U.S. patent application number 12/262161 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-06 for cap structure and container with the cap.
This patent application is currently assigned to INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE. Invention is credited to Li-Huei Chen, Shao-Wei Chung, Kuo-Chang Hsu, Yu-Sung Lee.
Application Number | 20100108633 12/262161 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42130150 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100108633 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Li-Huei ; et
al. |
May 6, 2010 |
CAP STRUCTURE AND CONTAINER WITH THE CAP
Abstract
A cap structure includes a capping body, for covering a
container mouth of a container. The capping body includes a base
layer, a plurality of protruding members disposed on the base
layer, and a sidewall joined to a periphery of the base layer. A
liner layer having coupling structures is locked with the
protruding members. A space is formed between the base layer and
the liner layer.
Inventors: |
Chen; Li-Huei; (Hsinchu
City, TW) ; Chung; Shao-Wei; (Hsinchu County, TW)
; Lee; Yu-Sung; (Taichung City, TW) ; Hsu;
Kuo-Chang; (Hsinchu County, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JIANQ CHYUN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE
7 FLOOR-1, NO. 100, ROOSEVELT ROAD, SECTION 2
TAIPEI
100
TW
|
Assignee: |
INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH
INSTITUTE
Hsinchu
TW
|
Family ID: |
42130150 |
Appl. No.: |
12/262161 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/341 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/04 20130101;
B65D 51/245 20130101; B65D 2203/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/341 |
International
Class: |
B65D 53/00 20060101
B65D053/00 |
Claims
1. A cap structure, comprising: a capping body for covering a
container mouth of a container, the capping body comprising: a base
layer; a plurality of protruding members, disposed on the base
layer; and a sidewall, joined to a periphery of the base layer; and
a liner layer, having coupling structures to in locking with the
protruding members, wherein a space is formed between the base
layer and the liner layer.
2. The cap structure of claim 1, wherein each of the protruding
members is a pole and each of the coupling structures of the liner
layer has intersectional cutting lines for allowing the pole to
penetrate and fix thereon, wherein the liner layer is in one-time
locking to the capping body without being detached out.
3. The cap structure of claim 2, wherein the intersectional cutting
lines further comprises an opening at an intersection point.
4. The cap structure of claim 2, wherein the liner layer has an
indent region to increase a volume of the space between the base
layer and the liner layer.
5. The cap structure of claim 1, wherein at least an object is
contained in the space between the base layer and the liner
layer.
6. The cap structure of claim 5, wherein the object comprises radio
frequency identification (RFID) tag or desiccant.
7. The cap structure of claim 1, wherein each of the protruding
members comprises: a sectional circle wall; and a protruding
locking ring on the sectional circle wall; and each of the coupling
structures of the liner layer comprises: an indent periphery; and
an anchor wall at the indent periphery and the anchor wall is lower
in height than the protruding locking ring, wherein when the
coupling structure is locked with the protruding members, the
anchor wall is engaged to the sectional circle wall and the
protruding locking ring blocks the anchor wall so as to hold the
liner layer.
8. The cap structure of claim 7, wherein the liner layer has an
indent region to increase a volume of the space between the base
layer and the liner layer.
9. The cap structure of claim 1, wherein the sidewall comprises: a
plurality of ribs perpendicular to the base layer and extending
from the base layer to a rim of the sidewall at a first position;
and a plurality of inward hooking members distributed at the rim of
the sidewall, wherein a hooking top is at a second position, so
that the container mouth is fit between the ribs and the inward
hooking members.
10. The cap structure of claim 9, wherein the sidewall further
comprises a plurality of air conducting channels, so that the
capping body does not air-tightly seal the container mouth.
11. The cap structure of claim 9, wherein the liner layer has a
plurality of peripheral concave regions to allow the ribs to
pass.
12. The cap structure of claim 9, wherein the liner layer has a
hand-operationable protrusion at a side facing to the
container.
13. The cap structure of claim 12, wherein the hand-operationable
protrusion is a cross protrusion with an indent central region.
14. A container, comprising: a containing body, having a containing
space for containing an object and a container mouth with a mouth
ring; a plug, when in assembly, inserted to the container mouth,
wherein the plug has a through hole for air circulation; a capping
body, for covering the container mouth by fixing to the mouth ring,
wherein the capping body comprises: a base layer; a plurality of
protruding members, disposed on the base layer; a sidewall, joined
to a periphery of the base layer; and a liner layer, having
coupling structures in locking with the protruding members, wherein
a space between the base layer and the liner layer is formed for
adapting at least a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag for
identifying the object.
15. The container of claim 14, wherein each of the protruding
members is a pole and each of the coupling structures of the liner
layer has intersectional cutting lines for allowing the pole to
penetrate and fix thereon.
16. The container of claim 14, wherein the liner layer has an
indent region to adapt the RFID tag.
17. The container of claim 14, wherein each of the protruding
members comprises: a sectional circle wall; and a protruding
locking ring on the sectional circle wall; and each of the coupling
structures of the liner layer comprises: an indent periphery; and
an anchor wall at the indent periphery and the anchor wall is lower
in height than the protruding locking ring, wherein when the
coupling structure is locked with the protruding members, the
anchor wall is engaged to the sectional circle wall and the
protruding locking ring blocks the anchor wall so as to hold the
liner layer.
18. The container of claim 14, wherein the sidewall comprises: a
plurality of ribs perpendicular to the base layer and extending
from the base layer to a rim of the sidewall at a first position;
and a plurality of inward hooking members distributed at the rim of
the sidewall, wherein a hooking top is at a second position, so
that the container mouth is fit between the ribs and the inward
hooking members.
19. The container of claim 18, wherein the liner layer has a
plurality of peripheral concave regions to allow the ribs to
pass.
20. The container of claim 14, wherein the sidewall further
comprises a plurality of air conducting channels, so that the
object can connect to an outer space by the through hole of the
plug and the air conducting channels.
21. The container of claim 14, wherein the liner layer has a
hand-operationable protrusion at a side facing to the
container.
22. The container of claim 21, wherein the hand-operationable
protrusion is a cross protrusion with an indent central region.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a cap structure. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a cap structure with
multiple functions, such as adapting a radio-frequency
identification (RFID) circuit.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] As usually known, cap is used to cover a container. The
container usually contains some materials, such as medicine pill or
any other objects. The conventional cap basically has a sealing
function to air-tightly seal the opening of the container, so that
the medicine pills are kept inside without directly contact the
humid air, for example. In the actual applications, the cap may
have the printed tag to identify the content inside the container.
How to tight the cap to the container neck has been well developed.
Various mechanical structures have been proposed, such as by screw
or gear mechanisms.
[0005] When electronic technology is further developed, the cap's
function is accordingly updated. For example, RFID tag has been
successfully developed to electronically carry some information. In
order to identify the content inside the container, the RFID tag is
integrated into the cap for replacing the printed tag. For example,
the U.S. Pat. No. 7,342,501 has disclosed the cap with the RFID
tag. Further, in order to actually seal the opening of the
container, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,478, the cap can
carry the heat-melt adhesive layer, which can be melt by heat and
then tightly seal the opening.
[0006] However, the cap is still under developing to fit various
purposes in use. The cap then can have more functions and be in
convenient use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention provides cap structure, which can be easily
formed by molding process and the cap can have multiple functions
in use.
[0008] In an aspect, the invention provides a cap structure
including a capping body for covering a container mouth of a
container. The capping body includes a base layer, a plurality of
protruding members disposed on the base layer, and a sidewall
joined to a periphery of the base layer. A liner layer having
coupling structures is locked with the protruding members. A space
between the base layer and the liner layer is formed for containing
an auxiliary object.
[0009] In a further aspect, the invention provides a container. The
container comprises a containing body having a containing space for
containing an object and a container mouth with a mouth ring. A
plug can be inserted to the container mouth, wherein the plug has a
through hole for air circulation. A capping body, for covering the
container mouth by fixing to the mouth ring. The capping body
comprises a base layer, a plurality of protruding members disposed
on the base layer, a sidewall joined to a periphery of the base
layer, and a liner layer having coupling structures in locking with
the protruding members. A space between the base layer and the
liner layer is formed for adapting a radio-frequency identification
(RFID) tag for identifying the object, such as a plant.
[0010] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary,
and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate
embodiments of the invention and, together with the description,
serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view, schematically illustrating
a container, according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, schematically illustrating
a container for containing a plant, according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded drawing, schematically illustrating a
container with a functional cap, according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view, schematically illustrating a
cap structure from an opening side based on one-time locking
mechanism, according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 is the top and side views, schematically illustrating
one-time locking mechanism, according to a preferred
embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 6. is a perspective view, schematically illustrating a
cap structure from an opening side based on multiple-time locking
mechanism, according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
[0018] FIG. 7 is drawings in different views, schematically
illustrating a cap structure based on one-time locking mechanism,
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 8 is drawings in different views, schematically
illustrating a cap structure based on multiple-time locking
mechanism, according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] In the invention, the present invention proposes a cap
structure, which has multiple functions, such as carrying a RFID
tag or the desiccant. The RFID tag can be a passive RFID tag
operating at different frequency band, for example, the UHF passive
RFID tag can be more freely scanned at a long distance. It is
helpful to identify the objects contained in containers, which are
put together in mix.
[0021] Several embodiments are provided for describing the present
invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the
provided embodiments, and the embodiments can also be properly
combined to each other.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view, schematically illustrating
a container, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
In FIG. 1, a container 100 usually has a container mouth, which is
covered by a cap 102. Conventionally, the cap can be fixed to the
container mouth. However, in order to have more function, the cap
can have, for example, a liner layer 104, which is fixed within the
cap 102 to have a space between the liner 104 and a base layer of
the cap 102. The RFID tag 106 is disposed on the liner layer. As a
result, when the liner 104 is locked to the cap 102, the RFID tag
106 can be carry in the cap 102. The RFID tag 106 carries the
information, for example, about an object contained in the
container 100 or any other useful information, depending on the
actual use. In addition, other object 108 can also be adapted in
the space of the cap 102. For example, the desiccant can be
carried. Desiccant is usually used for keeping dry for the
container. However, in some situations such as containing plant, it
needs a little degree of air circulation. In other words, by
implement the liner layer 104 with proper fixing members, the space
between the liner layer 104 and the base layer of the cap 102 can
be formed for general use to adapt the RFID tag or any other
material or device.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, schematically illustrating
a container for containing a plant, according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 2, in this embodiment, a
container 120 to contain plant 122 is provided as the example.
Since the plant, for example, needs the humid air with function of
air circulation. The cap 130 is not necessary to air-tightly seal
the container mouth. The plug 126 can be inserted into the
container mouth. However, the plug has a through hole 128 for air
circulation. The cap 130 is fixed to the rim 124 of the container
mouth by a hooking mechanism by the rib 140 and hooking member 138,
as to be described later. The rib 140 in dashed line is just for
indicating the existence of them but not actually appeal in this
cross-section view, as to be described later drawings. A liner
layer 132 is fixed inside the cap 130 by locking mechanism. As
previously mentioned, a RFID tag 134 is disposed on the liner layer
132. The desiccant 136 or any other useful piece can be for example
put in, as well. The RFID tag can be detected to obtain the stored
information, which can identify the plant, for example. However,
plant is just an example of object, carried by the container 120.
If the cap 130 needs to air-tightly seal the container mouth, it
has other conventional structure to seal the container mouth by
other designs. However, the liner layer 132 is used to allow the
cap 130 to have more function in use.
[0024] It should be also noted that the liner layer 132 can be
fixed to the cap 130 with or without being detachable. For one-time
locking mechanism, once the liner layer is coupled with the cap
130, the liner layer 132 basically is not detachable except
breaking the liner layer, for example. In this situation, the RFID
tag is always carried by the cap 130. The liner layer 132 would be
possibly broken if the liner layer is detached, according to this
one-time use mechanism. In other words, the liner layer 132 is
permanently engaged to the cap 130 without being detached for
repeat use. However, in other design of multiple-time locking
mechanism, the liner layer 132 can be locked to the cap 130 when it
is needed. And then, the liner layer 132 can be detached for
changing the RFID tag, for example. The cap structure of the cap
130 and liner later 132 can be repeatedly used.
[0025] FIG. 3 is an exploded drawing, schematically illustrating a
container with a functional cap, according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 3, the plug 126 is inserted
into the container mouth of the container 120 for the usual
function. The cap 130 can further cover the container 120. The
liner layer 132 in this example is detachable from the cap 130. The
liner layer 132 can be, for example, locked to the cap 130 by
rotating into it, as to be described later. The liner layer 132
has, for example, a hand-operational protrusion 132a for hand to
hold it and rotate it in use. In addition, the liner layer 132 can,
for example, further have an indent region 132b for adapting the
RFID tag 134. The indent region 132b of the liner layer 132 can
increase the space between the liner layer 132 and the base layer
of the cap 130. In this situation, the liner layer 132 can be more
closely locked to the cap 130.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a perspective view, schematically illustrating a
cap structure from an opening side based on one-time locking
mechanism, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. In
FIG. 4, the cap structure, based on one-time locking mechanism, is
described in more detail by an embodiment as an example. The cap
structure has a cap 130 and a liner layer 132. The cap 130 is
formed by a base layer and a sidewall. However, in order to lock
the liner layer 132, there are several coupling structures 144
between the cap 130 and the liner layer 132. FIG. 5 is the top and
side views, schematically illustrating one-time locking mechanism,
according to a preferred embodiment. Further referring to FIG. 5,
for the one-time locking mechanism, the coupling structures 144
include a protruding member 144b from the base layer of the cap
130. The protruding member 144b can be, for example, a pole with a
height. The height determines the space between the liner layer 132
and the base layer of the cap 130. The counter-portion of the
coupling member in the liner layer 132 is, for example, a set of
intersecting cutting lines 144a, such as the cross cutting lines.
The intersectional cutting lines 144a comprises an opening at an
intersection point. For example, the set of intersecting cutting
lines 144a allows the protruding member 144b to penetrate. When the
protruding member 144b penetrates through the set of intersecting
cutting lines 144a, the tips at the intersecting region of the
cutting lines 144a can lock the liner layer 132 and prevent the
liner layer 132 from dropping away. In addition, for easy assembly
and alignment, the intersection region of the cutting lines 144a
may have a hole. As can be seen in FIG. 4, after the liner layer
132 is locked with the cap 130 by the coupling structure 144, the
liner layer 132 is held by the protrusion members 144b. In
addition, the hand-operationable protrusion 132a can be formed at
the outer side of the liner layer 132, so that the liner layer 132
can be easily held by hand of user, for example, for aligning and
pushing the liner layer 132 to the cap 130.
[0027] The structure for locking the liner layer to the cap by
one-tine locking mechanism has been described. However, when the
cap 130 may have addition structure for covering to the container
mouth in different mechanism, depending on the actual need in
option. If the cap 130 is to tightly cover the container mouth,
then several mechanism, such as screwing mechanism, can be taken.
However, if it is not necessary to tightly cover the container
mouth, as described in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, the cap structure has
further locking members.
[0028] The ribs 140 and hooking members 138 can be formed on the
sidewall of the cap 130 at the inner side. The gap between the ribs
140 and the hooking members 138 is to adapt the rim of the
container mouth. Each of the hooking members 138 has a sliding
surface for easily hooking into the rim of the container mouth.
Depending on the actual need of the cap 130, the liner layer 132
may have indent for allowing the ribs 140 to pass through, so that
the liner layer 132 can also be guided to the locking positions of
the coupling structure 144. In addition, in order to have air
circulation, the sidewall of the cap 130 at inner side can have the
air circulation channels 146, at which a thinner wall is formed, so
that the air can flow through the air circulation channels 146. As
a practical application, for example, the air circulation channels
146 are useful for contained live plant or insect, which usually
needs water or fresh air in circulation.
[0029] FIG. 6. is a perspective view, schematically illustrating a
cap structure from an opening side based on multiple-time locking
mechanism, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. In
FIG. 6, for multiple-time locking mechanism, the coupling structure
146 allows the liner layer 132 to be locked or unlocked from the
cap 130. The coupling structure 146 is based on the mechanism by
rotating the liner layer into a blocking structure of the
protrusion member in lock, for example. More details are to be
described in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 for both locking mechanisms.
[0030] FIG. 7 is drawings in different views, schematically
illustrating a cap structure based on one-time locking mechanism,
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The cap 130
is designed to be easily formed by molding process for reducing
cost. However, in order to adapt the molding process, the structure
should be in association with the molding technology. In FIG. 7(a),
the protrusion members 144b, such as poles, is protruding from the
base layer of the cap 130. The rib 140 extends from the base layer
of the cap 130 to a predetermined height. The hooking member 138 is
formed at the different height, so that a gap between the rib 140
and the hooking member 138 can adapt the rim of the container
mouth. The air circulation channel 146 is at the inner side of
sidewall of the cap 130, so that once the cap 130 covers the
container mouth, the air circulation channel 146 allows a small
portion of the air circulation. In FIG. 7(b), the liner layer 132
has the hand-operationable protrusion 132a, of which a crossing
structure is shown as an example but not the only choice. In
further consideration for air circulation, a further concave region
at the center can be made. This is because the hand-operationable
protrusion 132a may touch to the plug 126 in FIG. 2, then the
concave region does not touch to the through hole 128. The cutting
lines 144a of the liner layer 132 as a hole is at the position
corresponding to the protrusion members 144b of the cap 130. The
side indent 132b is for adapting the rib 140. However, if the size
of the liner layer 132 is sufficiently smaller, the periphery of
the liner layer may be not touching to the rib and then the side
indent 132b is not necessary as a choice. As a result, the liner
layer 132 can be locked to the protrusion member 144b of the cap
130. The structure of the cap 130 and the liner layer 132 are
easily made by molding process.
[0031] FIG. 8 is drawings in different views, schematically
illustrating a cap structure based on multiple-time locking
mechanism, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. In
FIG. 8(a), the cap 130 of the cap structure is similar to the cap
130 in FIG. 7. However, the protruding member 150 is different from
the pole structure. The protruding member, as for example shown in
FIG. 7(b) at the cross-section, can be a protrusion wall 150,
preferable in circle shape at the inner side in accordance with the
circle periphery of the liner layer 132. The top of the protrusion
wall 150 can have a blocking protrusion 150a. In FIG. 8(c), the
counter part of the coupling structure at the liner layer 132 has a
periphery indent region 152 and an anchor wall 154. The periphery
indent region 152 allows the liner layer to pass the protrusion
wall 150. Once the liner layer 132 passes the protrusion wall 150,
the liner layer 132 can rotated by hand via the hand-operationable
protrusion 132a. After rotating the liner layer 132, the anchor
wall 154 slides into the inner wall surface of the protrusion wall
150 and stops due to the angle anchor. At the same time, the
blocking protrusion 150a of the protrusion wall 150, as shown in
FIG. 8(b), blocks the liner layer 132 at the normal direction. In
FIG. 8(c), a top view of the liner layer 132 is shown. The
periphery of the liner layer 132 has the protrusion wall 132c with
a proper height and is disconnected at the disconnection region
132d. The anchor wall 154 is formed at the disconnection region
132d. As a result, the liner layer 132 is locked and prevention
from dropping. However, the liner layer 132 can be rotated
backward, so that the liner layer can be detached from the cap 130
for changing the RFID tag or any other action. In one example,
since the RFID tag can be thin like a paper. The RFID tag 134 can
be adhered on the liner layer 132 at the other side (see FIG. 3)
without significantly occupying the space. However, the space
between liner layer 132 and the base layer of the cap 130 can be
adjusted by changing the design parameters under the same design
principle.
[0032] As can be understood, the liner layer is locked to the cap
to adapt the RFID tag, for example. The RFID tag can be easily
adhered to the liner layer, for example. The liner layer can also
be constantly locked to the cap or detachably locked to the cap. If
it is necessary, the air circulation channel can also be formed
while the cap is semi-tightly covering the container mouth by
hooking, for example.
[0033] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the
present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention. In view of the foregoing descriptions, it is intended
that the present invention covers modifications and variations of
this invention if they fall within the scope of the following
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *