Container closure with overcap

Abstract

A container closure comprising: a plastics inner cap ( 2 ) having a base portion ( 4 ) and a skirt portion ( 5 ), a thread ( 10 ) on the inside of the skirt portion, a first snap fitting element ( 11 ) on the outside of the skirt portion, and a tamper evident ring ( 6 ) formed integrally with the skirt portion and joined to an open end of the skirt portion by severable connections ( 20,21 ); a plastics overcap ( 3 ) having a base and a skirt portion ( 26 ) in mating engagement with the skirt portion of the cap and extending beyond the open end of the skirt portion of the cap to at least partially cover the tamper-evident ring, and a second snap fitting element ( 31 ) on the inside of the skirt that engages with the first snap fitting element on the inner cap skirt to resist separation of the overcap from the inner cap. Also provided is a closure assembly comprising a threaded container neck ( 1 ) and a container closure according to the invention.

1 . A container closure comprising:
 a plastics inner cap having a base portion and a skirt portion, a thread on the inside of the skirt portion, a first snap fitting element on the outside of the skirt portion, and a tamper evident ring formed integrally with the skirt portion and joined to an open end of the skirt portion by severable connections;   a plastics overcap having a base and a skirt portion in mating engagement with the skirt portion of the cap and extending beyond the open end of the skirt portion of the cap to at least partially cover the tamper-evident ring, and a second snap fitting element on the inside of the skirt that engages with the first snap fitting element on the inner cap skirt to resist separation of the overcap from the inner cap.   
     
     
         2 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the overcap is substantially blocked from axial movement relative to the inner cap when the snap fitting elements are engaged. 
     
     
         3 . A closure according to  claim 2 , wherein at least a region of an interior surface of the overcap abuts against the base of the inner cap when the overcap is secured on the inner cap by the snap fittings. 
     
     
         4 . A closure according to  claim 4 , wherein the overcap has a bulbous base. 
     
     
         5 . A closure according to  claim 4 , wherein the base of the overcap is shaped to resemble the top of a champagne cork and the skirt of the overcap is shaped to resemble the top of a champagne bottle, whereby the overcap resembles the top of a champagne bottle and cork assembly. 
     
     
         6 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the overcap is substantially blocked from rotation relative to the inner cap when the snap fitting elements are engaged. 
     
     
         7 . A closure according to  claim 6 , wherein an outer surface of the skirt of the inner cap is provided with one or more longitudinally extending projections or recesses, and an inner surface of the overcap is provided with one or more complementary recesses or projections for engagement with the said projections or recesses on the inner cap to transfer rotational force from the overcap to the inner cap. 
     
     
         8 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the first snap fitting element comprises a circumferential projection or recess on the inner cap, and the second snap fitting element comprises a circumferential recess or projection on the inside of the skirt of the overcap. 
     
     
         9 . A container and closure assembly comprising a plastics closure according to  claim 1  and a container having a neck, wherein the neck comprises a neck thread on an outer surface thereof and a flange located below the neck thread, and wherein the closure is secured in sealing engagement on the neck by engagement of the thread on the inner cap with the neck thread, and wherein the tamper-evident ring is retained below the flange. 
     
     
         10 . A container and closure assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the tamper-evident ring can drop down the neck by a distance of at least about 1 mm following separation of the tamper-evident ring from the closure assembly. 
     
     
         11 . A container and closure assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the axial (vertical) overlap between the skirt of the overcap and the tamper-evident ring is less than the distance through which the tamper-evident ring is free to drop following separation thereof from the inner cap, whereby following said separation there is a visible gap between the top of the tamper-evident ring and the bottom of the overcap skirt. 
     
     
         12 . A container and closure assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the threads on the neck and the inner cap are provided with mutually engageable elements to block or restrict rotation of the closure in an unscrewing direction beyond an intermediate position when the closure is under an axial pressure in a direction emerging from the container neck, the neck and closure being constructed and arranged to provide a vent for venting gas from the container neck at least when the closure is in the intermediate position. 
     
     
         13 . A container and closure assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the overcap is gold- or silver-colored, and the assembly does not comprise a foil over-wrap. 
     
     
         14 . A closure according to  claim 4 , wherein the overcap is substantially blocked from rotation relative to the inner cap when the snap fitting elements are engaged. 
     
     
         15 . A closure according to  claim 4 , wherein the first snap fitting element comprises a circumferential projection or recess on the inner cap, and the second snap fitting element comprises a circumferential recess or projection on the inside of the skirt of the overcap. 
     
     
         16 . A container and closure assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the axial (vertical) overlap between the skirt of the overcap and the tamper-evident ring is less than the distance through which the tamper-evident ring is free to drop following separation thereof from the inner cap, whereby following said separation there is a visible gap between the top of the tamper-evident ring and the bottom of the overcap skirt. 
     
     
         17 . A container and closure assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the threads on the neck and the inner cap are provided with mutually engageable elements to block or restrict rotation of the closure in an unscrewing direction beyond an intermediate position when the closure is under an axial pressure in a direction emerging from the container neck, the neck and closure being constructed and arranged to provide a vent for venting gas from the container neck at least when the closure is in the intermediate position. 
     
     
         18 . A container and closure assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the overcap is gold- or silver-colored, and the assembly does not comprise a foil over-wrap.