Beverage container closure with pressure release
A beverage container closure with pressure release, includes a generally funnel-shaped device body having an upper portion and a lower portion, a snap ring extending around an inner periphery of said lower portion, wherein the snap ring can be releasably attached to a beverage container for maintaining a leak-proof and airtight seal with an edge of the beverage container and a snap cover releasably attached to the upper portion of the device body, wherein the snap cover is designed to release from the upper portion of the device body prior to the device body releasing from the beverage container when pressure builds up within the beverage container.
1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates generally to beverage container closures and in particular, to beverage container closures with pressure release.
2. Description of the Related Art
Beverage containers are generally formed from cylindrical aluminum cans which contain a soft drink, beer or other liquid beverage. Such containers are usually available in 12-ounce and 16-ounce volumes, although various volumes of beverage containers may be available. A conventional beverage container includes a pull tab which initially seals an opening in the top of the container and can be pulled to expose the opening and facilitate access to the beverage contents of the container. However, one of the limitations of conventional can-type beverage containers is that once the pull tab has been used to open the container, the container cannot be re-sealed in the event that some of the beverage in the container is not consumed. This causes carbonated beverages to become flat due to the escape of carbon dioxide from the beverage container and allows insects or other debris to enter the container.
Various types of covers exist for preventing carbonated beverages in opened containers from becoming flat and for preventing insects from entering the container. Examples of covers that fit onto the top of containers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,947,324, 5,071,042 and 4,883,192. These covers snap onto the top of the container and include caps that allow the container to be opened and closed as desired.
These patents are only exemplary of the many devices disclosed in the art. No representation is made that these are the only or most relevant patents to the present disclosure. Although such snap-fit covers provide a convenient and easy way of resealing an opened container, it has been found that a very serious problem exists with their use. As a carbonated beverage warms or the container is shaken or otherwise disturbed, carbon dioxide is released from the carbonated beverage which causes a buildup of pressure within the now sealed container. When the pressure builds to a certain psi (pounds per square inch), the snap fit covers are forcefully ejected from the top of the container. Applicant has found that snap fit covers when ejected, can reach speeds close to roughly twice the speed of a cork being ejected from a bottle of champagne. The thus ejected snap fit cover can cause serious injury to person or property.
SUMMARYA beverage container closure with pressure release, includes a generally funnel-shaped device body having an upper portion and a lower portion, a snap ring extending around an inner periphery of said lower portion, wherein the snap ring can be releasably attached to a beverage container for maintaining a leak-proof and airtight seal with an edge of the beverage container and a snap cover releasably attached to the upper portion of the device body, wherein the snap cover is designed to detach from the upper portion of the device body prior to the device body detaching from the beverage container when pressure builds up within the beverage container.
A more complete appreciation of the present disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In describing preferred embodiments of the present disclosure illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for sake of clarity. However, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner.
Referring to
Device 1 prevents insects, dirt, debris and other contaminants from entering the beverage container 36 and preserves the freshness and integrity of the beverage remaining in the beverage container 36 after initial opening of the beverage container. The device 1 is re-usable and can be readily detached from one beverage container 36, washed and/or rinsed and attached to another beverage container 36 for example, after the contents of the first beverage container 36 have been consumed.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, device body 2 is resilient plastic. Cap assembly 20 is also resilient plastic, although a material generally softer and more flexible than that forming device body 2 is desirable. It should be understood that device 1 may be formed of any suitable alternative resilient material(s). Device 1 may be a dishwasher-safe material, for example. Examples of materials which are suitable for fabrication of device 1 include, without limitation, polyethylene, rubber, etc. However, some characteristics of the particular material(s) used to fabricate device 1 may vary depending on the specific nature of the application of device 1. For example, characteristics which affect seal ability; resiliency; stretch; rigidity; elasticity; application force; translucence; and luminescence may determine selection of the material(s) used.
Referring to
Cap assembly 20 mounts to neck portion 3, allowing the device 1 to be selectively opened and closed. As shown in
Mounting loop 22 is dimensioned to press fit onto neck portion 3 into the area between neck ring 40 and flange 41. Snap cover 24 can then be pressed down onto top edge 42 of neck portion 3, so that snap cover 24 is detachably attached to neck portion 3 of device body 2. As shown in closeup in
Top edge 42 of the neck portion 3 includes an inside beveled edge 44 and an outside beveled edge 46. Flexible seal ring 60 of snap cover 24 is shaped to complement the inside beveled edge 44 and is positioned to provide a snug leak-proof seal along inside beveled edge 44 of top edge 42 of neck portion 3 when snap cover 24 is pressed closed. As snap cover 24 is being pressed down onto top edge 42 of neck portion 3, snap ring 50 engages outside beveled edge 46 and forces cylindrical flat sides 32 outward until snap ring 50 snaps into snap lock slot 48, thereby securing snap cover 24 in its closed position.
As illustrated in
Referring to
For temporary storage of the beverage container 36 prior to dispensing of the beverage (not illustrated) from the beverage container 36, snap cover 24 is pressed onto top edge 42 of neck portion 3 until snap ring 50 engages snap lock slot 48 and snaps into place. If beverage in the beverage container 36 is a carbonated beverage, carbon dioxide gas from the beverage is initially unable to escape from the device body interior 14 through the capped neck portion 3 or from the lip portion 16 of the device body 2 due to the airtight seals provided. This prevents the carbon dioxide from escaping from the device 1 and maintains the carbonation integrity and freshness of the beverage. Furthermore, the snap cover 24 prevents insects, dirt, debris and other contaminants from entering the device body interior 14 and the beverage container 36 through neck portion 3 of device 1. However, if too much pressure builds up in the device body interior 14, the snap cover 24 will gently open or “burp” thus preventing the device 1 from being forcefully ejected from the container 36.
When dispensing of the beverage from the beverage container 36 is desired, snap cover 24 is removed from the neck portion 3 of the device body 2 by pressing flip tab 29 in an upward direction. Accordingly, the beverage can be selectively dispensed from the beverage container 36 through device body interior 14 (
When additional beverage remains in beverage container 36 after the desired quantity of beverage has been dispensed from beverage container 36, snap cover 24 can again be attached to neck portion 3 to seal interior 14 of device body 2 by firmly pressing down on snap cover 24 until snap ring 50 engages snap lock slot 48. After the beverage has been completely dispensed from the beverage container 36, device 1 can be removed from the beverage container 36 and attached to another beverage container 36 for further use.
The device body 2 and/or cap assembly 20 may be in any of various colors to differentiate multiple devices 1 from each other to aid in container identification when multiple devices 1 are attached to multiple respective beverage containers 36 simultaneously. In addition, although the cap assembly 20 has been described as being press fit into neck portion 3, it could of course be attached in other ways. For example, mounting loop 22 and neck portion 3 of device 1 can be provided with threads, allowing cap assembly 20 to be screwed onto neck portion 3. In this case, snap cover 24 would still snap onto the top edge of neck portion 3 as described above.
While the illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
Numerous additional modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in view of the above-teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
Claims
1. A beverage container closure with pressure release, comprising:
- a generally funnel-shaped device body having an upper portion and a lower portion;
- a snap ring extending around an inner periphery of said lower portion, wherein the snap ring can be releasably attached to a beverage container for maintaining a leak-proof and airtight seal with an edge of the beverage container; and
- a snap cover releasably attached to the upper portion of the device body, wherein the snap cover is designed to release from the upper portion of the device body prior to the device body releasing from the beverage container when pressure builds up within the beverage container.
2. The beverage container closure with pressure release as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
- a wall portion extending from the upper portion and a lip portion flaring outwardly from the lower portion; and
- a device body interior defined by the upper portion, the wall portion and the lower portion.
3. The beverage container closure with pressure release as recited in claim 2, wherein pressure builds up within the device body interior when a pressure buildup occurs within the beverage container.
4. The beverage container closure with pressure release as recited in claim 1, further comprising a cap assembly including a mounting loop attached to the snap cover via a tether.
5. The beverage container closure with pressure release as recited in claim 4, wherein the mounting loop is mounted to the upper portion of the device body by press fit.
6. The beverage container closure with pressure release as recited in claim 4, wherein the mounting loop is mounted to the upper portion of the device body by threaded connection.
7. The beverage container closure with pressure release as recited in claim 1, wherein the snap cover is releasable from the upper portion of the device body by a user for allowing the user access to contents of the beverage container.
8. The beverage container closure with pressure release as recited in claim 1, wherein the snap cover is pressed onto an upper edge of the upper portion of the device body by the user to protect contents of the beverage container.
9. The beverage container closure with pressure release as recited in claim 1, wherein the snap cover is designed to release from the upper portion of the device body when pressure within the device body reaches between approximately 7.5 psi-12.3 psi and more preferably less than approximately 12 psi and the device body is designed to release from the beverage container when pressure builds up to at least approximately 17 psi-21 psi within the device body.
10. A beverage container closure with pressure release, comprising:
- a generally funnel-shaped device body having a generally cylindrical upper portion, a generally cylindrical middle portion extending from the neck portion, a lower portion extending from the middle portion and a lip portion flaring outwardly from the lower portion;
- a device body interior defined by the upper portion, the middle portion, the lower portion and the lip portion;
- a snap ring extending around the device body interior; and
- a snap cover releasably attached to the upper portion of the device body, wherein the snap cover is designed to release from the upper portion of the device body prior to the device body releasing from the beverage container when pressure builds up within the device body interior.
11. The beverage container closure with pressure release as recited in claim 10, wherein pressure builds up within the device body interior when a pressure buildup occurs within the beverage container.
12. The beverage container closure with pressure release as recited in claim 10, further comprising a cap assembly including a mounting loop attached to the snap cover via a tether.
13. The beverage container closure with pressure release as recited in claim 12, wherein the mounting loop is mounted to the upper portion of the device body by press fit.
14. The beverage container closure with pressure release as recited in claim 12, wherein the mounting loop is mounted to the upper portion of the device body by threaded connection.
15. The beverage container closure with pressure release as recited in claim 10, wherein the snap cover is releasable from the upper portion of the device body by a user for allowing the user access to contents of the beverage container.
16. The beverage container closure with pressure release as recited in claim 10, wherein the snap cover is pressed onto an upper edge of the upper portion of the device body by the user to protect contents of the beverage container.
17. The beverage container closure with pressure release as recited in claim 10, wherein the snap cover is designed to release from the upper portion of the device body when pressure within the device body reaches between approximately 7.5 psi-12.3 psi and more preferably less than approximately 12 psi and the device body is designed to release from the beverage container when pressure builds up to at least approximately 17 psi-21 psi within the device body.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 11, 2009
Publication Date: Mar 17, 2011
Inventor: Ajit Khubani
Application Number: 12/584,766
International Classification: B65D 51/18 (20060101);