Cinch caps

Abstract

A cap for sealing the top opening of a fluid-carrying vessel, the vessel having an upstanding narrow neck with a central opening leading into the vessel, the neck of the type wherein it is surrounded by a short, thickened border of circular periphery about the opening, the cap including a substantially non-flexible top cap portion for positioning transversely atop the neck of the vessel to cover the central opening therein, the top cap portion defined by an outer perimeter, extending beyond the periphery of the border, and spaced-apart top and bottom surfaces, a circular, flexible bottom cap portion, adapted to extend about the outside of the neck of the vessel, a flexible center band joining the top cap portion and the bottom cap portion, extending about the neck of the vessel below the border thereof and having an outer perimeter substantially less than the respective perimeters of the top cap portion and the bottom cap portion and to form a groove therebetween, a planar, stretchable cinch ring surrounding the neck of the vessel for location in the groove, and a lever defined by first and second spaced-apart terminal ends engaging the cinch ring between the terminal ends and moveable between a first position wherein the cinch ring is relaxed in the groove and a second position wherein the cinch ring is tightened against the groove to seal the cap tightly about the neck of the vessel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to the field of bottle and vessel caps. More particularly, the invention pertains to a cap which acts as a replacement for a wine bottle cork, fashioned in a way that is elementary and easy to remove from a bottle.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] For several centuries and throughout several cultures, wine had been contained in bottles with cork stoppers. This deeply rooted cultural custom to use wine bottle cork, evolved in a time where cork was abundant and affordable. However, with a rising worldwide demand for wine, cork has become a limited commodity, and is becoming more expensive. As a result, the wine industry is now seeking viable substitutes for the traditional wine bottle cork.

[0005] Some wine bottlers and wine makers have resorted to the use of a less expensive, lower quality cork. Unfortunately, the lower quality cork is causing a significant percentage of wine to spoil because the increased porosity and soft characteristics typical of the poor-quality type cork, allows ambient air to penetrate the bottle to cause spoiling of the wine. Wine makers suffer financial losses, as the discriminatory wine consumer refuses to buy brands associated with spoiled wine. An attempt to use recycled cork also was found to be disappointingly inefficient. The production of recycled wine bottle cork has resulted in poor quality corks and has been shown to taint wine, as well.

[0006] Innovative wine bottlers attempted to substitute the cork altogether but encountered a strong resistance by wine consumers and wine makers to forego using the traditional cork. In an attempt to retain the “look” of the cork, bottlers developed various types of coatings to impregnate cheaper corks with plastics in an effort to improve the sealant characteristics. However, these coatings have proven to be imperfect and to cause leakage as a result of the deterioration of the sealant over time.

[0007] There are several other problems with the use of cork. For instance, the bleaching process of the cork involves chemicals that may produce moldy taints in the wine, or “corked” wine. This condition has been found to exist in approximately 10% of all bottles of wine sold. In fact, it is estimated that corkiness taints billions of dollars worth of wine each year.

[0008] Cork is also known to crumble or break when it is stored in an environment or in a manner where ideal humidity is not maintained. When cork dries out, it loses its hermetic characteristic and causes the wine to spoil. The breakage also causes cork splinters to drift on the surface of the wine making a glass of wine appear unattractive and certainly noncompliant with the rigid standards of wine drinking etiquette.

[0009] The opening of a bottle of wine also requires a separate and independent device to remove the cork. Such a bottle opening device is not always readily available which could result in a great inconvenience to the wine consumer. Without it, the consumer cannot remove the cork from the wine bottle, may even break the cork to have access to the wine.

[0010] In addition, the removal of a cork from a wine bottle is not user-friendly. There are several types of wine bottle openers in the market, from the very inexpensive type to a more expensive, easy-to-operate gadgets. Nevertheless, a weaker user, or an elderly person sometimes does not have the capability to remove the cork with either type of cork puller and often breaks the cork or pushes it inside the bottle in an effort to pour the wine. Many times, a dry cork breaks upon the insertion of the twisted wire shaft of the bottle opener.

[0011] A user who consumes only a partial bottle of wine, usually uses the same cork to seal the bottle again. However, because of the expansion of the cork after its initial release from the wine bottle, the user finds it difficult to fit the cork back into the bottle. Even if this can be accomplished, the cork has lost most of its hermetic function and may allow rapid spoiling of the wine.

[0012] The removal of cork, or of any plastic or polymeric substitute, can be hazardous as well. The extraordinary escape velocity of the cork upon removal from a bottle containing a carbonated beverage, such as champagne, adds the risk of severe injury to a person. Injuries to the eye or face have occurred.

[0013] Even though cork seems to be the preferred wine bottle stopper, the appearance of cork is dull and unattractive. Wine bottlers therefore use colored foil or plastic wrappers of various types and sizes to cover the cork. This extra material is an additional expense to the wine bottlers and ultimately, the consumer. Notwithstanding, certain practice wrappers project sharp edges when the wrapper is tom off prior to the removal of the cork, and the user may cut their fingers from the sharp edges.

[0014] The prior art for replacing the limited and expensive cork for wine bottles deals primarily with replacing cork with different variances and qualities, or with plastic or synthetic substitutes. Also, the prior art primarily requires an independent device to remove the cork which is not always readily available. Moreover, using the independent bottle opener sometimes proves to be difficult to use by weaker or elderly persons as it requires a tremendous effort to pull the cork out of the bottle. In addition, the extra materials, used in wrapping or covering the unattractive cork, increase the expenses to the consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] This invention is a polymeric or plastic-based cap for sealing the opening of a wine bottle or other such vessel that overcomes the problems set forth above with regard to wine bottle corks. The inventive cap is useful in bottles where the opening of the bottle is surrounded by a thickened border on the top part of the neck. The cap has a top portion that is adapted to cover the opening in the vessel. The cap further has a skirt portion that surrounds the upper portion of the neck of the bottle. The skirt extends below the thickened border to form a constriction below the thickened border and above the bottom edge of the skirt to prevent the cap from sliding unaided off the vessel. The cap further has a pivot point located on the bottom edge of the skirt, and a stretchable cinch ring located in the constriction. Extending from the cinch ring at the pivot point, and attached to the pivot point, is a short lever. Manipulation of this lever in a downward direction passes the cinch ring into an interference fit in the constriction to seal the cap around the neck. An upward manipulation of the lever releases the tightly fit cinch ring to release the cap.

[0016] The cap device is a simple, effective and inexpensive replacement for a wine bottle cork. Wine will not spoil as the cap is an effective non-porous device which prevents the transport of ambient air to the inside of the bottle. The cap does not disintegrate or “dry out,” become bitter, nor break and leave residue behind in the wine. It can easily be operated by any user, including weaker or elderly persons who may not have the ability to pull a cork out of a wine bottle. Neither does it require the use of an independent bottle opener to remove the cap which eliminates the predicament of not having a bottle opener at hand. Furthermore, the cap of this invention easily can be replaced after its initial opening to adequately seal the wine bottle numerous times, without spoiling the wine.

[0017] This cap is not hazardous to the user either. Upon opening, the trapped air in the bottle is released slowly, and accordingly, the cap is restrained by the user, and it does not “pop” off. This cap does not contain a sealant-type coating which could be toxic to small children should they chew it.

[0018] The cap of this invention would cut additional costs and expenses because it does not require the additional plastic or foil-type wrapper currently used with corks. It can also be made with identifying colors or logos of the winery, or with a trademark or emblem stamped onto the top, flat part of the cap. It could have a sleek, attractive design which is in direct contrast to the common, dull unattractive cork used today. Additionally, plastic is effectively recycled and therefore, the cap of this invention is environmentally amendable as it can be recycled. The cap also saves the natural resources of the tree producing cork.

[0019] Accordingly, the main object of this invention is a cap which effectively replaces cork as a wine bottle stopper. Other objects of the invention include the effortless opening and re-sealing of the cap to the wine bottle; a means to tightly and effectively reseal the cap after its initial opening to prevent the spoiling of the wine; a means for releasing the trapped compressed air inside the wine bottle in a slow manner to prevent the quick release of the cap which may cause severe injuries; a cap device that is lower in cost than a wine bottle cork as it does not require additional plastic or foil wrappers; the elimination of the spoilage and tainting of wine due to a low quality or defective cork; a cap that does not break, become brittle nor dry out; a cap that opens without the requirement of an independent bottle opener device; a cap that replaces a dull and unattractive looking cork with an innovative colored device or with an engraved identifying trademark, logo, or emblem of the winery and is recyclable; a cap that could be fashioned in various attractive sizes; a cap that may be manufactured for any other container having the same thickened-border characteristic of a wine bottle in the upper part of the bottle neck.

[0020] These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent when reading the description of the preferred embodiment along with the drawings that are appended hereto. The protection sought by the inventor may be gleaned from a fair reading of the claims that conclude the specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of the upper portion of a typical wine bottle to which this invention is useful showing it to have a narrow neck with a thickened border on the upper periphery thereof;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of a typical tube of paint to which this invention is also useful showing it to have a narrow neck with a thickened border on the upper periphery thereof;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a partly sectional, partly illustrative view of the cap of this invention on the top of a wine bottle showing two positions that the lever and cinch take when the lever is moved from one position to another position;

[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the cap, minus the cinch ring, of this invention;

[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the cinch ring of this invention;

[0026] FIG. 6a is cross-sectional view of the cap viewed from the underside;

[0027] FIG. 6b is a sectional side view of the cap and the cinch ring in loose position showing the relationship to the cap viewed from the underside shown in FIG. 6a;

[0028] FIG. 6c is a sectional side view of the cap and the cinch ring in tight position showing the relationship to cinch ring in loose position as shown in FIG. 6b;

[0029] FIG. 6d is a top view of the cinch ring showing the relationship to the cap as viewed from the underside shown in FIG. 6a;

[0030] FIG. 7a is a sectional side view of the upper portion of a typical wine bottle;

[0031] FIG. 7b is a cross-section of the cap viewed from the underside showing the relationship to the upper portion of a typical wine bottle as shown in FIG. 7a;

[0032] FIG. 7c is a sectional side view of the cap showing the relationship to the upper portion of a typical wine bottle as shown in FIG. 7a and to the cap viewed from the underside as shown in FIG. 7b;

[0033] FIG. 8 is a top view of the cinch ring useful in this invention;

[0034] FIG. 9 is a side view of the cinch ring shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 showing the lever and cinch ring moved from one position to another position;

[0035] FIG. 10 is a side view of the cinch ring in loose position (x-x axis), in transition position (x-x axis), and in tight position (x-y axis);

[0036] FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of the cap of this invention in place on a tube container of the type shown in FIG. 2;

[0037] FIG. 12 is another side sectional view of the cap of this invention in place on a tube container of the type shown in FIG. 11 showing the lever and cinch ring in both positions on the top of the tube; and,

[0038] FIG. 13 shows perspective views of the different heights and thicknesses of the cap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0039] Turning now to the drawings where elements or limitations are identified with numbers and like elements or limitations are identified with like numbers throughout the thirteen figures, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the general type of vessels to which this invention is applicable. Shown in FIG. 1 is a fluid-carrying vessel 1, having an upstanding narrow neck 3 with a central opening 5 leading into vessel 1, wherein neck 3 is of the type wherein it is surrounded by a short, thickened border 7 of circular periphery about opening 5. Vessel 1 is often made of glass and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. It can be sized to hold various amounts of fluid, such as wine in such volumes as 1.0 liters, 1.5 liters, 2 liters, etc.

[0040] The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and is a cap 9 for sealing the top of opening 5 against leakage or unwanted escape of the fluid contents contained in vessel 1. FIG. 7a illustrates a side sectional view of a typical wine bottle top and the relationship to cap 9, indicated by dotted lines, as shown in FIGS. 7b and 7c. Cap 9 comprises a substantially non-flexible top cap portion 13, having a rather flat, aspirin tablet shape, for positioning transversely atop of or across neck 3 of vessel 1 to cover central opening 5 therein as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Top cap portion 13 is defined by an outer periphery or perimeter 15, extending beyond the periphery of border 7 and is further defined by spaced-apart top and bottom surfaces 17 and 19, respectively. Top cap portion 13 may be made from a variety of plastics and plastic/rubber blends that have a wide range of flexibility and also present a top surface 17 that is printable or scribable such that trade marks and other identifying indicia may be easily placed thereon to help in identifying the fluid contents in vessel 1.

[0041] A circular, flexible, bottom cap portion 21 is also provided, set below and spaced-apart from top cap portion 13, and is sized, shaped and otherwise adapted to extend completely about the outside of vessel neck 3. Bottom portion 21 is ring-shaped in overall design because it is located below the entrance to vessel opening 5 and does not cover any opening, such as top cap portion 13 covers central opening 5. Bottom cap portion 21 may be made from a variety of plastics and plastic/rubber blends that have a wide range of flexibility and also present a surface that is printable or scribable such that trade marks and other identifying indicia may be easily placed thereon to help in identifying the fluid contents in vessel 1. It is usually desirable to have bottom cap portion 21 made more flexible as it will be squeezed against the outside surface of vessel neck 3 when the cap is sealed against vessel 1 and no folding, pinching, crinkling, of bottom cap portion 21 is desired under these conditions.

[0042] A flexible center band 25 is provided between top cap portion 13 and bottom cap portion 21, extending about vessel neck 3, below border 7, and has an outer perimeter 27 substantially less than the respective perimeters of top cap portion 13 and bottom cap portion 21 so as to form a groove 29 therebetween. Top cap portion 13, center band 25 and bottom cap portion 21 are preferably formed as a single, monolithic unit as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This may be done by injection molding or other known techniques. Center band 25 may be made from a variety of plastics and plastic/rubber blends that have a wide range of flexibility. It is usually desirable to have center band 25 made more flexible as it will be squeezed against the outside surface of vessel neck 3 as explained later herein and no folding, pinching, crinkling, of center band 25 is desired under these conditions. The thinness of center band 25 will generally provide the necessary flexibility property thereto. Top cap portion 13, flexible center band 25, and bottom cap portion 21 can be made in individual sections and joined together by melting, adhesives, or other known processes. In addition, top cap portion 13 may have its bottom surface 19 extended by a molding process or the like downward over the outer surface of thickened border 7 of vessel 1 adjacent the surface of border 7 and arranged to press tightly against border 7 to help seal cap 9 to vessel 1.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 6d and 10, a planar, stretchable cinch ring 31 is provided that surrounds vessel neck 3 and is specifically made of a small diameter stretchable cord 33 for location in groove 29. The cross-section of the cap viewed from the underside in FIG. 6a shows the relationship to cinch ring 31, detents 51 and handle 61 shown in FIGS. 6b and 6c. Groove 29 is preferably made in a semi-circular form shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, having a semi-circular cross-section. The cinch ring 31 is also preferably made with its cord 33 in a circular cross-section, shown in FIG. 5. It is preferred that the circular cross-sectional diameter of cord 33 be no larger than the cross-sectional diameter of groove 29 so that cinch ring 31 fits tightly in groove 29. It is further preferred that cinch ring 31 have the same mean diameter as groove 29. By “mean” diameter is meant the diameter of the circle made by a fibre that is located at the center of cord 33. In any event, cinch ring 31 must be sufficiently large to allow cap 9 to be slipped over thickened border 7 of vessel 1.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 10, a lever 37 is provided that is defined by an elongated body 39 and first and second spaced-apart terminal ends 41 and 43, respectively, that engage cinch ring 31 somewhere along body 39, between terminal ends 41 and 43. Lever 37 is adapted to be pivotable or moveable between a first position, shown in FIGS. 3, 6b, 9 and 10, wherein cinch ring 31 is relaxed in groove 29 in plane x-x and a second position, also shown in FIGS. 3, 6c, 9 and 10 wherein cinch ring 31 is stretched to become tight in groove 29 in plane x-y, in an interference fit and partially pulled from groove 29, to seal the cap tightly about vessel neck 3. Cinch ring 31 may be made from a variety of plastics and plastic/rubber blends that have a wide range of flexibility. Often such a ring is made of flexible polymeric material that is stretched along an axis before it is formed into ring 31. This procedure permits cinch ring 31 to have considerable strength along the axis of stretching without losing strength over a period of time such as when the cap is sealed against vessel 1 during storage and transportation. It is usually desirable to have center band 25 made more flexible than top cap portion 13 and/or bottom cap portion 21 as it will be squeezed by cinch ring 31 against the outside surface of vessel neck 3 during sealing. As cinch ring 31 is stretched, by pivot action of lever 37, ring 31 is tilted and part of ring 31 is pulled slightly above or below planar groove 29 so that it is tightened in groove 29 to seal the contents of the fluid in vessel 1.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 4, bottom cap portion 21 preferably forms a narrow slot 45 defined by a pair of spaced-apart, parallel slot walls 49a and 49b wherein slot 45 and side walls 49a and 49b are all parallel and axially aligned with the axis y-y of vessel 1. Also shown in FIG. 4 is a pair of detents 51a and 51b that are formed in slot walls 49a and 49b for receipt therein of a pair of outwardly extending nubs 53a and 53b (FIG. 5), that are formed on opposite sides of lever body 39. As shown in FIG. 5, lever 37 is preferably formed as a part of cinch ring 31 at juncture 55 and nubs 53a and 53b, are located spaced-apart from juncture 55. Lever 37 is assembled with cinch ring 31 by pressing nubs 53a and 53b into detents 51a and 51b, respectively, so that lever 37 is moveable, between its first position and its second position, by moving lever 37 in a general orthogonal path with respect to the plane of cinch ring 31. As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 8, nubs 53a and 53b can be located inside juncture 55 or outside juncture 55 and be functional.

[0046] In another modification of this invention, FIG. 3 shows top cap portion bottom surface 19 to have formed thereon a slight protuberance 59 that extends slightly into central opening 5 of vessel neck 3. Protuberance 59 aids in retaining cap 9 centered over upstanding narrow vessel neck 3 when vessel 1 is subject to handling or other movement that could knock top cap portion 13 from its centered position on neck 3. Protuberance 59 is not designed to extend so far down into central opening 5 as to contact any fluid retained in vessel 1, but just to aid in retaining top cap portion 13 in its centered position.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 9, in another embodiment of the invention a handle 61 may be located on lever 37 to aid in grasping and moving said lever from its first position to its second position and vice versa. Handle 61 may be made separate from lever 37 or formed as part of it by molding them together.

[0048] The invention may be used to seal other vessels. For instance, as shown in FIGS. 2, 11 and 12, cap 9 may be constructed for sealing the opening 5 of a fluid-carrying or solid carrying container 1 of the type having a generally pliable tubular body 63 at one end 65 of which is sealed by a seam 67 and at the other end 71 is located a narrow neck 3 about opening 5, for squeezing out the contents thereof, such as paint or tooth paste. In this embodiment, narrow neck 3 is of the type that is surrounded by a short, thickened outer collar 73 at the distal end of neck 3.

[0049] FIG. 13 shows cap 9 fashioned in different heights and different thicknesses.

[0050] In this embodiment, cap 9 comprises a central outer cap portion 75 for positioning transversely across the open end of neck 3 to cover opening 5 as shown in FIGS. 2, 11 and 12. Outer cap portion 75 is defined by a top surface 17 terminating at an outer perimeter or periphery 15 and a spaced-apart bottom surface 19.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 11, a circular, flexible inner cap portion 77 extends about the outside of container neck 3 spaced below outer collar 73. A thin, flexible center band 25 joins outer cap portion 75 and inner cap portion 77 and extends about container narrow neck 3 to form a groove 29 between outer cap portion 75 and inner cap portion 77 in a plane y-y generally axially to the plane of top cap top surface 17. Similarly, a stretchable cinch ring 31 surrounds container neck 3 in groove 29. A lever 37 including a lever body 39 and further defined by first and second spaced-apart terminal ends 41 and 43, respectively, is joined to cinch ring 31 at a juncture (not shown). Lever 37 is moveable between first and second positions adjacent the outside surface of container tubular body 63 wherein the first position allows cinch ring 31 to remain loose in groove 31 and the second position tightens ring 31 about container neck 3, below outer collar 73, to seal against escape of the contents therefrom. As cinch ring 31 is stretched, by pivot action of lever 37, ring 31 is tilted and part of it is pulled slightly above or below planar groove 29 so that ring 31 is tightened in groove 29 to seal the contents of the fluid in tube body 63.

[0052] As in the first embodiment, inner cap portion 77 has a narrow slot (not shown) formed there through, including a pair of spaced-apart slot walls (not shown) with at least one pair of detents, similar to those shown in FIG. 5, formed in each slot wall so that the narrow slot and slot walls are axially aligned with neck 3.

[0053] Also, in this embodiment, lever 37 has formed thereon a pair of outwardly facing nubs, similar to those shown in FIG. 5, on opposite sides thereof for insertion in the detents formed in the slot walls for pivotal movement therein. The nubs are spaced-apart from the cinch ring so that movement of lever 37 from the first position to the second position causes cinch ring 31 to be stretched tightly in groove 29 and about neck 3 of tubular body 63. As cinch ring 31 is stretched, by pivot action of lever 37, ring 31 is tilted and part of it is pulled slightly above or below planar groove 29 so that it is tightened in groove 29 to seal the contents of the fluid in tube 63.

[0054] As in the first embodiment, the nubs may be located inside or outside cinch ring 31. In addition, outer cap portion 75 may contain a printable or smooth finish while outer cap portion 75 may also include a bottom cap surface 19 that protrudes slightly into central opening 5 of tubular body 63. Still further, this latter embodiment may include outer cap portion 75 extending downward over the outer surface of outer collar 73 to seal the cap to container 1.

[0055] While the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications to the described embodiment of the invention without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof. It is intended that all combinations of elements and steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same result are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A cap for sealing the top opening of a fluid-carrying vessel, said vessel having an upstanding narrow neck with a central opening leading into the vessel, said neck of the type wherein it is surrounded by a short, thickened border of circular periphery about the opening, said cap comprising:

(a) a substantially non-flexible top cap portion for positioning transversely atop the neck of the vessel to cover the central opening therein, said top cap portion defined by an outer perimeter, extending beyond the periphery of the border, and spaced-apart top and bottom surfaces;

(b) a circular, flexible bottom cap portion, adapted to extend about the outside of the neck of the vessel;

(c) a flexible center band joining said top cap portion and said bottom cap portion, extending about the neck of the vessel below the border thereof and having an outer perimeter substantially less than the respective perimeters of said top cap portion and said bottom cap portion and to form a groove therebetween;

(d) a planar, stretchable cinch ring surrounding the neck of the vessel for location in said groove; and,

(e) a lever defined by first and second spaced-apart terminal ends engaging said cinch ring between said terminal ends and moveable between a first position wherein said cinch ring is relaxed in said groove and a second position wherein said cinch ring is stretched and tightened about the neck of the vessel and, as it is stretched, said cinch ring is pulled slightly above or below said planar groove.

2. The cap of claim 1 wherein:

(a) said bottom cap portion forms a narrow slot, including a pair of spaced-apart slot walls with at least one detent formed therein, said slot and said walls axially aligned with said neck; and,

(b) said lever has formed thereon a pair of outwardly facing nubs on opposite sides thereof for insertion in said detent, said nubs spaced-apart from said cinch ring so that movement of said lever from said first position to said second position causes said cinch ring to be stretched tightly about the neck of the vessel.

3. The cap of claim 1 wherein said nubs are inside said cinch ring.

4. The cap of claim 1 wherein said nubs are outside said cinch ring.

5. The cap of claim 1 wherein said top cap top surface contains a printable or smooth finish.

6. The cap of claim 1 wherein said top cap bottom surface protrudes slightly into the central opening of the neck of the vessel.

7. The cap of claim 1 wherein said top cap top and bottom surfaces have printable smooth outer finishes.

8. The cap of claim 1 wherein said bottom surface of said top cap portion extends downward over the outer surface of the thickened border of the vessel adjacent and is arranged to press tightly against the short, thickened border, to seal the cap to the vessel, when said lever is in said second position.

9. The cap of claim 1 wherein said groove is of the same diameter as said cinch ring.

10. The cap of claim 1 wherein the mean diameter of said cinch ring is sufficiently large to allow said cap to be slipped over the thickened border of the vessel when said lever is in said first position.

11. The cap of claim 1 wherein the mean diameter of said cinch ring is sufficiently small to allow said flexible center band to enter into an interference fit about the vessel when said lever is in said second position.

12. The cap of claim 1 further including a handle located on said lever.

13. The cap of claim 1 further including a handle formed on said lever.

14. A cap for sealing the opening of a fluid-carrying or solid-carrying container of the type having a generally pliable tubular body at one end of which is located a narrow neck about the opening, for squeezing out the contents thereof, the narrow neck of the type that is surrounded by a short, thickened outer collar at the distal end thereof, said cap comprising:

(a) a central outer cap portion for positioning transversely across the open end of the neck of the container to cover the opening therein, said outer cap portion defined by a top surface terminating at an outer periphery and a spaced-apart bottom surface;

(b) a circular, flexible inner cap portion extending about the outside of the neck of the container spaced below the border;

(c) a thin, flexible center band joining said outer cap portion and said inner cap portions and extending about the neck of the container to form a groove between said outer cap portion and said inner cap portion;

(d) a stretchable cinch ring surrounding the neck of the container in said groove; and,

(e) a lever defined by first and second spaced-apart terminal ends and joined to said cinch ring therebetween, said lever moveable between first and second positions adjacent the outside surface of the container wherein said first position allows said cinch ring to remain loose in said groove and said second position causes said cinch ring to be stretched tightly about the neck of the vessel and, as it is stretched, said cinch ring is pulled slightly above or below said planar groove.

15. The cap of claim 14 wherein:

(a) said inner cap portion has a narrow slot formed therethrough, including a pair of spaced-apart slot walls with at least one detent formed in each said wall therein, said slot and said walls axially aligned with said neck; and,

(b) said lever has formed thereon a pair of outwardly facing nubs on opposite sides thereof for insertion in said detents, said nubs spaced-apart from said cinch ring so that movement of said lever from said first position to said second position causes said cinch ring to be stretched tightly in said groove and about the neck of the vessel.

16. The cap of claim 14 wherein said nubs are located inside said cinch ring.

17. The cap of claim 14 wherein said nubs are located outside said cinch ring.

18. The cap of claim 14 wherein said top cap top surface contains a printable or smooth finish.

19. The cap of claim 14 wherein said outer cap portion further includes a bottom surface that protrudes slightly into the central opening of the neck of the vessel.

20. The cap of claim 14 wherein said bottom surface of said top cap portion extends downward over the outer surface of the thickened border of the vessel adjacent and is arranged to press tightly against the short, thickened border, to seal the cap to the vessel, when said lever is in said second position.

21. The cap of claim 14 wherein said groove is of the same diameter as said cinch ring.

22. The cap of claim 14 wherein the mean diameter of said cinch ring is sufficiently large to allow said cap to be slipped over the thickened border of the vessel when said lever is in said first position.

23. The cap of claim 14 wherein the mean diameter of said cinch ring is sufficiently small to allow said flexible center band to enter into an interference fit about the vessel when said lever is in said second position.