GB2405142A

GB2405142A - Container cap with straw-receiving channel

Info

Publication number: GB2405142A
Application number: GB0320068A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martyn J Spencer
Original assignee: CCL Industries Ltd; ColepCCL UK Ltd
Current assignee: Colep UK Ltd
Priority date: 2003-07-24
Filing date: 2003-08-27
Publication date: 2005-02-23
Also published as: GB0317354D0; GB0320068D0; GB2405139A

Abstract

A container cap 4 for fixing onto a dispensing container comprises a side wall 5 and a skirt 11 formed around the side wall. The skirt defines a channel 12 around the cap into which an elongate straw 2 is receivable. The channel may be substantially circular, and at least one aperture 15 may be formed in the skirt to expose part of the channel. A protrusion may be formed on an inside surface of the channel to at least partially restrict an entrance to the channel. An elongate slot 16 may be provided in the top of the cap to store the straw in a substantially straight configuration. The cap may be provided in combination with a dispensing container, the dispensing container having a nozzle into which an elongate straw is receivable. The cap may be configured as a spray-through cap, and may have a funnel, and a nozzle in fluid communication with the funnel, the funnel being adapted to receive a container valve stem.

Description

J

2405 1 42

A CONTAINER CAP

This invention relates to a cap or lid for a container and more particularly to a cap or lid for a container for dispensing a fluid, preferably as an aerosol.

Aerosol containers holding products such as WD-40 (Registered Trade Mark) and 3-in-1 (Registered Trade Mark) are often supplied with a straw to fit to the spray nozzle to ensure a more targeted application of the product. The straw is usually supplied with the can and attached thereto either by a rubber band or by a strip of tape. The straw often becomes detached from such storage 1 5 locations.

The cap or lid for the aerosol can has recently been provided with an elongate notch formed in the top surface of the cap into which the straw can be clipped. However, in this condition the longitudinal axis of the straw is normal to the central axis of the can thereby taking up considerable space.

It is an object of the present invention to seek to provide an improved storage means for the straw.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a container cap for securing onto a dispensing container, the cap having a side wall and a skirt formed around the side wall and defining a channel around the cap into which an elongate straw is receivable.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure l is a side view of a dispenser container and straw in use.

Figure 2 is a cross-section of a dispenser cap embodying the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a dispenser cap embodying the present invention; Figure 4 is a detail of the base of the cap in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a cross-section of another dispenser cap embodying the present invention; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the dispenser cap of Figure 5.

Referring to Figure 1, a conventional aerosol dispenser container 1 is shown provided with a straw 2, which can be affixed to the aerosol nozzle 3 for more targeted application of the contents of the dispenser.

A container cap 4 embodying the present invention is shown in Figure 2 and comprises a substantially cylindrical side wall 5 which tapers slightly from the base 6 to the top 7 and which is closed at the top 7. The cap 4 is preferably made from an injection moulded plastic. The base 6 of the cap 4 is an open end having an internal diameter 8 substantially the same as the external diameter of an annular lip 9 of the dispensing container to which the cap is to be applied.

In this example, there is a step 10 which defines the internal diameter of the inside surface 8 of the cap base 6. The cap 4, more particularly the inside surface 8 thereof, clips onto the annular lip of the container 1.

Preferably, the outside surface of the cylindrical wall is knurled or grooved as shown in Figure 3 to provide a gripping surface.

Around the base 6 of the cap 4 on the outside of the cylindrical side wall is provided a skirt 11 which depends outwardly and downwardly and terminates flush with the base 6 of the cap. The skirt 11 defines a circular channel 12 around the base 6 of the cap 4. An annular projection 13 (see detail in Figure 4) is formed in the channel 12 defined by the skirt 11 around the inside surface 14 of the skirt 11. The protrusion constricts slightly the opening to the channel 12.

As best seen in Figure 3, three arcuate slots 15 are equally spaced around the cylindrical side wall 5 in the top of the skirt 11. The slots 15 expose the channel 12 in the skirt 11.

Referring back to Figure 1, the elongate straw 2 comprising an accessory often used with such aerosol dispenser containers has a length slightly less than the length of the channel 12 in the skirt (i.e. less than x diameter of circular channel 12). The straw is made from a plastics material and is flexible enough to be elastically bent into a circle with the two ends of the straw touching. The skirt 11 is dimensioned so as to receive the straw 2 in the channel 12, the straw 2 being a push-fit in the channel 12 with the annular projection 13 serving to partially constrict the opening to the channel thereby retaining the straw within the channel in the skirt.

The straw 2 can be readily removed from the channel 12 by pushing a fingernail or small coin into one of the three arcuate slots 15 in the skirt.

The channel in the skirt offers a secure and reliable storage mechanism for the elongate straw without the need for elastic bands or unsightly strips of tape to secure the straw to the dispensing can thereby reducing the likelihood of the straw being lost or damaged.

Conveniently, a pair of straight slots 16 are provided diametrically opposite one another in the ridge 17 around the top 7 of the cap 4 into which the straw 2 can be clipped as an alternate storage site in which the straw 2 is held substantially straight.

Figures S and 6 illustrate another cap embodying the present invention like reference numerals are used to denote like technical features. In this embodiment, the cap 4 is injection moulded and configured as a spraythrough cap 4 eliminating the need for an actuator button on the valve stem of the container 1. The spray-through cap 4 has a tapered downwardly oriented funnel 18 adapted to receive the valve stem and a spout 19 in fluid communication with the funnel 18 and terminating in a spray nozzle 20 through the cap side wall 5. The top 7 of the spray-through cap 4 includes a living hinged finger tab 21 which, when depressed, actuates the valve stem to dispense the fluid in the container I through the nozzle 20 via the funnel 18 and spout 19.

The base 6 of the cap 4 is provided a skirt 11 which depends outwardly and upwardly from the base 6. The skirt 11 defines a circular channel 12 around the base 6 of the cap 4. A series of protrusions or ribs 13 are formed in the channel 12 defined by the skirt 11 in either the inner wall (the side wall 5) or the outer wall (the skirt 11) of the channel 12. The protrusions 13 constrict slightly the opening to the channel 12.

As best seen in Figure 6, an aperture in the form of a cut-out 15 is formed in the skirt 1 1. The cut-out 15 exposes the channel 12 in the skirt l l Referring back to Figure 1, the elongate straw 2 comprising an accessory often used with such aerosol dispenser containers has a length slightly less than the length of the channel 12 in the skirt (i.e. less than x diameter of circular lO channel 12). The straw is made from a plastics material and is flexible enough to be elastically bent into a circle with the two ends of the straw touching. The skirt l l is dimensioned so as to receive the straw 2 in the channel 12 as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the straw 2 being a push-fit in the channel 12 with the protrusions 13 serving to constrict partially the opening to the channel 12 thereby retaining the straw 2 within the channel in the skirt 11.

The straw 2 can be readily removed from the channel 12 by pinching a portion of the straw 2 between finger and thumb at the cut-out 15 in the skirt 1 1. Conveniently, a pair of straight slots 16 are provided diametrically opposite one another in the ridge 17 around the top 7 of the cap 4 into which the straw 2 can be clipped as an alternate storage site in which the straw 2 is held substantially straight.

The channel 12 in the skirt 11 offers a secure and reliable storage mechanism for the elongate straw without the need for elastic bands or unsightly strips of tape to secure the straw to the dispensing can thereby reducing the likelihood of the straw being lost or damaged. Since the cap 4 is configured as a spray-through cap 4 and can even be regarded as a substitute for the actuator button normally sited on the container valve stem, the cap 4 is most unlikely to be discarded and thus serves as an integral part of the container 1 and offers a storage facility for the straw 2.

In Figures 2, 3, 5 and 6, the skirt 11 is a solid skirt. In other embodiments of the invention the skirt is configured as a series of equispaced legs 17 effectively providing a composite skirt formed with an arcuate channel 12 in each of the legs.

In the present specification "comprises" means "includes or consists of" and "comprising" means "including or consisting of".

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof. v

Claims

1. A container cap for securing onto a dispensing container, the cap having a side wall and a skirt formed around the side wall and defining a channel around the cap into which an elongate straw is receivable.

2. A cap according to Claiml, wherein the channel is substantially circular around the cap.

3. A cap according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein one or more apertures are formed in the skirt to expose at least a part of the channel.

4. A cap according to any preceding claim, wherein the entrance to the channel is at least partially restricted at one or more points around the 1 5 channel.

5. A cap according to any preceding claim wherein the entrance to the channel is at least partially restricted by a protrusion formed in an inside surface of the channel.

6. A cap according to Claim 5, wherein the protrusion is an annular protrusion around the channel.

7. A cap according to any preceding claim in combination with an elongate flexible straw.

8. A cap according to any preceding claim in combination with a dispensing container, the dispensing container having a nozzle into which an elongate straw is receivable.

9. A cap according to any preceding claim wherein an elongate slot is provided in a top of the cap to store the straw in a substantially straight configuration. s

10. A cap according to any preceding claim wherein the cap is configured as a spray-through cap

11. A cap according to Claim 10, wherein the cap has a funnel and a nozzle in fluid communication with the funnel, the funnel being adapted to receive a container valve stem

12. A cap according to Claim 10 or 11, wherein the top of the spray- through cap includes a finger tab which, when depressed, actuates the valve stem to dispense the fluid in the container.

] 3. A cap according to any preceding claim, wherein the skirt is configured as a series of legs around the side wall, each leg defining an arcuate channel, the straw being receivable in the channels.

14. A cap for securing onto a dispensing container, substantially as hcreinbefore described with reference and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

15. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.