U.S. patent application number 12/289643 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-13 for structure for prevent the liquid from leaking of a cap.
Invention is credited to Kuo Cheng Wu.
Application Number | 20100116773 12/289643 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40591383 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100116773 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wu; Kuo Cheng |
May 13, 2010 |
Structure for prevent the liquid from leaking of a cap
Abstract
The present invention relates to a bottle cap with leakage-proof
feature for liquid therein, which comprises a bottle cap and a
dividing disk, wherein bottle cap having an internal hollow cavity,
an internal communicating channel and an internal concentric lining
ring with inwards buckling groove ring being crotched in the inner
wall of the hollow cavity facing the communicating channel such
that a flexible rift ring being formed between the peripheral
surface of the lining ring and the inner surface of the
communicating channel; And the dividing disk having an up-facing
flexible cleft ring being notched near the peripheral of the top
surface. By means mutual counter elastic stress by the strained
flexible rift ring and flexible cleft ring reciprocally, the
buckling-fitting condition between the lateral surface of the
dividing disk and the inner surface of the lining ring is more
firmly tight.
Inventors: |
Wu; Kuo Cheng; (Kaohsiung
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE, FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314-1176
US
|
Family ID: |
40591383 |
Appl. No.: |
12/289643 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60996112 |
Nov 1, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
215/252 ;
215/316 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 51/2864
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/252 ;
215/316 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/02 20060101
B65D041/02; B65D 41/00 20060101 B65D041/00 |
Claims
1. A bottle cap with leakage-proof feature for liquid therein,
comprising: a bottle cap having a closed-end top surface, an
open-end bottom surface, a cylinder-shaped lateral surface and a
safety tear strip ring such that an internal hollow cavity being
formed near the top surface and an internal communicating channel
with female thread therein being formed near the bottom surface,
both of hollow cavity and communicating channel being connected
through each other, the safety tear strip ring with a breakable end
being formed the outer peripheral of the bottom surface. Wherein
said bottle cap, an internal concentric lining ring with inwards
buckling groove ring being crotched in the inner wall of the hollow
cavity facing the communicating channel such that a flexible rift
ring being formed between the peripheral surface of the lining ring
and the inner surface of the communicating channel; and a dividing
disk for being inserted into a buckling groove ring on a lining
ring having a top surface, a bottom surface and a ring-shaped
lateral surface such that the top surface facing the hollow cavity
of the bottle cap and the bottom surface facing the communicating
channel of the bottle cap after the dividing disk being inserted
between the hollow cavity and the communicating channel inside of
the bottle cap. Wherein said dividing disk, an up-facing flexible
cleft ring being notched near the peripheral of the top surface and
a buckling flange ring bulging around the top peripheral of the
lateral surface for being buckle-fitted together with the buckling
groove ring on the lining ring of the bottle cap.
2. A bottle cap with leakage-proof feature for liquid therein, as
recited in claim 1, wherein a sealing flange ring is configured to
wrap the bottom peripheral of the top surface of the dividing
disk.
3. A bottle cap with leakage-proof feature for liquid therein, as
recited in claim 1, wherein plural blocking juts are evenly
configured on the inner wall of the hollow cavity over the buckling
groove ring of the lining ring within a quadrant manner.
Description
FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a "bottle cap with
leakage-proof feature for liquid therein", particularly for a
bottle cap filled with liquid being constantly kept therein by
leakage-proof design without any leakage so that defective
commodity from liquid therein unexpectedly mixing with the liquid
in the container is avoided when the lateral surface of the bottle
cap deforms due to the stress of the external force.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] By means of filling a second beverage in the bottle cap of
the associated bottle or container beforehand for optionally mixing
with the first beverage in the bottle or container, the integral
bottle and cap provides the consumer with extra choice for tasting
the mingling flavor of mixture of second beverage and first
beverage other than the usual flavor of first beverage in the
bottle or container. Accordingly, various structures of such kind
bottle cap with filling of second beverage are contrived and
disclosed, for example, US patents in number of U.S. Pat. No.
3,968,872, U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,865 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,888;
Japanese published patents in number of 2003-12015, 2004-83022,
2004-323097, 2004-338751, 2005-22706, 2006-27727, 2006-103781,
2006-117305, 2006-151449, 2006-151457 and 2006-232290 as well as
mainland China utility model patent in number of 93241475.3 and the
like are all in this category. Wherein, the structure of the bottle
cap disclosed in the China utility model patent in number of
93241475.3 is shown as in the FIG. 1. Basing on the associated
specifications which disclosed the related technique, the
internal-screw-topped bottle cap 1 comprises a diaphragm 4 stuck
over its middle sectional internal thread 101 to encompass a closed
space for filling liquid material 5 therein. For screw-fitting
together with the spout opening of the bottle in the mixing
beverage operation, turn and drive the bottle cap 1 further
forwardly to break the diaphragm 4 so that the liquid material 5
originally in the bottle cap 1 is automatically infused into the
bottle 3 to mix with the beverage therein.
[0003] From disclosure above, the material of diaphragm 4 is
different from that of the bottle cap 1 as they stuck together by
some kind of glue over the surface of the internal thread 101 in
the bottle cap 1. Since the surface of the internal thread 101 of
the bottle cap 1 is continuous spiral scraggy thread without any
backing supporting jut for the diaphragm 4, to firmly stick the
smooth peripheral of disk-shaped diaphragm 4 with the jagged
surface of the internal thread 101 without defect in mass
production is hardly achieved by the level of current industrial
facility and technology. Moreover, applying the glue over the
peripheral of the diaphragm 4 for sticking together with the
internal thread 101 of the bottle cap 1 inevitably causes the
hygienic safety issue due to liquid material 5 therein either
contaminated or chemically reacted with the glue so that becomes
the main reason for the real product of such new model patent is
not introduced in the market so far. As generally knowledge,
industrial mass production of the bottled drinking water in the
current market must be automatically controlled via a series of
consistent process without any contamination or pollution to comply
with regulatory requirements and criterion for the drinkable and
hygienic safety. However, the technology disclosed in the China
utility model patent in number of 93241475.3 is only an infeasible
hollow word as essentially unable to achieve the requirements and
criterion aforesaid that does not meet the patentable criterion of
practical usage.
[0004] For the products of other prior arts from the USA and Japan
patents mentioned above, they are not popularly accepted in the
market because their astonishing high price reflected from the
structural complexity of the component design. Realizing all the
facts aforesaid and addressing various drawbacks associated, the
applicant of the present invention sets forth a previous patent
application to your USPTO with filing number of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/149,355 after the accomplishment of a
technological breakthrough via research and development. The
marketable product of mass production associated with U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/149,355 proves that meets the expected
effects and the regulatory requirements and criterion for the
drinkable and hygienic safety. Unexpectedly, a minor leakage of the
filled liquid in the bottle cap happened during transportation.
After careful study and research for troubleshooting the leakage
issue, the cause is pinpointed as well as remedied and improved as
below. As shown in the FIGS. 2 and 3, after filling the second
beverage R into the hollow cavity 14 of the bottle cap 10, insert
the dividing disk 20 into the communicating channel 15 at the
bottom surface 12 of the bottle cap 10 so that the buckling groove
24 on the lateral surface 23 of the dividing disk 20 buckling-fits
together with the inside buckling flange ring 16 of the bottle cap
10 in firmly fixed position for isolating the second beverage R in
the hollow cavity 14 from outflow. At this moment, the buckling
groove 24 on the lateral surface 23 of the dividing disk 20
entirely contacts together with the surface of the inside buckling
flange ring 16 of the bottle cap 10 without any gap to let second
beverage R leak out (as shown in view a-a of the FIG. 2). As shown
of two arrowhead directions in the FIG. 3, if exerting forces F of
the hands apply over the lateral surface 13 of the bottle cap 10 by
the worker during transportation or the consumer in the shopping
store, two inward bends will be created (as shown of the hypothetic
lines in the FIG. 3) at the sides pinched or held by the fingers
and two deformation gaps g will be created at the other sides which
being not borne the exerting forces F by the holding fingers (as
shown in view b-b of the FIG. 3) so that the second beverage R in
the hollow cavity 14 will leak out from the deformation gaps g by
the gravity action. From observation, for lateral surfaces 13 of
the same bottle cap 10, the more frequent hand fingers pinch or
hold (for example it is taken up for inspection by many consumers
in the shopping store), the more possibility of the leakage from
the deformation gaps g will be; On the contrary, the less frequent
hand fingers pinch or hold, the less or even no possibility of the
leakage from the deformation gaps g will be. As long as there is
any possibility of the leakage from the deformation gaps g, the
batch products of the defective commodity should not be allowed to
sell in the market to assure the drinkable and hygienic safety in
conformity with regulatory requirements and criterion for the for
the consumers though the possibility of the leakage from the
deformation gaps g aforesaid is not definite.
[0005] Besides, as shown in the FIG. 4, during the screw-fitting
procedure of the bottle cap 10 with dividing disk 20 to fit
together with the container 30, when the bottom surface 22 contacts
with the spout opening end of the container 30, an upward force Fn
will be created in turning and driving the bottle cap 10 further
forwards, meanwhile a downward counteraction resistance Fr will be
created and constantly existed against the turning and driving
upward force Fn as long as the buckling groove 24 of the dividing
disk 20 remaining kept in the buckling flange 16 of bottle cap 10
so that pushing the dividing disk 20 off the buckling flange 16 of
bottle cap 10 becomes hard and retarded for consumers with weak
physical strength such as children and female consumers.
Accordingly, how to achieve the blending effect of said two
beverages via physical strength effort-saving way is also another
issue to be solved by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a
"bottle cap with leakage-proof feature for liquid therein", which
comprises an internal hollow cavity, an internal communicating
channel and an internal concentric lining ring with inwards
buckling groove ring being crotched in the inner wall of the hollow
cavity facing the communicating channel such that a flexible rift
ring being formed between the peripheral surface of the lining ring
and the inner surface of the communicating channel; and an integral
body of dividing disk having an up-facing flexible cleft ring being
notched near the peripheral of the top surface. Firstly fill the
liquid material into the hollow cavity of the bottle cap and next
buckling-fit the buckling flange of the dividing disk together with
the buckling groove ring around the lining ring in the hollow
cavity inner wall of the bottle cap. Both of the rift width of the
flexible rift ring and cleft width of the flexible cleft ring after
the assembly of the bottle cap and dividing disk become smaller
than those of the original widths because both of the flexible rift
ring and flexible cleft ring have been strained by the forward
squeezed stress. By means mutual counter elastic stress by the
strained flexible rift ring and flexible cleft ring reciprocally,
the buckling-fitting condition between the lateral surface of the
dividing disk and the inner surface of the lining ring is more
firmly tight. When the lateral surface of the bottle cap deforms
due to the stress of the external force such as hand fingers pinch
or hold, the corresponding strains of the flexible rift ring and
flexible cleft ring respond to offset by their elasticity so that
the tightly close-fitting condition is constantly kept without any
gap; thereby, a watertight hollow cavity is remained to keep the
liquid material therein and completely prevent it from leaking
out.
[0007] The other object of the present invention is to provide a
"bottle cap with leakage-proof feature for liquid therein" with
plural blocking juts being evenly configured on the inner wall of
the hollow cavity over the buckling groove ring of the lining ring
within a quadrant manner. During screw-fitting operation of the
bottle cap and the spout opening end of the container, when the
buckling flange ring on the lateral surface of the dividing disk
begins to slip away the buckling groove ring, the top surface of
the dividing disk contacts the blocking juts meanwhile. By means of
contact points of the blocking juts with the top surface of the
dividing disk to serve as the fulcrums to let other side of the
dividing disk raised, the liquid beverage in the hollow cavity
easily flows downwards quickly and the downward counteraction
resistance acting on the top surface of the dividing disk is
indirectly deleted meanwhile; thereby, during entire slipping
procedure of the dividing disk away the internal lining ring of the
bottle cap, the effort-saving effect in turning and driving effort
is achieved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is the structural cross section view for the
conventional China utility model patent in number of
93241475.3.
[0009] FIG. 2 is the structural cross section view for the
conventional Taiwan invention patent in number of 1271358.
[0010] FIG. 3 is the illustrative view showing the bottle cap in
the FIG. 2 being borne force on the lateral surface.
[0011] FIG. 4 is the operation illustrative view for the FIG.
2.
[0012] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view according to a first
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 6 is an assembly perspective view according to a first
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 7 is an exploded sectional view according to a first
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 8 is an assembly sectional view according to a first
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a sectional illustrative view showing the assembly
for the first preferred embodiment of the present invention with a
container.
[0017] FIG. 10 is the first operation illustrative view for the
FIG. 9.
[0018] FIG. 11 is the second operation illustrative view for the
FIG. 9.
[0019] FIG. 12 is the third operation illustrative view for the
FIG. 9.
[0020] FIG. 13 is the fourth operation illustrative view for the
FIG. 9.
[0021] FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view according to a
second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 15 is an exploded sectional view according to a second
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 16 is a sectional illustrative view showing the
assembly for the second preferred embodiment of the present
invention with a container.
[0024] FIG. 17 is the first operation illustrative view for the
FIG. 16.
[0025] FIG. 18 is the second operation illustrative view for the
FIG. 16.
[0026] FIG. 19 is the third operation illustrative view for the
FIG. 16.
[0027] FIG. 20 is the fourth operation illustrative view for the
FIG. 16.
[0028] FIG. 21 is the fifth operation illustrative view for the
FIG. 16.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, a bottle cap with leakage-proof
feature for liquid therein according to a the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention comprises a bottle cap 50 and a
dividing disk 60.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7 the bottle cap 50 having a
closed-end top surface 51, an open-end bottom surface 52, a
cylinder-shaped lateral surface 53 and a safety tear strip ring 40
such that an internal hollow cavity 54 being formed near the top
surface 51 for filling the second beverage R therein and an
internal communicating channel 55 with female thread 551 therein
being formed near the bottom surface 52 for screw-fitting together
with the male thread 32 on the spout opening end 31 of the
container 30, both of hollow cavity 54 and communicating channel 55
being connected through each other, the safety tear strip ring 40
with a breakable end 41 being formed the outer peripheral of the
bottom surface 52, wherein, an internal concentric lining ring 56
with inwards buckling groove ring 561 being crotched in the inner
wall of the hollow cavity 54 facing the communicating channel 55
such that a flexible rift ring 57 being formed between the
peripheral surface of the lining ring 56 and the inner surface of
the communicating channel 55 (as shown of the enlarged view in the
FIG. 7).
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the dividing disk 60 having a top
surface 61, a bottom surface 62 and a ring-shaped lateral surface
63 such that the top surface 61 facing the hollow cavity 54 of the
bottle cap 50 and the bottom surface 62 facing the communicating
channel 55 of the bottle cap 50 after the dividing disk 60 being
inserted between the hollow cavity 54 and the communicating channel
55 inside of the bottle cap 50, wherein, an up-facing flexible
cleft ring 64 being notched near the peripheral of the top surface
61 and a buckling flange ring 65 bulging around the top peripheral
of the lateral surface 63 for being buckle-fitted together with the
buckling groove ring 561 on the lining ring 56 of the bottle cap 50
as well as a sealing flange ring 66 wrapping the bottom peripheral
of the top surface 61 so that second beverage R in the hollow
cavity 54 being kept therein in watertight manner to prevent it
from leaking out after the dividing disk 60 being inserted in final
position.
[0032] Please refer to the FIGS. 7 and 8 showing the assembly for
the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Firstly
fill the second beverage R of different flavor into the hollow
cavity 54 of the bottle cap 50; next insert the dividing disk 60
into the communicating channel 55 via the bottom surface 52 of the
bottle cap 50 until the buckling flange 65 around the top lateral
surface 63 peripheral of the dividing disk 60 buckling-fits
together with the buckling groove ring 561 around the lining ring
56 in the hollow cavity 54 inner wall of the bottle cap 50 so that
a watertight hollow cavity 54 is formed to keep the second beverage
R therein and prevent it from leaking out. Both of the rift width A
of the flexible rift ring 57 and cleft width .delta. of the
flexible cleft ring 64 before the assembly of the bottle cap 50 and
dividing disk 60 are freely opened to maximum manner (as shown of
two separated enlarged views in the FIG. 7), and both of the rift
width .DELTA.' of the flexible rift ring 57 and cleft width
.delta.' of the flexible cleft ring 64 after the assembly of the
bottle cap 50 and dividing disk 60 become smaller than those of the
original widths (as shown of enlarged view in the FIG. 8) because
both of the flexible rift ring 57 and flexible cleft ring 64 have
been strained by the forward squeezed stress so that the relations
of .DELTA.>.DELTA.' and .delta.>.delta.' are created,
thereby, the buckling-fitting condition between the lateral surface
63 of the dividing disk 60 and the inner surface of the lining ring
56 is more firmly tight due to mutual counter elastic stress by the
strained flexible rift ring 57 and flexible cleft ring 64
reciprocally. When the lateral surface 53 of the bottle cap 50
deforms due to the stress of the external force such as hand
fingers pinch or hold, the corresponding strains of the flexible
rift ring 57 and flexible cleft ring 64 respond to offset by their
elasticity so that the tightly close-fitting condition is
constantly kept without any gap; thereby, a watertight hollow
cavity 54 is remained to keep the second beverage R therein and
completely prevent it from leaking out.
[0033] Please further refer to the FIGS. 9 through 13 showing the
operation steps of the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention for mixing the second beverage R with the first beverage
G by the drinker. Firstly, pull safety tear strip ring 40 at the
bottom peripheral of the bottle cap 50 until the breakable end 41
being ruptured and torn off (as shown in the FIG. 10); Secondly,
turn and drive the bottle cap 50 forwards for screw-fitting of the
bottle cap 50 and the spout opening end 31 of the container 30 (as
shown in the FIG. 11); Thirdly, keep turn and drive the bottle cap
50 forwards so that the buckling flange ring 65 on the lateral
surface 63 of the dividing disk 60 begins to slip away the buckling
groove ring 561 on the lining ring 56 of the bottle cap 50 by the
upward pushing force from the contacted spout opening end 31 of the
container 30 (as shown in the FIG. 12); Fourthly, further keep turn
and drive the bottle cap 50 forwards until the dividing disk 60
being completely slipped away the internal lining ring 56 so that
the second beverage R in the hollow cavity 54 flows downwards to
blend with the first beverage G in the container 30 (as shown in
the FIG. 13).
[0034] As further shown in the FIGS. 14 through 16, the second
embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Three
additional blocking juts 58 are evenly configured on the inner wall
of the hollow cavity 54 over the buckling groove ring 561 of the
lining ring 56 within a quadrant manner (as shown of the sectional
view and enlarged view in the FIG. 15) in order to provide aiding
fulcrums to easily slip the dividing disk 60 away the internal
lining ring 56 of the bottle cap 50 with more effort-saving effect
during the screw-fitting procedure of the bottle cap 50 and the
spout opening end 31 of the container 30. The stepwise operation
method is shown as in the FIGS. 17 through 21 for mixing the second
beverage R with the first beverage G by the drinker. Firstly, pull
safety tear strip ring 40 at the bottom peripheral of the bottle
cap 50 until the breakable end 41 being ruptured and torn off (as
shown in the FIG. 17); Secondly, turn and drive the bottle cap 50
forwards for screw-fitting of the bottle cap 50 and the spout
opening end 31 of the container 30 (as shown in the FIG. 18);
Thirdly, keep turn and drive the bottle cap 50 forwards so that the
buckling flange ring 65 on the lateral surface 63 of the dividing
disk 60 begins to slip away the buckling groove ring 561 on the
lining ring 56 of the bottle cap 50 and the top surface 61 of the
dividing disk 60 contacts three blocking juts 58 meanwhile (as
shown in the FIG. 19 with enlarged view); The contact points of
three blocking juts 58 with the top surface 61 of the dividing disk
60 will serve as the fulcrums to let other side of the dividing
disk 60 raised (as shown in the FIG. 20); Fourthly, by means of the
aiding fulcrums of three blocking juts 58, further keep turn and
drive the bottle cap 50 forwards until the dividing disk 60 being
completely slipped away the internal lining ring 56 so that the
second beverage R in the hollow cavity 54 easily flows downwards
quickly (as shown in the FIG. 21) and the downward counteraction
resistance Fr acting on the top surface 61 of the dividing disk 60
is indirectly deleted meanwhile; thereby, during entire slipping
procedure of the dividing disk 60 away the internal lining ring 56
of the bottle cap 50, the effort-saving effect in turning and
driving effort is achieved.
* * * * *