Double walled see through cap

Abstract

A double walled cap comprising a top section having a top and a bottom surface; an inner sidewall having a diameter and having a top and a bottom, wherein the top of said inner sidewall is connected to said bottom surface of the top section; and an outer sidewall having a diameter larger than the inner sidewall diameter and having a top and a bottom; wherein the top of the outer sidewall is connected to the bottom surface of the top section.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the priority of Provisional No. 60/209,727, filed on Jun. 5, 2000, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is directed to a double walled see through cap having application for various types of closures and containers. In addition, the invention relates to a cap that features the capability of trapping a label in between the inner and outer wall of the cap. The low cost double walled cap of the present invention has the ability to appear as if a higher priced cap.

[0003] The term “container” as used herein and in the claims, is to be interpreted as being inclusive of glass or plastic bottles, metallic cans, jars, cups, bottles and the like.

[0004] The term “cap” as used herein and in the claims, is to be interpreted as being inclusive of a cap closure such as a snap fit, push-pull, twist open, or the like, used for providing a closure over a container as described above. various caps are known, which may be finished or decorated by vacuum metalizing, electroplating, hot stamping, spray painting, silk screening, stamping or the like. Such decorations may be used for advertising or attracting a customer in marketing a product residing in a container. These decorations and decorating methods can be expensive and time consuming to manufacture.

[0005] The present invention solves these and other problems by providing a low cost cap having a double walled construction so a to provide a void, which can be filled with a label for display, instructional or advertising purposes or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a low cost cap that attracts a customer and provides desired decorative effect.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a cap having a double wall to hold a label therein.

[0008] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cap having a convex or concave outer wall so as to magnify or reduce the size of the label contained therein.

[0009] Therefore there is provided a double walled cap comprising a top section having a top and a bottom surface; an inner sidewall having a diameter and having a top and a bottom, wherein the top of said inner sidewall is connected to said bottom surface of the top section; and an outer sidewall having a diameter larger than the inner sidewall diameter and having a top and a bottom; wherein the top of the outer sidewall is connected to the bottom surface of the top section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention when taken into conjunction with the drawings wherein:

[0011] FIGS. 1a-1d are perspective views of embodiments of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0013] Reference made to fluids, liquids and products should be understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to include other materials such as fine granular materials or the like.

[0014] In addition, figures that depict the same features as shown in FIG. 1a will not be described in detail, only the differences therefrom being hereinafter described and detailed and the modified component parts and elements will be herein after be referred to by the same character as utilized in FIG. 1a.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1a, a cap for holding a label therein is shown. The label, for example, can be preprinted with a product name, show a company logo or provide instructions for using or mixing the contents inside a container to which the cap is attached. The label itself can be paper, foil paper, a metal band, or the like.

[0016] The top section of the cap can be frosted or even have a texture that eliminates a clear view of the inside wall threaded area that can be unsightly. The outer side wall and the inner side wall can be highly polished, so that the trapped label is highly visible. The molded cap may also include a tinted color, metal sparkles or other form of attractive enhancement that can be further improved by a metallic or metal label contained in between the inner and outer walls of the present cap. In addition, the cap may be molded to have a convex or a concave outside wall that would magnify or reduce the visual impact of the printing or label contained therein.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1a, a cap, which snap-fits over a closure attached to a container, is disclosed. The fit of such a cap is known in the art. The outer wall of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1a is slightly convex so as to provide some magnification to the label disposed in between the inner and outer walls.

[0018] FIG. 1b provides an alternate embodiment of the present invention. There, the sidewalls of the cap are concave so as to reduce the size of the image on the label residing between the inner and outer walls. In addition, the top of the cap is textured rather than frosted as shown in FIG. 1a. The textured top of the cap also prevents a clear view of the inner wall so as to convey a more polished look.

[0019] FIG. 1c provides yet another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown includes a convex outer wall so as to provide a greater degree of magnification of the label residing in between the inner and outer walls of the cap. In addition, the top of the cap is textured as shown in FIG. 1b, so as to prevent a view into the inner wall, as discussed above.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1d, the top of the cap is frosted as in FIG. 1a, thus preventing a clear view of the inner wall of the cap. In addition, the sidewalls of the cap are generally vertical so as to provide an accurate representational view of the label disposed in between the inner and outer walls.

[0021] FIG. 2 provides an exploded view of an exemplary cap of the present invention. The cap may be, for example, molded clear or translucent plastic. The top section of the cap may be textured and/or frosted to hide the interior of the cap and/or container. The outside wall may have a lip at the base so as to hold in place a label inserted into the cap. The inside wall may have threads on it if the cap is a twist open type of cap. However, the cap may be snap-fit type or the like or any other type of cap as known by one of skill in the art.

[0022] Inserted in between the inner and outer walls of the present inventive cap is a label. The label may be constructed of metal, for example, resembling gold or silver. The label may be of any metallic material, translucent material, paper material or other suitable material. The label stock may be printed with a product name or an instruction section and folded. If instructions are inserted in between the inner and outer walls, it may be removable when the cap is not on the container. The bottom of the cap may provide that inner and outer sidewalls remain separated so as to provide a gap at the bottom of the cap. A lip may be provided at the bottom of the inner or outer wall so as to provide an area for the label to rest upon and yet provide ease in removing the label to retrieve instructions.

[0023] As further shown in FIG. 2, top portion 201 is frosted to as to prevent a clear view to the inner wall 202 of the cap. As shown, inner wall 202 in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is cylindrically shaped as a right cylinder and has a smaller diameter than outer wall 203. Inner wall 202 may have threading on the inside of the inner wall so as to twist open or closed about the neck of a container. In addition, inner wall 202 may also be constructed having an annular bead about the circumference of the bottom of the wall so as to snap fit about the neck of a container. Additional means of securing the present cap are known in the art. The disclosed cap may be modified to utilize such additional securing means without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0024] Outer wall 203 in an exemplary embodiment is also right cylindrically shaped. However, as shown in FIGS. 1a-1d outer wall 203 may be convex or concave. Label 204 may also be cylindrically shaped having a diameter larger than inner wall 202, but smaller than outer wall 203. However, label 204 may also be of flexible material so that it can be shaped so as to fit in between inner wall 202 and outer wall 203. The container has a shoulder 205 located at the base of a neck portion. The neck portion has thereon, helical threads for affixing the cap in a manner well known in the art, although other means of affixing the cap are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. The shoulder portion forms a base for the cap when it is affixed in the closed position.

[0025] Further, as shown in FIG. 3, glue is not required to hold the label in place because the container can bead lock the cap holding the label in place.

[0026] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A double walled cap comprising:

a top section having a top and a bottom surface;

an inner sidewall having a diameter and having a top and a bottom, wherein said top of said inner sidewall is connected to said bottom surface of said top section; and

an outer sidewall having a diameter larger than said inner sidewall diameter and having a top and a bottom;

wherein said top of said outer sidewall is connected to said bottom surface of said top section.

2. A double walled cap as described in claim 1 further comprising:

a label disposed in between said inner sidewall and said outer sidewall.

3. A double walled cap as described in claim 1, wherein said top section