Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02374538 2002-03-05
1
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Bottle cap with a chamber for raw material and pressure gas
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
l.Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cap for a bottle which
encloses therein a liquid such as a refreshing drink, mineral
water, alcohol drink, milk drinks and the like.
2. Prior Art
Environmental pollution increases at present and quality
of water also deteriorates considerably. Without a severe
sterilization course, water can not be used for drink as it is.
However, city water which has been sterilized excessively is,
because of its peculiar medicinal smell, not used preferably as
for drink. So, as drink substituted for city water, recently,
drink charged in a bottle like a plastic bottle is widely
spreaded.
These bottled drinks are almost, except a part such as
mineral water etc., supplied to consumers, after liquid and raw
material have been mixed in a factory.
However, for bottled drink whose liquid and raw material
are previously mixed, as raw material causes oxidation,
deterioration, rot, brownishness, etc., under the influence of
the air temperature, ultraviolet rays, oxygen in the air
enclosed in a bottle, o~r the like, it is difficult to keep
freshness of produced moment and newly made taste till the very
end of best consuming term.
Accordingly, as a means to prevent raw material from
oxidation and the like till a bottled drink is consumed, it is
CA 02374538 2002-03-05
2
disclosed, for example, in the official Utility Model
publications No.50-18846, No.50-18847 and No.50-18848, bottles
having a chamber between a cap and an inner plug.
According to these bottles, when a cap is taken out of
the bottle a inner plug remains at the top of the bottle, a
member for opening and closing which hangs from the back of the
tap wall of the cap parts from the bottom of the inner plug, a
leak provided in the bottom is opened, and raw material enclosed
in the chamber between the cap and the inner plug is to be
discharged in the bottle.
Therefore, by enclosing liquid and raw material in a
bottle and a chamber respectively, and transferring the bottle
from a manufacturer to a consumer, it can be intended so that
the raw material and the liquid are mixed when a consumer opens
the cap to use the bottle. Deterioration etc of raw material
under the air temperature and ultraviolet rays during
transferring are to be prevented.
However, even said bottle having a chamber between a cap
and an inner plug, it has been difficult to prevent oxidation,
brownishness, aging and deterioration of raw material enclosed
in a chamber by contact with oxygen in the air enclosed in the
chamber. Further, discharging through a leak in an inner plug
relies on dead load of raw material, there is a fear of not
achieving smooth discharge on account of the clogging etc. of a
leak by solidification of raw material.
Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a bottle
cap which can supply a consumer with a bottled drink composed of
raw material and liquid, keeping freshness of produced moment
without causing deteriorating etc. of raw material, and which
CA 02374538 2002-03-05
3
can smoothly make raw material and liquid be mixed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The first bottle cap relating to the present invention is
provided with a fixed portion and a movable portion which are
separably screwed with each other.
The fixed portion is for supporting the movable portion
and has an attaching portion to an opening of a bottle and a
through hole on an axial line.
The movable portion has an inner plug portion which
protrudes from a face thereof on the axial line and passes
through the through hole.
The inner plug portion is provided with a chamber for raw
material and pressure gas. An opening plane at the other end of
the chamber is sealed by a plug. Between the plug and the fixed
portion, there exists a plug opening means and the plug is to be
opened by the plug opening means during relative movements of
the fixed portion and the movable portion.
According to the first bottle cap, as the inner plug
portion has a chamber for raw material and pressure gas, and an
opening at the other end of the chamber is sealed with a plug,
raw material charged in the chamber is shut off from air by
pressure gas and prevented from oxidation, deterioration etc.
which are caused by contact with oxygen in the air. Therefore,
it can be supplied to a consumer, keeping freshness of produced
moment. Also, as a plug opening means exists between a plug and
a fixed portion, and the plug is to be opened by the plug
opening means during relative movements of the fixed portion and
the movable portion, when opening the bottle, the chamber can
CA 02374538 2002-03-05
4
easily be opened by rotating the movable portion. At this time,
raw material is discharged by means of pressure gas charged
therein, so that releasing from the chamber can smoothly be done.
The second bottle cap relating to the present invention
is the same structure as of the said first bottle cap, and its
material is either of PE (polyethylent) or PP (polypropylene).
According to the second bottle cap, in addition to the
effects brought by the first bottle cap, as material is PE or PP,
it can easily be recycled. Further, by recycling, problem of
producing dioxin at incinerating which a former bottle cap made
of PVC possesses can be solved.
The third bottle cap relating to the present invention is
the same structure as of the said first bottle cap, and its
material is either of PET (Polyethylene-terephthalate) or
aluminium.
According to the third bottle cap, in addition to the
effects brought by said first bottle cap, as material is PET or
aluminium, by recycling, it can bring same effects as of said
second bottle cap. Further, cyclical efficiency can be raised
because of omitting detaching work by enabling collection as one
body of a PET bottle or an alminium bottle.
Preferably, said plug opening means consists of a flange
projecting from the inner plug portion of the plug and a
periphery portion of the through hole which protrudes in the
passage of the flange.
In this case, as the plug opening means is to be a simple
structure, it can reduce cost, simplifying a manufacturing
process.
Preferably, said periphery portion comprises a pin member
CA 02374538 2002-03-05
protruding in parallel with said axial line.
In this case, by only rotating a movable member slightly,
a chamber can rapidly be opened.
Preferably, said plug opening means consists of a fixed
portion, a plug and a connecting member which connects the fixed
portion with the plug.
In this case, the plug which rises with the rotation of
the movable portion, can be opened by the tension of the
connecting member. Also, after opening process, as the plug is
connected to the fixed portion by the connecting member, it can
be prevented from dropping into the liquid in the bottle.
Preferably, said pressure gas is an inert gas.
In this case, it can maintain a safe quality of raw
material.
Preferably, said pressure gas is one which is chosen
among Nitrogen, Herium, Argon, CO2, NO or mixing gasses of two
or more these gases.
In this case, it is obtainable easily at low cost as an
article on the market and cost can be reduced.
Preferably, said raw material is powder and one which is
chosen among green tea, coffee, black tea, enriched mineral, an
extracted mineral from the water in the depths of the sea,
healthy food, medicine, an extracted fruit juice, dairy products,
alcohol, an extracted vegetable, vitamine, sugar, herbs or
ferment bacilli.
In this case, raw material is easily handled and can
rapidly be mixed with liquid. Also, by using raw materials of
many kinds, application range of a bottle cap can be extended.
Here, enriched mineral is, for example, the four main minerals
CA 02374538 2002-03-05
6
of magnesium, natrium, kalium and calcium. Healthy food is, for
example, chitosam, agarics, rakanka, ginseng. Ferment bacilli
is, for example, yoghurt bacilli and yakult bacilli.
Preferably, said raw material is solid and one which is
chosen among green tea, coffee, black tea, enriched mineral, an
extracted mineral from the water in the depths of the sea,
healthy food, medicine, an extracted fruit juice, or dairy
products.
In this case, raw material is very easily handled and
easily charged into a chamber. In case raw material is the form
of a tablet, as being formed beforehand handling becomes easier,
and therefore it is preferable. By using raw materials of many
kinds, the aforesaid effects can be obtained.
Preferably, said raw material is liquid and one which is
chosen among green tea, coffee, black tea, enriched mineral, an
extracted mineral from the water in the depths of the sea,
healthy food, medicine, an extracted fruit juice, or dairy
products.
In this case, raw material can be mixed into liquid
rapidly and satisfactorily. Further, by using raw materials of
many kinds, the aforesaid effects can be obtained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig.l is a section showing an original state where a
bottle cap seals a bottle.
Fig.2 is a section showing a state just before a plug is
opened, by rotating a movable portion of the bottle cap.
Fig.3 is a section showing a state just after a plug of
the bottle cap has been opened.
CA 02374538 2002-03-05
Fig.4 is a section showing another embodiment of a bottle
cap in respect of the present invention.
Fig.5 is a section showing a further embodiment of a
bottle cap in respect of the present invention.
Fig.6 is a section showing a further embodiment of a
bottle cap in respect of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In Figs.l through 3, an embodiment of bottle cap in
respect of the present invention is shown. Fig.l is a section
showing a first state where a bottle cap seals a bottle. Fig.2
is a section showing. a state just before a plug is opened, by
rotating a movable portion of the bottle cap. Fig.3 is a
section showing a state just after a plug of the bottle cap has
been opened.
A bottle cap l is provided with a fixed portion 2 and a
movable portion 3 which are separably screwed with each other.
The fixed portion 2 is for supporting the movable portion
3 and has an attaching portion 2a to an opening lla of a bottle
11 and a through hole 2b on an axial line x.
The movable portion 3 has an inner plug portion 4 which
protrudes from a face 3a thereof on the axial line x and passes
through the through hole 2b. The inner plug portion 4 is
provided with a chamber 5 for raw material 12 and pressure gas
13. An opening plane 5a at the other end of the chamber 5 is
sealed by a plug 6. Between the plug 6 and the fixed portion 2,
there exists a plug opening means 7 and the plug 6 is to be
opened by the plug opening means 7 during relative movements of
the fixed portion 2 and the movable portion 3.
CA 02374538 2002-03-05
According to the bottle cap l, raw material 12 charged in
a chamber 5 is shut off from air by means of pressure gas 13 and
prevented from oxidation and deterioration caused by contact
with oxygen in air. Therefore, it can be supplied to a consumer,
keeping freshness of produced moment. Also, as shown in Figs.2
and 3, when opening a bottle 11, the chamber 5 can easily be
opened by rotating the movable portion 3. At this time, as raw
material 12 is discharged by means of pressure gas 13 charged
therein, so that releasing from the chamber 5 can smoothly be
done.
Material of the bottle cap 1 is PE.
To do like this, it can easily be recycled. Further, by
recycling, problem of producing dioxin at incinerating which a
former bottle cap made of PVC possesses can be solved. Also in
case material is PP, same effect brought by recycling can be
obtained.
Further, in case of using PET or Alminium as material of
the bottle cap 1, in addition to the aforesaid effect brought by
recycling, cyclical efficiency can be raised because of omitting
detaching work by enabling collection as one body of a PET
bottle or an alminum bottle, and therefore it is preferable.
The plug opening means 7 consists of a flange 6a
projecting from the inner plug portion 4 of the plug 6 and a
periphery portion 2c of the through hole 2b which protrudes in
the passage of the flange 6a.
To do like this, as the plug opening means 7 is to be a
simple structure, it can reduce cost, simplifying a
manufacturing process.
It is preferable that the pressure gas 13 is inert gas.
CA 02374538 2002-03-05
9
To do like this, it can maintain a safe quality of raw material.
It is especially preferable that the pressure gas 13 is
one which is chosen among Nitrogen, Herium, Argon, COa, NO or
mixing gasses of two or more these gases.
To do like this, it is obtainable easily at low cost as
an article on the market and cost can be reduced.
It is preferable that the raw material 12 is powder and
one which is chosen among green tea, coffee, black tea, enriched
mineral, an extracted mineral from the water in the depths of
the sea, healthy food, medicine, an extracted fruit juice, dairy
products, alcohol, an, extracted vegetable, vitamine, sugar,
herbs or ferment bacilli.
To do like this, raw material is easily handled and can
rapidly mixed with liquid. Also, by using raw materials of many
kinds, application range of a bottle cap 1 can be extended.
It is preferable that raw material 12 is solid and one
which is chosen among green tea, coffee, black tea, enriched
mineral, an extracted mineral from the water in the depths of
the sea, healthy food, medicine, an extracted fruit juice, or
dairy products.
To do like this, raw material 12 is easily handled and
easily charged into the chamber 5. In case raw material 12 is
the form of a tablet, as being formed beforehand handling
becomes easier, and therefore it is preferable. By using raw
materials of many kinds, the aforesaid effects can be obtained.
It is preferable that raw material 12 is liquid and one
which is chosen among green tea, coffee, black tea, enriched
mineral, an extracted mineral from the water in the depths of
the sea, healthy food, medicine, an extracted fruit juice, or
CA 02374538 2002-03-05
1U
dairy products.
To do like this, raw material 12 can be mixed into with
liquid rapidly and satisfactorily. Further, by using raw
materials of many kinds, aforesaid effects can be obtained.
Fig.4 is a section showing another embodiment of a bottle
cap in respect of the present invention. In the following
embodiment, same symbols are used to the portion substantially
same as aforesaid embodiment and explanation thereof is omitted
or simplified.
A bottle cap 21 is made to comprise, in a periphery
portion 2c of a through hole 2b of the bottle cap l, a pin
member 2d which projects in parallel with an axial line x.
To do like this, by only rotating a movable portion 3
slightly, a chamber 5 can be rapidly opened.
Fig.5 is a section showing a further embodiment of a
bottle cap in respect of the present invention.
A bottle cap 31 is a substitution of a plug opening means
7 of the bottle cap 1 for the composition of a fixed portion 2,
a plug 6 and a connecting member 2c which connects these fixed
portion 2 with the plug 6.
To do like this, the plug 6 which rises with the rotation
of the movable portion 2, can be opened by means of tension of
the connecting member 2e. Also, after opening process, as the
plug 6 is connected by the connecting member 2e with the fixed
portion 2, it can be prevented from dropping into liquid in the
bottle 11.
Fig.6 is a section showing a further embodiment of a
bottle cap in respect of the present invention. A bottle cap 41
is of elongating the periphery portion 2c of the bottle cap 1
CA 02374538 2002-03-05
1I
toward the surface of liquid and of connecting the plug 6 with
the fixed portion 2 by the connecting member 2e'.
To do like this, as being discharged from the chamber 5
directly into the liquid, raw material 12 can be mixed into the
liquid efficiently. In this bottle cap 41, the plug 6 is opened
when the flange 6a engages with the periphery portion 2c. The
connecting member 2e' is not to be structural elements of the
opening means 7, however to do like this, after opening process,
the plug 6 can be prevented from dropping into the liquid.
EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
According to the first bottle cap in respect of the
present invention, as an inner plug portion is provided with a
chamber for raw material and pressure gas and an opening at the
other end of the chamber is sealed with a plug, raw material
charged in the chamber is shut off from air by pxessure gas and
prevented from oxidation, deterioration etc. which are caused by
contact with oxygen in the air can be prevented. Therefore, it
can be supplied to a consumer, keeping freshness of produced
moment. Also, as a plug opening means exists between a plug and
a fixed portion, and the plug is to be opened by the plug
opening means during relative movements of the fixed portion and
the movable portion, when opening the bottle, the chamber can
easily be opened by rotating the movable portion. At this time,
raw material is discharged by means of pressure gas charged
therein, so that releasing from the chamber can smoothly be done.
According to the second bottle cap in respect of the
present invention of claim 2, in addition to the effects brought
by the first bottle cap, material being PE or PP, it can easily
CA 02374538 2002-03-05
12
be recycled. Further, by recycling, problem of producing dioxin
at incinerating which a former bottle cap made of PVC possesses
can be solve.
According to the third bottle cap in respect of the
present invention of claim 3, in addition to the effects brought
by said first bottle cap, as material is PET or aluminium, by
recycling, it can bring same effects as of said second bottle
cap. Further, cyclical efficiency can be raised because of
omitting detaching work by enabling collection as one body of a
PET bottle or an alminium bottle.
According to claim 4, as the plug opening means is to be
a simple structure, cost can be reduced, simplifying a
manufacturing process.
According to claim 5, by only rotating a movable member
slightly, a chamber can rapidly be opened.
According to claim 6, the plug which rises with the
rotation of the movable portion, can be opened by tension of the
connecting member. Also, after opening process, as the plug is
connected to the fixed portion by means of the connecting member,
it can be prevented from dropping into the liquid in the bottle.
According to claim 7, it can maintain a safe quality of
raw material.
According to claim 8, it is obtainable easily at low cost
as an article on the market and cost can be reduced.
According to claim 9, raw material is easily handled and
can rapidly be mixed with liquid. Also, by using raw materials
of many kinds, application range of a bottle cap can be extended.
According to claim 10, raw material is very easily
handled and easily charged into a chamber. Also, by using raw
CA 02374538 2002-03-05
13
materials of many kinds, application range of the bottle cap can
be extended.
According to claim 11, raw material can be mixed into
liquid rapidly and satisfactorily. Also by using raw materials
of many kinds, application range of the bottle cap can be
extended.
