Drinking fitment

Abstract

A low-cost sportscap ( 2 ) has a nozzle ( 6 ) defining a drinking orifice. The nozzle is assembled from below into an outer shell ( 4 ) which is moulded as one piece and includes an overcap ( 16 ) and a base ( 14 ). A foil annulus ( 8 ) is used to seal a coupling part ( 50 ) of the nozzle to the outer shell ( 4 ) and also preferably to provide a mechanism by means of which the closure can be assembled to a container neck ( 10 ). A primary ex-factory seal is created by a valve ( 42 ) inside the overcap engaging with the drinking orifice. This can be resealed by the user when the overcap ( 16 ) is attached to the base by hinge means ( 32 ).

1 . A closure for a container comprising:
 an outer shell defining a base adapted to be fitted to a container neck and an overcap which is connected to the base by a removable tamper elements;   a separate nozzle defining a drinking orifice assembled within the outer shell; and   an induction heat-sealing foil;   characterised in that the foil is an annulus welded to the base and nozzle; and the overcap has a valve seal depending from an internal surface to engage with and seal the drinking orifice.   
   
   
       2 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the foil provides means by which the base can be welded to the container neck.   
   
   
       3 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base comprises a threaded skirt by means of which it can be connected to a standard threaded bottle neck finish.   
   
   
       4 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the nozzle carries a valve wall adapted to seat within a container neck.   
   
   
       5 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 hinge means connecting the overcap and base.   
   
   
       6 . A closure is claimed in  claim 4 , wherein:
 the hinge means is defined by a retained portion of the tamper band.   
   
   
       7 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base and overcap are made in one piece.   
   
   
       8 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the nozzle has a base flange adapted to seat in a recess within the base of the outer shell, and wherein the heat sealing foil covers a gap between the base flange and the base.   
   
   
       9 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the nozzle has a base flange which covers an inner edge of the foil.   
   
   
       10 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , made from a plastics material selected from Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP) including OPP, or compostable plastics grown from crops such as PLA (polylactic acid). 
   
   
       11 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the nozzle is made of PET.