EP0390974B1 - Closure device for flexible liquid containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a one-piece plastic cap, the lower part of which, which can be attached to a container opening, is provided with a top wall in which a passage opening is provided, the lower side of which is joined via a dip tube to the container. The top wall is, furthermore, provided with a hole diaphragm which, in the closed position of the upper part, is closed by a sealing spike protruding from its lower side and, in the open position of the upper part, interacts with a valve spike projecting from its lower side which is dimensioned shorter relative to the sealing spike so that, when pressure is exerted on the container, the ventilation valve is closed. A pre-tensioning device of the upper part interacts with the lower part so that, in the closed position of the upper part, a discharge channel in the upper part is pressed with elastic pre-tension sealingly against the top wall and, in the open position of the upper part, sealingly against the edge of the passage opening. By the compression of the liquid container, the cap makes it possible for liquid to be dispensed and, after it has been released, for air to be taken in without the discharge channel of the cap being completely emptied. The cap is secure during transport when closed.

Description

The invention relates to a closure for flexible liquid containers according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

As a rule, the flexible liquid containers are made of plastic and enable the flowable material contained therein to be dispensed by squeezing the wall of the container by hand and by releasing the internal volume of the container, and releasing the flowable material therein, through the opened closure can. The flexible containers are usually designed so that their wall automatically resumes the original position when the operator stops exerting pressure on the container wall or lets go of the container and puts it away. The wall of the container naturally only resumes the original starting position if atmospheric air can penetrate into the interior of the container at the same time.

This presupposes that the closure must remain open for a certain time even after the container liquid has been dispensed. This often makes it forgotten to close the container because the operator has now turned to other activities. Depending on the type of container contents, liquid remaining in the discharge opening of the closure is thereby dried out, which may make the container and its contents unusable in the long term. In addition, in most cases, the liquid contained in the container can only be dispensed if the container is held upside down, so that the contents of the container are located directly above the closure and can be dispensed by pressure on the container wall. In this case, however, the precise metering of the liquid to be dispensed is often difficult because dripping cannot always be avoided.

The invention has for its object to improve a closure of the known type specified in claim 1 so that a flexible liquid container equipped therewith pressed in a substantially upright position for dispensing liquid by hand and after its release can immediately suck in air without the Outflow channel of the closure is completely emptied to ensure immediate dispensing of the container contents when emptied again. In addition, the closure should be safe for transportation when closed.

The invention solves this problem by the features contained in the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

The lifting device mentioned in claim 2 on the top wall of the lower part enables a faultless and wear-free movement of the upper part between its closed and open position relative to the lower part in cooperation with the pretensioning device.

Since, according to claim 3, the lower part is provided with a guide groove for the longitudinally displaceable upper part, an aesthetically appealing shape of the closure is ensured with safe guidance of the upper part in the lower part.

The design of the pretensioning device by spring elements attached to the outside of side cheeks of the upper part according to claim 4 makes it possible to form the pretensioning device in one piece with the closure in one operation. The lifting device can also be produced in one piece with the closure, the lifting cams provided on the head wall allowing the upper part to be felt and fixed in the closed position and in the open position.

Due to the discharge sleeve and sealing sleeve provided according to claim 7 on the underside of the upper part, each of which rests with a prestress on the inlet opening or a residual filling discharge stop with prestress, on the one hand, a secure seal of the outflow channel for dispensing the liquid and for keeping the closure clean achieved in its closed state.

Furthermore, the upper part of the closure allows an arrangement of the discharge opening radially and axially parallel to the head wall (claim 9) or a downward arrangement (claim 10).

The special connection between the upper part and lower part by means of a hinge-provided web ensures that the upper part cannot be lost, but in particular that the closure according to the invention is manufactured as a single unit. In addition, a particularly advantageous overall aesthetic impression of the closure is achieved both in its closed and in its open position.

• Fig. 1 einen Verschluß gemäß der Erfindung im Schließzustand in schaubildlicher Darstellung,
• Fig. 2 den Verschluß in Fig. 1 in der geöffneten Stellung,
• Fig. 3 eine Draufsicht auf das Unterteil und die Innenseite des Oberteils des Verschlusses,
• Fig. 4 einen Längsschnitt IV-IV in Fig. 3,
• Fig. 5 eine Unteransicht zu Fig. 3 mit der Unterseite des Unterteils und der Oberseite des Oberteils,
• Fig. 6 einen Schnitt VI-VI in Fig. 4,
• Fig. 7 einen Schnitt VII-VII in Fig. 3,
• Fig. 8 einen Schnitt VIII-VIII in Fig. 3,
• Fig. 9 einen Schnitt IX-IX in Fig. 3,
• Fig. 10 eine Ansicht gemäß Pfeil X in Fig. 3,
• Fig. 11 einen Schnitt entsprechend Schnitt IV-IV in Fig. 3, jedoch in geschlossener Stellung des Verschlusses,
• Fig. 12 einen senkrechten Längsschnitt durch das Belüftungsventil in der Kopfwand mit Ansichten des Dichtdornes auf dem Belüftungsventil und dem dahinter liegenden Ventildorn,
• Fig. 13 eine Ansicht gemäß Fig. 11, jedoch in Offenstellung des Verschlusses,
• Fig. 14 eine Ansicht entsprechend Fig. 12, jedoch in Offenstellung des Verschlusses,
• Fig. 15 eine zweite Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verschlusses in einem senkrechten Längsschnitt durch die Durchtrittsöffnung und die Restfüllgut-Auslaufsperre in der Kopfwand des Unterteils mit dem Oberteil in Schließstellung und,
• Fig. 16 eine Ansicht des Verschlusses in Fig. 15 in der Offenstellung.

The invention is explained below with reference to the schematic drawing of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

• 1 shows a closure according to the invention in the closed state in a diagrammatic representation,
• 2 shows the closure in FIG. 1 in the open position,
• 3 is a plan view of the lower part and the inside of the upper part of the closure,
• 4 shows a longitudinal section IV-IV in FIG. 3,
• 5 is a bottom view of FIG. 3 with the underside of the lower part and the top of the upper part,
• 6 shows a section VI-VI in FIG. 4,
• 7 is a section VII-VII in Fig. 3,
• 8 shows a section VIII-VIII in FIG. 3,
• 9 shows a section IX-IX in FIG. 3,
• 10 is a view according to arrow X in Fig. 3,
• 11 shows a section corresponding to section IV-IV in FIG. 3, but in the closed position of the closure,
• 12 shows a vertical longitudinal section through the ventilation valve in the head wall with views of the sealing mandrel on the ventilation valve and the valve mandrel lying behind it,
• 13 is a view according to FIG. 11, but in the open position of the closure,
• 14 is a view corresponding to FIG. 12, but in the open position of the closure,
• 15 shows a second embodiment of the closure according to the invention in a vertical longitudinal section through the passage opening and the residual filling discharge stop in the head wall of the lower part with the upper part in the closed position, and
• Fig. 16 is a view of the closure in Fig. 15 in the open position.

1 and 2, a closure 20 made entirely of plastic is shown graphically in the closed position (FIG. 1) and in the open position (FIG. 2). The closure 20 consists of a lower closure part 32 and an upper closure part 34. A diametrical guide groove 53 extends through the lower part 32, in which the upper part 34 extends transversely to the central longitudinal axis of the closure between the closed position shown in FIG. 1 and the open position in FIG. 2 and is slidably mounted here. Fig. 2 shows that the outer surface of the upper part 34 and the lower part 32 are flush with one another in the closed position of the closure, so that the closure has a pleasing outer shape.

3 to 5, the closure 20 is shown in a position in which it was removed in one piece from a corresponding plastic injection mold. The closure 20 is provided for flexible, preferably plastic liquid containers 30 (FIGS. 11, 13, 15 and 16) which can be emptied by exerting pressure on the flexible container wall. The closure 20 can be designed in a manner known per se as a bounce or thread closure. The closure shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 11, 13, 15 and 16 has a bounce closure in which two snap arms 84 (FIGS. 4, 5) with snap jaws 85, 86 form an annular bead 87 on the outside of a container opening 47 surrounding it Reach in under the neck of the container 48 with a locking action and tightly clamp the lower closure part 32 on the end face of the container neck 48. In this case, a cylindrical sealing cone 35 is provided coaxially to the snap arms 84 on the underside of a head wall 49 of the lower part 32 and engages sealingly in the opening 47 of the container neck 48. A substantially cylindrical shell 83 extends radially outside of the the snap arms 84 from the outer edge of the head wall 49 of the lower part 32 down to the top of the container 30.

The top wall 49 of the lower part 32 is provided for the liquid in the container 30 with a passage opening 50 which is surrounded by a conical edge 89.

The upper part 34 is equipped with a pretensioning device 55, which is described in more detail below (FIGS. 8 to 10). This pretensioning device interacts with the lower part 32 such that, as shown in FIG. 11, in the closed position of the upper part 34, the inlet opening 51 of an outflow sleeve 39, which opens into an outflow channel 36 in the upper part 34, seals with elastic prestressing on a recessed, membrane-like one Residual filling material outlet stop 33 of the top wall 49 and in the open position of the upper part 34 is pressed onto the conical edge 89 of the passage opening 50 in the top wall 49 of the bottom part 32 (FIG. 13).

The outflow sleeve 39 is arranged in the direction of arrow X of the opening movement of the upper part 34 at a short distance behind a sealing sleeve 38 parallel to it and protrudes downward from the underside 72 of the upper part 34 to the same length as the sealing sleeve 38. The sealing sleeve 38 lies in the closed position of the upper part 34 with elastic prestressing sealingly on the conical edge 89 of the passage opening 50 in the lower part 32 and is arranged in the open position of the upper part 34 at a distance above the top wall 49 of the lower part 32, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 show.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the opening direction x of the upper part 34, the outflow channel 36 extends behind the outflow sleeve 39 in an arc downward to its discharge opening 73, which in the closed position of the upper part 34 is sealed on a sealing pan 90 on the top of the top wall 49 of the lower part 32 rests and is open in the open position of the upper part 34 outside the head wall 49 downward (Fig. 13).

3 to 5 and 8 to 10, the prestressing device 55 consists of spring elements 58, 59 which are attached to the outside of side cheeks 61, 62 of the upper part 34 (FIG. 8). The skid-shaped spring elements 58, 59 engage in longitudinal slots 63, 64, which are delimited at the ends, shown in FIG. 7, in the side walls 56, 57 of the guide groove 53 and are with their skid ends 66, 67 on the upper slot edge 54 of the two longitudinal slots 63, 64 led. The lower edge 65 of the side cheeks 61, 62 of the upper part is held a short distance above the head wall 49 of the lower part 32 both in the closed position and in the open position of the upper part 34. As a result, the upper part 34, with its parts important for the function of the closure, is constantly pressed with elastic prestress against the functionally important parts of the head wall 49, as is described in more detail below.

3, 6 and 7, a lifting device 60 is provided on the top of the head wall 49, by means of which the upper part 34 counteracts its movement from the closed or open position into the open or closed position from the head wall 49 of the lower part 32 the effect of the biasing device 55 can be lifted. The lifting device 60 consists of two lifting cams 70, 71. The lifting cams 70, 71 are arranged on the top of the head wall 49 in the region of the movement path of the longitudinally extending lower edge 65 of the side cheeks 61, 62 (FIG. 8) of the upper part 34. The height of the lifting cams 70, 71 is such that when the upper part 34 with the lower edges 65 of the side walls 61, 62 rests on the lifting cams 70, 71, the lower free ends of the sealing sleeves 38, the outflow sleeve 39, the sealing mandrel 44 and of the valve mandrel 45 are higher than the highest elevations of the head wall 49 and the edges of the outlet stop 33 and the passage opening 50. The lower edge 65 of the side cheeks 61, 62 of the upper part 34 is each provided with a cutout 75 which corresponds to the longitudinal profile of the lifting cams 70, 71 on the head wall 49 of the lower part 32. The engagement of the lifting cams 70, 71 in the cutout 75 in both side cheeks 61, 62 of the upper part 34 determines the closed position of the upper part 34 with respect to the lower part 32. However, the lifting cams 70, 71 engage with enough clearance in the cutouts 75 of the side walls 61, 62 that the sealing sleeve 38 seals the passage opening 50 with elastic pretension and also the outflow channel 36 on the inlet and outlet sides 51, 73 opposite the head wall 49 is sealed. The side cheeks 61, 62 rest for fixing the upper part 34 in the open position with a rear inclined surface 68 on a corresponding inclined end surface 69 of the lifting cams 70, 71.

The top wall 49, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the upper part 34, is provided with a ventilation valve 43 next to the passage opening 50 (FIGS. 3, 7, 12, 14). The ventilation valve 43 consists of a membrane 95 which has a central hole 96. The hole 96 is closed in the closed position of the upper part 34 by a sealing mandrel 44 which protrudes from the underside 72 of the lower part 32 (FIG. 12). In the open position of the upper part 34, the membrane 95 of the ventilation valve 43 interacts with a valve mandrel 45, which likewise protrudes parallel to the sealing mandrel 44 from the underside 72 of the upper part, but is dimensioned shorter than this (FIG. 14). Due to the shorter dimensioning of the valve mandrel 45, the membrane 95 lifts off from the valve mandrel 45 and allows the air to pass into the container from outside if there is negative pressure in the container. On the other hand, when the flexible container for dispensing liquid is pressed together, the membrane 95 is pressed and sealed against the valve mandrel 45. When the container is subsequently released, air is therefore pressed into the container 30 not only through the outflow channel 36 but also through the ventilation valve 43. This means that at least for a certain time a part of the liquid column remains within a riser pipe 31, so that when pressure is subsequently exerted on the container (pumps), only a relatively small amount of air has to be forced out before the liquid contained in the riser pipe 31 and in the container 30 is released becomes. In addition, a faster pressure equalization takes place through the ventilation valve 43, so that the dispensing of liquid from the container 30 can take place in shorter time intervals.

On the underside of the head wall 49, an insertion opening 74 for the riser pipe 31 is provided coaxially with the passage opening 50, which can be connected to the insertion opening 74 by a press fit and / or gluing or heat sealing. The riser pipe 31 extends with its lower end to the bottom of the container (not shown), so that the liquid container 30 can be completely emptied in the upright position.

3 to 5 and 11 to 14 show that the lower part 32 and the upper part 34 are connected to one another by a web 79, which according to FIG. 5 has a smooth outside, but on the inside with four hinges 40, 76, 77, 78 is provided, through which web sections 80, 81, 82 are connected. The web section 82 articulated on the upper part 34 and the central web section 81 have a width corresponding to the upper part 34. The third web section 80 connected to the lower part 32 is connected to the jacket 83 of the lower part 32 by the hinge 40, the width of which is dimensioned to be substantially smaller than the width of the upper part 34. This arrangement makes it possible for this third web section 80 in the closed position of the upper part 34 to be flush with the outside of the lower part 32. This is also achieved in that the outer end of the third web section 80, which ends in the hinge 73 with the jacket 83 of the lower part 32, has a radius is rounded, which corresponds approximately to the radius of the shell 83 of the lower part 32.

The second embodiment of a container closure 120 shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 differs from the first embodiment only in that the outlet channel 136 opens out over its entire length parallel to the head wall 149 into a discharge opening 173 which is thus directed radially to the main axis of the container 130 and into which a spray nozzle can optionally be inserted. Otherwise, the functioning of the closure is identical to that of the first embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 14, as is readily apparent from the FIGS. In which the reference numerals for the identical or functionally identical components are preceded by a "1".

The mode of operation of the container closure according to the invention can best be seen from FIGS. 11 to 14, which essentially also applies to the mode of operation of the second embodiment in FIGS. 15 and 16.

11 and 12, the closed position of the upper part 34 relative to the lower part 32 can be seen in two different sections. The outflow sleeve 39 is completely sealed by the residual filling outlet stop 33, so that liquid which remains after the dispensing of liquid from the container 30 in the outflow channel 36 and the outflow sleeve 39 cannot run out through the outflow sleeve 39 and contaminate the lower closure part 32 . Likewise, the discharge opening 73 is completely closed by the sealing pan 90, so that any liquid remaining therein does not leak out of this end of the outflow channel 36 and can contaminate the lower part 32 of the closure 20. The sealing sleeve 38 closed at the upper end seals the passage opening 50 and thus the container 30 from the outside. The web 79 assumes a rectangular position, as shown in FIG. 11, in relation to that shown in FIG. 1 Shape of the closure leads. The web section 80 connected to the jacket 83 nestles against the rear concave wall 91 of the jacket 83, while the other two web sections 81, 82 form a right angle. The biasing force of the spring elements 58, 59 is practically completely implemented as the closing force of the outflow sleeve 39 with respect to the passage opening 50 and the sealing mandrel 44 with respect to the ventilation valve 43. The lower edges 65 of the side cheeks 61, 62 are therefore always in the closed and open position of the upper part 34 at a short distance above the top of the head wall 49. The closed position of the upper part 34 is fixed in the direction of movement of the upper part in that the lifting cams 70, 71 engage in the corresponding cutouts 75 of the side cheeks 61, 62 while leaving a margin.

When pressure is exerted in the opening direction x on the upper and / or rear side of the upper part 34 and its connecting web 79 with the lower part 32, the upper part 34 is due to the inclined end faces 69 of the lifting cams 70, 71 and the corresponding inclined surfaces 68 of the cutouts 75 in the Sidewalls 61, 62 increasingly raised to the height of the lifting cams 70, 71 against the spring preload of the spring elements 58, 59. As a result, both the outflow sleeve 39 and the sealing sleeve 38, furthermore the discharge opening 73 and the sealing mandrel 44 can be lifted from their seats and transferred over the edges of their conical seating surfaces into the position corresponding to the opening position of the upper part 34. This is possible because the lifting cams 70, 71, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, are, seen in the longitudinal direction of the upper part 34, with their longitudinal center exactly on a cross-sectional plane of the upper part 34, which is in the middle between the axes of the sealing sleeve 38 and the discharge sleeve 39 or the sealing mandrel 44 and the valve mandrel 45, which in turn lies in a cross-sectional plane of the upper part 34 are arranged with the sealing sleeve 38 or the outflow sleeve 39.

The back and forth movement of the upper part 34 between the closed and open positions is facilitated in that the end faces of the lifting cams 70, 71 as well as the rear inclined surface 68 of the side cheeks 61, 62 are chamfered. The upper part 34 engages in the closed and open positions with a latching action. 13 and 14, the opening position of the upper part 34 is characterized in that the outlet sleeve 39 rests tightly on the conical edge 89 of the passage opening 50 with its opening edge under the pretension of the spring elements 58, 59. The discharge opening 73 is open downward outside the jacket 83 of the lower part 32. The sealing sleeve 38 lies freely above the top of the head wall 49. The web 79 lies stretched within the side walls 56, 57 of the guide groove 53 in the lower part 32.

Fig. 14 shows that in the open position of the upper part 34, the sealing mandrel 44 is freely above the top of the head wall 49. Since the valve mandrel 45 is shorter than the sealing mandrel 44, the hole edge of the membrane 95 is pressed and sealed tightly against the valve mandrel 45 when pressure is exerted on the flexible plastic container 30. When the pressure on the container wall is released, air can flow into the container through the ventilation valve 43, the pressed-in container wall returning to its original shape. At the same time, FIG. 14 clearly shows that the rear inclined surface 68 bears against the corresponding front inclined end surface 69 of the lifting cams 70, 71 and thereby prevents the upper part 34 from being easily moved backwards in the direction of its closed position. In fact, this closing movement is only possible by exerting a sufficient force on the upper part 34 in the closing direction.

The above description of the opening position of the upper part 34 makes it clear that the prestressing force of the prestressing device 55 applies exclusively to the sealing of the outlet sleeve 39 with respect to the passage opening 50, the lower edge 65 of the side cheeks 61, 62 of the upper part again being a small distance above the top of the head wall 49 lie.

The above description shows that the closure according to the invention is also suitable as a child-resistant closure for flexible containers with a liquid content which, if the container and its contents are improperly handled, can endanger the user.

Claims (13)

1. Closure for flexible liquid containers comprising a lower portion (32,132) which may be sealingly secured on the throat (48) surrounding the opening (47) of the container (30,130) and whose head wall (49,149) is provided with a flow opening (50,150) for the liquid in the container (30,130) with which a riser tube (31), which reaches the base of the container, is sealingly connected, an upper portion (34,134) which is provided with a closure member for the flow opening (50,150) and is movable between a closed position and an open position, characterised in that the head wall (49,149) is provided adjacent the flow opening (50,150) with a ventilation valve (43), which has a membrane (95) with a hole (96), which, in the closed position of the upper portion (34,134), is closed by a sealing peg (44) projecting down from the underside (72) of the upper portion (34,134) and, in the open position of the upper portion (34,134), cooperates with a valve peg (45) which projects from its underside (72) and which is shorter than the sealing peg (44) so that the ventilating valve (43) is only closed when a pressure is exerted on the flexible container (30,130), associated with the upper portion (34,134) is a biasing device (55) which cooperates with the lower portion (32,132) such that the inlet opening (51) of an outlet passage (36,136), which communicates with a delivery opening (73,173), in the upper portion (34,134) is pressed, in the closed position of the upper portion (34,134), with an elastic biasing force in a sealing manner onto the upper surface of the head wall (49,149) and, in the open position of the upper portion (34,134), in a sealing manner onto the edge of the flow opening (50,150) in the head wall (49,149) of the lower portion (32).

2. Closure as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that provided on the head wall (49) of the lower portion (32) there is a lifting device (60) by means of which the upper portion (34) may be lifted up from the head wall (49) of the lower portion (32) against the action of the biasing device (55) when it is moved out of the closed or open position into the open or closed position, respectively.

3. Closure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the upper surface of the head wall (49) of the lower portion (32) defines the base of a guide groove (53) which extends diametrically over the head wall (49), is defined by mutually parallel side walls (56,57) and in which the upper portion (34) is mounted to be slidable back and forth between the closed and open positions.

4. Plastics closure as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the biasing device (55) comprises spring elements (58,59) which are mounted on the outer surface of side cheeks (61,62) of the upper portion (34) and engage in longitudinal slits (63,64) limited at the ends in the side walls (56,57) of the guide groove (53), on whose upper slit edge (54) the spring elements (58,59) are guided so that the lower edge (65) of the side cheeks (61,62) of the upper portion (34) is disposed in the closed and open positions thereof at a small distance above the head wall (49) of the lower portion (32).

5. Closure as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that each spring element (58,59) is of skid-shaped construction, whereby the skid ends (66,67) resiliently engage beneath the upper slit edge (54) of the longitudinal slits (63,64) in the side walls (56,57) of the lower portion (32).

6. Closure as claimed in one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the lifting device (60) comprises lifting cams (70,71) which are arranged on the upper surface of the head wall (49) in the region of the movement path of the side cheeks (61,62) of the upper portion (34), that the lower edge (65) of the side cheeks (61,62) of the upper portion (34) is provided with an opening (75) which approximately corresponds to the longitudinal profile of the lifting cams (70,71) on the head wall (49) of the lower portion (32) and determines the closed position of the upper portion (34) with respect to the lower portion (32) by engagement of each lifting cam (70,71) in the associated opening (75) in the two side cheeks (61,62) of the upper portion (34) and that in the open position of the upper portion (34) the side cheeks (61,62) engage an oblique end surface (69) of the lifting cam (70,71) with a rear oblique surface (68).

7. Closure as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the inlet opening (51) is associated with an outlet sleeve (39) which projects in the direction (x) of the opening movement of the upper portion (34) at a small spacing in front of a sealing sleeve (38) from the underside (71) of the upper portion (34) to the same length as the sealing sleeve (38) and parallel to it and engages with the inlet opening (51), in the closed position, in a recessed remaining filling material outlet barrier (33) on the head wall (49) and, in the open position, sealingly engages the edge (89) of the flow opening (50) in the head wall (49).

8. Closure as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the sealing sleeve (38) sealingly engages the edge (89) of the flow opening (50) in the lower portion (32) in the closed position of the upper portion (34) and, in the open position of the upper portion (34), is arranged spaced above the head wall (49) of the lower portion (32).

9. Closure as claimed in one of claims 7 or 8, characterised in that the outlet passage (136) extends from the upper end of the outlet sleeve (139) radially to it and parallel to the axis of the head wall (149) in the direction of its delivery opening (173).

10. Closure as claimed in one of claims 7 or 8, characterised in that the outlet passage (36) extends arcuately upwards from the upper end of the outlet sleeve (39) to its delivery opening (73) which, in the closed position of the upper portion (34), sealingly engages the upper surface of the head wall (49) of the lower portion (32) and, in the open position of the upper portion, (34) lies downwardly open outside the head wall (49).

11. Closure as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the head wall (49) is integrally connected at its end directed away from the delivery opening (73) to the lower portion (32) by means of a web (79) provided with a plurality of hinges (40,76,77,78).

12. Closure as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the web (79) comprises three web sections (80,81,82) which are connected by the hinges (40,76,77,78) and of which the web section (82) connected to the upper portion (34) and the central web section (81) have a breadth corresponding to the upper portion (34) whilst the third web section (80), which is connected to the lower portion (32), is connected by a hinge (40) to the wall (83) of the lower portion (32), the breadth of which is substantially smaller than the breadth of the upper portion (34).

13. Closure as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that the outer end, which runs out into the hinge (78) with the wall (83) of the lower portion (32), of the third web section (80) is rounded with a radius which approximately corresponds to the radius of the wall (83) of the lower portion (32).

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