Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SPILL-REDUCTION CAP FOR FLUID CONTAINER
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This Application is a Continuation-in-Part of pending U.S. Patent Application
entitled Cap for Fluid Container with Threaded Neck by Brian M. Adams and
Daniel
Luch Serial No. 08/436,936, filed May 8, 1995, which is a continuation-in-part
of Serial
No. 08/016,579 filed February 10, 1993 which is a Continuation-in-Part of
Serial No.
07/772,949, now abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF 'SHE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new and improved cap for a fluid container which
is
formed with a conical well which splits when pierced by a dispenser probe and
substantially recloses when disengaged from the probe. More particularly, the
invention
relates to a snap-on cap for a bottle neck having a crown finish either with
or without
a superimposed threaded finish which is tamper-evident and includes spill
reduction
features.
2. Description of the Related Art
Plastic push-on bottle caps for use with container necks having a crown finish
with a superimposed threaded finish are shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,392,860
and
3,979,002 as well as elsewhere in the art. The present invention provides a
cap which
engages both the crown finish of the neck and the threaded finish. Further,
means is
provided whereby the cap cannot be removed from the neck without tearing off a
portion
of the cap and hence the cap is tamper-evident.
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Push-on caps have been in public use by the assignee of this Application.
However, the use of barriers to prevent unscrewing the cap has not previously
been know n
in the art.
Caps having wells pierced by dispenser probes are likewise known.
The use of foam disks on the undersides of the tops of plastic caps to seal
against
the lip of a neck are also known in the art.
~~1MMARY OF INVENTION
Two basic forms of cap are disclosed. One is used to close the neck of a
bottle
of the type having a crown positioned below the lip with a restricted diameter
portion
above the crown and a screw thread around the restricted diameter portion.
Bottles of
this type have been used commercially. The lower portion of such bottle is
usually
rectangular in cross-section so that a plurality of bottle s may be stacked on
top of each
other without the necessity of using pallets. Such bottles have heretofore
been closed
by a metal screw cap having threads engaging the threads on the bottle. To
make the
system tamper-evident, a plastic snap-on overcap has been used. However,
stacking
of bottles causes increased hydraulic pressure to be exerted on the bottom
bottles, and
this is aggravated by hydraulic "hammer" resulting from transportation by
truck. This
has resulted in leakage.
The use of a metal screw cap has been found somewhat undesirable because of
its tendency to rust.
Another development in use in water bottles is a type cap which remai ns on
the
bottle and is provided with sealing means to prevent leakage from the bottle
when it is
installed in a water dispenser and also when it has been removed. The
aforesaid metal
caps and plastic overcaps have not been found adaptable to this new
development.
The use of caps, such as shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,392,860 and 3,979,002,
in stacked bottle installations has been found to be unsatisfactory, because
during transport
the "hydraulic hammer" forces the cap upward on the neck. If a foam liner is
used under
the top of the cap, such liner tends to separate from the neck as the cap is
forced upward .
In this form of the present invention, a plastic push-on type cap is used
having
a top under which is installed an annular foam plastic gasket. The skirt of
the cap has
a restricted diameter upper portion which is internally threaded. Vertical
"barriers" are
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formed below the internal thread, preventing the cap from being removed from
the neck
threads so long as the cap is intact. Below the restricted upper portion, the
skirt expands
outwardly and has an internal locking bead which snaps over and engages the
underside
of the crown finish of the neck. The lower skirt portion extends downwardly
and
frictionally engages the exterior of the neck. The barriers engage the ends of
the threads
of the neck and such ends are tapered both in width and in thread height to
function as
wedges or ramps. The barriers are bowed outward if an attempt is made to
unscrew
the cap while the lower skirt portion is intact and thereby the cap threads
unseat from
the neck threads. Hence repeated turning of the cap does not unscrew the cap
from the
10 neck.
Vertical tear lines extend up from the bottom edge of the cap to the region of
the internal threads and a tear tab is provided which, when pulled, tears the
cap along
the scorelines. Once the cap is tom, evidence of tampering appears. Further
when the
cap is torn the lower skirt daes not inhibit upward movement of the cap and
hence the
cap may be unscrewed or merely lifted off the neck.
In installing the cap, the tear tab provides an orientation means which aligns
the
cap threads with respect to the neck threads so that when the cap is forced
axially
downwardly over the neck, the cap threads expand outwardly to clear the neck
threads
and then contract to mate with the neck threads , thereby insuring that the
cap does not
20 have to be screwed onto the neck. Simultaneously, the lower portion of the
skirt seats
on the crown of the cap and the locking bead seats under the crown bead of the
neck.
The barriers are located adjacent the neck thread ends so that unscrewing the
cap causes
the barriers to ramp up over the thread ends.
The second basic form cap is a modification of U.S. Patent 5,370,270, to which
reference is made.
An important feature of both caps is the elimination of spillage when the
bottle
is installed in a conventional water dispenser and a considerable reduction in
spillage
of any water which may remain in the bottle when the bottle is removed from
the
dispenser. Accordingly, a conical well is formed in the center of the top of
the cap, the
30 well having a rounded bottom. A scoreline is formed, preferably on the
interior of the
cap, consisting essentially of three continuous sections, namely, a first
section extending
down from the top, a second section extending across the rounded bottom of the
well
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and a third section extending from the second section up to the top of the
cap, all three
sections lying in a common diametric plane.
A common form of water dispenser has a hollow, apertured probe extending
vertically upward so that as the bottle, with cap attached, is lowered into
the dispenser ,
S the probe engages the well and causes the well to split along the scoreline,
permitting
water to flow from the bottle into the probe and then to the dispenser. A
short rib is
formed extending perpendicular to the scoreline. The tip of the probe first
contacts the
rib and initiates tearing the well apart at the scoreline. When the user
wishes to remov a
the bottle, withdrawal of the probe from the well allows the well to close at
least partially ,
to reduce the amount of water which may flow out of the bottle while it is
being remove d
from the dispenser and restored to upright position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in the form as part of this
specification illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a
description,
serve to explain the principals of the invention:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the neck of a bottle with wh ich one of
the
caps of the present invention may be used, being partially broken away in
section.
Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of a cap used with the neck of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3
of Figure
2.
Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view showing the cap of Figure 2 installed on
the
neck of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing a water dispenser p
robe
extending through the well of a cap.
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a modified cap.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TH'E PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the
invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
While the
invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it
will be
understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to those
embodiments. On
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the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications
and equivalents,
which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined
by the
appended claims.
One form of cap of the present invention is used on a water bottle, the body
of
which (not shown) is generally rectangular in cross-section so that a number
of bottles
which are horizontally disposed may be stacked on top of each other. The neck
11 of
such a bottle has a lip 12 from which depends a restricted diameter
cylindrical vertical
stretch 13. One turn of external screw thread 14 is applied to the stretch 13
and is
generally slightly greater than 360° in extent. As shown in Fig 1, the
ends 15 of thread
10 14 taper both in width and in thickness to function as wedges or ramps, as
hereinafter
appears. Below vertical stretch 13 is an enlarged external bead or crown 16
and below
the crown 16 is a concave portion 17 and below portion 17 is a generally
rounded portio n
18.
In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 2-5, cap 21 has a top 22 which is
circular and a vertical skirt stretch 23 depends from the periphery of top 22.
A slightly
less than 360° internal screw thread 24 is formed on the interior of
the vertical stretch
23. Vertical barriers 26 are formed on the interior surface of stretch 23
extending
downwardly from thread 24. Barriers 26 are angularly spaced apart along thread
24
and also extend to the level of the lower end of thread 24. As described
below, the
20 presence of barriers 26 prevents the cap from being removed, so long as the
cap is intact.
Below vertical stretch 23 cap 21 expands downwardly and outwardly in a slanted
stretch 27 and below the stretch 27 is a second vertical stretch 28. On the
interior of
stretch 28 is an internal locking bead 31 which engages under crown 16 of neck
11.
Below locking bead 31 the skirt 33 extends downwardly to engage the surface 18
of neck
25 11 below concave portions 17.
Extending below bottom edge 34 of skirt 33 is tear tab 38. To one side of tear
tab 38 extending upward from bottom edge 34 is external scoreline 36 which
extends
up the outside of cap 21 to the level of top 22. On the opposite side of tear
tab 38 is
second scoreline 37 which extends up from bottom edge 34 to the level of the
bottom
30 edge of slanted stretch 27. A break 32 in locking bead 31 extends between
the scoreline s
37 and 38.
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Additional features of the cap 21 include an internal bead 71 at bottom edge
34
which, as shown in Figure 4, engages neck 11 to prevent dirt from entering
under the
skirt 33. Breaks 72 in bead 71 occur corresponding to external scorelines 36
and 37.
To rigidify the upper end of the cap, external ribs 74 lying in vertical
radial planes
extend from top 22 to the bottom edge of slanted stretch 27.
A foam disk 39 which is annular in shape is installed on the underside of top
22.
To improve engagement of disk 39, a circular internal bead 41 is formed on the
undersid a
of top 22 adjacent vertical stretch 23.
At the time of installation of cap 21 on neck 1 l, tear tab 38 is oriented
with respect
to the threads 14 and threads 14 are easily oriented by reason of the
rectangular cross-
section of the body of the bottle. When the cap 21 is pushed axially
downwardly without
rotation onto neck 11, bead 31 slips over the crown 16. Thread 24 expands and
slips
over thread 14. By reason of the orientation of the cap 21 relative to the
neck 11, the
threads 24 and 14 interengage tightly and there is no need to screw the cap
onto the neck .
Foam disk 39 seals on the lip 12 and against bead 41. Despite water hammer
during
transportation, the foam disk 39, the seating of the threads 14 and 24 and the
seating
of the bead 31 and crown 16 make the cap water-tight. Furthermore, it is also
tamper-
evident since the barriers 26 prevent the cap from being unscrewed so long as
the cap
is intact.
20 If one attempts to unscrew the cap, barriers 26 ride up on ramp 15. The cap
stretches outward so that threads 14 and 24 disengage and repeated turning of
the cap
does not cause it to move upward relative to neck 11.
To remove the cap, one grips the tear tab 38 and pulls upwardly so that the
cap
tears along the tear lines 36 and 37. With the lower portion of the cap
loosened it is
25 possible for the consumer to then remove the upper portion of the cap,
providing acces s
to the contents of the container.
Top 22 is formed with a central conical well 46 having a very short
cylindrical
stretch at the top merging into conical side wall 47 which, in turn, merges
into a rounded
bottom 48. The level of bottom 48 is approximately that of the locking bead
31. Well
30 46 is formed with an internal scoreline 51 consisting of a first stretch 52
extending from
adjacent the top of conical side 47 downwardly and merging with a second
stretch 53
which extends across the bottom 48 and then merging with an upward stretch 54.
The
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stretches 52, 53 and 54 lie in a common diametric plane. On the exterior of
the botto m
53 is a rib 56 perpendicular to the plane of scoreline 51.
The container with cap 21 in place on neck 11 is inverted and installed in the
dispenser by vertical downward movement. The dispenser has a hollow, apertured
probe
5 61 extending vertically upwardly. As the bottle lowers, the tip 62 of probe
61 encounter s
rib 56 and then bottom 48 causing the well 46 to split along internal
scoreline 51 until
the position of Figure 5 is obtained. Water enters probe 61 and flows into the
dispenser
as required.
After the contents of the bottle have been substantially depleted, the bottle
is
removed by lifting vertically upwardly. The two halves of the well 46 shown in
Figure
5 come together by reason of the resiliency of the plastic material of which
the cap is
molded. The well 46 is not restored to its original condition but substantial
leakage is
inhibited so that spillage of water onto the outside of the dispenser and/or
floor is avoided .
When the container is returned to the bottling works, an attendant grips tear
tab 38,
15 causing the cap to tear along scorelines 36 and 37 so that cap 21 may be
removed.
Directing attention to Figure 6, the well of the present invention may be
installed
in a different cap structure such as that shown in U.S. Patent 5,370,270. Cap
76 fits
on a container neck (not shown). Cap 76 has an annular top 77 and well 46a is
positione d
centrally thereof. The structure of well 46a resembles that of the preceding
modificatio n
20 and the same reference numerals followed by the subscript _a are used to
designate
corresponding elements.
Cap 76 has a rounded corner 81 disposed outwardly of top 77 and below corner
81 is a depending skirt 82. A tension ring 85 is located on the inside of the
skirt 82 in
a position to fit under the neck bead or crown (not shown) and to draw corner
81 toward
25 the neck bead. Preferably, there is an internal seal bead 86 on the inside
of th a wall of
the corner 81 which tightly engages the container lip and seals against
leakage. Standoffs
84 are radially spaced apart and inward projecting to hold the wall of the
skirt 82
outwardly of the concavity of the container neck and also facilitate pushing
the cap 76
onto the neck.
30 In order to loosen the lower portion of skirt 82 so that cap 76 may be
removed
from the neck, a tab 89 extends downward from the bottom edge 88 of the skirt
82 an d
is formed with transverse finger grip ridges 91 to facilitate pulling the tab.
Curving
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upwardly from bottom edge 88 adjacent tab 89 is a scoreline 92 which merges
with a
horizontal scoreline 93 immediately below tension ring 85. By pulling upward
on the
tab 89, the skirt tears along the scoreline 92 and then along a sufficient
portion of scorelin a
93 so that the lower portion of the skirt 82 releases its grip on the neck. So
long as th a
5 skirt 82 is intact on the neck, it is practically impossible to remove the
cap 76 and hence
the cap is tamper-evident. Once the lower portion of the skirt is loosened,
the upper
portion of the cap may be removed and used as a reclosure cap.
It will be understood that in the preferred practice of the present invention,
cap
76 is not removed prior to installation on the container in the dispenser.
However, many
10 times the consumer may wish to use the container in a different type of
dispenser. Further,
after the container has been returned to the bottling works, it is necessary
to remove th a
cap 76 before the bottle is sterilized and refilled. Hence the tab 89,
scorelines 92 and
93 are used for such purposes. A buttress or internal thickening 94 is formed
adjacent
the intersection of bottom edge 88 and the bottom of scoreline 92 to prevent
unintentional
15 tearing of the skirt along any lines other than the lines 92 and 93. The
buttress 94 assists
in confining the tear to the proper line.
When used in a dispenser of the type hereinabove described and wherein there
is a probe, the cap of Figure 6, in place on the container neck, is inverted.
Penetratio n
of the tip 62 causes the well 46a to fracture along internal scoreline Sla as
in the preceding
20 modification. When the bottle is withdrawn from the dispenser, the halves
of the well
46a come together to inhibit leakage of water, as in the preceding
modification.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention
have
been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not
intended to
be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and
obviously many
25 modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.
The embodiments
were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the
invention and
its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best
utilize the
invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to
the
particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be
defined
30 by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
