Container with irremovable closure to facilitate dispensation of contents
View Patent ↗A container and closure combination, for the containment of fluids and extraction therefrom by way of an extraction tube. The container comprises a closed volume with an opening configured to close the opening of the container; the closure is provided with an aperture such that the closure, upon fitment to the container opening, cannot be removed therefrom. The aperture of the closure comprises a unitary elastic unidirectional valve member that can operate in a first, closed condition, to prevent a flow of fluid from the container; and a second, operational condition, with an extraction tube sealingly engaged with respect to the valve, to permit an extraction of fluid from the container through the tube.
1. A non-removable container closure apparatus for dispensing of fluids through a dispensing tube, comprising:
a closure made of a rigid material, the closure comprising an external convex surface, an internal concave surface, a top face, a bottom edge, and an opening in the top face between the external convex surface and the internal concave surface, wherein the internal concave surface further comprises:
screw threads formed into the rigid material configured to tighten the closure onto a container with an aperture having matching screw threads; and
a plurality of one-way security detent teeth arranged about the bottom edge of the closure and configured to engage in a ratcheting fashion with security detent teeth on the container;
a central depression made of a resilient plastics material, the central depression comprising an aperture with a cross-slit valve, wherein:
an opening of the cross-slit valve comprises a cross shape, the cross shape comprising faces;
the cross-slit valve comprises four shoulders, each shoulder comprises an indented feature with a central crease line where the faces of the cross shape meet, such that insertion of a tube through the cross-slit valve causes the central crease line of each shoulder to fold outward allowing the cross-slit valve to open and grip the outside of the tube;
the cross-slit valve is configured to surround a plastics tube inserted therethrough yet permit the passage of air into the container through the valve as fluid is dispensed through the plastics tube due to a pressure differential;
an opening at the top of the central depression corresponds to the opening in the top face of the closure;
the central depression further comprises:
a pattern is formed into the central depression, the pattern radiating from the central depression and configured to assist in mechanical bonding of the resilient plastics material of the central depression to the closure; and
a plurality of raised stress-reducing fingers extending radially from the interior surface of the central depression and configured to provide support to any dispensing tube inserted into the central depression;
the lower portion of the central depression further comprises a one-way valve configured to prevent outflow of substances from any container to which the closure is attached, but to allow insertion of dispensing tubes for dispensing of such substances through the top opening of the closure; and
the plastics tube inserted into and retained by the cross-slit valve.
2. The container closure of claim 1 , wherein the pattern radiating from the central depression and configured to assist in mechanical bonding of the resilient plastics material of the central depression to the closure is color coded.