Patent Application
20210300639
The present disclosure relates to closures for containers. More particularly, the embodiments relate to a closure for a beverage container that can be resealably sealed.
Some embodiments described herein relate to a closure for a beverage container that comprises a base portion comprising configured to removably engage with the beverage container, a top portion rotatably engaged with the base portion, the top portion comprising a drinking opening having a central axis and internal threads, and a central portion removably engaged with the base portion and removably engaged with the threads of the top portion. The top portion may rotate from a first configuration to a second configuration. The plug may be removable. The central portion may be configured to move down along the central axis when the top portion is rotated from the first configuration to the second configuration, and the central portion may be configured to move up along the central axis when the top portion is rotated from the second configuration to the first configuration. The plug may seal the drinking opening when the top portion is in the first configuration.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the central portion does not rotate relative to the base portion.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the central portion includes an outward projection and an external thread, the base portion includes a groove configured to engage with the outward projection, and the top portion comprises an internal thread configured to engage with the external thread.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, when the inward projection is coupled to the outward projection, and the inward projection is configured to prevent the central portion from rotating when the top portion is rotated from the first configuration to the second configuration.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the top portion further comprises a flange projecting from the top portion and defining the drinking opening.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the flange has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the plug. An inner diameter of the flange may define the drinking opening. The diameter of the flange may be between 15 millimeters and 30 millimeters. The diameter of the flange may be about 25 millimeters.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the plug and flange together form a seal. In some aspects of the disclosure, the seal is water tight.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the plug is configured to resealably seal the drinking opening when the top portion is moved from the second configuration to the first configuration.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, a fluid path through the closure is formed when the top portion is moved from the first configuration to the second configuration.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the top portion is configured to rotate about the central axis no more than 180 degrees from the first configuration.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the central portion is removable when the top portion is in the second configuration.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the central portion is removable only when the top portion is between 90 degrees and 180 degrees from the first configuration. In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the central portion is removable only when the top portion is 180 degrees from the first configuration.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the base portion comprises an opening in fluid communication with the drinking opening when the top portion is in the second configuration.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, only the central portion is movable along the central axis. In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the central portion is not rotatable about the central axis.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the beverage container comprises a rigid sidewall.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the beverage container is a stainless steel bottle.
Some embodiments described herein relate to a closure for a beverage container that comprises a base portion configured to couple to the beverage container, a top portion rotatably engaged with the base portion and including a drinking opening, a central portion removably coupled to the base portion and to the top portion. The central portion may include a plug. The central portion may be configured to move in a first direction along a central axis when the top portion is rotated about the central axis from a first configuration to a second configuration. The central portion may be configured to move in a second direction along the central axis when the top portion is rotated about the central axis from the second configuration to the first configuration. The second direction may be opposite the first direction. The central portion may be configured to seal the drinking opening when the top portion is in the first configuration.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the central portion does not rotate about the central axis.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the closure is coupled to a beverage container having a rigid sidewall.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the central portion is configured to abut a flange that extends circumferentially around the drinking opening such that a seal is formed between the central portion and the flange.
In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the base portion and the top portion may not move along the central axis.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate the present disclosure and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the disclosure and to enable a person skill in the relevant art to make and use the invention.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments, including structures, systems, and methods, may be practiced without these specific details. The description and representation herein are the common means used by those experienced or skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the disclosure.
References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” “some embodiments,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
As used herein, the terms “upper” and “lower,” and “top” and “bottom,” and the like are intended to assist in understanding of embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings with respect to the orientation of the beverage closure as shown, and are not intended to be limiting to the scope of the invention or to limit the invention scope to the embodiments depicted in the Figures. The directional terms are used for convenience of description and it is understood that a closure and a container may be positioned in any of various orientations.
The following examples are illustrative, but not limiting, of the present disclosure. Other suitable modifications and adaptations of the variety of conditions and parameters normally encountered in the field, and which would be apparent to those skilled in the art, are within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
Many containers that include closures removably applied to a drinking opening for sealing the container involve removal of all or part of the closure to unseal the container and access the contents through the opening. For example, beverage containers often have a lid that must be unscrewed or otherwise removed from a drinking opening for a consumer to drink the beverage. Some beverage containers have so-called sports caps that do not require removal of the closure. These closures may twist to partially unscrew part of the cap or may slide up to expose a flow passage. However, these types of sports cap closures generally do not allow liquids to freely flow. Rather, liquid flow is induced by pressure (e.g., by squeezing the bottle or sucking on the cap at the outlet). Furthermore, removable caps may be readily lost or contaminated (e.g., when dropped on the floor or ground when separated from the container). And sports caps may not be easily separable to allow for cleaning within the cap.
The closures described herein provide the benefit of readily sealing and unsealing a drinking opening of a container (e.g., a beverage container) without requiring removal of components to unseal. Additionally, the closures described herein may be easily disassembled and reassembled, which allows a consumer to easily clean the components. All of this results in a closure that can be used and cleaned many times without being lost or broken. For example, to use the closure the user simply rotates a top portion of the closure, providing a user experience that is similar to traditional drinking closures that are removable from the container. Upon rotating the top portion, a central portion of the closure moves down to expose a fluid flow path. At that point, fluid in the container may flow freely through the drinking opening (e.g., by pouring). To reseal the closure, the user rotates the top portion in the opposite direction. This causes the central portion to move back up, creating a seal. The central portion can be removed from the closure to allow for convenient cleaning of the closure and container.
As shown throughout the figures, closure 100 may include base portion 200, central portion 300, and top portion 400. As discussed in more detail below, base portion 200 may be coupled to a container 600, as shown in
When base portion 200, central portion 300, and top portion 400 are assembled to form closure 100, drinking opening 410 may unsealed and resealed. Drinking opening 410 is sealed when top portion 400 is in a first configuration (e.g., a closed configuration). When top portion 400 is in the first configuration, central portion 300 is positioned to abut top portion 400, as shown in
As top portion 400 rotates, rotational engagement portion 330 (e.g., threads) may interact with engagement portion 420 (e.g., threads) such that central portion 300 moves down along central axis 411 (see, e.g.,
In some embodiments, rotating top portion 400 at least 15 degrees from the first configuration exposes a fluid path sufficient for fluid to flow. In some embodiments, the fluid may flow through the fluid path when central portion 300 has moved down along central axis 411 by at least 2 millimeters.
To reseal drinking opening 410, top portion 400 may be rotated clockwise about central axis 411 from the second configuration to the first configuration. As top portion 400 rotates clockwise, rotational engagement portion 330 (e.g., threads) may interact with engagement portion 420 (e.g., threads) such that central portion 300 moves up along central axis 411. When top portion 400 returns to the first configuration, central portion 300 abuts top portion 400 in a closed position to reseal drinking opening 410, which blocks flow path 700 (see
In some embodiments, plug 310 may be formed of a resilient material, such that in the first configuration top portion 400 may press into and deform plug 310 to form the seal, as shown in
Closure 100 may be readily disassembled. Central portion 300 may be removably attached to base portion 200 and top portion 400. Central portion 300 may be separated from both base portion 200 and top portion 400 when top portion 400 is in the second potion (i.e., when drinking opening 410 is unsealed), as will be described in greater detail below.
Top portion 400 may be rotated relative to base portion 200 in a first direction (e.g., counterclockwise when viewed from above) about central axis 411 of drinking opening 410, and such rotation may cause central portion 300 to move down along central axis 411 (e.g., in a direction toward container 600 when closure 100 is attached to container 600). For example, as top portion 400 is rotated in the first direction, central portion 300 may move from the open position shown in
When central portion 300 moves down central axis 411, drinking opening 410 may be unsealed and top portion 400 may be in a second configuration (e.g., an open configuration, as shown in
As shown, for example, in
As shown, for example, in
For example, engagement portions 220 may define a vertically-oriented groove 221 (i.e., oriented in the same direction as central axis 411) that receives a projection 321 of translational engagement portion 320 of central portion 300. Alternatively, translational engagement portion(s) 320 may define a groove and engagement portion(s) may define a corresponding projection received in the groove.
As shown, for example, in
In some embodiments, base portion 200 includes an opening 230 that aligns with drinking opening 410 of top portion 400. When assembled together, central portion 300 may extend through opening 230.
Central portion 300 of closure 100 may include plug 310, one or more translational engagement portions 320 (which may include one or more outward facing projections 321), one or more rotational engagement portions 330, and one or more fluid openings 340. In some embodiments, central portion 300 includes four fluid openings 340. Translational engagement portion(s) 320 may engage with corresponding engagement portion(s) 220 on base portion 200, as described above. Rotational engagement portions 330 may engage with corresponding engagement portions 420 on top portion 400, as described in more detail below.
As shown in
In some embodiments, central portion 300 includes rotational engagement portion 330 engage with a corresponding engagement portion 420 of top portion 400. In some embodiments, rotational engagement portion 330 is one or more threads that couple to engagement portion 420, which may also be one or more threads. For example,
Squeezing each of the translational engagement portions 320 (which are resilient) toward the central axis allows translational engagement portions 320 to bypass inwardly-projecting stops 222 at the ends of engagement portions 220, and then pulling down along the central axis will release central portion 300 from both base portion 200 and top portion 400. In some embodiments, central portion 300 can be removed only when top portion 400 is in the second configuration (i.e., drinking opening 410 is unsealed). For example, in some embodiments, rotational engagement portion 330 may disengage from corresponding engagement portion 420 when top portion 400 is in the second configuration. Then squeezing each of the translational engagement portions as described above will remove central portion 300 by allowing projections 321 to bypass stops 222. Once separated, plug 310 can be separated from central portion 300. With these parts separated, a user can easily clean all of the components of closure 100. To reassemble closure 100, the user need only reattach plug 310 (if it has been removed) and reinsert central portion 300 by pushing up along central axis 411 until translational engagement portions 320 engage with engagement portions 220.
In some embodiments, central portion 300 includes plug 310. Plug 310 may be integrally formed with or permanently affixed to central portion 300. If plug 310 is integrally formed with central portion 300, plug 310 may be made of the same material (e.g., plastic) as central portion 300. If plug 310 is permanently affixed to or removable from central portion 300, plug 310 may be made of a different material than the material that makes up central portion 300. In some embodiments, plug 310 is made of a resilient material (e.g., silicone). The use of a resilient material allows for flange 430 to press into and deform plug 310 to form the seal.
In some embodiments, plug 310 is removably attached to central portion 300. Plug 310 may stretch to fit over flange 350. For example, as shown in
Top portion 400 of closure 100 may include drinking opening 410 through which fluid may flow, depending on the position of central portion 300. In some embodiments, drinking opening 410 has a diameter between about 5 millimeters and about 50 millimeters (e.g., between about 10 millimeters and about 40 millimeters, between about 15 millimeters and about 35 millimeters, or between about 20 millimeters and about 30 millimeters). In some embodiments, drinking opening 410 has a diameter of about 25 millimeters. In some embodiments, drinking opening 410 has a diameter of about 30 millimeters. For example, drinking opening 410 may have a diameter that is about the same size as a standard opening for a single-use beverage container (e.g., a sports drink bottle or a soda bottle).
In some embodiments, closure 100 includes engagement portion 450 (e.g., an inward projection) that couples to a corresponding engagement portion 240 (e.g., on base portion 200). In some embodiments, coupling top portion 400 to base portion 200 using engagement portion 450 and engagement portion 240 allows top portion 400 to rotate about a central axis of the closure without moving along the central axis. In some embodiments, top portion 400 is rotatable in the counter-clockwise direction when viewed from above. In some embodiments, top portion 400 is rotatable in the clockwise direction when viewed from above. In some embodiments, top portion 400 is rotatable in both the counter-clockwise direction and the clockwise direction. Top portion 400 may be rotatable about the central axis between 0 degrees and 360 degrees (e.g. between 0 degrees and about 270 degrees, between 0 degrees and about 180 degrees, between 0 degrees and about 90 degrees). In some embodiments, top portion 400 is rotatable between 0 degrees and 180 degrees. The rotation of top portion 400 may be limited by one or more rotation stops on base portion 200.
In some embodiments, top portion 400 of closure 100 includes an engagement portion 420 (e.g., internal thread) that couples to a corresponding rotational engagement portion 330 on central portion 300. In some embodiments, top portion 400 includes one or more grip portions 440 that aid a user in gripping top portion 400 while turning top portion 400 about central axis 411 relative to base portion 200 and central portion 300.
In some embodiments, top portion 400 includes flange 430. In some embodiments, flange 430 extends circumferentially around drinking opening 410 and projects inwardly from the drinking opening 410. In some embodiments, flange 430 has a diameter between about 5 millimeters and about 50 millimeters (e.g., between about 10 millimeters and about 40 millimeters, between about 15 millimeters and about 35 millimeters, or between about 20 millimeters and about 30 millimeters). In some embodiments, flange 430 has a diameter of about 25 millimeters. In some embodiments, drinking opening 410 is defined by flange 430. In some embodiments, flange 430 has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of plug 310. For example, flange 430 may have a diameter that is between 80% and 90% (e.g., between 82% and 88% or between 84 and 86%) of the diameter of plug 310. In some embodiments, flange 430 may have a diameter that it at least 2 millimeters (e.g., at least 3 millimeters or at least 4 millimeters) smaller than a diameter of the plug 310.
Closure 100 may be configured to couple to container 600 (e.g., a beverage container) with sidewall 610. In some embodiments, container 600 may include a rigid, inflexible sidewall 610. For example, container 600 may be a stainless steel container or a hard plastic container that contains free flowing liquids that can be poured or sipped through closure 100 when closure 100 is opened. In some embodiments, container 600 may include a flexible sidewall 610. For example, container 600 may be a squeeze bottle that allows the container to hold and dispense viscous fluids through closure 100. Container 600 have a volume between 500 milliliters to 1500 milliliters (e.g., between 600 milliliters to 1250 milliliters or 750 milliliters to 1000 milliliters). In some embodiments, the container 600 has a volume of about 750 milliliters.
Closure 100 may include attachment 500 coupled to base portion 200 that improves portability of closure 100 when coupled to container 600. Attachment 500 may be a carabiner, a loop, a hook, or a handle. In some embodiments, attachment 500 is hinged. In some embodiments, attachment 500 is removably attached to base portion 200.
Base portion 200 may be coupled to top portion 400 such that top portion 400 rotates freely about central axis 411. In some embodiments, base portion 200 includes engagement portion 240 that couples to engagement portion 450 of top portion 400. This coupling may allow top portion to rotate freely about central axis 411. Top portion 400 may further include a rotation stop that limits rotation of top portion 400 about the central axis, for example
Opening 230 may be in fluid communication with drinking opening 410. In some embodiments, opening 230 aligns with drinking opening 410 to form a cylindrical shaped opening. When the base portion 200 is coupled to top portion 400, central portion 300 may be inserted into the cylindrical shaped opening formed by opening 230 and drinking opening 410. In some embodiments, central portion 300 is inserted from the bottom of the combined base portion 200 and top portion 400.
As used herein, when the term “about” is used in describing a value or an end-point of a range, the disclosure should be understood to include the specific value or end-point referred to. Whether or not a numerical value or end-point of a range recites “about,” the numerical value or end-point is intended to include two embodiments: one modified by “about,” and one not modified by “about.” As used herein, the term “about” may include ±10%.
It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and not the Summary and Abstract sections, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limit the present invention and the claims in any way.
The present invention has been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance.
The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the claims and their equivalents.
