U.S. patent application number 12/287019 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-08 for self-righting cap for a beverage bottle.
Invention is credited to Edward D. Miller.
Application Number | 20100084366 12/287019 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42074957 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100084366 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miller; Edward D. |
April 8, 2010 |
Self-righting cap for a beverage bottle
Abstract
A bottle cap having internal threads compatibly engageable with
external threads on soda or similar bottles and having lightweight,
down-hanging thin strips formed from plastic or another suitable
material depending from a lower edge of the cap structure. These
plastic strips, in cooperation with an optional weight in the upper
portion of the cap, cause a dropped cap to orient itself in an
upward-facing direction. Such an orientation keeps the bottle
engaging surfaces of the cap from contacting the floor or other
surface upon which the cap may land. In alternate embodiments, the
cap may be provided as a slip-on configuration for placing over an
existing bottle cap to provide the same self-righting benefit to
the existing bottle cap.
Inventors: |
Miller; Edward D.; (Virginia
Beach, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WILLIAMS G. SYKES
3669 SEAGULL BLUFF DRIVE
VIRGINIA BEACH
VA
23455
US
|
Family ID: |
42074957 |
Appl. No.: |
12/287019 |
Filed: |
October 6, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/329 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/04 20060101
B65D041/04 |
Claims
1. A substantially hollow, cylindrical screw-on bottle cap having
a, thread-bearing surface on a inner vertical wall, and a solid top
perpendicular to said vertical wall, the improvement comprising: a)
a plurality of flexible strips spaced-apart along a circumference
of a lower edge of said vertical wall.
2. The bottle cap as recited in claim 1, the improvements further
comprising: b) a weight affixed to said solid top.
3. The bottle cap as recited in claim 2, wherein said weight is
embedded within said solid top.
4. The bottle cap as recited in claim 1, wherein said spaced-apart
flexible strips comprise a polymer and each have a substantially
rectangular shape.
5. The bottle cap as recited in claim 4, wherein said spaced-apart
flexible strips are integral with said vertical wall.
6. The bottle cap as recited in claim 4, wherein said spaced-apart
flexible strips are attached to said vertical wall.
7. A self-righting bottle cap adapter, comprising: a) a
substantially cylindrical, hollow member having a vertical wall
having an inside surface; b) a solid top disposed at a distal end
of said substantially cylindrical, hollow member closing said
distal end; and c) a plurality of flexible strips spaced-apart
along a circumference of a lower edge of said vertical wall.
8. A self-righting bottle cap adapter as recited in claim 7 further
comprising: d) a weight affixed to said solid top.
9. The bottle cap as recited in claim 8, wherein said weight is
embedded within said solid top.
10. The bottle cap as recited in claim 7, wherein said spaced-apart
flexible strips comprise a polymer and each have a substantially
rectangular shape.
11. The bottle cap as recited in claim 10, wherein said
spaced-apart flexible strips are integral with said vertical
wall.
12. The bottle cap as recited in claim 10, wherein said
spaced-apart flexible strips are attached to said vertical wall.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention pertains to bottle caps for beverage or
similar bottles and, more particularly, to a self-righting cap
which, when dropped, lands with an inner surface orientated away
from the ground.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Beverage bottles, for example soda bottles or any bottle for
any liquid, are ubiquitous. Countless millions, possibly billions
of such bottles are used, often in outdoor or other environments
wherein a ground surface such as the earth, a floor, etc. may be
dirty. When a bottle cap is dropped, the possibility exists that
dirt or other containments may contact an inner, bottle-engaging
portion of the cap, thereby potentially contaminating the portion
of the bottle usually in contact with the mouth of a drinker of the
bottle contents. In larger bottles not usually consumed by a single
user, when the portion of the bottle through with liquid contents
are poured into a glass, cup, or other container, becomes
contaminated, the bottle contents may become contaminated as
well.
[0003] As Murphy's Law seems to govern such situations, it at least
appears that bottle caps generally land with the bottle-contacting
surface facing down. It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a
bottle cap configured to ensure that, when falling, the cap always
lands with the bottle-contacting portion of the cap facing upward
so as to avoid contamination thereof.
DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART
[0004] Several structures may be found in the prior art at cursory
glance may appear to resemble the present invention. However, none
of these prior art structures are designed to align a bottle cap in
an upward-facing orientation when the cap is dropped onto the
ground.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 372,892 for BOTTLE STOPOPOER
COVER, issued Nov. 8, 1887 to Thomas C. Bunting provides a cover
for securing a stopper in the neck of a bottle.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 1,168,410 for BOTTLE CAP AND STOPPER, issued
Jan. 18, 1916 to Arthur C, Nothstine discloses a stopper for the
necks of laboratory reagent bottle, the stopper also having a
hemispherical cap that protects the lip of the reagent bottle from
dust or other contamination. When contents are poured from the
reagent bottle, the lip thereof is free from contamination.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 1,650,517 for SANITARY BOTTLE CAP, issued Nov.
22, 1927 to Clifford G. Hughes teaches a bottle that remains
attached to a bottle when the top opening of the bottle is exposed
for removing contents therefrom. The cap is thereby prevented from
falling.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 3,601,275 for CAPSULE FOR BOTTLES, issued Aug.
24, 1971 to Rene Lorieux shows a top or crown for covering the cork
of a sparkling wine or champagne bottle. The cover has an
orientation feature to allow orientation of the crown relative to
printed matter on the bottle.
[0009] None of the patents and published patent applications, taken
singly, or in any combination are seen to teach or suggest the
novel self-righting bottle cap of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a
bottle cap having internal threads compatibly engageable with
external threads on soda or similar bottles. Lightweight,
down-hanging thin strips formed from plastic or another suitable
material depend from a lower edge of the cap structure. These
plastic strips, in cooperation with an optional weight in the upper
portion of the cap, cause a dropped cap to orient itself in an
upward-facing direction. Such an orientation keeps the bottle
engaging surfaces of the cap from contacting the floor or other
surface upon which the cap may land.
[0011] In alternate embodiments, the cap may be provided as a
slip-on configuration for placing over an existing bottle cap to
provide the same self-righting benefit to the existing bottle
cap.
[0012] It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a
bottle cap having a self-righting feature to ensure the bottle cap
lands in a predetermined orientation when dropped.
[0013] It is another object of the invention to provide a bottle
cap having a self-righting feature that has a plurality of
depending, down hanging strips attached to a lower edge
thereof.
[0014] It is an additional object of the invention to provide a
bottle cap having a self-righting feature having a weight embedded
in an upper region of the cap.
[0015] It is a further object of the invention to provide a bottle
cap having a self-righting feature that may be installed on bottles
at a bottling facility.
[0016] It is a still further object of the invention to provide a
bottle cap having a self-righting feature that maybe provided in a
slid-on configuration for addition to an existing bottle cap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the
present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same
becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and
wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective of a self-righting bottle cap in
accordance with the invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottle cap of FIG. 1 in
place on a bottle;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of
the bottle cap of FIG. 1 designed to slide over an existing bottle
cap; and
[0021] FIGS. 4a-4c are bottom plan views of three possible
embodiments of the slide on cap adapter of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] The present invention provides a self-righting bottle cap
designed to ensure that a dropped bottle cap lands in a
predetermined orientation.
[0023] Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective,
schematic view of the bottle cap of the present invention,
generally at reference number 100. Bottle cap 100 has a
substantially cylindrical body portion 102 having a top surface 104
and internal threads, not shown, adapted and configured to
screwably engage external threads, not shown on a bottle 106 (FIG.
2). It should be noted that bottle 106 forms no part of the present
invention and is shown only to illustrate the novel self-righting
bottle cap 100 in its intended operating environment.
[0024] The body of bottle cap 100 is substantially the same as any
known bottle cap of the prior art and may incorporate any
combination of known,features or designs therein. The body of
bottle cap 100 may be manufactured using any material and process
known and used for the manufacture of similar bottle caps of the
prior art.
[0025] Peculiar to novel bottle cap 100, however, is an optional
weight 108 that may be embedded within-body 102 of bottle cap 100,
preferably near top surface 104. Weight 108 may be a small metal
disk or other convenient shape. Weight 108 is optional and may be
included to improve the self-righting performance of bottle cap
100.
[0026] Depending circumferentially from a lower edge 110 of body
102 is a plurality of thin strips 112. Strips 112 are typically
formed from a lightweight polymer and may either be molded with
body 102 or may be affixed to body 102 after the formation thereof.
Strips 112 may be attached to body using the any known technique
and material including, but not limited to adhesives and ultrasonic
welding. The technique for attaching strips 112 to body 102 when
strips 112 are not integrally molded forms no part of the
invention. Consequently, any attachment method is included therein.
While strips 112 are shown only on a portion of caps 100 and 304,
it will be recognized that strips 112 may be disposed completely
around the circumference of caps 100 and 304. Consequently, the
invention covers any number and distribution of strips 112 around
the circumference of caps 100 and 304.
[0027] In a first method of use, bottle cap 100 may be provided as
the original cap applied to a bottle at a bottling facility. When
so used, the operational advantages of the novel, self-righting cap
of the present invention is inherent in the bottle cap as it comes
from the bottling plant. A bottle 106 bearing bottle cap 100 is
shown in FIG. 2.
[0028] In an alternate method of use, novel bottle cap 100 may be
sold separately from a bottle 106. A user may, if he or she then
chooses, replace the original bottle cap with the novel bottle cap
100 of the invention after the bottle is opened for use.
[0029] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an alternate
embodiment of the self-righting bottle cap of the invention,
generally at reference number 300. A standard bottle 106 carries a
prior art bottle cap 302. An alternate embodiment of the novel
self-righting bottle cap, cap adapter 304 of the invention is
positioned above standard bottle cap 302. Cap adapter 304 is
configured to slide over and engage an outside surface 306 of
bottle cap 302. Bottle cap adapter 304 is reusable and may be used
to impart the self-righting functionality of the invention to a
succession of standard bottle caps 302.
[0030] Referring now also to FIGS. 4a, 4b, and 4c, there are shown
bottom plan views of three embodiments of self-righting bottle cap
adapters 304a, 304b, 304c, respectively. In FIG. 4a, self-righting
bottle cap adapter 304a has a durable outer vertical wall 308 and
top 310. Optional weight 108 is shown embedded in top 310.
[0031] Thin strips 112 depend from a lower edge of vertical wall
308.
[0032] A series of fingers 312 project inwardly from an inside
surface of outer vertical wall 308.
[0033] In operation, cap adapter 304a may be pressed over bottle
cap 302, preferably with a twisting motion. Fingers 312 may then
engage an outer surface 306 of bottle cap 302, thereby frictionally
retaining cap adapter 304a in place thereupon. When no longer
required on bottle cap 302, cap adapter 304a may readily be removed
therefrom and stored until needed again.
[0034] FIG. 4b shows an alternate embodiment 304b of self-righting
cap adapter 304. Self-righting bottle cap adapter 304b also has a
durable outer vertical wall 308 and top 310. Optional weight 108 is
shown embedded in top 310. A series of saw tooth projections 314
project inwardly from an inside surface of outer vertical wall
308.
[0035] In operation, cap adapter 304b may be pressed over bottle
cap 302, preferably without any twisting motion. Saw tooth
projections 314 may then engage a knurled outer surface 306 of
bottle cap 302 thereby frictionally retaining cap adapter 304b in
place thereupon. When it is desired to remove bottle cap 302 from
bottle 106, knurled projections 314 engage a compatible knurled
outer surface 306 of bottle cap 302, thereby preventing slippage of
adapter 304a on bottle cap 302. When no longer required-on bottle
cap 302, cap adapter 304b may readily be removed therefrom and
stored until needed again.
[0036] FIG. 4c shows another alternate embodiment of self-righting
bottle cap adapter 304. Cap adapter 304c is formed completely from
a resilient material, for example, silicone rubber, and has a
substantially smooth inner surface on vertical wall 308. Weight 108
may be embedded in resilient top 310.
[0037] In operation, cap adapter 304c may be pressed over bottle
cap 302. The resilient material from which cap adapter 304c is
formed must be stiff enough to allow slipping cap adapter 304c over
bottle cap 302 while being resilient enough to engage outer surface
306 of bottle cap 302. Compression of vertical wall 308 against
outer surface 306 allows bottle cap 302 to be screwed onto and off
of bottle 106. When no longer required on bottle cap 302, cap
adapter 304b may readily be removed therefrom and stored until
needed again.
[0038] Since other modifications and changes varied to fit
particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent
to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered
limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and
covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute
departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.
[0039] Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be
protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently
appended claims.
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