Sealing device for a container opening

Abstract

A closure device for mounting on an opening of a receptacle containing a fluid, said device comprising: a base ( 1 ) comprising fastener means ( 12 ) for fastening the base onto the opening of the receptacle, said base defining a fluid-dispensing orifice ( 11 ) through which the fluid contained in the receptacle can be dispensed; and an openable cap ( 2 ) for mounting on the base ( 1 ), said cap including closure means ( 210 ) for closing the dispenser orifice ( 11 ) of the base ( 1 ); the device further comprising first-use indicator means ( 25 ) for making it easy to see whether the cap ( 2 ) has already been withdrawn from the base ( 1 ), the device being characterized in that said indicator means comprise a visual indicator member ( 25 ) that is displaceable between an initial position that guarantees that the cap has not already been opened, and a final position that indicates that the cap has already been opened, said indicator member ( 25 ) reaching its final position when the cap ( 2 ) is put back into place on its base ( 1 ) so as to close the dispenser orifice ( 11 ).

1 . A closure device for mounting on an opening of a receptacle containing a fluid, said device comprising: 
 a base ( 1 ) comprising fastener means ( 12 ) for fastening the base onto the opening of the receptacle, said base defining a fluid-dispensing orifice ( 11 ) through which the fluid contained in the receptacle can be dispensed; and    an openable cap ( 2 ) for mounting on the base ( 1 ), said cap including closure means ( 210 ) for closing the dispenser orifice ( 11 ) of the base ( 1 );    the device further comprising first-use indicator means ( 25 ) for making it easy to see whether the cap ( 2 ) has already been withdrawn from the base ( 1 ), the device being characterized in that said indicator means comprise a visual indicator member ( 25 ) that is displaceable between an initial position that guarantees that the cap has not already been opened, and a final position that indicates that the cap has already been opened, said indicator member ( 25 ) reaching its final position when the cap ( 2 ) is put back into place on its base ( 1 ) so as to close the dispenser orifice ( 11 ).    
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1 , in which the indicator means further comprise an indicator element ( 3 ), which, before the cap ( 2 ) is opened for the first time, is initially connected to the cap by breakable indicator connections ( 30 ), and is advantageously fastened by heat-sealing to the base ( 1 ), the breakable connections ( 30 ) being suitable for being broken while the cap is being opened for the first time, so that the broken connections indicate that the closure device has already been opened.  
   
   
       3 . A device according to  claim 1 , in which the displacement of the indicator member ( 25 ) is pivoting displacement.  
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 1 , in which the initial position is separated from the final position by an unstable intermediate position.  
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 1 , in which the indicator member ( 25 ) is urged into its final position by a bearing element ( 32 ) secured to the base ( 1 ), said indicator member ( 25 ) being secured to the cap ( 2 ).  
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 5 , in which, in its initial position, the indicator member ( 25 ) extends between the base ( 1 ) and the bearing element ( 32 ), and, in its final position, extends between the bearing element ( 32 ) and the cap ( 2 ).  
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 5 , in which the bearing element ( 32 ) is initially secured to the cap ( 2 ), and is secured to the base ( 1 ) after the cap ( 2 ) has been initially mounted on the base ( 1 ).  
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 7 , in which the bearing element ( 32 ) is initially secured to the cap ( 2 ) by means of breakable connections ( 30 ) that are suitable for being broken while the cap is being opened for the first time.  
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 5 , in which the bearing element ( 32 ) is secured to the base ( 1 ) by heat-sealing.  
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 5 , in which the bearing element is formed by a ring ( 3 ) that extends around at least part of the cap ( 2 ), said ring ( 3 ) initially being connected to the cap by bridges ( 23 ) of frangible material, the base including a crown ( 14 ) surrounding at least part of the dispenser orifice ( 11 ), said ring ( 3 ) being fastened to the crown ( 14 ), advantageously by heat-sealing, said fastening being strong enough to withstand the force required to break the connection between the ring and the cap, so that the ring remains fastened to the base when the cap is withdrawn from the base by breaking the bridges of frangible material.  
   
   
       11 . A device according to  claim 10 , in which the crown ( 14 ) forms a recess ( 15 ) for receiving the indicator member ( 25 ) in its initial position.  
   
   
       12 . A device according to  claim 1 , in which the indicator member ( 25 ) is connected to the cap ( 2 ) along a curved hinge-line ( 205 ) that is advantageously defined at a bottom peripheral edge ( 201 ) of the cap ( 2 ).  
   
   
       13 . A device according to  claim 1 , in which the cap ( 2 ) is pivotally mounted on the base ( 1 ).  
   
   
       14 . A device according to  claim 1 , in which the indicator member ( 25 ) is made out of a material or in a color that is different from the rest of the cap.  
   
   
       15 . A device according to  claim 1 , in which the cap and the base are united as a single piece, advantageously via a hinge ( 24 ).