U.S. patent application number 11/975634 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-24 for container cap.
Invention is credited to Young Kook Cho.
Application Number | 20080093326 11/975634 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39314245 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080093326 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cho; Young Kook |
April 24, 2008 |
Container cap
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a container cap allowing the addition of an
adjunct. The container cap includes a base cap member, which is a
lower cap body coupled to a neck part of a container, an
operational cap member, which is an upper cap body coupled to the
upper end of the base cap member, and an openable sheet, which is
provided on the lower end of one selected from the base cap member
and the operational cap member. The openable sheet is able to be
cut to discharge the adjunct. The container cap further includes a
cutting means for cutting the openable sheet. The cutting means is
provided in a remaining one selected from the base cap member and
the operational cap member at a position corresponding to the
openable sheet. The openable sheet includes a weight member, which
has a diameter less than a diameter of an arc part of the openable
sheet to be cut. A connection rib is connected between the weight
member and a lower edge of an adjunct receiving part of the base
cap member. The openable sheet further includes an openable sealing
film, which seals both the lower edge of the adjunct receiving part
and the weight member.
Inventors: |
Cho; Young Kook; (Marietta,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CALIF KIP TERVO
6387 CAMINITO LAZARO
SAN DIEGO
CA
92111
US
|
Family ID: |
39314245 |
Appl. No.: |
11/975634 |
Filed: |
October 18, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/228 ;
206/222 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2401/25 20200501;
B65D 51/285 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/228 ;
206/222 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/28 20060101
B65D051/28; B65D 25/08 20060101 B65D025/08; B65D 81/32 20060101
B65D081/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 20, 2006 |
KR |
10-2006-0102078 |
Claims
1. A container cap allowing addition of an adjunct, and comprising
a base cap member, which is a lower cap body coupled to a neck part
of a container, an operational cap member, which is an upper cap
body coupled to an upper end of the base cap member, an openable
sheet provided on a lower end of one selected from the base cap
member and the operational cap member, the openable sheet being cut
to discharge the adjunct, and cutting means for cutting the
openable sheet, the cutting means being provided in a remaining one
selected from the base cap member and the operational cap member at
a position corresponding to the openable sheet, wherein the
openable sheet comprises: a weight member having a diameter less
than a diameter of an arc part of the openable sheet to be cut,
with a connection rib connected between the weight member and a
lower edge of an adjunct receiving part of the base cap member; and
an openable sealing film for sealing both the lower edge of the
adjunct receiving part and the weight member.
2. The container cap as set forth in claim 1, wherein a band-shaped
space is defined between the lower edge of the adjunct receiving
part and a circumferential outer edge of the weight member, so that
a cutting blade of the operational cap member is moved along the
band-shaped space.
3. The container cap as set forth in claim 2, wherein the
connection rib comprises a plurality of connection ribs disposed
adjacent to each other in the band-shaped space to connect the
lower edge of the adjunct receiving part and the circumferential
outer edge of the weight member to each other.
4. The container cap as set forth in claim 1, wherein the weight
member comprises a weight body having a predetermined weight such
that, when the openable sheet is cut, the openable sheet is rotated
downwards around the connection rib, which serves as a hinge.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to container caps
allowing the addition of adjuncts and, more particularly, to a
container cap, which includes a base cap member, which is coupled
to an opening of a container and has an adjunct receiving part, an
operational cap member, which is coupled to the upper end of the
base cap member, and an openable sheet, which is the bottom of the
adjunct receiving part and comprises a weight member having a
diameter less than that of the adjunct receiving part and an
openable sealing film attached to the lower surface of the weight
member and to the open lower end of the adjunct receiving part.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In the case of techniques disclosed in Korean Patent
Application Nos. 10-2003-023243 and 10-2004-002154, there is
inconvenience in which, after a band is removed, a cap is rotated
in a clockwise direction to discharge an adjunct and is thereafter
rotated in a counterclockwise direction to open a container.
Furthermore, there is a problem in that the adjunct can undesirably
solidify due to the permeation of moisture, gas pressure or
physical action. In addition, there is no separate security
band.
[0005] In an effort to overcome the above problems, an improved
container cap was proposed. In this container cap, two operations
of adding an adjunct into contents and of opening a container are
conducted merely by rotating a cap in a counterclockwise direction
in a single motion in the same manner as a method of opening a
typical container cap. Furthermore, in this technique, because an
agitating shaft and an agitating rod are provided, even if the
adjunct is dried or wet, the adjunct can be smoothly discharged. In
addition, even if the container cap is excessively shaken, leakage
is prevented. As well, the container cap is provided with a
separate security band.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of such a
container cap. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the state of the
container cap when it is marketed and sold.
[0007] Referring to the drawings, the conventional container cap
includes a base cap member 100, which is coupled to an opening of a
container and has an openable film 22 that prevents an adjunct from
being undesirably discharged while the container is distributed and
sold, an operational cap member 300, which is rotatably coupled to
the base cap member 100, and an opening means. The opening means
includes a cutting blade 3, which is rotated and moved upwards or
downwards by the rotation of the operational cap member 300 to thus
cut the openable film 22, and an agitating shaft 4 and a plurality
of agitating rods 5, which agitate the adjunct when the operational
cap member 300 rotates.
[0008] Furthermore, an internal thread 112, which is formed in the
base cap member 100, engages with an external thread 12 of the
container 13, so that the contents W1 are prevented from being
undesirably discharged while distributed and sold. In addition, the
inner surface of the base cap member 100 extends a predetermined
length from the inner edge of a step plate 129 in an axial
direction, such that the operational cap member 300 is movable
upwards or downwards along the adjunct receiving part while closely
contacting the inner surface of the base cap member 100.
Furthermore, the openable film 22 and an openable film holder 27,
which prevent the adjunct W2 from being undesirably discharged
while being marketed and sold, are provided on the inner and lower
end of the base cap member 100. A stop step 21 is provided on the
upper surface of the step plate 129, so that, when the operational
cap member 300 is moved all the way down, the operational cap
member 300 is fitted over the stop step 21 and thus firmly fastened
to the base cap member 100.
[0009] The operational cap member 300 includes a grip 300B, which
is rotatably provided on the upper surface of the step plate 129,
and an internal thread 328, which engages with an external thread
128 formed on the outer surface of the upper end of the base cap
member 100.
[0010] Furthermore, the cutting blade 3 of the opening means
extends from the inner surface of the operational cap member 300 to
the upper surface of the openable film 22, which is provided in the
lower end of the base cap member 100. The agitating shaft 4 and the
agitating rods 5 are provided in the operational cap member 300
such that, when the openable film 22 is opened by the cutting blade
3, even if the adjunct W2 is too dry or wet, the adjunct W2 can be
easily discharged. The agitating shaft 4 and the agitating rods 5
are disposed at positions spaced apart from each other at angles of
approximately 60.degree..
[0011] In addition, the agitating shaft 4 is slightly shorter than
the cutting blade 3, and protrudes from the inner surface of the
operational cap member 300 towards the center of the operational
cap member 300. Preferably, the agitating shaft 4 is integrally
formed by injection molding. When the operational cap member 300 is
rotated and moved downwards, the agitating shaft 4 agitates the
adjunct W2, such as powder or concentrated extract, which has dried
out or been wetted, thus discharging the adjunct W2 more
efficiently.
[0012] The agitating rods 5 conduct a function similar to that of
the agitating shaft 4. That is, the agitating rods 5, which are
rotated and moved downwards along with the operational cap member
300, extend in an inward radial direction a greater distance than
does the agitating shaft 4, thus increasing the agitation range
within which the adjunct, which has dried out or been wetted, is
agitated.
[0013] The openable film 22 is increased in thickness from the
outer edge to the center thereof. As such, the outer edge of the
openable film 22 is relatively thin, so that the cutting blade 3
can easily cut the openable film 22. When the openable film 22 is
cut, the adjunct W2 is easily discharged along the portion of the
openable film 22 which was inclined by being cut.
[0014] The openable film holder 27, which is provided on a portion
of the openable film 22, is located at a position spaced apart from
the position at which the operation of cutting the openable film 22
starts by an angular amount of 330.degree.. Furthermore, the
openable film holder 27 extends from the center of the openable
film 22 to the inner surface of the base cap member 100, and is
relatively thick and hard. The openable film holder 27 serves to
prevent the openable film 22 from being completely removed from the
base cap member 100. That is, when the cutting blade 3 rotates at
330.degree. and thus cuts the openable film 22, the rotation of the
operational cam member 300 is stopped by the contact of the lower
end of the operational cap member 300 with the stop step 21 of the
base cap member 100. At this time, the openable film holder 27,
which is coupled to the inner surface of the base cap member 100,
prevents the cut openable film 22 from falling into the container.
Thus, when the container cap is removed from the container, the
openable film 22 is also removed along with the container cap, and
thus does not inconvenience the user who drinks the contents.
[0015] In detail, to drink the contents mixed with the adjunct W2,
the user removes a security band 6 from the container cap, and
thereafter holds the grip 300B and rotates the operational cap
member 300 in a counterclockwise direction. Then, the operational
cap member 300 is rotated and moved downwards and, simultaneously,
the cutting blade 3, which is provided on the lower end of the
operational cap member 300, cuts the openable film 22, which is
provided on the lower end of the base cap member 100. Thereby, the
adjunct is mixed with the contents in the container. Because the
container, such as PP, PET, etc., is transparent, the user can
easily observe the mixing of the adjunct W2 with the contents W1.
At this time, the user generally shakes the container to satisfy
his/her impatience, thus accelerating the process of mixing the
adjunct W2 with the contents W1. Here, the container cap of this
technique makes it possible to mix the adjunct W2 with the contents
W1 more stably in the reliably sealed state, compared to the prior
container cap structures. Subsequently, the operational cap member
300 is brought into contact with the stop step 21, and is fitted
over the stop step 21 such that it is fastened to the base cap
member 100. When the operational cap member 300 is rotated further
in a counterclockwise direction, the base cap member 100 and the
operational cap member 300 are rotated and moved upwards together.
As a result, the container cap is completely removed from the
container 13, and the user can drink the contents mixed with the
adjunct.
[0016] In addition, because the base cap member 100 is held by the
container 13 through a base security band 24, the base cap member
100 is prevented from being displaced before the operational cap
member 300 has completely moved downwards. When the base cap member
100 is moved upwards and removed from the container 13, the base
security band 24 naturally breaks. As such, the base security band
24 of the present invention has the same function as that of a
conventional security band, which is used for ensuring
security.
[0017] However, in the conventional container cap described above,
because an edge part of the openable film is relatively thin, and
because a method, in which the thin edge part of the openable film
is cut by rotation of the cutting blade of the operational cap
member to add the adjunct into the contents, is used, there is the
possibility of the permeation of air or moisture, which dries or
wets the adjunct and thus spoils it, through the thin edge part of
the openable film.
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 container cap in which a
weight member and an openable sealing film, which constitute an
openable sheet, are coupled to the lower end of an adjunct
receiving part that stores an adjunct, the weight member having a
diameter less than that of the adjunct receiving part, so that
superior sealing ability is ensured, and the openable sheet can be
easily cut through a band-shaped space defined between the weight
member and the adjunct receiving part, and in which, because the
weight member and the openable sealing film are integrated with
each other, the openable sealing film is prevented from being cut
to shreds, thus enhancing the reliability of the product.
[0019] In order to accomplish the above object, the present
invention provides a container cap allowing addition of an adjunct,
and including a base cap member, which is a lower cap body coupled
to a neck part of a container, an operational cap member, which is
an upper cap body coupled to an upper end of the base cap member,
an openable sheet provided on a lower end of one selected from the
base cap member and the operational cap member, the openable sheet
being cut to discharge the adjunct, and cutting means for cutting
the openable sheet, the cutting means being provided in a remaining
one selected from the base cap member and the operational cap
member at a position corresponding to the openable sheet, wherein
the openable sheet includes: a weight member having a diameter less
than a diameter of an arc part of the openable sheet to be cut,
with a connection rib connected between the weight member and a
lower edge of an adjunct receiving part of the base cap member; and
an openable sealing film for sealing both the lower edge of the
adjunct receiving part and the weight member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a
conventional container cap allowing the addition of an adjunct;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the assembled container
cap of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the operation of the
container cap of FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the operation of the
container cap of FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a container cap,
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0026] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a critical part of the
container cap of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the attached
drawings.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a container cap
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a critical part of the container cap
of the present invention.
[0029] As shown in the drawings, the container cap of the present
invention includes a base cap member 100, which is coupled to an
opening of a container, an operational cap member 300, which is
coupled to the upper end of the base cap member 100 and a cutting
blade 3, and an openable sheet, which is the bottom of an adjunct
receiving part 77-3. The openable sheet includes a weight member
77, which has a diameter less than that of an arc part, along which
the bottom of the adjunct receiving part 77-3 is cut, at least one
connection rib 77-2, which connects the weight member 77 to the
lower edge of the adjunct receiving part 77-3, and an openable
sealing film 777, which seals both the lower edge of the adjunct
receiving part 77-3 and the weight member 77.
[0030] Furthermore, a band-shaped space 77-1 is defined between the
lower edge of the adjunct receiving part 77-3 and the
circumferential outer edge of the weight member 77, so that the
cutting blade 3 of the operational cap member 300 is moved along
the band-shaped space 77-1 without resistance when a cutting
process is conducted.
[0031] The connection rib 77-2, which is connected between the
lower edge of the adjunct receiving part 77-3 and the
circumferential outer edge of the weight member 77, is provided in
the band-shaped space 77-1.
[0032] Preferably, the weight member 77 has an appropriate weight
such that, when the openable sheet is opened, the weight member is
integrally rotated downwards along with the openable sealing film
777 around the connection rib 77-2, which serves as a hinge. Of
course, because the openable sealing film 777 is integrated with
the weight member 77, the openable sealing film 777 is prevented
from being cut to shreds, thereby preventing part of the openable
sealing film 777 from falling into the contents in the
container.
[0033] In the present invention having the above-mentioned
construction, when a user moves the cutting blade 3, which is
integrally coupled to the operational cap member 300, downwards
using the operational cap member 300, the openable sealing film 77,
which is exposed through the band-shaped space 77-1, defined
between the weight member 77 and the lower edge of the adjunct
receiving part 77-3 of the base cap member 100, is easily cut by
the cutting blade 3. As such, because the openable sealing film 777
can be easily cut using only a relatively small force, an old
person or a child can easily use the container cap of the present
invention.
[0034] Furthermore, when the cutting blade 3 cuts the openable
sealing film 777, which is attached to the weight member 77, along
the band-shaped space 77-1, as shown in FIG. 7, the weight member
77 and the openable sealing film 777 are rotated together downwards
around the connection rib 77-2, serving as the hinge, so that the
adjunct falls outside the adjunct receiving part 77-3 through the
opened band-shaped space 77-1 and is added into the contents in the
container.
[0035] As such, because the openable sealing film 777 is integrally
attached to the weight member 77, when the part of the openable
sealing film 777 that corresponds to the band-shaped space 77-1 is
cut, even if it is cut to shreds, the cut shreds of the openable
sealing film 777 maintain the state in which they are attached to
the weight member 77, thus preventing the cut shreds of the
openable sealing film 777 from falling into the contents in the
container and preventing the user from drinking foreign
substances.
[0036] In addition, when cutting the openable sealing film 777, the
weight member 77 is rotated downards along with the openable
sealing film 777 around the connection rib 77-2 as the hinge. In
other words, thanks to the weight member 77, serving as a weight,
the openable sheet is smoothly opened, thereby the adjunct can be
easily discharged from the adjunct receiving part 77-3.
[0037] Meanwhile, in the present invention, only one connection rib
77-2, which connects the weight member 77 to the lower edge of the
adjunct receiving part 77-3, need be provided in the band-shaped
space 77-1. Alternatively, several connection ribs 77-2 may be
provided at adjacent positions spaced apart from each other at
regular angular intervals. That is, it is preferable that one or
more connection ribs 77-2 be selectively provided, as
necessary.
[0038] As described above, in a container cap according to the
present invention, an openable sheet, which closes the open lower
end of an adjunct receiving part, includes a weight member, which
has a diameter less than the inner diameter of the adjunct
receiving part such that a band-shaped space is coaxially defined
between the weight member and the adjunct receiving part.
Furthermore, both the weight member and the lower edge of the
adjunct receiving part, which define the band-shaped space
therebetween, are sealed by a separate openable sealing film, such
as an aluminum film, thus providing the superior sealing ability
unique to aluminum.
[0039] In addition, the present invention is constructed such that
the adjunct receiving part is opened by cutting part of the
openable sealing film, which is exposed through the band-shaped
space defined by the difference between the diameter of the weight
member and the inner diameter of the adjunct receiving part.
Therefore, the adjunct receiving part can be easily opened by only
a relatively small force, so that even children can easily use the
present invention. In other words, the present invention can be
easily used without limitation of users.
[0040] Furthermore, although the separate openable sealing film,
such as an aluminum film, is used in the present invention, because
the openable sealing film is integrally attached at the central
portion thereof to the weight member, the openable sealing film is
prevented from being cut into shreds, thus fundamentally preventing
the user from suffering displeasure attributable to the presence of
foreign substances when drinking the contents of the container,
thereby ensuring the reliability of the product.
[0041] Moreover, in the present invention, when the adjunct
receiving part is opened to add the adjunct into the contents, the
weight member and the openable sealing film, which are integrated
with each other, are rotated downwards around the connection rib,
which serves as a hinge. Thus, the user can directly observe the
process of adding the adjunct into the contents. Therefore, the
present invention stimulates the curiosity of consumers, thus
arousing consumers' interest.
[0042] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention
has been disclosed 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.
* * * * *