Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AN IMPROVED CLOSURE SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to closure systems
for containers such as bottles of liquid. However the
invention also relates to containers of all types of fluid
such as gases and chemical fluids including hazardous
chemicals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION -
The present invention relates to the invention
disclosed in co-pending PCT application no.
YCT/AU01/01091.
A babies bottle normally has a closure system
which consists of a screw-on cap havirig a teat or nozzle.
A baby sucking on the teat is able to withdraw milk inside
the bottle.
Unfortunately a baby drinking from a bottle as
1
described above frequently encounters the problem of colic
which occurs when milk and air is ingested by the baby at
the same time.
The problem with existing babies bottles is that
the bottle cap with the teat cannot prevent air passing in
through the hole in the teat to the interior of the
bottle. Such a flow of air occurs automatically due to
the partial vacuum which is created in the nozzle when the
baby sucks milk through the hole in the teat.
The present invention preferably provides an
alternative type of closure system which when applied to a
babies bottle a.s able to reduce air being sucked through
the hole in the teat along with milk.
3 0 SLTMr2A.RY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is
provided a closure system for a container comprising a
base cap which is adapted to be located over one or more
holes in the container and having at least one aperture
for passage of fluid therethrough, an overcap locatable
over the base cap, having at least one opening to allow
passage of fluid therethrough and moveable between an open
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position where the fluid can pass through the or each
opening and a closed position where the fluid is
substantially prevented from passage through the opening,
a nozzle which is adapted to be coupled to the overcap and
having an outlet for passage of fluid therethrough and a
passage extending from the interior of the overcap to a
region above the overcap.
Preferably the passage comprises a channel or
other conduit for air or gas.
Preferably the passage has an exit to the outside
environment in a top surface of the overcap.
Alternatively the passage has an exit to the
outside environment in an outer surface of the nozzle.
It is preferred that the passage has an exit to
25 the outside environment between the upper surface of the
overcap and the outer surface of the nozzle.
It is preferred that the passage comprises a
groove formed in the nozzle and/or the overcap.
Preferably the nozzle has a lower flange.
The passage may be formed in an upper surface of
the flange.
The passage may have an inlet in a bottom surface
of the nozzle.
It is preferred that the passage has an inlet in
a bottom surface of the nozzle.
The inlet may be in a bottom edge of the flange.
Preferably the passage extends along a peripheral
edge of the nozzle.
It is preferred that the passage includes a
spiral portion that spirals around a top portion of the
nozzle.
Preferably the passage extends around the centre
of the nozzle at least once.
Preferably the passage extends around the centre
of the nozzle 720° from the inlet.
The passage may extend upwardly from an inner end
of the spiral portion.
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Preferably the passage extends upwardly from an
inner end of the spiral portion at a location radially
inwardly from the inlet.
It is preferred that the passage is formed on an
inner lower surface of the top surface of the overcap.
It is preferred that the nozzle includes a collar
which is located above the flange.
The nozzle may be flexible.
Preferably the nozzle includes a central body
with the flange located at the base of the body.
The exit preferably comprises a groove in an
underside of the collar, which groove extends to the
peripheral edge of the collar.
The passage may extend upwardly along the outer
surface of the central body, from the flange.
The flange may include a peripheral edge
comprising a sealing means for sealing the nozzle against
the inside surface of the overcap.
The sealing means may comprise a flexible skirt.
The skirt is preferably downwardly extending.
It is preferred that the skirt has an edge which
contacts the inner surface of the side wall of the
overcap.
Preferably the collar is adapted to rest on the
top surface of the overcap.
It is preferred that the top surface of the
flange is adapted to abut against the bottom surface of
the top wall of the overcap.
The inlet may be located between the peripheral
edge of the flange and a corresponding portion of the
adjacent internal surface of the side wall of the overcap.
According to an alternative embodiment the
passage comprises a groove formed in the bottom surface of
the top wall of the overcap.
The exit may comprise a groove in an inner
peripheral edge surrounding the opening.
It is preferred that the inlet is located in
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close proximity to the inner peripheral edge of the
f 1 ange .
The inlet may comprise a small portal which
extends from an inner side edge portion to an outer face
of the flange.
It is preferred that the exit extends through a
wall of the overcap.
Preferably the portal connects with the groove
which extends around the centre of the nozzle.
The portal may exit in a side wall of the
overcap.
The base cap and overcap may be configured to
permit the overcap to be screwed onto the base cap.
Preferably the overcap has a female thread on its
inside surface of the side wall with at least one ridge
located across the female thread.
Preferably the overcap includes two ridges.
The base cap may have a male thread on its outer
side wall surface with at least one transverse groove.
According to one embodiment the base cap has two
transverse grooves to define the open and closed position
of the closure system.
According to another embodiment the base cap has
two spaced transverse grooves on each of two male threads.
~5 The closure system may include stoppage means for
providing a resistance to turning of the overcap when it
has been turned to a predetermined distance to open the
opening.
The stoppage means may comprise the
30 ridge/transverse groove combination.
The stoppage means may provide a resistance to
turning 'of the overcap when it has been turned to a closed
position.
The resistance to turning may be slightly greater
35 than the force required to twist the base cap off of the
container.
The words "comprising, having, including" should
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be interpreted in an inclusive sense, meaning that
additional features may also be added.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention
will now be described by way of example only with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1a shows a front cross-sectional view of
the closure system in accordance with~the preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 1b shows a close-up view of the closure
system shown in Figure 1a;
Figure 2a shows a top angled view of a base cap
according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 2b shows a side view of the base cap shown
in Figure 2a;
Figure 3a shows a front angled view of an overcap
according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 3b shows an angled bottom view of the
overcap shown in Figure 3a;
Figure 4a shows a front view of a teat in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
~5 Figure 4b shows a cross-sectional view of the
teat shown in Figure 4a;
Figure 5 shows an angled view of a babies bottle
with the closure system of the present invention in an
unassembled form and according to a further embodiment of
30 the present invention;
Figure 6 shows a top view of an overcap according
to the further embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7 shows a side view of the overcap shown
in Figure 6;
35 Figure 8 shows a bottom view of the overcap shown
in Figure 6;
Figure 9 shows a top view of a base cap according
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to the further embodiment;
Figure 10 shows a side view of the base cap shown
in Figure 9; and
Figure 11 shows a bottom view of the base cap
shown in Figure 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As shown in Figure 1a the closure system consists
of a base cap 11 and overcap 12 and a teat 13.
The base cap shown in Figure 2a is generally
cylindrical in shape and has a side wall 14 and flat
circular wall 15 with a central dome 16 surrounded by four
equispaced apertures 17. The side wall 14 is provided
with a male thread 18 consisting of two thread portions
19, 20, with each thread having vertical grooves 21 spaced
apart approximately 90° with respect to a centre line
through the base cap 11.
The undersideyof the base cap (not shown) has an
internal thread to allow~the base cap to be screwed onto
the neck of a bottle. In addition a circular rim extends
downwardly from underneath the top surface 15 and encloses
the apertures 17 as they appear from the underside of the
top surface 15.
The overcap shown in Figure 3a has a similar
shape to the base cap 11 and has external peripheral
castellations around its side wall 22 to assist with
gripping and turning. The inside surface 23 of the
overcap 12 is provided with female threads or grooves
which are adapted to engage with the male thread of the
base cap 11. In addition vertical ridges 24 are provided
across each of the two female threads and these are
adapted for engagement with the grooves in the male thread
of the base cap 11.
The top surface of top wall 25 of the overcap 12
is generally flat with a circular opening therethrough.
The inside surface 26 of the top wall 25 is also generally
flat.
The teat 13 shown in Figure 4a is made of a
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resilient plastic or rubber material and has a circular
thin base 27, a teat body 28 and a small collar 29 spaced
slightly above the circular base 27.
As shown in Figure 4b the base 27 which is in the
form of a thin flange, has a passage 30 in the form of a
groove which begins at an entry point 31 at a peripheral
edge of the base 27 and this groove extends firstly
upwardly vertically along the outer edge 32 then radially
inwardly a short distance as referenced by item 33 and
then around the main teat body 28 in the form of a
circular spiral 34 which completes two revolutions of the
main teat body 28 before extending radially inwardly (as
represented by item 35) a short distance approximately in
line with section 33.
The groove then extends vertically upwardly in
the outer wall of the main teat body 28 and then radially
outwardly at 36 underneath collar 29. The passage 30 ends
in an exit 37 to the outside environment.
The base 27 is annular and has a central opening
38 which allows passage of fluid into the main teat body
28.
In use each of the components 11, 12 and 13 are
assembled as shown in Figures 1a and 1b. Thus the teat a.s
coupled with the overcap 12 so that the main teat body 28
protrudes through the opening in the overcap 12. The
upper surface 39 of the base 27 abuts the under surface 26
of the overcap. Thus the groove 30 becomes an enclosed
passage.
The collar 29 is pushed through the opening in
the overcap and rests on the inner peripheral edge of the
overcap 12 which surrounds the opening.
Only the radially outwardly extending groove 36
is located above the level of the top surface 25 while the
rest of the groove except for the vertical section above
the base 27 is located underneath the top wall 25.
In a first mode of operation when the closure
assembly is open the base cap 11 is screwed onto the neck
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of a bottle (not shown) and the overcap 12 is screwed onto
the base cap 11 to a position where the ridges 24 in its
female thread rest in the uppermost vertical grooves 21 of
the male thread of the base cap 11.
At this point the overcap 12 has its top surface
25 raised clear of the top surface 15 of the base cap 11.
Thus as shown in Figure 1a a space 40 exists between top
wall 15 and top wall 25. Therefore the central dome 16
which normally blocks and seals the opening 38 in the base
27 is clear of this opening 38 so that fluid is able to
pass into the main teat body 28 and out through the teat
outlet 41 when the bottle is inverted.
As fluid is withdrawn through the outlet 41 a
partial vacuum is created inside the closure assembly and
therefore there is a tendency for air from the~outside
environment to try and enter through any opening that is
available. Normally this would be the outlet 41. However
because of the provision~of the passage 30 shown in Figure
1B from the exit 37 to the inlet 31 air a.s able to be
drawn in through the exit 37 around the passage created by
grooves 34 down the outside of the peripheral edge of the
base 27 and into the chamber 40. Air is then able to pass
down, any one of the apertures 17 to replace fluid which
leaves the bottle and passes out through the outlet 41.
Therefore only fluid tends to flow through the outlet 41
and air passes through the passage 30 because this
provides a lower path of resistance to its entry than
through the outlet 41.
Thus the space between the overcap and the base
cap 11 results in the formation of two chambers. One of
these chambers being above the overcap 12 and the other
being below the overcap 12 and above base cap 11. Thus
liquid is able to fill both chambers and the passage 30
maintains the liquid in these passages at neutral
pressure. In other words when the bottle is inverted
there is no force on the liquid other than gravity, so
that liquid can be maintained in these chambers until the
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outlet 41 is opened to allow the liquid to simply drop
therethrough or be sucked therethrough by the likes of a
baby.
Because this liquid has no nett pressure applied
'5 to it a baby sucking on the nozzle is not sucking against
any pressure and therefore has a reduced likelihood of
drawing in air.
As liquid leaves the outlet 41 new liquid from
the bottle flows into the two chambers to replace that
liquid which leaves.
The base 27 is a flexible annular flange with a
peripheral downwardly extending skirt 42 which acts as a
seal.
When fluid is being withdrawn through the outlet
41 by, for example a sucking action, the skirt 42 is able
to move slightly downwardly so that air can more easily
enter the chamber 40. However when fluid is not being
withdrawn through the outlet 41 the skirt 42 assumes a
position a.n abutting relationship with the adjacent
internal surface 43 of the overcap 12.
This provides a seal around the periphery of the
base 27 except for the small inlet opening 31.
When it is desired to close the closure assembly
the overcap 12 is simply twisted in the opposite direction
to that for opening the closure assembly and the bottom
surface 43 of the base 27 is forced against the top
surface 15 of the base cover 11 so that the dome 16 fits
into the opening 38 and seals it off.
As the apertures 17 are covered by the base 27,
fluid cannot escape therethrough from the interior of the
bottle.
The lowermost vertical grooves 21 in the base cap
11 are adapted to receive a respective one of the ridges
24 of the overcap so as to provide an indication of when
the overcap is in a closed position.
The closure assembly described above provides an
easy way of opening and closing a babies bottle to allow
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or prevent passage of fluid from the babies bottle through
outlet 41. In addition the passage configuration allows
air to enter the chambers formed inside the closure
assembly and limit if not prevent' air entering through the
outlet 41.
The embodiment described above may be modified so
that the passage is formed as a converse arrangement of
that described but the passage could be formed as a groove
in the overcap 12 rather than the teat 13.
Figure 5 shows a closure assembly according to
another embodiment of the present invention.
As with the previous embodiment the closure
system consists of a base cap 111, an overcap 121 and a
teat 131. In addition a babies bottle 50 is shown having
a neck with an external thread. The base cap 111 is
screwed onto the neck of the bottle 51 and the closure
assembly is operated in a similar fashion to that
described in relation to~the previous embodiment.
The main differences between this embodiment and
the previous embodiment are:
i. the design of the teat 131; and
ii. the design of the overcap 121.
In the previous embodiment the teat as shown in
Figure 4A is provided with a small collar 29. In addition
as shown a.n Figure 4B the passage 30 in the form of a
groove extends from entry point 31 at the periphery of
circular base 27 and spirals around the main teat body 28
up and under the small collar 39 to exit point 37.
In contrast teat 131 in Figure 5 does not have a
passage a.n the form of a groove formed on the base of the
teat 27. Instead the passage is created on the underside
of the overcap 121 and is shown most clearly in Figure 8.
Thus the underside of overcap 121 has an entry point 320
for passage 300 located on the inner surface 112 of the
top of the overcap 121.
In a similar fashion to the passage for the teat
of the previous embodiment, the passage 300 starts at
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entry point 320, extends part way radially inwardly
towards the centre of the overcap 121 and then spirals
around the opening 113 of the overcap 121. The passage
300 spirals around the opening 113 two times (720°) and
terminates in an exit at the inner peripheral edge of the
overcap 121 in line with the entry point 320.
A short external passage or groove may be
provided in the external surface of the teat from the exit
point 350 vertically upwards on the external surface of
the teat and under the collar of the teat 290 in a similar
fashion to that provided in the previous embodiment.
By having the passage 300 formed on the overcap,
the passage is rigid and avoids problems of passage
integrity and manufacturing a suitable passage in the
teat.
As previously described the lower peripheral edge
of the base of the teat is still provided with a skirt 42
or diaphragm which is thin and resilient enough to flex
and allow entry of air when the bottle is inverted for use
and likewise is able to act as a seal to prevent exit of
fluid through the passage if the bottle is squeezed. Thus
squeezing of the bottle actually applies a pressure to the
fluid and forces the flap to force a seal with the inner
peripheral edge of the overcap and prevent liquid from
passing around the diaphragm to the entry point of the
passage 320.
It is possible for a separate diaphragm to be
located underneath the base of the teat to achieve a
similar objective as that described above. Similarly the
flap could be provided on some form of shroud placed over
the base cap 111, but having holes matching those in the
base cap 111 to allow fluid passage therethrough. The
flap may also be provided on the inner surface of the
overcap 121.
It is noted that by having the spiral path for
the passage 30, 300 this allows for surface tension and
helps reduce leakage of fluid from the bottle 50.
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Figures 9 to 11 show various views of the base
cap 111. This is substantially the same as that of the
previous embodiment.
It is~to be understood that, if any prior art
publication is referred to herein, such reference does not
constitute an admission that the publication forms a part
of the common general knowledge a.n the art, in Australia
or in any other country.
