LOCKING CAP FOR A DRINKING VESSEL

Abstract

A cap includes a housing, a flexible membrane made from a resilient material and disposed over at least a portion of the housing, a first slider at least partially disposed in the housing and movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the housing, and a second slider at least partially disposed in the housing and cooperating with the first slider, when the first slider is in the first position the second slider is in a locked position in which a distal end of the second slider presses against and extends the flexible membrane outwardly from the housing, and when the first slider is in the second position the second slider is in an unlocked position in which the distal end of the second slider does not extend the flexible membrane outwardly from the housing as much as compared to the locked position.

Description

BACKGROUND

Devices for pouring contents contained therein typically include a container for containing contents, and a cap for closing the container. Known caps are designed to selectively engage and form a seal with the container for retaining the contents in the container; however, a continued design challenge of such caps is found in providing a cap with a reliable locking and sealing mechanism for a container in a compact space often associated with handheld containers.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, a cap includes a housing, a flexible membrane made from a resilient material and disposed over at least a portion of the housing, a first slider at least partially disposed in the housing and movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the housing, and a second slider at least partially disposed in the housing and cooperating with the first slider. When the first slider is in the first position the second slider is in a locked position in which a distal end of the second slider presses against and extends the flexible membrane outwardly from the housing. When the first slider is in the second position the second slider is in an unlocked position in which the distal end of the second slider does not extend the flexible membrane outwardly from the housing as much as compared to the locked position.

According to another aspect, a method of assembling a cap includes disposing a flexible membrane over at least a portion of a housing, with an annular fin extending from the flexible membrane and configured to deform outwardly from the housing as pressure is applied to the annular fin from beneath the annular fin, providing a first slider at least partially disposed in a housing and moveable between a first position and a second position, and providing a second slider at least partially disposed in the housing in cooperation with the first slider and the flexible membrane such that when the first slider is in the first position the second slider is in a locked position in which a distal end of the second slider presses against and extends the flexible membrane outwardly from the housing, and when the first slider is in the second position the second slider is in an unlocked position in which the distal end of the second slider does not extend the flexible membrane outwardly from the housing as much as compared to the locked position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a cap connected with a vessel.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the cap connected with the vessel.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the cap connected with the vessel shown in FIG. 2 and locked with the vessel.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional front view of the cap on and unlocked from the vessel.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the cap removed from the vessel.

FIG. 6 is another partial cross-sectional side view of the cap connected with the vessel taken 90 degrees from the view shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is another partial cross-sectional side view of the cap on and unlocked from the vessel taken 90 degrees from the view shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a button, a first slider, and a housing of the cap, with the slider in a first position with respect to the housing.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the button, the first slider, and the housing of the cap shown in FIG. 8, with the first slider driven by the button to a second position.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the button, the first slider, and the housing of the cap shown in FIG. 9, with the first slider rotated in a circumferential direction of the housing by the button.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the button, the first slider, and the housing of the cap shown in FIG. 10, with the button retracted from the first slider.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the button, the first slider, and the housing of the cap shown in FIG. 11, with the first slider rotated in the circumferential direction of the housing.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the button, the first slider, and the housing of the cap shown in FIG. 12, with the button pressed toward the first slider.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the button, the first slider, and the housing of the cap shown in FIG. 13, with the first slider rotated in the circumferential direction of the housing by the button.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the button, the first slider, and the housing of the cap shown in FIG. 14, with the button retracted from the first slider.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the button, the first slider, and the housing of the cap shown in FIG. 15, with the first slider in the first position with respect to the housing.

FIG. 17 is a partial cross-sectional front view of a cap according to another aspect connected and locked with the vessel.

FIG. 18 is a partial cross-sectional front view of a cap according to another aspect connected and locked with the vessel.

FIG. 19 is a partial cross-sectional front view of a cap according to another aspect unlocked and removed from the vessel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are merely illustrative and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the present disclosure. Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 depicts a cap 100 connected with a vessel 102. As depicted in FIG. 2, the vessel 102 is formed from a vessel wall 104 that defines an interior 106 and an exterior of the vessel 102, and defines an opening 110 from the interior 106 to the exterior of the vessel 102. When the cap 100 is connected with the vessel 102, a portion of the cap 100 is inserted in the opening 110 of the vessel 102. With reference to FIG. 3, the cap 100 includes an upper cap 112. The upper cap 112 has a shoulder 114 that obstructs the cap 100 from further insertion into the vessel 102. With reference back to FIG. 1 and to FIG. 4, lugs 120 connect with the upper cap 112 and the housing 124 via a respective post 122 that extends through the upper cap 112 to connect with a housing 124.

With continued reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a flexible membrane 130 made from a resilient material is disposed over at least a portion of the housing 124. The resilient material from which the flexible membrane 130 can be made can include rubber-like materials such as silicone, and the upper cap 112 and the housing 124 are more rigid than the flexible membrane 130. The housing 124 includes a wall portion 132 and a bottom portion 134. The wall portion 132 defines a bore 136 extending in a longitudinal (axial) direction of the housing 124 from a top 138 of the housing 124 toward the bottom portion 134 to define an interior 140 of the housing 124. The wall portion 132 further defines a first aperture 144 from the interior 140 to an exterior side 146 of the housing 124, extended in a radial direction of the housing 124 orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing 124. The first aperture 144 is defined in the wall portion 132 where the wall portion 132 is configured for being inserted in the opening 110 of the vessel 102. As described below, further apertures that have similar features and function in a similar manner can be defined in the wall portion 132. For example, a group of three apertures including the first aperture 144 may be defined in the wall portion 132 and angularly spaced approximately 120° from each other in a circumferential direction of the housing 124 about the longitudinal direction.

In the illustrated embodiment, the wall portion 132 is cylindrical, with a central axis oriented in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124. The wall portion 132 and the bottom portion 134 supports the flexible membrane 130. While the depicted housing 124 is formed from the wall portion 132 and the bottom portion 134, the housing 124 could alternatively be a cage or other rigid structure.

FIG. 2 depicts a front view of the cap 100 connected with the vessel 102, with the cap 100 and the vessel 102 oriented in an upright position defined herein as the orientation resulting from standing the vessel 102 on a horizontal plane such that the longitudinal direction of the housing 124 is oriented normal to the horizontal plane. As shown in FIG. 3, an annular fin 150 extends downwardly from the flexible membrane 130 when the cap 100 is oriented in the upright position. In the illustrated embodiment, the annular fin 150 forms a continuous exterior surface of the cap 100 with the flexible membrane 130 along the housing 124 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124.

In the illustrated embodiment, the annular fin 150 is integrally formed with the flexible membrane 130 and made from the same material as the flexible membrane 130, which results in the annular fin 150 being made from a resilient material. The annular fin 150 is configured to deform outwardly in the radial direction of the housing 124 as pressure in the vessel 102 is applied to the annular fin 150 from beneath the annular fin 150, conforming to the interior 106 the vessel 102 below the opening 110, and sealing the annular fin 150 against the vessel 102.

With reference again to FIGS. 3 and 4, the vessel wall 104 defines a recess 152 at the opening 110 of the vessel 102 and includes a ramp 154 formed from the vessel wall 104 at a position below the recess 152 when the vessel 102 is oriented in the upright position. With the cap 100 inserted in the vessel 102, the annular fin 150 presses against the ramp 154 as pressure is applied to the annular fin 150 from within the vessel 102 beneath the annular fin 150, sealing the cap 100 with the vessel 102.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, a first slider 160 is at least partially disposed in the housing 124, and a first biasing member or spring 162 contacts the first slider 160 and the bottom portion 134 of the housing 124. The first slider 160 is made from a rigid material, e.g. a rigid plastic. FIG. 3 depicts the first slider 160 in a first position with respect to the housing 124. The first slider 160 is movable along the longitudinal direction of the housing 124 between the first position and a second position. In the second position, the first slider 160 is located closer to the bottom portion 134 of the housing 124 as compared to when the first slider 160 is in the first position. The first spring 162 is a compression spring configured to bias the first slider 160 toward the first position and away from the second position in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124, closer to the top 138 as compared to when the first slider 160 is in the second position.

The first slider 160 includes a first (upper) end portion 164 separated from a second (lower) end portion 166 by a recess 170. The first end portion 164 and the second end portion 166 are complementary with an interior surface 172 of the housing 124 for sliding along the interior surface 172 between the first position and the second position. The first slider 160 includes a lower sloped face 174, which forms part of the recess 170, inclined inwardly in the radial direction of the housing 124, along the longitudinal direction of the housing 124. The lower sloped face 174 is located between the first end portion 164 and the second end portion 166 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124.

A second slider 180 is at least partially disposed in the housing 124. The second slider 180 is made from a rigid material, e.g. a rigid plastic. The second slider 180 is positioned in the first aperture 144 between the first slider 160 and the flexible membrane 130 in the radial direction of the housing 124. The second slider 180 includes a proximal end 182 configured for engaging the first slider 160 in the interior 140 of the housing 124, and a distal end 184 configured for engaging the flexible membrane 130 at the exterior side 146 of the housing 124.

The second slider 180 cooperates with the first slider 160 and the flexible membrane 130 such that when the first slider 160 is in the first position the second slider 180 is in a locked position in which the distal end 184 of the second slider 180 presses against and extends the flexible membrane 130 outwardly from the housing 124 in the radial direction of the housing 124. The second slider 180 also cooperates with the first slider 160 such that when the first slider 160 is in the second position the second slider 180 is in an unlocked position in which the distal end 184 of the second slider 180 does not extend the flexible membrane 130 outwardly from the housing 124 as much as compared to the locked position.

The flexible membrane 130 is configured to conform to an exterior shape of the housing 124 and the distal end 184 of the second slider 180 when the second slider 180 is in either the locked position or the unlocked position. In this manner, the flexible membrane 130 is configured to deform around the distal end 184 of the second slider 180 in the radial direction of the housing 124 when the second slider 180 is in the locked position. In the illustrated embodiment, the flexible membrane 130 is also configured to conform with the exterior side 146 of the housing 124, extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124, straight along part of the wall portion 132 inserted in the vessel 102, over the first aperture 144, when the second slider 180 is in the unlocked position.

The lower sloped face 174 of the first slider 160 is inclined outward in the radial direction of the housing 124, along the longitudinal direction of the housing 124, from the first end portion 164 to the second end portion 166. The lower sloped face 174 is configured to directly engage the second slider 180 when the first slider 160 moves between the first position and the second position. With this, the lower sloped face 174 of the first slider 160 directly contacts and drives the second slider 180 from the unlocked position toward the locked position when the first slider 160 moves from the second position toward the first position. When the first slider 160 moves from the first position toward the second position, the second slider 180 rides along the lower sloped face 174 into the recess 170.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, the second slider 180 extends through the first aperture 144 and is configured to slide along the first aperture 144 in the radial direction of the housing 124 between the locked position and the unlocked position. In the locked position, the distal end 184 of the second slider 180 projects outward from the exterior side 146 of the housing 124, causing the flexible membrane 130 to deform around the distal end 184 of the second slider 180 and generate a spring force against the distal end 184 of the second slider 180 toward the unlocked position. The spring force generated by the flexible membrane 130 when the second slider 180 is in the locked position is sufficient to bias the second slider 180 toward the unlocked position. In this manner, the flexible membrane 130 drives the second slider 180 toward the unlocked position when the first slider 160 is in the second position.

The distal end 184 of the second slider 180 is rounded toward the first slider 160, along the circumferential direction of the housing 124. As such, when the second slider 180 is in the locked position, the flexible membrane 130 deforms outward from the exterior side 146 of the housing 124 with a rounded shape. The rounded shape of the flexible membrane 130 over the second slider 180 is complementary with the recess 152 for locking the cap 100 with the vessel 102. With the flexible membrane 130 having a rounded shape complementary with the recess 152, the cap 100 is configured to evenly dissipate forces exerted on the cap 100 relative to the vessel 102 along the rounded shape of the flexible membrane 130, retaining the cap 100 in the opening 110 of the vessel 102 when the cap 100 is connected with and locked with the vessel 102.

FIGS. 3-5 depict successive stages of the cap 100 being removed from the vessel 102. FIG. 3 depicts the cap 100 locked in the opening 110 of the vessel 102, FIG. 4 depicts the cap 100 unlocked in the opening 110 of the vessel 102, and FIG. 5 depicts the cap 100 removed from the vessel 102.

As shown in FIG. 4, the distal end 184 of the second slider 180 in the unlocked position is retracted toward the interior 140 of the housing 124 as compared to when the second slider 180 is in the locked position. In the illustrated embodiment, the distal end 184 of the second slider 180 is flush with or retracted inward from the exterior side 146 of the housing 124 in the radial direction of the housing 124 such that the flexible membrane 130 extends over the first aperture 144 unobstructed by the second slider 180. The exterior of the cap 100 defined by the flexible membrane 130 extends straight along the housing 124 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124, over the second slider 180 in the radial direction of the housing 124, spaced from the vessel wall 104. As such, the second slider 180 and the flexible membrane 130 at the wall portion 132 do not obstruct the cap 100 from moving relative to the vessel 102 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124. In this manner, the cap 100 is configured for being removed from the vessel 102 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cap 100 is removed from the vessel 102 by being displaced from the vessel 102 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124. The first slider 160 is held in the second position with the second slider 180 disposed in the unlocked position such that the portion of the cap 100 inserted in the vessel 102 in FIG. 4 can move along the vessel wall 104 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124, removing the cap 100 from the vessel 102.

With reference to FIG. 3, the cap 100 includes a flexible cover 190 connected to the upper cap 112 and covering the first slider 160. The flexible cover 190, the upper cap 112, and the flexible membrane 130 cooperate to prevent ingress of liquid into the interior 140 of the housing 124. More specifically, the upper cap 112, the flexible membrane 130 and the flexible cover 190 are supported by and encase the exterior side 146 of the housing 124, sealing the exterior of the cap 100 from the housing 124.

The cap 100 also includes an actuator 192 cooperating with the first slider 160 and interposed between the flexible cover 190 and the first slider 160 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124. The actuator 192 will be described hereinafter as a button, where the button 192 is at least partially disposed in the housing 124, extends into the bore 136 in the housing 124 when the first slider 160 is in the first position, and is configured, when pressed downward per the orientation shown, to drive the first slider 160 away from the first position and toward the second position. The button 192 is configured to selectively interlock with the first slider 160 when the button 192 drives the first slider 160 toward the second position, and rotate the first slider 160 with respect to the housing 124. While the described actuator 192 is a button, the actuator 192 may alternatively be a switch or other type of control configured to actuate the first slider 160 between the first position and the second position for selectively locking the cap 100 with the vessel 102 without departing from the scope of the present application.

A second biasing member or spring 194 can be interposed between the first slider 160 and the button 192 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124. The second spring 194 is a compression spring configured to bias the button 192 away from the first slider 160, toward the flexible cover 190. The second spring 194 is disposed in a cavity 196 defined by the first slider 160 and the button 192 and configured for retaining the second spring 194 between the first slider 160 and the button 192 when the first slider 160 is in the first position and when the first slider 160 is in the second position, whether the button 192 is engaged with the first slider 160 or the button 192 is biased away from the first slider 160.

The flexible cover 190 covers the button 192 and the first slider 160 in the interior 140 of the housing 124. When the first slider 160 is in the first position, the button 192 abuts the flexible cover 190 and is configured for being pressed through the flexible cover 190 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124, driving the first slider 160 toward the second position. As shown in FIG. 4, the flexible cover 190 deforms through the bore 136, into the interior 140 of the housing 124 when the button 192 is pressed through the flexible cover 190, driving the first slider 160 to the second position. The flexible cover 190 is configured to deform elastically when pressed into the interior 140 of the housing 124, and generate a spring force that returns the flexible cover 190 to an undeformed state when the flexible cover 190 is no longer being pressed. In an embodiment where the button 192 is fixed to the flexible cover 190, the flexible cover may “spring back” the button 192 with the spring force after being pressed into the interior 140 of the housing 124 in addition or alternative to the first spring 162 and the second spring 194.

With reference to FIG. 3, the wall portion 132 defines a second aperture 198 from the interior 140 to the exterior side 146 of the housing 124, extended in the radial direction of the housing 124 and angularly spaced from the first aperture 144 by approximately 120°. A third slider 200 is at least partially disposed in the housing 124 in the second aperture 198, between the first slider 160 and the flexible membrane 130 in the radial direction of the housing 124. The second aperture 198 and the third slider 200 have similar features and function in a similar manner as the first aperture 144 and the second slider 180 with respect to the first slider 160 and the flexible membrane 130. In view of this further description is omitted for the sake of brevity.

As shown in FIG. 6, the wall portion 132 defines a third aperture 204 from the interior 140 to the exterior side 146 of the housing 124, extended in the radial direction of the housing 124 and angularly offset from the first aperture 144 and the second aperture 198 by approximately 120°. A fourth slider 210 is at least partially disposed in the housing 124 at the third aperture 204, between the first slider 160 and the flexible membrane 130 in the radial direction of the housing 124. The third aperture 204 and the fourth slider 210 have similar features and function in a similar manner as the first aperture 144 and the second slider 180 with respect to the first slider 160 and the flexible membrane 130. In view of this further description is omitted for the sake of brevity.

As shown between FIGS. 3 and 6, the first aperture 144, the second aperture 198, and the third aperture 204 are arranged evenly spaced from each other in the circumferential direction of the housing 124 at approximately 120° intervals. As such, when the cap 100 is connected with the vessel 102 and the first slider 160 is in the first position, the second slider 180, the third slider 200, and the fourth slider 210 are respectively disposed in the locked position, where the distal end 184 of the second slider 180, the distal end 202 of the third slider 200, and the distal end 212 of the fourth slider 210 are positioned with approximately even spacing along the exterior side 146 of the housing 124 in the circumferential direction of the housing 124. The distal end 184 of the second slider 180, the distal end 202 of the third slider 200, and the distal end 212 of the fourth slider 210 are pressed and extended toward the recess 152 with the flexible membrane 130, obstructing the cap 100 from moving in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124 relative to the vessel 102.

In this manner, the recess 152 in the vessel wall 104 is configured to receive the flexible membrane 130, the distal end 184 of the second slider 180, the distal end 202 of the third slider 200, and the distal end 212 of the fourth slider 210, locking the cap 100 with the vessel 102 when the second slider 180, the third slider 200, and the fourth slider 210 are respectively disposed in the locked position. With the distal end 184 of the second slider 180, the distal end 202 of the third slider 200, and the distal end 212 of the fourth slider 210 positioned with approximately even spacing in the circumferential direction of the housing 124, forces exerted on the cap 100 relative to the vessel 102 are evenly distributed in the recess 152 of the vessel 102 between the second slider 180, the third slider 200, and the fourth slider 210, retaining the cap 100 in the vessel 102 when the cap 100 connected and locked with the vessel 102.

The second slider 180, the third slider 200, and the fourth slider 210 form a plurality of sliders 180, 200, 210 least partially disposed in the housing 124, cooperating with the first slider 160 and the flexible membrane 130, and are arranged approximately evenly spaced from each other in the circumferential direction of the housing 124. Notably, the plurality of sliders 180, 200, 210 may alternatively include more or fewer sliders having similar features and functioning in a similar manner as the second slider 180, the third slider 200, and the fourth slider 210 without departing from the scope of the present application.

FIG. 6 depicts the first slider 160 disposed in the first position, where the first slider 160 is biased in a position against a first stop 214 provided in the housing 124 such that the first stop 214 retains the first slider 160 in the first position. FIG. 7 depicts the first slider 160 disposed in the second position, where the first slider 160 is biased in a position against a second stop 216 attached to the housing 124 such that the second stop 216 retains the first slider 160 in the second position. The button 192 is configured to drive the first slider 160 toward the second position and rotate the first slider 160 in the circumferential direction of the housing 124 for engaging one of the first stop 214 and the second stop 216.

FIGS. 8-16 depict the first slider 160 and the button 192 in the housing 124 through successive stages where the button 192 drives the first slider 160 toward the second position, rotating the first slider 160 in the circumferential direction of the housing 124 such that the first stop 214 retains the first slider 160 in the first position, or the second stop 216 retains the first slider 160 in the second position.

The button 192 includes ramped surfaces 218 inclined in the circumferential direction of the housing 124, and the first slider 160 includes ramped surfaces 220 inclined in the circumferential direction of the housing 124, facing in a direction opposite the ramped surfaces 218 of the button 192. The ramped surfaces 220 of the first slider 160 are complementary with the ramped surfaces 218 of the button 192 such that when the button 192 is pressed to drive the first slider 160 toward the second position, the ramped surfaces 218 of the button 192 press the ramped surfaces 220 of the first slider 160 in the circumferential direction of the housing 124. The ramped surfaces 220 of the first slider 160 slide along the ramped surfaces 218 of the button 192, rotating the first slider 160 in the circumferential direction of the housing 124 relative to the button 192.

The housing 124 includes rails 222 extended along the longitudinal direction of the housing 124, in the interior 140 of the housing 124. The rails 222 are configured to retain a radial position of the button 192 with respect to the housing 124 when the button 192 rotates the first slider 160. The button 192 is arranged at the top 138 of the housing 124 and cooperates with the first slider 160 such that when the first slider 160 is in the first position a distal face 224 of the button 192 is extended outward from the exterior side 146 of the housing 124 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124, and when the button 192 drives the first slider 160 toward the second position the distal face 224 of the button 192 is retracted inward of the exterior side 146 of the housing 124 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124. In the depicted embodiment, the first stop 214 (FIG. 6) and the second stop 216 (FIG. 7) are respectively formed from bottom portions of the rails 222.

FIGS. 8-11 depict the button 192 driving the first slider 160 toward the second position where the first slider 160 is retained in the second position by the second stop 216. Specifically, FIG. 8 depicts the first slider 160 biased in the first position and engaged with the button 192. FIG. 9 depicts the first slider 160 driven in the second position by the button 192. FIG. 10 depicts the first slider 160 in the second position and rotated relative to the housing 124 by the button 192 in the circumferential direction of the housing 124. FIG. 11 depicts the first slider 160 in the second position with the button 192 retracted from the first slider 160, where the first slider 160 is retained in the second position by the second stop 216 (FIG. 7). In this manner, the button 192 is configured to selectively engage and interlock with the first slider 160, drive the first slider 160 toward the second position, and rotate the first slider 160 such that the first slider 160 engages the second stop 216, locking the first slider 160 in the second position.

FIGS. 12-16 depict the button 192 driving the first slider 160 toward the second position where the first slider 160 is retained in the first position by the first stop 214. Specifically, FIG. 12 depicts the first slider 160 driven in the second position and rotated relative to the housing 124 by the button 192 in the circumferential direction of the housing 124. FIG. 13 depicts the first slider 160 driven in the second position by the button 192. FIG. 14 depicts the first slider 160 driven in the second position and rotated in the circumferential direction of the housing 124 by the button 192. FIG. 15 depicts the first slider 160 in the second position with the button 192 retracted from the first slider 160. FIG. 16 depicts the first slider 160 biased in the first position, where the first slider 160 is retained in the first position by the first stop 214 (FIG. 6). In addition or alternative to the first stop 214, the button 192 may be configured to retain the first slider 160 in the first position, where the first slider 160 is biased in the first position against the button 192, without departing from the scope of the present application. In this manner, the button 192 is configured to selectively engage and interlock with the first slider 160, drive the first slider 160 toward the second position, and rotate the first slider 160 such that the first slider 160 engages the first stop 214, locking the first slider 160 in the first position.

With reference to FIG. 3, a method of assembling the cap 100 includes disposing the flexible membrane 130 over at least a portion of a housing 124, with the annular fin 150 extending downwardly from the flexible membrane 130 and configured to deform outwardly as pressure is applied to the annular fin 150 from beneath the annular fin 150. The method of assembling the cap 100 also includes providing the first slider 160 at least partially disposed in the housing 124 and moveable between the first position and the second position. The method of assembling the cap 100 also includes providing the second slider 180 at least partially disposed in the housing 124 in cooperation with the first slider 160 and the flexible membrane 130 such that when the first slider 160 is in the first position the second slider 180 is in the locked position, where the distal end 184 of the second slider 180 presses against and extends the flexible membrane 130 outwardly from the housing 124, and when the first slider 160 is in the second position the second slider 180 is in the unlocked position where the distal end 184 of the second slider 180 does not extend the flexible membrane 130 outwardly from the housing 124 as much as compared to the locked position.

In an embodiment, the method of assembling the cap 100 also includes providing the button 192 at least partially disposed in the housing 124, cooperating with the first slider 160. The method of assembling the cap 100 also includes covering the first slider 160 and the button 192 in the housing 124 with the flexible cover 190 such that the button 192 is interposed between the flexible cover 190 and the first slider 160. The method of assembling the cap 100 also includes fixing the flexible cover 190 with the flexible membrane 130 such that the flexible cover 190, the upper cap 112, and the flexible membrane 130 cooperate to prevent ingress of liquid into the interior 140 of the housing 124.

In an embodiment, the method of assembling the cap 100 also includes providing the plurality of sliders 180, 200, 210, including the second slider 180, at least partially disposed in the housing 124 and cooperating with the first slider 160 and the flexible membrane 130 such that when the first slider 160 is in the first position the plurality of sliders 180, 200, 210 are in the locked position in which the distal end 184, 202, 212 of each slider 180, 200, 210 in the plurality of sliders 180, 200, 210 presses against and extends the flexible membrane 130 outwardly from the housing 124, and when the first slider 160 is in the second position the plurality of sliders 180, 200, 210 are in the unlocked position in which the distal end 184, 202, 212 of each slider 180, 200, 210 in the plurality of sliders 180, 200, 210 does not extend the flexible membrane 130 outwardly from the housing 124 as much as compared to the locked position, and the plurality of sliders 180, 200, 210 are arranged evenly spaced from each other along the circumferential direction of the housing 124.

FIG. 17 illustrates a cap 300 as an alternate embodiment of the cap 100 of FIGS. 1-16. With respect to the cap 300 of FIG. 17, like elements with the cap 100 of FIGS. 1-16 are denoted with the same reference numerals but followed by a primed suffix (′).

FIG. 17 depicts the cap 300 locked in the opening 110 of the vessel 102. As shown in FIG. 17, the cap 300 includes a first slider 302 at least partially disposed in the housing 124′, and the first spring 162′ contacts the first slider 302 and the bottom portion 134′ of the housing 124′. The first slider 302 is movable along the longitudinal direction of the housing 124′ between a first position and a second position relative to the housing 124′, and is biased toward the first position by the first spring 162′. The first slider 302 is configured to drive the second slider 180′ between the locked position and the unlocked position through the lower sloped face 174′ as the first slider 302 is driven between the first position and the second position.

An actuator or button 304 is integrally formed with the first slider 302 and interposed between the flexible cover 190′ and the first slider 302 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124′. The button 304 is at least partially disposed in the housing 124′, extends outward from the housing 124′ when the first slider 302 is in the first position, and is configured to drive the first slider 302 away from the first position and toward the second position when pressed through the flexible cover 190′.

With the button 304 integrally formed with the first slider 302, the button 304 is configured to move with the first slider 302 between the first position and the second position. The cap 300 includes a stop 306 fixed with the housing 124 and extended into a notch 308 defined in the button 304 to obstruct the first slide 302 from moving beyond the first position from the second position. In this manner the stop 306 is configured to retain the first slider 302 in the first position against the bias from the first spring 162′. The depicted embodiment lacks a stop configured to retain the first slider 302 in the second position such that when the button 304 is not pressed to drive the first slider 302 toward the second position, the first slider 302 is retained in the first position, with the second slider 180′ in the locked position.

FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate a cap 400 as an alternate embodiment of the cap 100 of FIGS. 1-16, where FIG. 18 depicts the cap 400 locked in the opening 110 of the vessel 102, and FIG. 19 depicts the cap 400 unlocked and removed from the opening 110 of the vessel 102. With respect to the cap 400 of FIGS. 18 and 19, like elements with the cap 100 of FIGS. 1-16 are denoted with the same reference numerals but followed by a primed suffix (′).

As shown in FIG. 18, the cap 400 includes a first slider 402 disposed on the housing 124′, and the first biasing member or spring 162′ contacts the first slider 402 and the bottom portion 134′ of the housing 124′. The first slider 402 is movable along the longitudinal direction of the housing 124′ between a first position and a second position relative to the housing 124′, and is biased toward the first position by the first spring 162′, against a rigid cover 404. The rigid cover 404 is spaced from the housing 124′ in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124′, and extends from the upper cap 112′ transversely across the bore 136′, in the radial direction of the housing 124′.

The cap 400 includes a flexible cover 410 connected to the upper cap 112′ and positioned over the rigid cover 404 with respect to an exterior of the cap 400. The flexible cover 410, the upper cap 112′, and the flexible membrane 130′ cooperate to prevent ingress of liquid into the interior 140′ of the housing 124′. More specifically, the upper cap 112′, the flexible membrane 130′, and the flexible cover 410 are supported by and encase the exterior side 146′ of the housing 124′, sealing the exterior of the cap 400 from the housing 124′.

The cap 400 also includes a first actuator 412 and a second actuator 414, described hereinafter as a first button and a second button, where the first button 412 and the second button 414 respectively cooperate with the first slider 402 to drive the first slider 402 away from the first position and toward the second position. The rigid cover 404 is disposed over the first button 412 and the second button 414, and the flexible cover 410 is disposed over the rigid cover 404, the first button 412, and the second button 414 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124′. The flexible cover 410 extends from the housing 124′ to the rigid cover 404 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124′ such that the first button 412 and the second button 414 can be pressed through the flexible cover 410, inward in the radial direction of the housing 124′, and slide along the housing 124′ and the rigid cover 404.

The first button 412 and the second button 414 are each disposed on the housing 124′, and extended across the bore 136′ in the radial direction of the housing 124′ to be interposed between the rigid cover 404 and the first slider 402 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124′, and interposed between the first slider 402 and the flexible cover 410 in the radial direction of the housing 124′. The first button 412 and the second button 414 are disposed on opposite sides of the housing 124′ with respect to the radial direction of the housing 124′, and directly contact the first slider 402 at opposite sides of the first slider 402 with respect to the radial direction of the housing 124′. As shown in FIG. 19, the first button 412 and the second button 414 are each configured to drive the first slider 402 away from the first position and toward the second position when pressed inward in the radial direction of the housing 124′.

With reference to FIG. 19, the first button 412 includes a first button body portion 420 extended through a first channel 422 defined between the housing 124′ and the rigid cover 404 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124′. The first channel 422 extends in the radial direction of the housing 124′ from the interior 140′ to the exterior side 146′ of the housing 124′. The first button body portion 420 is configured for being pressed inward in the radial direction of the housing 124′ through the flexible cover 410, into the first channel 422 such that the first button body portion 420 slides against the rigid cover 404 and the housing 124′ along the first channel 422 in the radial direction of the housing 124′.

The first button 412 includes a first wedge portion 424 extended from the first button body portion 420 toward the first slider 402 in the radial direction of the housing 124′. The first wedge portion 424 has a first button inclined face 430 that is inclined upward per the orientation shown, along the radial direction housing 124′ toward the first slider 402. The first button inclined face 430 directly contacts, extends along, and is configured to slide against a corresponding first slider inclined face 432 formed on the first slider 402. The first slider inclined face 432 is complementary to the first button inclined face 430 such that the first wedge portion 424 drives the first slider 402 away from the first position and toward the second position through the first button inclined face 430 when the first button body portion 420 is pressed inward in the radial direction of the housing 124′. As shown in FIG. 18, when the first button body portion 420 is not pressed inward in the radial direction of the housing 124′, the spring 162′ drives the first slider 402 toward the first position, against the rigid cover 404, and the first slider 402 drives the first button 412 through the first slider inclined face 432, outward in the radial direction of the housing 124′ and against the flexible cover 410.

The second button 414 includes similar features, and functions in a similar manner as the first button 412 with respect to the housing 124′, the first slider 402, the rigid cover 404, and the flexible cover 410. With reference to FIG. 19, the second button 414 includes a second button body portion 434 extended through a second channel 440 defined between the housing 124′ and the rigid cover 404 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 124′. The second channel 440 extends in the radial direction of the housing 124′ from the interior 140′ to the exterior side 146′ of the housing 124′. The second button body portion 434 is configured for being pressed inward in the radial direction of the housing 124′ through the flexible cover 410, into the second channel 440 such that the second button body portion 434 slides against the rigid cover 404, along the second channel 440 in the radial direction of the housing 124′.

The second button 414 includes a second wedge portion 442 extended from the second button body portion 434 toward the first slider 402 in the radial direction of the housing 124′. The second wedge portion 442 has a second button inclined face 444 that is inclined upward per the orientation shown, along the radial direction housing 124′ toward the first slider 402. The second button inclined face 444 directly contacts, extends along, and is configured to slide against a corresponding second slider inclined face 450 formed on the first slider 402. The second slider inclined face 450 is complementary to the second button inclined face 444 such that the second wedge portion 442 drives the first slider 402 away from the first position and toward the second position through the second button inclined face 444 when the second button body portion 434 is pressed inward in the radial direction of the housing 124′. As shown in FIG. 18, when the second button body portion 434 is not pressed inward in the radial direction of the housing 124′, the spring 162′ drives the first slider 402 toward the first position, and the first slider 402 drives the second button 414 through the second slider inclined face 450, outward in the radial direction of the housing 124′ and against the flexible cover 410.

The first slider 402 is configured to drive the second slider 180′ between the locked position and the unlocked position through the lower sloped face 174′ as the first slider 402 is driven between the first position and the second position. The depicted embodiment lacks a stop configured to retain the first slider 402 in the second position such that when the first button 412 and the second button 414 are not pressed to drive the first slider 402 toward the second position, the first slider 402 is retained in the first position, with the second slider 180′ in the locked position.

It will be appreciated that the above-disclosed embodiments and other features and functions, or alternatives or varieties thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

1. A cap comprising:

a housing;

a flexible membrane made from a resilient material and disposed over at least a portion of the housing;

a first slider at least partially disposed in the housing and movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the housing; and

a second slider at least partially disposed in the housing and cooperating with the first slider, when the first slider is in the first position the second slider is in a locked position in which a distal end of the second slider presses against and extends the flexible membrane outwardly from the housing, and when the first slider is in the second position the second slider is in an unlocked position in which the distal end of the second slider does not extend the flexible membrane outwardly from the housing as much as compared to the locked position.

2. The cap according to claim 1, further comprising an annular fin extending from the flexible membrane and made from a resilient material, the annular fin being configured to deform outwardly from the housing as pressure is applied to the annular fin from beneath the annular fin.

3. The cap of claim 2, wherein the annular fin is integrally formed with the flexible membrane.

4. The cap of claim 2, wherein the annular fin forms a continuous exterior surface of the cap with the flexible membrane.

5. The cap of claim 1, further comprising an upper cap connected with the housing and being more rigid than the flexible membrane.

6. The cap of claim 5, further comprising a flexible cover connected to the upper cap and covering the first slider in the housing.

7. The cap of claim 6, further comprising an actuator cooperating with the first slider and interposed between the flexible cover and the first slider.

8. The cap of claim 7, wherein the actuator is configured to selectively interlock with the first slider when the actuator drives the first slider toward the second position, rotating the first slider with respect to the housing.

9. The cap of claim 8, wherein the actuator is a button configured for being pressed through the flexible cover for driving the first slider toward the second position, and rotating the first slider with respect to the housing.

10. The cap of claim 1, further comprising an actuator at least partially disposed in the housing and configured to drive the first slider toward the second position, wherein the first slider is biased toward the first position and configured to selectively interlock with the button.

11. The cap of claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible cover covering the first slider in the housing;

a first actuator disposed on the housing, and interposed between the flexible cover and the first slider in a radial direction of the housing; and

a second actuator disposed on a side of the housing opposite the first actuator with respect to the radial direction of the housing, and interposed between the flexible cover and the first slider in the radial direction of the housing,

wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are each configured to drive the first slider toward the second position when pressed through the flexible cover, and

wherein the first slider is biased toward the first position and configured to drive the first actuator and the second actuator against the flexible cover.

12. The cap of claim 1 in combination with a vessel comprising a vessel wall which defines a recess for receiving the flexible membrane when the second slider is in the locked position.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the cap further comprises an annular fin extending from the flexible membrane and made from a resilient material, the annular fin being configured to deform outwardly from the housing as pressure is applied to the annular fin from beneath the annular fin,

wherein the vessel includes a ramp below the recess, and

wherein the annular fin presses against the ramp as pressure is applied to the annular fin from within the vessel beneath the annular fin.

14. The cap of claim 1, further comprising a third slider at least partially disposed in the housing and cooperating with the first slider and the flexible membrane such that when the first slider is in the first position the third slider is in a locked position in which a distal end of the third slider presses against and extends the flexible membrane outwardly from the housing at a position spaced from the second slider in a circumferential direction of the housing.

15. The cap of claim 1, wherein the first slider includes a sloped face configured to engage the second slider and drive the second slider from the unlocked position to the locked position when the first slider moves from the second position toward the first position.

16. The cap of claim 1, wherein the first slider moves between the first position and the second position in a direction orthogonal to a direction the second slider moves between the locked position and the unlocked position.

17. The cap of claim 1, further comprising:

an actuator disposed on the housing and configured to drive the first slider in a longitudinal direction of the housing, toward the second position, when the actuator is pressed inward in a radial direction of the housing;

a rigid cover disposed over the actuator in the longitudinal direction of the housing, wherein the actuator is configured to slide along the rigid cover and the housing in the radial direction of the housing for driving the first slider toward the second position; and

a flexible cover disposed over the rigid cover, wherein the flexible cover cooperates with the flexible membrane to prevent ingress of liquid into an interior of the housing, wherein the actuator is configured for being pressed in the radial direction of the housing through the flexible cover, and

wherein the first slider is biased in the longitudinal direction of the housing, toward the first position and against the rigid cover, and the first slider is configured for driving the actuator in the radial direction of the housing toward the flexible cover.

18. A method of assembling a cap, the method comprising:

disposing a flexible membrane over at least a portion of a housing, with an annular fin extending downwardly from the flexible membrane and configured to deform outwardly as pressure is applied to the annular fin from beneath the annular fin;

providing a first slider at least partially disposed in a housing and moveable between a first position and a second position; and

providing a second slider at least partially disposed in the housing in cooperation with the first slider and the flexible membrane such that when the first slider is in the first position the second slider is in a locked position in which a distal end of the second slider presses against and extends the flexible membrane outwardly from the housing, and when the first slider is in the second position the second slider is in an unlocked position in which the distal end of the second slider does not extend the flexible membrane outwardly from the housing as much as compared to the locked position.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

providing an actuator at least partially disposed in the housing, cooperating with the first slider;

covering the first slider and the actuator in the housing with a flexible cover such that the actuator is interposed between the flexible cover and the first slider; and

fixing the flexible cover with the flexible membrane such that the flexible cover and the flexible membrane cooperate to prevent ingress of liquid into an interior of the housing.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

providing a first stop in the housing such that the first stop retains the first slider in the first position when the first slider is positioned against the first stop;

providing a second stop in the housing such that the second stop retains the first slider in the second position when the first slider is positioned against the second stop; and

providing an actuator at least partially disposed in the housing, cooperating with the first slider such that the actuator is configured to rotate the first slider relative to the housing for being positioned against one of the first stop and the second stop.