U.S. patent application number 10/684034 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-12 for cap device for mixing different kinds of materials separately contained therein and in bottle.
Invention is credited to Cho, Young Kook.
Application Number | 20040154937 10/684034 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32822689 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040154937 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cho, Young Kook |
August 12, 2004 |
Cap device for mixing different kinds of materials separately
contained therein and in bottle
Abstract
A cap device for bottles, which is capable of mixing an additive
contained therein with a material contained in a bottle to prepare
a mixture in accordance with a simple rotating action of the cap
device relative to the bottle, and which allows the mixture to be
quickly discharged from the container. In the cap device of the
invention, having a valve member seated in a neck of a bottle; a
cap body tightened to an externally threaded mouth of a bottle and
opened or closed at a lower end of a funnel part thereof by the
valve member; and a cap cover acting as an additive containing part
and assembled with the cap body to define a cavity therein to
contain an additive in the cavity, the neck of the bottle is
tapered downward on an inner surface thereof; the valve member is
provided with a valve part at a center thereof to open or close the
lower end of the funnel part of the cap body, with a plurality of
radial ribs extending outward from an external surface of the valve
part while defining a plurality of additive discharging holes
between the radial ribs, the valve member also having a ring to
surround outside ends of the radial rings, and a wedge-tipped shank
vertically extending upward from a center of the valve part; a
tapered surface is formed along an outer surface of the ring to
correspond to the tapered inner surface of the neck of the bottle;
and a vent hole is formed at a predetermined position of an upper
end of the funnel part of the cap body.
Inventors: |
Cho, Young Kook; (Vernon,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jerry H. Noh
Suite 2741
3435 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles
CA
90010
US
|
Family ID: |
32822689 |
Appl. No.: |
10/684034 |
Filed: |
October 14, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/219 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 31/007 20130101;
B65D 51/2864 20130101; F25D 2331/803 20130101; F25D 5/02
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/219 |
International
Class: |
B65D 025/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 10, 2003 |
KR |
10-2003-0008288 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cap device for a bottle having an externally threaded mouth
and a neck with a tapered inner surface, said cap device
comprising: a cap body twistably attaching to said externally
threaded mouth of said bottle; a funnel part integrated with said
cap body, said funnel part having an opening at a lower end
thereof; a cap cover assembled with the cap body to define a cavity
for containing an additive in said cavity; a valve member for
closing and opening said opening at said lower end of said funnel
part said valve member having a valve part at a center thereof and
a shank extending upward from said valve par, said shank extending
into said cap body through said opening at said lower end of said
funnel part; wherein said valve member is removeably seated within
said neck of said bottle and sealing said opening of said lower end
of said funnel part when said cap body is completely twisted onto
said bottle; and, wherein said valve member is disengaged from
within said neck of said bottle and not sealing said opening of
said lower end of said funnel part when said cap body is twisted
off said bottle.
2. The cap device as described in claim 1 wherein said shank
extending from said valve part has a wedge-shaped tip.
3. The cap device as described in claim 2 wherein said valve member
has a plurality of radial ribs extending outward from an external
surface of the valve part while defining a plurality of additive
discharging holes between the radial ribs; said valve member also
having a ring to surround outside ends of the radial ribs; and,
said ring having an outer surface which is tapered to correspond to
the tapered inner surface of the neck of the bottle.
4. The cap device as described in claim 1 further comprising a vent
hole formed at a predetermined position of an upper end of the
funnel part of the cap body.
5. The cap device as described in claim 4 further comprising a vent
tube extending from said cavity and into said vent hole.
6. The cap device for bottles according to claim 1, further
comprising: a protective cover to receive the cap cover therein
while holding the cap cover by means of upper locking means, and
removably fitted over an upper part of the bottle by means of lower
locking means.
7. The cap device for bottles according to claim 6, wherein the
upper locking means comprises a locking flange formed along an
outer edge of a top wall of the cap cover and a locking groove
formed around a comer of a depression provided at a lower surface
of a top wall of the protective cover, such that the locking flange
of the cap cover removably engages with the locking groove of the
protective cover; and, wherein the lower locking means comprises a
locking flange formed around an inner surface of a lower edge of
the protective cover and a locking groove formed around the upper
part of the bottle, such that the locking flange of the protective
cover is removably fitted over the locking groove of the
bottle.
8. The cap device for bottles according to claim 1, wherein the
bottle comprises: a first container part externally formed at a
bottom of the bottle, and having an open lower end, with external
threads formed at the lower end of the first container part; a
first chemical contained in the first container part; a breakable
sheet provided at the open lower end of the first container pail to
close the lower end of the container part; a second container part
having an open upper end, and externally engaging with the external
threads of the first container part, the second container part
containing therein a second chemical which produces a cooling
mixture to absorb heat from surroundings to cool the surroundings
when the second chemical is mixed with the first chemical; a
breaking edge provided at an inner surface of the second container
part so as to break the breakable sheet and to open the lower end
of the first container part, when the second container part is
rotated to move upward relative to the first container part; and a
skirt extending downward from a sidewall of a lower portion of the
bottle so as surround the first and second container parts.
9. A bottle having a cap device for separate storage of an additive
therein and for release of said additive into said bottle as said
cap device is being removed from said bottle, said bottle having a
neck and an externally threaded mouth; said cap device comprising:
a cap body twistably attaching to said externally threaded mouth of
said bottle; a funnel part integrated with said cap body, said
funnel part having an opening at a lower end thereof; a cap cover
assembled with the cap body to define a cavity for containing an
additive in said cavity; a valve member for closing and opening
said opening at said lower end of said funnel part, said valve
member having a valve part at a center thereof and a shank
extending upward from said valve part, said shank extending into
said cap body through said opening at said lower end of said funnel
part; wherein said valve member is removeably seated within said
neck of said bottle and sealing said opening of said lower end of
said funnel part when said cap body is completely twisted onto said
bottle; and, wherein said valve member is disengaged from within
said neck of said bottle and not sealing said opening of said lower
end of said funnel part when said cap body is twisted off said
bottle.
10. The bottle as described in claim 9 wherein said inner surface
of said neck is tapered.
11. The bottle as described in claim 10 wherein said shank
extending from said valve part has a wedge-shaped tip.
12. The bottle as described in claim 11 wherein said valve member
has a plurality of radial ribs extending outward from an external
surface of the valve part while defining a plurality of additive
discharging holes between the radial ribs; said valve member also
having a ring to surround outside ends of the radial ribs; and,
said ring having an outer surface which is tapered to correspond to
the tapered inner surface of the neck of the bottle.
13. The bottle as described in claim 10 further comprising a vent
hole formed at a predetermined position of an upper end of the
funnel part of the cap body.
14. The bottle as described in claim 13 further comprising a vent
tube extending from said cavity and into said vent hole.
15. The bottle according to claim 9, further comprising: a
protective cover to receive the cap cover therein while holding the
cap cover by means of upper locking means, and removably fitted
over an upper part of the bottle by means of lower locking
means.
16. The bottle according to claim 15, wherein the upper locking
means comprises a locking flange formed along an outer edge of a
top wall of the cap cover and a locking groove formed around a
comer of a depression provided at a lower surface of a top wall of
the protective cover, such that the locking flange of the cap cover
removably engages with the locking groove of the protective cover;
and, wherein the lower locking means comprises a locking flange
formed around an inner surface of a lower edge of the protective
cover and a locking groove formed around the upper part of the
bottle, such that the locking flange of the protective cover is
removably fitted over the locking groove of the bottle.
17. The bottle according to claim 9, wherein the bottle comprises:
a first container part externally formed at a bottom of the bottle,
and having an open lower end, with external threads formed at the
lower end of the first container part; a first chemical contained
in the first container part; a breakable sheet provided at the open
lower end of the first container part to close the lower end of the
container part; a second container part having an open upper end,
and externally engaging with the external threads of the first
container part the second container part containing therein a
second chemical which produces a cooling mixture to absorb heat
from surroundings to cool the surroundings when the second chemical
is mixed with the first chemical; a breaking edge provided at an
inner surface of the second container part so as to break the
breakable sheet and to open the lower end of the first container
part, when the second container part is rotated to move upward
relative to the first container part; and a skirt extending
downward from a sidewall of a lower portion of the bottle so as
surround the first and second container parts.
18. The cap device for bottles according to claim 9, wherein a step
is formed around the inner surface of the neck of the bottle to
seat the valve member in the neck of the bottle.
19. The bottle as described in claim 18 wherein said valve member
has a plurality of radial ribs extending outward from an external
surface of the valve part while defining a plurality of additive
discharging holes between the radial ribs; said shank extending
from said valve part has a wedge-shaped tip; and said valve member
also having a ring to surround outside ends of the radial ribs.
20. The bottle as described in claim 18 further comprising a vent
hole formed at a predetermined position of an upper end of the
funnel part of the cap body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates, in general, to a cap for
bottles which is capable of quickly mixing different kinds of
materials to prepare a mixture and, more particularly, to a cap
device for bottles, which allows a user to mix an additive
contained in the cap device with a material contained in a bottle
to prepare a mixture by simply rotating the cap device relative to
the bottle, thus easily preparing the mixture just before drinking
or using the mixture.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In the prior art, most conventional disposable bottles
circulated and sold in markets each contain therein only a single
kind of material, such as a drink, a liquid medicine or a liquid
chemical, and are closed by caps at the mouths thereof.
[0005] When a user wants to add an additive to the material
contained in such a capped bottle so as to prepare a mixture prior
to drinking or using the mixture, the user must add the additive
from a separate container to the bottled material after removing a
cap from the bottle. Therefore, it is necessary for manufacturers
of the additives and the bottled materials to separately contain
such additives and materials in separate containers and bottles
prior to marketing them, thus undesirably wasting natural resources
due to the production of the separate containers and capped
bottles. In addition, the adding of the additive from the separate
container to the bottled material to mix them after removing the
cap from the bottle is inconvenient to the user in that the user is
forced to separately purchase and handle the additive container and
the bottle. Furthermore, it is extremely difficult for the user to
add a precise amount of the additive from the separate container to
the material contained in the bottle, and so, typically the user
roughly measures the amount of the additive to be added to the
bottled material. Therefore, in the case of mixing an additive with
a bottled drink to produce a mixed beverage, the rough measurement
of the amount of the additive may result in a change in the taste
and quality of the mixed beverage. In the case of mixing an
additive with a bottled liquid medicine or a bottled liquid
chemical to produce a mixed medicine or a mixed chemical, the rough
measurement of the amount of the additive may result in incomplete
dissolution of effective ingredients of the additive in the
medicine or the chemical and a failure of accomplishment of desired
medical or chemical effects of the mixed medicine or the mixed
chemical.
[0006] In an effort to overcome the above-described problems, the
inventor of the present invention proposed a cap device for
bottles, which is capable of quickly mixing different kinds of
materials to prepare a mixture. The construction of the cap device
is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in the drawing, the cap device
comprises a cap body 50, and a cap cover 100 assembled with the cap
body 50 to define a cavity therein to contain an additive in the
cavity. The cap cover 100 thus acts as a containing unit for an
additive. The cap device also has a valve member 120K which is
seated in the neck of a bottle 13 to allow the cavity defined by
the cap body 50 and the cap cover 100 to selectively communicate
with the interior of the bottle 13.
[0007] The valve member 120K is provided at the center thereof with
a valve part 122. A plurality of radial ribs 124 extend outward
from an external surface of the valve part 122 in radial
directions, and the outside ends of the radial ribs 124 are
integrated with a circular ring so that a plurality of additive
discharging holes are formed at the valve member 120K.
[0008] The cap body 50 has internal threads to engage with the
externally threaded mouth of the bottle 13. A funnel part 54 is
integrally formed in the cap body 50 to discharge the additive into
the bottle 13 through a lower end 52 thereof.
[0009] The cap cover 100 is assembled at the lower end thereof with
the upper end of the cap body 50 to cover the open upper end of the
cap body 50 while defining the cavity inside both the cap body 50
and the cap cover 100 to contain the additive in the cavity. A vent
hole 102 is formed at a predetermined position of the top wall of
the cap cover 100.
[0010] A step 120S is formed around the inner surface of the neck
of the bottle 13 to seat the valve member 120K in the neck of the
bottle 13.
[0011] When the cap body 50 is rotated to move upward relative to
the externally threaded mouth of the bottle 13, the lower end 52 of
the funnel part 54 is separated from the valve part 122 of the
valve member 120K which is seated on the step 120S of the bottle
12, thus causing the cavity of the cap device containing the
additive to communicate with the interior of the bottle 13
containing the material.
[0012] In such a case, the vacuum pressure acting on the surface of
the additive contained in the cavity of the cap device is released
because atmospheric air is introduced into the cavity through the
vent hole 102 of the cap cover 100. The additive thus smoothly
flows from the cavity of the cap device into the bottle 13.
[0013] Therefore, the additive flows from the cavity of the cap
device into the interior of the bottle 13 through the open lower
end 52 of the funnel part 52 and the additive discharging holes of
the valve member 120K.
[0014] After the additive is mixed with the bottled material to
produce a desired mixture in the bottle 13, the user completely
removes the cap device having the cap body 50 and the cap cover 100
from the mouth of the bottle 13 to drink or use the mixture.
[0015] However, this proposed cap device as described is
problematic as follows. First, even when the cap device having the
cap body 50 and the cap cover 100 is completely removed from the
mouth of the bottle 13 as described above, the valve member 120K
remains in the neck of the bottle 13, thus undesirably reducing the
flow rate of the mixture which is discharged from the bottle 13.
Therefore, it is impossible to quickly discharge the mixture from
the bottle 13.
[0016] Second, the vent hole 102, which introduces the atmospheric
air into the cavity of the cap device to release the vacuum
pressure acting on the surface of the additive contained in the
cavity of the cap device, is formed on the top wall of the cap
cover 100 so as to be exposed to the atmosphere. Therefore, harmful
substances, such as poisonous substances, may be maliciously
injected into the cap device through the exposed vent hole 102. The
pure state of the additive may be thus lost, and, furthermore, the
user may be fatally poisoned when a poisonous substance is
maliciously injected into the cap device.
[0017] Third, the step 120S must be formed around the inner surface
of the neck of the bottle 13 to seat the valve member 120K thereon,
and it is difficult and most costly to produce the bottle having
the step through an injection molding process. Furthermore, the
production time of the bottle is excessively increased, resulting
in a reduction in workability and productivity while producing such
bottles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in
mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object
of the present invention is to provide a cap device for bottles,
which allows the additive and the bottled material to be safely
maintained in their respective pure states without being mixed
together before a user adds the additive to the bottled material,
thus being flee from physical or chemical problems of degradation
in the properties of ingredients, change in colors, and a
generation of floating matters and deposits experienced in
conventional bottled mixtures marketed in a bottled state.
[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a cap
device for bottles, which does not force the user to separately
purchase, store, carry and handle an additive container and a
bottle containing the material, thus being convenient to the user,
and which is flee from excessive consumption of labor, time and
natural resources due to the separate production of the containers
for additives and capped bottles.
[0020] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
cap device for bottles, which allows the user to mix the precise
amount of the additive with the bottled material to prepare the
mixture, so that it is possible to prevent variations in the taste
and quality of the mixture in the case of preparing a mixed
beverage through the mixing, and to prevent incomplete dissolution
of effective ingredients of the additive in the bottled material or
a failure of accomplishment of desired medical or chemical effects
of the mixture in the case of preparing a mixed medicine or a mixed
chemical through the mixing.
[0021] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
cap device for bottles, which quickly discharges a mixture from a
bottle as desired, and almost completely empties the bottle, and
which prevents a malicious injection of harmful substances, such as
poisonous substances, into the cap device, thus allowing the user
to safely drink or use the liquid, and in which a step is easily
and simply formed on an inner surface of a neck of the bottle
through an injection molding process, so that the bottle is
produced without consumption of excessive time, thus improving
workability and productivity while producing the bottles.
[0022] In order to accomplish the above objects, the present
invention provides a cap device for bottles, having a valve member
placed in a neck of a bottle; a cap body tightened to an externally
threaded mouth of a bottle and opened or closed at a lower end of a
funnel part thereof by the valve member, and a cap cover assembled
with the cap body to define a cavity therein to contain an additive
in the cavity, wherein the neck of the bottle is tapered downward
on an inner surface thereof. The valve member is provided with a
valve part at a center thereof to open or close the lower end of
the funnel part of the cap body, with a plurality of radial ribs
extending outward from an external surface of the valve part while
defining a plurality of additive discharging holes between the
radial ribs. The valve member also has a ring to surround outside
ends of the radial rings and a wedge-tipped shank vertically
extending upward from a center of the valve part A tapered surface
is formed along an outer surface of the ring to correspond to the
tapered inner surface of the neck of the bottle; and a vent hole is
formed at a predetermined position of an upper end of the funnel
part of the cap body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The above and other objects, features and other advantages
of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the construction of a
conventional cap device for bottles, which is designed to mix an
additive contained therein with a material contained in a bottle to
prepare a mixture;
[0025] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view to show the
construction of a cap device for bottles, according to a first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional view to show the
construction of the cap device of FIG. 2;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a sectional view to show the cap device of FIG. 2,
when the cap device is fully tightened to the mouth of a bottle
after the parts of the cap device are assembled into a single
body;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a sectional view to show the cap device of FIG. 2,
when the cap device is loosened from the mouth of the bottle;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a sectional view to show the cap device of FIG. 2,
when the cap device is completely removed from the mouth of the
bottle along with a valve member;
[0030] FIGS. 7 and 8 are sectional views to show the construction
of a cap device for bottles, according to a second embodiment of
the present invention, in which: FIG. 7 is an exploded sectional
view of the cap device, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the cap
device with the parts assembled into a single structure;
[0031] FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the construction of a cap
device for bottles, according to a third embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0032] FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the construction of a
cap device for bottles according to a further embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the
same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings
to designate the same or similar components.
FIRST EMBODIMENT
[0034] FIGS. 2 and 3 are views showing the construction of a cap
device for bottles, according to the first embodiment of the
present invention. As shown in the drawings, the cap device
according to the first embodiment of the present invention
comprises a cap body 50, and a cap cover 100 assembled with the cap
body 50 to define a cavity therein to contain an additive within
the cavity. The cap cover 100 thus functions as a container for an
additive in this first embodiment. The cap device also has a valve
means to allow the cavity defined by the cap body 50 and the cap
cover 100 to selectively communicate with the interior of a bottle
13. In the first embodiment, the valve means comprises a valve
member 120K seated in the neck of the bottle 13.
[0035] In the first embodiment as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the neck
of the bottle 13 is formed to be tapered downward on its inner
surface 16a.
[0036] The valve member 120K is provided in the neck with a valve
part 122 which acts as a valve seat The valve part 122 of the valve
member 120K closes or opens the lower end of a funnel part 54 of
the cap body 50 in accordance with a rotating action of the cap
body 50 relative to the mouth of the bottle 13. A plurality of
radial ribs 124 extend outward from an external surface of the
valve part 122 in radial directions, and the outside ends of the
radial ribs 124 are integrated with a circular ring, so that a
plurality of additive discharging holes are formed at the valve
member 120K.
[0037] The valve member 120K also has a wedge-tipped shank 126
which vertically extends upward from the center of the valve part
122, with a wedge-shaped tip provided at the top end of the shank
126. The circular ring of the valve part 120K is tapered at the
outer surface thereof to form a tapered surface 16b which
corresponds to the tapered inner surface 16a of the neck of the
bottle 13.
[0038] The cap body 50 has internal threads to engage with the
externally threaded mouth of the bottle 13. The funnel part 54 is
integrally formed in the cap body 50 to discharge the additive into
the bottle 13 through a lower end 52 thereof A vent hole 18 is
formed at a predetermined position of the upper end of the funnel
part 54.
[0039] The cap cover 100 is assembled at the lower end thereof with
the upper end of the cap body 50 to cover the open upper end of the
cap body 50 while defining the cavity inside both the cap body 50
and the cap cover 100 to contain the additive in the cavity.
[0040] When the internally threaded cap body 50 assembled with the
cap cover 100 of the cap device is tightened to the externally
threaded mouth of the bottle 13, the wedge-tipped shank 126 of the
valve member 120K previously set in the neck of the bottle 13 is
inserted into the lower end 52 of the funnel part 50, thus being
positioned in the funnel part 54. Therefore, the valve member 120K
is assembled with the cap device, as shown in FIG. 4. When the cap
body 50 is fully tightened to the mouth of the bottle 13, the lower
end 52 of the funnel part 54 comes into close contact with the
valve part 122 of the valve member 120K. The lower end 52 of the
funnel part 54 is thus completely closed. In such a case, the vent
hole 18 of the cap device is also closed by the top edge of the
mouth of the bottle 13.
[0041] When the cap body 50 is rotated to move upward relative to
the mouth of the bottle 13, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower end 52 of
the funnel part 54 is separated from the valve part 122 of the
valve member 120K, thus causing the cavity of the cap device
containing the additive to communicate with the interior of the
bottle 13 containing the material.
[0042] Therefore, the additive flows from the cavity of the cap
device into the interior of the bottle 13 through the open lower
end 52 of the funnel part 52 and the additive discharging holes
formed between the radial ribs 124 of the valve member 120K. In
such a case, the vent hole 18 of the cap device is opened, so that
the vacuum pressure acting on the surface of the additive contained
in the cavity of the cap device is released because air is
introduced into the cavity through the open vent hole 18. The
additive thus smoothly flows from the cavity of the cap device into
the bottle 13, so that the additive is easily added to the material
in the bottle 13 to produce a desired mixture.
[0043] After the additive is mixed with the bottled material to
produce the desired mixture in the bottle 13, the user completely
removes the cap device having the cap body 50 and the cap cover 100
from the mouth of the bottle 13, as shown in FIG. 6, to drink or
use the mixture. When the cap device is removed from the mouth of
the bottle 13 as described above, the valve member 120K is removed
from the bottle 13 along with the cap device because the valve
member 120K is assembled with the cap device through the
wedge-tipped shank 126.
[0044] When the valve member 120K is seated in or removed from the
neck of the bottle 13, it is easy to seat or remove the valve
member 120K relative to the neck of the bottle 13 because the
circular ring of the valve part 120K has the tapered outer surface
16b which corresponds to the tapered inner surface 16a of the neck
of the bottle 13.
SECOND EMBODIMENT
[0045] FIGS. 7 and 8 are sectional views showing the construction
of a cap device for bottles, according to the second embodiment of
the present invention. As shown in the drawings, the general shape
of the cap device according to the second embodiment of the present
invention remains the same as that described for the first
embodiment, but a protective cover "C" is added to the cap device
of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the protective
cover "C" is preferably colored as, for example, translucent brown,
such that the protective cover "C" partially intercepts light, such
as sunlight, transmitted into the cavity of the cap device.
[0046] That is, the cap device according to the second embodiment
of the present invention has the protective cover "C", which holds
the cap cover 100 by means of an upper locking means and is
removably fitted over the upper part of the bottle 13 by means of a
lower locking means.
[0047] The upper locking means comprises a first locking flange
100a formed along the outer edge of the top wall of the cap cover
100 acting as an additive containing part, and a first locking
groove "CH" formed around the comer of a depression provided at a
lower surface of a top wall of the protective cover "C". The first
locking flange 100a of the cap cover 100 removably engages with the
first locking groove "CH" of the protective cover "C", so that the
protective cover "C" holds the cap cover 100.
[0048] The lower locking means comprises a second locking flange
"T" formed around an inner surface of the lower edge of the
protective cover "C", and a second locking groove "H" formed around
the upper part of the bottle 13. The second locking flange "T" of
the protective cover "C" is removably fitted over the second
locking groove "H" of the bottle 13.
[0049] Since the cap device according to the second embodiment of
the present invention has the translucent blow protective cover "C"
which partially intercepts light, such as sunlight, transmitted
into the cavity of the cap device, it is possible to preserve the
additive in the cavity of the cap device for a lengthy period of
time, without allowing a chemical or physical change in the
additive.
[0050] When the cap device has the translucent brown protective
cover with the above-described light intercepting effects, it is
possible to produce the cap cover 100 of the cap device by use of
transparent materials. The protective cover also protects the cap
cover 100 from external impact, thus preventing unexpected loss of
the additive.
[0051] In addition, since the protective cover "C" has a large
diameter, the user can easily rotate the cap device with small
force, relative to the mouth of the bottle 13.
THIRD EMBODIMENT
[0052] FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the construction of a cap
device for bottles, according to the third embodiment of the
present invention. As shown in the drawing, the general shape of
the cap device according to the third embodiment remains the same
as that described for the second embodiment, but the cap device of
the third embodiment has a step 14, in place of the tapered inner
surface 16a. The step 14 is formed around the inner surface of the
neck of a bottle 13 to stably and removably seat a valve member
120K in the neck of the bottle 13. That is, the cap device of the
third embodiment has the valve member 120K seated in the neck of
the bottle 13, and a cap body 50 assembled with a cap cover 100 to
define a cavity to contain an additive therein. The cap cover 100
thus acts as an additive containing part in this third embodiment.
The cavity is selectively opened or closed by the valve member
120K. The cap device also has a protective cover "C" to protect the
cap device.
[0053] Due to the step 14 of the bottle 13, it is easy to seat and
remove the valve member 120K relative to the neck of the bottle 13,
in a similar manner to that described for the first and second
embodiments. The detailed description of the operational effect of
the cap device according to the third embodiment is thus not deemed
necessary.
[0054] In accordance with the first second, and third embodiments
of the present invention, a vent tube 18a can connected to the vent
hole 18 of the cap body 50. That is, the cap device according to
the first, second, and third embodiments can further comprise the
vent tube 18a, which has a predetermined length and is installed in
the vent hole 18 of the cap body 50, as shown in FIGS. 2 through
9.
[0055] Due to the vent tube 18a, it is possible to prevent a
leakage of the additive from the cavity of the cap device through
the vent hole 18, while allowing an introduction of air into the
cavity through the vent hole 18. Therefore, the additive smoothly
flows from the cavity of the cap device into the bottle 13, in
response to a rotating action of the cap body 50 relative to the
mouth of the bottle 13.
FOURTH EMBODIMENT
[0056] FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the construction of a
cap device for bottles, according to the fourth embodiment of the
present invention. In the fourth embodiment, the bottle 13 has
first and second container parts 60 and 68 at the bottom thereof to
respectively contain first and second chemicals 62 and 66 in the
two container parts 60 and 68. A breakable sheet 64 is provided at
the open lower end of the first container part 60 to close the
lower end of the container part 60. In order to break the breakable
sheet 64 to open the lower end of the first container part 60 when
necessary, a breaking edge 70 is provided at the inner surface of
the second container part 68. A cylindrical skirt 72 integrally
extends downward from the sidewall of the first container part 60
so as to surround and protect the first and second container parts
60 and 68, and allows the bottle 13 to stably stand upright on a
support surface when the bottle 13 is stored on the support
surface.
[0057] That is, the first container part 60 having a funnel shape
is integrally provided at the bottom of the bottle 13. The first
container part 60 is open at the lower end thereof to form an
opening covered with the breakable sheet 64, and is externally
threaded at its lower end. The first chemical 62, which absorbs
heat from the surroundings to cool the surroundings when it is
mixed with the second chemical 66 to produce a cooling mixture, is
contained in the first container part 60.
[0058] The second container part 68 is a cup-shaped body having
internal threads, and externally engages with the externally
threaded lower end of the first container part 60. The second
chemical 66, which absorbs heat from the surroundings to cool the
surroundings when it is mixed with the first chemical 62 to produce
the cooling mixture, is contained in the second container part
68.
[0059] In order to break the breakable sheet 64 to open the lower
end of the first container part 60 when the second container part
68 is rotated to move upward along the externally threaded lower
end of the first container part 60, the breaking edge 70 is
provided on the inner surface of the second container part 68. The
cylindrical skirt 72, which integrally extends downward from the
sidewall of the first container part 60, surrounds and protects the
first and second container parts 60 and 68, and allows the bottle
13 to stably stand upright on the support surface.
[0060] In the fourth embodiment, a part of the bottom of the bottle
13 is protruded downward into the first container part 60, thus
enlarging the heat exchanging surface area at which heat transfers
between a bottled material and the cooling mixture produced by the
mixing of the first and second chemicals. In the present invention,
the first chemical 62 is preferably contained in the first
container part 60 at a vacuum pressure, so that the second chemical
66 more effectively and quickly flows into the first chemical 62
when the lower end of the first container part 60 is opened.
[0061] As described above, the present invention provides a cap
device for bottles, which overcomes the problems experienced in
mixing two different kinds of materials to prepare a mixture by the
use of a conventional cap device for bottles, and which allows the
additive contained therein and a bottled material to be maintained
in their respective pure states without being mixed together before
a user adds the additive to the bottled material, thus being flee
from physical or chemical problems of degradation in the properties
of ingredients, change in colors, and a generation of floating
matters and deposits. The cap device for bottles of this invention
also contains the additive separate from the bottled material.
Therefore, the cap device does not force the user to separately
purchase and handle an additive container and a bottle containing a
bottled material, thus being convenient to the user, and which is
free from excessive consumption of labor, time and natural
resources due to the separate production of the containers for
additives and capped bottles. The cap device for bottles of the
present invention also allows the user to mix the precise amount of
the additive with the bottled material to prepare the mixture, so
that it is possible to prevent variations in the taste and quality
of the mixture in the case of preparing a mixed beverage through
the mixing, and to prevent incomplete dissolution of effective
ingredients of the additive in the bottled material or a failure of
accomplishment of desired medical or chemical effects of the
mixture in the case of preparing a mixed medicine or a mixed
chemical through the mixing.
[0062] In the cap device of the present invention, a cap body, an
additive containing part, and a valve means are completely removed
from a bottle at the same time after the additive is mixed with the
bottled material, so that it is possible to quickly discharge the
mixture from the bottle.
[0063] In addition, a vent hole which introduces air into the
cavity of the additive contain part to remove a vacuum pressure
from the cavity, is formed in the cap body such that the vent hole
is not exposed to the outside of the cap device. It is thus
possible to prevent a malicious injection of harmful substances,
such as poisonous substances, into the cap device through the vent
hole, thus allowing the user to safely drink or use the
mixture.
[0064] In the cap device of the present invention, a step for
seating the valve member thereon is easily and simply formed on the
inner surface of the neck of the bottle through an injection
molding process, so that the bottle is produced without consumption
of excessive time, thus improving workability and productivity
while producing the bottles.
[0065] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art
will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *