NON-DETACHABLE BEVERAGE CLOSURE WITH A PEEL OPEN COVER SYSTEM

Abstract

A lid has an opening, an annular lower region, and an upper region providing an upwardly facing annular recipient surface. A cover assembly removably positioned over the opening of the lid and the recipient surface includes a generally circular upper disk with a radially extending tab. The cover assembly also includes a circular lower disk. An adhesive in a ring-shaped configuration removably couples the lower disk and the recipient surface.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation-in-part of pending application Ser. No. 13/406,029 filed Feb. 27, 2012 which in turn is a continuation-in-part of pending application Ser. No. 12/387,618 filed May 05, 2009, the subject matter of which applications is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system and more particularly pertains to forming a pour-through top opening in a crown cap crimped onto a bottle.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of beverage closure systems of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, beverage closure systems of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of capping bottles are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, they do not describe a non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system that allows forming a pour-through top opening in a crown cap crimped onto a bottle.

In this respect, the non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of forming a pour-through top opening in a crown cap crimped onto a bottle.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system which can be used for forming a pour-through top opening in a crown cap crimped onto a bottle. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the disadvantages inherent in the known types of beverage closure systems of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a lid having an opening, an annular lower region, and an upper region providing an upwardly facing annular recipient surface. A cover assembly removably positioned over the opening of the lid and the recipient surface includes a generally circular upper disk with a radially extending tab. The cover assembly also includes a circular lower disk. An adhesive in a ring-shaped configuration removably couples the lower disk and the recipient surface.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system which has all of the advantages of the prior art beverage closure systems of known designs and configurations and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system which is of durable and reliable constructions.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system economically available to the buying public.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention is to provide a non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system for forming a pour-through top opening in a crown cap crimped onto a bottle, the system being safe, ecological, convenient and economical.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a lid from the non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system of the present invention, the lid being shown prior to spin forming.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the lid of FIG. 1, the lid being shown after spin forming and further processing.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the lid of FIG. 2, the lid being shown attached to a bottle and a cover attached to the lid with a raised pull tab.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the lid of FIG. 3, the lid being shown attached to a bottle with the cover removed from the lid.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective illustration of the cover shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 6 but with the cover removed from the lid.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various Figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described. The present invention, the non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system 10 is comprised of a plurality of components. Such components in their broadest context include a lid and a cover assembly. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.

The non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system 10 of the present invention is for forming a pour-through top opening in a crown cap crimped onto a bottle, such system being safe, ecological, convenient and economical. First provided is a bottle 14 for containing a beverage. The bottle is formed with a generally cylindrical body and an open top 16. The open top is formed with a circular lip 18 above and an axially spaced, outwardly extending projection 20 below. The outwardly extending projection is in a first horizontal plane. The lip is in a second horizontal plane at an elevation above the first horizontal plane. The bottle has a vertical central axis. The bottle is fabricated of a non-corrosive material selected from the class of non-corrosive materials including aluminum, glass and plastic.

Next provided is a lid 24. The lid is sealingly coupled to the bottle. The lid has a central region 26 with an upper exterior surface 28 and a lower interior surface 30. The lid has a downwardly extending side wall 32 in a generally frusto-conical configuration. The side wall has an inwardly scrolled lower edge 34. The lid has a central region 36 with a circular opening 38 in a horizontal plane. The central region of the lid radially terminates outwardly in an upwardly extending inverted V-shaped projection 40. The central opening constitutes a passageway for the pouring of a beverage from the bottle. The central opening has an area between 30 percent and 50 percent of the area of the central region of the lid. The lid is fabricated of a non-corrosive aluminum.

The lid has a hem 42 between the circular opening and the V-shaped projection. The hem is formed of an annular horizontal lower region 46 and an upwardly extending upper region 48. The upper region is bent inwardly over the lower region to provide an upwardly facing recipient surface 50. The recipient surface is frusto-conical at between 4 degrees and 8 degrees from the horizontal.

The lid is positioned over the top of the bottle with the inverted V-shaped projection located above the lip of the bottle. The side wall of the lid is crimped. In this manner, the inwardly scrolled lower region of the lid is beneath and in continuous contact with a lower extent of the outwardly extending projection of the bottle to form a tamper-secure lock and for increasing the body strength of the system.

The lid is adapted to be inverted prior to being crimped and coupled to the bottle. An inverted space within the V-shaped projection constitutes an upwardly facing annular trough 54. A chlorine-free hot melt adhesive 56 is provided in the trough. The hot melt adhesive is chosen from the class of hot melt adhesives including chlorine-free plastic and rubber, natural and synthetic, and blends thereof. The hot melt adhesive is adapted to form a seal between the bottle and the lid with the trough downwardly facing.

An adhesive interior coating 60 is provided over the interior lower surface of the lid and extending over the recipient surface. The interior coating is an organic adhesive lacquer having a melting point of 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Next, a protective exterior coating 64 is provided over the exterior surface of the lid. The protective exterior coating is adapted to protect the lid and indicia thereon, if any, during fabrication. The exterior coating is a clear or colored lacquer.

Lastly, a cover assembly 68 is provided. The cover assembly is removably positioned over the opening of the lid and the recipient surface. The cover assembly is formed of a generally circular upper disk 70 fabricated of a flexible film. Poly film is intended to include polyethylene terephthalate, aluminized PET, polypropylene and equivalents thereof. The upper disk has a radially extending pull tab 72. A circular lower disk 74 is provided. The circular lower disk is fabricated of a flexible poly film. An intermediate disk sub-assembly is provided. The intermediate disk sub-assembly is formed of a circular first poly disk 76 and a circular second poly disk 78 adapted to cohere together upon the application of heat and pressure. The intermediate disk sub-assembly is also adapted to be fabricated of aluminum foil. An intermediate adhesive 80 in a circular configuration entirely attaches the lower disk and intermediate disk sub-assembly. An upper adhesive 82 in a semi-circular configuration attaches half of the intermediate disk sub-assembly to the upper disk remote from the pull tab. The adhesive on the interior surface of the lid is in a ring-shaped configuration removably coupling the lower disk to the recipient surface of the lid. The removable coupling between the cover and the lid is adapted to withstand up to 150 pounds of internal pressure from the beverage within the bottle due to the adhesive on the recipient surface and the angle of the recipient surface.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the invention. In such alternate embodiment, the system 100 includes a lid 104 of an enlarged size. The cover 110 is of a size correlated to the size of the opening and lid. The system includes a can 106, rather than a bottle as in the primary embodiment, for receiving the lid.

As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system comprising:

a lid having an opening and an annular lower region and an upper region providing an upwardly facing annular recipient surface; and

a cover assembly removably positioned over the opening of the lid and the recipient surface, the cover assembly including a generally circular upper disk with a radially extending tab, the cover assembly also including a circular lower disk, an adhesive in a ring-shaped configuration removably coupling the lower disk and the recipient surface.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the recipient surface is frusto-conical at between 4 degrees and 8 degrees from a horizontal plane.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 and further including:

a bottle for containing a beverage, the bottle being formed with a generally cylindrical body and an open top, the open top being formed with a circular lip above and an axially spaced, outwardly extending projection below, the outwardly extending projection being in a first plane, the lip being in a second horizontal plane at an elevation above the first horizontal plane, the bottle having a vertical central axis, the bottle being fabricated of a non-corrosive material selected from the class of non-corrosive materials including aluminum, glass and plastic, the bottle receiving and supporting the lid.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 where:

the lid has an interior lower surface and an exterior upper surface; and

further including an adhesive interior coating over the interior lower surface of the lid and extending over the recipient surface.

5. The system as set forth in claim 4 and further including

a protective exterior coating over the exterior upper surface of the lid adapted to protect the lid and indicia thereon during fabrication, the exterior coating being a clear lacquer.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper and lower disks are fabricated of a flexible poly film.

7. The system as set forth in claim 5 and further including:

an intermediate disk sub-assembly between the upper and lower disks.

8. The system as set forth in claim 7 wherein the intermediate disk sub-assembly is formed of a circular first poly disk and a circular second poly disk adapted to cohere together upon the application of heat and pressure.

9. The system as set forth in claim 7 and further including:

an intermediate adhesive in a circular configuration entirely attaching the lower disk and intermediate disk sub-assembly.

10. The system as set forth in claim 9 and further including:

an upper adhesive in a semi-circular configuration attaching half of the intermediate disk assembly to the upper disk remote from the tab.

11. The system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the adhesive on the interior surface of the lid is in a ring-shaped configuration removably coupling the lower disk to the recipient surface of the lid.

12. The system (100) as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lid (104) is of an enlarged size and with the cover (110) of a correlated size, the system further including a can (106) for receiving the lid.

13. A non-detachable beverage closure with a peel open cover system (10) for forming a pour-through top opening in a crown cap crimped onto a bottle, such system being safe, ecological, convenient and economical, the system comprising, in combination:

a bottle (14) for containing a beverage, the bottle being formed with a generally cylindrical body and an open top (16), the open top being formed with a circular lip (18) above and an axially spaced, outwardly extending projection (20) below, the outwardly extending projection being in a first horizontal plane, the lip being in a second horizontal plane at an elevation above the first horizontal plane, the bottle having a vertical central axis, the bottle being fabricated of a non-corrosive material selected from the class of non-corrosive materials including aluminum, glass and plastic;

a lid (24) sealingly coupled to the bottle, the lid having a central region (26) with an upper exterior surface (28) and a lower interior surface (30), the lid having a downwardly extending side wall (32) in a generally frusto-conical configuration, the side wall having an inwardly scrolled lower edge (34), the lid having a central region (36) with a circular opening (38) in a horizontal plane, the central region of the lid radially terminating outwardly in an upwardly extending inverted V-shaped projection (40), the central opening constituting a passageway for the pouring of a beverage from the bottle, the central opening having an area between 30 percent and 50 percent of the area of the central region of the lid, the lid being fabricated of a non-corrosive aluminum;

the lid having a hem (42) between the circular opening and the V-shaped projection, the hem being formed of an annular horizontal lower region (46) and an upwardly extending upper region (48), the upper region being bent inwardly over the lower region to provide an upwardly facing recipient surface (50), the recipient surface being frusto-conical at between 4 degrees and 8 degrees from the horizontal;

the lid being positioned over the top of the bottle with the inverted V-shaped projection located above the lip of the bottle, the side wall of the lid being crimped whereby the inwardly scrolled lower region of the lid is beneath and in continuous contact with a lower extent of the outwardly extending projection of the bottle to form a tamper-secure lock and for increasing the body strength of the system;

the lid adapted to be inverted prior to being crimped and coupled to the bottle, an inverted space within the V-shaped projection constituting an upwardly facing annular trough (54), a chlorine-free hot melt adhesive (56) in the trough, the hot melt adhesive being chosen from the class of hot melt adhesives including chlorine-free plastic and rubber, natural and synthetic, and blends thereof, the hot melt adhesive adapted to form a seal between the bottle and the lid with the trough downwardly facing;

an adhesive interior coating (60) over the interior lower surface of the lid and extending over the recipient surface, the interior coating being an organic adhesive lacquer (having a melting point of 375 degrees Fahrenheit;

a protective exterior coating (64) over the exterior surface of the lid adapted to protect the lid during fabrication, the exterior coating being a clear lacquer; and

a cover assembly (68) removably positioned over the opening of the lid and the recipient surface, the cover assembly formed of a generally circular upper disk (70) fabricated of a flexible poly film, poly film is intended to include polyethylene terephthalate, aluminized PET, polypropylene and equivalents thereof, the upper disk having a radially extending pull tab (72), a circular lower disk (74) fabricated of a flexible poly film, an intermediate disk sub-assembly formed of a circular first poly disk (76) and a circular second poly disk (78) adapted to cohere together upon the application of heat and pressure, an intermediate adhesive (80) in a circular configuration entirely attaching the lower disk and intermediate disk sub-assembly, an upper adhesive (82) in a semi-circular configuration attaching half of the intermediate disk assembly to the upper disk remote from the pull tab, the adhesive on the interior surface of the lid being in a ring-shaped configuration removably coupling the lower disk to the recipient surface of the lid, the removable coupling between the cover and the lid adapted to withstand up to 150 pounds of internal pressure from the beverage within the bottle due to the adhesive on the recipient surface and the angle of the recipient surface.