Spout and closure assembly for a container

Abstract

A spout and closure assembly for a container are disclosed. The spout has a base end configured to be sealingly securable about the periphery of a dispensing opening of the container, and an outlet end which is movable between a retracted position in which the outlet end lies within or adjacent to the base end and an extended position in which the outlet end lies outward of the base end relative to the container opening. A removable closure cap is securable to the outlet end and a retainer is removably secured about the closure cap. The retainer comprises a detent by which the retainer and closure cap are held within or adjacent to the dispensing opening and also comprises a frangible line of weakness which when broken splits the retainer so as to allow disengagement of the detent, extension of the spout and removal of the closure cap from the outlet end, the frangible line of weakness being positioned in the retainer so that when the retainer is in place with the detent engaged, at least a portion of a force generated by pressure within the container and tending to expel the spout and closure cap is transmitted to the detent without passing through the line of weakness.

1 . A spout and closure assembly for a container, the assembly comprising:
 a spout having:
 a base end configured to be sealingly securable about the periphery of a dispensing opening of the container, and 
 an outlet end which is movable between a retracted position in which the outlet end lies within or adjacent to the base end and an extended position in which the outlet end lies outward of the base end relative to the container opening; 
   a removable closure cap securable to the outlet end, and   a retainer removably securable about the closure cap;   
       the retainer comprising a detent by which the retainer and closure cap are held within or adjacent to the dispensing opening; 
       the retainer comprising a frangible line of weakness which when broken splits the retainer so as to allow disengagement of the detent, extension of the spout and removal of the closure cap from the outlet end; 
       the frangible line of weakness being positioned in the retainer so that when the retainer is in place with the detent engaged, at least a portion of a force generated by pressure within the container and tending to expel the spout and closure cap is transmitted to the detent without passing through the line of weakness. 
     
     
         2 . The spout and closure assembly of  claim 1 , in which the line of weakness extends substantially axially and/or radially within the retainer. 
     
     
         3 . The spout and closure assembly of  claim 1 , in which the line of weakness extends substantially non-circumferentially in the retainer. 
     
     
         4 . The spout and closure assembly of  claim 1 , in which the line of weakness is provided with a tear tab. 
     
     
         5 . The spout and closure assembly of  claim 4 , in which the tear tab extends into an aperture in an end wall of the retainer. 
     
     
         6 . The spout and closure assembly of  claim 5 , in which the tear tab is attached to the periphery of the aperture by frangible bridges. 
     
     
         7 . The spout and closure assembly of  claim 1 , in which the detent comprises a radially projecting, upwardly facing surface of the retainer, engageable beneath a complementary downwardly facing surface provided about the dispensing opening of the container. 
     
     
         8 . The spout and closure assembly of  claim 7 , in which the complementary downwardly facing surface is provided on a neck or rim on the container surrounding the dispensing opening. 
     
     
         9 . The spout and closure assembly of  claim 7 , in which the complementary downwardly facing surface is provided on the base end of the spout. 
     
     
         10 . The spout and closure assembly of  claim 7 , in which the complementary downwardly facing surface is provided on a securing member permanently securable about the dispensing opening. 
     
     
         11 . The spout and closure assembly of  claim 10 , in which the securing member comprises a malleable ring crimpable onto or over an edge of the dispensing opening of the container. 
     
     
         12 . The spout and closure assembly of  claim 10 , in which the securing member is a snap fit on or over the dispensing opening of the container 
     
     
         13 . The spout and closure assembly of  claim 10 , in which the securing member comprises a screw-on ring with anti-backoff features. 
     
     
         14 . The spout and closure assembly of  claim 10 , in which the securing member is insert-molded into the container about the dispensing opening. 
     
     
         15 . The spout and closure assembly of  claim 7 , in which the radially projecting, upwardly facing surface of the retainer comprising the detent extends radially outwardly from the retainer and the complementary downwardly facing surface is recessed within the dispensing opening of the container whereby in use the retainer is at least partly nested within the dispensing opening. 
     
     
         16 . The spout and closure assembly of  claim 1 , in which the closure cap comprises a chamfered support surface configured to lie against a flange bearing the detent, whereby container internal pressure tending to expel the spout and closure cap urges the flange radially outward to press the detent into tighter engagement. 
     
     
         17 . The spout and closure assembly of  claim 1 , in which the closure cap comprises a bail handle extending radially outward of the retainer. 
     
     
         18 . The spout and closure assembly of  claim 17 , in which the retainer comprises a segmented peripheral skirt configured to extend through a slot separating the bail handle from the remainder of the closure cap.