Patent Application
20240300704
The present disclosure is directed to a container and more specifically, to a flexible container with a detachable cap.
A flexible container (e.g., silicone container body or sleeve) is provided for combination with a two-part cap that is easily removable from the container yet securely and sealingly closes off the open end of the container.
In one embodiment, the container includes a flexible container body that has a closed bottom end and a top end with a lip that protrudes radially outward. The container has a cap that has first threads. The container also has a hollow bottom ring that has second threads that threadingly engage the first threads. The bottom ring has an open top defined by a top edge and an open bottom. The container body passes through the hollow bottom ring with the lip seating against the top edge of the bottom ring and in a sealed closed position, the cap is attached to the bottom ring to close off and seal the flexible container body.
The present application is directed to a flexible container 100 with a removable cap 200.
The container 100 is flexible in nature in that it can easily be folded in half and otherwise manipulated. In one embodiment, the container 100 is formed of silicone.
As illustrated, the container 100 has a body 110 that is open at its top end and closed at its bottom end. The container 100 has a side wall 102 of variable diameter. The top end includes a lip 120 that protrudes outward. The side wall 102 has a stepped construction in that the side wall has a shoulder 130. Between the lip 120 and the shoulder 130, the side wall 102 has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the lip 120 and the shoulder 130 (the diameter of the lip 120 can be similar to or slightly less than the diameter of the shoulder 130). This area 105 of the side wall 102 between the lip 120 and the shoulder 130 can be flat and smooth.
The cap 200 is freely removable from the container 100. The cap 200 includes a first part in the form of a top cap 210 and a bottom ring 220.
The top cap 210 has a top wall 212 and a side wall 214 that includes inner threads 216 and can include tactile elements 218, such as ribs, that extend about the outer circumferential surface of the side wall 214. The top cap 210 can be formed of a rigid plastic material.
The bottom ring 220 has an annular shape and is defined by a top edge 222 and an opposite bottom edge 224. The bottom ring 220 can be formed of a rigid plastic material.
The bottom ring 220 includes an upper region 230 and a lower region 240. The upper region 230 extends to the top edge 222 and the lower region 240 extends to the bottom edge 224. The diameter of the upper region 230 can be different than the diameter of the lower region 240 and more specifically, the diameter of the upper region 230 can be less than the diameter of the lower region 240.
The upper region 230 includes outer threads 235 formed on the outer surface of the upper region 230. These outer threads 235 are configured to mate with inner threads 216 for detachably coupling the top cap 210 to the bottom ring 220. A shoulder 250 is formed between the upper region 230 and the lower region 240.
To assemble the cap 200 to the container 100, the container 100 is folded (e.g., folded in half) so as to reduce its diameter and permit the container 100 to be inserted and pass through the center opening of the bottom ring 220. The container 100 is positioned such that the lip 120 is positioned against and seats against the top edge 222 of the bottom ring 220. This results in the bottom edge 224 being positioned proximate or seating against the shoulder 130 of the container. The container 100 is released and its memory properties cause it to flex back to its original state that is shown in
The case of attachment between the cap 200 and the container 100 allows a user to easily fill the container and then temporarily but securely cover the container 100 with the cap 200. Subsequently the container 100, which can act as a liner for a larger bottle, such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 11,214,398, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, can be inserted into a rigid outer bottle and lid assembly. In one example, protein powder can be measured out and placed in container 100 for later combination with water and subsequent insertion into a rigid outer bottle.
As mentioned in one embodiment, the container 100 is formed of silicone that is food grade and can be used in a dishwasher, etc., and the cap 200 is formed of a rigid plastic, such as an injection molded plastic.
Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These embodiments are given only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed inventions. It should be appreciated, moreover, that the various features of the embodiments that have been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional embodiments. Moreover, while various materials, dimensions, shapes, configurations and locations, etc. have been described for use with disclosed embodiments, others besides those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the scope of the claimed inventions.
Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the subject matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the various embodiments can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, elements described with respect to one embodiment can be implemented in other embodiments even when not described in such embodiments unless otherwise noted.
Although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination with one or more other claims, other embodiments can also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent claim or a combination of one or more features with other dependent or independent claims. Such combinations are proposed herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.
Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.
For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.
The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 63/439,204, filed Jan. 16, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63439204 | Jan 2023 | US |
