US20060043091A1

US20060043091A1 - Seal for reclosable cap enclosure

Info

Publication number: US20060043091A1
Application number: US10/930,990
Authority: US
Inventors: Steven Pinelli; Richard Ellison; Donald Nole
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-31
Filing date: 2004-08-31
Publication date: 2006-03-02

Abstract

A cap for a container is provided. The cap comprises a cap body having a bottom wall, a first dispensing aperture extending through the bottom wall, a second vent aperture extending through the bottom wall, and a seal positioned on the cap body and extending in the first and second apertures. A closure member is pivotally connected to the cap body and pivots between a first closed position and a second open position. The closure member has a stopper and a protuberance. In the first position the stopper engages the first seal in the dispensing aperture to close the dispensing aperture, and the protuberance engages the second seal about the second aperture to close the vent aperture.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to container caps, and more specifically to a seal for a reclosable container cap enclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Caps for drinking containers are well known in the art. Such caps are generally used to provide both a dispensing aperture and a closure mechanism for opening and closing of the dispensing aperture. While caps for drinking containers according to the prior art provide a number of advantageous features, they nevertheless have certain limitations. The present invention seeks to overcome certain of these limitations and other drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide new features not heretofore available. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides a reusable cap or lid for a liquid containing vessel. One embodiment of the cap comprises a cap body having a dispensing aperture and a seal therefore, and a reclosable closure member having a mating plug or stopper.
According to one embodiment, the cap body comprises a unitarily formed component having a bottom wall, a generally cylindrical upstanding side wall and a generally cylindrical peripheral flange. The bottom wall has an upper surface and a lower surface. The generally cylindrical upstanding side wall extends in a first transverse direction with respect to the upper surface of the bottom wall, and the generally cylindrical peripheral flange extends in a second transverse direction with respect to a lower surface of the bottom wall. A first mating member depends from a surface of the generally cylindrical peripheral flange. The first mating member is adapted to mate with the container to secure the cap to the container.
According to another embodiment, a first dispensing aperture extends through the bottom wall of the cap body. The first aperture is located in spaced, adjacent, radially interior relationship relative to the generally cylindrical upstanding wall on the cap body.
According to another embodiment, a first seal is positioned about a wall of the first aperture. Further, in one embodiment the first seal has a blade extending radially inward from a circumference of the first aperture wall and terminating a distance from a center of the first aperture, and in another embodiment the first seal comprises a plurality of blades spaced coaxially about the first aperture, the blades extending radially inward in relation to the first aperture. The stopper engages the first seal when the stopper is inserted into the first aperture to seal the dispensing aperture.
According to another embodiment, a second aperture extends through the bottom wall of the cap body. The second aperture is located in spaced, distal, radially interior relationship relative to the generally cylindrical upstanding wall on the cap body.
According to another embodiment, a second seal is positioned about the second aperture. The second seal may be positioned about a wall of the second aperture and extend through the second aperture from the upper surface of the bottom wall to the lower surface of the bottom wall.
According to another embodiment, the first and second seals are comprised of a unitary component extending from the first aperture to the second aperture. In such an embodiment, the seal may extend between the first and second apertures about one of the upper or lower surfaces of the bottom wall of the cap body. In an alternate embodiment, the seal extends between the first and second apertures about both the upper and lower surfaces of the bottom wall of the cap body. Further, in a preferred embodiment, the seal is made of a thermoplastic elastomeric material, the cap body is made of a polymer based material, and the seal comprises a component overmolded on the cap body.
According to another embodiment, a closure member is pivotally or hingedly connected to the cap body. The closure member has a stopper extending from a first surface thereof. The stopper engages the first seal when the stopper is inserted into the first aperture. In another embodiment, the closure member also has a protuberance extending from the first surface thereof. The protuberance engages the second seal to substantially close the second aperture when the first surface of the closure member is pivoted adjacent the upper surface of the bottom wall. The protuberance generally has a height that is substantially less than a height of the stopper such that the protuberance becomes disengaged from the second seal prior to the stopper being disengaged from the first seal as the closure member is pivoted about the cap body. Additionally, the closure member has a pull ring connected thereto for manipulating the closure member about the cap body.
According to yet another embodiment, an extent of the generally cylindrical peripheral flange defines a substantially horizontal plane. And, at least a portion of the bottom wall is positioned in an angled transverse relationship relative to the substantially horizontal plane.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reclosable cap connected to a container;
FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the reclosable cap of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the reclosable cap of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the reclosable cap of FIG. 2 with the closure member in an open position;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken about line 5-5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the reclosable cap of FIG. 2 with the closure member in a closed position;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken about line 7-7 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken about line 8-8 of FIG. 6; and,
FIG. 9 is a partial enlarged detail view of the seal of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
Referring now to the Figures, and specifically to FIG. 1, there is shown a cap 10 for a container 12. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cap 10 has a unitarily formed cap body 14, preferably made of a rigid material such as a molded plastic, including but not limited to polypropylene. The cap body 14 has a bottom wall 16 having a first or upper surface 18 and a second or lower surface 20. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom wall 16 is positioned at an angled, transverse plane relative to a main horizontal plane of the cap body 14. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in a preferred embodiment the upper surface 18 of the bottom wall 16 of the cap body 14 has a central, laterally positioned depression 22. As explained in greater detail herein, and as best shown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, a first aperture 24, a second aperture 26, and a reclosable closure member 28 are generally provided in the depression 22 of the bottom wall 16.
A generally cylindrical upstanding wall 30 extends in a first transverse direction with respect to the upper surface 18 of the bottom wall 16 of the cap body 14. In a preferred embodiment, the generally cylindrical upstanding wall 30 has a tapering height. An apex 32 of the tapering height of the upstanding wall 30 is adjacent the first aperture 24. Additionally, the cylindrical upstanding wall 30 may not traverse the entire circumference of the cap body 14. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cylindrical upstanding wall 30 does not traverse the entire circumference of the cap body 14. Rather, the cylindrical upstanding wall 30 terminates, respectively, at approximately the opposing sides of the central, laterally positioned depression 22. The termination of the cylindrical upstanding wall 30 allows the closure member 28 to rotate and be fixed in a completely open position.
A generally cylindrical peripheral flange 34 extends in a second transverse direction with respect to the lower surface 20 of the bottom wall 16 of the cap body 14. As shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, an extent 35 of the generally cylindrical peripheral flange 34 defines a horizontal plane that is generally parallel to the main horizontal plane of the cap body 14. The generally cylindrical peripheral flange 34 generally mates with the container 12 to connect the cap 10 to the container 12. Such mating engagement may be performed via a variety of processes. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of mating members 36 extends from an outer surface 38 of the peripheral flange 34. The mating members 36 are adapted to engage mating surfaces or portions of an interior wall of the container 12 to connect the cap 10 to the container 12.
As best shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 8 and 9, the first aperture 24 of the cap body 14 is utilized as a dispensing orifice for dispensing the liquid contents from the cavity of the container 12. The first aperture 24 extends through the bottom wall 16, from the upper surface 18 thereof to the lower surface 20 thereof. The first aperture 24 has a wall 40 which defines the perimeter of the first aperture 24. In a preferred embodiment, the first aperture 24 is located on the cap body 14 in spaced, adjacent, radially interior relationship relative to the generally cylindrical upstanding wall 30 of the cap body 14. The first aperture 24 may have any geometrical configuration. As best shown in FIG. 4, however, the first aperture 24 in the preferred embodiment is generally elliptical in shape, and the wall 40 of the first aperture 24 corresponds to this shape.
The cap body 14 also has a second aperture 26. The second aperture 26 generally operates as a pressure equalizing vent hole for the cavity of the container 12. As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 8 and 9, the second aperture 26 extends through the bottom wall 16 of the cap body 14, from the upper surface 18 thereof to the lower surface 20 thereof. The second aperture 26 also has a wall 42 which defines a perimeter of the second aperture 26. In a preferred embodiment, the second aperture 26 is circular in cross-sectional shape, and is located in spaced, distal, radially interior relationship relative to the generally cylindrical upstanding wall 30 of the cap body 14. Further, in this embodiment, the second aperture 26 is positioned about a substantially similar diametral line across the bottom wall 30 of the cap body 14.
A seal 44 is provided on the cap body 14 to assist in sealing the apertures in the cap body 14 against the closure member 28. More specifically, in the preferred embodiment, the seal 44 is provided adjacent both the first and second apertures 24, 26 in the cap body. Thus, in this embodiment the seal 44 comprises a first seal 46, a second seal 48 and a union 50 between the first and second seals 46, 48. It is understood, however, if only a first aperture 24 is provided that only a first seal 46 may be necessary. Further, the seals 46, 48 may not be unitary as shown in the preferred embodiment. While the seal 44 may be made of any acceptable material, it has been found that a thermoplastic elastomeric material and/or a rubber based material, including natural rubber, are acceptable. Furthermore, with respect to manufacturability, the cap body 14 is generally injection molded and then the seal 44 is overmolded on the cap body 14.
Referring to FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, the first seal 46 is positioned generally in the first aperture 24 about the wall 40 thereof. The first seal 46 has a portion that extends radially inward of a circumference of the first aperture 24, and terminates a distance from a center of the first aperture 24. Further, the first seal 46 generally extends from the upper surface 18 of the bottom wall 16 of the cap body 14 to the lower surface 20 thereof. Herein, circumference is meant to define the outer boundary or perimeter, and is not limited to circular area. Moreover, one type of first seal 46 includes a blade 52, such as a wiper blade, that extends radially inward in relation to the first aperture 24. Preferably, the first seal 46 extends radially inward from an inner circumference of the wall 40 of the first aperture 24. Additionally, the first seal 46 may comprise a plurality of wiper blades 52 spaced coaxially about the first aperture 24. Generally, each of the wiper blades 52 extends radially inward of the aperture 24. As shown in FIG. 9, such wiper blades 52 have a flexible extent such that the first seal 46 is able to provide enhanced impermeability between the first seal 46 and the portion of the closure member 28 inserted in the first aperture 24.
Also as shown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, the second seal 48 is positioned about the second aperture 26, and generally adjacent the opening of the second aperture 26. Further, in the preferred embodiment, the second seal 48 is positioned about the wall 42 which defines a perimeter of the second aperture 26. Like the first seal 46, the second seal 48 generally extends from the upper surface 18 of the bottom wall 16 of the cap body 14 to the lower surface 20 thereof. Unlike the preferred embodiment of the first seal 46, however, the preferred embodiment of the second seal 48 does not have blades extending radially inward. Instead, the second seal 48 is generally maintained against the wall 42 of the second aperture 26.
As explained briefly above, the first seal 46 and the second seal 48 may be provided as a unitary element. In such an embodiment, the seal 44 generally extends between the first aperture 24 and the second aperture 26 about at least one of the upper surface 18 or lower surface 20 of the bottom wall 16 of the cap body 14. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 7-9, the seal 44 may also extend about both the upper surface 18 and the lower surface 20 of the bottom wall 16 of the cap body 14. To provide for the seal 44 extending about the upper surface 18 of the bottom wall 16 of the cap body 14, one embodiment of the cap body 14 has a recessed area 54 (see FIGS. 7-9) in the upper surface 18 of the bottom wall 16. The recessed area 54 allows the union portion 50 of the seal 44 to extend from the first seal portion 46 to the second seal portion 48 with an upper surface of the seal 44 being flush with the upper surface 18 of the bottom wall 16. Additionally, to provide for the seal 44 extending about the lower surface 20 of the bottom wall 16 of the cap body 14, one embodiment of the cap body 14 has a shoulder 56 (See FIGS. 3, 7 and 8) depending from the lower surface 20 of the bottom wall 16. The seal 44 extends within the cavity provided by the shoulder 56 in the cap body 14. By providing the shoulder 56, the seal 44 thickness is increased, allowing the first seal 46 to have a plurality of wiper blades 52 as explained above. Thus, the seal between the seal 44 and the closure member 28 is enhanced through this process.
Referring to the Figures, the reclosable closure member 28 is connected to the cap body 14. With respect to the example shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, the closure member 28 is provided partially in the depression 22 of the bottom wall 16 of the cap body 14, and is pivotally or hingedly connected to the cap body 14. The closure member 28 comprises a plate having a first surface 58 and a second surface 60. As shown in FIG. 5, a stopper 62 extends from the first surface 58 of the closure member 28, generally proximal a first end 64 of the closure member 28. Additionally, a protuberance 66 extends from the first surface 58 of the closure member 28, generally proximal a second end 68 of the closure member 28.
The reclosable closure member 28 generally pivotally extends between a first position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6-9, and a second position, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. The reclosable closure member 28 is manipulated between the first position and the second position by a user to open and close the dispensing aperture 24. In the first position the closure member 28 is closed, and in the second position the closure member is open. Accordingly, in the first position the stopper 62 engages the first seal 46 to sealingly close the dispensing aperture 24, and the protuberance 66 generally closes the second aperture 26, while in the second position the first and second apertures 24, 26 are open to allow liquid to be dispensed from the container 12. Thus, in the first position the wiper blades 52 of the first seal 46 contact the stopper 62 of the closure member 28. More specifically, when the stopper 62 is inserted into the dispensing aperture 24 the wiper blades 52 of the first seal 46 are flexed against the stopper 62 and their distal ends or extents are generally flexed downward toward the cavity of the container 12. Pressure increases due to the gas expansion of the fluid in the container 12, typically as a result of the heat and steam off the hot liquid, however, provides an upward force on the stopper 62. Since the wiper blades 52 are positioned in the opposite direction as the force of the internal pressure, however, when that upward force is applied on the stopper 62 the seal between the wiper blades 52 and the stopper 62 is enhanced, thereby providing enhanced impermeability between the first seal 46 and the stopper 62 inserted in the first aperture 24.
A pull ring 70 is pivotally connected to the closure member 28 to allow a user to manipulate the closure member 28 about the cap body 14, and to thereby open and close the dispensing aperture 24. A torsion spring is connected to both the closure member 28 and the pull ring 70 to maintain the pull ring 70 positioned against the closure member 28 unless a sufficient force is provided by a user to open the pull ring 70.
The closure member 28 also has first and second pivot members (not shown) extending from the sides of the reclosable closure member 28 to connect the closure member 28 to the cap body 14. The pivot members generally extend at a pivot position with respect to the closure member 28 and the cap body 14. Because of the shape of the closure member 28, in one embodiment the first and second apertures 24, 26 are positioned between the hinge position and a perimeter of the cap body 14. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second pivot members comprise shafts that extend into the closure member 28 into the cap body 14. Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, positioning members 72 extend from the respective sides of the closure member 28. The positioning members 72 respectively engage first and second positioning stops 74, 76 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 5) in the cap body 14. The positioning members 72 comprise bumps extending from the closure member 28, and the positioning stops 74, 76 comprise mating crevices in the cap body 14. When the closure member 28 is in the first position, the positioning members 72 engage the first stops 74 to removably retain the closure member 28 in the first position, and when the closure member 28 is in the second position, the position members 72 engage the second stops 76 to removably retain the closure member 28 in the second position. It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the positioning members may alternatively extend from the cap body 14 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The stopper 62 extends from the first surface 58 of the closure member 28. When the closure member 28 is in the first position the stopper 62 is inserted in the first aperture 24 as a plug for the dispensing aperture 24. Accordingly, the stopper 62 is generally shaped in a geometry corresponding to the geometry of the first aperture 24, and more specifically the first seal 46 in the first aperture 24 of the cap 10. Thus, the first seal 46 engages the stopper 62 when the stopper is inserted into the first aperture 24. Similarly, the protuberance 66 extends from the first surface 58 of the closure member 28 to engage the second seal 48 and substantially close the second aperture 26 of the cap 10.
With respect to the closure member 28, the stopper 62 has a height, which is the distance from the first surface 58 of the closure member 28 to the end of the stopper 62. Likewise, the protuberance 66 has a height, which is similarly the distance from the first surface 58 of the closure member 28 to the end of the protuberance 66. As best shown in FIG. 9, in the preferred embodiment, the height of the protuberance 66 is substantially less than the height of the stopper 62. Thus, when the closure member 28 is manipulated from the first (closed) position to the open position, the protuberance 66 becomes disengaged from the second seal 48 prior to the stopper 62 becoming disengaged from the first seal 46. Accordingly, any pressure over atmospheric or environmental pressure that is present in the cavity of the container 12 is released and equalized through the vent hole 26, typically before liquid is dispensed through the dispensing aperture 24. It is further understood that the geometry of the protuberance 66 may be engineered such that if the pressure present in the container becomes great enough it may be released while the closure member 28 is in the first (closed) position with only a nominal amount of liquid/steam exiting the container 12.
Additionally, in a preferred embodiment, a plurality of ribs may be provided on the lower surface of the bottom wall 16 to assist in precluding potential heat sink and shrinkage problems when the seal 44 is overmolded on the cap body 14.
Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. Additionally, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and “fourth” as used herein are intended for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the embodiments in any way. Further, the term “plurality” as used herein indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number.
It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. Accordingly, while the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A cap for a container comprising:

a cap body having a first mating member adapted to mate with the container;

a closure member connected to the cap body, the closure member having a stopper;

a first aperture extending through a bottom wall of the cap body; and,

a first seal positioned about a wall of the first aperture, the first seal having a portion extending inward from a circumference of the first aperture wall and terminating a distance from a center of the first aperture, wherein the first seal engages the stopper when the stopper is inserted into the first aperture.

2. The cap of claim 1, wherein the first seal further has a plurality of blades spaced coaxially about the first aperture, the blades extending radially inward from the first aperture wall.

3. The cap of claim 1, further comprising a second aperture extending through the bottom wall of the cap body.

4. The cap of claim 3, further comprising a second seal positioned about the second aperture.

5. The cap of claim 4, wherein the second seal is positioned about a wall of the second aperture.

6. The cap of claim 4, wherein the first seal and the second seal are comprised of a unitary seal component extending from the first aperture to the second aperture.

7. The cap of claim 1, wherein the closure member is hingedly connected to the cap body.

8. The cap of claim 4, further comprising a protuberance extending from the closure member, the protuberance engaging the second seal to substantially close the second aperture.

9. The cap of claim 8, wherein the protuberance has a height that is substantially less than a height of the stopper such that the protuberance becomes disengaged from the second seal prior to the stopper being disengaged from the first seal as the closure member is pivoted about the cap body.

10. The cap of claim 4, wherein the first and second apertures are positioned generally adjacent one another, wherein the closure member is connected to the cap body at a hinge position, and wherein the first and second apertures are positioned between the hinge position and a perimeter of the cap body.

11. A cap for a container comprising:

a cap body adapted to mate with the container, the cap body having a bottom wall, a first aperture extending through the bottom wall of the cap body, a second aperture extending through the bottom wall of the cap body, and a seal positioned on the cap body and extending in the first and second apertures.

12. The cap of claim 11, wherein the seal is unitary and extends between the first and second apertures about one of a first or second surface of the bottom wall of the cap body.

13. The cap of claim 11, wherein the seal is unitary and extends between the first and second apertures about both a first and second surface of the bottom wall of the cap body.

14. The cap of claim 11, wherein a portion of the seal in the first aperture has a blade extending radially inward from an inner circumference of the first aperture and terminating a distance from a center of the first aperture.

15. The cap of claim 11, wherein a portion of the first seal in the first aperture has a plurality of blades extending radially inward of the first aperture, the blades being spaced coaxially about the first aperture.

16. The cap of claim 11, wherein the second aperture comprises a pressure equalizing vent hole.

17. The cap of claim 11, further comprising a closure member having a stopper and a protuberance, the stopper engaging the first seal in the first aperture, and the protuberance engaging the second seal about the second aperture.

18. The cap of claim 17, wherein the stopper and the protuberance extend from a first side of the closure member.

19. The cap of claim 17, wherein the closure member is rotatably connected to the cap body.

20. The cap of claim 11, wherein the seal comprises a component overmolded on the cap body.

21. The cap of claim 11, wherein the seal is made of a rubber based material, and wherein the cap body is made of a polymer based material.

22. A cap for a container comprising:

a cap body having a bottom wall, a generally cylindrical upstanding wall extending in a first transverse direction with respect to an upper surface of the bottom wall, a generally cylindrical peripheral flange extending in a second transverse direction with respect to a lower surface of the bottom wall;

a first aperture extending through the bottom wall, the first aperture being located in spaced, adjacent, radially interior relationship relative to the generally cylindrical upstanding wall;

a first seal in the first aperture, the first seal having a wiper blade extending radially inward in relation to the first aperture;

a closure plate pivotally connected to the cap body, the closure plate having a stopper extending from a first surface of the closure plate, and a pull ring connected to the closure plate for manipulating the closure plate about the cap body, wherein the stopper engages the first seal when the stopper is inserted into the first aperture.

23. The cap of claim 22, wherein the first seal comprises a plurality of wiper blades spaced coaxially about the first aperture, the wiper blades extending radially inward in relation to the first aperture.

24. The cap of claim 22, further comprising a second aperture, a second seal, and a protuberance, wherein the second aperture extends through the bottom wall and is located in spaced, distal, radially interior relationship relative to the generally cylindrical upstanding wall, wherein the second seal is disposed adjacent an opening of the second aperture, wherein the protuberance extends from the first surface of the closure plate and engages the second seal when the first surface of the closure plate is pivoted adjacent the upper surface of the bottom wall, and wherein the first and second seals are comprised of a unitary component extending from the first aperture to the second aperture.

25. The cap of claim 24, wherein an extent of the generally cylindrical peripheral flange defines a substantially horizontal plane, and wherein at least a portion of the bottom wall is positioned in an angled transverse relationship relative to the substantially horizontal plane.

26. The cap of claim 22, further comprising a plurality of mating members extending from a surface of the generally cylindrical peripheral flange, said mating members being adapted to engage portions of the container to connect the cap to the container.