Cap for bottle assembly and bottle assembly

Abstract

A cap for a bottle assembly may include a bottom portion having a bottom base with a bottom skirt depending downwardly at an outer periphery thereof and a neck protruding upwardly from an inner periphery of the bottom base. The inner perimeter forms a first opening to an interior of the cap. The neck may also have a neck rim extending radially outward from an upper end of the neck. A cover may be pivotally attached to the bottom portion via a hinge. The cap may have a cap base and a cap skirt depending downwardly at an outer periphery of the cap base. The hinge may be raised from an upper surface of the bottom base via a riser fixedly attached to the upper surface of the bottom base such that the lid is raised to mate with the neck rim in a closed position.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the case filed on March 29, 2023, with application number 202390000208.6 and entitled "Screw cap for a container and method of using and manufacturing said screw cap". Technical Field

[0002] The technology disclosed herein generally relates to caps or lids for containers. More specifically, in one embodiment, the technology disclosed herein relates to a screw-top cap comprising a flip-top cap having a first sealing member, a bottom portion having a second sealing member, and an active polymer assembly. Background Technology

[0003] For example, commercially available medicine containers for tablets and capsules are typically supplied as glass or plastic bottles with removable caps (usually with some type of child-safe configuration). Over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers, allergy medications, and nutritional supplements and vitamins are commonly found in such bottles. Generally, as the ability of such containers to resist moisture penetration increases, so does the complexity and corresponding cost of these containers.

[0004] Typically, to ensure the contents of a bottle are not tampered with, a flexible seal (usually made of foil, paper, flexible / thin plastic, cardboard, or a combination of one or more of these) provides a seal to the container opening. When a user first desires access to the container's contents, they can permanently puncture the seal or at least partially remove it. An intact seal protects the container's contents from environmental influences and provides the user with a visual indication that the container has not been altered.

[0005] Depending on the nature of the contents, it may be necessary to control the environment inside the container. For example, a desiccant or other active material may be needed to control the moisture density within the container. Typically, desiccants are provided in the form of small packets or cylindrical containers, loosely placed inside the container along with its contents. However, placing such packets or containers loosely inside the container is cumbersome and inconvenient, as they may fall out or sometimes block the container opening, requiring the user to manually remove or reposition them to retrieve the contents. Therefore, packets or containers may be lost, or users may forget to return them after use, resulting in desiccant loss and consequently shortening the shelf life of the contents. Therefore, there is a need for a desiccant that is continuously present inside the container without the inconvenience or loss associated with placing packets or containers inside the bottle.

[0006] Furthermore, containers, as described above, are typically filled using automated processes. Tamper-proof seals, such as foil seals, are often applied to cover the container opening after filling. Various methods and means for securing seals are known, such as by adhesives or heat. The most common method for applying seals is by inductive sealing. Inductive sealing is a process that relies on an electric current within a material (e.g., foil and / or cardboard) to generate heat. Inductive sealing and other sealing methods require specialized equipment and materials in the filling line. These types of seals are often necessary to maintain the shelf life of the container's contents.

[0007] Not all filled lines have inductive sealing devices, and foil seals are not always required.

[0008] Furthermore, in cases where foil seals are desired, the bottle's moisture resistance is compromised once the seal breaks (after initial use), even when the cap is replaced. Regular bottle caps do not provide a moisture-proof seal. Utility Model Content

[0009] As stated above, there is a need to create improved container caps. Therefore, there is a need for a bottle and cap assembly that provides the desired shelf life of the contents of the bottle without the need for a foil seal. The technology disclosed herein addresses these and other needs.

[0010] On one hand, the technology disclosed herein relates to a cap for a bottle assembly, optionally a screw-top cap. The cap may include a bottom portion comprising a bottom base having a bottom skirt hanging downwards at its outer periphery and a neck projecting upwards from an inner periphery of the bottom base, the inner periphery forming an opening to the interior of the cap. The neck may further have a neck edge extending radially outwards from its upper end. The cap may be pivotally attached to the bottom portion via a hinge. The cap may have a cap base and a cap skirt hanging downwards at the outer periphery of the cap base. Optionally, the hinge lifts from the upper surface of the bottom base via at least one upright plate fixedly attached to the upper surface of the bottom base, such that the cap is lifted to engage the neck edge in a closed position and extend perpendicularly to the neck.

[0011] Optionally, the hinge has a flap extending from the upright plate by a distance substantially equal to the distance between the outer and inner peripheries of the bottom base, such that the cover base completely covers the opening in the closed position.

[0012] Optionally, the upright may include one or more walls with a height at least the same as the neck.

[0013] Optionally, the one or more walls may include a wall attached to a portion of the outer periphery of the bottom base.

[0014] Optionally, the one or more walls may include a pair of walls extending inward from the side edge of one wall toward the neck by a distance generally equal to but less than the distance between the outer and inner peripheries of the bottom base, such that the cover skirt adapts in the closed position between the pair of walls and the neck skirt of the neck.

[0015] Optionally, the upright plate comprises a thermosetting material.

[0016] Optionally, the upright plate comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

[0017] Optionally, the closure skirt has a radially inwardly extending flange and mates with the neck edge in the closed position.

[0018] Optionally, the cover includes a tab located at the distal end opposite the hinge.

[0019] Optionally, the cap includes a first sealing member disposed on the inner surface of the cap base, the first sealing member comprising a thermoplastic elastomer sealing member disposed around the entire periphery of the inner surface of the cap base, and the thermoplastic elastomer sealing member including an annular portion configured to sealably engage with a neck edge.

[0020] On the other hand, the technology disclosed herein relates to a bottle assembly. The bottle assembly may include a bottle having a bottle base, sidewalls extending from the bottle base and terminating in a bottle neck, the bottle neck having an end portion disposed opposite to and away from the bottle base. The bottle neck may define an opening to the interior of the bottle. The bottle neck may have an external portion including one or more threads. A screw-top cap may be fixedly disposed above the bottle neck such that the internal thread of the screw-top cap can be screwed into the threads on the bottle neck to removably attach the screw-top cap to the bottle, thereby forming the bottle assembly.

[0021] Optionally, the hinge has a flap that extends from the upright plate by a distance substantially equal to the distance between the outer and inner peripheries of the bottom base, such that the cover base completely covers the opening in the closed position.

[0022] Optionally, the upright includes one or more walls with a height at least the same as the neck.

[0023] Optionally, the one or more walls include a wall attached to a portion of the outer periphery of the bottom base.

[0024] Optionally, the one or more walls include a pair of walls that extend inward from the side edge of one wall toward the neck by a distance generally equal to but less than the distance between the outer and inner peripheries of the bottom base, such that the cover skirt adapts in the closed position between the pair of walls and the neck skirt of the neck.

[0025] Optionally, the upright plate comprises a thermosetting material.

[0026] Optionally, the upright plate comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

[0027] Optionally, the closure skirt has a radially inwardly extending flange and mates with the neck edge in the closed position.

[0028] Optionally, the cover includes a tab located at the distal end opposite the hinge.

[0029] Optionally, the cap includes a first sealing member disposed on the inner surface of the cap base. The first sealing member may include a thermoplastic elastomer sealing member disposed around the entire periphery of the inner surface of the cap base, and the thermoplastic elastomer sealing member may include an annular portion configured to sealably engage with a neck edge.

[0030] On one hand, the technology disclosed herein relates to a cap for a bottle assembly, optionally a screw-top cap. The cap may include a sealing cap comprising a planar sealing cap base, an annular sealing cap skirt extending downward at the outer periphery of the planar sealing cap base, and a first sealing member disposed on an inner surface of the sealing cap base, the annular sealing cap skirt having a radially inwardly extending flange. The bottom portion of the bottle is pivotally connected to the sealing cap via a hinge. The bottom portion may include: (i) a planar bottom base including an outer annular edge, an inner annular edge forming an opening to the interior of the cap, and a second sealing member disposed at a first portion of an inner surface of the bottom base; (ii) an annular bottom skirt extending downward at the outer annular edge of the bottom base, the bottom skirt including one or more threads extending radially inward from the inner surface of the bottom skirt; and (iii) a neck having an annular neck skirt extending upward from the inner annular edge of the bottom base, and a neck edge extending radially outward from an upper end of the neck skirt opposite the inner annular edge of the bottom base. In the closed position, the first sealing member may be configured to sealably engage with an upper engagement surface of the neck edge, and the second sealing member may be configured to sealably engage with an upper engagement surface of the bottle edge. Attached Figure Description

[0031] The following detailed description of the technology of this disclosure will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals throughout denote the same elements. Various illustrative embodiments are shown in the drawings to illustrate the technology of this disclosure. However, it should be understood that the technology of this disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and tools shown. In the drawings:

[0032] Figure 1 This is a front view of a bottle assembly according to an optional aspect of the technology disclosed herein;

[0033] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The perspective view of the cap shown shows the cap in a first position or an open position;

[0034] Figure 3A yes Figure 1 Top view of the cap;

[0035] Figure 3B It is along Figure 3A The line AA is intercepted Figure 2 The front view of the cross section of the cap shown and Figure 3A An internal view of the lid;

[0036] Figure 3C yes Figure 3B A magnified view of part P1;

[0037] Figure 4 It is similar to an alternative embodiment of the technology according to this disclosure. Figure 3B The view;

[0038] Figure 5A This is a front view of a cap having a lid in a second position or a closed position, according to another embodiment of the technology disclosed herein;

[0039] Figure 5B It is along Figure 5A The line BB cut Figure 5A A cross-sectional front view of the cap; and

[0040] Figure 5C yes Figure 5B A magnified view of part P2. Detailed Implementation

[0041] While systems, apparatus, and methods have been described herein by way of examples and embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the technology disclosed herein is not limited to the described embodiments or figures. In fact, the technology disclosed herein encompasses all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Features of any embodiment disclosed herein may be omitted or incorporated into another embodiment.

[0042] Any headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the specification or claims. As used herein, the word “may” is used in an permissible sense (i.e., meaning possible) rather than a mandatory sense (i.e., meaning required). Unless specifically stated herein, the terms “a / an” and “the” are not limited to a single element but should be interpreted as meaning “at least one.” These terms include the words mentioned above, their derivatives, and words with similar meanings.

[0043] As used herein, “and / or” means referring to either or both of the items separated by such terms. For example, the phrase “A and / or B” would mean only A, only B, or both A and B.

[0044] As used herein, the statement that two or more parts or components are “connected” means that the parts are joined or operate together directly or indirectly (i.e., through one or more intermediate parts or components), as long as a connection occurs.

[0045] As used herein, “direct connection” means that two components are in direct contact with each other. As used herein, “fixed connection” or “fixed” means that two components are connected to move as a whole while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other.

[0046] As used herein, “approximately” in phrases such as “placed around [an element, point, or axis]”, “extended around [an element, point, or axis]”, or “measured around [an element, point, or axis] at [X] degrees” means to surround, extend around, or measure around. When used in reference to a measurement or similar manner, “approximately” means “about,” that is, within the approximate range relating to the measurement, as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0047] As used herein, “usually” means “in the general sense” in relation to the modified term as would be understood by someone of ordinary skill in the art.

[0048] As used in this article, the term "monochrome" means that a component is formed as a single piece (optionally monolithic) or as a whole. That is to say, a component that comprises pieces that are formed separately and then joined together as a whole is not a "monochrome" component or body.

[0049] As used herein, the expression “joint” means that the parts are applied to each other directly against each other, or through one or more intermediate parts or components.

[0050] As used in this article, the term “number” will mean an integer of one or more (i.e., multiple).

[0051] As used in this article, the phrase “sealed joint” or “sealed joint” will refer to components coming into contact with each other such that a generally moisture-proof seal is formed between them.

[0052] Directional phrases used herein (e.g., but not limited to top, bottom, left, right, upper, lower, front, rear, and their derivatives) refer to the orientation of elements shown in the figures and do not limit the claims unless expressly stated therein.

[0053] Generally, as used herein, the term "moisture-proof" is defined as moisture ingress (after three days) of less than 1500 µg of water, in another embodiment less than 500 µg of water, in yet another embodiment less than 300 µg of water, and in still another embodiment less than 150 µg of water, as determined by the following test method: (a) placing one gram plus or minus 0.25 g of molecular sieve in a container and recording the weight; (b) completely sealing the container; (c) placing the sealed container in an environmental chamber at 80% relative humidity and 72˚F; (d) weighing the container containing the molecular sieve after one day; (e) weighing the container containing the molecular sieve after four days; and (f) subtracting the first day's sample from the fourth day's sample to calculate the moisture ingress of the container, in micrograms of water. The preferred rate of moisture ingress into a moisture-proof sealed container produced according to one aspect of the disclosed concept is in the range of approximately 200-300 µg of water or less per day. Therefore, a "moisture-proof" seal is a sealing joint, alone or in combination with additional sealing joints, that helps to make a container "moisture-proof" according to the above definition.

[0054] As used herein, the term “resealable” means that the container’s lid can be opened or reopened and closed or resealed many times (e.g., more than 10 times) while still maintaining its moisture-proof properties.

[0055] Please refer to the figures for details, where the same reference numerals always refer to the same parts. Figure 1-3B The bottle assembly 1 is shown as a whole. Bottle assembly 1 may include a bottle 10 and a cap 100 removably attached and securely attached thereto. Although Figure 1 The depicted bottle 10 is a contemplated or exemplary type of container that can be used in conjunction with the technology of this disclosure, but other types of containers are also contemplated. While the term "bottle" is used to describe exemplary embodiments, the more general and specific term "container" may also be used alternatively. The bottle is optionally made of plastic, glass, or even metal. Although the cap 100 is in Figure 1-3B The cap is depicted in the present invention and is generally referred to herein as a spiral cap, but this is merely one contemplative or exemplary type of cap that can be used in conjunction with the techniques disclosed herein, as other types of caps (e.g., snap or fully detachable caps) are also contemplated.

[0056] Bottle 10 may include a body 12 having a base 14 and one or more second sidewalls 16 extending upward from the base to an upper opening surrounding bottle 10 (e.g., but not limited to, such as...). Figure 3B and 5B The edge of the second opening 20 shown (e.g., but not limited to, Figure 3C , 4 And the bottle edge 18 of 5C). The illustrated embodiment is cylindrical and therefore has a circular integral second sidewall 16. However, containers according to the disclosed concept may have other shapes, such as cuboids, and therefore have more than a single continuous (e.g., circular) sidewall.

[0057] Bottle 10 may include a neck (e.g., but not limited to) Figure 3B , 4 The bottle neck 22 of 5B contains one or more threads (e.g., but not limited to...). Figure 3B -C, 4, 5B-C (thread 26) is used to provide a corresponding or complementary thread to the cap 100 when the cap 100 is secured to the bottle 10 (e.g., but not limited to...). Figure 3B -C, 4, 5B-C (threads 146, 246, 346) thread engagement.

[0058] The body 12 of the bottle 10 may define an internal space (not shown) configured to store contents (not shown) therein, such as various pharmaceutical or nutritional tablets, capsules, or powders, or solid or liquid products from the food, pharmaceutical, or chemical industries. This can be achieved via a second opening 20 or a cap opening (e.g., but not limited to...). Figure 3A The first opening 138) enters the internal space of the bottle 10.

[0059] In an optional embodiment, the cap 100 may include a cover 110, which may be in a first position or an open position (see [link]). Figure 2 , 3A (and 3B) with the second position or closed position (see 3B) Figure 1 and 3CThe cap 100 can move between the cap and the base. Specifically, the cap 100 may include a bottom or base portion 130, to which the cover 110 is pivotally attached via a hinge 119. A neck or lip 150 may extend upward from the bottom base 134 and may be radially spaced inward from the outer periphery 132 of the base portion 130. The inner periphery of the neck 150 may form a first opening 138 leading to the interior of the cap 100. As the neck 150 is raised from and / or raised above the upper surface of the bottom base 134, at least the top portion of the hinge 119 is also raised from and / or raised above the upper surface of the bottom base 134 via at least one or more spaced uprights 115 and / or other features, such that the cover 110 is raised to suitably or conveniently engage with the raised neck 150 in a closed position and extends perpendicular to the neck 150.

[0060] In an optional embodiment, the stand 115 is fixedly attached to a portion of the upper surface of the bottom base 134. The bottom portion 130 and the cap 110 will be discussed in more detail later. In an optional embodiment, the hinge 119 may be a movable hinge. In another optional embodiment, the hinge 119 may comprise a pin or shaft through which other portions of the hinge 119 rotate. When the cap 100 is attached to the bottle 10, the axis of the hinge 119 may extend perpendicular to the axis of the bottle 10. Optionally, the neck 150 may extend upward from the bottom portion 130. In one embodiment, the neck 150 is cylindrical or circular when viewed from above, and when the cap 110 is in the closed position, the neck is surrounded by and / or engaged with a portion of the cap 110.

[0061] The illustrated embodiment includes a bottle 10 and a bottom portion 130 of a cap 100, the bottle and the bottom portion being removably attached to each other by, for example, but not limited to, threaded engagement. However, a container according to the disclosed concept may be contained in a single unit in which the bottle 10 and the cap 100 are integrated during manufacturing, and the bottle assembly 1 can be opened or closed by actuating the cap 110 to access the container contents.

[0062] In one embodiment, the cap 100 is optionally made primarily or partially of one or more injectable moldable thermoplastic materials comprising, for example, polyolefins (e.g., polypropylene or polyethylene).

[0063] For some applications, child safety caps may be desirable, but not all applications may require them. Therefore, both child safety caps and non-child safety caps are envisioned. If a child safety feature is provided, it may optionally require applying force in more than one direction to the cap to remove it from the container. For example, the cap may require the user to press down (first direction) before rotating it (second direction) to remove it from the container. Alternative child safety features are also envisioned if needed.

[0064] Although Figure 2-3C The cap 100 shown can be removably attached to the bottle 10, but for ease of description and completeness, Figure 2-3C It also includes components of bottle 10 (e.g., but not limited to bottle rim 18, second opening 20 leading into the interior of the body of bottle 10, bottle neck 22), if cap 100 is via, for example, but not limited to, regarding Figure 1 The threaded connection described above, when attached to the neck of bottle 10, will demonstrate the component.

[0065] In an optional embodiment, the cap 110 is pivotally attached to the bottom portion 130 via a hinge 119. The cap 110 includes a cap base 114 and an annular cap skirt 124 hanging downward at the outer periphery of the cap base 114. Optionally, the hinge 119 is raised from the upper surface of the bottom base via one or more uprights 115 fixedly attached to the upper surface of the bottom base 134, such that the cap 110 is raised to engage with the neck edge 158 in a closed position and extend perpendicular to the neck 150.

[0066] Optionally, hinge 119 includes at least one flap 116 extending from stand 115 by a distance substantially equal to the lateral distance between the outer periphery 132 and the inner periphery 131 of base 134, such that when cover 110 is in the closed position, cover base 114 completely covers the first opening 138. Optionally, hinge 119 and / or stand 115 include one or more rear walls 117 having a height at least the same as neck 150. Optionally, the one or more rear walls 117 may be attached to a portion of the outer periphery 132 of base 134. Optionally, one or a pair of first sidewalls 118 extend inwardly from the side edges of the one or more rear walls 117 toward the neck 150 by a distance generally equal to or less than the distance between the outer perimeter 132 and the inner perimeter 131 of the bottom base 134, such that the cap skirt 124 is configured to fit between the one or a pair of first sidewalls 118 and the neck skirt 164 of the neck 150 when the cap 110 is in the closed position. Optionally, one or more other portions of the upright plate 115 and the hinge 119 comprise or are formed of thermosetting material. Optionally, one or more other portions of the upright plate 115 and the hinge 119 comprise or are formed of thermoplastic material or thermoplastic elastomer. Optionally, the cap skirt 124 has an inwardly radially extending flange 126 and is configured to contact and / or engage with the neck edge 158 when the cap 110 is in the closed position.

[0067] Optionally, the cap 110 may include a first sealing member 120. Optionally, the cap base 114 may be flat or planar, and the cap skirt 124 may be cylindrical or circular. The annular cap skirt 124 may include a radially inwardly extending annular flange 126. The cap 110 may further include a retaining protrusion (also referred to as a thumb tab) 112 located at a distal end opposite the hinge 119. The protrusion 112 may extend radially outward from the cap base 114 and / or the cap skirt 124. The thumb tab 112 may be configured to be actuated and / or engaged to place the cap 110 in an open or closed position. Optionally, the first sealing member 120 is disposed on the inner surface of the cap base 114. The first sealing member 120 may include or be disposed around the entire periphery of the inner surface of the cap base 114 as a thermoplastic elastomer sealing member. Optionally, the first sealing member 120 includes an annular portion configured to sealably engage with the neck edge 158.

[0068] In an optional embodiment, the bottom base 134 may have a periphery 132 thereon (see [reference]). Figure 3AA bottom skirt 144 hangs downward from the bottom base 134, and a neck 150 may project upward from the inner periphery 131 and / or bottom portion 130 of the bottom base 134. The inner periphery 131 may form a first opening 138 leading to the interior of the cap 100. Optionally, the neck 150 may further include a neck edge 158 extending radially outward from the upper end of the neck 150. Optionally, the neck 150 includes an annular neck skirt 164 extending upward from the inner periphery 131 of the bottom base 134, and the neck edge 158 may extend radially outward from the upper end of the neck skirt 164. Optionally, the bottom base 134 may be flat or planar. The size of the first opening 138 may be substantially equal to or smaller than the size of the cap base 114. In embodiments where the cap 100 is fixedly attached to the bottle 10, the first opening 138 is via a second opening 20 of the bottle 10 (see...). Figure 3B ) Leads to the interior of bottle 10 (not shown).

[0069] The bottom skirt 144 may optionally include one or more threads extending radially inward from its inner surface. These threads may be configured to sealably engage with one or more bottle threads disposed on the upper portion of the sidewall 12 of the bottle 10. Optionally, the neck skirt 164 may include a lower neck skirt 165 (see...). Figure 3C The lower neck skirt extends downward below the bottom base 134 and enters the interior of the cap 100.

[0070] Optionally, the cap 100 may not include any sealing members, may only include a first sealing member 120, or may include two or more sealing members. For example, the cap 100 may include a first sealing member 120 disposed on the inner surface of the cap base 114. In the closed position, the cap 110 pivots about the hinge 119 such that the cap 110 covers the first opening 138, while the first sealing member 120 sealably engages at least a portion of the neck edge 158. Optionally, the flange 126 may engage or contact the outer surface of the neck skirt 164 and may secure the cap 110 to the neck 150 via, for example, but not limited to, a friction fit, and press the first sealing member 120 against the upper engagement surface of the neck edge 158. When the cap is in the closed position, this can create a moisture-proof seal between the cap 110 and the neck 150 of the cap 100, and thus between the cap 100 and the bottle 10.

[0071] Optional, such as Figure 3C and 3BAs shown, the bottom base 134 of the bottom portion 130 may further include a second sealing member 140 disposed on a first portion of the inner surface (bottom side) of the bottom base 134. Optionally, the second sealing member 140 may be in the form of an annular ring or an O-ring and have a generally square or rectangular cross-sectional shape. In the closed position, the engagement between the threads 146 of the bottom skirt 144 and the corresponding threads 26 on the neck 22 of the bottle 10 secures the cap 100 tightly to the bottle 10, and causes the second sealing member to be at least slightly compressed when the second sealing member 140 is pressed tightly against the upper engagement surface 19 of the edge 18 of the neck 22. This creates an additional moisture-proof seal between the cap 100 and the bottle 10, further improving the moisture-proofness of the internal environment of the bottle assembly 1.

[0072] Optionally, the bottom base 134 may also include an active component 142, such as, but not limited to, an active polymer component, located on a second portion 135 on the bottom side of the bottom base 134, said active component being surrounded by and optionally contacting the inner annular edge of the second sealing member 140, or at least slightly radially inwardly spaced from the second sealing member 140. Optionally, the active component 142 may surround the lower neck skirt 165. Optionally, the bottom base 134 may include a ridge 148 extending downward from a third portion of the inner surface of the bottom base 134 and positioned between the second sealing member 140 and the active component 142. The active component 142, the first sealing member 120, and the second sealing member 140 are discussed in further detail below.

[0073] The active component 142 may be attached to or molded into the second portion 135 on the bottom side of the base 134. The active component 142 allows the bottle assembly 1 to provide improved ability to prevent moisture from entering, for example, but not limited to, medications contained inside the bottle 10.

[0074] Active component 142 may comprise a base polymer entrained with one or more surfactants, and therefore may be referred to herein as a surfactant-entrained polymer or an entrained polymer. The surfactants in active component 142 may comprise absorbent materials, release materials, and / or activating materials. Optionally, active component 142 is a three-phase polymer entrained with a desiccant.

[0075] The active component 142 may be provided in various shapes, volumes, and / or configurations. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the active component 142 may be in the form of a ring concentric with the annular bottom skirt 144. The active component 142 may surround and optionally contact the outer annular edge of the lower neck skirt 165 of the neck 150. In one embodiment, the active component 142 may extend into and / or be exposed to the interior space of the bottle 10 to dry the environment inside the bottle 10. Optionally, the active component 142 surrounds and optionally contacts the inner annular edge of the ridge 148. Thus, the lower neck skirt 165, a portion of the underside of the bottom base 134, and the ridge 148 optionally form a cavity, thereby allowing the active component 142 to be molded onto the cavity.

[0076] In one embodiment, the active component 142 is a polymer entrained with a desiccant, which is a monolithic component made of a single material. The entrained polymer, whether carrying a desiccant or another active agent, may comprise a base polymer (for the structure), a desiccant (or other active agent), and optionally a channel-forming agent. These types of active polymer components and methods of their manufacture and use are disclosed, for example, in the applicant's U.S. Patents 5,911,937, 6,214,255, 6,130,263, 6,080,350, 6,174,952, 6,124,006, and 6,221,446, and U.S. Patent Publication 2016 / 0039955. Optionally, the entrained polymer may be in the form of a loose or optionally heat-fused film to a surface.

[0077] Alternatively, the desiccant may comprise loose desiccant beads or a pouch containing said desiccant beads. While the exemplary embodiments herein reflect the active component 142 located on the second portion 135 of the bottom base 134 and around the lower neck skirt 165 of the neck 150, it is contemplated that one or more active agents may be located at other locations and / or positions, such as on the second sidewall 16 of the body 12 or on the neck 22 of the bottle 10.

[0078] In embodiments where each active component 142 contains a desiccant, hygroscopicity is desirable. However, where hygroscopicity is not desired, the active component 142 may contain alternative active agents. For example, in another embodiment, the active component 142 contains a material selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, carbon black, ketcham black, and diamond powder. In another embodiment, the active agent comprises one or more layers of an active member containing materials such as absorbent microspheres, BaTiO3, SrTiO3, SiO2, Al2O3, ZnO, TiO2, MnO, CuO, Sb2O3, silica, calcium oxide, and ion exchange resins. In yet another embodiment, the absorbent-containing layer of the active component 142 contains two or more types of absorbents. A suitable absorbent is selected to absorb desired vapors or gases for a desired end use (e.g., to absorb moisture, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or other undesired gases or vapors).

[0079] The active component (whether a desiccant, oxygen scavenger, release material, or component, or a combination thereof) is capable of acting on, interacting with, or reacting with the selected material (e.g., moisture or oxygen). Examples of such actions or interactions may include absorption, adsorption (typically adsorption), or release of the selected material. Each active component may be, for example, extruded or molded. Optionally, the active component may be formed into a desired shape or pattern (e.g., on a backing) via an online melt-adhesive thermal bonding process.

[0080] Active component 142 may contain an "active ingredient" from a base material. The active ingredient (i) may be immiscible with the base material (e.g., a polymer) and may not melt when mixed with the base polymer and channel forming agent and heated, i.e., have a melting point higher than the melting point of the base polymer or channel forming agent, and / or (ii) act on, interact with, or react with the selected material. The term "active ingredient" may include, but is not limited to, materials that absorb, adsorb, or release the selected material. According to the techniques of this disclosure, the active ingredient may be in the form of particles such as minerals (e.g., molecular sieves or silica gel in the case of desiccants), but the techniques of this disclosure should not be considered limited to particulate active agents. For example, in some embodiments, the deoxygenating formulation may be made of a resin, which acts as an active agent or a component of an active agent.

[0081] As used herein, the term "base material" refers to the components (preferably polymers) of the entrained active material, excluding the activator, that provide the structure of the entrained material.

[0082] As used herein, the term "base polymer" is a polymer in which the gas permeability of the selected material is optionally significantly lower than, lower than, or substantially equivalent to that of the channel forming agent. By way of example, in embodiments where the selected material is moisture and the active ingredient is a desiccant, this permeability would be the water vapor permeability. The primary function of the base polymer is to provide structure for the entrained polymer. Suitable base polymers may comprise thermoplastic polymers, such as polyolefins (e.g., polypropylene and polyethylene), polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polybutene, polysiloxanes, polycarbonates, polyamides, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-methacrylate copolymers, poly(vinyl chloride), polystyrene, polyesters, polyanhydrides, polyacrylonitrile, polysulfone, polyacrylates, acrylic acid, polyurethanes, and polyacetals, or copolymers or mixtures thereof.

[0083] Referring to such a comparison of the water vapor transmission rates of the base polymer and the channel forming agent, in one embodiment, the water vapor transmission rate of the channel forming agent is at least twice that of the base polymer. In another embodiment, the water vapor transmission rate of the channel forming agent is at least five times that of the base polymer. In another embodiment, the water vapor transmission rate of the channel forming agent is at least ten times that of the base polymer. In yet another embodiment, the water vapor transmission rate of the channel forming agent is at least twenty times that of the base polymer. In yet another embodiment, the water vapor transmission rate of the channel forming agent is at least fifty times that of the base polymer. In yet another embodiment, the water vapor transmission rate of the channel forming agent is at least one hundred times that of the base polymer.

[0084] As used herein, the term "channel forming agent" is defined as a material that is immiscible with a base polymer and has an affinity for transporting gaseous substances at a faster rate than the base polymer. Optionally, when formed by mixing the channel forming agent with a base polymer, the channel forming agent is able to form channels through the entrained polymer. Optionally, such channels are able to transport selected materials through the entrained polymer at a faster rate than the base polymer alone.

[0085] As used herein, the term “channel” or “interconnected channel” is defined as a pathway formed by a channel-forming agent that penetrates the base polymer and can interconnect with each other.

[0086] As used herein, the term "entrained polymer" is defined as a monolithic material formed of at least a base polymer with an active agent and optionally a channel-forming agent entrained or distributed therein. Entrained polymers thus include two-phase and three-phase polymers. "Mineral-loaded polymer" is a type of entrained polymer in which the active agent is in the form of mineral particles, such as molecular sieves or silica gel. The term "entrained material" is used herein to refer to a monolithic material comprising an active agent entrained in a base material, which may be polymeric or non-polymeric.

[0087] As used herein, the terms “monolayer,” “monolayer structure,” or “monolayer composition” are defined as compositions or materials that do not consist of two or more discrete macrolayers or portions. Accordingly, a “monolayer composition” does not contain a multilayer composite.

[0088] As used herein, the term "phase" is defined as a portion or component of a monolithic structure or composition uniformly distributed therein to give the structure or composition its monolithic characteristics.

[0089] As used herein, the term "selected material" is defined as a material that acts on, is acted upon by, or interacts with or reacts with an active agent and is capable of being transported through channels entraining the polymer. For example, in embodiments where a desiccant is used as an active agent, the selected material may be moisture or a gas that can be absorbed by the desiccant. In embodiments where a release material is used as an active agent, the selected material may be a reagent released by the release material, such as moisture, fragrance, or antimicrobial agent (e.g., chlorine dioxide). In embodiments where an adsorbent material is used as an active ingredient, the selected material may be certain volatile organic compounds, and the adsorbent material may be activated carbon.

[0090] As used herein, the term "three-phase" is defined as a monolithic composition or structure comprising three or more phases. An example of a three-phase composition according to the technology of this disclosure would be an entrained polymer formed from a base polymer, an active agent, and a channel-forming agent. Optionally, the three-phase composition or structure may include an additional phase, such as a colorant.

[0091] The entrained polymer can be a two-phase formulation (i.e., comprising a base polymer and an active ingredient, excluding a channel-forming agent) or a three-phase formulation (i.e., comprising a base polymer, an active ingredient, and a channel-forming agent). Entrained polymers are described, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,911,937, 6,080,350, 6,124,006, 6,130,263, 6,194,079, 6,214,255, 6,486,231, 7,005,459, and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2016 / 0039955.

[0092] The entrainment material or polymer comprises a base material (e.g., a polymer) for providing the structure, optionally a channel forming agent, and an active agent. The channel forming agent forms microscopic interconnected channels through the entrainment polymer. At least some of the active ingredients are contained within these channels, such that the channels communicate between the active ingredients and the exterior of the entrainment polymer via microscopic channel openings formed at the outer surface of the entrainment polymer. The active ingredients can be any of a variety of absorbent, adsorbent, or release materials, as described in further detail below. While channel forming components are preferred, the techniques of this disclosure broadly encompass entrainment materials that optionally do not contain a channel forming agent, such as two-phase polymers.

[0093] In any embodiment, a suitable channel forming agent may comprise a polyethylene glycol (e.g., polyethylene glycol (PEG)), ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), glycerol polyamine, polyurethane, and a polycarboxylic acid comprising polyacrylic acid or polymethacrylic acid. Alternatively, the channel forming agent may be, for example, a water-insoluble polymer, such as propylene oxide polymerized monobutyl ether, for example, Polyglykol B01 / 240. In other embodiments, the channel forming agent may be propylene oxide polymerized monobutyl ether, for example, Polyglykol B01 / 20; propylene oxide polymerized product, for example, Polyglykol D01 / 240; ethylene vinyl acetate; Nylon 6; Nylon 66; or any combination thereof.

[0094] Suitable active ingredients according to the technology of this disclosure include absorbent materials, such as desiccant compounds. If the active agent is a desiccant, any suitable desiccant for a given application can be used. Generally, physical absorbent desiccants are preferred for many applications. These physical absorbent desiccants may include molecular sieves, silica gel, clay, and starch. Alternatively, the desiccant may be a chemical compound that forms water-containing crystals, or the desiccant may be a compound that reacts with water to form a new compound.

[0095] Optionally, in any embodiment, the activator may be an oxygen scavenger, such as an oxygen scavenging resin formulation.

[0096] Refer again Figure 2 and 3A -C, In order to provide a moisture-proof seal between the cap 100 and the bottle 10, the cap 100 may include a first sealing member 120 and / or a second sealing member 140 to provide a moisture-proof environment inside the container 1. The first sealing member 120 and the second sealing member 140 may be made of an elastomer such as a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or any other material capable of providing the desired functionality (e.g., any material capable of being repeatedly compressed without sacrificing its integrity).

[0097] As used herein, the Shore A hardness of the TPE may optionally be 20 to 50, preferably 20 to 40, and more preferably 20 to 35. The TPE may preferably be an injection-molded, soft, and resilient material suitable for creating a compression seal against a harder (e.g., but not limited to thermoplastic) surface of the cap 100 and / or bottle 10. In any embodiment, the TPE should be configured for repeated use, i.e., it should not degrade within a number of open and closed cycles (e.g., at least 10, preferably at least 25, more preferably at least 50 cycles). By incorporating the TPE to create an elastomeric-thermoplastic seal (e.g., but not limited to a seal between the first sealing member 120 and the upper engagement surface of the neck edge 158, or a seal between the second sealing member 140 and the upper engagement surface 19 of the bottle edge 18), the bottle assembly 1 allows the TPE seals 120, 140 to further reduce moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR), and thus requires less (if present) moisture protection via any drying method to achieve the target shelf life. Furthermore, the bottle assembly 1, which includes both the first sealing member 120 and the second sealing member 140, provides a lower MVTR than a container that includes only one of these TPE seals 120, 140.

[0098] Return to reference Figure 2-3C The first sealing member 120 is optionally a compressible seal attached to or integral with at least a portion of the underside of the cap base 114. The first sealing member 120 may include an annular portion 121 and a linear portion 122 extending across the annular portion 121. The annular portion 121 may be located on the inner surface or underside of the cap base 114 of the cap 110. The annular portion 121 engages with the edge 158 of the neck 150 of the cap 100 to form a seal, such as a moisture-proof seal. The linear portion 22 may extend across the cap 110 and be located below the geometric center of the cap 110. When the cap 110 is secured to the neck 150 of the cap 100 to close the first opening 138, the first sealing member 120 engages the neck edge 158. Simultaneously, the flange 126 of the cap skirt 124 engages the outer surface of the neck skirt 164, securing the cap 110 to the neck 150, and / or pressing the first sealing member 120 against the upper engaging surface of the neck edge 158. This creates a moisture-proof seal between the cap 110 and the neck 150, and thus between the cap 100 and the bottle 10, in the closed position.

[0099] In an optional embodiment, the second sealing member 140 is a compressible seal attached to or integral with the bottom side of the bottom base 134. Optionally, the second sealing member 140 may be in the shape of a ring surrounding and optionally contacting the outer annular edge of the active polymer assembly 142. When the cap 100 is secured to the bottle 10 to cover the second opening 20 of the bottle 10, the second sealing member 140 contacts the upper engagement surface 19 of the edge 18 of the bottle 10. That is, the engagement between the thread 146 of the cap 100 and the thread 26 on the neck 22 of the bottle 10 secures the cap 100 tightly to the bottle 10 and / or compresses the second sealing member 140 as it presses tightly against the upper engagement surface 19 of the bottle edge 18.

[0100] Therefore, either the first sealing member 120 or the second sealing member 140 can individually provide a moisture-proof seal between the cap 100 and the bottle 10, thereby providing a lower MVTR than containers without these TPE seals 120, 140. When both the first sealing member 120 and the second sealing member 140 are present in the cap 100, these seals ensure a moisture-proof seal and thus further reduce the MVTR, thereby extending and achieving the optimal target shelf life of the contents of the bottle.

[0101] Compared to existing technologies, the technology disclosed herein simplifies the manufacturing process. According to the technology disclosed herein, the cap 100 can be manufactured in a variety of ways. One method of forming or manufacturing the cap 100 includes injection molding. More specifically, a method of forming or manufacturing the cap 100 includes multiple injection molding. For example, if no active component is included, the cap 100 can be made in a dual injection molding process, or if an active component is included, the cap can be made in a triple injection molding process.

[0102] Optionally, in the triple injection molding process, the first injection in the mold will be the active component 142 (e.g., a polymer with a channel forming agent and entrained desiccant). The second injection in the mold will be one or both of the compressible seals 120 and 140 (e.g., TPE). The third injection will be the remainder of the cap (e.g., using a polyolefin material). The triple injection molding process is described, for example, in International Publication No. WO 2021 / 076874, and other related techniques are described in U.S. Publication No. 2021 / 0008771, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0103] In at least one embodiment, the disclosed concept produces an improved seal compared to prior art containers and eliminates the need for foil seals or other types of heat-sealing materials for storage above the opening. The first sealing member 120 and the second sealing member 140 are configured to provide sufficient and / or improved closure integrity for the shelf life of the contents of the bottle 10, thus eliminating the need for foil seals or the like.

[0104] Optionally, a tamper-evident mechanism can be provided on the cap 100. For example, an integrated polymer tamper-evident ring, such as that commonly seen on water bottles, can be provided. During production, optionally after the above process is performed and the cap 100 is injected from the mold, the molded tamper-evident ring can be placed directly onto the cap by an automated process (e.g., but not limited to robotics). Alternatively, a shrink seal can be provided above / around the cap 100. In embodiments comprising a cap 100 that can be removably attached, the tamper-evident feature can be integrated at the lower end of the bottom skirt 144, which is opposite to the outer periphery 132 of the bottom base 134. In embodiments comprising a cap 100 fixedly attached to the bottle 10, a shrink seal can be used.

[0105] Figure 4 Another embodiment of the cap 200 illustrating the technology of this disclosure is shown. The cap 200 is generally similar to that described above. Figure 2-3C The cap 100. Thus, similar or identical features between the two embodiments are... Figure 4 China passed the ratio of quantity values Figure 2-3C The values ​​greater than one hundred (100) are distinguished by the reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. For the sake of brevity and convenience only, this document will discuss only certain differences between the two embodiments, which is not restrictive and does not imply the absence of a certain feature or component in this embodiment.

[0106] Figure 4 200 blocks and Figure 2-3C The difference between cap 100 and cap 200 is that cap 200 does not contain the active component 142 of cap 100. However, the absence of active component 142 minimizes the impact on the contents of the container because having one or both of the first sealing member 120 and the second sealing member 140 reduces the MVTR compared to a container without such a TPE seal. Therefore, even without active component 142, container 1 can provide the target shelf life using only one or both of the first sealing member 120 and the second sealing member 140.

[0107] Figure 5A -C illustrates another embodiment of the cap 300 of the technology disclosed herein. The cap 300 is generally similar to that described above. Figure 2-3CThe cap 100. Thus, similar or identical features between the two embodiments are... Figure 5A -C uses the ratio of magnitude Figure 2-3C The values ​​greater than 200 (200) are distinguished by the reference numerals in the figures. For the sake of brevity and convenience only, this document will discuss only certain differences between the two embodiments, which is not restrictive and does not imply the absence of a certain feature or component in this embodiment.

[0108] Figure 5A -C's cap 300 and Figure 2-3C The cap 100 differs in that, although cap 300 includes the active component 342, it does not include one or both of the first sealing member 120 and the second sealing member 140. Therefore, cap 300 provides a seal created by the threaded engagement between the one or more threads 346 on the inner surface of the bottom skirt 344 and the one or more threads 26 on the neck 22 of the bottle 10, and the engagement between the flange 326 of the cap skirt 324 and the outer surface of the neck skirt 364. However, with the active component 342 embedded within cap 300 (specifically, the bottom base 334 of cap 300), bottle assembly 300 can provide constant dryness to the environment of bottle assembly 300 in a closed position, thereby extending the shelf life of the contents of bottle 10.

[0109] The following exemplary embodiments further describe optional aspects of the technology of this disclosure and are part of this detailed description. These exemplary embodiments are set out in a format generally similar to that of the claims (each having a letter-number identifier), but are not technically claims of this application. The following exemplary embodiments are referred to as “examples” rather than “technical solutions” in a dependent relationship with each other.

[0110] 1A. A screw cap for a bottle assembly, comprising:

[0111] The bottom portion includes a bottom base having a bottom skirt hanging downwards at its outer periphery and a neck projecting upwards from an inner periphery of the bottom base, the inner periphery forming an opening to the interior of the cap, the neck further having a neck edge extending radially outwards from its upper end; and

[0112] A cap, the cap being pivotally attached to the bottom portion via a hinge, the cap having a cap base and a cap skirt hanging downwards at the outer periphery of the cap base; and

[0113] An active component, wherein the active component is disposed on the inner surface of the bottom base or on a portion thereof.

[0114] 2A. The spiral cap according to embodiment 1A, wherein the neck has a lower annular neck skirt that hangs downward from the inner periphery of the bottom base, and the active component surrounds the lower annular neck skirt.

[0115] 3A. The spiral cap according to Example 1A, wherein the active component comprises a desiccant or a desiccant.

[0116] 4A. The screw cap according to embodiment 1A, wherein the cap includes a first sealing member disposed on the inner surface of the cap base, the first sealing member including a thermoplastic elastomer sealing member disposed around the entire periphery of the inner surface of the cap base, and the thermoplastic elastomer sealing member including an annular portion configured to sealably engage with the neck edge.

[0117] 5A. The screw cap according to embodiment 4A, wherein the cap includes a second sealing member disposed at a first portion of the inner surface of the bottom base.

[0118] 6A. The screw cap according to embodiment 5A, wherein in the closed position, the first sealing member is configured to sealably engage with the upper engagement surface of the neck edge, and the second sealing member is configured to sealably engage with the upper engagement surface of the bottle edge.

[0119] 7A. The spiral cap according to embodiment 5A, wherein the second sealing member is configured to surround the active component.

[0120] 8A. The spiral cap according to any one of embodiments 1A to 7A, wherein the bottom base includes a ridge extending downward from a third portion of the inner surface of the bottom base and disposed between the second sealing member and the active component.

[0121] 1B. A screw cap for a bottle assembly, comprising:

[0122] A cap, the cap comprising a planar cap base, an annular cap skirt extending downward at the outer periphery of the planar cap base, and a first sealing member disposed on the inner surface of the cap base;

[0123] The bottom portion, which is pivotally connected to the cover via a hinge, comprises:

[0124] (i) A planar bottom base, the planar bottom base including an outer periphery, an inner periphery forming an opening to the interior of the cap, and a second sealing member disposed at a first portion of the inner surface of the bottom base;

[0125] (ii) an annular bottom skirt extending downward at the outer periphery of the bottom base, the bottom skirt including one or more threads extending radially inward from the inner surface of the bottom skirt; and

[0126] (iii) A neck having an annular neck skirt extending upward from the inner periphery of the bottom base and a neck edge extending radially outward from the upper end of the neck skirt.

[0127] In the closed position, the first sealing member is configured to sealably engage with the upper engagement surface of the neck edge, and the second sealing member is configured to sealably engage with the upper engagement surface of the bottle edge.

[0128] 2B. The screw cap according to embodiment 1B, wherein the first sealing member comprises a thermoplastic elastomer sealing member disposed around the entire periphery of the inner surface of the cap base, and the thermoplastic elastomer sealing member includes an annular portion configured to sealably engage with the neck edge.

[0129] 3B. The spiral cap according to embodiment 1B, wherein the cap skirt includes a flange that extends radially inward and is configured to contact the outer surface of the neck skirt.

[0130] 4B. The spiral cap according to embodiment 1B, wherein the flange of the cap skirt engages the outer surface of the neck skirt and secures the cap to the neck, and the first sealing member presses against the upper engagement surface of the neck edge, the engagement between the flange and the neck skirt and the compression of the first sealing member creating a moisture-proof seal between the cap and the neck.

[0131] 1C. A bottle assembly comprising:

[0132] A bottle having a bottle base, sidewalls extending from the bottle base and terminating in a bottle neck, the bottle neck having an end portion disposed opposite to and away from the bottle base, the bottle neck defining an opening to the interior of the bottle, and the bottle neck having an external portion including one or more threads; and

[0133] According to any of the foregoing embodiments, a screw-top bottle cap is fixedly disposed above the bottle neck such that the internal thread of the skirt engages with the thread on the bottle neck in a screw-screwable manner, thereby removably attaching the screw-top cap to the bottle, thereby forming the bottle assembly.

[0134] 2C. The bottle assembly according to Example 1C, further comprising an active polymer component disposed on the inner surface of the cap base.

[0135] 3C. The bottle assembly according to Example 1C, wherein the first sealing member is a thermoplastic elastomer sealing member surrounding the entire periphery of the inner surface of the cap base, and includes the annular portion and a linear portion across the annular portion, the annular portion being configured to sealably engage with the neck edge.

[0136] 4C. The bottle assembly according to embodiment 1C, wherein the threaded engagement between the threads secures the cap to the bottle and causes the second sealing member to press against the upper engagement surface of the bottle edge, the threaded engagement and the compression of the second sealing member creating a moisture-proof seal between the cap and the bottle.

[0137] 1D. A screw cap configured to be removably attached to a bottle, the screw cap comprising:

[0138] A cap, the cap comprising a planar cap base, an annular cap skirt extending downwardly at the outer periphery of the planar cap base, and a first sealing member disposed on the inner surface of the cap base, the annular cap skirt having a radially inwardly extending flange; and

[0139] The bottom portion, which is pivotally connected to the cover via a hinge, comprises:

[0140] (i) A planar bottom base, the planar bottom base including an outer periphery, an inner periphery forming an opening to the interior of the cap, and a second sealing member disposed at a first portion of the inner surface of the bottom base;

[0141] (ii) an annular bottom skirt extending downward at the outer periphery of the bottom base, the bottom skirt including one or more threads extending radially inward from the inner surface of the bottom skirt; and

[0142] (iii) A neck having an annular neck skirt extending upward from the inner periphery of the bottom base and a neck edge extending radially outward from the upper end of the neck skirt.

[0143] In the closed position, the first sealing member is configured to sealably engage with the upper engagement surface of the neck edge, and the second sealing member is configured to sealably engage with the upper engagement surface of the bottle edge.

[0144] 2D. The spiral cap according to embodiment 1D further includes an active component disposed on a second portion of the inner surface of the bottom base and configured to surround the second sealing member.

[0145] 3D. The spiral cap according to embodiment 1D or 2D further includes a ridge extending downward from a third portion of the inner surface of the bottom base and disposed between the active polymer assembly and the second sealing member, wherein the ridge, the active assembly, and the second sealing member are disposed inside the bottom skirt of the bottom portion and concentric with the bottom skirt.

[0146] 4D. The spiral cap according to any one of Embodiments 1D to 3D, wherein the neck skirt includes an annular inner neck skirt extending downward into the interior of the cap, and the inner neck skirt, the second portion of the inner surface of the bottom base, and the ridge form a cavity, thereby allowing the active polymer assembly to be molded onto the cavity.

[0147] 5D. The spiral cap according to any one of embodiments 1D to 4D, wherein the first sealing member comprises a thermoplastic elastomer sealing member disposed around the entire periphery of the inner surface of the cap base.

[0148] 6D. The spiral cap according to embodiment 5D, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer sealing member includes an annular portion and a linear portion across the annular portion, the annular portion being configured to sealably engage with the neck edge.

[0149] 7D. The spiral cap according to embodiment 6D, wherein the flange of the cap skirt is configured to engage the outer surface of the neck skirt to secure the cap to the neck, and the first sealing member is pressed against the upper engagement surface of the neck edge, the engagement between the flange and the neck skirt and the compression of the first sealing member creating a moisture-proof seal between the cap and the neck.

[0150] 8D. The spiral cap according to Example 1D, wherein the second sealing member comprises a thermoplastic elastomer sealing member.

[0151] 9D. A screw cap according to any one of embodiments 1D to 8D, wherein one or more threads are configured to sealably engage with one or more bottle threads disposed on an upper portion of the sidewall of the bottle, and the threaded engagement between the threads secures the cap to the bottle and presses a second sealing member against the upper engagement surface of the bottle edge, the threaded engagement and the compression of the second sealing member creating a moisture-proof seal between the cap and the bottle.

[0152] 10D. A spiral cap according to any one of embodiments 1D to 9D, wherein the bottom skirt includes an tamper-evident feature attached to the bottom skirt and configured to be detachable from the bottom skirt.

[0153] 11D. The screw cap according to any one of embodiments 1D to 10D, further comprising a thumb tab extending radially outward from the cap, the thumb tab being configured to be actuated upward to place the cap in an open position.

[0154] 1E. A screw cap configured to be removably attached to a bottle, the screw cap comprising:

[0155] A cap, the cap comprising a planar cap base and an annular cap skirt extending downward at the outer periphery of the planar cap base, the annular cap skirt having a radially inwardly extending flange; and

[0156] The bottom portion, which is pivotally connected to the cover via a hinge, comprises:

[0157] (i) A planar bottom base, the planar bottom base including an outer periphery, an inner periphery forming an opening to the interior of the cap, and an active component disposed in a first portion of the inner surface of the bottom base;

[0158] (ii) an annular bottom skirt extending downward at the outer periphery of the bottom base, the bottom skirt including one or more threads extending radially inward from the inner surface of the bottom skirt; and

[0159] (iii) A neck having an annular neck skirt extending upward from the inner periphery of the bottom base and a neck edge extending radially outward from the upper end of the neck skirt.

[0160] The one or more threads are configured to sealably engage with one or more bottle threads located on the upper portion of the bottle neck, and the threaded engagement between the threads secures the cap to the bottle.

[0161] 2E. The spiral cap according to embodiment 1E further includes a first sealing member disposed on the inner surface of the cap base around the entire periphery of the cap base.

[0162] 3E. The spiral cap according to embodiment 1E or 2E further includes a second sealing member disposed on a second portion of the inner surface around the entire periphery of the bottom base.

[0163] 4E. The spiral cap according to embodiment 3E further includes a ridge extending downward from a third portion of the inner surface of the bottom base, the ridge surrounding the inner annular edge of the second sealing member and the outer annular edge of the active component, wherein the second sealing member, the ridge, and the active component are disposed inside the bottom skirt and concentric with the bottom skirt.

[0164] 5E. The spiral cap according to embodiment 4E, wherein the neck skirt includes an annular inner neck skirt extending downward into the interior of the cap, and the inner neck skirt, the first portion of the inner surface of the bottom base, and the ridge form a cavity, thereby allowing the active component to be molded onto the cavity.

[0165] 6E. The spiral cap according to embodiment 2E, wherein the first sealing member comprises a thermoplastic elastomer sealing member having an annular portion and a linear portion across the annular portion, the annular portion being configured to sealably engage with the neck edge.

[0166] 7E. The spiral cap according to embodiment 6E, wherein the flange of the cap skirt is configured to engage the outer surface of the neck skirt to secure the cap to the neck, and the first sealing member is pressed against the upper engagement surface of the neck edge, the engagement between the flange and the neck skirt and the compression of the first sealing member creating a moisture-proof seal between the cap and the neck.

[0167] 8E. The screw cap according to embodiment 7E, wherein the second sealing member comprises a thermoplastic elastomer sealing member configured to engage with an upper engagement surface of the bottle edge.

[0168] 9E. The screw cap according to embodiment 8E, wherein the threaded engagement between the threads causes the second sealing member to press against the upper engagement surface of the bottle edge, and the threaded engagement and the compression of the second sealing member create a moisture-proof seal between the cap and the bottle.

[0169] 10E. The spiral cap according to embodiment 1E, wherein the cap includes an tamper-evident feature attached to the bottom skirt and configured to be detachable from the bottom skirt.

[0170] 11E. The screw cap according to embodiment 1E further includes a thumb tab extending radially from the cap, the thumb tab being configured to be actuated upward to place the cap in an open position.

[0171] 1F. A bottle assembly comprising:

[0172] A bottle having a bottle base, sidewalls extending from the bottle base and terminating in a bottle neck, the bottle neck having an end portion disposed opposite to and away from the bottle base, the bottle neck defining an opening to the interior of the bottle, and the bottle neck having an external portion including one or more threads; and

[0173] A screw cap, configured to be removably attached to a bottle, the screw cap comprising:

[0174] (a) A cap, the cap comprising a planar cap base, an annular cap skirt extending downward at the outer periphery of the planar cap base, and a first sealing member disposed on an inner surface of the cap base, the annular cap skirt having a radially inwardly extending flange; and

[0175] (b) A bottom portion, said bottom portion being pivotally connected to the cap via a hinge, said bottom portion comprising:

[0176] (i) A planar bottom base, the planar bottom base including an outer periphery, an inner periphery forming an opening to the interior of the cap, an active component disposed at a first portion of the inner surface of the bottom base, and a second sealing member;

[0177] (ii) an annular bottom skirt extending downward at the outer periphery of the bottom base, the bottom skirt including one or more threads extending radially inward from the inner surface of the bottom skirt; and

[0178] (iii) A neck having an annular neck skirt extending upward from the inner periphery of the bottom base and a neck edge extending radially outward from the upper end of the neck skirt.

[0179] In the closed position, the first sealing member is configured to sealably engage with the upper engagement surface of the neck edge, and the second sealing member is further configured to sealably engage with the upper engagement surface of the bottle edge.

[0180] 2F. The bottle assembly according to embodiment 1F, wherein the screw cap further includes a ridge extending downward from a third portion of the inner surface of the bottom base, the ridge surrounding the inner annular edge of the second sealing member and the outer annular edge of the active component, wherein the second sealing member, the ridge, and the active component are disposed inside the bottom skirt and concentric with the bottom skirt.

[0181] 3F. The bottle assembly according to Example 2F, wherein each of the first and second sealing members comprises a thermoplastic elastomer sealing member.

[0182] 4F. The bottle assembly according to embodiment 3F, wherein the flange of the cap skirt is configured to engage the outer surface of the neck skirt to secure the cap to the neck, and to press the first sealing member against the upper engagement surface of the neck edge, wherein the engagement between the flange and the neck skirt and the compression of the first sealing member create a moisture-proof seal between the cap and the neck.

[0183] 5F. The bottle assembly according to embodiment 4F, wherein the threaded engagement between the threads causes the second sealing member to press against the upper engagement surface of the bottle edge, and the threaded engagement and the compression of the second sealing member create a moisture-proof seal between the cap and the bottle.

[0184] 6F. The bottle assembly according to embodiment 5F, wherein the screw cap includes an tamper-evident feature attached to the bottom skirt and configured to be detachable from the bottom skirt.

[0185] 7F. The bottle assembly according to embodiment 6F, wherein the screw cap further includes a thumb tab extending radially from the cap, the thumb tab being configured to be actuated upward to place the cap in an open position.

[0186] While the technology disclosed herein has been described in detail with reference to specific examples therein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, it should be understood that the technology of this disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, but rather is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the technology of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A cap (100) for a bottle assembly (1), the cap (100) comprising: a base portion (130) including a base pedestal (134) having a base skirt (144) depending downwardly from an outer periphery (132) thereof and a neck (150) protruding upwardly from the base pedestal (134) and protruding radially inwardly from the outer periphery (132), the neck (150) defining a first opening (138) to an interior of the cap (100), the neck (150) further having a neck rim (158); and a closure (110) pivotably attachable to the base portion (130) via a hinge (119), the closure (110) being pivotable between an open position and a closed position, the closure (110) having a closure pedestal (114) and a closure skirt (124) depending downwardly from an outer periphery thereof, the hinge (119) extending upwardly from an upper surface of the base pedestal (134) via at least one riser (115) such that the closure (110) is configured to be in contact with or to mate with the neck rim (158) and to extend perpendicularly to the neck (150) in the closed position, characterized in that the closure (110) includes a tab (112) opposite the hinge (119).

2. The cap (100) of claim 1, wherein the hinge (119) includes at least one flap (116) extending from the riser (115).

3. The cap (100) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the hinge (119) comprises one or more walls having a height that is at least the same as the neck (150).

4. The cap (100) of claim 3, wherein the one or more walls include at least one back wall (117) attached to a portion of the outer periphery (132) of the base pedestal (134).

5. The cap (100) of claim 4, wherein the one or more walls include a pair of first side walls (118) extending inwardly from side edges of the back wall (117) toward the neck (150) such that at least a portion of the closure skirt (124) fits between the pair of first side walls (118) and a neck skirt (164) of the neck (150) when the closure (110) is in the closed position.

6. The cap (100) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the riser (115) comprises or is formed of a thermoset or a thermoplastic material.

7. The cap (100) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the closure (110) includes a first sealing member (120) disposed on an inner surface of the closure base (114), the first sealing member (120) comprising a thermoplastic elastomer sealing member disposed around an entire perimeter of the inner surface of the closure base (114), and the first sealing member (120) including an annular portion configured to sealingly engage the neck rim (158).

8. The cap (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The neck (150) includes a lower neck skirt (165) extending downward from the bottom base (134) and spaced radially inward from the bottom skirt (144), wherein an active material (142) encircles the lower neck skirt (165), the active material comprising a desiccant.

9. The cap (100) of claim 8, wherein the lower neck skirt (165), a portion of an underside of the bottom base (134), and a ridge (148) extending downward from the bottom base (134) and radially spaced from the lower neck skirt (165) form a cavity to house the active material (142).

10. A bottle assembly (1) comprising: a bottle (10) having a bottle base (14), a second sidewall (16) extending upward from the bottle base (14) and terminating in a bottle neck (22), the bottle neck (22) defining a second opening (20) to an interior of the bottle (10), the bottle neck (22) having an outer portion including one or more threads (26); and a cap (100) removably disposed over the bottle neck (22) such that inner threads of the cap (100) are configured to threadably engage the threads (26) on the bottle neck (22) to couple the cap (100) to the bottle (10), thereby forming the bottle assembly (1), the cap (100) including: a bottom portion (130) including a bottom base (134) having a bottom skirt (144) depending downward from an outer perimeter (132) thereof and a neck (150) protruding upward from the bottom base (134) and radially inward from the outer perimeter (132), the neck (150) defining a first opening (138) to an interior of the cap (100), the neck (150) further having a neck rim (158); and a lid (110) pivotably attached to the base portion (130) via a hinge (119), the lid (110) being pivotable between an open position and a closed position, the lid (110) having a lid base (114) and a lid skirt (124) depending downwardly from an outer periphery thereof, the hinge (119) extending upwardly from an upper surface of the base base (134) via at least one riser (115) such that the lid (110) is configured to be in contact with or mating with the neck rim (158) and extend perpendicular to the neck (150) in the closed position, characterized in that the lid (110) includes a tab (112) opposite the hinge (119).

11. The bottle assembly (1) of claim 10, wherein the hinge (119) has a flap (116) extending from the riser (115).

12. The bottle assembly (1) of claim 10 or 11, wherein the hinge (119) includes one or more walls having a height that is at least the same as the neck (150).

13. The bottle assembly (1) of claim 12, wherein the one or more walls include at least one back wall (117) attached to a portion of the outer periphery (132) of the base base (134).

14. The bottle assembly (1) of claim 13, wherein the one or more walls include a pair of first side walls (118) extending inwardly from side edges of the back wall (117) toward the neck (150) such that at least a portion of the lid skirt (124) fits between the pair of first side walls (118) and a neck skirt (164) of the neck (150) when the lid (110) is in the closed position.

15. The bottle assembly (1) of claim 10 or 11, wherein the riser (115) includes or is formed of a thermoset or thermoplastic material.

16. The bottle assembly (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the neck (150) includes a lower neck skirt (165) extending downwardly from the base base (134) and spaced radially inwardly from the base skirt (144), wherein an active material surrounds the lower neck skirt (165), the active material including a desiccant.

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