Induction-Sealable Closure for Liquid Container

Abstract

A closure ( 1 ) for a container carrying a liquid comprises a first body ( 2 ) and a second body ( 3 ) mounted rotatably onto said first body, and a valve. The valve opens and closes by the action of tabs slidingly rotating over apertures provided in a member arranged transversely in a substantially cylindrical opening.

1 . A closure for a container for carrying a liquid, said closure comprising a first body, a second body mounted onto said first body, a valve comprising a valve seat and a valve element, and an outlet, wherein:
 the first body comprises an upper face, a sidewall and means for mounting the first body onto a discharge opening of the container;   the closure comprises means for rotating the second body with reference to the first body around a main axis substantially perpendicular to said upper face and between a position in which the valve is open and a position in which the valve is closed;   the first body comprises the valve seat and the second body comprises the valve element, wherein:   the combination of said valve element and valve seat comprises an extension arranged to liquid-tightly fit inside an opening and to rotate with reference to said opening, wherein:   the extension and the opening provide a liquid passageway through the valve,   the opening comprises a transverse member for narrowing said liquid passageway, the transverse member comprising one or more apertures and   the extension comprises at least one tab, said at least one tab and said transverse member arranged for sliding over each other, thereby closing or opening the valve.   
   
   
       2 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve element and valve seat are arranged so that the passageway through said valve is substantially parallel to said main axis. 
   
   
       3 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the axis of rotation of the extension relative to the opening is coincident with said main axis. 
   
   
       4 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the extension and the opening are of substantially cylindrical shape. 
   
   
       5 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the extension and the opening are conical segments. 
   
   
       6 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the first body comprises a vent and the second body comprises a second valve arranged for closing said vent, the vent being closed when the closure is in a closed position and said vent being open when the closure is in an open position. 
   
   
       7 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for rotating the second body with reference to the first body comprise a circular rib and a circular groove, each one provided on a separate body selected from the group consisting of: the first body and the second body, wherein the groove is arranged for accepting said rib and the groove and rib are arranged for guiding the rotation of the second body. 
   
   
       8 . The closure according to  claim 1 , further comprising an arc-shaped skirt and a bar arranged for engaging with the lateral ends of said skirt, wherein the arc-shaped skirt and the bar are each one provided on a separate body selected from the group consisting of: the first body and the second body. 
   
   
       9 . The closure according to  claim 8 , wherein said bar extends between the valve and the outlet and comprises a passageway for the evacuation of liquid from the valve to the outlet of the closure. 
   
   
       10 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the first body further comprises a projection and the second body comprises a lip, wherein the projection is arranged for engaging with the lip when the second body is in the closed position thereby preventing rotation of the second body towards the open position. 
   
   
       11 . The closure according to  claim 10 , wherein the lip is arranged for being disengaged from the projection by application of a squeezing force on the second body at a substantially right angle with reference to the location of said projection and lip. 
   
   
       12 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the first body comprises a tab and the second body comprises a flap, the flap arranged for engaging with the tab at a position in which the valve is open, the action of said engaging producing a click-sound. 
   
   
       13 . The closure according to  claim 1  further comprising a double sided induction seal which comprises an electrically conductive core layer, coated at both sides with plastic. 
   
   
       14 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet comprises a socket for accepting a connector plug. 
   
   
       15 . A method of sealing a closure permanently onto a container, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a closure and a container for carrying a liquid,   providing a seal between the closure and the container, wherein the seal is a double sided induction seal comprising an electrically conductive core layer coated at both sides with plastic and   induction-heating the seal.   
   
   
       16 . A closure for a container for carrying a liquid, wherein the closure comprises a double-sided induction seal. 
   
   
       17 . A container for carrying a liquid comprising the closure according to  claim 16 .