line; but at the same time the cap is practically impossible to remove again without destroying it, e.g. by cutting or splitting the attachment skirt 242.

The collar 202 shown in Figure 46 is generally similar to the collars described above with reference to Figures 21-45, including having a pouring spout retention sleeve 217 and an internal thread 211 for engagement with the external thread 210 on the cap skirt 215. However the following main differences should be noted. The collar 202 is provided with a peripheral flange or projecting rim 256 which becomes trapped between the attachment skirt 242 and the rim of the container neck 248, when the attachment skirt 242 has been permanently secured to the container neck. That is, the flange 256 is not freed even when the tear strip 238 has been removed, the handles 208 raised and the threads 210, 211 unscrewed, as further described below. The collar 202 shown in Figure 46 also comprises an outer peripheral wedge seal 258 which engages within the mouth of the container neck 248. The attachment skirt 242 helps to constrain and support the mouth of the container neck from the outside so that the wedge seal 258 is better energised into circumferential sealed engagement within the mouth of the container neck 248.

As shown in Figures 48 and 49, the outer line of weakness or connecting web 243 is discontinuous at one point around its circumference, so as to form two radially outwardly curving ends 260. A slot 262 of shallow U profile extends radially inwardly through the attachment skirt 242, near to the top of the cap 201, with the upper ends of the limbs of the U emerging into the upper surface of the cap top but the remainder of the slot 262 remaining in the thickness of the cap top, so as to define a lift tab 264. The grooves defining the curved ends 260 of the outer attachment web 242 merge into the radially inner end of the slot 262, on either side of the lift tab 264. The radially outer end of the lift tab 64 projects slightly beyond the outer circumference of the remainder of the cap top, so that it can be readily engaged and lifted by a user's finger. The raised lift tab can then be grasped between finger and thumb, and pulled so as to rupture the connecting webs 240, 243 and remove the tear-away strip 238. This permanently separates the attachment skirt 242 from the remainder of the cap 201, thus providing tamper indication. It also allows the handles 208 to be raised as described above, providing further tamper indication as the frangible links 206 are broken. Removing the tear-away strip 238 also enables the threaded skirt 215 to be unscrewed from the collar 202 and the pouring spout 203 to be pulled out for use.

Any of the tear-off parts previously described (64, 212, 238) may remain tethered to the body of the cap e.g. by a non-frangible, flexible link (not shown), e.g. for ease of recycling and so as not to form a choking hazard. Figure 46 shows the pouring spout 203 equipped with an optional non-return barb 266 which extends obliquely outwardly from an outer surface of the pouring spout 203 and inwardly into the container. The barb is resiliently deflectably attached to the pouring spout 203 so that as the spout is pulled out, the barb is displaced into a relieved area 268 provided in the adjacent side wall of the spout and can pass through the retention sleeve 217. Once on the other side of the retention sleeve 217, the barb springs out again. Attempting to push the pouring spout back in causes the distal end of the barb to jam against the upper end face of the retention sleeve 217. The barb 266, if present, therefore acts as a detent that ensures that once the pouring spout 203 has been deployed, it cannot easily be retracted again. The detached centre portion of the cap 201 (separated from the attachment skirt 42 by removal of the tear-away strip 38) may still be used to plug the end of the pouring spout 203 temporarily using the wedge seal 199, but the threads 210, 211 cannot be re-engaged. Two or more such barbs may be provided, spaced apart around the pouring spout circumference. Any other suitable non-return or detent mechanism may be used optionally to prevent retraction of the pouring spout 203 once it has been deployed, such as an asymmetric snap connection or ratchet, e.g. interengageable, oppositely directed, "ripsaw-tooth profiled", annular ridges or wickers on the two relatively moving components.

Figure 51 shows a container closure assembly having a two-stage telescopic spout similar to that of Figures 16a- 16c, in which the inner spout section 16a is provided with four nonreturn barbs 266 (only two visible) evenly distributed about its circumference. These can pass through the aperture in the web 42a as the spout section 16a is pulled out, but jam against the web 42a to prevent the inner spout section from being pushed in again.

The pouring spout 203 may be made to any suitable length which can be accommodated within the container. It may be provided with an elbow (not shown) or a "bendy" bellows of a suitable outside diameter to be manoeuvrable through the retention sleeve 217 or rib 42 of the collar 12, 202; with suitable outer sealing surfaces at either end of the pouring spout for sealing co-operation with the retention sleeve/rib 217, 42 in both the retracted and extended positions. The elbow or bellows allow(s) the pouring spout to extend at or be adjusted to a suitable angle to the container for accurate and spill-free dispensing of the container contents. The bellows is preferably of the type which may be stably adjusted to hold itself at any desired angle within a range of angles, e.g. being of the kind well-known in drinking straws. Where an elbow is used, a single breather straw may be provided along the longest part of the bend, and axially upwards and downwards from this at the same circumferential location. Alternatively, a simple, straight telescopic pouring spout e.g. with four breather straws may be used, as shown in the embodiments of Figures 21-42.

Although various different preferred features of the invention have for illustrative purposes been described in particular combinations to form particular embodiments, these features may be used in other combinations, substituted for one another or for other features of equivalent function, or omitted, wherever such is technically feasible, all within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A dispensing assembly for a container, comprising:

a. a pre-formed substantially rigid collar made separately to a container filling/dispensing aperture

b. a closure re-engageable with and rotatably disengageable from the collar to removably secure the closure in place, and

c. a mounting skirt constructed and arranged for permanently connecting the collar about the filling/dispensing aperture in use, the mounting skirt comprising a part which is broken to permit the rotational disengagement of the closure from the collar.

2. A dispensing assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising a pouring spout detachably connectable to the closure and guided by the collar as a telescopic sliding fit within the collar.

3. A dispensing assembly as defined in claim 2, in which the pouring spout comprises an opposed pair of external stops by which it is held captive in the collar for the telescopic sliding movement and the outer end of the pouring spout comprises a lead-in taper allowing the adjacent stop to be snap-fitted through the collar to form the captive assembly.

4. A dispensing assembly as defined in any preceding claim, in which the closure comprises a press-on, screw-off threadform.

5. A dispensing assembly as defined in any preceding claim, in which the closure and mounting skirt are interconnected via a frangible detent mechanism which when intact restrains relative rotation between the closure and collar, but which when broken allows such relative rotation.

6. A dispensing assembly as defined in any preceding claim, in which the closure and the collar or mounting skirt each comprise a respective complementary one-way feature, the two one-way features interacting mechanically with each other so as to be relatively rotatable as the closure is rotatably engaged with the collar; but interlocking with each other as the closure is rotatably disengaged from the collar; one of the one-way features being mounted to the collar or mounting skirt via a frangible connection, to provide the part which is broken to permit the rotational disengagement of the closure from the collar.

7. A dispensing assembly as defined in any preceding claim, in which the collar comprises the mounting skirt.

8. A dispensing assembly as defined in any of claims 1-6, in which the closure comprises the mounting skirt.

9. A dispensing assembly as defined in any preceding claim, in which the mounting skirt is a snap-fit with the container, so as to provide the permanent connection.

10. A dispensing assembly as defined in any one of claims 1-8, comprising a threaded connection between the container and the mounting skirt and co-operating complementary anti-backoff features provided on the container and on the mounting skirt respectively, so as to provide the permanent connection.

11. A dispensing assembly as defined in claim 10, in which the anti-backoff features comprise obliquely radially inwardly extending resiliently flexible blades spaced around the circumference of the mounting skirt, engageable with ratchet teeth or recesses formed around the circumference of the filling/dispensing aperture.

12. A dispensing assembly as defined in claim 10, in which the anti-backoff features are incorporated into the co-operating threads.

13. A container closure assembly as defined in any of claims 1-8 in which the permanent connection comprises a bonded or welded connection.

14. A container closure comprising:

a body portion and a handle hingedly mounted to the body portion so as to be movable between a flattened position in which the handle lies close to the body portion, and a raised position in which the handle extends away from the body portion so as to be manually graspable;

the handle having a volume with two mutually perpendicular dimensions which are substantially larger than a third, orthogonal dimension, so as to be substantially inflexible and panel-like in form.

15. A container closure as defined in claim 14 in which in its flattened position the handle is initially connected to the closure body portion by a frangible connection.

16. A container closure as defined in claim 14 or 15 in which the closure body portion comprises an upstanding portion to which the handle is hingedly attached.

17. A container closure as defined in claim 16 in which a gap is provided between the handle and an opposed part of the upstanding portion, offset from the hinge axis and spanned by a frangible connection.

18. A container closure as defined in any of claims 14-17 comprising a pair of such handles arranged to either side of a diameter of the closure.

19. A container closure as defined in any of claims 14-18 in which one or more tear off parts are provided which are configured to prevent the handle or at least one of the handles from moving from the flattened to the raised position until the part or parts are torn off.

20. A container closure as defined in any of claims 14-19 comprising a re-engageable, rotatably disengageable connection configured for removably securing the closure to a container.

21. A container closure as defined in claim 20 in which the handle comprises a detent engageable with the container when the handle is in the flattened position, so as to prevent rotation of the closure and disengagement of the rotatably disengageable connection.

22. A container closure assembly comprising a container closure as defined in any of claims 14-19, and

a collar securable to a container;

the container closure and collar comprising a re-engageable, rotationally disengageable connection.

23. A container closure assembly as defined in claim 22 in which the handle comprises a detent engageable with the collar when the handle is in the flattened position, to prevent rotation of the closure and disengagement of the rotatably disengageable connection.

24. A container closure as defined in claim 21 or a container closure assembly as defined in claim 23 in which raising the handle releases the detent.

25. A container closure as defined in claim 21 or 24 or a container closure assembly as defined in claim 23 in which the detent comprises a ratchet member engageable with a stop or recess to prevent rotation of the closure in a direction for disengagement of the connection but which allows rotation of the closure in a direction for engagement of connection.

26. A container closure as defined in claim 14-19, in which the closure comprises an end face and an attachment skirt for connecting the closure to a container; the handle in its flattened position being disposed in the end face.

27. A container closure as defined in claim 26 in which the attachment skirt is permanently securable to the container.

28. A container closure as defined in claim 27 in which the attachment skirt comprises any one or more of:

a) a one-way thread

b) a thread and an anti-backoff feature

c) a bonded or welded connection

d) a permanent snap connection by means of which it is secured to a container in use.

29. A container closure assembly comprising:

a container closure as defined in any of claims 26-28, and

a collar securable to a container,

30. A container closure assembly as defined in claim 29 in which the collar is sealingly engageable about a container neck or opening.

31. A container closure assembly as defined in claim 29 or 30 in which the collar comprises a portion trapped between a rim of the container and the attachment skirt in use.

32. A container closure assembly as defined in any of claims 22-25 or 29-31, comprising a pouring spout telescopically receivable in the collar.

33. A container closure assembly as defined in claim 32 in which the pouring spout comprises a detent which resists return of the spout from an extended position toward a retracted position.

34. A container closure assembly as defined in claim 32 or 33 in which the pouring spout is provided with one or more vent passages.