EP2205501A1

EP2205501A1 - Structure for prevent the liquid from leaking of a cap

Info

Publication number: EP2205501A1
Application number: EP08845816A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kuo Cheng Wu
Original assignee: Wu Kuo-Cheng
Priority date: 2007-11-01
Filing date: 2008-10-31
Publication date: 2010-07-14
Also published as: RU2010119133A; EP2205501A4; CA2704343A1; IL205427A0; MX2010004835A; KR20100102598A; AU2008319297A1; BRPI0818139A2; WO2009058378A1; JP2011517643A; US20100116773A1; ZA201003705B

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bottle cap with leakage-proof feature for liquid therein, which comprises a bottle cap and a dividing disk, wherein bottle cap having an internal hollow cavity, an internal communicating channel and an internal concentric lining ring with inwards buckling groove ring being crotched in the inner wall of the hollow cavity facing the communicating channel such that a flexible rift ring being formed between the peripheral surface of the lining ring and the inner surface of the communicating channel; And the dividing disk having an up-facing flexible cleft ring being notched near the peripheral of the top surface. By means mutual counter elastic stress by the strained flexible rift ring and flexible cleft ring reciprocally, the buckling-fitting condition between the lateral surface of the dividing disk and the inner surface of the lining ring is more firmly tight.

Description

Title

Structure for prevent the liquid from leaking of a cap

Field of the Present Invention

The present invention relates to a "bottle cap with leakage-proof feature for liquid therein", particularly for a bottle cap filled with liquid being constantly kept therein by leakage-proof design without any leakage so that defective commodity from liquid therein unexpectedly mixing with the liquid in the container is avoided when the lateral surface of the bottle cap deforms due to the stress of the external force.

Background of the Invention

By means of filling a second beverage in the bottle cap of the associated bottle or container beforehand for optionally mixing with the first beverage in the bottle or container, the integral bottle and cap provides the consumer with extra choice for tasting the mingling flavor of mixture of second beverage and first beverage other than the usual flavor of first beverage in the bottle or container. Accordingly, various structures of such kind bottle cap with filling of second beverage are contrived and disclosed, for example, US patents in number of US3968872, US4903865 and US5170888; Japanese published patents in number of 2003-12015, 2004-83022, 2004-323097, 2004-338751, 2005-22706, 2006-27727, 2006-103781, 2006-117305, 2006-151449, 2006-151457 and 2006-232290 as well as mainland China utility model patent in number of 93241475.3 and the like are all in this category. Wherein, the structure of the bottle cap disclosed in the China utility model patent in number of 93241475.3 is shown as in the FIG. 1. Basing on the associated specifications which disclosed the related technique, the internal-screw-topped bottle cap 1 comprises a diaphragm 4 stuck over its middle sectional internal thread 101 to encompass a closed space for filling liquid material 5 therein. For screw-fitting together with the spout opening of the bottle in the mixing beverage operation, turn and drive the bottle cap 1 further forwardly to break the diaphragm 4 so that the liquid material 5 originally in the bottle cap 1 is automatically infused into the bottle 3 to mix with the beverage therein.

From disclosure above, the material of diaphragm 4 is different from that of the bottle cap 1 as they stuck together by some kind of glue over the surface of the internal thread 101 in the bottle cap 1. Since the surface of the internal thread 101 of the bottle cap 1 is continuous spiral scraggy thread without any backing supporting jut for the diaphragm 4, to firmly stick the smooth peripheral of disk-shaped diaphragm 4 with the jagged surface of the internal thread 101 without defect in mass production is hardly achieved by the level of current industrial facility and technology. Moreover, applying the glue over the peripheral of the diaphragm 4 for sticking together with the internal thread 101 of the bottle cap 1 inevitably causes the hygienic safety issue due to liquid material 5 therein either contaminated or chemically reacted with the glue so that becomes the main reason for the real product of such new model patent is not introduced in the market so far. As generally knowledge, industrial mass production of the bottled drinking water in the current market must be automatically controlled via a series of consistent process without any contamination or pollution to comply with regulatory requirements and criterion for the drinkable and hygienic safety. However, the technology disclosed in the China utility model patent in number of 93241475.3 is only an infeasible hollow word as essentially unable to achieve the requirements and criterion aforesaid that does not meet the patentable criterion of practical usage.

For the products of other prior arts from the USA and Japan patents mentioned above, they are not popularly accepted in the market because their astonishing high price reflected from the structural complexity of the component design. Realizing all the facts aforesaid and addressing various drawbacks associated, the applicant of the present invention sets forth a previous patent application to your USPTO with filing number of U.S. Patent Application Serial No.11/149,355 after the accomplishment of a technological breakthrough via research and development. The marketable product of mass production associated with U.S. Patent Application Serial No.1 1/149,355 proves that meets the expected effects and the regulatory requirements and criterion for the drinkable and hygienic safety. Unexpectedly, a minor leakage of the filled liquid in the bottle cap happened during transportation. After careful study and research for troubleshooting the leakage issue, the cause is pinpointed as well as remedied and improved as below. As shown in the FIGS. 2 and 3, after filling the second beverage R into the hollow cavity 14 of the bottle cap 10, insert the dividing disk 20 into the communicating channel 15 at the bottom surface 12 of the bottle cap 10 so that the buckling groove 24 on the lateral surface 23 of the dividing disk 20 buckling-fits together with the inside buckling flange ring 16 of the bottle cap 10 in firmly fixed position for isolating the second beverage R in the hollow cavity 14 from outflow. At this moment, the buckling groove 24 on the lateral surface 23 of the dividing disk 20 entirely contacts together with the surface of the inside buckling flange ring 16 of the bottle cap 10 without any gap to let second beverage R leak out (as shown in view a-a of the FIG. 2). As shown of two arrowhead directions in the FIG. 3, if exerting forces F of the hands apply over the lateral surface 13 of the bottle cap 10 by the worker during transportation or the consumer in the shopping store, two inward bends will be created (as shown of the hypothetic lines in the FIG. 3) at the sides pinched or held by the fingers and two deformation gaps g will be created at the other sides which being not borne the exerting forces F by the holding fingers (as shown in view b-b of the FIG. 3) so that the second beverage R in the hollow cavity 14 will leak out from the deformation gaps g by the gravity action. From observation, for lateral surfaces 13 of the same bottle cap 10, the more frequent hand fingers pinch or hold (for example it is taken up for inspection by many consumers in the shopping store), the more possibility of the leakage from the deformation gaps g will be; On the contrary, the less frequent hand fingers pinch or hold, the less or even no possibility of the leakage from the deformation gaps g will be. As long as there is any possibility of the leakage from the deformation gaps g, the batch products of the defective commodity should not be allowed to sell in the market to assure the drinkable and hygienic safety in conformity with regulatory requirements and criterion for the for the consumers though the possibility of the leakage from the deformation gaps g aforesaid is not definite.

Besides, as shown in the FIG. 4, during the screw- fitting procedure of the bottle cap 10 with dividing disk 20 to fit together with the container 30, when the bottom surface 22 contacts with the spout opening end of the container 30, an upward force Fn will be created in turning and driving the bottle cap 10 further forwards, meanwhile a downward counteraction resistance Fr will be created and constantly existed against the turning and driving upward force Fn as long as the buckling groove 24 of the dividing disk 20 remaining kept in the buckling flange 16 of bottle cap 10 so that pushing the dividing disk 20 off the buckling flange 16 of bottle cap 10 becomes hard and retarded for consumers with weak physical strength such as children and female consumers. Accordingly, how to achieve the blending effect of said two beverages via physical strength effort-saving way is also another issue to be solved by the present invention.

Summary of the Invention

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a "bottle cap with leakage-proof feature for liquid therein", which comprises an internal hollow cavity, an internal communicating channel and an internal concentric lining ring with inwards buckling groove ring being crotched in the inner wall of the hollow cavity facing the communicating channel such that a flexible rift ring being formed between the peripheral surface of the lining ring and the inner surface of the communicating channel; and an integral body of dividing disk having an up-facing flexible cleft ring being notched near the peripheral of the top surface. Firstly fill the liquid material into the hollow cavity of the bottle cap and next buckling-fit the buckling flange of the dividing disk together with the buckling groove ring around the lining ring in the hollow cavity inner wall of the bottle cap. Both of the rift width of the flexible rift ring and cleft width of the flexible cleft ring after the assembly of the bottle cap and dividing disk become smaller than those of the original widths because both of the flexible rift ring and flexible cleft ring have been strained by the forward squeezed stress. By means mutual counter elastic stress by the strained flexible rift ring and flexible cleft ring reciprocally, the buckling-fitting condition between the lateral surface of the dividing disk and the inner surface of the lining ring is more firmly tight. When the lateral surface of the bottle cap deforms due to the stress of the external force such as hand fingers pinch or hold, the corresponding strains of the flexible rift ring and flexible cleft ring respond to offset by their elasticity so that the tightly close-fitting condition is constantly kept without any gap; thereby, a watertight hollow cavity is remained to keep the liquid material therein and completely prevent it from leaking out.

The other object of the present invention is to provide a "bottle cap with leakage-proof feature for liquid therein" with plural blocking juts being evenly configured on the inner wall of the hollow cavity over the buckling groove ring of the lining ring within a quadrant manner. During screw-fitting operation of the bottle cap and the spout opening end of the container, when the buckling flange ring on the lateral surface of the dividing disk begins to slip away the buckling groove ring, the top surface of the dividing disk contacts the blocking juts meanwhile. By means of contact points of the blocking juts with the top surface of the dividing disk to serve as the fulcrums to let other side of the dividing disk raised, the liquid beverage in the hollow cavity easily flows downwards quickly and the downward counteraction resistance acting on the top surface of the dividing disk is indirectly deleted meanwhile; thereby, during entire slipping procedure of the dividing disk away the internal lining ring of the bottle cap, the effort-saving effect in turning and driving effort is achieved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is the structural cross section view for the conventional China utility model patent in number of 93241475.3.

FIG. 2 is the structural cross section view for the conventional Taiwan invention patent in number of 1271358.

FIG. 3 is the illustrative view showing the bottle cap in the FIG. 2 being borne force on the lateral surface.

FIG. 4 is the operation illustrative view for the FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an assembly perspective view according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded sectional view according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an assembly sectional view according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional illustrative view showing the assembly for the first preferred embodiment of the present invention with a container.

FIG. 10 is the first operation illustrative view for the FIG. 9.

FIG. 1 1 is the second operation illustrative view for the FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is the third operation illustrative view for the FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is the fourth operation illustrative view for the FIG. 9.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an exploded sectional view according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a sectional illustrative view showing the assembly for the second preferred embodiment of the present invention with a container.

FIG. 17 is the first operation illustrative view for the FIG. 16. FIG. 18 is the second operation illustrative view for the FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is the third operation illustrative view for the FIG. 16.

FIG. 20 is the fourth operation illustrative view for the FIG. 16.

FIG. 21 is the fifth operation illustrative view for the FIG. 16.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, a bottle cap with leakage-proof feature for liquid therein according to a the first preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a bottle

cap 50 and a dividing disk 60.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7.the bottle cap 50 having a closed-end top surface 51, an open-end bottom surface 52, a cylinder-shaped lateral surface 53 and a safety tear strip ring 40 such that an internal hollow cavity 54 being formed near the top surface 51 for filling the second beverage R therein and an internal communicating channel 55 with female thread 551 therein being formed near the bottom surface 52 for screw-fitting together with the male thread 32 on the spout opening end 31 of the container 30, both of hollow cavity 54 and communicating channel 55 being connected through each other, the safety tear strip ring 40 with a breakable end 41 being formed the outer peripheral of the bottom surface 52, wherein, an internal concentric lining ring 56 with inwards buckling groove ring 561 being crotched in the inner wall of the hollow cavity 54 facing the communicating channel 55 such that a flexible rift ring 57 being formed between the peripheral surface of the lining ring 56 and the inner surface of the communicating channel

55 (as shown of the enlarged view in the FIG. 7). Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7.the dividing disk 60 having a top surface 61, a bottom surface 62 and a ring-shaped lateral surface 63 such that the top surface 61 facing the hollow cavity 54 of the bottle cap 50 and the bottom surface 62 facing the communicating channel 55 of the bottle cap 50 after the dividing disk 60 being inserted between the hollow cavity 54 and the communicating channel 55 inside of the bottle cap 50, wherein, an up-facing flexible cleft ring 64 being notched near the peripheral of the top surface 61 and a buckling flange ring 65 bulging around the top peripheral of the lateral surface 63 for being buckle-fitted together with the buckling groove ring 561 on the lining ring 56 of the bottle cap 50 as well as a sealing flange ring 66 wrapping the bottom peripheral of the top surface 61 so that second beverage R in the hollow cavity 54 being kept therein in watertight manner to prevent it from leaking out after the dividing disk 60 being inserted in final position.

Please refer to the FIGS. 7 and 8 showing the assembly for the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Firstly fill the second beverage R of different flavor into the hollow cavity 54 of the bottle cap 50; next insert the dividing disk 60 into the communicating channel 55 via the bottom surface 52 of the bottle cap 50 until the buckling flange 65 around the top lateral surface 63 peripheral of the dividing disk 60 buckling-fits together with the buckling groove ring 561 around the lining ring 56 in the hollow cavity 54 inner wall of the bottle cap 50 so that a watertight hollow cavity 54 is formed to keep the second beverage R therein and prevent it from leaking out. Both of the rift width Δ of the flexible rift ring 57 and cleft width δ of the flexible cleft ring 64 before the assembly of the bottle cap 50 and dividing disk 60 are freely opened to maximum manner (as shown of two separated enlarged views in the FIG. 7), and both of the rift width Δ' of the flexible rift ring 57 and cleft width δ' of the flexible cleft ring 64 after the assembly of the bottle cap 50 and dividing disk 60 become smaller than those of the original widths (as shown of enlarged view in the FIG. 8) because both of the flexible rift ring 57 and flexible cleft ring 64 have been strained by the forward squeezed stress so that the relations of Δ > Δ' and δ > δ' are created, thereby, the buckling-fitting condition

between the lateral surface 63 of the dividing disk 60 and the inner surface of the lining ring 56 is more firmly tight due to mutual counter elastic stress by the strained flexible rift ring 57 and flexible cleft ring 64 reciprocally. When the lateral surface 53 of the bottle cap 50 deforms due to the stress of the external force such as hand fingers pinch or hold, the corresponding strains of the flexible rift ring 57 and flexible cleft ring 64 respond to offset by their elasticity so that the tightly close-fitting condition is constantly kept without any gap; thereby, a watertight hollow cavity 54 is remained to keep the second beverage R therein and completely prevent it from leaking out.

Please further refer to the FIGS. 9 through 13 showing the operation steps of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention for mixing the second beverage R with the first beverage G by the drinker. Firstly, pull safety tear strip ring 40 at the bottom peripheral of the bottle cap 50 until the breakable end 41 being ruptured and torn off (as shown in the FIG. 10); Secondly, turn and drive the bottle cap 50 forwards for screw-fitting of the bottle cap 50 and the spout opening end 31 of the container 30 (as shown in the FIG. 11); Thirdly, keep turn and drive the bottle cap 50 forwards so that the buckling flange ring 65 on the lateral surface 63 of the dividing disk 60 begins to slip away the buckling groove ring 561 on the lining ring 56 of the bottle cap 50 by the upward pushing force from the contacted spout opening end 31 of the container 30 (as shown in the FIG. 12); Fourthly, further keep turn and drive the bottle cap 50 forwards until the dividing disk 60 being completely slipped away the internal lining ring 56 so that the second beverage R in the hollow cavity 54 flows downwards to blend with the first beverage G in the container 30 (as shown in the FIG. 13).

As further shown in the FIGS. 14 through 16, the second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Three additional blocking juts 58 are evenly configured on the inner wall of the hollow cavity 54 over the buckling groove ring 561 of the lining ring 56 within a quadrant manner (as shown of the sectional view and enlarged view in the FIG. 15) in order to provide aiding fulcrums to easily slip the dividing disk 60 away the internal lining ring 56 of the bottle cap 50 with more effort-saving effect during the screw-fitting procedure of the bottle cap 50 and the spout opening end 31 of the container 30. The stepwise operation method is shown as in the FIGS. 17 through 21 for mixing the second beverage R with the first beverage G by the drinker. Firstly, pull safety tear strip ring 40 at the bottom peripheral of the bottle cap 50 until the breakable end 41 being ruptured and torn off (as shown in the FIG. 17); Secondly, turn and drive the bottle cap 50 forwards for screw-fitting of the bottle cap 50 and the spout opening end 31 of the container 30 (as shown in the FIG. 18); Thirdly, keep turn and drive the bottle cap 50 forwards so that the buckling flange ring 65 on the lateral surface 63 of the dividing disk 60 begins to slip away the buckling groove ring 561 on the lining ring 56 of the bottle cap 50 and the top surface 61 of the dividing disk 60 contacts three blocking juts 58 meanwhile (as shown in the FIG. 19 with enlarged view); The contact points of three blocking juts 58 with the top surface 61 of the dividing disk 60 will serve as the fulcrums to let other side of the dividing disk 60 raised (as shown in the FIG. 20); Fourthly, by means of the aiding fulcrums of three blocking juts 58, further keep turn and drive the bottle cap 50 forwards until the dividing disk 60 being completely slipped away the internal lining ring 56 so that the second beverage R in the hollow cavity 54 easily flows downwards quickly (as shown in the FIG. 21) and the downward counteraction resistance Fr acting on the top surface 61 of the dividing disk 60 is indirectly deleted meanwhile; thereby, during entire slipping procedure of the dividing disk 60 away the internal lining ring 56 of the bottle cap 50, the effort-saving effect in turning and driving effort is achieved.

Claims

What is Claimed is:

1. A bottle cap with leakage-proof feature for liquid therein, comprising:

a bottle cap having a closed-end top surface, an open-end bottom surface, a cylinder-shaped lateral surface and a safety tear strip ring such that an internal hollow cavity being formed near the top surface and an internal communicating channel with female thread therein being formed near the bottom surface, both of hollow cavity and communicating channel being connected through each other, the safety tear strip ring with a breakable end being formed the outer peripheral of the bottom surface. Wherein said bottle cap, an internal concentric lining ring with inwards buckling groove ring being crotched in the inner wall of the hollow cavity facing the communicating channel such that a flexible rift ring being formed between the peripheral surface of the lining ring and the inner surface of the communicating channel; and

a dividing disk for being inserted into a buckling groove ring on a lining ring having a top surface, a bottom surface and a ring-shaped lateral surface such that the top

surface facing the hollow cavity of the bottle cap and the bottom surface facing the communicating channel of the bottle cap after the dividing disk being inserted between the hollow cavity and the communicating channel inside of the bottle cap. Wherein said dividing disk, an up-facing flexible cleft ring being notched near the peripheral of the top surface and a buckling flange ring bulging around the top peripheral of the lateral surface for being buckle-fitted together with the buckling groove ring on the lining ring of the bottle cap.

2. A bottle cap with leakage-proof feature for liquid therein, as recited in claim 1 , wherein a sealing flange ring is configured to wrap the bottom peripheral of the top surface of the dividing disk.

3. A bottle cap with leakage-proof feature for liquid therein, as recited in claim 1, wherein plural blocking juts are evenly configured on the inner wall of the hollow cavity over the buckling groove ring of the lining ring within a quadrant manner.