Container

Abstract

A container with a closure includes an opening defined by a neck having a central axis. The closure includes a lid and a body. The body defines a conduit between first and second ends, the first end defining an open mouth. The lid is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, in which the lid covers the open mouth in the closed configuration. The body includes an external face, and the lid includes an internal face intended to overlap at least a portion of the external face when the lid is in the closed configuration. The body is attached to the container with the open mouth in communication with the opening of the container, and the body and lid cooperate with one another to provide snap-fitting engagement therebetween to releasably secure the lid to the body in the closed configuration when the body is attached to the container.

1 . A container having a closure mounted thereto, wherein the container comprises an opening defined by a neck, the neck having a central axis; wherein the closure comprises a lid and a body of plastics construction; wherein the body defines a conduit between a first end and a second end of the body, the first end defining an open mouth of the body; wherein the lid is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the lid being arranged to cover said open mouth of the body when in the closed configuration; wherein the body comprises an external face and the lid includes an internal face intended to overlap at least a portion of said external face of the body when the lid is in the closed configuration; and wherein the body is attached to the container such that the open mouth of the body is in communication with the opening of the container, and the body and lid are configured to cooperate with one another to provide snap-fitting engagement therebetween in order to releasably secure the lid to the body in the closed configuration when the body is attached to the container. 
     
     
         2 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the body of the closure comprises a side wall extending between the first and second ends, wherein the region of the side wall proximal the open mouth of the body is arranged to flex when the side wall is pressed in the direction of the central axis of the container, when the body is mounted onto the container. 
     
     
         3 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduit defined by the body is arranged around the neck of the container such that the neck of the container extends through the conduit from the second end to a location proximal the first end such that a space is provided between a portion of the body proximal the open mouth of the body and the neck of the container, when the body is mounted onto the container. 
     
     
         4 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a side wall configured to extend between the first and second ends, and wherein the side wall of the body is attached to the neck of the container via attachment formations provided on the side wall. 
     
     
         5 . A container according to  claim 4 , wherein the side wall of the body and the neck of the container comprise complementary attachment formations which are interengaged to attach the closure to the container. 
     
     
         6 . A container according to  claim 5 , wherein the neck of the container comprises a screw thread, and the side wall of the body comprises a complementary screw thread, wherein the screw thread of the neck and the screw thread of the body are interengaged to attach the closure to the container. 
     
     
         7 . A container according to  claim 6 , wherein the screw thread of the body projects from and extends around an internal surface of the side wall of the body, the screw thread is discontinuous thereby forming a plurality of discrete screw thread portions on the body with thread free regions therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . A container according to  claim 7 , wherein the screw thread of the neck of the container projects from and extends around an external surface of the neck; wherein a depth is defined, orthogonal to the central axis of the container, between an outermost edge of the screw thread and the external surface of the container neck; the screw thread of the neck is configured to provide ridges and interruptions, wherein the defined depth varies between the ridges and the interruptions such that the ridges have a greater depth from the external surface of the neck than the interruptions; and wherein the thread free regions of the body overlap the interruptions of the container neck when the closure is attached to the container. 
     
     
         9 . A container according to  claim 7  or  8 , wherein the extent to which the internal face of the lid overlaps the external face of the body varies around the lid to provide a first overlapping region and a second overlapping region, wherein the first overlapping region overlaps the external face of the body to a greater extent that the second overlapping region, wherein the first overlapping region defines a tab and wherein the closure is configured such that the thread free regions of the body align with the tab of the lid, when the lid is releasably secured to the body in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         10 . A container according to  claim 9 , wherein the external face of the body defines at least one recess configured to receive the tab defined by the lid, when the lid is releasably secured to the body in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         11 . A container according to  claim 9 , wherein the extent to which the internal face of the lid overlaps the external face of the body varies to define a pair of tabs, wherein the lid is coupled to the body via a hinge element provided equidistant from each of the tabs. 
     
     
         12 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure comprises a tamper evident component coupled the body and/or the lid. 
     
     
         13 . A container according to  claim 12 , wherein the extent to which the internal face of the lid overlaps the external face of the body varies to define a pair of tabs and a void therebetween, and wherein the tamper evident component comprises a strip arranged to occupy said void when the lid is releasably secured to the body. 
     
     
         14 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said external face of the body defines a first formation extending in a direction radially away from the central axis of the neck, the internal face of the lid defines a second formation extending radially in the direction of the central axis, and wherein the second formation is configured for snap-fitting engagement over said first formation when the lid is applied to the body, in order to releasably secure the lid to the body in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         15 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure is configured for sealing engagement with the opening of the container. 
     
     
         16 . A container according to  claim 15 , wherein a wadding material is carried by the lid of the closure such that the wadding material extends across the opening of the container when the closure is attached to the container and the lid is in the closed configuration, wherein the wadding material is arranged to be compressed by a rim of the opening of the container, when the closure is attached to the container and the lid is in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         17 . A container according to  claim 16 , wherein the wadding material serves as a carrier for a foil or film material to be sealingly coupled to the opening of the container. 
     
     
         18 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid is configured for sealing engagement with the body. 
     
     
         19 . A closure for use with the container of  claim 1 , the closure comprising a lid and a body of plastics construction; wherein the body defines a conduit between a first end and a second end of the body, wherein the first end defines an open mouth of the body, wherein the lid is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the lid being arranged to cover said open mouth of the body when in the closed configuration; wherein the body comprises an external face and the lid includes an internal face intended to overlap at least a portion of said external face of the body when the lid is in the closed configuration; wherein the body is configured for attachment to a container to mount the closure onto the container, and the body and lid are configured to cooperate with one another to provide snap-fitting engagement therebetween in order to releasably secure the lid to the body in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         20 . A container having a closure mounted thereto, wherein the container comprises an opening defined by a neck, the neck having a central axis; wherein the closure comprises a lid and a body of plastics construction; wherein the body defines a conduit between a first end and a second end of the body, the first end defining an open mouth of the body; wherein the lid is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the lid being arranged to cover said open mouth of the body when in the closed configuration; and wherein the body is mounted onto the container by a complementary screw thread arrangement such that the open mouth of the body is in communication with the opening of the container, and the body and lid are configured to cooperate with one another to provide engagement therebetween in order to releasably secure the lid to the body in the closed configuration, when the body is attached to the container.