SILICONE BOTTLE CAP WITH REMOVABLE GLASS INSERT
In one or more embodiments, a bottle cap apparatus includes a silicone cap body, a glass insert disposed in the silicone cap body, and a silicone gasket disposed on the glass insert.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/184,391 filed Jun. 25, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDMost bottle caps use carbon-based plastics or metals for some or all of their components. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the negative health effects of some plastics and, in particular, the way certain beverages (e.g., herbal teas and vegetable juices) may adversely react to being stored in metal containers. Existing glass beverage bottles fail to adequately address this issue because they continue to rely on plastic components that present a contamination risk (e.g., caps, lids, straws, etc.). The likelihood of contamination increases when plastic parts are exposed to heat and ultraviolet light (e.g., via sun damage) or through the natural aging of the plastic. Furthermore, reusable beverage bottles are highly personal items and being able to keep them clean and sanitary is considered important by consumers. Plastic parts with intricate structures (e.g., existing bottle caps) fall short when it comes to the ability to be cleaned of beverage residue or mold (particularly with respect to from hard-to-reach areas and threaded walls). In addition to being difficult to clean, threaded plastic and metal caps require excessive twisting to create a good seal, which might not be convenient for users who are unable to exert enough strength (e.g., those with arthritis or other ailments causing limited dexterity or strength).
Thus, there is a need in the art to have a bottle cap that is plastic-free and non-metallic to provide consumers with an improved health-conscious and beverage-friendly alternative. Furthermore, it is also desirable to have a bottle cap that can be turned inside out for easy cleaning, as well as a bottle cap that can lock beverages in a glass environment by combining the flexibility of silicone with the purity of glass. There currently exists a need in the industry for a bottle closure solution that uses materials that are known to be safe, has the capability to be cleaned easily and thoroughly, and requires no excessive twisting to create a secure closure.
SUMMARYIn a claimed embodiment, a bottle cap apparatus includes a silicone cap body, a glass insert disposed in the silicone cap body, and a silicone gasket disposed on the glass insert.
In a claimed embodiment, a bottle cap apparatus includes a single molded silicone portion. The molded silicone portion includes a ridge around a circumference of a bottom inside part of the molded silicone portion. The molded silicone portion includes an inner channel adjacent to the ridge. The inner channel is adapted to receive an open end of a bottle.
In a claimed embodiment, a cap system for sealing a bottle includes a cap body adapted to mate with an opening of a bottle, a glass insert adapted to be mate with a cavity of the cap body, and a gasket adapted to mate with the glass insert and the cavity of the cap body.
Embodiments of a non-plastic (e.g., plastic-free), non-metallic (e.g., metal-free) bottle cap are provided. The embodiments are described for illustrative (i.e., explanatory) purposes only and do not constitute, nor should they be construed as, exhaustive or otherwise limited to the precise forms shown and described. Rather, additional embodiments and variations are possible as persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize and appreciate in view of the following teaching. As used herein, the term “illustrative” means “presented for the purpose of illustrating non-limiting examples” and is not intended to convey that any described subject matter is optimal, preferred, or otherwise more or less beneficial than any other described subject matter. As used herein, the articles “a” and “an” mean “at least one” or “one or more” unless otherwise stated.
In one or more embodiments, the bottle cap may be formed solely of silicone or another suitable plastic-free and metal-free yet flexible or resilient material. In one or more embodiments, the bottle cap may be formed solely of glass combined with silicone or another suitable plastic-free and metal-free yet flexible or resilient material. The bottle cap is adapted to mate with or couple to a bottle. In one or more embodiments, the bottle cap may be adapted to mate with or couple tightly to the bottle (e.g., by snap-fitting to the bottle). In one or more embodiments, the bottle cap may be unthreaded to make the bottle cap easier to clean and keep sanitary. The cap may be used to assist in storing beverages, essential oils, or other liquids or fluids in a plastic-free, non-metallic, glass environment. Due to its elasticity, the cap may be turned inside out and/or disassembled quickly for easy cleaning. In one or more embodiments, all components of the bottle cap may be dishwasher-safe. As used herein, the term “bottle” refers to any bottle, container, flask, vial, vessel, receptacle, or bin adapted to hold contents (non-limiting examples of which may include a beverage bottle, an essential oil container, and a perfume vial). In one or more embodiments, the bottle cap provided herein permits a superior containment environment compared to glass containers featuring plastic or metal caps that certain essential oils (e.g., peppermint oil) and other liquids or fluids degrade over time.
Caps 100 and 200 (e.g., silicone caps) allow beverages to be stored in an environment free from plastics and metals while remaining durable and not overly fragile. Caps 100 and 200 are also easier to keep clean than conventional caps because of the flexible or resilient material (e.g., silicone) and removable glass components. Both cap body 10 and cap 200 are flexible and can be turned inside out, which allows access to hard-to-reach areas that are generally difficult or impossible to clean in the case of plastic alternatives.
The foregoing detailed description of the technology herein has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the technology and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the technology in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the technology be defined by the claims and their equivalent elements.
Claims
1. A bottle cap apparatus, comprising:
- a cap body;
- a glass insert disposed in the cap body; and
- a gasket disposed on the glass insert.
2. The bottle cap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap body is formed entirely of a plastic-free and metal-free material.
3. The bottle cap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap body is formed at least partially of silicone.
4. The bottle cap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap body is formed entirely of silicone.
5. The bottle cap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gasket is formed entirely of a plastic-free and metal-free material.
6. The bottle cap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gasket is formed at least partially of silicone.
7. The bottle cap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gasket is formed entirely of silicone.
8. The bottle cap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the glass insert is removable.
9. The bottle cap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gasket is removable.
10. The bottle cap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap body is flexible and adapted to be turned inside out.
11. The bottle cap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap body is resilient and non-threaded.
12. The bottle cap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap body is adapted to coupled to a bottle.
13. The bottle cap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap body comprises an inner rim to which a channel of the glass insert mates.
14. A bottle cap apparatus, comprising:
- a single molded silicone portion, wherein the molded silicone includes a ridge around a bottom inside portion of the molded silicone portion, wherein the molded silicone portion is flexible and includes an inner channel adjacent to the ridge, the inner channel being adapted to receive an open end of a bottle.
15. The bottle cap apparatus of claim 14, wherein the molded silicone portion is adapted to be turned inside out.
16. The bottle cap apparatus of claim 14, wherein the single molded silicone portion is resilient and non-threaded.
17. The bottle cap apparatus of claim 14, wherein the single molded silicone portion is adapted to be coupled to a bottle.
18. A cap system for sealing a container, the system comprising:
- a cap body adapted to mate with an opening of a container;
- a glass insert adapted to be mate with a cavity of the cap body; and
- a gasket adapted to mate with the glass insert and the cavity of the cap body.
19. The cap system of claim 18, wherein the cap body is formed entirely of a plastic-free and metal-free material.
20. The cap system of claim 19, wherein the cap body is formed entirely of silicone.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 27, 2016
Publication Date: Dec 29, 2016
Inventor: Gabor Kocsis (Santa Fe, NM)
Application Number: 15/194,516