U.S. patent application number 09/731293 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-06 for bottle closure and cap assembly.
Invention is credited to Fadal, Robert E. II, Prosise, Roy, Zumbuhl, Bruno.
Application Number | 20020066758 09/731293 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24938896 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020066758 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fadal, Robert E. II ; et
al. |
June 6, 2002 |
Bottle closure and cap assembly
Abstract
A clip permits a bottle-type container to be modified without
requiring any reconfiguration of the basic bottle, eliminating both
the need for an after market purchase and also the inconvenience of
keeping track of the clip independently of the bottle. The cap or
closure design includes an integrated clip in the cap. The cap is
designed to fit on standard bottle constructions. The clip may be
either an integrated feature of a reconfigured cap or may be an
add-on adapted to be secured to an existing cap. Alternatively, the
integrated clip is part of the cap mold or an add-on clip is
frictionally mounted, sonic-welded or otherwise glued or secured to
an existing cap design. The bottle container is not altered and may
be manufactured, filled, labeled and process using existing
equipment. The cap is then secured to the bottle with the integral
clip, or the clip can be added as a downstream step after the
bottle is closed and sealed. This permits the clip to be added to
the original product at a minimum of expense to the
manufacturer.
Inventors: |
Fadal, Robert E. II;
(Seguin, TX) ; Prosise, Roy; (Cedar Park, TX)
; Zumbuhl, Bruno; (Evansville, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Attn: Robert C. Curfiss
BRACEWELL & PATTERSON, L.L.P.
711 Louisiana, Suite 2900
Houston
TX
77027-9095
US
|
Family ID: |
24938896 |
Appl. No.: |
09/731293 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/148.7 ;
224/269 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 23/003 20130101;
A45F 3/16 20130101; B65D 51/242 20130101; A45F 5/00 20130101; B65D
23/104 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/148.7 ;
224/269 |
International
Class: |
A45F 003/00 |
Claims
1. An integral clip and bottle cap assembly for a bottle having a
neck and a body, including a first portion forming a bottle cap and
a second portion depending from the cap and forming a clip, the
clip having a first member for securing the clip to the cap and a
second clip defining member having an outer end coacting with the
body of the bottle.
2. The clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap is a closure
cap.
3. The clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap is a dispenser
cap.
4. The clip assembly of claim 3, wherein the dispenser cap is a
push-pull dispenser cap.
5. The clip assembly of claim 3, wherein the dispenser cap is a
threaded dispenser cap.
6. The clip assembly of claim 3, wherein the dispenser cap is a
hinged dispenser cap.
7. The clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the second member is
movable between a stowed position and an active position.
8. The clip assembly of claim 7, wherein there is further included
a scored separation line between the first member and the second
member for securing the second member in the stowed position
relative to the first member, whereby the second member is
separated from the first member along the separation line when it
is moved to the active position.
9. The clip assembly of claim of claim 8, wherein there is further
included a live hinge between the first member and the second
member for permitting pivoting the second member relative to the
first member when separated along the separation line.
10. The clip assembly of claim 8, wherein the separation line is a
spiral line permitting peeling of the second member away from the
first member.
11. The clip assembly of claim 8, further including a lock for
locking the clip in place when it is in the locked position.
12. The clip assembly of claim 8, wherein the second member forms a
T-handle when the clip is in the stowed position.
13. A clip assembly for a standard bottle container cap having an
outer peripheral wall, comprising: a. A first member for securing
the clip to the cap without interfering with the standard function
of the cap; and b. A second member extending from the first member
for defining the clip.
14. The clip assembly of claim 13, wherein the cap includes a flat
top and the first member includes a flat base secured to the flat
top.
15. The clip assembly of claim 14, the flat top of the cap further
including a pair of posts for and the flat base further including a
pair of post receptive holes.
16. The clip assembly of claim 15, wherein the base is snap fit
onto the posts.
17. The clip assembly of claim 15, wherein the base is glued onto
the posts.
18. The clip assembly of claim 13, wherein the cap includes a flat
top having a single post and wherein the first member includes a
flat base having a single post-receptive hole whereby the flat base
is positioned on the flat top.
19. The clip assembly of claim 18, wherein the flat base is sonic
welded to the flat top in the vicinity of the post.
20. The clip assembly of claim 13, wherein the first member
comprises a ring secured about the outer peripheral wall of the
container cap.
21. The clip assembly of claim 20, the cap including a peripheral
channel for receiving the ring and an enlarged cap area above the
channel, whereby the ring is snap fit over the enlarged cap area
and into the channel.
22. The clip assembly of claim 20, wherein the first member
includes a high friction interior surface and the clip is
frictionally held on the outer peripheral wall of the cap.
23. The clip assembly of claim 13, wherein the cap is a flat
closure cap.
24. The clip assembly of claim 13, wherein the cap is a dispensing
cap.
25. The clip assembly of claim 24, wherein the dispensing cap is a
push-pull dispensing cap.
26. The clip assembly of claim 24, wherein the dispensing cap is a
threaded dispensing cap.
27. The clip assembly of claim 24, wherein the dispensing cap is a
hinged, pivotable dispensing cap.
28. The clip assembly of claim 23, the flat top of the cap
including a mounting post and the second member including a flat
base, the flat base further including a mounting post receptive
hole.
29. The clip assembly of claim 28, including a snap tab on the
mounting post for securing the base to the cap.
30. The clip assembly of claim 28, including an adhesive means for
securing the base to the cap in the area of the mounting post.
31. The clip assembly of claim 20, the cap further including a
raised, reduced boss area forming the outer peripheral wall for
receiving the ring.
32. The clip assembly of claim 13, wherein the first member is an
integral portion of the cap.
33. The clip assembly of claim 13, further including a bottle
having a cylindrical neck for receiving the cap and wherein the
first member is a ring adapted to fit over the neck, whereby the
clip assembly is secured in place by placing the cap on the neck
with the clip assembly below the cap on the neck and in engagement
with the bottle.
34. The clip assembly of claim 13, wherein the second member forms
an elongated clip.
35. The clip assembly of claim 34, further including a bottle upon
which the cap is placed and wherein the clip forms a gap between
the bottle and the clip when the cap is secure on the bottle.
36. The clip assembly of claim 34, further including a bottle upon
which the cap is placed, and wherein the clip forms a positive
engagement with the bottle when the cap is secure on the
bottle.
37. The clip assembly of claim 36, wherein the bottle includes a
wall area adapted for positively engaging the clip.
38. The clip assembly of claim 37, wherein the clip includes an
abutment adapted for positively engaging the clip.
39. The clip assembly of claim 13, wherein the second member
defines a downwardly extending hook.
40. The clip assembly of claim 13, wherein the second member
defines and upwardly extending hook.
41. The clip assembly of claim 13, wherein the second member
defines an upwardly extending eyelet.
42. The clip assembly of claim 13, wherein the second member
defines an outwardly extending eyelet.
43. The clip assembly of claim 13, wherein the second member
includes an elongated inner leg and an elongated outer leg with a
gap therebetween.
44. The clip assembly of claim 13, wherein the second member is
movable between a stowed position and an active position.
45. The clip assembly of claim 44, wherein there is further
included a scored separation line between the first member and the
second member for securing the second member in the stowed position
relative to the first member, whereby the second member is
separated from the first member along the separation line when it
is moved to the active position.
46. The clip assembly of claim 45, wherein there is further
included a live hinge between the first member and the second
member for permitting pivoting the second member relative to the
first member when separated along the separation line.
47. The clip assembly of claim 45, wherein the separation line is a
spiral line permitting peeling of the second member away from the
first member.
48. The clip assembly of claim 45, further including a lock for
locking the clip in place when it is in the locked position.
49. The clip assembly of claim 45, wherein the second member forms
a T-handle when the clip is in the stowed position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The subject invention is generally related to clips and
hangers associated with bottles and containers. Particularly, the
subject invention is related to mass packaged commercial containers
and bottles such as sport drink bottles and the like. Specifically,
the subject invention is directed to bottle closures or caps and
clips associated with the same.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Closures comprise all sorts of devices including for
example-flat cap closures such as those found on brown chemical
bottles, sodas and vitamin bottles; foil adhesive closures to be
peeled or punctured such as those found on juice containers and the
like; dispensing closures such as those found on popular sport
water bottles and sport drinks; retractable spouts having pivot
handles to pull the spout from a recessed closed position to an
open dispensing position; and the like. Dispensing closures and
caps comprise screw-type, pull-push, hinged and various other
configurations. The closures and of the prior art are generally
designed with the primary purposes of sealing the container,
retaining the seal when pressurized, and in many cases providing a
convenient means for dispensing the contents without removing the
cap. Often the term cap is used interchangeably for the term
closure. These closures may or may not include various tamper
evidence features.
[0005] Over the years, containers having dispensing closures have
become popular for drinks such as bottled water, sports drinks,
fruit juices and the like. In many cases it has become desirable to
be able to carry these drinks with the user as he/she participates
in various activities such as walking, hiking, jogging, bike riding
and the like. It is also desirable that the hands remain free
during such "on the go" activities. Numerous configurations of
clips and hangers for bottles and containers have been developed.
Vinarsky U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,087 discloses a sport bottle having an
integral clip manufactured directly into the bottle. Vinarsky U.S.
Pat. No. 5,676,285 shows a hanger-clip accessory for a sports
bottle. Stark U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,238 shows a beverage can holder
having a clip. Walker U.S. Pat. No. DES 404,643 shows a bottle
carrier clip accessory. Green U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,857, Hayashi U.S.
Pat. No. 4,631,783, Markson U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,973, Thompson U.S.
Pat. No. 4,273,246 and Arnold U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,152 each show
bottle holders with a friction mount bottle holder. Edelman et al
U.S. Pat. No. 3,304,039 discloses a replacement cap for a
toothpaste tube having a hanger bracket for hanging the toothpaste
tube in a toothbrush rack. More recently, AquaHook Company of
Huntington Beach, Calif. has introduced a new Aqua-Clip hanger of
the type comprising a friction mount bottle holder as disclosed in
the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. DES 404,643; 4,631,783;
5,301,857; 5,573,12 and 5,960,973.
[0006] There are three significant disadvantages present in the
prior art configurations. Specifically, the devices are not
economically adaptable into standard mass application bottling
equipment (suitable only as an after market item), and/or the
devices do not provide secure attachment means for "on the go" user
requirements, and/or the devices require reconfiguration of the
bottle itself.
[0007] After market designs, such as those that engage the neck of
the bottle and others, are not economically adaptable into existing
standard mass application bottling equipment due to several
factors. These factors include the extra cost of manufacturing the
additional device, physical limitations of the currently preferred
materials, prohibitive investments in mass application equipment,
the inefficiency of slower running bottling lines secondary to
accommodating the new device, and interference with
packaging/handling practices. Therefore, they require separate
purchases and also require the user to keep track of the device
independently of the container.
[0008] On the go devices, important as a central theme of the
instant patent application, preclude hanger and bracket
configurations. Hanger configurations such as 5,676,285 are not
suited for suspension except to stationary objects. Bracket
configurations such as 3,304,039 are not suited for attachment
universally, but require a corresponding and exactly matching
independent receptacle in order to function securely.
[0009] Finally, clip designs integral to the bottle itself require
very costly reconfiguration of the basic bottle design, manufacture
and material selection. This would require the bottle manufacturer
to scrap or modify existing tooling and practices to a degree that
the project would become practically and economically
unfeasible.
[0010] With specific reference to Vinarsky U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,285
and Edelman U.S. Pat. No. 3,304039, it will be noted that both of
these patents rely on a cap or closure with an addition that
creates an attachment means. Vinarsky teaches a gravity dependent
hook addition suitable for hanging bottles from stationary supports
or brackets. It does not utilize the space between the clip and the
bottle as an attachment area in a coacting relationship and would
not be suitable for on-the-go sport bottles.
[0011] Edelman teaches a tab/slot bracket concept and requires a
corresponding and mated slot to engage the tab cap addition. As
with Vinarsky, this is not a coacting, on-the-go design.
[0012] These disadvantages have prevented widespread acceptance of
the clips on sport drink type containers even though the concept is
generally accepted as desirable.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0013] The subject invention is directed to bottle closure/clip
designs that
[0014] 1) permit the clip to be mass applied economically as an
integral component of the initial product offering,
[0015] 2) provide a secure attachment means for on the go user
needs,
[0016] 3) do not require reconfiguration of the existing
bottle.
[0017] The basic concept of the subject invention is the
reconfiguration of the closure design to include an integrated clip
in the closure. The terms closure and cap are used interchangeably
throughout this disclosure and should not be considered to be
limiting. The closure may be designed to fit on standard bottle
constructions and standard application machinery. The clip may be
either an integral feature of a closure, an integral feature of a
reconfigured closure or may be an add-on, adapted to be secured to
an existing or reconfigured closure. In the preferred embodiments
the integrated clip is part of the closure mold. The add-on clip is
frictionally mounted, threaded, sonic-welded or otherwise glued or
secured to a closure design. A significant advantage to these
designs is that the bottle container is not altered and may be
manufactured, filled, labeled and processed using existing
equipment. The cap is then secured to the bottle with the integral
clip, or the clip can be added as a downstream step after the
bottle is closed and sealed. This permits the option of adding the
clip to the original product at a minimum of expense to the
manufacturer. It is important to preserve this sequence in order to
assure that such clips can be applied in a standard
bottle-manufacturing fill-line using standard bottling equipment
with little modification. It is also important that the clip be of
a configuration permitting the use of industry standard high-speed
in-line and/or chuck-automated cappers.
[0018] In the preferred embodiments of the instant invention the
clip is mounted directly on the cap as part of the initial mold
either fully activated or including a live hinge. Live hinges allow
the clip to be stowed in such a fashion as to be out of the way for
bottle processing, capping, packaging and storage, only to be
activated when the clip is placed in use. Stowed clips in this
fashion can also provide a handle feature to the closure for easier
handling.
[0019] In alternative embodiments, the clip can be as a separate
mounted piece that is friction, snapped, welded, glued, threaded,
and so forth on the closure separately.
[0020] In another embodiment the clip may be held in place between
the cap and the bottle. The clip is versatile in design and may be
used in connection with snap-caps, threaded caps, dispensing caps,
flat caps and the like.
[0021] The clip itself can be any of a plurality of numerous
desirable configurations depending upon intended application. It
can include a friction-clip for securing the bottle tightly to a
belt or article of clothing. It can be open, permitting the clip to
bottle to hang over a handle bar or the like. It can be of a hook
configuration, or can contain an eyelet for hanging on a hook or
similar mounting mechanism. The clip can have various shapes and
geometry aiding attachment, serving as advertising space or
relaying information of one sort or the other.
[0022] It is, therefore, an object and feature of the subject
invention to provide a bottle clip for use in connection with
bottle and sport-drink containers and the like.
[0023] It is a further object and feature of the subject invention
to provide a clip that can be installed on a standard container in
a standard assembly line/filler system with a minimum of
modification to the assembly process.
[0024] It is a further and object of this invention to provide a
secure clip attachment means for on the go user needs.
[0025] It is also an object and feature of the invention to provide
a clip that can be adapted to a standard container without
modification of the container.
[0026] It is an additional object and feature of the invention to
provide a clip that can be stowed for shipping and storage and
later activated when placed in use.
[0027] Other objects and features of the invention will be readily
apparent from the accompanying drawing and detailed description of
the preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a simple add-on clip.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating the clip of FIG. 1
mounted on a flat cap with the cap secured to a bottle
container.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a top view of a clip similar to the clip of FIG.
1.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a side view of the clip of FIG. 3 as installed on
a flat cap by friction mount.
[0032] FIGS. 5 and 6 correspond to FIGS. 3 and 4 showing an
alternative snap-mounted clip on a flat cap.
[0033] FIGS. 7 and 8 correspond to FIGS. 3 and 4 showing an
alternative glue- or weld-mounted clip on a flat cap.
[0034] FIG. 9 shows the clip of FIGS. 1-3 mounted on a mounting
boss provided on a flat cap.
[0035] FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 9 and shows the clip of FIGS. 1-3
mounted on a dispensing cap.
[0036] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view shown a snap-mounted
clip and a cap with a customized clip-retaining socket.
[0037] FIG. 12 is a top view of the assembly of FIG. 11.
[0038] FIG. 13 is a side view of the assembly of FIG. 11.
[0039] FIG. 14 is a view of a ring clip adapted to be placed
directly on the neck of a bottle.
[0040] FIGS. 15 and 15A are illustrations of the clip of FIG. 14 as
held in place on the bottle by the cap when the cap is secured to
the bottle.
[0041] FIGS. 16-23 are illustrations of combinations of various
clip configurations with various cap configurations.
[0042] FIG. 24 is a side view of the cap, clip and bottle assembly
showing the clip and bottle relationship with a small gap between
the clip and the bottle wall.
[0043] FIG. 25 is a side view of the cap, clip and bottle assembly
showing the clip and bottle relationship wherein the basic bottle
design provides a contact point.
[0044] FIG. 26 is a side view of the cap, clip and bottle assembly
showing the clip and bottle relationship wherein the clip has been
modified to provide a contact point.
[0045] FIG. 27 is a side view of the cap, clip and bottle assembly
showing the clip and bottle relationship wherein the clip includes
and integral slot.
[0046] FIGS. 28-35 illustrate a flat, stowable clip wherein FIGS.
28-31 show the clip in the stowed position and FIGS. 32-35 show the
clip in the activated position.
[0047] FIGS. 36-41 illustrate an alternative of a stowable
clip.
[0048] FIG. 42 illustrates the formation of a T-handle formed by
the stowable clip of FIGS. 28-41.
[0049] FIGS. 43-45 illustrate a peel-down clip configuration.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0050] In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the clip is
mounted directly on the cap as part of the initial mold either
fully activated or including a live hinge. Alternative, any of the
embodiments may be mounted on a cap as a separate manufacturing
step. All of the embodiments shown and described here are adaptable
to either method of manufacture, with the cap being referred to as
the first member of the assembly and the clip being referred to as
the second member of the assembly, whether initially molded as part
of the cap configuration or later added. In embodiments where the
cap is after added as a separate, mounted member, the second member
may be friction-held, snapped onto a mounting post, welded, glued
or otherwise mounted on the cap or first member. Where live hinges
are part of the design (see in particular FIGS. 28-45), the hinge
allows the clip to be stowed in such a manner as to be out of the
way for processing, capping, packaging and storage, only to be
activated when the clip is placed in use. The stowed clip also
forms a suitable T-handle for the capped bottle for easier handling
and display.
[0051] The simplest configuration of the clip is the friction or
snap-mounted clip 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The clip 10 includes a
ring 12 adapted to fit on the periphery of the cap 18 (FIG. 2). A
ridge 14 may be provided on the interior wall of the ring 12 to
provide a tighter fit, where desired. The clip member 16 is an
integral curvilinear extension or tab that can take on a variety of
shapes depending on the specific application and as will further
explained herein. As more clearly shown in FIG. 2, the cap 20 is a
flat cap with a beveled channel 22 beneath the cap top 24. The ring
12 of the cap 10 is forced over the cap to 24 and is received in
the beveled channel 22 above the threaded portion 20 of the cap 18.
The cap is adapted to be thread mounted on a typical container or
bottle 26.
[0052] A modification of the clip of FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4. In this embodiment the clip 28 includes ring 30 with
a knurled or grooved inner surface 32. The clip is friction mounted
on the knurled or grooved outer surface 34 of the cap 28, as shown
in FIG. 4. As in the clip of FIGS. 1 and 2, the clip member is the
curvilinear extension 36.
[0053] An additional modification is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. As
there shown, the cap 38 includes a pair of posts 40 and 42 each
having a protruding tab 43. The clip 44 includes a flat base 45
adapted to rest on the top of the flat cap 38. The base 45 includes
a pair of holes 46 and 48 adapted to receive the respective posts
40 and 43 and to be snapped over the tabs 43 for securing the clip
44 to the cap 38.
[0054] Another embodiment of the clip is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,
wherein the cap 38 includes a single post 52 and the clip 50
includes a flat base 45 having a single post-receptive hole 54.
After the clip is placed on the cap the post and base are secured
to on another as shown at 56, using a sonic weld or an adhesive
glue or the like.
[0055] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an embodiment similar to that
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein the cap 60 includes a raised,
reduced boss 62 for accommodating the ring 70 of the clip 66. The
inner surface 72 of the ring may be modified to increase the
friction grip, or the ring may be glued or welded to the cap as
previously described. A flat cap is shown in FIG. 9. A push-pull
dispenser member 64 has been added to the cap of FIG. 10.
[0056] A tab-mounted clip 73 is shown in FIGS. 11-13. In this
embodiment the cap 74 is modified to include a receptacle 76 for
receiving the mounting tab 78 of the clip. The clip tab is snap fit
into the receptacle.
[0057] FIG. 14 shows a ring clip 80, which is an open ring, adapted
to be placed directly on the neck 86 of a bottle container 84. As
shown in FIGS. 15 and 15A, the opening 82 of ring 90 fits over the
neck 86 of the bottle 84. The upper expanded top 88 of the bottle
forms a base for the ring and the clip is held in place by a
modified threaded cap 86'0 with an expanded base 86". The
embodiment of FIG. 15A includes a ring adapted to be placed over
the neck 89' and collar 89 of the bottle 85. The collar 89 of the
bottle forms a base or seat for the ring and clip held in place by
the cap 89".
[0058] FIGS. 16-23 show various integrally molded clips on a cap
90. As shown in the drawings the cap 90 may be a push-pull
dispenser cap (FIGS. 16, 17 and 22), a threaded dispenser cap
(FIGS. 18 and 23), a hinged dispenser cap (FIG. 19), a flat closure
cap (FIGS. 20 and 21) or other configuration. The clip can be any
of a variety of configurations. Examples are the standards clip 92,
94 95 and 96 (FIGS. 16, 18, 19 and 20, respectively).
[0059] Once assembled on the bottle the clip can function in a
variety of ways. As shown in FIG. 24, the standard clip 100 mounted
on the cap 102 is designed to provide a small gap 106 between the
clip and the bottle 104. In the embodiment of FIG. 25, the same
clip is in contact with a protruding rib 110 on the bottle 108 to
provide a closed friction fit. In the embodiment of FIG. 26, the
clip 100 includes a raised button or post 112 for engaging the
bottle 104 to provide the closed friction fit. In FIG. 27, the clip
114 includes an inner leg 116 and an outer leg 118 for providing an
elongated gap 120 between the legs to provide an open clip that is
fully functional without relying on any portion of the bottle
104.
[0060] FIGS. 28-42 illustrate an integral clip that may be stowed
during shipping and storage and moved to an active position during
use. The clip 128 may be snap fit or secured to a standard cap 130
or may be integrally molded therein. As shown in FIGS. 28-31, the
clip 128 is initially in a flat planar configuration, and is in
alignment with the bottom of the cap. With specific reference to
FIG. 30, it will be noted that the clip includes a base 129 with an
integral inner ring hole 134 adapted to fit over the cap. A
separation line 135 is provided between the outer ring 137 and the
inner ring. When the clip is after mounted on the cap, as opposed
to being integrally molded, it may be desirable to provide a
mounting tab 136 on the base 129. The outer extending tabs 138 and
140 are useful in maneuvering the clip from the stowed position of
FIGS. 28-31 to the active position of FIGS. 32-35. In order to move
the clip from the stowed to the active position, the clip is pulled
downward as shown in FIG. 32 and separated along the separation
line 135. The live hinge area 136 allows the clip to be lifted by
holding the clip between tabs 138 and 140.
[0061] Once the clip is in the downward, active mode of FIG. 35, it
is further pivoted as shown in FIG. 40, and locked in place to form
a clip. As shown in FIGS. 36-41, the live hinge 150 is extended to
permit the clip to pivot as shown in FIG. 39. The clip can also
dropped down under the cap as shown in FIG. 40. Locking tab 152 can
be inserted into the groove 154 provided on the base for securing
the clip in place. Alternative, and as shown in FIG. 41, the tab
152 can be engaged directly on the cap 130.
[0062] As shown in FIG. 42, the stowed clip forms a convenient
T-handle when installed on a typical bottle container 131.
[0063] An alternative embodiment of a stowable tab is illustrated
in FIGS. 43-45. This is a peelable clip 162 and include an inner
ring 164 for securing the tab to the cap 160. An outer ring 165 is
connected to the inner ring 164 by a scored separation line 166. As
shown in FIG. 45, the clip is moved to the active position by
peeling it along the separation line 166 and bending it to the
desired position.
[0064] While certain features and embodiments have been described
in detail herein, it will be understood that the subject invention
includes all enhancements and modifications within the scope and
spirit of the following claims.
[0065] The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention
are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in
the size, shape, materials, components, circuit elements, wiring
connections and contacts, as well as in the details of the
illustrated circuitry and construction and method of operation may
be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
* * * * *