Drinking fitment

a technology for drinking bottles and fittings, applied in the direction of closures, caps, closure stoppers, etc., can solve the problems of mouthpiece exposed, cost and weight of the closure and container, cost, complexity and efficiency of the mold needed to make the closure, etc., and achieve low cost sports caps. , easy assembly, reliable leak-free seal

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-12-17
BAPCO CLOSURES RES
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0022]Alto failed to produce a low cost sports cap. By using two simple parts that are easily assembled and held together by the foil sealing step, the invention simultaneously offers solutions to all the design considerations discussed in paragraph [0003] above. By making the base and overcap in one piece, a reliable leak-free seal is ensured without requiring an accurate mould.
[0023]Elimination of a screw-threaded base and internal valve seal mean that the base of the closure of the invention is much easier to mould and can be relatively light weight. Further weight savings can be provided by eliminating the screw threaded neck of the container.
[0024]The tamper band around the overcap is preferably only partially removable to prevent littering. Since th...

Problems solved by technology

These include ex-factory sealing and resealing of the container; the cost and weight of the closure and container; the cost, complexity and efficiency of the mould needed to make the closure; coverage of the mouthpiece when not in use; tamper evidence; and littering issues and choking hazards created by small removable parts.
Although this closure can be resealed by the consumer, this leaves the mouthpiece exposed.
There are also considerable problems with such closures as consumers tend to open the drinking valve by pulling on it with their teeth.
This also encourages consumers to chew the mouthpiece resulting in damage.
Reuse of a damaged closure can result in the risk of the nozzle becoming detached and creating a choking hazard.
Tamper evidence systems which lock the base to the neck of the bottle therefore inhibit consumers from reusing the container.
This firs...

Method used

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Examples

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second embodiment

[0052]A second embodiment of the closure is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 (wherein like reference numerals are used for like parts). This design is the same as the first embodiment except for the coupling part 50 at the base of the nozzle 6, the base of the outer shell 4 and the method of assembly.

[0053]In this embodiment the overcap 16 is connected to the base 14 by means of a tamper band 18. The base 14 has a skirt 20 that terminates in a lip 22 adapted to snap fit over an outwardly projecting bead 24 at a rim of a container neck 10.

[0054]The skirt 20 depends from an annular base plate 26 which covers an outer part of the opening of the neck 10. In this embodiment, the plate 26 is stepped to define an internal recess 28. Although an annular base plate of uniform width is illustrated in FIG. 5, it will be appreciated that a circular opening 30 in the base plate that receives the nozzle 6 may be offset to one side so that it is easier for the consumer to reach.

[0055]A hinge formation 32 pe...

third embodiment

[0062]A third embodiment of the closure is shown in FIG. 7 (wherein like reference numerals are used for like parts). This design is similar to the first embodiment except that the nozzle 6 is not centred within the base 14 but offset and a new sealing valve structure is shown on the coupling part 50. An alternative nozzle profile is shown and the overcap has a second outer valve seal 82 concentric with valve seal 42 to engage with an outer surface of the nozzle 6. This embodiment is assembled in the same way as the first embodiment.

[0063]The coupling part 50 terminates in a depending valve wall 80 that is designed to push fit into the open neck 10 of the container 12. This is particularly advantageous when the closure is being used on a container containing pressurised contents such as carbonated drinks. In this situation, the pressure will act to force the valve wall 80 against the neck holding the closure in position.

[0064]In order to enable the outer shell 4 to be moulded in one...

fourth embodiment

[0065]The closure of FIG. 8 differs from the first embodiment only in that it is designed to fit in a conventional manner on a standard pre-form PCO neck finish in any of the popular sizes such as 28 mm, 30 mm, 33 mm, 35 mm, 38 mm and 43 mm or 45 mm. The skirt 20 is provided with an internal screw thread 70 to co-operate with the external threads on the standard neck. The lower edge of the skirt 20 may be connected to a tamper evident strip 72 by breakable bridges 74. This embodiment of the closure can be used without the need for any modification of existing bottles.

Variations

[0066]Although a separate hinge 32 has been described, it will be possible to create a hinge by retaining part of the tamper band 18 as a permanent connection between the overcap and base.

[0067]The tamper element 18 could also be omitted and the lower edge of the overcap 16 joined to the base by a frangible region. The peak 40 would then need to be sufficiently substantial to enable the user to use it to initi...

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PUM

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Abstract

A low-cost sportscap (2) has a nozzle (6) defining a drinking orifice. The nozzle is assembled from below into an outer shell (4) which is moulded as one piece and includes an overcap (16) and a base (14). A foil annulus (8) is used to seal a coupling part (50) of the nozzle to the outer shell (4) and also preferably to provide a mechanism by means of which the closure can be assembled to a container neck (10). A primary ex-factory seal is created by a valve (42) inside the overcap engaging with the drinking orifice. This can be resealed by the user when the overcap (16) is attached to the base by hinge means (32).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001]The present invention relates to drinking fitments or drinking bottle closures of the type known as sports caps or sipper caps that are designed to allow a consumer to drink “on the go” from a container to which the cap is fitted.[0002]Such closures have a base which fits to the neck of a container. The base provides an outer shell to hold a nozzle or mouthpiece that defines a drinking orifice. The mouthpiece is shaped to be received within the consumer's mouth and drinking takes place by a combination of sucking on the mouthpiece and squeezing the bottle.BACKGROUND ART [0003]There are a number of considerations which are significant in the design of such closures. These include ex-factory sealing and resealing of the container; the cost and weight of the closure and container; the cost, complexity and efficiency of the mould needed to make the closure; coverage of the mouthpiece when not in use; tamper evidence; and littering issues and choking hazards created...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B65D41/00
CPCB65D47/0804B65D2251/20B65D2101/0023B65D2401/15B65D47/08B65D2547/06
Inventor VON SPRECKELSEN, HENNINGMCGEOUGH, PETER MICHAEL
Owner BAPCO CLOSURES RES
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