Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02718325 2010-10-21
DISPENSING CAP FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to beverage container closure devices
having reservoirs for holding an additive substance, and operative to dispense
the
additive substance into the container to facilitate mixing of the additive
substance with
the beverage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to use dispensing caps and closures with beverage containers such
as
bottled water and sport beverages. A dispensing cap incorporates a reservoir
for
receiving a quantity or dose of an additive substance, to be mixed with the
base liquid
(e.g., water; sport beverage) in the container. The additive substance could
be of various
types, and could be in either liquid or powdered form; examples would include
flavoring
ingredients, medicinal or pharmaceutical agents, dietary supplements, and
therapeutic
substances. Some additives may have diminished efficacy if mixed with the base
liquid a
significant length of time before consumption, or early mixing could reduce
the mixture's
shelf life. In other cases, such as for medicinal, therapeutic, or other
health-related
additives, proper proportioning of the additive may be important to ensure
that the
additive will have the desired benefits for the person consuming the mixture.
Provision
of the additive in a dispensing cap facilitates precise proportioning of the
additive and
base liquid, and also allows a consumer to ensure optimal freshness of the
additive / base
liquid mixture by dispensing the additive into the base liquid just prior to
consumption.
The prior art discloses numerous examples of container closures for dispensing
an
additive into the container, including the following patent documents:
= DE 31 40 398 Al
= DE4238819Al
= FR 1178 115 Al
= FR2814156Al
= JP 2002-282565
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= US 4,315,570 Al
= US 5,217,433
= US 5,542,528
= US 5,839,573
= US 5,957,335
= US 6,435,341131
= US 6,513,650 B2
= US 6,540,070 131
= US 6,854,595 B2
= US 6,959,839 B2
= US 7,503,453 B2
= US 2007/0074979 Al
= US 2007/0090000 Al
= US 2008/0067172 Al
= US 2008/0073307 Al
= US 2008/0093381 Al
= US 2008/0116221 Al
= WO 2006/050538 Al
= WO 2008/014444 A2
Notwithstanding the identified prior art, there remains a need for an improved
dispensing cap for beverage containers, and the present invention is directed
to that need.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In general terms, the present invention provides a dispensing cap that may be
screwed onto or otherwise sealingly mounted to a conventional beverage
container, and
which may be actuated to dispense an additive substance from a reservoir
within the
dispensing cap, into the beverage container. The dispensing cap has an open-
bottomed
flow tube which is connected to a surrounding skirt by means of a resilient
diaphragm,
forming an annular reservoir or storage chamber surrounding the flow tube.
In accordance with a first embodiment, a substantially rigid annular base cap
is
provided at the bottom of the flow tube, with the outer perimeter of the base
cap being
adapted for releasably sealing circumferential engagement with the skirt, so
as to close
off the bottom of the storage chamber. The dispensing cap is threaded or
otherwise
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adapted for sealing attachment to a beverage container, such that the skirt
and storage
chamber are disposed within the throat or neck of the container. A downward
force
applied to the flow tube will induce resilient downward deformation of the
diaphragm,
disengagement of the base cap from the skirt, and downward displacement of the
base
cap relative to the skirt, thus opening the lower end of the storage chamber
and releasing
the contents thereof into the container, whereupon the container can be
agitated to mix
the storage chamber contents with a liquid in the container.
The flow tube extends above the storage chamber and terminates in a flow
assembly which enables consumption of the container contents without removing
the
dispensing cap from the container. The upper end of the flow tube is closed
off, and is
sealingly engageable with an opening in a cap sleeve which is slidingly
mounted over a
wall structure defining a flow chamber. The portion of the flow tube disposed
within the
flow chamber has openings to permit liquid flowing in the flow tube to pass
into the flow
chamber. When the cap sleeve is in its closed position with the upper end of
the flow
tube engaging the cap sleeve opening, liquid cannot flow out of the container
through the
cap sleeve opening. When the cap is slidingly moved to its open position, with
the upper
end of the flow tube disengaged from the cap sleeve opening, liquid can flow
from the
container, through the flow tube, into the flow chamber, and out the cap
sleeve opening.
In accordance with a second embodiment, the bottom of the storage chamber is
closed off by a substantially impermeable membrane which is sealingly attached
to the
periphery of the skirt. The membrane may be made from metal foil, but other
materials
may be used for the membrane without departing from the scope of the
invention. In this
embodiment, the open lower end of the flow tube is initially disposed slightly
above the
membrane, and is configured such that it can readily pierce the membrane when
pushed
downward against the membrane. The other elements of this embodiment of the
dispensing cap, including the flow assembly, are similar to corresponding
elements of the
first embodiment described previously.
A downward force applied to the flow tube will induce resilient downward
deformation of the diaphragm and cause the lower end of the flow tube to
pierce the
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membrane, thus opening the lower end of the storage chamber and dispensing its
contents
(i.e., additive substance) into the container, whereupon the container can be
agitated to
mix the additive substance with a liquid in the container. The container can
then be
tipped back so that the mixture formed inside the container can flow through
the flow
tube and flow assembly and out the cap sleeve opening. In this embodiment, the
portion
of the flow tube below the. diaphragm may optionally be provided with slots or
other
types of openings to enhance flow iof the mixed liquid into and out of the
flow tube.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the
accompanying figures, in which numerical references denote like parts, and in
which:
FIGURE 1 is an isometric section through a dispensing cap in accordance
with a first embodiment of the present invention, with the dispensing cap
being screwed onto a beverage container and with security tab in place.
FIGURE 2 is an elevational section through the dispensing cap of FIG. 1.
FIGURE 3 is an isometric section through the dispensing cap of FIG. 1,
with security tab removed in preparation for dispensing additive into the
container.
FIGURE 4 is an isometric section through the dispensing cap of FIG. 1,
shown after actuation to dispensing additive from the reservoir.
FIGURE 5 is an isometric section through the dispensing cap of FIG. 1,
shown after actuation to allow consumption from the container.
FIGURE 6 is a vertical section through a dispensing cap in accordance
with a second embodiment of the present invention, shown with an
additive substance stored in the storage chamber and with the security tab
being removed in preparation of dispensing the additive substance.
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FIGURE 7 is a section through the dispensing cap of FIG. 6, showing the
lower end of the flow tube having pierced the membrane to dispense the
additive substance from the storage chamber into the container.
FIGURE 8 is a section through the dispensing cap of FIG. 6, illustrating
the flow path from the container through the dispensing cap and out the
cap sleeve opening.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a dispensing cap 10 in accordance with a first embodiment
of
the present invention, shown mounted on a beverage container 100 having a
throat
section 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the dispensing cap 10 is adapted
for
mounting on a container 100 having a threaded neck, but this is not essential
to the
invention; the dispensing cap 10 of the present invention may be readily
adapted for use
with containers designed to receive alternative, non-threaded types of
closures. All
components of dispensing cap 10 are preferably made of a rigid or semi-rigid
plastic
material, but other materials providing suitable functional effectiveness may
be used
without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Dispensing cap 10 has a flow tube 20 having an upper end 20U and a lower end
20L. In the illustrated embodiment, flow tube 20 is of generally cylindrical
configuration,
and the descriptions herein will be in the context of a generally cylindrical
flow tube 20.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate, however, that
flow tube 20
could be of a different geometric configuration without departing from the
scope of the
present invention.
Having reference to Fig. 2, flow tube 20 may be considered as comprising four
contiguous sections, as follows:
= lower section 22L, extending upward from lower end 20L of flow tube 20
to a first intermediate point 20-1;
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= middle section 22M, extending upward from first intermediate point 20-1
to a second intermediate point 20-2 a selected distance above first
intermediate point 20-1;
= a perforated section 22P, extending upward from second intermediate
point 20-2 to a third intermediate point 20-3 a selected distance above
second intermediate point 20-2; and
= a top section 22T, extending upward from third intermediate point 22-3 to
upper end 20U of flow tube 20.
Lower end 20L of flow tube 20 has an opening 21 which leads into a flow
passage 24 extending the full length of flow tube 20, from lower end 20L to
upper end
20U. The cylindrical walls of flow tube 20 are solid except within perforated
section
22P, which is formed with a plurality of perforations 25, for purposes to be
explained
herein. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, perforations 25 are
provided in the
form of vertical slots, but this is not essential to the invention;
perforations 25 could
alternatively be provided in various other forms (e.g., round holes). In the
preferred
embodiment shown in the Figures, upper end 20U of flow tube 20 is closed off
by a cap
member 26. Top section 22T of flow tube 20 is preferably somewhat smaller in
cross-
sectional diameter than perforated section 22P. However, this feature is not
essential to
the invention, and in alternative embodiments top section 22T and perforated
section 22P
may be of substantially the same diameter.
Dispensing cap 10 also has a cylindrical skirt 30 which surrounds lower
section
22L of flow tube 20, so as to form a generally annular storage chamber 40
between the
inner surface of skirt 30 and the outer surface of lower section 22L of flow
tube 20. The
outer diameter of skirt 30 is smaller than the inner diameter of throat
section 110 of the
container 100 on which dispensing cap 10 is to be installed, such that skirt
30 may be
readily disposed within throat section 110. Preferably (but not necessarily),
the outer
diameter of skirt 30 is only slightly smaller than the inner diameter of
throat section 110,
thus maximizing the volume of storage chamber 40. Skirt 30 has an upper end
30U and a
lower end 30L. An annular skirt flange 31 extends radially outward from upper
end 30U
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of skirt 30, and transitions at its outmost edge to a downwardly extending
cylindrical
collar 32. As may be seen in the Figures, collar 32 has internal threads 32A
and is of a
suitable diameter such that it can be screwed onto the top of container 100
with its
internal threads 32A engaging the external threading 115 at the top of
container 100.
A resiliently flexible and generally annular diaphragm 42 is circumferentially
and
sealingly connected to flow tube 20 at first intermediate point 20-1, and
extends radially
outward therefrom to circumferentially and sealingly connect to upper end 30U
of skirt
30. Flow tube 20, skirt 30, and diaphragm 42 are preferably (but not
necessarily) molded
as an integral unit. Although this integral unit may thus be made of a rigid
or semi-
plastic material, the required flexibility of diaphragm 42 may be provided by
making
diaphragm 42 substantially thinner than the components to which it is
connected (i.e.,
flow tube 20 and skirt 30).
A substantially rigid and generally annular base cap 44 is circumferentially
and
sealingly connected to flow tube 20 at lower end 20L, and extends generally
radially
outward therefrom for circumferentially sealingly engagement with lower end
30L of
skirt 30. Unlike the connection of diaphragm 42 to upper end 30U of skirt 30,
the
circumferential engagement of base cap 44 with lower end 30L of skirt 30 is
not integral,
but is adapted to permit ready disengagement and downward displacement of base
cap 44
relative to skirt 30 in response to application of a sufficient downward force
on flow tube
20 relative to skirt 30.
As shown in the Figures, base cap 44 preferably (but not necessarily) has a
downward slope radially away from lower end 20L of flow tube 20, to promote
efficient
and complete dispensing of an additive substance from.
Also as shown in the Figures, base flange 44 may be provided in the form of a
discrete component that snaps onto a circumferential retention flange 20F
formed at
lower end 20L of flow tube 20. In alternative embodiments, however, base cap
44 could
also be integrally formed or molded with flow tube 20.
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Having reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 and the foregoing descriptions, it will
be
seen that when base cap 44 is sealingly engaged with lower end 30L of skirt
30, annular
storage chamber 40 becomes a sealed and preferably liquid-tight chamber.
Storage
chamber 40 may be filled or partially filled with a selected additive
substance in liquid,
powder, or other form as appropriate.
Dispensing cap 10 also incorporates a beverage flow assembly 50, which may be
most clearly understood with reference to FIG. 3. In the illustrated
embodiment, flow
assembly 50 comprises a base flange 52 which extends radially outward from
second
intermediate point 20-2 on flow tube 20. An open-topped cylindrical flow
chamber wall
54 extends upward from base flange 52, forming a generally annular flow
chamber 56
surrounding perforated section 22P of flow tube 20. A generally dome-shaped,
cylindrical cap sleeve 58 having a top closure member 59, with a flow opening
59A
formed in top closure 59, is disposed over and around flow chamber wall 54
such that cap
sleeve 58 is slidingly movable relative to cylindrical wall 54 between:
= a closed position (as seen in FIGS. 1 to 4) in which top section 22T of flow
tube 20 sealingly engages flow opening 59A; and
= an open position (as seen in FIG. 5) in which top closure 59 is displaced to
a
position above top section 22T of flow tube 20 such that liquid can flow out
of flow chamber 56 through flow opening 59A.
Flow chamber wall 54 and cap sleeve 58 are designed and configured such that
cap sleeve 58 forms a substantially liquid-tight seal against flow chamber
wall 54 as cap
sleeve 58 moves between the closed and open positions. The Figures
conceptually
illustrate one particular design whereby this liquid-tight seal may be
achieved, but the
present invention is not limited to this or any other particular method or
means of
providing a sliding seal between cap sleeve 58 and flow chamber wall 54, which
as
persons skilled in the art will recognize can be accomplished in a variety of
ways using
known technology.
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Although flow chamber wall 54 is described and illustrated herein as being
generally cylindrical, persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate that
flow chamber
wall 54 and flow chamber 56 could be of different geometric configurations
(with
corresponding modifications to cap sleeve 58) without departing from the scope
of the
present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a generally annular security tab 60, with pull tab
62,
is preferably (but not necessarily) disposed provided around middle section
22M of flow
tube 20, between skirt flange 31 and base flange 52. As will be explained in
greater
detail below, security tab 60 prevents unintentional release of the additive
substance from
storage chamber 40, as could result from inadvertent downward displacement of
flow
tube 20 relative to skirt 30. Accordingly, security tab 60 will typically be
left in place
until it is desired to release the additive substance into container 100.
The particular security tab configuration shown in the Figures is exemplary
only.
Embodiments of the invention incorporating a security tab are not limited or
restricted to
the use of a security device as specifically illustrated herein or in
accordance with any
other particular design or style.
The operation of dispensing cap 10 may be readily understood with reference to
the Figures and the foregoing descriptions. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate
dispensing cap 10
threadingly mounted over the threaded neck of a beverage container 100, with
skirt 30
(and lower section 22L of flow tube 20) disposed within throat 110 of
container 100.
Security tab 60 is in place, storage chamber 40 has been filled with a
selected additive
substance (not shown), and cap sleeve 58 is in the closed position.
FIG. 3 illustrates dispensing cap 10 essentially as in FIGS. 1 and 2 but with
security tab 60 removed.
FIG. 4 illustrates dispensing cap 10 in the "dispense" position, which is
achieved
by applying a downward force on top closure 59 (and flow assembly 50 as a
whole), such
that flow tube 20 moves downward within skirt 30 (with corresponding
deformation and
downward deflection of diaphragm 42), causing base cap 44 to become disengaged
from
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and displaced below lower end 30L of skirt 30, such that the additive
substance will
readily flow out of storage chamber 40 and into container 100, whereupon the
additive
substance will become mixed with the liquid (e.g., water; sport beverage) in
container
100.
FIG. 5 illustrates dispensing cap 10 in the open or "consume" position, which
is
achieved subsequent to the release of the additive substance from storage
chamber 40, by
simply sliding cap sleeve 58 into the "consume" position as previously
described. With
dispensing cap 10 in the "consume" position, container 100 may be tilted or
inverted to
allow the mixed beverage to flow through opening 21 of flow tube 20 into flow
passage
24 within flow tube 20, and thence through perforations 25 in perforated
section 22P of
flow tube 20 into flow chamber 56, and out through flow opening 59A in top
closure 59.
A particular advantage of this first embodiment of the invention is that it
provides
the beverage consumer with the option of drinking the base liquid from
container 100
without releasing the additive substance from storage chamber 40 into
container 100.
This may be done by simply by sliding cap sleeve 58 into the "open" position
without
displacing flow tube 20; this can be done with security tab 60 either removed
or in place.
Another advantage of this first embodiment is that it gives the beverage
consumer
the option of releasing only a portion of the additive substance into
container 100. This
can be done by, for example, displacing flow tube 20 only partially downward
and then
retracting flow tube 20 (by pulling upward on base flange 52) so as to
sealingly re-engage
base cap 44 with lower end 30L of skirt 30, thus retaining the remaining
amount of
additive substance within storage chamber 40 until the consumer is ready to
dispense it
into container 100 at a later time.
FIGS. 6-8 illustrate a dispensing cap 200 in accordance with a second
embodiment of the invention. In FIGS. 6-8, elements similar or identical to
corresponding components of the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 are
denoted
by the same reference numbers.
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FIG. 6 shows dispensing cap 200 mounted to a beverage container 100 containing
a liquid 105. Dispensing cap 200 comprises a flow tube 220 having an open-
ended lower
end 200L and defining a flow passage 224. The uppermost region of flow tube
200
defines a perforated section 220P having one or more perforations 25, for
purposes as
previously described with reference to the embodiment in FIGS. 1-5. The
uppermost
end of perforated section 220P is closed off by a cap member 26.
A cylindrical skirt 30 surrounds a lower portion of flow tube 220 so as to
form a
generally annular storage chamber 40. A resiliently flexible and generally
annular
diaphragm 42 is circumferentially and sealingly connected to flow tube 200 at
a point
below perforations 25, and extends radially outward therefrom to
circumferentially and
sealingly connect to the upper end 30U of skirt 30, thereby closing off the
top of storage
chamber 40. As illustrated in FIG. 6, diaphragm 42 in its initial, pre-use
configuration has
a generally conical form, with its connection to flow tube 220 being at a
level higher than
its connection to skirt 30. A substantially impermeable membrane 210 is
sealingly
attached to the periphery of skirt 30 at its lower end 30L, thereby closing
off the bottom
of storage chamber 40. Membrane 210 may be made from metal foil, but other
materials
may be used for the membrane without departing from the scope of the
invention.
Dispensing cap 200 also incorporates a beverage flow assembly 50 generally as
previously described with reference to FIG. 3, and comprising a base flange 52
and an
open-topped cylindrical flow chamber wall 54 which extends upward from base
flange 52
to form a generally annular flow chamber 56 surrounding perforated upper
section 220P
of flow tube 220. A generally dome-shaped, cylindrical cap sleeve 58 having a
top
closure member 59, with a flow opening 59A formed in top closure 59, is
disposed over
and around flow chamber wall 54 such that cap sleeve 58 is slidingly movable
relative to
cylindrical wall 54 between closed and open positions as previously described.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, base flange 52 may be of a downwardly-oriented,
generally conical configuration. However, this configuration is not essential,
and in
variant embodiments base flange 52 could be of a different configuration
(generally flat
or planar, for example, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5).
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Dispensing cap 200 optionally may be provided with a generally annular
security
tab 60 disposed between diaphragm 42 and base flange 52, such that dispensing
cap 200
cannot be actuated to dispense the contents of storage chamber 40 into
container 100 until
security tab 60 has been removed.
As seen in FIG. 6, when dispensing cap 200 is in its pre-use configuration,
with a
desired amount of additive substance having been placed in storage chamber 40,
lower
end 200L of flow tube 200 will be disposed above and fairly close to membrane
210.
Lower end 200L of flow tube 200 is designed and configured such that it will
readily
pierce or puncture membrane 210 when pressed downward against membrane 210. In
FIGS. 6-8, lower end 200L of flow tube 200 is shown as having a chisel point
(similar to
the point of a hypodermic needle). However, this is only one example of how
lower end
200L of flow tube 220 could be configured to facilitate piercing of membrane
210, and
the present invention is not limited to this or any other particular means or
method for
providing this functionality.
The operation and use of dispensing cap 200 may be readily understood with
reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIG. 7, a downward force has been applied to
flow tube
220, thereby resiliently deforming diaphragm 42 to a downwardly-deflected
position as
shown, and causing lower end 200L of flow tube 220 to pierce membrane 210,
thus
allowing the additive substance to flow out of storage chamber 40 into
container 100. To
facilitate the flow of the additive substance out of storage chamber 40 into
container 100,
the side wall of flow tube 220 may be provided with one or more slots 222 (or
openings
of a different configuration) such that the additive substance can flow from
storage
chamber 40 through slots 222 and then downward through flow passage 224 of
flow tube
220 and exit lower end 200L of flow tube 220 into container 100. In preferred
embodiments, however, lower end 200L of flow tube 220 will be configured to
pierce
membrane 210 in such as manner as to create a large enough opening in membrane
210
to allow the additive substance to flow directly out of storage chamber 40
into container
100 without having to flow through slots 222 and flow passage 224 (or to flow
partially
via flow passage 224 and partly directly out of storage chamber 40 into
container 100).
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FIG. 8 illustrates how liquid 105, after being mixed with the additive
substance
dispensed from storage chamber 40, can flow through dispensing cap 200 for
consumption. When container 100 is tipped back or inverted by a consumer as
shown,
the liquid mixture can flow into directly into flow chamber 224 of flow tube
220 via the
open lower end 220L of flow tube 200 (as indicated by flow path arrows A in
FIG. 8),
and thence through openings 25 in perforated section 220P of flow tube 200 and
out
through flow opening 59A in top closure 59 (as indicated by flow path arrows
B).
Alternatively or in addition, the liquid mixture can flow through the opening
in
membrane 210 external to flow tube 200 and then through slots 222 in the side
wall of
flow tube 200 into flow chamber 224 (as indicated by flow path arrows C), and
thence
via flow path B to exit through flow opening 59A in top closure 59. In
unillustrated
alternative embodiments, lower end 220L could be closed (but still adapted to
pierce
membrane 210), such that all flow of the additive substance from storage
chamber 40 into
container 100 is directly through the opening in pierced membrane 210, and
such that all
flow of the liquid mixture from container 100 and out through flow opening 59A
is via
flow paths C and B in sequence.
It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that various
modifications
of the present invention may be devised without departing from the essential
concept of
the invention, and all such modifications are intended to come within the
scope of the
present invention and the claims appended hereto. It is to be especially
understood that
the invention is not intended to be limited to illustrated embodiments, and
that the
substitution of a variant of a claimed element or feature, without any
substantial resultant
change in the working of the invention, will not constitute a departure from
the scope of
the invention.
In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting
sense to
mean that items following that word are included, but items not specifically
mentioned
are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does
not exclude
the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the
context clearly
requires that there be one and only one such element. The word "sealing" and
derivative
forms thereof, as used herein, are to be understood as connoting the provision
of a
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substantially liquid-tight seal. As used in this patent document, the words
"cylindrical",
"annular", or other words relating to shape, form, or properties are not
intended to denote
or require geometrical or technical precision, and are accordingly to be
understood as
denoting general or substantial conformity (e.g., "cylindrical" would be
understood as "at
least substantially cylindrical") unless the context clearly requires
otherwise.
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