U.S. patent application number 11/089068 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-28 for top for a drinks container.
Invention is credited to Leigh Smith.
Application Number | 20060213862 11/089068 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37034146 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060213862 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith; Leigh |
September 28, 2006 |
Top for a drinks container
Abstract
A top (102) for a drinks container (101) comprising a sealing
cap (201) configured to seal the open end of a container. The top
also has a cover (202) removably attached to the top of the sealing
cap such that a gap is provided between the sealing cap and the
cover. A disc (331) is located within the gap such that the disc is
accessed by removing the cover from the sealing cap.
Inventors: |
Smith; Leigh; (Sutton on
Hull, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Arthur Jacob
25 East Salem Street
P.O. Box 686
Hackensack
NJ
07601
US
|
Family ID: |
37034146 |
Appl. No.: |
11/089068 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/228 ;
220/521 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 51/245
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/228 ;
220/521 |
International
Class: |
B65D 39/00 20060101
B65D039/00; B65D 1/24 20060101 B65D001/24 |
Claims
1. A top for a drinks container comprising: a sealing cap
configured to seal the open end of a container; a cover removably
attached to the top of the sealing cap such that a gap is provided
between the sealing cap and the cover; and a disc located within
said gap such that said disc is accessed by removing said cover
from said sealing cap.
2. A top according to claim 1, wherein the top comprises a means
for attaching the disc onto the sealing cap or the cover.
3. A top according to claim 2, wherein said disc is a sticker and
said means for attaching is an adhesive layer of the sticker.
4. A top according to claim 2, wherein said means for attaching the
disc onto the sealing cap or the cover is a number of elements
extending from a surface of the cap or cover and configured to
mechanically retain the disc.
5. A top according to claim 1, wherein said sealing cap is moulded
from a plastics material.
6. A top according to claim 1, wherein said sealing cap is a screw
cap.
7. A top according to claim 1, wherein said cover is removable from
said sealing cap by a breaking process.
8. A top according to claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a main
part and a second part and said main part is removable from said
sealing cap by a breaking the second part away from the main
part.
9. A top according to claim 8, wherein said second part is a ring
which is connected to the main part by a number of elements that
are configured to break.
10. A top according to claim 9, wherein said ring has an inner
surface configured to co-operate with a surface of the sealing cap
such that the ring is prevented from rotating with respect to said
sealing cap.
11. A top according to claim 7, wherein said cover has perforations
defining a tear-off strip and said breaking process comprises
tearing of said tear-off strip from around the cover.
12. A top according to claim 1, wherein sealing cap and said cover
are fabricated from plastics material.
13. A top according to claim 1, wherein said cover has retaining
means which retains a ball bearing.
14. A top according to claim 13, wherein a portion of said ball
bearing protrudes from said cover such that after removing said
cover from said sealing cap said ball bearing provides a rolling or
sliding means.
15. A top according to claim 1, wherein said cover comprises; an
upper part and a lower part defining an aperture attached to said
upper part, the ball bearing being retained between said upper and
lower parts while a portion of the ball bearing protrudes through
said aperture.
16. A top according to claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a
magnetic material to allow attachment to a ferrous material.
17. A top according to claim 1, wherein said cover is opaque such
that the disc is obscured from view until the cover is removed from
the sealing cap.
18. A bottle sealed by a top according to claim 1.
19. A playing piece for a game which is formed from the disc and
the cover of the top of claim 1.
20. A playing piece for a game which is formed from the disc and
the sealing cap of claim 1.
21. A game comprising a plurality of playing pieces in which at
least one of said playing pieces comprises the disc and the cover
of the top of claim 1.
22. A game comprising a plurality of playing pieces in which at
least one of said playing pieces comprises the disc and the cap of
the top of claim 1.
23. A method of manufacturing a playing piece for a game comprising
the steps of: removing a cover attached to the top of the sealing
cap of a drinks container; removing a disc located between the
sealing cap and the cover; and attaching the disc to the cover or
to the cap.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a top for a drinks
container, a playing piece for a game, and a method of
manufacturing a playing piece for a game.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a top for a top for a drinks container comprising: a
sealing cap configured to seal the open end of a container; a cover
removably attached to the top of the sealing cap such that a gap is
provided between the sealing cap and the cover; and a disc located
within said gap such that said disc is accessed by removing said
cover from said sealing cap.
[0003] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method of manufacturing a playing piece for a game
comprising the steps of: removing a cover attached to the top of
the sealing cap of a drinks container; removing a disc located
between the sealing cap and the cover; and attaching the disc to
the cover or to the cap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 shows a drinks container 101 having a top 102
embodying the present invention;
[0005] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view the bottle top 102 after
being removed from the bottle 101;
[0006] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the bottle top of
FIG. 2;
[0007] FIG. 4 shows the top 102 with the main body 203 of the cover
202 removed from the sealing cap 201;
[0008] FIG. 5 shows the top 102 with the main body of the cover 203
removed from the sealing cap 201, and with the first layer 501 of
the disc 331 partly pealed away from the transport sheet 502;
[0009] FIG. 6 shows an alternative top 602 for the drinks container
101;
[0010] FIG. 7 shows another alternative top 702 for the drinks
container 101;
[0011] FIG. 8 shows an alternative top 802 on a drinks container
801;
[0012] FIG. 9 shows the bottle top 802 with the cover 803 removed
from the cap 851;
[0013] FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C show respectively a bottom view, a
side view and a cross sectional view of the cover 803; and
[0014] FIG. 11 illustrate the method of construction of the bottle
top 902.
WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
INVENTION
FIG. 1
[0015] A drinks container 101 having a top 102 embodying the
present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The drinks container in the
present embodiment 101 is a bottle of a known type and may be
manufactured from a plastics material or glass. The neck of the
bottle 101 has an external thread while the bottle top 102 has a
corresponding internal thread so that bottle top may be screwed
onto the bottle as shown, to seal the bottle.
[0016] In the present case, the bottle 101 contains a carbonated
drink, but the bottle is useable as a container for other drinks,
such as mineral water.
[0017] In an alternative embodiment, the drinks container is a
cardboard carton which has a moulded plastic threaded neck sealed
to its opening so that the container is sealed by the screw-top
102.
FIGS. 2 and 3
[0018] The bottle top 102 after being removed from the bottle 101
is shown in further detail in the perspective view of FIG. 2 and
the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3. The bottle top 102 has a lower
part 201 which is a sealing cap and has the internal thread 301 for
screwing onto the top of the bottle 101. The bottle top 102 also
has an upper part 202, attached to the cap 201 and which forms a
cover over the upper surface of cap 201.
[0019] In the present embodiment, the cover 202 has a main body 203
which is in the form of a cylinder closed at one end to form a flat
upper surface 204. The cover also comprises a cylindrical ring 205
attached to the main body 203 by a number, in this case fifteen, of
equally spaced strands 206. The internal surface of the second
cylindrical portion 205 is provided with a number of equally spaced
triangular shaped ridges 207, and an inwardly extending circular
ridge 208 adjacent to its lower edge.
[0020] The cover 202 comprising the main body, the strands 206 and
the cylindrical ring 205 with its internal ridges 207 and 208, is
moulded as a single item from a plastics material. The strands 206
have a thickness which is relatively thin compared to that of the
main body 203 and cylindrical ring 205 so that they may be manually
broken without damaging the other parts.
[0021] The sealing cap 201 is substantially cylindrical in shape
with a closed end forming an outer upper surface 220 and an inner
upper surface 330. The closed end of the cap 201 has an upwardly
extending portion 209, co-axial with the screw thread 301, and
which has a number of radially extending teeth 210. The teeth are
equally spaced around the upwardly extending portion 209 such that
they interlock with the inwardly extending triangular ridges 207 of
the cylindrical ring 205. A gap 221 is provided, between the teeth
210 and the outer upper surface 220, within which the inwardly
extending ridge 208 of the circular ring 205 is located.
[0022] The cap 201, like the cover, is moulded from a plastics
material.
[0023] A disc 331 is located on the inner upper surface 330 of the
cap 201, and the cover 202 covers the disc. In the present
embodiment the cover is formed from a material that is
substantially opaque such that the disc cannot be seen.
[0024] To manufacture the top 102, the disc is placed on the cap
201, and the cover 202 is snap fitted onto the cap by passing the
ring 205 over the teeth 210.
[0025] To remove the cover 202 from the cap 201 the cover is
rotated with respect to the cap. The ring 205 is prevented from
rotating with the remainder of the cover by the action of the teeth
210 on the triangular ridges 207 and consequently, the strands 206
are broken allowing the main body of the cover 203 to be
removed.
[0026] In an alternative embodiment, the circular ring 205 is
formed without the internal ridges and the cap is formed without
the teeth 210. However, the ring is provided with a tab which
allows a user to break off the ring and thereby lift off the
cover.
[0027] In a further alternative embodiment, the cover is provided
with a break-off section which extends around only a portion of its
circumference. The break-off section is provided with an inwardly
extending lip which is located under a flange of the cap, such that
the cover cannot be removed until the break-off section has been
broken off.
[0028] Thus, in each of the above described embodiments, the cover
and sealing cap are shaped to provide a gap between them in which
the disc is located, such that the disc is only accessible by
removing the cover from the cap. In addition, the cover 202 is
formed from two parts which are configured to be separated by a
breaking process. Thus, to remove the cover from the cap the two
parts are broken apart.
FIG. 4
[0029] The top 102 is shown in FIG. 4 with the main body 203 of the
cover 202 removed from the sealing cap 201. Thus the strands 206
are broken and therefore the main body 203 is broken away from the
ring 205.
[0030] Having removed cover, the disc 331 is now accessible. In the
present embodiment the disc is a flat thin circular body, but in
alternative embodiments the discs are flat thin bodies having
shapes other than circular, such as octagonal, square, etc.
[0031] In the present embodiment the disc 331 is a sticker. It has
a first layer which has a graphic on one surface and an adhesive
layer on its other surface. The adhesive layer is stuck to a
transport sheet which is manufactured to be releasable from the
adhesive.
FIG. 5
[0032] The top 102 is shown again in FIG. 5 with the main body of
the cover 203 removed from the sealing cap 201, and with the first
layer 501 of the disc 331 partly pealed away from the transport
sheet 502. The adhesive on the first layer allows it to be stuck to
the upper surface 204 of the cover 202 or alternatively to the
inner upper surface 330 of the cap 201. The cover, or the cap, may
then be used in a board game, such as chess, or an original board
game, in which playing pieces are distinguished by the picture or
graphic on the disc.
[0033] In one embodiment, the graphic on the disc represents a
sports person and the cap or cover with the sticker attached are
used as playing pieces in a game in which the pieces are manually
flicked or pushed.
[0034] In the present embodiment, the graphic illustrates a well
known personality, and therefore the playing pieces are collectable
items. However, due to the opacity of the cover, the identity of
the personality can only be discovered by breaking off the cover
from the cap.
FIG. 6
[0035] An alternative top 602 for the drinks container 101 is shown
in FIG. 6. The top 602 is substantially the same construction as
top 202 except that alternative means are provided to attach the
disc 631 to the upper surface 604 of the cover 652.
[0036] In this embodiment, the disc 631 comprises a single layer of
material having a graphic on at least one of its two faces. The
disc is made from card in the present embodiment but a plastics
material is used in an alternative embodiment. The upper surface
604 of the cover 652 is provided with a number, in the present
example four, upwardly extending posts 661 which have an inwardly
extending lip 662 at their upper end. The posts are located around
a circle of a diameter slightly larger than that of the disc 631,
such that the disc is locatable between the posts 661 and is
retained by the inwardly extending lips of the posts. The posts 761
therefore provide a means of attaching the disc to the cover
602.
FIG. 7
[0037] Another alternative top 702 for the drinks container 101 is
shown in FIG. 7. The top 702 is substantially the same construction
as top 202 except that alternative means are provided to attach the
disc 731 to the upper surface 730 of the cap 701.
[0038] In this embodiment, the disc 731 comprises a single layer of
material having a graphic on at least one of its two faces. The
upper surface 730 of the cap 701 is provided with a number, in the
present example four, upwardly extending posts 761 which have an
inwardly extending lip 762 at their upper end. The posts are
located around a circle of a diameter slightly larger than that of
the disc 731, such that the disc is locatable between the posts 761
and is retained by the inwardly extending lips of the posts.
[0039] Thus on removal of the cover 752 from the cap 701, the disc
is accessible. It may then be located between the posts 761 and
retained by their inwardly extending lips 762. The posts 761
therefore provide a means of attaching the disc to the cap 701.
FIG. 8
[0040] An alternative top 802 on a drinks container 801 is shown in
FIG. 8. The top 802 comprises a sealing cap 851 and a cover 803
which covers the upper surface of the cap 851. The cap 851 has an
internal thread configured to screw onto an external thread on the
neck of the container 801.
FIG. 9
[0041] The bottle top 802 is shown in FIG. 9, with the cover 803
removed from the cap 851. The cap 851 is moulded from a plastics
material, and has a circular ridge 901 extending upward from its
upper surface 902. Thus, the upper surface 902 and the ridge 901
form a recess 903 within which a disc 931 is located when the
bottle top 802 is whole, as in FIG. 8. However, in FIG. 9 the disc
931 has been removed from the recess 903.
[0042] The cover 803 is substantially cylindrical having a closed
end forming a flat upper surface 907.
[0043] In the present embodiment the disc 931 is a sticker. It has
a first layer which has a picture on one surface and an adhesive
layer on its other surface. The adhesive layer is stuck to a
transport sheet which is manufactured to be releasable from the
adhesive. Once removed from the transport layer, the first layer
may be positioned over, and stuck to, the top surface 907 of the
cover 803.
[0044] Thus, the cover 803 forms a cover over the sticker 931 when
the bottle top 801 is whole, and after removal of the cover 803
from the cap 851, the sticker becomes accessible and may be stuck
to the top of the cover.
[0045] In the present embodiment the cover 803 is opaque such that
the picture on the sticker cannot be viewed until the cover is
removed.
[0046] In alternative embodiments, the disc is a single sheet of
card or plastics material rather than a sticker. In these
embodiments, other means of attachment of the disk to the cover are
provided. In one case, the cover is moulded such that its top
surface is provided with shaped ridges, allowing the disk to be
clipped or slotted thereto. Alternatively, posts of the type shown
in FIG. 6 are provided on the cover.
[0047] In the present embodiment, the cover 803 is simply a push
fit onto the ridge 901 of the cap 851. However, in other
embodiments, the cap is only removable from the sealing cap 851 by
a breaking process. In one such embodiment, the cover is formed
with an extended skirt which clips over a flange on the cap. The
skirt has a pair of parallel lines of perforations extending around
it to form a tear-off strip. Thus, the cover cannot be removed from
the cap until the tear-off strip has been torn off. In another such
embodiment, the cover is formed with a skirt, the lower part of
which clips over a flange on the cap. The skirt has a single line
of perforations extending around it, and the top part of the cover
can only be removed from the cap by breaking along the line of
perforations and leaving the lower part of the skirt in place on
the cap. These means of breakable attachment are similar to those
presently used for attaching conventional bottle tops to
bottles.
FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C
[0048] A bottom view, a side view and a cross sectional view of the
cover 803 are shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C respectively. The
cover 803 comprises an outer inverted cup 1001 which contains a
steel ball-bearing 1002 and an inner plate 1003. The inside surface
of the cup 1001 has a recess 1004 which has a part spherical shape
to match that of the ball-bearing 1002. The inner plate 1003 has:
an aperture 1005 at its middle through which a part of the
ball-bearing 1002 extends; and a rim around the aperture which
provides enhanced strength for locating the ball-bearing. The inner
plate 1003 is rigidly attached to the cup 1001, with the
ball-bearing sandwiched between the inner plate 1003 and the inner
surface of the cup 1001, such that it is retained within the recess
1004 and the aperture 1005.
[0049] The relative dimensions of the ball-bearing, the inner plate
and the cup are such that the ball bearing is free to rotate. In
addition, the height of the cup 1001 and the diameter of the
ball-bearing are such that a small part of the ball-bearing
protrudes below the bottom edge of the cup. Consequently, the cover
803 may be supported on a flat surface on the protruding part of
the ball bearing. Furthermore, by manually pushing or flicking its
side, the cover 803 may be made to travel over the flat
surface.
[0050] It is envisaged, that the cover may be used as a playing
piece in a table-top game. If the game were based on a sport such
as football, then the disc's picture may represent a sportsman, for
example a well known footballer.
[0051] The production of a set of discs, each representing a
different well known sports person is also envisaged. Consequently,
the covers with their discs attached could be collected by the
purchaser of the drinks bottles until they had the full set.
FIG. 11
[0052] The method of construction of the bottle top 902 is
illustrated in FIG. 11. The outer cup 1001 and the inner plate 1003
are joined by a hinge portion 1101, and are moulded as a single
piece of plastics material. The ball-bearing 1002 is located within
the recess 1004 and the inner plate 1003 is rotated around the
hinge portion 1101 until a tab 1102 moulded on the edge of plate
1003 clips into a groove 1104 on the inner cylindrical wall of the
cup 1001. Thus, the plate 1003 is locked in place, and the
ball-bearing is restrained. The sticker 931 is located within the
recess on the top of the screw-cap 802, and then the cover 803 is
located onto the cap. Thus, the sticker 931 is located in a gap
between the cover 803 and the cap 851.
[0053] In an alternative embodiment, the outer cup of the cover is
deeper, to form a taller playing piece for a game. A post extends
from the centre of the inner circular wall of the cup, and it has
the part spherical recess formed in its end. Thus, the ball-bearing
is retained between the post and the inner plate.
[0054] In a further alternative embodiment, the cover 803 is
replaced by an alternative cover that comprises an outer cup,
similar to outer cup 1001, but which has a magnetic material
attached to its inner surface. In this embodiment, the cover
conceals a disc, as in the above embodiments, which may be attached
onto the top of the cover. The magnetic material then allows the
cover to be magnetically fixed to a ferrous material to display the
graphic on the disc. Thus, the cover/disc assembly may be used as a
fridge magnet, or a piece used in a game which makes use of its
magnetic properties.
* * * * *