U.S. patent application number 11/538047 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-03 for carabiner bottle closure.
Invention is credited to William Yelland.
Application Number | 20080078787 11/538047 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39260125 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080078787 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yelland; William |
April 3, 2008 |
CARABINER BOTTLE CLOSURE
Abstract
A closure for removably sealing a container and for attaching to
external articles having an external hooking device. The closure
includes a container cap configured to removably engage the
container and having a strip engaging portion formed proximate an
end of the cap. The closure includes an attachment member that has
a resilient hooking strip extending from the lid to define a
hooking aperture therebetween. The attachment member has a cap
engaging portion formed adjacent an end thereof and releasably
engaged to the strip engaging portion. The engaging portions are
configured such that the cap engaging portion is releasable from
engagement by applying disengaging force upon any portion of the
hooking strip.
Inventors: |
Yelland; William; (Brampton,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE SONI LAW FIRM
55 S. LAKE AVE SUITE 720
PASADENA
CA
91101
US
|
Family ID: |
39260125 |
Appl. No.: |
11/538047 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/148.1 ;
215/200; 224/269 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 5/02 20130101; B65D
51/242 20130101; A45F 3/16 20130101; A45F 2200/0583 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/148.1 ;
215/200; 224/269 |
International
Class: |
A45F 3/20 20060101
A45F003/20; B65D 51/00 20060101 B65D051/00; A45F 5/00 20060101
A45F005/00; A45F 3/16 20060101 A45F003/16 |
Claims
1. A closure for removably sealing a container and for attaching to
external articles having an external hooking device, the closure
comprising: (a) a container cap sized and configured to removably
engage the container, the container cap having first and second
diametrically opposed cap ends, the cap comprising: (1) a top lid
having a peripheral edge, (2) a circumferential side wall
integrally formed with and extending substantially perpendicularly
from the peripheral edge of the top lid, and (3) a strip engaging
portion formed proximate the second cap end; and (b) an attachment
member comprising: (1) an elongated, generally bent, and resilient
hooking strip extending from a portion of the top lid to define a
hooking aperture therebetween, the hooking strip having a first
strip end connected to and integrally formed with the first cap
end, and an opposing second strip end, and (2) a cap engaging
portion formed adjacent the second strip end and releaseably
engaged to the strip engaging portion, wherein the engaging
portions are configured such that the cap engaging portion is
releaseable from engagement by applying disengaging force upon any
portion of the hooking strip in a direction toward the top lid,
whereby engaging the cap engaging portion with the strip engaging
portion closes the hooking aperture for securably retaining the
external hooking device therein and removably attaching the
container cap to the external articles thereby.
2. The closure as in claim 1, wherein the hooking strip and the
container cap are configured such that application of force upon
the hooking strip extends the cap engaging portion away from the
strip engaging portion so as to engage the hooking strip and the
container cap with each other.
3. The closure as in claim 2, wherein the hooking strip and the
container cap are configured to extend laterally away from the cap
by receiving further force upon the hooking strip subsequent to
engagement of the hooking strip and the container cap.
4. The closure as in claim 1, wherein the cap engaging portion
forms a protrusion integrally formed with and extending away from
both the top lid and the side wall.
5. The closure as in claim 4, wherein the strip engaging portion
and the protrusion are configured to be mateably engageable with
each other.
6. The closure as in claim 5, wherein the strip engaging portion
comprises a male locking member, and the protrusion comprises a
female locking member formed therein sized and configured to
receive the male lock member.
7. The closure as in claim 6, wherein the hooking strip and the
protrusion are configured such that application of force upon the
hooking strip extends the male locking member away from the female
locking member to engage the hooking strip and the container cap at
a strip contact portion and a protrusion contact portion.
8. The closure as in claim 7, wherein the hooking strip and the
protrusion are further configured such that application of further
force upon the hooking strip subsequent to engagement of the
hooking strip and the container cap extends the male locking member
laterally away from the cap.
9. The closure as in claim 8, wherein the inner strip surface
defines a generally convex section formed adjacent the strip
contact portion, the convex section being configured to extend the
male locking member laterally away from the cap as the protrusion
contact portion slides along the convex section under the force
applied upon the hooking strip.
10. The closure as in claim 6, wherein the hooking strip has an
inner strip surface and an opposing outer strip surface, the male
locking member comprises a generally L-shaped hook formed on the
inner strip surface adjacent the second strip end, and the female
locking member comprises a slot formed on an outer surface of the
protrusion.
11. The closure as in claim 10, wherein the attachment means
further comprises a plurality of ridges formed upon the outer strip
surface proximate the second strip end for reducing slippage during
engagement of the hook.
12. The closure as in claim 6, wherein the attachment means further
comprises an elongated supporting strip for providing structural
rigidity to the hooking strip, the supporting strip extending from
the inner strip surface to the top lid proximate the first cap
end.
13. The closure as in claim 12, wherein the supporting strip is
integrally formed with both the hooking strip and the top lid.
14. The closure as in claim 13, wherein the first cap end is
located at the peripheral edge of the top lid; and the hooking
strip, the supporting strip, and the top lid define a generally
triangular region surrounded thereby.
15. The closure as in claim 14, wherein the generally triangular
region defines a generally triangular cavity therein.
16. The closure as in claim 13, wherein the attachment member
further comprises a raised ridge formed upon the support strip for
providing structural rigidity to the hooking strip.
17. The closure as in claim 16, wherein the ridge extends along the
inner strip surface.
18. The closure as in claim 17, wherein the ridge is integrally
formed with both the supporting strip and the hooking strip.
19. The closure as in claim 1, wherein the hooking strip is shaped
as a generally inverted parabola.
20. The closure as in claim 19, wherein the hooking strip is
disposed above the plane defined by the peripheral edge of the top
lid.
21. The closure as in claim 20, wherein the hooking strip is
oriented such that the plane defined thereby is substantially
perpendicular to the top lid.
22. The closure as in claim 1, wherein the side wall of the
container cap defines a plurality of grooves extending
circumferentially therealong.
23. The closure as in claim 1, wherein the closure is fabricated of
plastic material.
24. A container attachable to external articles having an external
hooking device, the container comprising: (a) a container body
having an open mouth at an end; and (b) a container closure
comprising: (1) a container cap sized and configured to removably
engage the open mouth of the container body, the container cap
having first and diametrically opposed second cap ends, the cap
comprising: (i) a top lid having a peripheral edge, (ii) a
circumferential side wall integrally formed with and extending
substantially perpendicularly from the peripheral edge of the top
lid, and (iii) a strip engaging portion formed proximate the second
cap end; and (2) an attachment member comprising: (i) an elongated,
generally bent, and resilient hooking strip extending from the top
lid to define a hooking aperture therebetween, the hooking strip
having a first strip end connected to and integrally formed with
the first cap end, and an opposing second strip end, and (ii) a cap
engaging portion formed adjacent the second strip end and
releaseably engaged to the strip engaging portion, wherein the
engaging portions are configured such that the cap engaging portion
is releaseable from engagement by applying disengaging force upon
any portion of the hooking strip directed toward the top lid,
whereby engaging the cap engaging portion with the strip engaging
portion closes the hooking aperture for securably retaining the
external hooking device therein and removably attaching the
container cap to the external articles thereby.
25. A method of advertising and promotion comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a container attachable to external articles having an
external hooking device, the container comprising a container body
having an open mouth at an end and a container closure comprising:
(1) a container cap sized and configured to removably engage the
open mouth of the container body, the container cap having first
and diametrically opposed second cap ends, the cap comprising: (i)
a top lid having a peripheral edge, (ii) a circumferential side
wall integrally formed with and extending substantially
perpendicularly from the peripheral edge of the top lid, and (iii)
a strip engaging portion formed proximate the second cap end; and
(2) an attachment member comprising: (i) an elongated, generally
bent, and resilient hooking strip extending from the top lid to
define a hooking aperture therebetween, the hooking strip having a
first strip end connected to and integrally formed with the first
cap end, and an opposing second strip end, and (ii) a cap engaging
portion formed adjacent the second strip end and releaseably
engaged to the strip engaging portion, wherein the engaging
portions are configured such that the cap engaging portion is
releaseable from engagement by applying disengaging force upon any
portion of the hooking strip directed toward the top lid, whereby
engaging the cap engaging portion with the strip engaging portion
closes the hooking aperture for securably retaining the external
hooking device therein and removably attaching the container cap to
the external articles thereby; and (b) imprinting advertising
material on at least one visible outer surface of the container or
the container closure.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] (Not Applicable)
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
[0002] (Not Applicable)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to field of a container
closures and carabiner bottle caps that can be removably attached
to external articles. The attachment member may be configured to be
openable for detaching the closure from the external articles by
applying downward pressure upon any portion thereof.
[0004] Portable containers such as bottles for containing drinking
water, beverage, or other small articles are commonly used in
everyday life in various circumstances. Many people carry such
containers with them for repeated use, treating those as part of
their personal belongings. Most of such portable containers are,
however, not designed or structured to be attachable to other
objects. So, for carrying them after use, one has to keep holding
them with a hand or retain them in another bigger container such as
a backpack. Having to hand-carry such portable containers all the
time would be very inconvenient, and further, susceptible to
potential loss due to forgetfulness. Carrying them in another bag
is inconvenient too because in many occasions people do not find a
separate bag for retaining them in the first place, and also, even
if they do, there is a risk of accidental spillage to contaminate
other articles in the bag.
[0005] Some of the prior art bottle caps exist that combine
carabiner-type attachment devices with containers or container
caps. U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,909 discloses a carabiner-type openable
handle attached to a mug or flashlight, by which the mug or
flashlight may be attached to external devices. U.S. Patent
Application No. 2004/0250386 A1 discloses a carabiner-type
attachment member integrally formed with either the container or
the container cap. If, however, such carabiner-type attachment
means is made of light and flexible material commonly used for the
container cap for reducing cost and weight, there may be a risk
that the section adjacent the openable gate in a typical carabiner,
which is usually configured to permit the gate opened under force
directed to only one direction, may collapse under oppositely
directed force to unintentionally let the gate opened.
[0006] One disadvantage in using many of prior art bottle caps
utilizing carabiner-type attachments is that two-handed operation
is typically required. For example, one must normally clutch the
bottle while releasing the carabiner-type attachment. Such
two-handed operation may be undesirable during outdoor activities
such as hiking or mountain climbing.
[0007] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a container closure
that may be easily and removably attached to external articles such
as belt loops, backpacks, shopping bags, directly, or indirectly
via some intervening hooking devices such as rings, hooks, clips,
or clasps. It is also desirable that such attachment member is
formed in the container cap rather than in the container body so
that the container, while being conveniently interchanged with
another, may continue to be attachable to external articles just by
keeping the cap. Further, it is highly desirable that such
attachment member is so structured that first, even if it is made
of light and flexible material commonly used for the container cap,
it would sustain securably a fully filled container without
accidental disengagement against its weight, and second, it is
easily and conveniently openable for detaching the container from
external articles simply by applying downward pressure upon any
portion of it.
[0008] Moreover, since such containers with the attachment member
are likely to be constantly exposed to observers while being
attached to external articles such as belts, bags, or backpacks,
they would be a highly effective vehicle for advertisement if some
advertising materials are placed upon some visible outer surfaces
of them. Therefore, it would be also desirable to provide a
container and a cap having previously described attachment member
that has some advertising materials imprinted upon some visible
outer surfaces thereof, and further, to provide a method of
advertising so.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides a container closure for a
container that has an attachment member formed upon the container
cap and so structured as to render, thereby, the cap and a fully
filled container to be securely attached to external devices, and
further, allow them to be conveniently detached simply by applying
pressure of adequate strength on the attachment member directed
downward, that is, from the attachment member toward the container
cap below.
[0010] The container closure with such attachment member made
according to the present invention comprises a container cap sized
and configured to fit over a given container and having a top lid
and a circumferential side wall extended vertically from its edge;
and an integrally formed attachment member extending from the
container cap, by which the cap and the container may be attached
to external articles, such as belts or backpacks, directly, or
indirectly via intervening connectors such as a ring or a clip.
[0011] More particularly, the attachment member comprises an
elongated strip made of resilient material, extending from and
disposed over the top lid. It is generally bent so as to define a
closed aperture between the strip and the top lid into which
external articles such as a belt or backpack, or intervening
connectors such as a ring or a clip may be hooked. At one end it is
connected to and integrally formed with a first end of the cap,
located preferably at a portion of the peripheral edge of the top
lid. Near the other end, the strip has a male engagement member
which can releaseably engage with a corresponding female engagement
member formed near a second end of the cap located diametrically
opposite the first end.
[0012] The engagement members are configured such that the strip is
releaseable from the cap by applying on any portion of the hooking
strip disengaging force of adequate magnitude directed toward the
top lid. In the preferred embodiment, the male and female
engagement members are, respectively, a L-shaped hook pointing
upward and a slot defined upward. Further, the hooking strip and
the cap are configured such that if the downward force continues to
be applied on the hooking strip after the male engagement member is
disengaged vertically downward, the male engagement member moves
further and laterally away from the cap.
[0013] The attachment member may further comprise a supporting
strip extended between the hooking strip and the top lid, a raised
ridge formed on the supporting strip and the inner surface of the
hooking strip, and a cavity formed therebetween, all for the
purpose of providing structural rigidity and sustainability to the
hooking strip.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container with the closure
in the preferred embodiment made according to the present invention
with the attachment member engaged to the container cap;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container with the closure
in the preferred embodiment made according to the present
invention, being attached to an external article via the attachment
member in the exemplary way;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a container with the
closure in the preferred embodiment made according to the present
invention, being hooked to an intervening device via the attachment
member in the exemplary way for attachment to an external article
thereby;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a container with the
closure in the preferred embodiment made according to the present
invention, with the attachment member fully disengaged from the
cap;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a container with the
closure in the preferred embodiment made according to the present
invention, with the attachment member in a first position under
continuous application of downward pressure;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a container with the
closure in the preferred embodiment made according to the present
invention, with the attachment member in a second position under
further application of downward pressure after reaching the first
position described in FIG. 5;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional side view of a container with
the closure in the preferred embodiment made according to the
present invention, with the attachment member engaged to the cap;
and
[0021] FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional side view of the
closure in the preferred embodiment made according to the present
invention, with the attachment member engaged to the cap.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The present invention is directed to a container closure
that can removably attach, via an attachment means formed thereon,
to external articles, wherein the attachment means are configured
to have the closure conveniently detached from the external
articles simply by applying downward pressure upon any portion
thereof.
[0023] The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now
be described with reference to figures (`FIGS.`) 1-8, wherein like
components are designated by like reference numerals throughout the
figures. Although the present invention is generally described in
terms of the preferred embodiments, it should be understood that it
is shown and described, only by way of illustration of the best
mode contemplated in carrying out the invention, but not intended
to limit in any way the spirit and scope of the invention to the
particular embodiments described.
[0024] Now referring to the figures, FIG. 1 shows the general
overview of the preferred embodiment of the container closure 1
made according to the present invention, which is shown as fitted
over a container 2. The container closure 1 comprises essentially a
container cap 10 sized and configured to engage with and close a
mouth of a given container 2 and an attachment member 20 disposed
over the cap 10.
[0025] The container cap 10 comprises a generally flat, or
preferably, a slightly convex top lid 11 for removably closing on a
container mouth, and a circumferential side wall 12 extending
substantially perpendicularly from the peripheral edge 11a of the
top lid 11 for fitting over a neck of the container 2 extending
from its mouth. In the preferred embodiment described in FIGS. 1-8,
the top lid 11 and the side wall 12 have a substantially circular
shape to fit over the container 2 having a circular mouth and neck.
But the container closure contemplated by the present invention can
be used with a container having a mouth of any size and shape in
general. For a container with given size and shape, the container
cap 10 can be accordingly sized and shaped to fit over such a
container. Additionally, the container cap 10 may be adapted to
engage with the container 2 via any engagement method well known in
the art including but not limited to a screw-type engagement and
snap-fit engagement. The side wall 12 is, preferably, integrally
formed with the top lid 11, and may have a plurality of
longitudinal grooves 13 defined therealong for providing a friction
to ease the fastening or unfastening of the cap 10 with fingers
grasping around the side wall 12. These grooves 13 may be formed as
any shape so long as traction is provided thereby. The container
cap 10 has two diametrically opposed ends, 10a and 10b,
respectively for connecting, and removably engaging to the
attachment member 20. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS.
1-8, the first and second cap ends 10a and 10b are located at two
diametrically opposite points on the peripheral edge 11a of the top
lid 11. But in other embodiments, those ends may be located on the
side wall 12 of the cap 10 proximate the peripheral edge 11a of the
top lid 11.
[0026] Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the attachment member 20
comprises an elongated hooking strip 21 having first and opposed
second strip ends, 21a and 21b respectively, and inner and opposed
outer strip surfaces, 23a and 23b respectively. The first strip end
21a is connected to the first cap end 10a and the second strip end
21b is free to be removably engaged to the container cap 10. The
body of the hooking strip 21 is generally disposed above the plane
of the top lid 11 defined by its peripheral edge 11a, and in the
preferred embodiment, the plane defined by the body of the strip 21
is oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane of the top lid
11 as shown in FIGS. 1-7. But the present invention contemplates
other orientations as well, in which the hooking strip 21 may stand
slanted with respect to the top lid 11.
[0027] The hooking strip 21 has a generally bent body between its
two ends 21a and 21b so as to define a hooking aperture 22 between
the strip 21 and the top lid 11 of the cap 10. Although it is
depicted as having a generally curvilinear shape in the preferred
embodiment, any other shape is also contemplated by the present
invention. When the second strip end 21b is engaged to the
container cap 10, the hooking aperture 22 becomes closed to define
a closed loop as shown in FIGS. 1-3, by which the container closure
1 may be hooked and attached, together with the container 2 it
closes on, to some external articles 30 such as belt loops,
backpacks, shopping bags, utility belts, luggage, towel racks, or
wall hooks as shown in FIG. 2, either directly, or indirectly via
an intervening hooking device 31 such as a ring, hook, clip, clasp,
or the like as shown in FIG. 3, which is then hooked to the
external articles 30.
[0028] The hooking strip 21 is preferably fabricated of resilient
material so that it may slightly bend or straighten up as the
second strip end 21b engages or disengages from the cap 10.
Preferably, the attachment member 20 including the hooking strip 21
is fabricated of the same material composing the container cap 10,
which is typically, plastic, rubber, ceramics, synthetic, polymeric
material, combinations thereof, or any other suitable resilient
material well known in the art. In such a case, the attachment
member 20, or more specifically, the first strip end 21a of the
hooking strip 21, may be integrally attached to the container cap
10 at the first cap end 10a.
[0029] The hooking strip 21 further comprises a cap engaging
portion formed proximate the second strip end 21b, which engages a
strip engaging portion formed on the container cap 10 proximate the
second cap end 10b. The present invention requires that the cap and
strip engaging portions, together with the hooking strip 21, be
configured such that the cap engaging portion disengages from the
strip engaging portion by applying upon any part of the hooking
strip 21 pressure of adequate strength directed downward, that is,
from the hooking strip 21 toward the top lid 11.
[0030] FIGS. 1-9 show how such requirement of the present invention
is implemented in the preferred embodiment. Again referring to
FIGS. 1 and 3, the container cap 10 has a radial protrusion 14
formed at the second cap end 10b, which extends below on the side
wall 12 and protrudes radially away therefrom. The protrusion 14
has substantially planar top and bottom surfaces, a front surface
substantially parallel to the side wall 12, and two side surfaces
substantially perpendicular to the side wall 12. In the preferred
embodiment, the cap engaging portion is a L-shaped hook 24 formed
on the inner strip surface 23a of the hooking strip 21 at the
second strip end 21b, and the strip engaging portion is an upwardly
directed rectangular slot 15 defined on the bottom surface of the
protrusion 14, which is sized to fully receive the hook 24 therein.
Further, the hooking strip 21 has a portion near the second strip
end 21b that is parallel to the front surface of the protrusion 14.
And the L-shaped hook 24 is oriented to be parallel to the parallel
portion of the strip 21 such that its tip may direct toward the
first strip end 21a, that is, vertically upward. From such
orientation of the L-shaped hook 24 and the slot 15, those two may
be removably engaged with each other, and thereby engaging the
hooking strip 21 to the container cap 10. FIGS. 1-3 show closure 1
while the hook 24 and slot 15 being in engagement with each other
so as to define a closed hooking aperture 22. FIG. 7 shows the
cross sectional view of the container closure 1 with the hook 24
engaged with the slot 15, when the container closure 1 is cut along
the plane 7-7 in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 provides another cross sectional
view of the closure 1 in FIG. 7, magnifying the region where the
L-shaped hook 24 and the slot 15 are in engagement. As also seen
from FIGS. 7 and 8, the protrusion 14 and the hook 24 may be all
integrally formed with the container cap 10 and hooking strip 21 in
the preferred embodiment.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 5, the disengagement of the hooking strip
21 and the cap 10 occurs by pressing any portion of the hooking
strip 21 downward. When a downward pressure of adequate magnitude
is applied on any part of the hooking strip 21, the hooking strip
21 having a generally upwardly convex contour is slightly and
resiliently deformed and transmits the pressure to the second strip
end 21b, and thereby, pushes the substantially L-shaped hook 24
vertically downward to have it disengaged out of the slot 15. It is
contemplated that the hook 24 and slot 15 may be formed as
different shapes and configurations including those which are of
the male and female interlocking-type respectively. This feature
enables one to easily and conveniently detach the container from
some external article, for example his or her belt, simply by
pressing down anywhere on the hooking strip with one hand. FIG. 4
shows the container closure 1 when the hooking strip 21 has been
fully disengaged from the container cap 10. To reduce potential
slippage when a finger presses the hooking strip 21, the hooking
strip 21 may further comprise a plurality of slightly raised
parallel ridges 25 defined on the outer strip surface 23b near the
second strip end 21b as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 6, another feature of the present invention
is that it is configured such that if the downward pressure is
continuously applied on a portion of the hooking strip 21 after its
disengagement from the cap 10, the second strip end 21b of the
hooking strip 21 further moves, not only vertically, but also
laterally away from the container cap 10. This feature is
advantageous because having a lateral separation of the hooking
strip 21 from the cap 10 as shown in FIG. 4 would make it easier to
detach the container from an external article, and in the present
invention such separation is achieved simply by keeping pressing
down the hooking strip 21 using only one hand, without having to
use another hand to laterally separate the strip 21 from the cap 10
after disengagement. FIGS. 5 and 6 describe the two stages in which
such feature is implemented in the preferred embodiment. If the
hooking strip 21 starts to be pressed downward, then at first, it
disengages from the slot 15 as described previously and next,
continues to move in a substantially downward direction until a
portion of the protrusion 14a, which is in the preferred embodiment
an edge of the protrusion formed by the junction of its top and
front surfaces, contacts a portion of the inner strip surface, say,
a strip contact portion 29a, as depicted in FIG. 5. If further
continuous pressure is applied after the strip 21 and cap 10
contact each other, the protrusion edge 14a begins to slide along a
slightly convex section 29b formed on the inner strip surface 23a
next to the strip contact portion 29a in the direction of the first
strip end 21a, while in the meantime pushing the disengaged hook 24
further and laterally away from the container cap 10 as depicted in
FIG. 6.
[0033] Again referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the attachment member 20
in the preferred embodiment may further comprise an elongated
supporting strip 26 extending between the hooking strip 21 and the
top lid 11 for providing structural rigidity and sustainability to
the hooking strip 21 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-6. The supporting
strip 26 is fabricated preferably of the same material as the
hooking strip 21 and the cap 10 and its two ends are respectively
connected to, and preferably, integrally formed with the hooking
strip 21 and the top lid 11 proximate the first cap end 10a,
thereby forming a generally triangular region bounded by the
hooking strip 21, the supporting strip 26, and the top lid 11. In
the preferred embodiment, a triangular cavity 28 may be formed
within the triangular region as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-6, but in
another embodiment, the triangular region may be filled as shown in
FIG. 7.
[0034] For further providing structural rigidity and sustainability
to the hooking strip 21, the attachment member 20 may comprise, in
the preferred embodiment, a slightly raised continual ridge 27
formed on the upper surface of the supporting strip 26, which may
further extend along the inner strip surface 23a and the top lid 11
as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-6.
[0035] The present invention also contemplates a method of
advertising and promotion using the container closure described
above and the container, which comprises the steps of: providing a
container and a container closure structured to be releaseable from
engagement by applying disengaging force upon any portion of the
hooking strip directed toward the top lid; and imprinting
advertising material on at least one visible outer surface of the
container or the container closure. Providing a container and a
container closure in the first step is contemplated by the present
invention to include but not limited to, manufacturing, having a
third party to manufacture, buying, obtaining, or procuring the
same in any other way.
[0036] The present invention is capable of embodiments other than
those described above, and its several details are capable of
modifications in various respects apparent to those of ordinary
skill in the art, all without departing from the essential spirit
or attributes of the invention. Therefore, the embodiments
described hereinbefore should be considered to be merely
illustrative, not restrictive.
* * * * *