U.S. patent application number 11/891556 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-13 for beverage container closure and dispensing device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Snap Capp, LLC. Invention is credited to David Joseph Gran, Carl Brian Stufflet.
Application Number | 20080061062 11/891556 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39168539 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080061062 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gran; David Joseph ; et
al. |
March 13, 2008 |
Beverage container closure and dispensing device
Abstract
A beverage container closure and dispensing device. An
illustrative embodiment of the device includes a generally
funnel-shaped device body having a neck portion, at least one wall
portion extending from the neck portion and a lip portion flaring
outwardly from the at least one wall portion; a device body
interior defined by the neck portion, the at least one wall portion
and the lip portion; a catch ring extending from the device body
into the device body interior; at least one drip ring extending
from the lip portion into the device body interior; and a cap
detachably engaging the neck portion of the device body.
Inventors: |
Gran; David Joseph; (Central
Point, OR) ; Stufflet; Carl Brian; (Eagle Point,
OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICE OF GERALD D. HAYNES
2 NORTH OAKDALE AVENUE
MEDFORD
OR
97501
US
|
Assignee: |
Snap Capp, LLC
|
Family ID: |
39168539 |
Appl. No.: |
11/891556 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60843199 |
Sep 11, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/259.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/0414 20130101;
B65D 2517/0041 20130101; B65D 25/48 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/259.3 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/00 20060101
B65D041/00 |
Claims
1. A beverage container closure and dispensing device, comprising:
a generally funnel-shaped device body having a neck portion, at
least one wall portion extending from said neck portion and a lip
portion flaring outwardly from said at least one wall portion; a
device body interior defined by said neck portion, said at least
one wall portion and said lip portion; a catch ring extending from
said device body into said device body interior; at least one dip
ring extending from said lip portion into said device body
interior; and a cap detachably engaging said neck portion of said
device body.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one wall portion
comprises a generally cylindrical first wall portion extending from
said neck portion, a second wall portion flaring outwardly from
said first wall portion and a generally cylindrical third wall
portion extending from said second wall portion, and wherein said
lip portion extends from said third wall portion.
3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a neck flange extending
from said neck portion.
4. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one neck
thread provided on said neck portion and at least one cap thread
provided in said cap and detachably engaging said at least one neck
thread.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein said at least one neck thread
comprises a plurality of neck threads.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein said plurality of neck threads
comprises a base neck thread and three side neck threads.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein said catch ring delineates said
lip portion from said at least one wall portion.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein said cap comprises a generally
planar cap top and a generally cylindrical cap side extending from
said cap top.
9. The device of claim 8 further comprising a neck bevel provided
in said neck, portion and an annular retainer tab provided on said
cap top and engaging said neck bevel.
10. The device of claim 9 further comprising at least one neck
thread provided on said neck portion of said device body and at
least one cap thread provided on said cap side of said cap and
detachably engaging said at least one neck thread.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein said at least one neck thread
comprises a plurality of neck threads.
12. The device of claim 11 wherein said plurality of neck threads
comprises a base neck thread and three side neck threads.
13. A beverage container closure and dispensing device, comprising:
a generally funnel-shaped device body having a generally
cylindrical neck portion, a generally cylindrical first wall
portion extending from said neck portion, a second wall portion
flaring outwardly from said first wall portion, a generally
cylindrical third wall portion extending from said second wall
portion and a lip portion flaring outwardly from said third wall
portion; a device body interior defined by said neck portion, said
first wall portion, said second wall portion, said third wall
portion and said lip portion; a catch ring extending from said
device body into said device body interior; a plurality of drip
rings extending from said lip portion into said device body
interior; wherein said plurality of drip rings vary in diameter;
and a cap detachably engaging said neck portion of said device
body.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein said cap comprises a generally
planar cap top and a generally cylindrical cap side extending from
said cap top.
15. The device of claim 14 further comprising a neck bevel provided
in said neck portion and an annular retainer tab provided on said
cap top and engaging said neck bevel.
16. The device of claim 14 further comprising at least one neck
thread provided on said neck portion of said device body and at
least one cap thread provided on said cap side of said cap and
detachably engaging said at least one neck thread.
17. The device of claim 16 wherein said at least one neck thread
comprises a plurality of neck threads.
18. The device of claim 17 wherein said plurality of neck threads
comprises a base neck thread and three side neck threads.
19. A beverage container closure and dispensing device, comprising:
a generally funnel-shaped device body having a generally
cylindrical neck portion, a generally cylindrical first wall
portion extending from said neck portion, a second wall portion
flaring outwardly from said first wall portion, a generally
cylindrical third wall portion extending from said second wall
portion and a lip portion flaring outwardly from said third wall
portion and having a lip edge; a catch ring extending from said
device body into said device body interior; a device body interior
defined by said neck portion, said first wall portion, said second
wall portion, said third wall portion and said lip portion; a
plurality of drip rings provided in said lip portion in said device
body interior; a plurality of spaces between said plurality of drip
rings, respectively; wherein said plurality of drip rings vary in
diameter and said plurality of spaces vary in diameter; a plurality
of neck threads provided on said neck portion of said device body;
a cap having a generally planar cap top and a generally cylindrical
cap side extending from said cap top; and at least one cap thread
provided on said cap side and detachably engaging said plurality of
neck threads.
20. The device of claim 19 further comprising a neck bevel provided
in said neck portion and an annular retainer tab provided on said
cap top of said cap and engaging said neck bevel.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of and incorporates by
reference in its entirety U.S. provisional application Ser. No.
60/843,199, filed Sep. 11, 2006 and entitled "Snap Capp".
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to beverage containers. More
particularly, the present disclosure relates to a beverage
container closure and dispensing device which can be detachably
attached to a beverage container to selectively seal the container
and dispense beverage from the container.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Beverage containers include cylindrical aluminum cans which
contain a soft drink, beer or other liquid beverage. Typically,
beverage containers are available in 12-ounce and 16-ounce volumes,
although additional volumes of some beverages may be available. A
conventional beverage container includes a pull tab which initially
seals an opening in the top of the container and can be pulled to
expose the opening and facilitate access to the beverage contents
of the container. However, one of the limitations of conventional
can-type beverage containers is that the containers cannot be
re-sealed in the event that some of the beverage in the container
is not consumed. This causes carbonated beverages to become flat
due to the escape of carbon dioxide from the beverage
container.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present invention is generally directed to a beverage
container closure and dispensing device. An illustrative embodiment
of the device includes a generally funnel-shaped device body having
a neck portion, at least one wall portion extending from the neck
portion and a lip portion flaring outwardly from the at least one
wall portion; a device body interior defined by the neck portion,
the at least one wall portion and the lip portion; a catch ring
extending from the device body into the device body interior; at
least one drip ring extending from the lip portion into the device
body interior; and a cap detachably engaging the neck portion of
the device body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an illustrative
embodiment of the beverage container closure and dispensing device,
attached to a beverage container (illustrated in phantom), with a
cap detached from a device body of the device;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of the
beverage container closure and dispensing device;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a top view of an illustrative embodiment of the
beverage container closure and dispensing device, with the cap
detached from the device body of the device;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an illustrative embodiment of the
beverage container closure and dispensing device;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken along section lines 5-5 in
FIG. 2, with the device attached to a beverage container
(illustrated in phantom);
[0011] FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of an illustrative
embodiment of the beverage container closure and dispensing device,
taken along section line 6 in FIG. 5;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the cap attached to the neck
of an illustrative embodiment of the beverage container closure and
dispensing device, more particularly illustrating an illustrative
thread configuration for attaching the cap to the neck;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a sectional view, taken along section line 6 in
FIG. 5, with the device attached to a beverage container
(illustrated in phantom); and
[0014] FIG. 9 is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of the
beverage container closure and dispensing device, oriented in an
inverted position for use as a shot glass.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Referring to the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the
beverage container closure and dispensing device, hereinafter
device, is generally indicated by reference numeral 1. The device 1
includes a device body 2 which is adapted to detachably and
sealingly engage a beverage container 36 in a snap-fit
configuration to facilitate selective closure and sealing of the
beverage container 36 and/or dispensing of a beverage (not
illustrated) from the beverage container 36. The beverage container
36 may be a conventional can-type beverage container, for example,
and typically includes an outwardly-rolled container rim 37 and a
pull tab (not illustrated), as illustrated in FIG. 1. The device 1
prevents insects, dirt, debris and other contaminants from entering
the beverage container 36 and preserves the freshness and integrity
of the beverage in the beverage container 36 after initial opening
of the beverage container 36. The device 1 is typically re-usable
and can be detached from one beverage container 36 and attached to
another beverage container 36 typically after the beverage contents
of the first beverage container 36 have been consumed. In some
embodiments, the device body 2 of the device 1 is any of various
colors to differentiate multiple devices 1 from each other and aid
in personal beverage container identification when multiple devices
1 are attached to multiple respective beverage containers 36
simultaneously.
[0016] In some embodiments, the device body 2 of the device 1 is
resilient plastic; however, the device body 2 may be any suitable
alternative resilient material. The device body 2 may be a
dishwasher-safe plastic, for example. Examples of materials which
are suitable for fabrication of the device body 2 include, without
limitation, polyethylene. However, some characteristics of the
particular plastic which is used to fabricate the device 1 may vary
depending on the specific nature of the efficient application of
the device 1. For example, characteristics which affect seal
ability; resiliency; stretch; rigidity; elasticity; application
force; translucence; and luminescence may determine selection of
the material used.
[0017] The device body 2 of the device 1 has a generally inverted
funnel shape and includes a generally cylindrical neck portion 3. A
generally cylindrical upper wall portion 8 extends from the neck
portion 3. A middle wall portion 10 flares outwardly from the upper
wall portion 8. A generally cylindrical lower wall portion 14
extends from the middle wall portion 10. A lip portion 16 having a
lip edge 18 flares outwardly from the lower wall portion 14. As
illustrated in FIG. 5, the neck portion 3, the upper wall portion
8, the middle wall portion 10, the lower wall portion 14 and the
lip portion 16 define a device body interior 2a. In some
embodiments, a catch ring 17 circumscribes the device body 2 and
generally delineates the lip portion 16 from the lower wall portion
14. As used herein, relative terms such as "upper", "middle" and
"lower" are intended to be descriptive and not limiting as those
terms do not necessarily denote the positions of the indicated
components during use of the device 1.
[0018] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a cap 28 is detachably attached to
the neck portion 3. The cap 28 typically includes a generally flat
or planar cap top 29 and a generally cylindrical cap side 30 which
extends from the cap top 29. The cap 28 is detachably attached to
the neck portion 3 of the device body 2 according to any suitable
attachment technique which is known by those skilled in the art. As
illustrated in FIG. 7, in some embodiments, at least one cap thread
32 is provided on the interior surface of the cap side 30 of the
cap 28. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a base neck thread 4 and
three side neck threads 5, 6, and 6a, respectively, are provided on
the exterior surface of the neck portion 3. As illustrated in FIG.
7, the at least one cap thread 32 is adapted to engage the base
neck thread 4 and the side neck threads 5, 6 and 6a and detachably
secure the cap 28 to the neck portion 3. In some embodiments, the
base neck thread 4 and the side neck threads 5, 6 and 6a define a
quarter-turn, steep-pitch thread pattern in which the cap 28 can be
fully attached to and removed from the neck portion 3 by a quarter
turn of the cap 28. However, it is to be understood that any number
of neck threads can be provided on the exterior surface of the neck
portion 3 in any desired configuration to detachably secure the cap
28 to the neck portion 3. A neck flange 7 may extend from the
exterior surface of the neck portion 3, between the base neck
thread 4 and the upper wall portion 8 of the device body 2.
[0019] As further illustrated in FIG. 7, in some embodiments a neck
bevel 3a is provided in the inside upper edge of the neck portion
3. An annular retainer tab 31 extends from the bottom or interior
surface of the cap top 29 of the cap 28 and seats against the neck
bevel 3a when the cap 28 is attached to the neck portion 3.
[0020] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, in some embodiments, an
upper drip ring 20a, a lower drip ring 20c and a middle drip ring
20b are provided between the lip edge 18 and the catch ring 17. An
annular upper space 22a is defined between the upper drip ring 20a
and the middle drip ring 20b, and an annular lower space 22b is
defined between the middle drip ring 20b and the lower drip ring
20c. Because of the outwardly-flared configuration of the lip
portion 16, the multiple drip rings 20 and respective adjacent
annular spaces 22 have various diameters. In the embodiment of the
device 1 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, the middle drip ring 20b has
a diameter which is between that of the upper drip ring 20a and
that of the lower drip ring 20c. Likewise, the diameter of the
upper space 22a is less than that of the lower space 22b. The drip
rings 20 and respective adjacent annular spaces 22 define a
generally step-shaped cross-section, as further illustrated in
FIGS. 6 and 8.
[0021] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 and 8, in use of the device
1, which will be hereinafter further described, the device 1 is
snap-fitted on the beverage container 36. Accordingly, as
illustrated in FIG. 8, the interior surface of the lip portion 16
of the device body 2 guides the rolled upper container rim 37 of
the beverage container 36 (shown in phantom) beyond and into
engagement with the catch ring 17, which snugly engages the
container rim 37 in a snap-fit to provide an airtight seal between
the device body interior 2a and the beverage container 36.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1, 5, 7 and 8 of the drawings, in typical
application of the device 1, the beverage container 36 is initially
opened typically by pulling the pull tab (not illustrated), in the
conventional manner. The device body 2 of the device 1 is attached
to the beverage container 36 by lowering the device body 2 over the
beverage container 36 and snap-fitting the catch ring 17 in the
device body 2 over and then against the outwardly-rolled container
rim 37 of the beverage container 36, as illustrated in FIG. 8. The
interior surface of the lip portion 16 guides the container rim 37
into engagement with the catch ring 17. Because of the resiliency
of the lip portion 16, the catch ring 17 is capable of stretching
to accommodate the diameter of the container rim 37 and then
recoiling against the container rim 37 to achieve a snug, airtight
fit between the catch ring 17 and the container rim 37.
[0023] Under circumstances in which temporary storage of the
beverage container 36 prior to dispensing of the beverage (not
illustrated) from the beverage container 36 is desired, the cap 28
can be attached to the neck portion 3 of the device body 2, as
illustrated in FIG. 7. Accordingly, in the event that the beverage
in the beverage container 36 is a carbonated beverage, carbon
dioxide gas from the beverage is unable to escape from the device
body interior 2a through the capped neck portion 3 or from the lip
portion 16 of the device body 2 due to the airtight seal between
the device body interior 2a and the container rim 37 of the
beverage container 36. This prevents the carbon dioxide from
escaping from the device 1 and maintains the carbonation integrity
and freshness of the beverage. Furthermore, the cap 28 prevents
insects, dirt, debris and other contaminants from entering the
device body 2a and the beverage container 36 through the neck
portion 3 of the device body 2.
[0024] When dispensing of the beverage from the beverage container
36 is desired, the cap 28 is removed from the neck portion 3 of the
device body 2. Accordingly, the beverage can be selectively
dispensed from the beverage container 36 through the device body
interior 2a (FIG. 5) of the device body 2 and from the neck portion
3, respectively, of the device 1 and into a cup (not illustrated)
or other receptacle. Alternatively, the beverage can be imbibed
directly through the neck portion 3. Under circumstances in which
additional beverage remains in the beverage container 36 after the
desired quantity of beverage has been dispensed from the beverage
container 36, the cap 28 can again be attached to the neck portion
3 to seal the device body interior 2a of the device body 2. After
the beverage has been completely dispensed from the beverage
container 36, the device 1 can be detached from the beverage
container 36 and attached to a second beverage container 36 for
similar use. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that multiple devices 1 can be stacked for dispensing purposes, for
example, by inserting the neck 3 of a bottom device 1 into the
device body interior 2a of a top device 1, with the interior
surfaces of the top device 1 nesting against the exterior surfaces
of the bottom device 1.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 9 of the drawings, the device 1 with the
cap 28 thereon can be inverted and used as a shot glass.
Accordingly, the beverage (not illustrated) is poured into the
device body interior 2a (FIG. 5) of the device body 2 through the
open lip portion 16. The cap 28 prevents the beverage from flowing
out of the neck portion 3 of the device body 2.
[0026] While the illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have
been described above, it will be recognized and understood that
various modifications can be made in the disclosure and the
appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which
may fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
* * * * *