U.S. patent application number 14/339575 was filed with the patent office on 2015-01-29 for bottle cap.
This patent application is currently assigned to Royal Summit Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Royal Summit Inc.. Invention is credited to Bret de St. Jeor.
Application Number | 20150027976 14/339575 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52389593 |
Filed Date | 2015-01-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150027976 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
de St. Jeor; Bret |
January 29, 2015 |
BOTTLE CAP
Abstract
A bottle closure device may be disclosed. The bottle closure
device may be formed in such a manner as to provide a strong,
liquid-tight seal of a bottle. The bottle closure device may
include a capping portion and a tamper-evident tear away portion.
The capping portion of the bottle closure may further include an
inner neck portion configured to form a seal with an interior of a
bottle neck.
Inventors: |
de St. Jeor; Bret; (Modesto,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Royal Summit Inc. |
Modesto |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Royal Summit Inc.
Modesto
CA
|
Family ID: |
52389593 |
Appl. No.: |
14/339575 |
Filed: |
July 24, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61858006 |
Jul 24, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
215/316 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/3423 20130101;
B65D 41/325 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/316 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/02 20060101
B65D041/02 |
Claims
1. A bottle closure comprising: a capping portion having a top,
sidewall, and inner neck portion, wherein the inner neck portion
extends from an interior surface of the top of the cap portion, and
wherein the inner neck portion is configured to fit within a bottle
neck.
2. The bottle closure of claim 1, further comprising at least one
protrusion projecting outwardly from the inner neck portion such
that the at least one protrusion interacts with an interior surface
of a bottle neck.
3. The bottle closure of claim 2, wherein the interaction between
the inner neck protrusions and the bottle neck forms a
substantially liquid-tight seal each time capping portion is placed
on the bottle neck.
4. The bottle closure of claim 2, wherein the at least one
protrusion has an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of
a neck of a desired bottle.
5. The bottle closure of claim 2, wherein the at least one
protrusion is substantially flexible.
6. The bottle closure of claim 2, wherein the at least one
protrusion is substantially rigid.
7. The bottle closure of claim 1, further comprising at least one
ridge disposed on an interior surface of the sidewall of the
capping portion, wherein the at least one ridge is configured to
interact with an exterior surface of a bottle neck.
8. The bottle closure of claim 1, further comprising a separable
tear-away portion affixed to the capping portion by a fragile ring,
wherein the tear-away portion is substantially an extension of the
sidewall of the capping portion.
9. The bottle closure of claim 7, wherein the tear-away portion
further comprises a plurality of teeth configured to interact with
an exterior surface of a bottle neck.
10. The bottle closure of claim 8, wherein the tear-away portion is
configured to remain on a bottle neck when the capping portion is
removed.
11. The bottle closure of claim 1, further comprising one or more
grip disposed on an exterior surface.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/858,006, filed Jul. 24, 2013, the contents of
which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Re-usable bottles, such as milk bottles, traditionally use
push-on plastic caps to seal their contents. Closures of this type
are still needed because of the large cost it would require to
convert the glass bottles to having a threaded top which would
allow screw-on caps.
[0003] Current bottle closures have a cap and a single-use latch
ring, also referred to as a "tamper-evident cap", allowing for the
attachment of the closure and an easily-used visual aid to see if
the closure has been tampered with. However, these closures may not
adequately seal the contents of the bottles and may allow the
contents to leak. Further, once the cap has been detached from the
latch ring, a user replacing the cap, for example to store
temporarily in a home refrigerator, may find that the cap does not
adequately maintain a hold on the bottle, allowing for further
leakage. The poor seal may additionally allow the contents of the
bottle to interact with an exterior environment, which may
facilitate spoilage of the contents.
SUMMARY
[0004] A bottle closure device may be disclosed. The bottle closure
device may include a capping portion that has a top, a sidewall,
and an inner neck. The inner neck may extend from an interior
surface of the top of the capping portion. The inner neck may be
substantially cylindrical and may be configured to fit within a
bottle neck that is inserted within the top and sidewall of the
capping portion. The inner neck portion may further include
protrusions projecting outwardly therefrom.
[0005] In another embodiment, the bottle closure device may further
include a tear away portion connected to the capping portion by a
fragile ring. The tear-away portion may include teeth designed to
secure to the outside of a bottle neck. The bottle closure may be
configured such that the capping portion separates from the
tear-away portion when force is applied.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0006] Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary
embodiments. The following detailed description should be
considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of a bottle
closure
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interior of a bottle
closure
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side cut-away view of a bottle closure
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a double-latch bottle
closure
[0011] FIG. 5 is a side cut-away view of a double-latch bottle
closure
[0012] FIG. 6 is a side cut-away view of a double-latch bottle
closure showing its placement upon a bottle
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Aspects of the present invention are disclosed in the
following description and related figures directed to specific
embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art will
recognize that alternate embodiments may be devised without
departing from the spirit or scope of the claims. Additionally,
well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will
not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure
the relevant details of the invention.
[0014] As used herein, the word "exemplary" means "serving as an
example, instance, or illustration." The embodiments described
herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should
be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to
be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
Moreover, the terms "embodiments of the invention," "embodiments,"
or "invention" do not require that all embodiments of the invention
include the discussed feature, advantage, or mode of operation.
[0015] Generally referring to the accompanying figures, a bottle
closure may be formed in any of a variety of manners and may be
used in a variety of situations. One exemplary embodiment may be to
attach a bottle closure to the top of an open bottle, thereby
providing a long-term seal for the contents of the bottle. The
bottle closure may later be broken into a capping portion and a
tear-away portion, allowing access to the contents of the bottle.
The capping portion may further provide short-term resealing of the
bottle. In some embodiments, the seal may be substantially
liquid-tight. The seal may also be substantially air-tight.
[0016] Referring now to exemplary FIG. 1, a bottle closure 100 may
include a capping portion 110 and a tear-away portion 120. In
alternative exemplary embodiments, bottle closure 100 may not
include a tear-away portion 120. Capping portion may have a top 104
and sidewall 106. Tear-away portion 120 may substantially form an
extension of the sidewall 106 of capping portion 110. Bottle
closure 100 may be sized and shaped to fit the top of a bottle and
an exemplary embodiment may be constructed of low-density
polyethylene (LDPE), or any other acceptable materials as would be
understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. Bottle
closure 100 may be constructed in a one-piece mold, or assembled in
parts, as desired. Capping portion 110 and tear-away portion 120
may be coupled by way of a fragile ring 111. Fragile ring 111 may
be designed to be a breaking point if a separating force is applied
between capping portion 110 and tear-away portion 120. The breaking
point design may include the material of fragile ring 111 being
thinner than that of capping portion 110 and tear-away portion 120.
In some exemplary embodiments, fragile ring 111 may also include
perforations to facilitate separation. Alternatively, fragile ring
111 may be configured to be torn away from bottle closure 100,
separating capping portion 110 and tear-away portion 120. The
separating forces may be a variety of forces, including tension,
bending, torsion, shearing, or compression. Capping portion 110 may
further include one or more grips 112. Grips 112 may protrude from
the exterior of capping portion 110 and may assist a user in
holding or applying pressure to capping portion 110. Grips 112 may
be long, thin protrusions spaced at regular intervals, or in any
other shape and spacing, as desired.
[0017] Referring now to exemplary FIGS. 2 and 3, capping portion
110 may include an inner neck 114. Inner neck 114 may be
substantially cylindrical in shape and may extend from the top of
capping portion 110 into the interior of bottle closure 100. In
alternative embodiments, inner neck 114 may be sized and shaped to
fit the interior a desired bottle, as would be understood by a
person having ordinary skill in the art. The primary axis
describing the cylindrical shape of inner neck 114 may be
substantially parallel to the primary axis of bottle closure 100. A
bottle neck receiving channel may be created between inner neck 114
and the interior side walls of capping portion 110. Inner neck 114
may further include one or more protrusions 116. Protrusions 116
may extend from inner neck 114 in a direction substantially
perpendicular to the primary axis of inner neck 114. In an
exemplary embodiment, protrusions 116 may extend outwardly from
inner neck 114, into the bottle neck receiving channel. Inner neck
114 may have a diameter sized to fit within the opening of a
desired bottle neck, as would be understood by a person having
ordinary skill in the art. Protrusions 116 may extend so as to
contact an interior surface of the bottle neck. Inner neck 114 and
protrusions 116 may be sized and shaped to substantially fit inside
a bottle's neck while allowing an outer portion of capping portion
110 to fit around the exterior of a bottle's neck, as would be
understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art.
Protrusions 116 may be configured to fit tightly against the bottle
neck, establishing a seal. In some embodiments, protrusions 116 may
be slightly flexible to provide for improved contact with the
surface of a bottle, thereby sealing the bottle's contents. In such
embodiments, protrusions 116 may extend such that they have an
outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of a desired bottle
neck. When inserted in a desired bottle neck, the flexed
protrusions 116 may apply pressure on the interior of the bottle
neck, creating a strong seal. The flex of protrusions 116 may also
increase the contact area between protrusions 116 and the bottle
neck, improving the seal. The seal formed between inner neck 114,
protrusions 116 and the neck of a bottle may prevent the contents
of the bottle from leaking while capping portion 110 is in place.
Additionally, the seal may reduce or prevent exposure of the
bottle's contents to outside elements, preventing spoilage and
prolonging storage life. Capping portion 110 may further include
dimple 118. Dimple 118 may be utilized as the liquid plastic
injection port, also known as an injection nipple, to manufacture
the cap and may be utilized in the manufacturing process.
[0018] Tear-away portion 120 may include a plurality of teeth 122.
In an alternative exemplary embodiment, tear-away portion 120 may
be formed to include about two teeth, although it is envisioned
that any number of teeth may be utilized in this or other exemplary
embodiments. In yet further exemplary embodiments, there may be
multiple rows of teeth 122. Teeth 122 may be resiliently deformable
and may protrude on an angle from tear-away portion 120 toward the
interior of bottle closure 100. Teeth 122 may be sized and shaped
to catch on a lip on the exterior of a bottle, thereby
substantially securing tear away portion 120 in place on the
bottle. Teeth 122 may be flexible at a connection point to tear
away portion 120, so as to allow installation over the bottle and
lip disposed on the exterior of the bottle, as would be understood
by a person having ordinary skill in the art.
[0019] Referring now to exemplary FIGS. 4 and 5, a double-latch
bottle closure 200 may include a capping portion 210 and a
tear-away portion 220. Capping portion 210 and tear-away portion
220 may be substantially similar to capping portion 110 and
tear-away portion 120 of bottle closure 100, as described above and
as shown in exemplary FIGS. 1-3. Teeth 222 may further be
substantially similar to teeth 122. Double-latch bottle closure 200
may further include one or more ridge 230. Ridge 230 may be a
continuously disposed ridge forming a ring around an interior wall
of capping portion 210. In some embodiments, ridge 230 may be a
series of intermittent ridges forming a ring around an interior
wall of capping portion 210. Ridges 230 can provide additional
strength to teeth 222 and can offer an additional, more secure
tamper-proof function than portion 220. Ridges 230 may protrude
from the interior of capping portion 210 and may be located, sized
and shaped to catch on a notch on the exterior of a bottle, thereby
holding capping portion 210 in place on the bottle. Ridges 230 may
be part of a one-piece construction for double-latch bottle closure
200 or may be manufactured separately, as desired. Ridges 230 may
allow capping portion 210 to be re-used to seal the contents of a
bottle once capping portion 210 has been separated from tear-away
portion 220 and teeth 222 no longer hold capping portion 210 in
place. Ridges 230 may be used in conjunction with protrusions 216
to hold capping portion 210 on a bottle and provide an effective
seal.
[0020] Referring now to exemplary FIG. 6, a double-latch bottle
closure 200 may be used with a bottle 10. Upon placing double-latch
bottle closure 200 upon bottle 10, teeth 222 may functionally
engage bottle neck lip 12 and ridges 230 may functionally engage
notch 14. Inner neck 214 may extend into bottle neck interior 16,
and protrusions 216 may substantially form a seal against the wall
of bottle neck interior 16. To access the contents of bottle 10, a
user may break fragile ring 211 and disengage ridges 230 from notch
14 to remove capping portion 210 from the top of bottle 10. The
user may re-seal bottle 10 with capping portion 210 using ridges
230 and protrusions 216. The existence or lack of existence of
fragile ring 211 may therefore also serve to inform a potential
user if the contents of bottle 10 have been accessed following the
initial placement of double-latch bottle closure 200 upon bottle
10.
[0021] The foregoing description and accompanying figures
illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of
operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be
construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed
above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
[0022] Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be
regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it
should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be
made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope
of the invention as defined by the following claims.
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