U.S. patent application number 11/456654 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-17 for cap for a container.
This patent application is currently assigned to ROLL, LLC. Invention is credited to Craig RAPPIN.
Application Number | 20080011708 11/456654 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38948190 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080011708 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
RAPPIN; Craig |
January 17, 2008 |
CAP FOR A CONTAINER
Abstract
A cap assembly for a container used for holding a liquid that is
removed from the container, the cap assembly includes: a cap having
a roof portion, a cylindrical skirt depending from an outer
periphery defined by the roof portion, and a well extending from
the roof portion into the cap. The well further has a wall
terminating at a base structure, and the base structure has an
aperture that is sized smaller than the well. The cap assembly also
includes a filter sized to frictionally fit into the well section
and the filter is air permeable and liquid impermeable. The cap
assembly also includes a seal that has an opening sized to fit over
the well and has a diameter substantially matching the internal
diameter of the.
Inventors: |
RAPPIN; Craig; (Long Grove,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ADAM K. SACHAROFF;MUCH SHELIST FREED DENENBERG AMENT&RUBENSTEIN,PC
191 N. WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 1800
CHICAGO
IL
60606-1615
US
|
Assignee: |
ROLL, LLC
Cary
IL
|
Family ID: |
38948190 |
Appl. No.: |
11/456654 |
Filed: |
July 11, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/308 ;
220/303; 220/371 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 51/1616
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/308 ;
220/303; 220/371 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/16 20060101
B65D051/16 |
Claims
1. A cap assembly for a container used for holding a liquid that is
removed therefrom, said cap assembly comprising: a cap defined as
having a roof portion, a cylindrical skirt depending from an outer
periphery defined by the roof portion, and a well extending from
said roof portion into said cap, the well having a wall terminating
at a base structure, said base structure having an aperture that is
sized smaller than said well; and a filter sized to frictionally
fit into said well section and having a material characteristic of
being air permeable and liquid impermeable such that liquid
contained within said container is prevented from leaking and air
may pass through said filter into the container.
2. The cap assembly of claim 1 further comprising a seal having an
opening sized to fit over said well and having a diameter
substantially matching the internal diameter of said cap such that
an outer periphery of said seal abuts an internal wall defined
about the cylindrical skirt.
3. The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter is made from a
sintered plastic material.
4. The cap assembly of claim 2, wherein the cap further includes a
shoulder region defined between said roof portion and said skirt
portion and wherein said outer periphery of said seal abuts an
internal wall defined by the shoulder region.
5. The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap further includes
crenellated indentations defined on the skirt.
6. A cap assembly for use with a container holding a liquid that is
removed therefrom: said container comprising: a neck portion
surrounding an orifice, a thread positioned about the neck, a tube
in fluid communication with said container, such that liquid
contained therein flows through the tube when a pressure within the
container substantially equals atmospheric pressure; and said cap
assembly comprising: a cap defined as having a roof portion, a
cylindrical skirt depending from an outer periphery defined by the
roof portion, and a well extending from said roof portion into said
cap, the well having a wall terminating at a base structure, said
base structure having an aperture that is sized smaller than said
well, a filter sized to frictionally fit into said well section and
having a material characteristic of being air permeable and liquid
impermeable such that liquid contained within said container is
prevented from leaking and air may pass through said filter into
the container, and a corresponding thread positioned on an internal
region of said cylindrical skirt to mate with said thread on said
neck, whereby air passes through said filter into said container to
substantially equalize the pressure within the container and permit
the fluid within the container to flow through said tube.
7. The cap assembly of claim 6 further comprising a seal having an
opening sized to fit over said well and having a diameter
substantially matching the internal diameter of said cap such that
an outer periphery of said seal abuts an internal wall defined
about the cylindrical skirt.
8. The cap assembly of claim 6, wherein the filter is made from a
sintered plastic material.
9. The cap assembly of claim 6, wherein the cap further includes a
shoulder region defined between said roof portion and said skirt
portion and wherein said outer periphery of said seal abuts an
internal wall defined by the shoulder region.
10. The cap assembly of claim 6, wherein the cap further includes
crenellated indentations defined on the skirt.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Containers that hold liquids are well known in the industry.
Some of these containers are also used as reservoirs to hold
liquids that are siphoned or suctioned out at various speeds or
that use gravity to dispense the liquid. To maintain the flow of
liquid, vent holes must be present. The vent holes allow outside
air pressure to enter into the container preventing a negative
pressure inside the container. The present invention uses a cap
designed to prevent any liquid from escaping or leaking as well as
permitting the container to breathe and receive air to balance the
pressures and allow the flow of liquid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There is herein described a cap assembly for a container
used for holding a liquid that is removed from the container. The
cap assembly includes a cap defined as having a roof portion, a
cylindrical skirt depending from an outer periphery defined by the
roof portion, and a well extending from the roof portion into the
cap. The well has a wall terminating at a base structure. The base
structure has an aperture that is sized smaller than the well. The
cap assembly includes a filter sized to frictionally fit into the
well section. The filter is air permeable and liquid impermeable
such that liquid within the container does not leak through the
filter and air may pass through the filter into the container to
aid in equalizing the pressures within and outside of the
container. The cap assembly may also include a seal having an
opening sized to fit over the well and having a diameter
substantially matching the internal diameter of the cap such that
an outer periphery of the seal abuts an internal wall defined about
the cylindrical skirt. The filter may be made from a sintered
plastic material. In other embodiments, the cap may include a
shoulder region defined between the roof portion and the skirt
portion such that the outer periphery of the seal abuts an internal
wall defined by the shoulder region. The cap may also include
crenellated indentations defined on the skirt.
[0003] Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will
become readily apparent from the following detailed description of
the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and
from the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cap assembly in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the cap from FIG. 1;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cap assembly from FIG. 1
showing the partial insertion of a filter;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 3;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cap assembly from FIG. 1
after the components are assembled together;
[0010] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 5;
[0011] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cap assembly from FIG. 1
being placed on a container;
[0012] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrated another type of filter that may
also be used in the cap assembly; and
[0013] FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrated another type of filter that may
also be used in the cap assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0014] While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many
different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be
described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the
present invention. It should be understood, however, that the
present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the
principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit
or scope of the invention and/or claims of the embodiments
illustrated.
[0015] Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 7 there is shown in
accordance to an embodiment a cap assembly 100 for sealing a
container 250 or reservoir that is holding a liquid. The liquid may
be siphoned or suctioned out of the container 250 or the liquid may
flow out of the container 250 by a gravity feed system through a
tube 255. In any event, the container 250 needs to be vented to
prevent a negative pressure inside the container and to maintain
the flow of liquid therefrom. The cap assembly 100 helps prevent
these shortcomings by allowing air to enter the container. At the
same time, the cap prevents any liquid within the container from
leaking therefrom by maintaining a liquid impermeable seal.
[0016] The cap assembly 100 includes a cap 110, a filter 200, and a
seal 210. The cap 110 has an annular roof portion 115 that extends
to a shoulder region 120. Extending downwardly from the shoulder
region 120 is a annular skirt portion 125. The skirt portion 125
terminates at a flanged section 130. In addition, crenellated
indentations 135 are provided around the skirt portion 125. The
crenellated indentations 135 help in gripping when twisting the cap
110 off of a container. The cap 110 preferably includes twelve
crenellated indentations 135 positioned uniformly around the
circumference of the cap.
[0017] The top portion 115 includes a centered well 150. The well
150 is defined as having a shoulder region 155 extending from the
top portion 115 into the well 150. The shoulder region 155 may be a
tapered edge, as illustrated, or may be a more abrupt change. A
well wall 160 extends from the shoulder region 155 to a base 162
creating the well within an interior 170 of the cap 110. The base
160 has an aperture 165 positioned therethrough. The aperture 165
is typically smaller than the well such that the filter 200 cannot
be pushed into the container.
[0018] The interior 170 of the cap 110 would have a first thread
region 175 to provide a means to secure the cap 110 onto a
corresponding second thread region 255 on the container 250. Other
securing means may be provided such as corresponding beads on the
cap and container for a snap-fit arrangement. When secured, the cap
110 will close or fit over an orifice 260 defined by a neck 262 on
the container 250.
[0019] The filter 200 is typically cylindrically shaped and sized
to frictionally slide into the well 150 (illustrated in FIGS. 3 and
4). The filter 200 can be a sintered plastic that allows air to
pass through, but not the liquid. Other filters that can be
utilized will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In any
event, the filter 200 is preferably an air permeable and a liquid
impermeable filter.
[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1, 5, and 6, the seal 210 is typically a
rubber o-ring that includes an aperture 215 and an outer periphery
220 that is sized to substantially match an internal periphery of
the cap. The aperture 215 is sized to fit over the outer wall 180
of the well 150. When the seal 210 is placed over the well 150, the
outer periphery 220 abuts the internal periphery of the cap or the
internal periphery of the shoulder region.
[0021] Referring now to FIGS. 8A and 8B there is shown in another
embodiment a different type of filter used in the well 150. As
illustrated a filter 300 is shown to have a centered member 305
extending through the aperture 165. The centered member 305 may
include a nub 310 which when the filter is inserted is placed in
the interior of the well. The top portion 315 of the filter 300 is
flexible allowing air to push or flex the top portion 315
downwardly allowing air to enter. Additional apertures or air
channels 320 are provided to allow the air to flex the top portion
315. This filter 300 may be used in connection with the sintered
plastic (air permeable and liquid impermeable) filter shown in FIG.
1.
[0022] Referring now to FIGS. 9A and 9B there is shown in another
embodiment a different type of filter 350 used in the well 150. The
filter 350 is a flexible end 355 that opens and closes to allow air
to enter the container. This filter 350 may be used in connection
with the sintered plastic (air permeable and liquid impermeable)
filter shown in FIG. 1.
[0023] It should be further stated the specific information shown
in the drawings but not specifically mentioned above may be
ascertained and read into the specification by virtue of a simple
study of the drawings. Moreover, the invention is also not
necessarily limited by the drawings or the specification as
structural and functional equivalents may be contemplated and
incorporated into the invention without departing from the spirit
and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be
understood that no limitation with respect to the specific
embodiments illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.
It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such
modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.
* * * * *