GB2195619A

GB2195619A - Flip top caps for bottles

Info

Publication number: GB2195619A
Application number: GB08624343A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Robert Halpin
Original assignee: Robert Mcbride
Current assignee: Robert Mcbride
Priority date: 1986-10-10
Filing date: 1986-10-10
Publication date: 1988-04-13
Anticipated expiration: 2006-10-10
Also published as: GB8624343D0; GB2195619B

Abstract

A flip top cap for a bottle has an inner sleeve (10) convergent towards the leading end of the cap in terms of the direction of push fitting on a neck (13) of the bottle (7). The inner sleeve is preferably of "feathered" or structurally-interrupted, inwardly radially-directed configuration to provide an easier means of inserting the flip top cap as it approaches the neck of the bottle to which it is to be applied, by providing an increased resilience and flexibility at the point where the inner sleeve begins to engage inside the neck opening of the container. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to bottle caps This invention relates to flip top caps for use on bottles or other containers (hereinafter for convenience simply called "bottles") such, for example, as bottles containing washing upliquid detergent.

The use of flip top caps for application to bottles to close same after the bottle has been filled through the neck opening of the bottle is well known.

Existing flip top caps are characterised in that the lower part of the cap which engages in the neck opening of the bottle is formed of two concentric downwardly projecting sleeves, a longer inner sleeve and a shorter outer sleeve, between which is received the neck of the bottle.. The flip top cap is push fitted onto the bottle, the friction between the bottle neck and the inner and outer sleeves of the flip top cap being sufficient to secure the flip top cap onto the bottle. The inner and/or outer sleeve may be formed with prosections, possibly threads, to enhance the frictional grip between the neck and sleeves. The inner sleeve of the flip top cap operates both as a guide to enable manual push application of the cap onto the bottle and assists in sealing the cap to the bottle.

However, this known flip top cap suffers from the disadvantage that because of the need for a secure fit to prevent spillage and to ensure that the flip top cap stays in position on the bottle when push fitted thereon the external diameter of the inner sleeve and the internal diameter of the bottle neck are substantially identical so that it is often difficult for a worker to align the inner sleeve and neck opening precisely to guarantee such push fitting. Imperfections or variations in the thickness of the wall of the bottle neck or in the sleeves of the flip top cap enhance this difficulty.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a flip top cap which obviates or mitigates the aforesaid disadvantage.

According to the present invention there is provided a flip top cap for a bottle, the cap having an inner sleeve convergent towards the leading end of the cap in terms of the direction of push fitting on a neck of the bottle.

Preferably the inner sleeve is of "feathered" or structurally-interrupted, inwardly radially-directed configuration.

This inner sleeve operates to provide an easier means of inserting the flip top cap as it approaches the neck of the bottle to which it is to be applied, by providing an increased resilience and flexibility at the point where the inner sleeve begins to engage inside the neck opening of the container, without reducing the security of the flip top cap when snapped in place, by acting as a guide for the worker applying the cap onto the neck of the bottle in that the inner sleeve provides a wide tolerance between the point where the inner sleeve first engages in the bottle neck, and which tolerance becomes progressively smaller as the cap is pushed fully into position on the bottle.

There will now be described, by way of example only, one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a sectional view of a flip top cap.

The flip top cap is of moulded plastics material and comprises a body 5 having a tubular neck 6 for egress of, say, liquid detergent from a bottle 7 onto which the cap is fitted.

The tubular neck 6 is closable by a closed top 8 screwed to the cap body 5 by a flexible connector 9 whereby the top 8 can be "flipped" between the bottle open and closed positions shown.

The cap body 5 has depending inner and outer sleeves 10 and 11 between which is defined an annular passage 12 within which is received the tubular neck 13 of the bottle 7.

Projections 14 in the form of threads are provided on the inner surface of the outer sleeve 11 and the outer surface of the inner sleeve 10 to improve the grip between the sleeves 10 and 11 and the tubular neck 13 which the flip top cap is pushed and snap fitted onto the latter.

According to the present invention the leading end of the inner sleeve 10 in terms of its direction of insertion into the tubular neck 13 has a "feathered" configuration generally indicted at 15. More precisely, the sleeve 10 is angularly interrupted and it is directed radially inwards towards its leading end. Thus there is a relatively substantially tolerance between the leading end and the tubular neck at the instant of insertion, which tolerance reduces to a degree permitting frictional resilient interlocking between the inner and outer sleeves 10, 11 and the tubular neck 13.

1. A flip top cap for a bottle, the cap having an inner sleeve convergent towards the leading end of the cap in terms of the direction of push- fitting on a neck of the bottle.

2. A flip top cap as claimed in claim 1, in which the inner sleeve is of 'feathered" or structurally-interrupted, inwardly radially-directed configuration.

3. A flip top cap as claimed in claim 1 or 2 comprising an outer sleeve defining with the inner sleeve an annular passage within which can be received the tubular neck of a bottle.

4. A flip top cap as claimed in claim 3, in which the adjacent annular surfaces of the inner and outer sleeves have projections in the form of the threads to improve the grip between the sleeves and the bottle neck.

5. A flip top cap as claimed in any one of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to bottle caps This invention relates to flip top caps for use on bottles or other containers (hereinafter for convenience simply called "bottles") such, for example, as bottles containing washing upliquid detergent. The use of flip top caps for application to bottles to close same after the bottle has been filled through the neck opening of the bottle is well known. Existing flip top caps are characterised in that the lower part of the cap which engages in the neck opening of the bottle is formed of two concentric downwardly projecting sleeves, a longer inner sleeve and a shorter outer sleeve, between which is received the neck of the bottle.. The flip top cap is push fitted onto the bottle, the friction between the bottle neck and the inner and outer sleeves of the flip top cap being sufficient to secure the flip top cap onto the bottle. The inner and/or outer sleeve may be formed with prosections, possibly threads, to enhance the frictional grip between the neck and sleeves. The inner sleeve of the flip top cap operates both as a guide to enable manual push application of the cap onto the bottle and assists in sealing the cap to the bottle. However, this known flip top cap suffers from the disadvantage that because of the need for a secure fit to prevent spillage and to ensure that the flip top cap stays in position on the bottle when push fitted thereon the external diameter of the inner sleeve and the internal diameter of the bottle neck are substantially identical so that it is often difficult for a worker to align the inner sleeve and neck opening precisely to guarantee such push fitting. Imperfections or variations in the thickness of the wall of the bottle neck or in the sleeves of the flip top cap enhance this difficulty. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a flip top cap which obviates or mitigates the aforesaid disadvantage. According to the present invention there is provided a flip top cap for a bottle, the cap having an inner sleeve convergent towards the leading end of the cap in terms of the direction of push fitting on a neck of the bottle. Preferably the inner sleeve is of "feathered" or structurally-interrupted, inwardly radially-directed configuration. This inner sleeve operates to provide an easier means of inserting the flip top cap as it approaches the neck of the bottle to which it is to be applied, by providing an increased resilience and flexibility at the point where the inner sleeve begins to engage inside the neck opening of the container, without reducing the security of the flip top cap when snapped in place, by acting as a guide for the worker applying the cap onto the neck of the bottle in that the inner sleeve provides a wide tolerance between the point where the inner sleeve first engages in the bottle neck, and which tolerance becomes progressively smaller as the cap is pushed fully into position on the bottle. There will now be described, by way of example only, one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a sectional view of a flip top cap. The flip top cap is of moulded plastics material and comprises a body 5 having a tubular neck 6 for egress of, say, liquid detergent from a bottle 7 onto which the cap is fitted. The tubular neck 6 is closable by a closed top 8 screwed to the cap body 5 by a flexible connector 9 whereby the top 8 can be "flipped" between the bottle open and closed positions shown. The cap body 5 has depending inner and outer sleeves 10 and 11 between which is defined an annular passage 12 within which is received the tubular neck 13 of the bottle 7. Projections 14 in the form of threads are provided on the inner surface of the outer sleeve 11 and the outer surface of the inner sleeve 10 to improve the grip between the sleeves 10 and 11 and the tubular neck 13 which the flip top cap is pushed and snap fitted onto the latter. According to the present invention the leading end of the inner sleeve 10 in terms of its direction of insertion into the tubular neck 13 has a "feathered" configuration generally indicted at 15. More precisely, the sleeve 10 is angularly interrupted and it is directed radially inwards towards its leading end. Thus there is a relatively substantially tolerance between the leading end and the tubular neck at the instant of insertion, which tolerance reduces to a degree permitting frictional resilient interlocking between the inner and outer sleeves 10, 11 and the tubular neck 13. CLAIMS

5. A flip top cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the inner sleeve communicates with a tubular neck defining an outlet.

6. A flip top cap as claimed in claim 5, in which a top closure for the tubular outlet neck is connected to the cap by a flexible connecting strip.

7. A flip top cap for a bottle, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

8. The combination of a bottle with a tubular neck defining an outlet, and a flip top cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 fitted onto the tubular neck of the bottle.