UNIVERSAL BOTTLE CAP

Abstract

A dispensing cap system for dispensing a supplement material through a bottle neck opening and into the bottle. An exemplary embodiment includes a cap member with downwardly depending fingers and inwardly directed barbs configured for connection to beverage bottle necks of different sizes. The cap member has a unitary inner plug portion and outer seal member arranged to provide a liquid seal of a bottle mouth of a variety of sizes. A valve member passes through a storage member attached to the cap, and is configured for movement between a storage position and a dispensing position, in which passage is permitted of the supplement material from the storage member into the bottle. The cap member also has a unitary o-ring portion for sealing against the valve member on one side and the storage container on the other to prevent fluid and/or supplement leakage. A nipple member may be positioned over the valve member to allow the bottle contents to be utilized or consumed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a non-provisional application of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/004,352, filed May 29, 2014, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/431,130, filed Mar. 27, 2012 (attorney docket no. 10-10085-CIP), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/983,813, filed Jan. 3, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,141,700 (attorney docket no. 10-10085), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/789,861, filed May 28, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,083,055 (attorney docket no. 10-10085-FIRST), each of which are incorporated by reference herein and from each of which priority is claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of Technology

Addition of supplements (powder, liquid or other form) to a beverage container is becoming increasingly popular. For example, powdered or liquid supplements may be stored in an assembly which is fitted to the neck of the container, to release the supplement into a container of water, to be consumed by the user. Not only supplements may be used, but any other beverage additive may be used, such as flavor, beverage mix, pharmaceutical powder and/or any other additive. Additives may be used in the beverage industry, nutraceutical industry, and/or pharmaceutical industry. Beverages may be water, juice, soda, alcohol, and/or any other drinkable liquid. There may be other uses as well, such as in the cleaning and/or pesticide fields, where an additive needs is separate from the primary liquid in a container, and is to be mixed into the primary liquid in the container at the time of use.

International Application WO 2011/098865 to Fontana discloses a container closure with a breakable membrane that is pierced by a plunger. Similarly, International Application WO/2010/028172 to Valentine discloses a cap that includes a device for piercing a capsule as the cap is threaded onto a bottle.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,930,254 and 6,820,740 to Spector disclose a membrane, which may be pierced by a bottle top or by a plunger.

U.K. Patent Application GB 2471994 to Ken-Te Chen discloses a cap that cuts into and pushes a bottom wall.

Each of these devices may be inconvenient for use and/or may increase a risk that parts of the material being pierced may be released into a person's drink, and/or may hinder mixing of fluid and supplement material. The use of a piercing device may also increase a risk that a person or child who mishandles the device may be injured by the piercing device. In addition, the use of a pierce-able material may increase difficulty in recycling and/or reusing the device.

What is needed is a supplement storage cap that enables mixing of supplement with a beverage that is safe and convenient, and which more preferably includes one or more of the advantages of being: easy to fill, inexpensive, reliable, interesting to look at, easy to use, and potentially adaptable to varying sizes of beverage bottles.

It is also desirable to make a cap that fits securely on and seals different size beverage bottles.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,985 to McNeirney et al discloses a cap with a rubber plunger. It also uses shrink wrap to help adhere to the bottle.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0284265 to Parker discloses a shot dispenser having a cap with a tear band.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0065378 to Maas discloses a cap for applying a dose of a substance to mix in a container.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0012532 to Frutin discloses a container closure device which threads onto a bottle neck.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0163442 to Lee discloses a cap having a storage chamber and that attaches to a bottle mouth.

In addition, there are many sizes of water and beverage bottle mouths and necks, even in the case of bottles having the same one liter or one quart or substantially (within ten percent of) one liter or one quart capacity. In the case of adding a cap onto a pre-existing bottle whether for adding supplement or for capping the bottle with a drinkable spout, what is needed is a universal cap that fits securely and with a reliable seal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment, there is a dispensing cap system for dispensing a supplement material through a bottle neck opening and into the bottle. The system may include the cap system along with the bottle, or just the cap system. The system may also be combined with supplement stored therein or without supplement therein to be filled later by a user.

An exemplary embodiment includes the cap, which may be configured with circumferentially arranged fingers at a lower end for connection to beverage bottle necks of different sizes, e.g., by engaging the neck ring on the bottle neck and/or by gripping threads but not by threading onto the bottle neck (although another embodiment may involve using a threaded attachment mechanism). A seal member preferably of a flexible plastic (or rubber) is arranged to provide a liquid seal against the bottle's mouth or neck opening, and to fit inside the cap, and preferably seals a bottle from the inside of the bottle's mouth as well as from the outside, but at least on the inside. The cap also has a storage member connected to it, and/or forms or is part of a storage compartment, where the supplement may be kept until use. The seal is preferably universal for many different types of bottles and preferably includes two sealing members, e.g. a plug portion and a seal portion. Preferably the seal is made unitary with the cap member.

The cap system may also include a nipple for drinking liquid from the bottle, the nipple being of similar configuration to a standard water bottle or sports bottle nipple. There may also be a shuttle valve or valve member, preferably generally cylindrical and hollow, having an upper portion preferably inside the nipple, and a lower portion with an opening or openings for communicating the storage compartment (and thus the supplement or additive) with contents of the bottle. The valve member may pass through the storage member or compartment which is positioned around the valve member, and may be configured for movement between a storage position and a dispensing position. In the storage position, supplement and beverage cannot mix. In the dispensing position, the supplement material is permitted to pass from the storage member into the bottle for mixing with the bottle's contents and if desired, contents from the bottle may pass into the container too. The valve is preferably normally closed, i.e., normally in the storage position, and preferably actuated by pressing down on the valve member until the valve member's opening or openings are registered with the storage compartment, i.e., the dispensing position. One could actuate the valve member by pushing down on the nipple in an alternative embodiments. Once the valve member is in the mixing position, the bottle may be shaken to mix the liquid and additive.

Preferably, the valve member is held in its upper position by friction fit and also held in its lower position by friction fit. The valve member could be locked down when in the lower position if desired, and/or interference fits and/or detents may be used to hold the valve member in position if desired. Then, with the valve member down, the user may move the nipple fully upward to a drinking position where liquid flows out of the nipple during sipping. The nipple, also preferably friction fit as is typically done in the art, is moved downward again when done drinking to close the bottle.

In a most preferred embodiment, there are four pieces: the cap member, the storage member, the valve member and the nipple. In another embodiment, the cap and storage member may be made unitary, thereby providing three pieces: the cap/storage member, the valve member and the nipple. Preferably, the cap member includes a unitary o-ring-like portion to seal against the valve member and against the storage compartment to prevent leakage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The system's features and advantages will readily be appreciated by persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a bottle cap dispensing system or bottle cap assembly of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1 in accordance with one preferred version having a four piece structure;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cap member of the assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the cap member of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the cap member of FIG. 5 split vertically;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a sectioned portion of the cap member of FIG. 7 taken along a circle 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a valve member of the system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of a storage member of the assembly of FIG. 2 taken along a line 10-10 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of a nipple member of the assembly of FIG. 2 taken along a line 11-11 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a schematic half side view and half cutaway view of a bottle or container top showing its mouth and neck with threads and neck ring for explanatory purposes;

FIG. 13 is a side cutaway view of the cap assembly mounted on a first bottle or container top having a first set of dimensions;

FIG. 14 is a side cutaway view of the cap assembly mounted on a second bottle or container top having a second set of dimensions;

FIG. 15 is a side cutaway view of the cap assembly mounted on a third bottle or container top having a third set of dimensions;

FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 are side cutaway views which illustrate the cap assembly of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 in (i) a first position with a nipple all or mostly lowered and a valve member in a closed position (non-mixing or shipment position), (ii) a second position with the nipple raised (drinking position), and (iii) a third position with the nipple completely lowered (mixing and/or nondrinking position), respectively; and

FIG. 19 is an enlarged, side cutaway view of a portion of the cap assembly in accordance with a variation of the invention, and which cap assembly is mounted on a fourth bottle or container top having a fourth set of dimensions, at least some of which are larger than the bottles or containers of FIGS. 13-15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description and in the several figures of the drawings, like elements are identified with like reference numerals.

One exemplary embodiment is a bottle cap assembly, configured to fit beverage bottles of different neck dimensions, and to dispense a liquid or solid (or even gaseous) additive such as a nutritional supplement in powdered or other form, a flavoring and/or beverage mix, a pharmaceutical substance, and/or any other additive into the bottle (or container) contents. For example, the bottle cap assembly may be configured to fit onto both a bottle of a relatively larger neck size and another bottle with a somewhat smaller neck size, and other sizes such as a bottle with a size in between large and small. In particular, preferably the attachment mechanism is universal to standard neck finishes (of the International Society of Beverage Technologists or “ISBT”) such as the 1810 neck finish and the 1881 neck finish, and/or 26 mm, 28 mm and 32 mm, which are typically the most popular, including 26P, 26P-1 and 26P-2, and short and long versions. Such bottle sizes are believed to be in use on one or more existing bottles of water and/or other beverage bottles. The bottles may have a mouth inner diameter of 21 to 30 mm and outer diameter or outer thread diameter of 26 to 32 mm, and/or anywhere in that range for inner and outer diameter, and a length from bottle top to neck ring of anywhere from 16.8 mm to 21.0 mm, and/or substantially (within 10 percent) of those sizes/ranges. Typically the OD (outer diameter) and ID (inner diameter) are often 30/25, 29/25, 29/21 (mm), respectively. These ranges of sizes and neck finishes are often used with a half to a one liter and/or a half to a one quart capacity beverage bottles or containers, and/or substantially (within ten percent) of this capacity, although larger or smaller capacity bottles or containers may have neck finishes within this range.

“Beverage” as used herein may include water, juice, soda, alcohol and/or any other type of consumable liquid, especially in a one liter or one quart size or substantially that size, although other capacity bottles may have the same or similar neck finishes. The bottles or containers herein may be used in any embodiment where an additive is to be mixed into a liquid in the bottle or container.

To achieve this universal fit, in one embodiment there is a universal sealing member or members (a plug portion and seal portion) and in another embodiment there are elongate fingers with a variety of radially inward facing barb portions at various lengths along the fingers to grip a thread and/or a neck ring on the bottle. These two embodiments are preferably combined.

In another embodiment, the bottle cap assembly may be configured to fit onto at least three water bottles of different sizes. These exemplary embodiments include a valve member which the user pushes or pulls to release a supplement or additive in powdered or liquid form (or gaseous form) into the bottle contents, and also remains in place for the user to drink through. The valve member also closes and opens to allow the user to seal the bottle or drink from the bottle. Once the bottle contents have been consumed, the bottle cap is typically not re-used. However, it could be cleaned and re-used, if desired.

FIGS. 1 to 4 are views of an exemplary embodiment of a dispensing cap system or cap assembly 1. The cap assembly 1 is configured to seal to the mouth of a bottle, e.g., a beverage or other bottle with liquid in it or for liquid. In a typical embodiment, the bottle neck may have threads to allow a conventional threaded bottle cap to be attached by threading to the bottle. The cap assembly 1 in such a case would be attached to the bottle neck after the conventional bottle cap has been removed.

The cap assembly 1 preferably includes four pieces: a shuttle valve or valve member 2 that is generally cylindrical, a cap member 3, a storage member 4 and a nipple 5.

The valve member 2 is movable between two basic positions: a closed or shipping position where additive stored in a chamber 40 formed in the storage member 4 cannot be mixed with the bottle contents, and an open or mixing position where the additives and bottle contents can mix.

The cap member 3 connects or attaches the cap assembly 1 to a neck of a bottle so as to seal the bottle's mouth and to be relatively securely attached.

The storage member 4 contains the additive and preferably snaps or screws onto or otherwise is fixed to the cap member 3. In an alternative embodiment, the storage member 4 and cap member 3 are unitarily formed.

The nipple 5 is for sipping. The nipple is movable between an upward drinking position in relation to the storage member and the valve member where liquid can exit the bottle and a downward nondrinking position where liquid cannot exit the bottle. When the nipple is down fully in relation to the valve member, liquid cannot exit, even if the nipple is not fully down in relation to the storage member.

CAP MEMBER: With reference to FIGS. 5-8, cap member 3 has a plurality of finger portions 30 projecting downward from a web portion 31. The distal ends of the finger portions 30 terminate in inwardly projecting lower barb or tab portions 30A, which may have sloped or cam surfaces on the bottom for sliding over a neck ring of a bottle, and preferably a relatively horizontal top surface in relation to the vertically oriented finger portions for gripping the neck ring's underside (normal or substantially normal to the axis of a bottle or container neck when the cap is being put onto the bottle). There are also inwardly projecting intermediate barb or tab portions 30B, which may also have sloped or cam surfaces on their bottom and horizontal or relatively horizontal top surfaces. These intermediate barbs 30B are shaped for sliding over threads on a bottle and gripping those threads (preferably without a threaded engagement), and could also slide over the neck ring and then grip neck ring for a short finish bottle (where the depth of the neck ring is shallow in relation to the bottle mouth, and as compared to a longer finish bottle where the depth of the neck ring is greater in relation to the bottle mouth).

While the intermediate barbs 30B may all be at the same relative height on the fingers 30, there preferably is a zigzag format to them. That is, some of the intermediate barbs 30B are offset in height from some of the other barbs. Preferably, every other barb is offset in height and preferably by the same amount or substantially the same amount of offset, as is shown in FIG. 7.

The web portion 31 or upper portion of the cap member has a hollow upwardly projecting boss portion 32, i.e. projecting above the web portion 31 away from the finger portions 30. The boss portion 32 has a plurality of spaced dispensing openings 32A formed adjacent the web surface between vertical ribs 32B, and these openings allow liquid from a bottle and the supplement or additive material to pass through, as described more fully below.

The cap member 3 may be fabricated of a plastic material such as PP (polypropylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), polyethylene, polysterene, PC (polycarbonate), styrene, LDPE (low density polyethylene), LLDPE (linear low density polyethylene), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), Dekin® (acetal homopolymer), or nylon, and the finger portions 30 are thin and have some flexibility at least in part because they are fixed only at one end.

In this embodiment, cap member 3 includes a connection structure for non-threading connection of the cap assembly 1 to a beverage bottle, by engagement preferably with the bottle flange or collar and threads, or the collar or the threads, as described above. The connection structure includes the finger portions 30 and the barb portions 30A, 30B. This type of connection structure does not have to match the threads of the bottle neck, which may vary with different beverage vendors and/or bottle types.

The number of finger portions 30 may vary in other embodiments. For example, fewer and relatively more rigid finger portions 30 may be used. In other embodiments, the connection structure may include finger portions 30 with barbs or teeth which engage the threads on bottle neck by sliding over some or all the threads as the cap assembly 1 is pushed onto the bottle neck, and locking in place without rotationally being threaded onto the threads of the bottle. A small or slight turn of the cap assembly 1 when the barbs slide over the threads of the bottle neck may help secure the cap assembly 1 and limit any play in the combination of the cap assembly 1 and bottle. While the barbs may engage the threads, in other embodiments it is preferred that the barbs engage the neck ring or at least engage the neck ring.

STORAGE MEMBER: With reference primarily to FIG. 10, a supplement or additive storage member 4 is configured for attachment to web portion 31 of the cap member 3, e.g., by threading and/or snap fit. As will be described more fully below, storage member 4 defines the outer periphery of a storage volume or chamber for a quantity of a supplement or additive in granular, powder or liquid form (or even gaseous form). The storage member 4 in this embodiment is a generally cup-like member, with a generally cylindrical inner sidewall 41 and outer sidewall portion 42 having a lower portion 42A that defines a large opening 44 in the bottom of the storage member. The storage member may be filled during the assembly process via large opening 44 and then the cap member may be attached thereto. The valve member may then be inserted to close the storage member's ports 41A until the valve member is actuated as explained later below.

The storage member 4 may be fabricated of a semi-transparent or transparent plastic material of one of the materials mentioned above, or may be opaque. Storage member 4 is configured for attachment to the cap member 3 by threading, snap fit, adhesive, welding or other connection method at lower portion 42A so that the web portion 31 and. For example, the cap member's web portion 31 may have a peripheral ridge 35 extending above the web portion and having a projection 35A, which may be engaged in a snap fit, interference fit, or threaded fit by an inwardly extending corresponding shaped projecting surface 42B on the lower portion 42A of sidewall 42. This fit also provides a seal.

The cap member 3 also preferably includes a unitary o-ring-shaped top portion 34 for helping to reassure sealing between a top portion of the cap member and the inner sidewall 41 as well as the valve member, and thus functions as an o-ring or sealing member. A separate o-ring may be used. More specifically, the o-ring-shaped top portion seals against the valve member e.g., at sidewall 20, and against the product container, e.g., at inner wall 41, where these parts meet. While this o-ring could be a separate piece, it is preferably unitary with the cap member. This seal prevents premature leakage of material from the storage member, and helps prevent moisture from outside degrading the supplement or additive material 47.

VALVE MEMBER: With primary reference to FIG. 9, cap assembly 1 further includes a shuttle valve or valve member 2 having a hollow generally cylindrical wall portion 20, and a top web portion 21 at one end thereof which extends across the end of the wall portion. A bottom flange 22 is formed at the distal end of the wall portion, and has an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the opening in the storage member 4. A tip 23 of reduced diameter relative to the wall portion 20 extends above the surface of the web portion 21. The web portion 21 around the base of the tip 23 and/or a sidewall 23C of the tip 23 may have one or more ports 21A, 23A, respectively, formed therein. The port(s) 21A and/or 23A permit the beverage or liquid to pass through from the bottle so when the nipple 5 is in an open or drinking position, a user may sip from the nipple (or liquid may be dispensed from the bottle).

The valve member has a base section 25 and an angled section 26 above the base section. The base section 25 is what initially blocks the dispensing openings 32A thus keeping storage member's ports 41A blocked from communicating through openings 32A with the inside of the cap member and thus the contents of the bottle. An upward limit of motion of the valve member may be provided by interference between bottom flange 22 and an inward projection 31A from the web portion of the cap member (see FIG. 7). Preferably, the valve member is in this upward position initially for shipping.

The valve member's angled section 26 has columns 26A and ports 26B. Upon use, the valve member is pushed downward from its initial or shipping position, e.g., by pushing down on the nipple until the nipple hits its downward limit where nipple ports 26B register with the openings/ports 41A and 32A, thus enabling mixing of the supplement or additive in storage chamber 40 by communicating the inner portion of the cap member and therefore the liquid in the bottle with the storage chamber. Shaking the bottle and cap combined structure mixes the liquid into the additive.

NIPPLE: With primary reference to FIG. 11, a nipple or nipple member 5 is sized to fit over valve member 2 and has a main body 50 which is preferably generally cylindrical. The valve member 2 has a range of sliding movement within storage member 4 in which the main body 50 is preferably friction fit. Nipple 5 has a range of sliding movement on the storage member from its lowermost position where a bottom edge 50A contacts an inwardly projecting horizontal flange 41B of inner sidewall 41 acting as a downward limit, to its uppermost position which may be a set amount by using a similar upper projection from the sidewall 41 and an outward projection from the nipple's main body 50, or an inward projection from the main body and an interference fit with the valve member.

For the nipple to be closed as in FIG. 3 (and/or FIGS. 16 and 18), its central port 51 in its upper surface 52 is sealed off from communication with the ports or openings 21A and/or 23A of the valve member 20 by an inner rim 52A of the upper surface 52 pressing against the valve member's sidewall 23C in a friction fit. Some sealing may also occur and/or in lieu thereof by underside 52B of the upper surface 52 covering ports 21A. Preferably ports 23A are omitted. The upward motion of the nipple has a practical limit due to friction and due to a user stopping the upward motion when the nipple has moved high enough in relation to the valve member that the seal over ports 21A and/or 23A has opened. In an open position as in FIG. 17, nipple 5 does not cover the ports 21A (and/or 23A), which then allows liquid to pass through from the bottle, so the user can drink the beverage or so the liquid substance may pass out of the bottle. The bottom of the nipple has an inward protrusion 50B to help seal with the valve member's wall member 20 and to provide friction with the valve member.

UNIVERSAL ATTACHMENT: As noted above, cap member 3 connects or attaches the cap assembly 1 to a neck of the bottle so as to seal the bottle's mouth and to be relatively securely attached across a wide variety of typical bottle neck finish sizes.

FIG. 12 is a partial sectional and partial schematic diagram of a neck finish 62 of a bottle or container 60 for purposes of explanation. Such a neck finish has a mouth 61 or bottle opening at the top, external threads 63 and a neck ring or flange 64. Dimensions of the neck finish may vary quite a bit depending on the bottle type and the manufacturer. In general, the neck finish has an inner diameter ID_M at the mouth, an outer diameter OD_T at the threads, an outer diameter D_NR at the neck ring, and a length or depth L_NR to the neck ring from the mouth or top of the bottle or container.

FIGS. 13-15 are cutaway and partial sectional views of cap assembly 1 as installed on a bottle 60, showing only cap member 3 and a neck region of the bottle for simplicity. In FIG. 13, the bottle or container neck 62 is shown having a first size, i.e., a first set of dimensions. In FIG. 14, the bottle or container neck 62 is shown having a second size, i.e., a second set of dimensions. In FIG. 15, the bottle or container neck 62 is shown having a third size, i.e., a third set of dimensions. In each of these figures, preferably, at least initially, the storage chamber 40 is in a filled state with supplement or additive as delivered to the user and the bottle is in a filled state.

There are two mechanisms of the cap member 3 that enable accommodation of various size bottle or container neck finishes, a bottle mouth sealing structure and a bottle neck gripping or attachment structure.

SEALING STRUCTURE: The sealing structure is formed at an underside of area 37 of web portion 34 and is sized to fit within and seal a bottle's neck, e.g., preferably sufficiently to accommodate a range of neck finishes. There preferably are two sealing members. One of the sealing members is a plug portion 37A which extends downward a relatively long length in relation to an outer seal portion 37B, which also extends downward. Preferably, plug portion 37A extends at an angle θ (theta) which is relatively shallow to a vertical line, e.g., less than about five degrees, and most preferably about two degrees. The other of the sealing members is an outer seal portion which extends down at an angle α (alpha) which is also relatively shallow to a vertical line, e.g., about ten degrees, and most preferably about nine degrees. The sealing members are thus shaped conically, with their upper ends missing a frustum (no top of the cone).

The seal assembly's structure, angle and flexibility enable the plug portion and/or seal portion to fit bottles having different diameters and different depths. The seal member thus need not necessarily seat exactly on the top of the bottle opening, as the seal member's lower portion functions to seal the bottle.

An exemplary preferred length of plug portion 37A is preferably between 5 and 10 mm, e.g., most preferably 7 mm. An exemplary preferred length of outer seal portion 37B is about one third the length of seal portion 37A or about 2 to 5 mm, however, it may be longer, and may even be as long as the plug portion or longer if desired. The conical shaped plug portion 37A having sufficient width and resiliency relative to the bottle opening to seal a range of neck sizes, and also provide some adjustment to differences in the distance between the bottle neck flange and the top of the neck.

Plug portion 37A preferably has an outward protrusion 37C at its bottom edge for sealing with an inner surface of a bottle or container neck. Plug portion 37A extends sufficiently so as to provide some resiliency to help maintain the seal. There may be a recessed area 37D formed between the plug portion 37A and the seal portion 37B to accommodate a bottle's mouth 61. More specifically, the recess 37D provides space for the bottle top 21 to be accommodated within a variety of neck finish heights. The outer seal portion 37B may be omitted in some embodiments as the plug portion 37A will generally provide the primary seal for many neck finish sizes, particularly those sizes where the ID_M (see FIG. 12) is 25 to 28 mm or about 25 to 28 mm or more preferably 25 to 26 mm or about 25 to 26 mm or even 25 mm or about 25 mm, as many bottles are made with an ID_M of 25 mm or about 25 mm, such as in a 29/25 or 30/25 neck finish size (first number is OD_T and second number is ID_M). However, in some cases, where the bottle mouth ID_M is bigger, the seal may be provided by the outer seal portion 37B. The dimensions are selected to correspond to at least two or at least three diameter bottle neck finishes, e.g., per the ISBT (International Society of Beverage Technologists). That way the seal member will be press fit in the neck and perform the seal.

The outer seal portion 37B may also seal a bottle neck that has an inner diameter such that the outer seal portion fits inside the mouth of the bottle, e.g., for 30 mm and/or 32 mm sizes. The outer seal portion 37B may also act like the plug member 37A when the inner diameter of a bottle is greater than the diameter of a circle about an axis of the cap member of the plug portion, and especially if greater than the diameter of a circle about an axis of the cap member of a point of attachment of the seal portion 37B to the web portion of the cap member.

CONNECTION OR ATTACHMENT STRUCTURE: The neck gripping or attachment structure includes the fingers 30 and the barbs 30A and 30B as described above. The cap member 3 and the length of the finger portions 30 are sized so that the free ends and other portions of the finger portions 30 can flex outwardly as the cap member 3 is pushed onto the neck of a bottle. In addition, due to the resiliency of the finger portions 30 due to their free ends and their multiplicity (so they are relatively thin), the lower barb portions 30A and intermediate barb portions 30B engage under the neck ring and/or threads extending from the bottle neck.

There may be any number of finger portions, but preferably at least six to sixteen, preferably ten to fourteen, and most preferably twelve to provide sufficient flexibility. As shown in and with reference to FIGS. 12 to 15, a vertical length of the finger portions as measured from at or about the recess 37D to an upper surface of the lower barb portions 30A is denoted L_MAX, which represents the maximum height of a neck ring, height L_NR (distance from the top 61 of the bottle forming the mouth to the underside surface 64A of the neck ring 64 or neck flange. A diameter of the neck ring measured from the outermost portion of the neck ring 64 is represented by D_NR. In ISBT standard 1810, a distance L_NR is 21 mm and a distance to a bottom thread is 14.1 mm, and a diameter of the neck ring D_NR is 33 mm and a diameter of the threads OD_T is 27.4 mm. In standard 1881, a distance L_NR is 17 mm and a distance to a bottom thread is 11.2 mm, and a diameter of the neck ring D_NR is 33 mm and a diameter of the threads OD_T is 27.4 mm. The mouth inner diameter ID_T is 21.7 mm in both standards.

In standard 26P-1, a distance L_NR is 17 mm and a distance to a bottom thread is 10.6 mm, and a diameter of the neck ring D_NR is 31.9 mm and a diameter of the threads OD_T is 27.2 mm. The mouth inner diameter ID_T is 21.8 mm. In standard 26P-2, a distance L_NR is 17 mm and a distance to a bottom thread is 10.6 mm, and a diameter of the neck ring D_NR is 33 mm and a diameter of the threads OD_T is 26.6 mm. The mouth inner diameter ID_T is 21.8 mm. Each of these standards has some variance. Therefore, suitable diameters of the finger portions may be from about 25 to about 35 mm, more preferably from about 27 to 31 mm and most preferably about 28 mm. Suitable diameters of the inner seal member at protrusion 21C may be 24 to 26 mm, and most preferably about 25 mm, and suitable diameters for the outer seal portion at its lowermost point may be from 24.5 to 26.5 mm and most preferably about 25.5 mm. However, all dimensions herein are for illustrative purposes, and the cap assembly 1 may have other dimensions to fit on and seal other ranges of bottle neck finishes.

For example, ranges of inner and outer diameters of bottles that may be sealed by the cap member may vary from as little as about 1 or 1.5 mm, or 2 mm to as much as 5 or 10 mm, and possibly more or less. Ranges of depth of the of the neck flange may vary from as little as about 2 or 3 mm to as much as 5 mm or 10 mm or more or less than those amounts.

The lower barb portions 30A and intermediate barb portions 30B are made to extend inward the same or substantially the same amount so they may grip the underside of the neck flange regardless of the length L_NR. For example, in FIGS. 13 to 15, there are neck finishes of three different lengths to the flange, L_N1, L_N2, and L_N3, respectively. Due to the different lengths, in FIG. 13 the neck flange has a long depth and so it is gripped by lower barb portion 30A. In FIG. 14 the neck flange has a short depth and so it is gripped by the upper ones of the intermediate barb portions 30B. In FIG. 15 the neck flange has a medium depth and so it is gripped by the lower ones of the intermediate barb portions 30B.

In addition, in FIGS. 13 to 15, there are different diameters for these illustrative neck finishes, as the diameters of the neck flanges D_F, of the threads, the outer diameter of the top of the bottle D_O, and of the inner diameter of the bottles D_I in these examples will vary, for example, being large in FIG. 13 so as to engage both plug portion 37A and seal portion 37B, small in FIG. 14 so as to engage just plug portion 37A, and intermediate in FIG. 15 so as to engage plug portion 37A with less inward deflection of the plug portion as compared to FIG. 14.

As may also be seen in FIG. 13, the barb portions may engage threads. Upper intermediate barb portion 34B is shown engaging an underside surface 63A of thread 63. Often, as is shown in various ISBT standards, the lowermost thread has a relatively flat lower surface which can be well-gripped by the intermediate barb portions. Therefore, the barb portions may engage threads, may engage the neck flange, and/or may engage both depending on the neck finish. The engagement and gripping is different from threading, even where a slight rotation of the cap assembly 1 is helpful to more tightly engage the bottle neck.

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 19, seal portion 37B of FIGS. 13 to 15 has been made longer and is now seal portion 37F. It now looks more like plug portion 37A. As shown in FIG. 19, there is a bottle neck finish 62 that has relatively large inner and outer diameters. In this case, the bottle top 61 is to the outside of the seal portion 37F, which in this embodiment acts like plug portion 37A of FIGS. 13 to 15 to seal the bottle mouth from the inside. A recess 37E provides space to accommodate larger bottles. In addition, the web portion 34 at area 37 curves upward towards the outside (away from a center axis of the cap assembly 1) which also helps provide more space for bottle neck finishes having greater distances from the bottle mouth or top 61 to the neck flange 64. With this structure, for example, bottles at the larger end of the size range may be accommodated.

As is disclosed and evident from the above and the figures, the barb portions 30A and/or 30B of the finger portions 30 are pushed over the bottle flange 64 and/or the bottle threads 63, with the cam or angled lower surfaces of the barb portions facilitating the installation by transferring the downward pushing force into a flexing force tending to splay the finger portions outwardly as user pushes the cap assembly 1 downwardly over the neck of the bottle. During downward pressure on the cap assembly 1 the plug portion 37A contacts the inside of the bottle and/or the seal portion 37B (or 37F) contacts the top of the neck, causing the plug portion 37A and/or seal portion 37B (or 37F) to flex but be biased against the inside of the bottle and/or the top of the neck to seal the opening or mouth of the bottle. The barb portions pass over the threads and/or flange and lock the cap assembly 1 in place by engagement of the horizontal upper surfaces of the lower barb portions and/or the intermediate barb portions with the underside of the flange and/or threads.

SHIPPING, MIXING AND DRINKING POSITIONS: FIGS. 16 to 18 illustrate cap assembly 1 in various positions, i.e., for shipping, drinking, and mixing (and non-drinking), respectively. FIG. 16 shows cap assembly 1 in a non-mixing (shipping) position with the nipple 5 and valve member 2 mostly lowered. FIG. 18 shows cap assembly 1 in a mixing position with the nipple 5 and valve member 2 fully lowered (as would normally be done by an end user to cause the valve member openings to align with the openings communicating with the inside of the storage compartment). This is also the same position for when the nipple is to be closed (non-drinking position). FIG. 17 shows cap assembly 1 in a drinking position, where nipple 5 is raised so that its top is clear of the top of the valve member 2 (valve member 2 may be lowered or in another position), so that the nipple opening communicates with the bottle's contents so the end user may drink.

In the shipping position, the contents of the cap assembly 1 are retained within the storage chamber 40, and fluid is prevented from entering the storage chamber. In the embodiment shown, nipple 5 is in a relatively low (non-raised) position so as to cover the openings 21A, 23A in the top of the valve member. The valve member is sufficiently above the position where the valve member's openings or ports 26B would communicate with the openings 41A of the storage member 4 and the openings or ports 32A of the cap member 3. Note that in this shipping (or storage or nonuse) position the valve member is preferably at or close to its uppermost limit.

In other less preferred embodiments, fluid communication between the one or more valve member openings and the one or more cap member openings may be blocked by alternative mechanisms.

In some embodiments, the cap assembly would be shipped in a locked position to prevent the valve member 2 from being accidentally lowered with respect to the cap member from the storage or shipping position to the mixing position. The cap assembly could be released from the locked position through rotation of one or more of the nipple 5 and valve member 2. This lock system may be like the lock system of a liquid soap container or a hand lotion contain, where the valve member cannot be pushed downward except by rotating or twisting it, e.g., by a quarter turn, which frees the valve member for downward movement.

Although one could go from the position of FIG. 16 to the position of FIG. 17, one would preferably first go to the mixing position of FIG. 18 from the shipping or storage position of FIG. 16. As shown in FIG. 18, the cap assembly 1 is in a mixing (or non-drinking) position which permits movement of supplement and/or additive fluid between storage member 4 and the hollow inner portion of valve member 2. This hollow inner portion forms a passage 28 which communicates the bottle and nipple, and communicates the storage member chamber 40 with the bottle contents. This position is achieved by pressing down against nipple 5 and/or the valve member's tip 23 to move the valve member downward with respect to the cap assembly until the valve member's ports or openings 26B are in alignment with and communicate with the ports or openings 32A of the cap member and the openings 41A of the storage member. This enables the contents of the bottle to pass up through the valve member's passage 28 into the storage container, and the contents 47 of the storage container may pass into the bottle through the passage 28. Mixing may thus occur. That is, with nipple 5 at a lowered/closed position to prevent fluid from passing through nipple opening 51, cap assembly 1 may be engaged with a fluid-filled bottle to be mixed with supplement or additive. The relative position of the nipple and valve member in this FIG. 18 precludes drinking, and so is also the non-drinking position.

In other embodiments, the mixing position may be reached when fluid communication is permitted between storage chamber 40 and the passage 28 through one or more of the above disengagement and/or uncovering operations.

As shown in FIG. 17, preferably after mixing has been completed or whenever drinking or liquid dispensing is desired, the nipple 5 may be raised with respect to the valve member and the cap assembly, permitting a user to drink fluid from a bottle connected to the cap member.

Where the storage compartment 40 contained supplement or additive, the fluid that may be consumed or used is preferably, at this point, mixed with the supplement or additive. The nipple 5 may be prevented from being disconnected from the cap assembly by engagement between the interference line and a flange on the valve member, or by other means. As is common in the industry, there is a frictional engagement between the cap assembly and the nipple sufficient to keep the nipple upward in the drinking position (or dispensing position) during usage and downward in the mixing or storage positions when in those positions.

Raising the nipple above the valve member as shown in FIG. 17 opens access to fluid via passage 28 to through ports 21A and/or 23A and through opening 51 for drinking or other usage. Note that the valve member may move into and/or out of its position where its blocks fluid communication with the storage chamber 40. However, once liquid and additive are mixed in the bottle preferably to the point where additive is fully dissolved or fully mixed into the liquid, there is no need for the valve member to remain in the mixing position. The valve member can operate properly without the need to lock down in the mixing position or lock up out of the mixing position.

As is evident from the above, pressing the nipple back down against the valve member blocks flow through opening 51 by blocking access to ports 21A and/or 23A, thus again achieving the mixing and non-drinking or non-dispensing position of FIG. 18.

BUILDING THE CAP ASSEMBLY: To assemble, valve member 2 may be pressed inside from the bottom and extend through the top of cap member 3. Before or after this step, storage member 4 may be turned upside down and filled with supplement, flavoring, or other additive as noted above. The valve member and cap member may (if not earlier assembled) be assembled together. The valve member and cap member are then connected to the storage member by inserting the valve member inside the inner wall of the storage member and the cap member engages, e.g., by snap fit, the storage member. As explained above, in a shipping condition, valve member 2 has windows that are vertically misaligned with ports in an inner wall of an upper portion of the cap member. These ports in the cap member will align with openings or passageways to a storage chamber of the storage member. Then, nipple 5 is inserted over the valve member into the storage member 4.

Single use is preferred for the cap assembly 1, although multiple use is possible. Shipment with the chamber filled, or subsequent filling by the user are possible.

THREE PIECES OR LESS: In another embodiment, any of the cap assemblies above may be made in three pieces. The structure may be polypropylene or other materials disclosed herein, or other comparable plastic or material. Its operation is evident from the operation of the prior embodiments. In this embodiment, the threaded outer portion of the cap member, the product container and a hinged valve cover at the top of the storage member are made in one piece. The cap member still has the sealing portion and the attachment structure. The remaining piece is the valve member, which also functions as a drinking spout eliminating the nipple.

Alternatively, the cap member and the storage member may be one piece, and the valve member and nipple may be made as one piece, providing two pieces. In addition, the cap member may simply be made with the attachment and sealing structures that are at and below its web portion (the fingers, barbs, seal portion and plug portion) to provide universal attachment, and merely have a sports bottle nipple, eliminating the storage compartment and thereby eliminating the need for a valve member as well. The upper portion of the cap member would look like and define an inner wall (like inner wall 41 of the storage member) for a nipple, like nipple 5, to move within. The cap member would also have a portion of the cap member that looks like at least the top portion including the ports of the valve member, for the nipple to close over by moving the nipple down or open by moving upward.

One could also just make a one piece universal bottle cap that is simply formed by the cap member, where the web portion is solid, i.e., impermeable to liquid, or where the web portion has a re-closeable flap through which liquid could be accessed when open, and impermeable when closed. Of course, one could split any of the four pieces and/or add additional pieces and make a cap assembly with a greater number of pieces.

OTHER VARIATIONS: Although the foregoing has been a description and illustration of specific embodiments of the subject matter, various modifications and changes thereto can be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, a lesser preferred connection system would be threads instead of fingers with barbs (to grip on the neck ring) or fingers with threads, but in such case the cap assembly would have to be sized for a particular bottle. Such embodiments would not have the more universal attachment capability of the fingers with barbs. More fingers, such as ten, twelve or fourteen, are preferred as such fingers will have a smaller width relative to using fewer fingers, e.g., six. The finger and barb dimensions and material, and the number of fingers and barbs, and spacing between the fingers all affect the resiliency of the fingers. The resiliency is such that the downward force needed to apply the fingers to the bottle neck sufficiently to form a good seal between the seal member and bottle is less than the deformation point and failure point of the bottle. At least ten, or at least twelve or at least fourteen fingers helps to provide good flexibility and resiliency to the fingers to help reduce the downward force of application to the bottle, and yet achieve a strength of attachment to the bottle such that pulling up on the nipple in order to drink will not pull the cap member off of the bottle. The force required to apply the cap member to the bottle must be less than such force that would cause the user to apply so much resisting force to the bottle that the user would cause the bottle to be crushed or otherwise fail.

While the finger attachment mechanism is preferred, in a less preferred embodiment, the attachment portion may comprise a threaded member that is screwed onto a bottle. The threaded member would have screw threads configured to engage threads of one or more types of bottles.

Grooves or recesses may be provided in the inner wall of the fingers just above the lower barbs 30A and/or just above the intermediate barbs 30B, to at least partly receive a portion of the neck ring and/or threads, therefore providing a more secure attachment to the bottle neck.

While multiple ports and openings are disclosed herein for fluid flow, variations where only one port or opening in place of multiple ports or openings may be used, even though less preferred, and/or variations with more ports or openings may be used as well.

An embodiment where the cap assembly is inserted into a bottle like a stopper could simply be held in place by frictional resistance between a surface or surfaces of the bottle and a component of the cap assembly, e.g. the plug portion 37A, the seal portion 37B (or 37F) and/or both. In other embodiments, the cap assembly may have one of the disclosed attachment mechanisms with fingers but lack a valve system and/or lack a supplement storage, mixing and/or delivery system and may be a cap that is universally attachable to various bottle sizes. Exemplary ranges of bottle sizes are from 5 mm to 25 mm (neck height range) and from 16 mm to 32 mm (diameter range of bottle neck openings). A common diameter range is from 21 mm to 32 mm.

Instead of using powdered supplement or additive, liquid supplement or additive or even gas could be used. For example, the storage compartment could be filled with compressed gas and/or a substance that when mixed with the bottle contents causes those contents to become a carbonated beverage.

In another embodiment or variation, the cap member may be sized and formed with fingers or with a cylindrical outer portion that has threads to attach to a specific size threaded neck finish. As in other embodiments, the valving system, nipple and product container may be included or replaced with a simple nipple/valve or the product container and valve system may be used with a simple threaded attachment mechanism or other attachment mechanism to the bottle.

The seal assembly's structure, angle and flexibility enable the plug portion and/or seal portion to fit bottles having different diameters and different depths. The seal member thus need not necessarily seat exactly on the top of the bottle opening, as the seal member's lower portion functions to seal the bottle.

The valve member may have one or more limit members extending radially outward from its base or other portions and be configured to abut against, e.g., an upper ring portion formed on the cap member 3 to positively limit downward movement of the valve member 2 relative to the cap member and cap assembly.

Since some bottles have different neck-flange-to-neck-top-surface dimensions, at least some of the finger portions 30 of the cap are formed with two sets of barb portions, the lower barb 30A and an intermediate barb 30B. In the disclosed embodiment, each of the finger portions 30 is formed with the lower barb and the intermediate barb. In other embodiments, fewer than all the finger portions 30 may be fabricated with both, one, or none of the barbs. Moreover, in other embodiments, some of the finger portions 30 may have only a lower barb, and others may have only an intermediate barb.

The intermediate barbs 30B may be rounded to enable the neck ring to slide by it easier when putting the cap member on the bottle (but need not be, e.g., it could have a similar shape to the lower barbs 30A for better gripping).

Since the cap member is made of plastic in the preferred embodiment, it may be clear, opaque or translucent, and may have any of a variety of colors. Clear or translucent would have the benefit, at least for the storage member, of enabling the user to see mixing occur, and in the case where the valve member remains in the mixing position during drinking, enabling the user to see swishing around of the liquid in the storage chamber during drinking or other usage.

Although the invention has been described using specific terms, devices, and/or methods, such description is for illustrative purposes of the preferred embodiment(s) only. Changes may be made to the preferred embodiment(s) by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is set forth in the following claims. Simple variations might be changing the exterior shape of the storage container to be cartoon characters, animals or other shapes, or making the container clear, opaque, translucent or a combination thereof, and/or using materials other than plastic and rubber as feasible. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the preferred embodiment(s) generally may be interchanged in whole or in part.

Claims

1. A dispensing cap assembly for dispensing liquid from a bottle, comprising:

a cap member including an upper portion and a connection structure, wherein the connection structure has an engagement mechanism that engages at least one of a neck ring and a neck thread of the bottle;

a sealing member disposed inside the cap and extending downward therefrom and having a sealing surface arranged for sealing contact with the bottle neck,

said connection structure comprising a set of finger portions depending downwardly from the upper portion and having a free bottom end, the finger portions having finger barb portions extending inwardly, the finger portions having sufficient flexibility for the distal ends to splay outwardly to allow the barb portions to each pass over a neck ring as the cap is installed onto the neck, and such that the barb portions engage the at least one of the neck ring and the neck thread of the bottle to secure the cap onto the bottle neck.

2. The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein there are between six and twelve finger portions, inclusive.

3. The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein there are finger barb portions at an intermediate depth along the finger portions and at the bottom end of the finger portions.

4. The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein there are finger barb portions at least two different intermediate depths along the finger portions and at the bottom end of the finger portions.

5. The cap assembly of claim 1, further comprising a storage compartment for containing a material to mix with contents of the bottle.

6. The cap assembly of claim 5, wherein the cap assembly further comprises a valve member movable between a first position where the valve member blocks any communication of the storage compartment with the contents of the bottle, and a second position where the valve member opens communication of the storage compartment with the contents of the bottle.

7. The cap assembly of claim 1, further comprising a nipple movable between an open position for dispensing liquid contents of the bottle and a non-drinking position for blocking flow of liquid contents of the bottle.

8. The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the barb portions are configured to splay outwardly upon being passed over threads and a neck flange of the bottle and to grip the underside of at least one of the neck flange of the bottle and threads of the bottle without threading to attach the cap assembly to the bottle.

9. The cap assembly of claim 8, wherein the barb portions will grip onto at least one of the neck flange and the threads of the bottle where a depth from a top of the bottle to the neck flange and the threads may vary by at least 2 mm.

10. A dispensing cap assembly for dispensing liquid from a bottle, comprising:

a cap member including an upper portion and a connection structure, wherein the connection structure has an engagement mechanism that engages at least one of a neck ring and a neck thread of the bottle;

a sealing member disposed inside the cap and extending downward therefrom and having a sealing surface arranged for sealing contact with the bottle neck,

said sealing member comprising a downwardly extending plug portion and a downwardly extending seal portion from a web portion of the cap member, wherein the plug portion increases in diameter as the plug portion extends downwardly for sealing against an inner wall of a bottle, wherein the plug portion can accommodate at least two different diameters of the bottle neck.

11. The cap assembly of claim 10, wherein the plug portion has a shape which is generally conical without a frustum.

12. The cap assembly of claim 10, wherein the seal portion increases in diameter as the seal portion extends downwardly for sealing against an inner wall or an outer wall of a bottle.

13. The cap assembly of claim 10, wherein there are between six and twelve finger portions, inclusive.

14. The cap assembly of claim 10, wherein there are finger barb portions at an intermediate depth along the finger portions and at the bottom end of the finger portions.

15. The cap assembly of claim 10, wherein there are finger barb portions at least two different intermediate depths along the finger portions and at the bottom end of the finger portions.

16. The cap assembly of claim 10, further comprising a storage compartment for containing a material to mix with contents of the bottle.

17. The cap assembly of claim 16, wherein the cap assembly further comprises a valve member movable between a first position where the valve member blocks any communication of the storage compartment with the contents of the bottle, and a second position where the valve member opens communication of the storage compartment with the contents of the bottle.

18. The cap assembly of claim 10, wherein the barb portions are configured to splay outwardly upon being passed over threads and a neck flange of the bottle and to grip the underside of at least one of the neck flange of the bottle and threads of the bottle without threading to attach the cap assembly to the bottle.

19. The cap assembly of claim 18, wherein the barb portions will grip onto at least one of the neck flange and the threads of the bottle where a depth from a top of the bottle to the neck flange and the threads may vary by at least 2 mm.

20. A dispensing cap assembly for dispensing liquid from a bottle, comprising:

a cap member including an upper portion and a connection structure, wherein the connection structure has an engagement mechanism that engages at least one of a neck ring and a neck thread of the bottle;

a sealing member disposed inside the cap and extending downward therefrom and having a sealing surface arranged for sealing contact with the bottle neck,

said connection structure comprising a set of finger portions depending downwardly from the upper portion and having a free bottom end, the finger portions having finger barb portions extending inwardly, the finger portions having sufficient flexibility for the distal ends to splay outwardly to allow the barb portions to each pass over a neck ring as the cap is installed onto the neck, and such that the barb portions engage the at least one of the neck ring and the neck thread of the bottle to secure the cap onto the bottle neck, and

said sealing member comprising a downwardly extending plug portion and a downwardly extending seal portion from a web portion of the cap member, wherein the plug portion increases in diameter as the plug portion extends downwardly for sealing against an inner wall of a bottle, wherein the plug portion can accommodate at least two different diameters of the bottle neck,

wherein the plug portion and the seal portion enable the cap member to seal a variety of standard ISBT bottles of varying inner and outer diameters, and the connection structure enables the barb portions to grip onto at least one of the neck ring and the neck thread of a variety of standard ISBT bottles having varying depths from the bottle mouth to the neck thread and neck ring.