Cap assembly for bottles

Abstract

A cap assembly includes a base member having a tube and a rod. A cap member has an outer engaging tube and an inner engaging tube. A top plate is connected on two respective top ends of the outer engaging tube and the inner engaging tube. The inner engaging tube is inserted into an annular gap between the rod and an inner periphery of the tube and, the rod movably seals an outlet defined in the cap member. A first flange extends from an inner periphery of the outer engaging tube and is stopped by a top flange extending radially outward from a top end of the tube to prevent the cap member from being disengaged from the tube. A cover is mounted on the base member and is connected with the cap member so that users can simply open the cover to pull the cap member upward.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cap assembly for bottles, which includes a cap member cooperated with a cover, so that a user does not need to touch the cap member to drink the contents in the bottles.

2. The Prior Arts

Some bottled products such as water or sport drinks, are designed for outdoor use and the cap assembly does not need to be separated from the bottle when users drink the water or sport drinks. This purpose is achieved by using a valve connected to the cap assembly so that the users can have the water or sport drinks without removing a cap member from the bottles.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a conventional cap assembly that achieves the purpose mentioned above. The conventional cap assembly includes a base member “A” and a cap member “B”. A tube A2 extends from the base member A and a first flange A21 extends outward from an outer periphery of the tube A2. A plurality of connection ribs are connected between the tube A2 and a rod A1 in a center of the tube A2. The cap member B has an inner engaging tube B2 and an outer engaging tube B1, wherein a second flange B11 extends outward from an inner periphery of the outer engaging tube B1. An outlet B3 is defined through a center of the cap member B. The inner engaging tube B2 is engaged with an inner periphery of the tube A2, and the outer engaging tube B1 is mounted on the outer periphery of the tube A2 when the cap member B is mounted on the base member A. When the cap member B is pushed downward, the rod A1 is engaged with the outlet B3 and seals the outlet B3 as shown in FIG. 7. When the cap member B is pulled upward as shown in FIG. 8, the rod A1 is removed from the outlet B3 and the water (for example) in the bottle flows through the outlet B3.

However, wearing between the inner engaging tube B2 and the tube A2 results a gap and the water leaks from the gap even when the rod A1 is engaged with the outlet B3. When the cap member B is pulled upward, the inner engaging tube B2 and the tube A2 contact with each other only by a limited contact area, leakage might happen at this position.

Besides, it is possible that the cap member B is disengaged from the base member A if the users pull the cap member B too hard to move the second flange B11 over the first flange A21. Furthermore, the users have to hold and pull the cap member B so that the cap member B is easily contaminated.

The present invention intends to provide a cap assembly which does not require the users to contact the cap member when drinking the water in the bottles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cap assembly that includes a base member threadedly connected to a bottle and having a tube extending from a top thereof and a rod located at a center of the tube. A top flange extends radially outward from a top end of the tube. A plurality of connection ribs are connected between the rod and a bottom of the tube. A plurality of apertures are defined between the connection ribs. A cap member is movably mounted on the tube and includes an outer engaging tube and an inner engaging tube which shares a common axis with the outer engaging tube. A top plate is connected on two respective top ends of the outer engaging tube and the inner engaging tube. An outlet defined through the top plate and located corresponding to the rod so that when the inner engaging tube is inserted into an annular gap between the rod and an inner periphery of the tube, the rod movably seals the outlet. A lower end of the inner engaging tube is located corresponding to the apertures. A first flange extends from an inner periphery of the outer engaging tube and is stopped by the top flange to prevent the cap member from being disengaged from the tube when the cap member is moved upward.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a cap assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a base member and a cap member, both being partly removed, of the cap assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the base member and the cap member of the cap assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view showing that the cap member is mounted to a tube of the base member, and a rod of the base member seals an outlet of the cap member;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing that a cover is connected with the cap member and mounted on the base member;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view showing that the cover is opened and the cap member is pulled upward;

FIG. 7 shows a conventional cap assembly, and

FIG. 8 shows that the cap member of the conventional cap assembly is pulled upward.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1-5, a cap assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a base member 1 which includes an inner threaded periphery 14 so as to be threadedly connected to an outer threaded periphery 31 of a bottle 3, a tube 11 extending from a top of the base member 1 and a rod 12 located at a center of the tube 11. The rod 12 can be a solid or a hollow rod. A plurality of connection ribs 13 are connected between the rod 12 and an bottom of the tube 11. An annular gap 15 is defined between the rod 12 and an inner periphery of the tube 11. A plurality of apertures 151 are defined between the connection ribs 13, and a top flange 111 extends radially outward from a top end of the tube 11. The top flange 111 has a triangular cross section.

A cap member 2 has an outer engaging tube 22 and an inner engaging tube 23, and the inner engaging tube 23 shares a common axis with the outer engaging tube 22. A top plate 24 is connected on two respective top ends of the outer engaging tube 22 and the inner engaging tube 23. A periphery of the top plate 24 on the cap member 2 forms an annular lip 221. An outlet 21 is defined through the top plate 24 and located corresponding to the rod 12. The inner engaging tube 23 is inserted into the annular gap 15 of the base member 1 and a lower end 231 of the inner engaging tube 23 is located corresponding to the apertures 151. A first flange 222 extends from an inner periphery of the outer engaging tube 22 and can be stopped by the top flange 111 to prevent the cap member 2 from being disengaged from the tube 11.

A cover 4 is connected with a connection strip 44 and a collar 45 is connected to the other end of the connection strip 44. The collar 45 is mounted on the bottle 3. The cover 4 has an engaging portion 41 located at an inside of the cover 4 and a stop 42 extends from an inner periphery of the engaging portion 41. The engaging portion 41 of the cover 4 is mounted on the cap member 3 and the stop 42 is engaged with the annular lip 221. An engaging flange 43 extends from an inner periphery thereof and the base member 1 has a groove 16 defined in an outer periphery thereof so that the engaging flange 43 is engaged with the groove 16. The cover 4 further includes a thumb flange 46 extending outward therefrom.

As shown in FIG. 6, when a user wants to drink water in the bottle 3, he or she can push the thumb flange 46 upward by his or her thumb and the cover 4 is opened. Because the stop 42 is engaged with the annular lip 221, so that the cap member 2 is pulled upward together with the opening of the cover 4. The cap member 2 is lifted and the rod 12 is disengaged from the outlet 21, so that the water in the bottle 3 can flow through the apertures 151, the annular gap 15 and the outlet 21.

All of the parts can be made by plastics materials so as to have required flexibility and the users does not contact with the cap member 2 when drinking the water in the bottle 3. Besides, the connection strip 44 can be used as an alternative handle as well.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cap assembly comprising:

a base member having a tube extending from a top thereof and a rod located at a center of the tube, a top flange extending radially outward from a top end of the tube, a plurality of connection ribs connected between the rod and a bottom of the tube, an annular gap defined between the rod and an inner periphery of the tube, a plurality of apertures defined between the connection ribs; and

a cap member having an outer engaging tube and an inner engaging tube which shares a common axis with the outer engaging tube, a top plate connected on two respective top ends of the outer engaging tube and the inner engaging tube, an outlet defined through the top plate and located corresponding to the rod, the inner engaging tube inserted into the annular gap of the base member and a lower end of the inner engaging tube located corresponding to the apertures, a first flange extending from an inner periphery of the outer engaging tube and being stopped by the top flange to prevent the cap member from being disengaged from the tube.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a periphery of the top plate on the cap member forms an annular lip.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a cover which has an engaging portion located at an inside of the cover and a stop extends from an inner periphery of the engaging portion, the engaging portion of the cover is mounted on the cap member and the stop is engaged with the annular lip.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cover includes an engaging flange extending from an inner periphery thereof and the base member has a groove defined in an outer periphery thereof so that the engaging flange is engaged with the groove.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein a connection strip extends from the cover and is connected with a collar which is adapted to be mounted on a bottle.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rod is a solid rod.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cover includes a thumb flange extending outward therefrom.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top flange has a triangular cross section.