Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02655589 2011-09-26
TITLE:
PROBE ACTUATED BOTTLE CAP AND LINER
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of
U.S.
Application No. 10/896,576, filed July 22, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS
[0002] The inventions described and claimed herein relate generally
to
bottle caps which form closures for use in the bottled water industry and
which are
capable of receiving a dispensing probe.
[0003] Valved bottle caps, such as those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,370,270; 5,392,939; 5,542,555; 5,687,867; 5,904,259 and 5,957,316, have been
used in
conjunction with a probe dispensing system for a number of years. Valved
closures for
bottled water solve problems relating to the growth of bacteria in the
dispensing system
reservoirs and solve the problem of spilling water when the bottle is
initially installed on
the dispensing system. Current valved bottle caps generally consist of a
molded bottle cap
with a central tube section, a separately molded inner cap or plug which is
initially
engaged with the central tube section, a liner to provide a seal at the bottle
neck, and a
label affixed to the outside of the cap to prevent contaminants from entering
the central
tube section, which contaminants will commingle with the contents of the
bottle when the
bottle is inverted onto a cooler. When a bottle is installed on a dispensing
system, the
dispensing probe is directed into the central tube section, the inner cap
moves from
engagement with the central tube into engagement with the probe, and the inner
cap
moves out of engagement with the central tube section effectively opening the
bottle so
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that water can escape the bottle through the probe and into a reservoir in the
dispenser. As
the bottle is removed from the dispenser, the cap is lifted from the probe,
and the inner
cap reengages with the central tube section to block debris from being dropped
into the
otherwise open top of the container as the empty container awaits retrieval by
the bottler
for re-use.
100041 There are some problems associated with the use of valved
bottle
caps. Occasionally, an inner cap will not engage correctly with the probe when
the bottle
is installed on a water dispensing system or with the central tube when the
bottle is
removed from the water dispensing system. This condition is known in the
bottled water
industry as a container with a "floater". In the first instance, the inner cap
will float to the
top of the water and will give the impression that the water is not sanitary.
In addition,
when there is a failure of engagement between the probe and the inner cap or
plug there
will be no inner cap or plug to block the dropping of debris into the empty
bottle during
the period that the empty bottle is awaiting pick-up by the bottling company.
Even if the
probe and inner cap or plug successfully engage upon the installation of a
full bottle onto
the dispenser, it is still possible for there to be a failure for the probe
and inner cap or
plug to re-engage when the bottle is removed from the dispenser. If there is
an open
pathway through the central tube during the period when an empty bottle is
awaiting pick-
up, there is a significant chance that people will deposit garbage, cigarette
butts, gum,
etc., into the empty container as they approach the dispenser--using the empty
bottle as a
sort of trash container. When a bottle contains such debris, the bottler who
wants to re-
use the bottle has a significantly more difficult time cleaning the bottle, as
compared to a
bottle that has not been used as a trash container.
[0005] Users have also experienced difficulty in removing the
bottle from
the dispensing system, especially when pulling the bottle off at an angle. The
length of the
central tube may create too great a grip on the probe making removal of the
bottle
difficult. When this occurs, greater force may be needed to remove the bottle,
which may
then cause the bottle to disengage from the probe suddenly causing the bottle
to hit the
user on the face.
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[0006] Dispensing probes are often specially designed to mate with
specific inner caps, and a bottler may be supplying customers with different
probes. Even
when a bottler delivers water to customers who have "standard" probes (0.75
inches in
diameter), there may be variability in the ease or difficulty with which the
central tube
engages and disengages with such probes, in part because of the length of the
central tube
or because of the way in which the inner cap or plug engages or disengages the
probe.
Because bottlers are increasingly required to deal with probes and dispensing
systems
from multiple manufacturers, it is desirable to have a cap for their bottles
that can readily
accommodate the variability that exists in the systems of their customer base.
Also,
valved bottle caps can be costly compared to a cap molded as a single
component.
Providing a separate component in the form of an inner cap or plug means that
there will
be additional raw material required and will require the operation and
maintenance of the
molding equipment needed to manufacture that component. In addition, providing
the
inner cap or plug as a separate component means that there is both labor and
equipment
needed to pre-attach the inner cap or plug to the central tube.
SUMMARY OF AN EXAMPLE OF THE INVENTIONS
100071 The closures described and claimed herein not only provide
the
benefits of the current valved bottle caps in that they prevent bacteria
transfer to the
dispensing reservoir and spillage during bottle installation, but they also
solve some of
the problems associated with the valved bottle caps. First, these caps will
have no
"floaters" because there are no removable parts. Second, these caps will be
closed when
removed from the dispensing system, at least visually. Third, these caps will
disengage
from the probe more easily because they will not grip the probe as tightly as
the valved
bottle caps having extended central tubes, and there will be no inner cap or
plug that has
to snap into place on the probe. Fourth, these caps will be is less costly to
use because the
inner cap is eliminated. Elimination of the inner cap will not only save
plastic, it will also
save an entire molding operation, an assembly step, and equipment operation
and
maintenance. Further, it may be less expensive to manufacture the probe
because the
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retaining slot on the end is no longer needed. Last, these caps are compatible
with various
manufacturer's probes that have an industry standard diameter of about 0.75
inches.
[0008] The caps described herein are comprised of two parts. The
first part
is a main cap body, and is comprised of a generally cylindrical skirt
extending from and
integrally formed with an annular top. The opening in the annular top is
designed to
receive a dispensing probe of standard diameter. The diameter of the opening
is not
greater than the diameter of the dispensing probe such that a seal is formed
when the
bottle cap is lowered onto the probe. Optional or alternative means for
sealing against the
probe include increasing the thickness of the lid in the axial direction at
the edge of the
opening, reducing the thickness of the lid in the axial direction at the edge
of the opening,
and attaching a lip seal at the edge of the opening.
[0009] The caps described herein have an outer skirt and a lid with
a
central opening. From the outside, a membrane or other label covers the
opening in the
lid. The cap includes a liner connected to the underside of the lid of the
cap. The liner
includes an inner movable part covering the opening from the inside of the
cap, and an
outer part gripped between the underside of the lid and the container. When
gripped
between the lid and the neck of the container, the outer part not only holds
the inner
movable part in place at the opening but also provides a seal to prevent
leakage along the
skirt and the container. The inner movable part is larger than the opening to
prevent liquid
flow through the opening when the container is turned on its side during
transit and when
the container is inverted during installation onto the dispensing system. The
static
pressure of the container contents will tend to seal the inner movable part
against the
underside of the lid effectively preventing flow through the opening.
Optionally, a raised
surface can be molded onto the inside surface to concentrate the static force
at a reduced
contact area between the inner movable part and the lid. One of the connecting
sections is
relatively large and serves as a hinge for the inner movable part such that
the inner
movable part forms a flap as the bottle cap is lowered onto the probe.
Optional small
connecting sections could take the form of frangible ties which hold the inner
movable
part in place until they are broken by lowering the cap onto the probe.
Alternatively, the
connecting sections could remain attached to the inner movable part and be
made out of
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an elastic material such that the connecting sections stretch when the cap is
lowered onto
the probe.
[0010] An optional but preferable feature is a protective tamper
evident
membrane seal which is attached to the top of the lid, such as that shown in
U.S. Pat. No.
5,904,259. The tamper evident seal prevents dirt from coming into contact with
the parts
of the cap which then come into contact with the probe.
[0010a] Provided herein is a bottle cap for a container, the cap
being
capable of receiving a probe which is part of a dispensing system, the cap
comprising: a
lid having a portion that defines an opening that receives the probe of the
dispensing
system, wherein the portion of the lid defining the opening contacts and seals
against the
probe; a skirt extending from the lid, the lid being generally flat and having
an upper side
and an underside; a liner made of sheet material disposed adjacent to the
underside of the
lid; the liner having an outer part and an inner movable part connected to the
outer part by
at least one connecting section, such that the inner moveable part of the
liner comprising
a first seal in the form of a flapper valve that seals against the underside
of the lid and
restricts flow of content through the opening in the lid, the inner part of
the liner being
moveable out of contact with the underside of the lid to allow flow through
the opening
upon insertion of the probe into the cap.
[0010b] Also provided herein is a bottle cap for a container, the
cap being
capable of receiving a probe which is part of a dispensing system, the cap
comprising: a
lid having an opening defined by an inwardly facing edge portion that
grippingly receives
the probe of the dispensing system; the lid being generally flat and having an
upper side
and an underside; a skirt extending from the lid; a liner disposed adjacent to
the underside
of the lid, the liner having an outer part and an inner movable part connected
to the outer
part by at least one connecting section, the liner forming a first continuous
seal by the
inner moveable part abutting the underside of the lid to restrict flow through
the opening
in a position generally co-planar with the outer part, and the inner part
alternatively being
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moveable out of contact with the lid to allow flow through the opening upon
insertion of
the probe into the cap, an outer periphery of the outer part of the liner
being gripped
between the container and the lid to form a second seal, the inner moveable
part of the
liner having a portion connected by a breakable link to the outer part of the
liner, the
opening being smaller in diameter than the diameter of a standard probe, such
the probe
and the lid form a third seal when the bottle with a bottle cap installed on
it is lowered
onto the probe.
[0010c] Further provided herein is a bottle cap for a container
having a
neck, the cap being capable of receiving a probe which is part of a dispensing
system, the
cap comprising: a lid having an opening that receives the probe of the
dispensing system;
a skirt extending from the lid; a liner positioned adjacent to an inside
surface of the lid; a
protective seal attached to a top of the lid; the liner comprising an outer
part held between
the inside surface of the lid and an upper surface of the neck of the
container, and the
liner further comprising an inner movable part connected to the outer part by
an integrally
formed hinge and by at least one breakable section; the breakable section,
when broken,
allowing the inner movable part to move between an open non-coplanar position
relative
to the outer part of the liner and a closed position in which the inner
moveable part and
the outer part are generally coplanar; the liner abutting an underside of the
lid around the
opening in the lid to restrict flow of contents of the container through the
opening; the
outer part being gripped between the container and the lid to restrict the
flow of contents
of the container between the neck of the container and the skirt of the lid;
and, the
opening in the lid being smaller in the diameter than the diameter of a
standard probe.
[0011] These and other features and advantages of the inventions
will be
better understood upon a reading of the following detailed description of the
drawings
read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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[0012] FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a cap installed on a
container
neck;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a cap installed on a
container
neck just prior to its placement over a probe;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the cap shown in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing the inner
movable
part and portions of the outer part and lid, together with a dispensing probe,
while
engaged with the probe;
[0016] FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of showing an
alternative
embodiment of the inside surface of the lid, which seals against the probe
when the
container is installed on the dispensing system;
[0017] FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of showing an
alternative
embodiment of the inside surface of the lid, which seals against the probe
when the
container is installed on the dispensing system;
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[0018] FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of showing an
alternative
embodiment of the inside surface of the lid, which seals against the probe
when the
container is installed on the dispensing system;
[0019] FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of showing an
alternative
embodiment of the inside surface of the lid, which seals against the probe
when the
container is installed on the dispensing system; and
[0020] FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of showing an
alternative
embodiment of the inside surface of the lid, which seals against the probe
when the
container is installed on the dispensing system, and an alternative embodiment
of the
underside of the lid, which seals against the inner movable part prior to
engagement with
the probe;
[0021] FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of showing an
alternative
liner in which Detail A is shown; and
[0022] FIG. 11 is an even more enlarged sectional view of the
portion of
Figure 10 corresponding to Detail A showing schematically a partially cut
liner and a
continuous but frangible connecting section;
[0023] FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional of alternative liner showing
schematically a partially cut and a continuous but frangible connecting
section;
[0024] FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional of alternative liner showing
schematically a partially cut and a continuous but frangible connecting
section;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THF DRAWINGS
[0025] FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a container 18 with a bottle neck 1
onto
which has been placed one embodiment of a cap 19. The cap 19 is comprised of
three
components, a cap body 2, a foam liner 5, and a membrane 20. The cap body 2
has an
integral lid 4, a skirt 3 extending from the lid 4, an opening 10 in the
center of the lid 4.
The lid 4 has an underside 16, a top 15, and an inside edge 17. A protective
tamper
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evident sealing membrane 20 is affixed to the top 15 of the lid 4 to prevent
dirt from
coming into contact with the top 15 of the lid 4 and entering the opening 10.
It is
preferable that the seal 20 be attached to the top 15 by a heat seal such that
a water tight
connection is formed between the lid 4 and the membrane 20. Other ways of
forming a
water tight seal between the membrane 20 and the lid 4 could be used, such as
those
discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,259.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the inside of a cap 19 showing the
liner 5
disposed at the underside 16 of the lid 4. The liner 5 has a radially outer
part 6 and a
radially inner movable part 7 which is connected to the outer part 6 by one
large
connecting section 9 and, optionally, by one or more small connecting sections
21. The
outer part 6 is separated from the inner movable part 7 by at least one cut
25, which in
this instance does not traverse the thickness of the liner 5, but which may
extend all the
way through that thickness. When the cut 25 does not traverse the liner 5, a
continuous
barrier with the underside 16 of the lid 4 is formed.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows the cap 19 after the protective tamper evident
seal
membrane 20 has been removed and just prior to its placement over a dispensing
probe 8,
which is part of a dispensing system (not shown). Examples of dispensing
systems with
probes for which the caps described and claimed herein are applicable can be
seen in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 5,653,270 and 5,289,855. As the cap 19 is lowered into the
dispenser, the probe
8 enters the opening and breaks the small connecting section 21, if present.
As the cap 19
is further lowered, the large connecting section 9 forms a hinge about which
the inner
movable part rotates. FIG. 4 shows the fully displaced or "up" position of the
inner
moveable part 7 of the liner 5, which exists when bottle is fully installed
onto the
dispensing system and the probe is fully engaged with the cap 19. As can be
seen in the
'270 and the '855 patents, the probe 8 typically extends farther into the
container than is
shown in FIG. 4. As the cap 19 and the container 18 to which it is attached
are lifted off
of the probe 8, the inner movable part 7 returns essentially to its original
position as
shown in FIG. 2, because the liner 5 is made from a resilient material.
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[0028] A material that is suitable for a foam liner 5 is a foamed
sheet
material made of cross-linked closed cell polyethylene and having a thickness
of about
0.125 inches. Cross-linked polyethylene is typically made with a blowing agent
called
SEM, which is somewhat controversial in the water bottling industry. Thus, it
may be
advantageous to use an SEM-free cross-linked polyethylene, which is a more
dense and
thinner material. SEM-free cross-linked polyethylene is also a more stiff
material which
may result in improved performance of the flap.
[0029] If a seal is desired between the neck 1 of the 18 and the
outer
periphery of the underside 16 of the lid 4, then a disk about 2.3 inches in
diameter is
preferred. This diameter will allow the liner to be held or wedged into place
such that it
will retain itself in position during shipment of the cap 19 a capping
operation in which
the cap 19 may be moved in a vibrating feeder into position so that it can be
pressed into
place onto the neck 1 of a container 18. However, many other materials more or
less
dense materials could be used as a liner material.
[0030] The liner material preferably has enough stiffness and
strength to
form a short term flapper valve over the opening 10 during the rather brief
period just
prior to the installation of a new container of water onto a dispenser. In
that brief period,
the sealing membrane 20 has been removed from the top 15 of the lid 4, and the
bottle is
inverted. At that moment, which may typically last for less than 30 seconds,
it is
preferable to prevent large flow of water out of the container 18 through the
opening 10.
[0031] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show that the outer part 6 of the liner 5
is
gripped between the bottle neck 1 and the underside 16 of the lid 4 forming a
second seal
23 to prevent leakage between the skirt 3 and the bottle neck 1.
[0032] In the embodiments of Figures 5-9, the cut 25 is made all the
way
through the liner 5. The sealing effect to the liner may also be enhanced by
making the
cut 25 in a generally frustoconical shape, preferably at 65 degrees, such that
the opening
in the liner formed by the cuts is smaller on the side of the liner that abuts
the underside
16 of the lid 4 than the opening in the liner on the side away from the lid.
The seal
between the inner moveable part 7 of the liner 5 and the underside 16 of the
lid 4 need not
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be a perfect seal. Indeed a moderate amount of water passing through the
opening 10 as
the bottle is inverted will still be acceptable.
[0033] The opening 10 has a diameter not greater than that of a
standardprobe 8, which has a diameter of approximately 0.75 inches, so that a
third seal
24 is formed when the cap 19 is lowered onto the probe 8, as shown in FIG. 4.
Depending
upon the softness and flexibility of the material of which the cap 19 is made,
the opening
should be less than the diameter of the probe onto which the cap will be
installed. For
caps made of low density polyethylene, it has been found that a hole with a
diameter that
is 0.734 inches (or 0.016 inches less than the diameter of a standard probe)
forms a
sufficient seal between the cap and the probe, and allows removal of the
bottle and cap
from the probe with an appropriate amount of pulling force.
[0034] To enhance the first seal 22, an optional raised surface 11
can be
molded onto the underside 16 of the lid 4 which will concentrate the static
force between
the inner movable part 7 and the lid 4, as shown in FIG. 9. In addition, the
first seal 22
can be enhanced by making the perforations 25 at an angle such that the outer
part 6 and
the inner movable part 7 have tapered surfaces 26 that mate when the inner
movable part
7 is closed.
[0035] The shape of the inside surface 17 of the lid 4 can be varied
to
enhance the third seal 24, as shown in FIGS. 5-9. In one embodiment, the
inside surface
17 can be parallel with the axis of the lid 4 and can have a thickness in the
axial direction
equal to that of the lid 4, as shown in FIG. 5. Alternatively, the inside
surface 17 of the lid
can have either an increased thickness 12 or a decreased thickness 13 in the
axial
direction greater than or less than the thickness of the lid 4 as shown in
FIG. 8 and FIG. 6,
respectively. In yet another embodiment, a lip 14 can be attached to the
inside surface 17
of the lid 4 whereby the static pressure of the fluid tends to force the lip
14 against the
probe 8 when the cap 19 is inverted and installed on the dispensing system, as
shown in
FIG. 7. An increased thickness 12 at the inside surface 17 can have an
additional function
of enhancing the first seal, similar to the raised portion 11, as discussed
above.
Alternatively, an increased thickness 12 can be used in conjunction with a
raised surface
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11, as shown in FIG. 9, providing enhanced sealing around the probe 8, when
installed,
and a double seal around the opening 10 when the probe 8 is removed.
[0036] Figures 10 and 11 shows an alternative form of liner 5a in
which
the sealing effect of the liner 5a is enhanced by making only a partial cut
25a in the liner,
i.e., a cut that does not go all the way through the liner 5a, but instead
leaves a link 27
that, together with a connecting section 9, forms a continuous seal preventing
flow
through the liner 5a until the link 27 is broken. The partial cut 25a leaves a
frangible link
27 extending in a arc from one end of a connecting section 9 (as shown in
Figure 3) to the
other. In the example shown in Figures 10 and 11, the frangible link 27 is
located at the
surface of the liner 5a that is opposite the underside 16 of the lid 4. As
with the cut 25
shown in Figure 3, the partial cut 25a extends a major portion of the way
around the
opening 10 in the lid 4.
[0037] Other examples of partially cut liners are shown in Figures
12 and
13, respectively. In the embodiments of Figures 11-13, an inner movable part 7
is, as
with earlier described embodiments, larger than the opening 10, preferably
with a
diameter of 1.012 inches, such that static pressure will tend to form a first
seal 22 where
the inner movable part 7 overlaps with the underside 16 of lid 4 as the
container 18 is
inverted or on its side, preventing flow through the opening 10. In the case
of Figure 12,
two partial cuts 25b and 25c, one from each side of the liner 5b, form a
frangible link 29
within the foam liner 5b that is not at either surface thereof In Figure 13,
the partial cut
25d extends from one surface of the liner 5c, but leaves a frangible link 31
at the opposite
surface of the liner Sc, and that link 31 is adjacent to the underside 16 of
the lid 4. In all
cases, it is preferred that the links 27, 29 and 31 cooperate with a large
connecting section
9 in a way that prevents the flow of liquid through the liner, until the link
27, 29 or 31 is
broken by the insertion of a probe through the liner, as depicted in Figure 4.
The links 27,
29 and 31 each forms a relatively small connection between the moveable inner
part of
the liner and the outer part held tightly between the lid and the container.
The links 27,
29 and 31 perform a function similar to the small connecting section 21
(Figure 3), but
afford the advantage of allowing the liner itself to act as a barrier to the
flow of liquid
through the liner and out of the container. When the breakable connecting
section is a cut
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in the liner that does not extend through the liner, the liner itself acts as
an additional
barrier to the egress of the contents from the container and acts as a barrier
to the ingress
of dirt or organisms into the container.
100381 The link 27, 29 or 31 should be thick enough to maintain a
continuous connection (with the connecting section 9) so that the liner can
withstand
water pressure without bursting and can prevent the flow of liquid through the
liner. In
addition, the links 27, 29 and 31 should also be sized and made of a material
so that the
link is easily broken by the insertion of a probe through the lid and liner,
for example by
the lowering of a bottle onto a probe, or by hand insertion of a probe through
the liner and
into the neck of a bottle. The advantage of the embodiments of Figures 10-13
include the
fact that the partial cuts formed in the liner mean that the liner has no
through-cuts, and
forms a third seal to prevent or limit the egress of content in the container
from escaping
the container during shipment. The several seals in the system include: 1) the
interface or
abutment between the liner and the perimeter of the opening in the lid (as may
be
enhanced by the formations 11 and 12 in Figures 8 and 9), 2) the gripping
action by
which the outer perimeter of the liner is held tightly between the top of the
neck of the
container and the outer part of the lid, 3) the liner itself, if it has no
through-cuts, as is the
case with the embodiments of Figures 10-13. In addition, when a probe is
inserted into
the cap, a seal is preferably formed around the probe by an interference fit
between the
inside surface 17 of the opening and the outside surface of the probe 8.
[0039] It should be noted that the cuts 25, 25a, 25b, 25c and 25d
are all
shown schematically in that a space or a line is depicted in the drawings.
Because the
preferred material of the liner is a resilient foam with at least some memory,
the cuts in
the foam liners will not typically form a gap or space. The gaps or spaces in
Figures10-
13, and lines in Figures 5-9 are not intended to be realistic or depictions to
scale of the
cuts discussed herein.
[0040] Although the inventions described and claimed herein have
been
described in considerable detail with reference to certain exemplary
embodiments, one
skilled in the art will appreciate that the inventions described and claimed
herein can be
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, .
other embodiments. The embodiments shown herein have been presented for
purposes of
illustration and not limitation.
12
