U.S. patent application number 13/776031 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-12 for lid with cap for beverage receptacle.
This patent application is currently assigned to DESARROLLOS TAMARIT PLAZA SL. The applicant listed for this patent is DESARROLLOS TAMARIT PLAZA SL. Invention is credited to Ramon TAMARIT RIOS.
Application Number | 20130233869 13/776031 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47714811 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130233869 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TAMARIT RIOS; Ramon |
September 12, 2013 |
LID WITH CAP FOR BEVERAGE RECEPTACLE
Abstract
Lid with cap for drink receptacles comprising at least one hole
for the exit of liquid from the receptacle, at least one hole for
the entrance of air into the receptacle, said air inlet
incorporating a check valve allowing the entrance of air but not
the exit of liquid therethrough; said valve being built into the
body of the lid and having a plug element, by way of an axially
sliding cap, allowing simultaneous front double closure of both
holes, as well as an ergonomic swallowing of any liquid and aseptic
use of the receptacle.
Inventors: |
TAMARIT RIOS; Ramon; (Puzol
(Valencia), ES) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DESARROLLOS TAMARIT PLAZA SL |
Puzol (Valencia) |
|
ES |
|
|
Assignee: |
DESARROLLOS TAMARIT PLAZA
SL
Puzol (Valencia)
ES
|
Family ID: |
47714811 |
Appl. No.: |
13/776031 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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PCT/ES2012/070354 |
May 18, 2012 |
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13776031 |
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PCT/ES2013/070081 |
Feb 11, 2013 |
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PCT/ES2012/070354 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/715 ;
220/367.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/0804 20130101;
B65D 47/32 20130101; A47G 19/2272 20130101; B65D 47/0842 20130101;
B65D 47/243 20130101; B65D 2205/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/715 ;
220/367.1 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/22 20060101
A47G019/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 12, 2011 |
ES |
201131389 |
Nov 29, 2011 |
ES |
201131940 |
Claims
1. Lid (100) with cap (700) for drinks receptacle (60) formed by a
top surface (120) and a perimeter side wall (22), which can be
adjusted to an opening of a receptacle (60), with at least one hole
for the exit of liquid (170) from the receptacle (60) and at least
one hole for the entrance of air into the receptacle (60),
characterized in that it comprises: a valve (310) for the entrance
of air (A) located in the air inlet to allow the entrance of air
(300) and built into the lid (100) forming a single part, and a cap
or plug or plug element (700) to plug or close the previous holes
(170, 300), which is axially movable on said holes (170, 300),
allowing the simultaneous opening and closure of both holes.
2. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a
coaxial wall (130) that surrounds the liquid outlet (170) and a
guiding element (110) of the plug element (700) with respect to
which said plug element (700) moves axially.
3. Lid, according to claim 2, characterized in that the guiding
element (110) is kept coaxial or centred with respect to the liquid
outlet (170) by the action of at least three ribs (140) extending
from the bottom part of the top surface (120) of the lid (100) to
the bottom end (160) of the guiding element (110).
4. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the plug element
(700) has a surface (730) that extends to cover the air inlet
(300).
5. Lid, according to claim 4, characterized in that the surface
(730) of the plug element (700) that extends over the air inlet
(300), comprises a bottom projection (720) intended to plug said
air inlet (300).
6. Lid, according to claim 1, characterized in that the plug
element (700) comprises a tubular body (760), coaxial with the
liquid outlet (170) and inserted in it, the outer surface of the
tubular body (760) of the plug element (700) being in contact with
the inner surface (150) of the coaxial wall (130) that surrounds
the liquid outlet (170).
7. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that said valve (310)
comprises a tubular body with two ends, such that a first end is
located in the air inlet (300) with its walls surrounding it, and
the second end, opposite to the first end, has contacting walls
closing the tubular body when at rest or when exerting external
pressure on the receptacle and its walls are separated opening the
tubular body when in use or when creating depression inside the
receptacle.
8. Lid, according to claim 7, characterized in that the tubular
body (760) of the plug element (700) extends towards the inside of
the receptacle.
9. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises
coupling means for coupling to said receptacle (60) forming a
single part.
10. Lid, according to claim 9, characterized in that said coupling
means are a threading (21) located in the perimeter wall of the lid
(100) for fixing it to the receptacle (60).
11. Lid, according to claim 9, characterized in that said coupling
means are a bayonet, retention, welding, gluing or other physical
or chemical anchoring system for its fixation to the
receptacle.
12. Lid, according to claim 1, characterized in that the plug
element (700) has a surface which slides until plugging the hole
that supplies the liquid, clogging said output of liquid.
13. Lid, according to claim 6, characterized in that between the
coaxial wall (130) of the lid (100) and the tubular body (760) of
the plug element (700) there are arranged restraint means.
14. Lid, according to claim 13, characterized in that said
restraint means comprise at least one fissure (765) and a
projection (135) intended to be housed at said at least one fissure
(765).
15. Lid, according to claim 14, characterized in that the at least
one fissure (765) is located at the outer wall of the tubular body
(760) of the plug element (700) and the projection is located at
the coaxial wall (130) of the lid (100).
Description
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a lid with cap for beverage
receptacles or containers of the type that is coupled to an opening
of the receptacle or container, such as PET bottles, although it
also can be used in other types of containers, such as bottles used
by cyclists or athletes for example. Particularly, the lid with cap
described in the application is applied to a liquid receptacle and
comprises at least one hole for the exit of liquid from the
receptacle and at least one hole for the entrance of air into the
receptacle, said air inlet comprising a check valve allowing the
entrance of air into the receptacle but not the exit of the liquid
and a double plug element, or cap, in a single piece, axially
movable. Said check valve is built into the lid thus forming part
of the body of the lid, or in other words built into the same part
of the lid, the same as the hole for the exit of liquid.
[0002] This invention applies to the sector of closures for liquid
receptacles, and particularly those closures for receptacles for
drinks, mainly water, isotonic drinks, soft drinks juices and
dairy, among others.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Closure devices for liquid receptacles or containers
incorporating a hole for the exit of liquid from the receptacle and
a hole for the entrance of air into the receptacle, such that said
entrance of air aids in the exit of the liquid, are known in the
state of the art. Examples of said closure devices are used in cups
or bottles with a large diameter, used especially by young children
and the elderly.
[0004] However, said devices are not widely applied to bottles,
mainly to bottle lids for mineral water, soft drinks or isotonic
drinks mainly due to the size of the lid and particularly to the
surface of said lid. The inclusion of a hole for the entrance of
air into the mentioned lids would cause the liquid to come out of
the bottle both through the liquid outlet and through the air inlet
due to the dimensions thereof. This is because the distance between
both inlet and outlet is limited by the surface of the lid, making
it necessary to arrange the inlet and outlet close to one another.
When the surface of the closure device is larger, usually equal to
or greater than 2.5 cm in diameter, it allows placing the liquid
outlet and the air inlet at points spaced out from one another, so
the aforementioned problem is not present or is present to a lesser
extent.
[0005] The size of said surface also allows incorporating different
mechanisms in the closure device to prevent the liquid from coming
out through the air inlet. These mechanisms are formed by elements
independent from the body of the lid of the receptacle per se,
aiding the user or consumer in consuming the liquid. Said closure
devices are primarily made up of different bodies or components
coupled to one another forming an assembly, which further has
different materials with different mechanical characteristics for
the sole purpose of achieving the aforementioned objectives,
primarily to aid young children or the elderly in consuming a
liquid stored in the receptacle. The fact that the closure device
is formed by different bodies or elements coupled to one another
involves a manufacturing cost increase because the assembly and
coupling of different components to the body of the lid must be
added to the independent manufacture of the different components,
sometimes with materials having specific characteristics such as
latex or silicone. This means that these closure devices are
intended to be reused due to their high cost compared with lids
typically used in small volume PET bottles containing liquid for
personal consumption and mainly used by children, the elderly and
athletes. Likewise, these devices composed of different parts, have
couplings among the different parts in which dirt, generated both
by the use of the device and the moisture of the contained liquid,
accumulates in them, forcing the disassembling of the device to
proceed to clean separately each of the parts that make up said
device. Obviously this accumulation of dirt/moisture is little
hygienic, and can generate health problems to the person using the
device, in addition to not being nice aesthetically. Therefore
minimizing the number of components of the device is desired.
[0006] Unlike what has been described, the lid object of the
present invention is designed for use in preferably single-use mass
consumption products, mainly such as 0, 25 l, 0.33 l, 0.5 l, 0.75 l
and up to 2.5 l PET recipients and normally used for mineral water,
soft drinks or isotonic drinks. However, this lid is particularly
applied in small volume recipients, mainly up to 0.75 l, because
they are normally used by users to drink directly from the
recipient, and particularly children and athletes.
[0007] The lids used today in the aforementioned type of bottles or
receptacles for mineral water, soft drinks, isotonic drinks among
others, only have one small hole for the exit of the liquid, so the
consumer needs to suck to extract the liquid or compress the
recipient or receptacle if the material thereof allows this to
directly drink the stream coming out of the liquid outlet. If the
consumer sucks, problems derived from said suction, such as the
need to stop sucking to take a breath and be able to continue
drinking and deformation of the receptacle due to collapse, being
creased and/or crushed indiscriminately while sucking, causing a
change in the shape of the receptacle, especially when it is made
of PET, making it difficult to hold, will occur. These problems are
worsened if the consumers are young children, convalescents or the
elderly who need a break to take a breath, running the risk of
drinking a lot of liquid since they cannot control the suction
exerted with the subsequent risk of choking. A suction cup effect
that is annoying for the consumer is created in lids of the state
of the art when drinking stops.
[0008] By means of the present invention, it is possible to use in
recipients or receptacles of the state of the art lids having the
same cost or a cost very similar to that used today having a single
outlet for bottles with the aforementioned capacity, but
incorporating an added function, which is allowing consuming the
liquid without the problems of lids currently used with a single
hole.
[0009] In summary, in the state of the art, no closure device or
lid for bottles or receptacles is known to have a small entrance
surface, usually around 2.5 cm in diameter, incorporating on the
surface of the same body of the lid or closure device a hole for
the exit of the liquid and a hole for the entrance of air with a
valve controlling the entrance of air into the receptacle and
preventing the exit of the liquid contained therein, or check
valve, said valve being built into the body of the lid or closure
device forming a single body or part made from the same single
material, i.e., said valve is part of the same part as the lid with
its liquid outlet.
[0010] As mentioned before, the lids of the state of the art
incorporating or describing check valves are made with several
bodies in the sense that they are made up of several elements
coupled to one another, the valve being partially made from a
material that is latex or silicone. These materials prevent
manufacturing a lid in a single body with sufficient rigidity for
being coupled to a recipient or receptacle by means of threading
for example, not even by using simple and highly productive
manufacturing processes that allow obtaining a product with a cost
that is very similar or identical to that used today in the
aforementioned recipients, i.e., with a cost similar to lids with a
single liquid outlet.
[0011] Additionally, the caps used in containers for isotonic
drinks have a single hole for the exit of the liquid that is closed
via a closure device coupled to the cap. Said closure device moves
axially to the hole for liquid outlet allowing opening or closing
the cap with the mouth, without having to use the hands, which
makes it particularly useful for use by athletes. However there is
no knowledge of any lid incorporating said device and having a hole
for the entry of air into the receptacle equipped with a valve.
[0012] A problem common to all known lids of the state of the art
and with the characteristics of those previously described is that
they do not guarantee the asepsis of the liquid included in the
receptacle, since they do not have effective closure means to
prevent the entry of air through the two holes, for liquid and air,
with the consequent risk of infection of the content. This problem
of infection can occur in different conditions: [0013] During the
practice of sport in adverse situations, more specifically when the
athlete circulates by dirty areas such as e.g. muddy areas or
swampy areas that can release unwanted items that are deposited on
the lids of the receptacles, [0014] During the use of the cap with
dirty hands, or [0015] During storage in the refrigerator, after
having used the lid to cool the remaining content, since it
prevents outside air from entering the receptacle, since lowering
the temperature causes a depression by cooling inside the
receptacle and air can enter by the air inlet through the valve if
the hole is not tightly closed.
[0016] The former problem is usually avoided by incorporating a top
or cover to the lid, which can be integral or not with the same,
however said top or cover, which may be useful in certain
circumstances, is quite useless in the receptacles used by
athletes.
[0017] Likewise, another problem in the lids of small dimensions
with two holes, one for liquid outlet and another one for air
inlet, is that the user, when drinking through the liquid outlet
can plug with their mouth the air inlet, what would prevent the
correct operation of the lid since it prevents the entry of air
into the receptacle, leading to the use of the lid as a lid with a
single hole.
[0018] The lid with cap object of the invention that has two holes,
one for liquid outlet and another one for air inlet, prevents the
previous problems posed by the caps of the state of the art known
thanks to the double plug element or cap with axial displacement
arranged. Said axial displacement of the cap or plug element,
therefore allows simultaneous closing of both holes in the lid.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The object of the present invention is therefore a lid
formed by a single body or part with a top surface and a perimeter
side wall which can be fitted on an opening of a liquid receptacle
comprising at least one hole, which is preferably open, for the
exit of liquid from the receptacle and at least one hole for the
entrance of air into the receptacle, the lid having coupling means
for coupling to said receptacle which are preferably located in the
perimeter side wall of the lid, and a check valve for the entrance
of air located in the air inlet, allowing the entrance of air into
the receptacle but not the exit of the liquid, such that both said
coupling means and said valve are built into the body of the lid
forming a single body or part made from the same material, as well
as a plug element or cap which moves axially with respect to the
cross-section of both holes, producing the simultaneous, front
individual opening or closure of said holes.
[0020] The aforementioned material is preferably a plastic material
such as polypropylene or polyethylene, which has flexibility in
small thicknesses of material but not when such thicknesses
increase. Said liquid can be any liquid which is stored in a
receptacle for being consumed preferably by sucking directly on the
recipient or receptacle through the exit hole located on the lid,
for example, water, soft drinks, isotonic drinks or even juices and
dairy. The liquid can also be consumed when pressing on the
recipient, when it is compressible, such that a stream of liquid
comes out through the outlet, so the consumer could drink the
stream without coming into contact with the lid.
[0021] The valve of the lid is an air check or control valve
allowing the entrance of air when sucking the liquid contained
inside the recipient or receptacle but preventing the exit of the
liquid when the liquid outlet is not sucked on, thus allowing the
exit of the liquid only through the hole intended for such purpose.
In other words, when the user sucks through the liquid outlet to
drink, the valve opens allowing the entrance of air into the
receptacle, thereby aiding in drinking the liquid. It is also
important to stress again that said check valve is built into,
forming part of the body or part of the lid, therefore being made
from the same material as the body of the lid, the same plastic. In
this way, when the consumer drinks, they can regulate the flow of
liquid they want by controlling the suction and as a result the
entry of air in the receptacle, i.e. the greater the suction, a
greater flow is achieved and vice versa. When the suction stops,
the valve is automatically closed, thus preventing both the entry
of air and the exit of liquid.
[0022] The lid is fitted on the receptacle through the fixing or
coupling means which are preferably a threading or pressure
elements and they are preferably arranged on the inner surface of
the perimeter or side wall of the lid, the wall located in the
perimeter and perpendicular to the surface of the lid in which the
liquid outlet and air inlet are located. Said fixing means may also
be a bayonet, retention, sonotrode welding, gluing or other
physical or chemical anchoring system for its attachment or
fixation to the receptacle.
[0023] Preferably, said check or control valve, made of the same
material as the rest of the body, is formed by a tubular body, not
necessarily cylindrical, with two ends such that a first end is
located in contact with the bottom surface of the lid, with the
walls of the body or tubular conduit surrounding the air inlet on
the bottom side of the lid, and the second end, which is free and
opposite the first end, has walls in contact with one another
closing the tubular body, such that a longitudinal section of the
body of the valve in the closed position has an approximately
triangular shape. Therefore when the lid is fitted on receptacle,
said tubular body is inserted therein, such that in the rest
position the tubular body integral with the bottom surface of the
lid is closed at its free end and in the working position when
someone is drinking, said free end opens, allowing the circulation
of air into the receptacle, having an approximately rhomboidal
longitudinal section.
[0024] Depending on the dimensions of the surface of the lid, said
surface could include one or more holes for the exit of the liquid,
as well as one or more holes for the entrance of the air. It should
be pointed out that due to the small dimensions of the available
surface in the lids, the possibilities of improving the exit of the
liquid and of reducing the turbulence of the liquid during said
exit are limited, however, by means of the present invention both
objectives are achieved in comparison with the lids known in the
state of the art which do not propose solutions to the mentioned
problems.
[0025] The air inlet can have any transverse geometric
configuration, such as for example, the form of a groove, of a
circle, elliptical, etc., so the tubular body can also have any
geometric configuration, provided that the free end of the tubular
body in the rest position is closed. The first end of the tubular
conduit in contact with the surface of the lid can also coincide
with the perimeter of the air inlet, such that the first end of the
tubular body has the same shape as the air inlet, said tubular body
being an extension of the lid into the receptacle. The air inlet is
preferably a groove surrounded by the tubular body which in this
case is not cylindrical, although it could be.
[0026] As mentioned above, the tubular body is built into the lid,
forming a single part or body with the lid after the injection or
other thermoplastic transformation of the part or body of the lid
during the same manufacturing process. The second end or free end
of the tubular conduit, opposite the end integral with the surface
of the lid, has a cut or fissure therein allowing its automatic
opening. This cut or fissure can be made during the injection
process itself or it may be made by a cutting or insertion element
during the injection or thermoplastic transformation process
itself.
[0027] By means of the configuration of the lid with the check
valve, the user wanting to drink the liquid from the receptacle
through the liquid outlet will suck the liquid through the outlet.
The valve allows the entrance of air into the receptacle because
said suction created by the user causes a pressure drop inside the
receptacle that forces the membrane-shaped walls of the second free
end of the tubular body to separate, thereby allowing the entrance
of air into the receptacle and therefore aiding the liquid in
flowing through the liquid outlet without deforming said receptacle
and with a minimum controlled suction force. When the user stops
sucking, the walls of the second end or free end come into contact
with one another again, thereby closing the conduit of the tubular
body and preventing both the entrance of air and the exit of liquid
through the air inlet. Also due to the check valve, the lid object
of the present invention allows the user to drink without needing
to stop the consumption to take a breath and continue drinking, as
occurs in lids with one liquid outlet currently used in PET
receptacles, PET recipients or preferably PET bottles.
[0028] The lid and the cap or plug element object of the present
invention have in addition, as an essential feature, the cap with
closing elements, by way of plugs with axial displacement the
purpose of which is, as mentioned above, to ensure the closing and
opening of the two holes located on the lid, simultaneously, and
preventing that during the use of the lid, the user plugs the air
inlet, which could cause an undesired operation of said lid. The
double plug element ensures, therefore, the correct operation of
the lid, preventing the air inlet from being clogged or plugged in
an unwanted manner during its use and it also ensures the asepsis
of the liquid of the receptacle under adverse circumstances. The
lid and cap system with plug elements, object of the invention, is
of special application, although without limitation, in recipients
or bottles of regular use by athletes that do not require a top or
cover integral with or independent from the lid, to facilitate
consumption of the liquid by moving the cap or plug with the mouth
without using the hands. Then the consumer will be able to drink
the liquid by sucking or the user could drink a stream.
[0029] The cap or plug element will move axially with respect to
the cited liquid outlets and air inlets, along at least one guiding
element which ensures the movement of the cap or plug to be axial
with respect to said holes. The upward axial movement of the plug
allows the opening of both holes whereby the consumer will be able
to access the liquid in the receptacle, while the opposite movement
closes both holes simultaneously at the user's will.
[0030] Said cap or plug element moves axially along a guiding
element of the same, which is preferably arranged in the liquid
outlet. Said guiding element, preferably coaxial with respect to
the aforementioned liquid outlet, remains in that position by the
action of at least three ribs that extend from the bottom of the
surface of the lid to the bottom of the guiding element.
[0031] Likewise, and in order to achieve that the closure of both
holes is carried out at the same time and also to prevent the user
from plugging the air inlet during the use of the invention, the
cap or plug has a surface that extends to cover the air inlet, said
surface being slightly curved to make more comfortable its use by
the user when placing the lips over it. Said surface that extends
over the air inlet, comprises a bottom projection intended for
plugging said hole. The cap or plug, also includes a tubular body,
coaxial with the liquid outlet and introduced in it, the outer
surface of the tubular body of the plug being in contact with the
inside surface of the liquid outlet.
[0032] Particularly, the liquid outlet is surrounded by a coaxial
wall located in the top part of the surface of the lid and has a
guiding element with the same section as the liquid outlet,
preferably coaxial cylindrical, although it could be elliptical or
ovoid-shaped or other, located inside it and extending from the
bottom part of the surface of the lid to above the coaxial wall
located outside the outlet, said guiding element being secured to
the bottom part of the surface of the lid by means of ribs. The
guiding element thereby remains centred with respect to the liquid
outlet as a result of said ribs, there preferably being three
equidistantly separated from one another, although other technical
variants of axial movement can be carried out. Said guiding element
is plugged by its outer end. Like the valve described above and
also built into the lid, this structure forms the body or part of
the lid as it is built per se into the body of the lid and is made
from the same material by means of, preferably, an injection
process or other thermoplastic transformation.
[0033] The cap or plug of the lid is located on said cylindrical
element, said plug of the lid having a body with the same section
as the liquid outlet, preferably a hollow cylindrical tubular body
open at its two ends, wherein the guiding element of the cap is
inserted, said cap or plug being able to move along said guiding
element. The movement of the plug causes, in a first position, the
outer end of the guiding element to press against the outer opening
of the body of the plug, so the lid would be closed, and in a
second position, the lid would be open because the ends of the
guiding element of the lid and the tubular body of the plug or the
plug itself are not in contact. When the lid is open, the liquid
circulates between the outer surface of the guiding element of the
lid and the inner surface of the tubular body of the plug or plug,
the liquid thus coming out through the opening located at the top
end of the tubular body of the plug or plug. The outer surface of
the body of the plug is in contact with the inner surface of the
wall determining the outlet of the lid and coaxial to said outlet,
to the guiding body of the lid and to the body of the plug. Said
body of the plug can have stops or elements limiting its movement
to prevent it from coming out of its position between the guiding
element of the lid and in the liquid outlet.
[0034] The cylindrical body of the plug incorporates, as mentioned
above, an outer surface, which is deployed by way of a skirt from
the top end or opening of the tubular body of the plug and around
this, defining side, vertical and horizontal outer surfaces,
preferably curved surfaces, which have a dual function. On one hand
they accommodate the lips on said vertical outer surfaces when
drinking, and on the other they prevent said lips from being able
to plug the air inlet, and therefore the valve, when accommodated
on the horizontal outer surfaces at the base, appendix or extension
intended to cover the air inlet, which could entail improper
operation of the lid and cap or plug assembly.
[0035] The top surface of the lid can be slightly recessed with
respect to the perimeter wall such that the horizontal outer
surfaces of the plug are inserted therein assuring the closure of
both the air inlet valve and of the liquid outlet without
projecting above the body of the lid.
[0036] In an alternative construction of the surfaces of contact
between the lid and the cap or plug, restraint means are arranged
between the tubular body of the cap or plug and the coaxial wall
that surrounds the liquid outlet of the lid in order to allow
different positions of the cap with respect to the lid to adjust
the output flow rate of liquid. By means of these restraint means
it is possible to achieve the comfort desired by the user while
drinking since they are able to graduate the suction effort
according to their needs.
[0037] Likewise, the lid can incorporate a top or cover covering
the plug, said top or cover being integral to or independent from
the body or part of the lid, and it could even become part of said
piece or body.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] To complement the description that is being made for the
object of the invention and to aid in better understanding the
features distinguishing it, a set of the following drawings is
attached to the present specification which depict the following in
an illustrative and non-limiting manner:
[0039] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a closed lid object of the
present invention with a cap or plug.
[0040] FIG. 2 shows the lid of FIG. 1 open in which the flows of
incoming air and liquid projection are shown.
[0041] FIG. 3 shows the lid of FIG. 2 being used by a user and
showing the outside air flow entering the inside of the container
through the lid of the invention.
[0042] FIG. 4 shows a section of the partially open lid with a cap
or plug.
[0043] FIG. 5 shows a section of the completely open lid with a cap
or plug showing the flows of air and liquid.
[0044] FIG. 6 shows a detail of the section of FIG. 5.
[0045] FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of a lid with a cap or plug.
[0046] FIG. 8 shows a detail of a section of an alternative lid
with a cap or plug, in which there are restraint means between the
tubular body of the cap or plug and the coaxial wall that surrounds
the liquid outlet of the lid.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0047] In view of the mentioned drawings, an example of preferred
embodiment of the invention is described below.
[0048] FIGS. 1 to 7 show an example of embodiment of a lid
according to the present invention, a lid 100 for preferred use by
people practicing a sport since they allow drinking the content of
the bottle without needing to remove a cover or top, the plug
element 700 incorporated in the lid 100 for simultaneously opening
or closing the lid 100 is moved axially simply using the mouth. It
is evident that this lid can be used also in receptacles with
liquids that are not isotonic drinks, as for example water drinks,
since the contents of the receptacle do not affect the operation of
the lid, as well as for other uses that are not the practice of
sports.
[0049] Said lid has a liquid outlet 170 delimited by a coaxial wall
130 and an air inlet 300 with a valve 310 forming a single part or
body of the lid 100. The cap, plug element or plug 700, moves
axially with respect to both holes, plugging or opening the same at
the same time. In this example, the diameter of the lid is
approximately 3.9 cm, a typical diameter in 0.5 litre recipients
containing isotonic drinks, and the distance between the axis of
symmetry of the liquid outlet 170 and the axis of symmetry of the
air inlet 300 is approximately 1.4 cm, said distance being able to
range between 1 and 1.7 cm, approximately. Likewise, the material
used for the manufacture of the lid is, preferably, a low density
polyethylene or polypropylene resin, with a density of between 0.85
and 1.2 g/cm.sup.3, most preferably between 0.9 and 0.95
g/cm.sup.3. Some of the materials that can be used are PP575P or
PP412MN40 by SABIC, PR280P1M by ISPLEN (REPSOL) or IDPE LD 104BR by
ExxonMobil.
[0050] The cap 100 has as fixing means a receptacle or bottle 60, a
threading 21 on the perimeter wall 22 of the cap 100 to fit the
neck of the bottle 60.
[0051] The lid 100 allows consumption of the drink inside the
bottle 60 comfortably and without the risk that the liquid exits
the same through an opening 710 in a cap or plug element 700 built
into the plug. Thus, a consumer will suck through the opening 710
of the plug 700 after having displaced the same axially upwards,
through which the liquid will exit passing through the liquid
outlet 170, creating a depression in the interior of the bottle 60
which will cause the opening of the check valve 310 and therefore
the entry of air inside the bottle 60 through the air inlet 300.
When no depression is generated, because there is no suction, the
valve 310 is closed and remains in this situation.
[0052] Said valve 310 is part of the body or part of the lid 100,
since it is manufactured in the same material as said lid and in
the same manufacturing process, so that the various components of
the lid form one single piece or body, obtained by a single stage
of an injection or thermoplastic transformation method.
[0053] The check valve 310, consists of a tubular body that forms
part of the body or part of the cap 100 itself, with the walls of
the first end of said tubular body surrounding the air inlet 300,
and the walls of the second end of said body, in contact with each
other, by way of membranes, closing the duct of the tubular body
300.
[0054] The liquid outlet 170 is circular, and it may have other
configurations, such as an ellipse, ovoid, among others, and is
surrounded by a coaxial wall 130, cylindrical in this example,
demarcating it and located at the top or outer part of the surface
120 of the cap 100. Said liquid outlet 170 has a coaxial guiding
element 110 located inside of it and extending from the bottom or
inner part of the surface 120 of the lid 100 to above the top end
of the coaxial wall 130 of the outlet 170. Said guiding element 110
is coaxial to the liquid outlet 170 and therefore to the coaxial
wall 130, due to the arrangement of equidistant ribs 140, at least
three and preferably four, keeping it in said position. The ribs
140 extend from the bottom part of the surface of the cap 120, in
particular from the liquid outlet 170 perimeter, to the bottom or
inner end of the cylindrical guiding element 110 of the lid where a
protruding ring 160 is arranged. The cylindrical guiding element
110 is plugged on its outer top end, since in addition to guiding
the cap or plug element 700 in its axial displacement, it also
collaborates with this to cause the closing or opening of the two
holes 170, 300.
[0055] This structure, together with the valve 310 communicating
with the air inlet 300, forms the body or part of the lid, i.e. one
single part construction, since it is built into the body of the
lid per se and is made from the same material by means of the same
injection process.
[0056] As mentioned before, on the lid 100 there is a cap or plug
element 700 that has two main functions; to ensure the asepsis of
the liquid contained in the recipient on which the cap is arranged
when moving axially with respect to both holes 170, 300, and to
prevent that a user unintentionally plugs the air inlet 300 when
drinking, as for example with the mouth or with a finger,
preventing the proper operation of the lid.
[0057] Said plug element 700, has a tubular body, 740, 760,
complementary with the coaxial wall 130 that surrounds the liquid
outlet 170 and that moves inside to this, the exterior wall of the
tubular body 740, 760 being in contact with the inner surface 150
of the coaxial wall 130 of the lid 100. Said cap 700, has at its
upper end an opening 710 through which the liquid will flow during
its exit from the receptacle. From said opening 710 the cap 700 has
a surface 770 that surrounds the tubular body 740, 760 and on which
the user will place their lips to drink. Said surface 770 extends
from the opening 710 of the cap or plug, surrounding the tubular
body 740 and separating from it as it moves away from said top end
or opening 710 by way of a skirt. The outside of said surface 770
has soft and curved shapes so that the user places their lips on
the surface comfortably. Likewise, this surface has an appendix or
extension 730, which moves away from the tubular body 740, 760 to
about half the length of said body and which is intended to cover
the air inlet 300. Said appendix or extension 730 is intended to
allow the plugging of the air inlet 300 simultaneously with the
plugging or closure of the liquid outlet 170, and also to prevent
that the lips of the user plug the air inlet 300 when said user is
drinking.
[0058] The plug element 700 of the lid 100 is coaxially located
around the cylindrical guiding element 110 serving as a vertical
guide for the axial movement of the plug 700 along the guiding
element 110. Said plug element 700 comprises, as mentioned before,
a hollow 740, 760 cylindrical body complementary with the
cylindrical wall 130 open at its two ends, and inside of which the
cylindrical guiding element 110 of the lid 100 is inserted, the
plug 700 being able to move axially along said cylindrical guiding
element 110 between two limit positions, of maximum opening when
the plug 700 is located raised with respect to the body or part of
the lid 100 and closing when the plug 700 is descended with respect
to the body or part of the lid, as well as with other intermediate
opening positions.
[0059] When the lid 100 is closed the cap or plug 700 moves
downwards, such that both holes are closed and, particularly, the
liquid outlet 170 is closed due to that the outer or top end of the
cylindrical guiding element 110 presses against the outer opening
710 of the cylindrical body 740, 760 of the plug 700. Likewise, in
this closing position and to ensure the closure of the air inlet
300 on the inside of the receptacle, the plug element 700 has on
the bottom part of the appendix 730 of the surface 770, a
projection 720 complementary with the shape of the air inlet 300
such that when the cap or plug 700 is in closed position, the
projection 720 is inserted into the inlet 300.
[0060] In the opening position, the cap or plug 700 moves axially
upwards along the guiding element 110, such that the outer opening
710 of the plug 700 is raised with respect to the outer or top end
of the cylindrical guiding element 110 and the projection 720 is
separated from the air inlet 300.
[0061] When the lid 100 is open, i.e. the cap or plug 700 is raised
with respect to the lid 100, the liquid L circulates between the
outer surface of the cylindrical guiding element 110 of the lid 100
and the inner surface of the cylindrical body 740, 760 of the plug
700, the liquid L thus coming out through the opening 710 at the
outer end of the cylindrical body 740 of the plug 700. The outer
surface of the cylindrical body 740 of the plug 700 is in contact
with the inner surface of the wall of the lid 130 coaxial to the
outlet. Said plug 700 can have at the bottom end of the tubular
body 760 stops 750, by way of wedge, that limit the axial movement
of the plug 700 and preventing the plug 700 itself from coming out
of its position and disengaging from the part or body of the lid
100. Said stops 750 are introduced along with the tubular body 740,
760 in the liquid outlet hole 170, such that when they are fully
introduced they contact the bottom of the surface 120 of the lid
100, in particular they contact the periphery of the liquid outlet
170.
[0062] When the lid 100 is closed, i.e. the plug is descended, the
bottom end 760 of the cylindrical body 740 of the plug 700 rests on
a protruding ring 160 arranged at the inner or bottom end of the
cylindrical guiding element 110.
[0063] To use this lid 100 with plug 700, the user, with their
mouth, moves axially outwards or upwards the plug 700, such that
the liquid L will circulate between the tubular body of the plug
740 and the guiding element 110 of the lid 100, through the liquid
outlet 170, and the air A can circulate from the outside, when
necessary, through the valve 310 and the air inlet 300, since both
holes 170 and 300, have been opened at the same time. By sucking
through the outlet 710 of the plug 700 the valve 310 is opened
allowing the entry of air inside the bottle or receptacle from the
outside. When the user does not want to drink any more, they can
push the plug 700 down, causing the closure of both holes 170, 300
simultaneously and therefore ensuring the asepsis of the contents
of the receptacle.
[0064] As mentioned above, to facilitate and make more comfortable
the use of the cap or plug by the user, said plug 700 incorporates
a vertical surface 770 externally surrounding the cylindrical body
740, 760, which is preferably curved, for the purpose of
accommodating the lips on said surface. Likewise, at the bottom or
base of the surface 770 of the cap or plug 700 there is arranged an
appendix 730 of the surface, slightly curved and horizontal for, in
addition to allowing support for the lips, preventing the lips from
plugging the air inlet 300, and therefore that the valve 310
prevents the air A from entering the bottle.
[0065] As shown in the figures, the top surface 120 of the lid 100
can be slightly recessed with respect to the top perimeter wall 180
of the same such that the bottom ends 775 of the surface 770 of the
plug 700 are introduced in said recess, resting on the surface 120,
when the lid 100 is closed, that is, with the plug 700
descended.
[0066] The lid 100 with the cap or plug 700 may additionally have a
top or cover (not shown) that rests on the body or part of the lid
100, covering the cap or plug, and this cover forming part of the
body of the lid 100, forming a single part with the same, or
conversely, being an independent part. To help close the top or
cover over the lid 100, this can include a shoulder 190 on its top
perimeter wall 180.
[0067] FIG. 8 shows an alternative construction to the one detailed
above of the contact surfaces between the lid (100) and the cap or
plug (700), in particular it shows a detail of a section of a lid
(100) with cap or plug (700), having restraint means (135, 765)
between the tubular body (760) of the cap or plug (700) and the
coaxial wall (130) that surrounds the liquid outlet (170) of the
lid (100). Unlike the previous sections, in this, the air inlet is
not shown since the section of the lid-cap represented is
orthogonal to the previous ones. In the example shown, these
restraint means consist of fissures (765) made on the tubular body
(760) of the cap or plug (700) in which is housed a projection
(135) existing on the top end of the coaxial wall (130) that
surrounds the liquid outlet of the lid (100). These restraint means
determine intermediate positions of opening of the lid with cap
object of the invention, by blocking the situation of the cap or
plug (700) with respect to the lid (100), in particular, of the
tubular body (760) of the cap or plug (700) with respect to the
coaxial wall (130) of the lid (100). In the example of the figure,
four fissures (765) are arranged on the tubular body (760) in which
the projection (135) of the coaxial wall (130) will be housed,
determining four positions of an element with respect to the other,
a position of total opening, one of total closure and two
intermediate positions. The location of the cap or plug (700) with
respect to the lid (100), regulates the flow rate of liquid output
from the receptacle (60) also graduating the suction effort of the
user. This alternative construction allows adapting the flow rate
of liquid to the demands or needs of the user, controlling the flow
rate depending on the suction effort. A lid (100) with cap or plug
(700) with four possible positions is represented in FIG. 8: [0068]
The position shown in the figure does not allow the passage of
liquid, being the extreme position of blockage or closure, and the
cap or plug (700) being located in the lowest position with respect
to the lid (100), so that the projection (135) of the coaxial wall
(130) of the lid (100) is housed in the top fissure (765) of the
tubular body (760) of the cap (700). [0069] Another position would
consist of placing the projection (135) in the second fissure (765)
situated immediately below the previous one. In this position the
flow rate of liquid output when the user sucks would be small, this
being a position suitable for users who want a small flow rate.
[0070] The next position would place the projection (136) in the
third fissure (765), after the previous one, such that the flow
rate of liquid would be greater than the former. [0071] The last
position is the one for total opening and maximum flow rate,
placing the projection (135) in the last fissure (765). This
position is ideal for an athlete undergoing a hard effort and
requiring a rapid rehydration and therefore a greater flow
rate.
[0072] It is clear that different number of fissures can be
arranged, from one, to determine an intermediate position between
maximum openness and total closure, to an undetermined number,
although two intermediate positions seems more than enough due to
the length of the cap or plug (700) with respect to the lid (100).
By means of these restraint means it is possible to achieve the
comfort desired by the user while drinking since they can graduate
the suction effort according to their needs.
[0073] Said restraint means, in their fully closed position, also
contribute to increase the tightness between the lid (100) and the
cap or plug (700), and hence to ensure asepsis and cleanliness of
the contents of the recipient (60) in which the lid with cap object
of the present invention is placed.
[0074] The components of the aforementioned restraint means could
be inverted with respect to what has been detailed above, i.e., the
fissure in the coaxial wall (130) of the lid (100) and the
projection on the tubular body (760) of the cap or plug (700).
Likewise, said restraint means may be different or include
additional elements, such as for example snap rings incorporated
into fissures made in the tubular body of the cap or plug that will
fit in other fissures made on the coaxial wall of the lid.
[0075] By means of the present invention are achieved the
objectives for which it was designed, i.e. achieving simultaneous
opening and closing of the liquid outlet and air inlet holes for
improved ergonomics of swallowing, ensuring the asepsis of the
contents of the recipient or receptacle, and preventing blockage of
the air inlet when the lid is being used for drinking by the
user.
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