Threadless Cap for a Bottle

Abstract

The invention described herein relates to a threadless cap for a threadless bottle, the threadless cap comprising a threadless outer cap and a threadless inner cap, wherein the threadless inner cap is received in the threadless outer cap so as to define an annulus between them. When assembled, a bottle is received in the annulus with a portion of the threadless inner cap creating a plug that seals the bottle and a portion of the threadless outer cap over hanging the bottle. Both the outer cap and the inner sealingly engage the bottle using a threadless friction fit. To remove the cap from the bottle, one simply slides the cap off the bottle.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This application is a continuation in part of Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 15/796532 filed on Oct. 27, 2017, which claims priority to Provisional Application No. ______, filed on Oct. 27, 2016, entitled An Easy to Open and Reusable Bottle for Children, naming Cameron Bishop as the inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bottle containers having a threaded bottle portion that mates with a threaded cap requires twisting the cap to remove it from the bottle. Opening these types of bottles can be difficult to open for individuals with limited hand strength such as young children and the elderly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention described herein relates to a threadless cap for a threadless bottle. The threadless cap includes a threadless outer cap and a threadless inner cap. The threadless outer cap and the threadless inner cap may form a single unitary part or two separate parts. In one embodiment, the threadless inner cap may be detachably received in the open center of the threadless outer cap.

The threadless outer cap includes a sidewall surface defining a threadless outer cap open space enclosed by the sidewall surface. The open space is fully or partially closed at one end by a top surface. The top surface defines an open center portion therein. The threadless outer cap also supports at least one gripping surface in one or both of the sidewall surface and the top surface.

The threadless cap also includes a threadless inner cap. The threadless inner cap incudes an inner cap top surface and an inner cap sidewall surface, which together define an inner cap open center that is closed at one end by the inner cap top surface.

In assembly, the threadless outer cap receives the threadless inner cap in the threadless outer cap open space to define an annulus between the sidewall surface of the threadless outer cap and the threadless inner cap sidewall surface. In one embodiment of the invention, the threadless inner cap may be made of using materials such as rubber, polypropylene, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride or equivalent materials. The threadless inner cap may also include a raised domed surface, which is received in the threadless outer cap partially open center.

In one embodiment, the threadless outer cap sidewall surface may include a gripping part. The gripping part may include a circumferential surface. The circumferential surface may be a raised or recessed surface that surrounds or extends around the threadless outer cap sidewall surface. The gripping part may also include one or more spaced apart raised or recessed surfaces formed on the threadless outer cap sidewall surface. Further still the gripping part may include a combination of the circumferential surface and one or more spaced apart raised or recessed surfaces formed in the threadless outer cap sidewall surface or the top surface.

When used in assembly with a bottle, the threadless cap engages the bottle using a threadless friction fit. As part of the bottle assembly, the invention also includes a threadless cap for closing the open top surface of the threadless bottle. The threadless cap includes a threadless outer cap having a sidewall surface defining an open space enclosed by the sidewall surface and fully or partially closed at one end by a top surface. The threadless outer cap top surface defines an open center portion therein. The threadless outer cap may also support at least one gripping surface in one or both of the sidewall surface and the top surface.

The threadless cap also includes a threadless inner cap. The threadless inner cap includes an inner cap top surface and an inner cap sidewall surface. The inner cap top surface and the inner cap sidewall surface define an inner cap open space. The inner cap open space is closed at one end by the inner cap top surface such that the open space of the threadless outer cap receives the inner cap to define an annulus between said sidewall surface of the threadless outer cap and said inner cap sidewall surface.

In use, the threadless inner cap sidewall surface sealingly engages the reduced diameter portion and the sidewall of the threadless outer cap overhangs said reduced diameter portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is front cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the bottle and cap shown and described herein.

FIG. 2. is a detailed view of the bottle and cap shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the bottle shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the bottle and cap shown and described.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the bottle shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an exploded cross-section view of the cap and bottle shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention 10 described herein relates to a threadless cap 14 for a threadless bottle 12. In the embodiment described herein, the bottle assembly 10 includes a threadless bottle 12, a threadless cap 14 comprising a threadless outer cap 16 and a threadless inner cap 18.

The threadless bottle 12 may be a single or multiple use bottle. The threadless bottle 12 includes a reduced diameter portion 30 defining an open center 52. The threadless cap 14 for closing the threadless bottle 12 includes a threadless outer cap 16 and a threadless inner cap 18. The threadless outer cap 16 receives the threadless inner cap 18 to form a threadless cap 14 having a threadless inner cap 18 having sidewall portion 36 that engages with bottle 12 open center 52 and a threadless outer cap 16 having a sidewall portion 24 that engages with the bottle 12 reduced diameter portion 30. When the threadless cap 14 is placed on the threadless bottle 12, the threadless cap 14 engages the bottle 12 using a friction fit.

Now turning to a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention 10. As best seen in FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, the bottle 12 is unthreaded. In the embodiment shown in drawings, the bottle 12 of is the type and construction known in the industry for containing beverages, such as Nalgene™ bottles, except the bottle 12 does not includes threads. The bottle 12 includes a reduced diameter portion 30. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 6, the bottle 12 defines an open center 52 that extends through the length of the bottle 12 for receiving contents to be stored in the bottle 12, which stored contents may include a liquid, pills, food or other contents.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the bottle assembly 10 also includes a threadless cap 14. The threadless cap 14 closes and seals the open center 52 of bottle 12 at top portion of bottle 12.

Turning now to FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5, the threadless cap 14 includes a threadless outer cap 16 and a threadless inner cap 18. The threadless outer cap 16 includes an outer cap body 20 having a threadless outer cap top surface 22 and a sidewall 24 extending away from the outer cap top surface 22. The threadless outer cap top surface 22 defines an open center 26.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 6, the threadless outer cap 16 also defines an inner surface 28. The inner surface 28 defines an open space 54 surrounded by sidewall 24 that is fully or partially closed at one end by top surface 22.

The threadless outer cap top surface 22 defines or supports a gripping part 48. The gripping part 48 may be a raised surface such as a portion of the top surface 22 forming a circumferential portion have a diameter larger than that of the threadless outer cap 16 sidewall surface 24. The gripping part 48 may also be a recessed surface formed on or supported by top surface 22. The gripping part may also include spaced apart raised or recessed surfaces 50 formed in sidewall surface 24 or partially in top surface 22 and sidewall 24, as best seen FIGS. 3 and 5.

The threadless outer cap 16 may be made of a plastic or metal material. The threadless outer cap 16 could be made using a plastic material such as, but not limited to, PVC. Alternatively, the outer cap 16 could also be made using a dense rubber or rubber-like material that would create a more pliable, easy to grip surface.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 4, the threadless inner cap 18 includes an outer surface 40 and an inner surface 42. Both the outer surface 40 and the inner surface 42 are, in the embodiment described, smooth-wall surfaces.

The outer surface 40 of inner cap 18 includes a top surface 34 and a sidewall surface 36 extending away from the top surface 34 in a direction opposite the sidewall 36. The top surface 34 defines a raised dome 38 that extends outwardly away from the top surface 34. The inner surface 42 of cap 18 defines an open space 44 (shown in FIG. 6) of the threadless inner cap 18. The sidewall surface 36 surrounds the open space 44 of the threadless inner cap 18. Inner surface 42 closes the open space 44 of the threadless inner cap 18 at one end.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the sidewall surface 36 is a smooth threadless surface. The threadless inner cap 18 may be made of a soft, flexible material such as rubber or polypropylene or other similar materials.

The embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 are identical except for the structure of the reduced diameter portion 30. As best seen in FIG. 4, the embodiment shows the bottle 12 as having a reduced diameter portion 30 having a sidewall surface 58 that defines an angular offset between the sidewall 24 and the reduced diameter portion 30. The embodiment of the bottle 12 shown in FIG. 1 does not include the angular offset.

Assembly of One Embodiment of Cap 14

As shown in the embodiment in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 6, the threadless bottle 12 receives the threadless cap 14. As best seen in FIG. 6, the threadless inner cap 18 sealingly engages the inner surface 56 of the reduced diameter portion 30. The sidewall surface 24 of outer cap 16 overhangs the reduced diameter portion 30.

To assemble the cap 14, the threadless inner cap 18 and threadless inner cap 16 may be formed as a unitary part, with the threadless inner cap18 being received in the open space 54 defined by and enclosed by sidewall 24. The threadless inner cap 18 is received in threadless outer cap 16 such than an annulus 46 is defined between them for receiving a portion of the reduced diameter portion 30 of bottle 12, as best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

In this embodiment, the threadless outer cap 16 and the threadless inner cap 18 may be formed as a unitary part or formed as two separate parts but bonded together to form a unitary piece.

In another embodiment, the threadless inner cap 18 and threadless outer cap 16 may be formed as separate parts. To assemble the threadless inner cap 18 and threadless outer cap 16 in this embodiment, the threadless inner cap 18 is press fit into the open space 54 defined by inner surface 28 of the threadless outer cap 16 and the threadless outer cap 16 sidewall surface 24. Pressure is applied to threadless inner cap 18 until the lip 32 and the raised dome 38 pass through the opening 26 defined in threadless outer cap 16, wherein the lip 32 holds the threadless inner cap 18 in place. To remove the threadless inner cap 18 from the outer cap 16, pressure is applied to the raised dome 38 and maintained until the threadless inner cap 18 slides past the top surface 22 and the opening 26.

Once the threadless inner cap 18 is assembled in threadless outer cap 16, there is a gap or annulus 46 (See FIG. 2) between the threadless inner cap 18 and the threadless outer cap 16 for receiving the reduced diameter portion 30 of bottle 12. As best seen in FIG. 6, the threadless inner cap sidewall surface 36 plugs the opening 52 defined by the reduced diameter portion 30 of bottle 12. The bottle 12 is received in the annulus 46 and the threadless outer cap sidewall 24 overhangs a portion of the reduced diameter portion 30.

One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the bottle 12 and threadless cap 14 disclosed herein may be made using plastic injection and blow molding techniques. For example, threadless inner cap 18 and threadless outer cap 16 could be formed using injection molding techniques, whereas the bottle 12 could be formed using blow molding techniques. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will know that other fabrication techniques may be used to form the components of the described invention.

One of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that typical materials to be used for fabrication may include plastics, such as, but not limited to, pvc, clarified pvc, polypropylene, polyethylene, and some softer plastics or rubber or rubber-like materials, such as, but not limited to, polyurethane or polypropylene or similar materials. For instance, in the disclosed embodiment, the threadless inner cap 18 was manufactured using polypropylene; the outer cap was manufactured using polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”); and the bottle was manufactured using clarified PVC. It will also be known to one of skill in the art that using rubber or rubber-like materials will give the cap 14 have a stronger sealing capacity.

An Example of One Embodiment of the Bottle 10 in Use

A person would first grab hold of the bottle 12 with one hand. The next step would be to grab the threadless cap 14 with the other hand and pull the threadless cap 14 so that it slides off the bottle 12.

It is to be understood that the above-referenced description is illustrative of the invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can be devised without departing from the spirt and scope of the present invention. While the invention has been shown in the drawings and described above in connection with the exemplary embodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. For example, the threadless cap is described as being used with a bottle having a reduced diameter portion. However, the threadless cap could be used with threadless bottles having a straight sidewall section and no reduced diameter portion as shown. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.

Claims

1. A threadless bottle assembly, comprising:

a threadless bottle having a reduced diameter portion defining an open top surface; and

a threadless cap for closing said open top surface of the threadless bottle, said threadless cap comprising, a threadless outer cap having a sidewall surface defining an open space enclosed by the sidewall surface and partially or fully closed at one end by a top surface, said top surface defining an open center portion therein, and said threadless outer cap defining at least one gripping surface in one or both of the sidewall surface and the top surface; and a threadless inner cap having an inner cap top surface and an inner cap sidewall surface defining an inner cap open space closed at one end by said inner cap top surface, wherein said open space of the threadless outer cap receives said inner cap so as to define an annulus between said sidewall surface of the threadless outer cap and said inner cap sidewall surface,

wherein said threadless inner cap sidewall surface sealingly engages said reduced diameter portion and said sidewall of the outer surface overhangs said reduced diameter portion.

2. The threadless bottle assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said gripping part includes a circumferential surface surrounding the sidewall surface.

3. The threadless bottle assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said gripping part includes one or more recessed surfaces defined by the sidewall surface.

4. The threadless bottle assembly defined in claim 3, wherein said gripping part includes at least one circumferential surface surrounding the sidewall surface.

5. The threadless bottle assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the sealing surface is a self-sealing surface.

6. A cap for a bottle, comprising:

a threadless cap, including: a threadless outer cap having a sidewall surface defining an open space enclosed by the sidewall surface and partially or fully closed at one end by a top surface, said top surface defining an open center portion, and said threadless outer cap defining at least one gripping surface in one or both of the sidewall surface and the top surface; and a threadless inner cap including an inner cap top surface and an inner cap sidewall surface, wherein said threadless inner cap sidewall surface defines an open space closed at one end by said inner cap top surface, wherein said threadless outer cap receives said threadless inner cap in said threadless outer cap open space so as to define an annulus between said threadless outer cap sidewall surface and said inner cap sidewall surface.

7. A cap for a bottle as defined in claim 6, wherein said threadless inner cap is made of rubber.

8. A cap for a bottle as defined in claim 6, wherein said threadless inner cap is made of polypropylene.

9. A cap for a bottle as defined in claim 6, wherein said threadless inner cap is made of polyurethane.

10. A cap for a bottle as defined in claim 6, wherein said threadless inner cap is made of polyvinyl chloride.

11. A cap for a bottle as defined in claim 6, wherein the inner threadless cap defines a raised domed surface, wherein said raised domed surface is received in said threadless outer cap open space.

12. The cap defined in claim 6, wherein said gripping part includes a circumferential surface surrounding the sidewall surface.

13. The cap defined in claim 6, wherein said gripping part includes one or more recessed surfaces defined by the sidewall surface.

14. The cap defined in claim 13, wherein said gripping part includes a circumferential surface surrounding the sidewall surface.

15. The cap defined in claim 6, wherein the threadless outer cap and the threadless inner cap foil a single unitary piece.

16. The cap defined in claim 6, wherein the threadless inner cap is detachably received in said threadless outer cap open center.