Lockable Closure Device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a closure for a container or a fluid outlet or inlet comprising a retention means operable to engage a region of the interior surface of the container, outlet or inlet. The closure further comprises an actuation means operable to cause the retention means to engage said region. The closure further comprises a cap housing movable between a first position in which the actuation means may be operated and a second position in which operation of the cap housing is prevented. The closure further comprises a lock means moveable between a first unlocked position in which movement of the cap housing is allowed and a second locked position in which movement of the cap housing is prevented.

1 . A lockable closure ( 10 ) for an container ( 12 ) comprising:
 a retention means ( 14 ) that is operable to engage a region of an interior surface of the container;   an actuation means ( 16 ,  26 ) that is operable to cause the retention means ( 14 ) to engage said region;   a cap housing ( 18 ) is movable between a first position, in which the actuation ( 16 ,  26 ) means is capable of being operated and a second position, in which operation of the actuation means ( 16 ,  26 ) is inhibited;   a fluid pathway is defined through the closure ( 10 ), the fluid pathway is open when the cap housing ( 18 ) is in the first position and is closed when the cap housing ( 18 ) is in the second position;   a lock means ( 20 ) is moveable between a first unlocked position, in which movement of the cap housing ( 18 ) is permitted and a second locked position in which movement of the cap housing ( 18 ) is prevented; wherein the actuation means ( 16 ,  26 ) comprises an operating means ( 26 ) that is usable to control engagement of the retention means ( 14 ) with the interior surface of the container ( 12 ) and is accessible when the cap housing ( 18 ) is in the first position and is in-accessible when the cap housing ( 18 ) is in the second position.   
     
     
         2 . A lockable closure ( 10 ) according to  claim 1  wherein with the cap housing ( 18 ) in the second position, access to the operating means ( 26 ) is prevented by the cap housing ( 18 ). 
     
     
         3 . A closure ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the retention means ( 14 ) comprises a flexible member ( 32 ) arranged to engage an internal surface of the container or outlet so as to form a fluid tight seal to the interior surface. 
     
     
         4 . A closure ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the flexible member ( 32 ) is arranged to engage the internal surface of the container in a shouldered region. 
     
     
         5 . A closure ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 3  where the flexible member ( 32 ) is a hollow tube formed of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         6 . A closure ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the flexible member ( 32 ) comprises a flap of flexible elastomeric material in the form of a washer with an inner circumference joined to the outer circumference of the hollow tube so as to form a washer shaped diaphragm seal between the internal surface of the container and the hollow tube. 
     
     
         7 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a ‘free-flow’ pourer ( 24 ) having two or more manifolds arranged around a central axis. 
     
     
         8 . A lockable fluid flow closure ( 10 ) comprising:
 a retention means ( 14 ) comprising a hollow flexible member arranged such that in use the flexible member is deformable to engage with an internal portion of a container ( 12 );   a retention means actuator ( 16 ) comprising a hollow cylindrical member located within the retention means ( 14 ) and located at the distal end of the retention means ( 14 );   an operation ring ( 26 ), having the retention means actuator ( 16 ) located within it and adapted to engage at least a portion of the outer surface of the retention means actuator, so as to move the actuator ( 16 ) axially in response to a rotational or a push movement of the operation ring ( 26 );   a cap armature ( 24 ), comprising a hollow cylindrical component sized and located such that the retention means actuator ( 16 ) locates outside it, and is movable axially along a portion of the cap armature ( 24 ), the distal end of the retention means actuator ( 16 ) being in contact with a portion of the cap armature ( 24 ) in use;   a cap housing ( 18 ), comprising an internal surface ( 74 ) and an external surface and in which the cap housing ( 18 ) is movable axially between a first position in which a perimeter region of the internal surface ( 74 ) engages a perimeter region ( 70 ) of the cap armature ( 24 ) so as form a fluid tight seal between them and a portion of the cap housing ( 18 ) prevents rotation of the retention means operating ring ( 26 ) by a user, and a second position in which said perimeter regions of the internal surface and the cup are spaced apart so as to open the fluid flow pathway and the cap housing ( 18 ) is positioned so as no longer to prevent rotation of the operating ring ( 26 ), and   a lock means ( 20 ,  40 ,  41 ,  42 ) operable to control axial movement of the cap housing ( 18 ) between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         9 . A closure ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the retention means actuator ( 16 ) comprises one or more linear rails ( 54 ) adapted to limit motion of the actuator to motion in the orientation of the rails. 
     
     
         10 . A closure ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the cap housing ( 18 ) and the cap armature ( 24 ) comprise features adapted to come into contact when the cap housing ( 18 ) is moved with respect to the armature ( 24 ) so as to limit the amount of axial movement one relative to another. 
     
     
         11 . A closure ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 7 , comprising a combination lock means ( 20 ) having a number of locking rings ( 40 ,  42 ,  44 ) movable with respect to the armature wherein each locking ring comprises a flexure detent ( 50 ) that acts in use to provide a positive location for each rotational increment of the locking rings ( 40 ,  42 ,  44 ). 
     
     
         12 . A closure as claimed in  claim 11  wherein each increment provides a consistent pre-load.