Security closure assembly for a container, in particular for a bottle for liquids
The closure assembly ( 1 ) comprises: a pourer unit ( 2 ) having a lower portion ( 3 ) for fixing to the mouth of the container and an upper pouring portion ( 4 ), a removable cap ( 6 ) provided with a resiliently deformable peripheral lip portion ( 7 ), and an outer covering ( 8, 9 ) including: an upper sleeve element ( 8 ) and a lower sleeve element ( 9 . The arrangement is such that, after the first opening of the closure assembly ( 1 ), the lip portion ( 7 ) is arranged in the opened-out condition in which it extends radially outside of the lower sleeve element ( 9 ) but permits subsequent re-fitting of the cap ( 6 ) on the pourer unit ( 2 ) as far as the closure position in which the lower sleeve element ( 9 ) and the upper sleeve element ( 8 ) once more extend the predetermined distance (d) apart.
1. A security closure assembly ( 1 ) for a mouth of a container having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
a pourer unit ( 2 ) having a lower portion ( 3 ) for fixing to the mouth of the container and an upper pouring portion ( 4 );
a removable cap ( 6 ) which can be fitted onto the pourer unit ( 2 ) as far as a closure position in which the cap ( 6 ) is in abutment with a stop surface ( 4 a ), the cap ( 6 ) having at least one resiliently deformable peripheral lip portion ( 7 ); and
an outer covering ( 8 , 9 ) including:
an upper sleeve element ( 8 ) which closely surrounds the cap ( 6 ) leaving the lip portion ( 7 ) thereof substantially exposed, and
a lower sleeve element ( 9 ) which is separate from the upper sleeve element ( 8 ) and closely surrounds the lower portion ( 3 ) of the pourer unit ( 2 ) and which, prior to a first opening of the closure assembly ( 1 ), extends at a predetermined distance (d) from the upper sleeve element ( 8 ) and at least partially surrounds the lip portion ( 7 ) of the cap ( 6 ),
wherein, after the first opening of the closure assembly ( 1 ), that is, a first disconnection of the cap ( 6 ) from the pourer unit ( 2 ), the lip portion ( 7 ) is released from the lower sleeve element ( 9 ) and, upon subsequent re-closure, extends outside the lower sleeve element ( 9 ) and indicates that the closure assembly ( 1 ) has been opened,
wherein prior to the first opening of the closure assembly ( 1 ), the lower sleeve element ( 9 ) of the outer covering ( 8 , 9 ) keeps the lip portion ( 7 ) in a radially compressed condition in which it is drawn in resiliently towards the longitudinal axis of the closure assembly ( 1 ), and is resiliently biased towards an opened-out condition in which it is opened out radially, and
wherein after the first opening of the closure assembly ( 1 ), the lip portion ( 7 ) is arranged in the opened-out condition, in which it extends at least partially radially outside of the lower sleeve element ( 9 ) so as to permit subsequent re-fitting of the cap ( 6 ) on the pourer unit ( 2 ) as far as said closure position in which the lower sleeve element ( 9 ) and the upper sleeve element ( 8 ) once more extend the predetermined distance (d) apart.
2. A closure assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the lip portion ( 7 ) of the cap ( 6 ) has a notched edge.
3. A closure assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the lip portion ( 7 ) has, in an intermediate portion thereof, an integral circumferential hinge ( 10 ).
4. A closure assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of the outer surface of the lip portion ( 7 ) which is visible from outside prior to the first opening of the closure assembly ( 1 ) is of a different colour from the rest of an outer surface of the lip portion ( 7 ) which becomes visible from the exterior after the first opening of the closure assembly ( 1 ).