Safety Bottle Cap

Abstract

A safety bottle cap includes a bottom cap body having a bottom cap wall that has a discharge opening, a top cap body openably connected to and disposed above the bottom cap body, and a safety mechanism having an engaging hole portion, an engaging hook portion engaging hookably the engaging hole portion, and a snappable connecting part that connects one of the engaging hole portion and the engaging hook portion to one of the bottom cap body and the top cap body. The other one of the engaging hole portion and the engaging hook portion is disposed on the other one of the bottom cap body and the top cap body. The snappable connecting part is snapped off when the top cap body is opened for a first time.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a bottle cap, and more particularly to a safety bottle cap that is openably connected to a container in order to seal an accommodating space in the container.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional flip bottle cap 12 is disposed above a container 11, which is suitable for filling a paste or liquid, such as cleanser, lotion, shampoo, etc. The bottle cap 12 has a bottom cap body 121 connected to a lip 111 of the container 11, a top cap body 122, and a connecting wall 123 interconnecting the top cap body 122 and the bottom cap body 121. The bottom cap body 121 has a discharge opening 124 for the paste or liquid in the container 11 to flow out.

However, before the container 11 using the conventional flip bottle cap 12 is sold, the top cap body 122 of the bottle cap 12 may be opened by someone to pour out the paste or liquid, or pour in a harmful substance, which cannot be realized from an outer appearance of the bottle cap 12, thus resulting in safety concerns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a safety bottle cap that facilitates identification as to whether it has been opened from an outer appearance thereof, thus enhancing safety.

According to the present invention, a safety bottle cap comprises:

a bottom cap body having a bottom cap wall that has a discharge opening;

a top cap body openably connected to and disposed above the bottom cap body, so as to seal the discharge opening of the bottom cap body; and

a safety mechanism having an engaging hole portion, an engaging hook portion engaging hookably the engaging hole portion in such a manner to prevent removal of the engaging hook portion from the engaging hole portion, and a snappable connecting part that connects one of the engaging hole portion and the engaging hook portion to one of the bottom cap body and the top cap body, the other one of the engaging hole portion and the engaging hook portion being disposed on the other one of the bottom cap body and the top cap body;

wherein the snappable connecting part is snapped off when the top cap body is opened for a first time, so as to expose the discharge opening of the bottom cap body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional bottle cap;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first preferred embodiment of a safety bottle cap according to the present invention, wherein the safety bottle cap is in a non-hooked condition;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2, wherein the safety bottle cap is in a hooked condition;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded sectional view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2, wherein the safety bottle cap is in an opened condition;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a second preferred embodiment of a safety bottle cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a third preferred embodiment of a safety bottle cap according to the present invention, wherein the safety bottle cap is in a non-hooked condition;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 7, wherein the safety bottle cap is in a hooked condition;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the third preferred embodiment, wherein the safety bottle cap is in the hooked condition; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 7, wherein the safety bottle cap is in an openable condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, it should be noted herein that similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals in the following description.

Referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the first preferred embodiment of a safety bottle cap according to the present invention is suitable to be connected to a lip 91 of a container 9. The safety bottle cap is made of a plastic material, and comprises a bottom cap body 2, a top cap body 3, and a safety mechanism 4.

In this embodiment, the bottom cap body 2 has a bottom cap wall 21 fixedly connected to the lip 91 of the container 9. The bottom cap wall 21 has a bottom base wall portion 211 formed with a discharge opening 213, and a surrounding wall portion 212 extending from an outer periphery of the bottom base wall portion 211 and disposed below the bottom base wall portion 211. The surrounding wall portion 212 has an annular outer surface 214 having a bottom cap recess 217, an annular inner surface 215, and a finger accessible recess 216.

The top cap body 3 has a top cap wall 31 corresponding to the bottom base wall portion 211, an outer peripheral wall 32 extending downward from an outer periphery of the top cap wall 31 and having a lower end abutting against the surrounding wall portion 212, a flexible connecting wall 33 integrally interconnecting the top cap wall 31 and the surrounding wall portion 212, a sealing wall 34 extending from a central portion of the top cap wall 31 toward the discharge opening 213 to openably seal the discharge opening 213, and a push wall 35 extending radially and outwardly from a lower end of the outer peripheral wall 32. The push wall 35 corresponds to the finger accessible recess 216 of the bottom cap body 2, and is diametrically opposite to the flexible connecting wall 33.

The safety mechanism 4 has an engaging hole portion 41 disposed on the surrounding wall portion 212 of the bottom cap body 2, an engaging hook portion 44 engaging hookably the engaging hole portion 41, and a snappable connecting part 42 that connects the engaging hook portion 44 to the outer peripheral wall 32 of the top cap body 3.

The engaging hole portion 41 has a hole-surrounding surface 412 defining an engaging hole 411 extending through the annular inner surface 215 of the surrounding wall portion 212, and a plurality of stopping plates 413 extending from the hole-surrounding surface 412 toward a center of the engaging hole 411. The engaging hole 411 is disposed in the bottom cap recess 217. The bottom cap recess 217 is disposed between the finger accessible recess 216 and the flexible connecting wall 33.

The engaging hook portion 44 has a plate 440 connected integrally to the snappable connecting part 42, and an engaging hook 449 extending from the plate 440 and into the engaging hole 411. The engaging hook 449 has a straight inserting part 441 configured to extend past the stopping plates 413, and a barb-shaped hook part 442 configured to abut against the stopping plates 413, so as to prevent removal of the engaging hook 449 from the engaging hole 411.

The snappable connecting part 42 has two connecting ribs 421 integrally interconnecting the plate 440 of the engaging hook portion 44 and the outer peripheral wall 32 of the top cap body 3.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 5, the safety bottle cap of this embodiment is in a non-hooked condition after it is manufactured as shown in FIG. 2. In this condition, the engaging hole portion 41 of the safety mechanism 4 is integrally formed on the surrounding wall portion 212 of the bottom cap body 2, and the engaging hook portion 44 is integrally connected to the outer peripheral wall 32 of the top cap body 3 via the snappable connecting part 42 of the safety mechanism 4. When it is desired to change the safety bottle cap of the embodiment from the non-hooked condition to a hooked condition, the top cap body 3 is first covered on the bottom cap body 2. Next, the engaging hook portion 44 is pressed into the engaging hole portion 41. When the engaging hook 449 is engaged in the engaging hole 411 of the engaging hole portion 41, the safety bottle cap is changed to the hooked condition as shown in FIG. 3. In the hooked condition, the engaging hole portion 41 and the engaging hook portion 44 engage each other, and the snappable connecting part 42 interconnects the top cap body 3 and the engaging hook portion 44, such that the top cap body 3 is unable to be opened. It should be noted that, as long as the engaging hole portion 41 and the engaging hook portion 44 engage each other, and the safety mechanism 4 is connected between the top cap body 3 and the bottom cap body 2 unless the safety bottle cap is opened.

When the container 9 is used for the first time, the top cap body 3 is opened by pushing the push wall 35 in an opening direction 5 as shown in FIG. 3, such that the snappable connecting part 42 which originally interconnects the top cap body 3 and the engaging hook portion 44 is snapped off, as shown in FIG. 5. Hence, two stubs 423 (see FIG. 5) are left on the top cap body 3 and the engaging hook portion 44, and the safety bottle cap is in an opened condition as shown in FIG. 5. Moreover, the colors of the engaging hook portion 44 and the snappable connecting part 42 are different from those of the top cap body 3 and the bottom cap body 2 in this embodiment to enhance effect of identification.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, it is known from the above description that, once the top cap body 3 is opened, the connecting ribs 421 of the safety mechanism 4 are broken. Therefore, consumers can easily identify whether the safety bottle cap has been opened by observing the appearance thereof.

FIG. 6 illustrates the second preferred embodiment of a safety bottle cap according to the present invention, which is similar to the first preferred embodiment. The difference between the second preferred embodiment and the first preferred embodiment resides in that the bottom cap recess 217 is L-shaped, and the plate 440 is received fittingly within the bottom cap recess 217.

Referring to FIG. 7 to FIG. 9, the third preferred embodiment of a safety bottle cap according to the present invention also comprises a bottom cap body 2, a top cap body 3, and a safety mechanism 4. The bottom cap body 2 has a bottom cap wall 21. The bottom cap wall 21 has a bottom base wall portion 211 formed with a discharge opening 213, and a surrounding wall portion 212 extending from an outer periphery of the bottom base wall portion 211 and disposed below the bottom base wall portion 211. The surrounding wall portion 212 has an annular top surface 219, and an annular outer surface 214 having a bottom cap recess 217 formed through the annular top surface 219. The top cap body 3 has a top cap wall 31 corresponding to the bottom base wall portion 211, an outer peripheral wall 32 extending downward from an outer periphery of the top cap wall 31 and having a lower end abutting against the surrounding wall portion 212, a flexible connecting wall 33 integrally interconnecting the top cap wall 31 and the surrounding wall portion 212, a sealing wall 34 extending from the top cap wall 31 toward the discharge opening 213 to openably seal the discharge opening 213, and a push wall 35 extending from the outer peripheral wall 32. The safety mechanism 4 has an engaging hole portion 41 disposed on the surrounding wall portion 212 of the bottom cap body 2, an engaging hook portion 44 engaging hookably the engaging hole portion 41, and a snappable connecting part 42.

In this embodiment, the surrounding wall portion 212 of the bottom cap body 2 has the annular top surface 219, the outer peripheral wall 32 of the top cap body 3 has a top cap recess 322 corresponding to the bottom cap recess 217 of the bottom cap body 2, and the engaging hook portion 44 is disposed on the outer peripheral wall 32 of the top cap body 3 and in the top cap recess 322. The engaging hole portion 41 has a hole-forming wall 414, an engaging hole 411 formed through the hole-forming wall 414 and two protrusions 416 extending from the hole-forming wall 414 toward the annular outer surface 214. The hole-forming wall 414 is of T shape and has two connecting wall surfaces 415 facing the annular top surface 219. The snappable connecting part 42 has a plurality of connecting ribs 421 integrally interconnecting the connecting wall surfaces 415 of the hole-forming wall 414 and the annular top surface 219 of the bottom cap body 2. Each of the connecting ribs 421 of the snappable connecting part 42 gradually and downwardly shrinks.

Further referring to FIG. 10, the safety bottle cap of this embodiment is in a non-hooked condition after it is manufactured as shown in FIG. 7. In the non-hooked condition, the engaging hole portion 41 is integrally formed on the surrounding wall portion 212 of the bottom cap body 2 via the snappable connecting part 42 of the safety mechanism 4, and the engaging hook portion 44 is integrally formed on the outer peripheral wall 32 of the top cap body 3. When it is desired to change the safety bottle cap of the embodiment from the non-hooked condition to a hooked condition, it is only necessary to move the top cap body 3 to cover on the bottom cap body 2. During the covering process, the engaging hook portion 44 disposed on the top cap body 3 is gradually moved toward the bottom cap body 2 along an inner side of the hole-forming wall 414. When the engaging hook portion 44 is engaged into the engaging hole 411 of the engaging hole portion 41, the safety bottle cap is changed to the hooked condition as shown in FIG. 8. In the hooked condition, the engaging hole portion 41 and the engaging hook portion 44 engage each other, and the snappable connecting part 42 interconnects the bottom cap body 2 and the engaging hole portion 41, such that the top cap body 3 is unable to be opened.

When the container 9 is used for the first time, the user inserts a finger into the bottom cap recess 217 to push the hole-forming wall 414 of the engaging hole portion 41 in a direction 6 as shown in FIG. 9, so as to snap off the connecting ribs 421 between the hole-forming wall 414 and the annular top surface 219 of the bottom cap body 2. At this moment, the safety bottle cap is in an openable condition as shown in FIG. 10. The protrusions 416 in this embodiment are disposed for facilitating the user to move the hole-forming wall 414 and for anti-slip purposes. Due to the shrinkage of the connecting ribs 421, the snappable connecting part 42 is easy to snap off. Moreover, the colors of the engaging hole portion 41 and the snappable connecting part 42 are different from those of the top cap body 3 and the bottom cap body 2 in this embodiment to enhance effect of identification. However, implementations are not limited thereto.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A safety bottle cap comprising:

a bottom cap body having a bottom cap wall that has a discharge opening;

a top cap body openably connected to and disposed above said bottom cap body, so as to seal said discharge opening of said bottom cap body; and

a safety mechanism having an engaging hole portion, an engaging hook portion engaging hookably said engaging hole portion in such a manner to prevent removal of said engaging hook portion from said engaging hole portion, and a snappable connecting part that connects one of said engaging hole portion and said engaging hook portion to one of said bottom cap body and said top cap body, the other one of said engaging hole portion and said engaging hook portion being disposed on the other one of said bottom cap body and said top cap body;

wherein said snappable connecting part is snapped off when said top cap body is opened for a first time, so as to expose said discharge opening of said bottom cap body.

2. The safety bottle cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engaging hole portion is disposed on said bottom cap wall of said bottom cap body, said snappable connecting part having at least one connecting rib interconnecting said engaging hook portion and said top cap body.

3. The safety bottle cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein said engaging hole portion has a hole-surrounding surface that defines an engaging hole, and at least one stopping plate extending from said hole-surrounding surface toward a center of said engaging hole, said engaging hook portion having a plate connected integrally to said snappable connecting part, and an engaging hook extending from said plate and into said engaging hole, said engaging hook having a straight inserting part configured to extend past said stopping plate, and a barb-shaped hook part configured to abut against said stopping plate, so as to prevent removal of said engaging hook from said engaging hole.

4. The safety bottle cap as claimed in claim 3, wherein said bottom cap wall has a bottom base wall portion formed with said discharge opening, and a surrounding wall portion extending from an outer periphery of said bottom base wall portion and disposed below said bottom base wall portion, said surrounding wall portion having an annular outer surface including a bottom cap recess, which is in spatial communication with said engaging hole and which is configured for said plate of said engaging hook portion to be disposed therein.

5. The safety bottle cap as claimed in claim 4, wherein said bottom cap recess is L-shaped, and said plate is received fittingly within said bottom cap recess.

6. The safety bottle cap as claimed in claim 4, wherein said top cap body has a top cap wall corresponding to said bottom base wall portion, an outer peripheral wall extending downward from an outer periphery of said top cap wall, and having a lower end abutting against said surrounding wall portion, and a flexible connecting wall integrally interconnecting said top cap wall and said surrounding wall portion.

7. The safety bottle cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engaging hook portion is formed on said top cap body, said engaging hole portion having a hole-forming wall, and an engaging hole formed through said hole-forming wall, said snappable connecting part having a plurality of connecting ribs integrally interconnecting said hole-forming wall and said bottom cap body.

8. The safety bottle cap as claimed in claim 7, wherein said bottom cap wall has a bottom base wall portion formed with said discharge opening, and a surrounding wall portion extending from an outer periphery of said bottom base wall portion and disposed below said bottom base wall portion, said surrounding wall portion having an annular top surface, and an annular outer surface having a bottom cap recess formed through said annular top surface, said hole-forming wall being of T shape and having two connecting wall surfaces facing said annular top surface, said connecting ribs integrally interconnecting said connecting wall surfaces of said hole-forming wall and said annular top surface of said bottom cap body.

9. The safety bottle cap as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said connecting ribs of said snappable connecting part gradually and downwardly shrinks.

10. The safety bottle cap as claimed in claim 9, wherein said engaging hole portion further has at least one protrusion extending from said hole-forming wall toward said annular outer surface.

11. The safety bottle cap as claimed in claim 10, wherein said top cap body includes a top cap wall corresponding to said bottom base wall portion, an outer peripheral wall extending downward from an outer periphery of said top cap wall and permitting said engaging hook portion to be disposed thereon, and a flexible connecting wall integrally interconnecting said top cap wall and said surrounding wall portion of said bottom cap wall.