KR100580269B1 - Disposable drinking container and nipple - Google Patents

Abstract

A disposable drinking container (10) having a nipple so as to be particularly suitable for use by infants. The drinking container has a container body (12) in the form of a small bottle or the like which is pre-filled with a drinking liquid, and a container closure (20). The container closure includes a flexible suckling nipple (25) for delivering drinking liquid from within the container body. The nipple is held to the container body by a cap rim (24) and the closure further includes a sealing portion (28) which initially seals the container and shields the nipple from contamination. The sealing portion is removable to expose the nipple for use. In one form the sealing portion may comprise a projection which is integrally formed with the cap rim, and frangibly detachable therefrom. In another form the sealing portion comprises a flexible disc which is sealed around a central aperture of the cap rim. The nipple may be adapted to be at least partially collapsible into the container body whilst the sealing portion is in place.

Description

Drink container and the faucet which we use and throw away {DISPOSABLE DRINKING CONTAINER AND NIPPLE}

The present invention relates to a disposable beverage container that is used and discarded, and a discharge faucet portion of the container. The beverage container of the present invention is particularly suitable for use by infants or elderly people who have difficulty drinking liquid from a container having a conventional beverage outlet. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a beverage container and a method for preparing the same.

Disposable beverage containers used and discarded are widely used, at least in part because of their convenience. In addition, the containers used and discarded can provide reliable cleanliness and hygiene when considering the use of proven sterilization and impermeable seals applied in manufacturing and / or packaging operations. One type of widespread disposable beverage container originates from sports beverage containers having nozzles that the user can operate with his mouth or fingers to seal the container and also to unseal. Sportsmen such as cyclists typically used the conventional form of these containers, but the containers were sold without contents and had to be filled from a source of beverage before use. The convenience of disposable beverage beverage containers in prefilled use and disposal has resulted in a significant increase in the sale of commercial non-carbonated soft drinks, particularly those associated with supplementation of minerals or nutrition during or after athletic activity.

Often, infants and sometimes frail old people need or want to drink from a special container with nipples or taps that discharge liquid into the mouth. The most common form of baby drink container is a simple reusable nursing bottle or nipple with a nipple or faucet cap made of rubber or plastic. In order to provide a drink for the child, the individual drinking fluid container must be opened, the bottle filled, the nipple or the cap with the tap replaced. Between uses the container should be washed and more preferably sterilized. Therefore, it is problematic for the caregiver to provide the infant with a bottle of drink, especially when he is out and has belongings of another child.

Various types of prefilled used and throwaway baby drink containers have been proposed in the past. For example, US Pat. No. 5,273,171 to Maricoma et al. Discloses prefilled used and discarded nursing containers that hold and discharge a nursing liquid by means of a nipple. The feeding container is in the form of a rectangular box whose nipple is attached to the box by a nipple attachment piece at the top. The nipple attachment piece has a sharp protrusion that operates to penetrate the inlet port above the box, allowing liquid to flow from the box to the nipple. Feeding containers use a detachable cap that is frictionally fitted to cover the nipple when sold and when not in use.

Another example of a mammal to use and throw away is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,112,628 to Conrad, which resembles a conventional reusable mammal in use. The focus of the bottle feeder described in Conrad's patent is in a sealed tamper evident cap assembly surrounding the nipple, which is particularly suitable for single use applications. In its original form, the cap assembly is sealed on top of the container in a predetermined direction such that the nipple is reversed. For use, the cap assembly is separated from the container and the nipple is unsealed from its interior. A portion of the cap assembly with the nipple is then reversed in a predetermined direction and reattached to the top of the container to place the bottle for use.

Other forms of used and discarded mammals are also known, with some examples being described in US Pat. Nos. 4,678,092, 4,830,205, and 4,706,827.

A used and discarded container provided according to the present invention includes a container body for containing a liquid having a spout thereon with an opening through which the liquid can pass, and a cap assembly attached to the top of the container body. Wherein the cap assembly has a flexible faucet in fluid communication with the container body through the opening in the upper portion, and an aperture through which the faucet can protrude through use and attached to the spout and sealed around the faucet. A cap rim and a separable seal that sanitarily seals around the opening of the cap rim in the first shape of the container to prevent injection of liquid or gas into the container and discharge of liquid or gas from the container And the nipple is embedded under the seal in the first shape of the container, the seal having a cap rim to place the container in the second shape. From and detachably, wherein the flexible tap is extended through a hole in the cap rim may project in the state for use from the top of the container.

In one embodiment of the invention, the container is in the form of a small bottle or the like made of plastic material. For example, the container may be made of PET recyclable plastic, polycarbonate plastic, and the like, which may be produced by molding, in the form of a relatively thin walled plastic bottle. The bottle preferably has a base at the bottom that allows the bottle to stand on a flat surface and a spout at the top to which the cap assembly is attached.

In addition, the cap rim may be made of a plastic material. The cap rim is preferably formed with a circumferential flange extending downwards and an inner annulus forming the aperture, the annulus being centrally aligned with the spout of the container body. The flange is configured to attach the cap assembly to the container. The cap rim can be secured to the container spout in a well known manner by interdigitated circumference ridges and / or grooves formed in the cap rim flange and the container body spout. Alternatively, the cap rim and the container body spout can be formed, for example, with mutual thread fitting, or the cap rim flange can be hot welded or similarly attached to the container body.

The flexible nipple preferably has an outwardly extending circumferential flange that abuts the lower periphery of the annular portion of the cap rim, so that the nipple is positioned centrally to the hole. In the preferred form of the cap assembly, since the portion of the nipple can be reversed, the nipple is partially "folded" in the first shape of the container such that the nipple is at least partially maintained below the annular portion of the cap. In this configuration, when the cap rim is sealed to the container spout and the seal of the cap assembly is in place over the hole, the nipple is sealed in a space confined by the container, the cap rim and the seal, which space holds the beverage in the container. Same as the space to maintain. When the seal is separated, the end of the faucet can be pulled out through the hole, so that the faucet is reversed so that the faucet extends sufficiently through the hole of the cap rim, and the faucet is placed in a drinking shape. In the drinking configuration, the infant can draw liquid from the container body through the nipple end.

Preferably, the nipple may be reversed from the drinking shape to the folded shape for storage if the contents of the container are not consumed at one time. A protective overcap is supplied to the vessel, if necessary or desired, to fit over the cap assembly to protect the nipple during such storage and / or to protect the seal prior to detachment.

In one embodiment, the seal is integrally formed with the cap rim, and a brittle seal is formed around the outer edge of the seal formed at the inner edge of the cap rim forming a central hole. In this embodiment, the seal includes a protrusion upright from the cap rim when in place, so that the user can apply sufficient lateral force to the protrusion to break the brittle seal and to separate the seal from the cap rim. The seal can be formed into a hollow interior configured to receive the distal end of the nipple with respect to the protrusion of the upright.

In other embodiments, the seal may comprise a flexible plastic or laminated disk, or the like, fused or adhesively attached to the annular portion of the cap rim to seal the aperture. In that case, the seal can be formed with a loose tab, which the user can grasp and rip off the seal from the cap rim to expose the nipple in the hole.

By holding the end of the nipple and pulling it through the hole, the nipple can be pulled out from the folded shape to the drinking shape. Alternatively, if the container body is made of a flexible material, the wall of the container body may be gently squeezed to reverse the nipple. Squeezing the container body temporarily increases the internal pressure of the container, because there is only one outlet of the container, which typically passes through a tap having only a very small hole. Thus, with the increased pressure, the nipple is urged to expand through the aperture of the cap annulus and extend into the drinking shape.

The nipple is preferably composed of a relatively soft and inert flexible moldable material such as silicone rubber. In one form of the invention, the nipple has a circumferential flange, which is pressed between the cap annular surface and the container body spout by a cap assembly attached to the container body spout, so that the cap assembly together with securing the nipple to the container A liquid-tight seal can be provided between the container body and the container body.

The present invention also provides a method of making a beverage container for use and discarding, the method comprising the steps of forming a container body having a spout on the top having an opening that is suitable for containing the liquid and through which the liquid can pass A flexible faucet having a filling of the container body with a beverage, a cap rim configured to seal the spout of the container body, and a suction end fitted inside the cap rim and aligned with the inlet port of the cap rim, And forming a cap assembly including a detachable seal attached over the inlet port of the cap rim to seal the inlet port, and retaining the nipple in the container body spout to seal against the container under the cap rim and the detachable seal. To fit the cap assembly to the container body such that the cap rim is sealed around the container body spout.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the container body comprises a container made of plastic material such as PET. This allows, for example, the formation of the container body to be carried out by a suitable molding method such as "blow molding". The cap rim can also be molded from plastic, but as practiced in the art, it may be desirable to use a plastic material of a different type than the container body for the cap. The nipple must be molded from a relatively soft, flexible material suitable for infants to suck, and molded silicone rubber and the like have been found to be suitable for that purpose.

The container body and the cap assembly are preferably sterilized to prevent unexpected contamination of the beverage when the cap assembly is fitted to the container body. For this reason, in some cases the filling and cap mounting process is carried out under relatively sterilization conditions and / or any air space remaining in the container body after introduction of the beverage is inert gas such as nitrogen gas prior to the cap assembly being fitted. It may be desirable to be charged. Such preventive measures are well known in the art of preparing prefilled beverage and food containers.

In one form of the invention, the seal is formed integrally with the cap rim and has an upstanding protrusion that projects from the container body spout when the cap assembly is fitted to the container body. In this case, the seal is preferably attached around the inner circumference of the inlet port by a thin annular wall section so that it is weak enough to unsealed and removed from the cap rim by the lateral force applied by the finger to the protrusion. do. This type of configuration is particularly advantageous because the manufacture of the beverage container assembly involves the assembly of the container body, the nipple, the integral cap rim and only three elements of the seal. In addition, the sterile seal between the cap rim and the seal is independent of the particular bonding process since these two elements are attached and formed integrally by thin wall sections.

In this aspect of the invention, the upstanding protrusion of the seal is preferably hollow and configured to receive the suction end of the nipple therein. The suction end of the nipple is better fitted inside the protrusion and the inner surface of the protrusion abuts against the end of the nipple with a drinking hole, sealing the hole to prevent leakage.

In another aspect of the present invention, the seal is in the form of a flat flexible disk made of liquid and gas impermeable materials, such as a suitable plastic, foil, or laminate of foil and plastic. In that case, the seal can be attached to the outer surface of the cap rim over the inlet port by a brittle adhesive or heat seal technique, which allows the disk to be peeled off from the cap rim and detachable for use.

The manufacturing process also includes fitting a protective overcap to the cap assembly. The protective overcap is preferably fitted over at least a portion of the seal and the cap rim and can be detached from the cap assembly to expose the seal, and after removal of the seal, the protective cap is in place to protect the spigot during storage of the container after opening. Can be located. The protective overcap also serves to protect the seal prior to unsealing and detaching the seal to prevent unexpected removal of the seal or premature failure of the seal provided by the seal. In addition, when the overcap is fitted to the cap assembly, additional sealing bands or covers may be provided around or on the overcap, if desired, to prevent removal of the overcap prior to use or to provide visual indication of unauthorized removal or unauthorized use of the overcap. Can provide.

The present invention also provides a cap for a used and discarded container having a container body, the container body having a spout having an opening through which liquid can pass, the cap being configured to be sealed over the container body spout and A cap rim having a central inlet port, a flexible faucet disposed within the cap rim and having a perforated suction end and aligned with the inlet port, and a detachable seal attached and sealed around the inlet port of the cap rim And a nipple suction end abuts within and / or abuts within the seal.

In one form of the invention, the detachable seal is integrally formed with the cap rim and includes an upstanding protrusion. The edge portion between the seal and the rim has a thin walled annular section that is brittle against the lateral forces applied to the upright protrusions. The protrusion is preferably hollow and configured to receive the suction end of the nipple therein. The base of the nipple is partially inverted so that the suction can be received in the protrusion of the seal, and the suction preferably does not protrude from the cap rim as far as the nipple itself protrudes when in position for use.

In another form of the invention, the nipple also has a folded shape such that the base of the nipple is reversed when compared to the drinking shape of the nipple. In this form of the invention, a flange of the nipple arranged around the perimeter of the base is attached to the cap annular portion, and in the folded shape the inverted base of the nipple protrudes from the flange away from the detachable seal, thereby providing an end of the nipple. To an integral attachment point with the. The suction end of the nipple, which is the part configured to suck the infant, extends back from the connection point with the base towards the seal. In this case, the seal can be a flexible flat disk of liquid and gas impermeable material such as, for example, a suitable plastic, foil, or stack of plastics, foils and / or cardboard.

In one embodiment, the nipple has a flange portion arranged around the cap rim, in which the cap rim is fitted around the container spout. Preferably, the nipple flange is arranged to be sandwiched or compressed between the cap rim and the container spout to seal the point of attachment of the cap rim and the container spout.

The cap rim has a flat disk with a central hole defining the inlet port and a downwardly extending circumferential flange formed integrally to attach the cap to the container. The flange is provided with a circumferential ridge or groove formed therein and configured to interfit with the ridge or groove formed on the outer surface of the container spout.

The invention also includes a disposable beverage container for use and discarded in a flexible plastic bottle or jar containing a beverage and having a spout opening sealed by a cap assembly, the cap assembly comprising a cap with a central aperture and a cap. A cap is disposed inside the cap and has a suction portion aligned with the hole in the cap, and a seal releasably sealed over the cap hole, the cap assembly being connected to the bottle by a flange of the tap sandwiched between the cap and the rim of the spout opening. Or connected to the jar, the nipple may be embedded under the seal in the spout opening, and in use, the seal may be removed from the cap to expose the nipple in the hole, and the suction may be pulled through the hole.

The present invention also provides a nipple for an infant nursing container for use and disposal, which is a generally annular flange-shaped attachment for attaching the nipple to a liquid container, and when attached to the container. The tap includes a suction part having a hole for transferring liquid from the container to the infant, and a connection part between the suction part and the attachment part, and the tap may have two stable shapes, namely, a storage shape and a drinking shape. Peripheral grooves are provided at the boundary between the suction and the connection, and the connection is inverted in the storage shape when compared with the drinking shape.

The nipple is preferably molded from a relatively soft flexible material such as silicone rubber.

The suction and connection portions of the nipple are preferably approximately the same size so that the circumferential groove is approximately in the middle along the nipple in the drinking configuration. In the storage configuration, the groove facilitates circumferential folding or bending of the nipple at approximately midpoint of the nipple.

At the nipple, or near the boundary between the connection and attachment of the nipple, an additional peripheral groove can be formed. When the nipple moves between the storage shape and the drinking shape and the attachment is attached to the feeding container, this additional groove facilitates the circumferential bending or folding and unfolding of the nipple.

In a preferred configuration, the connection of the nipple has a gentle curvature from a generally horizontal plane at the point connected to the flange to a generally vertical plane at the point connected to the suction. This facilitates the movement of the nipple between the storage shape and the drinking shape.

In addition, surface reinforcing structures are preferably provided on the inner surface of the suction portion of the nipple, thereby reducing the tendency for the radially opposite surfaces of the nipple to fold and interfere with fluid flow through the nipple. For example, the reinforcing member may have one or more circumferential ridges and / or one or more longitudinal ridges arranged on the inner surface of the suction portion.

The invention is described in more detail below in connection with an embodiment which is shown in the accompanying drawings and is merely illustrative.

1 is an isometric view of a sealed shaped beverage container with the protective overcap in place;

2 is an isometric view of a sealed shaped beverage container with the overcap and seal separated;

3 is an isometric view of a beverage shaped beverage container with the tap exposed for use,

4 is an exploded view of a beverage container and cap assembly with a protective over cap,

5 is a side cross-sectional view of a sealed shaped beverage container including a protective over cap,

6 is a side cross-sectional view of the beverage container with the seal in place and the tap folded;

7 is a side cross-sectional view of the beverage container with the seal separated, showing that the nipple is pulled out,

8 is a side cross-sectional view of the beverage container with the tap pulled out;

9 is a side view of the tap in a pulled out state,

10 is a side cross-sectional view of the nipple of FIG. 9,

11 is a side view of the tap in a folded state,

12 is a side cross-sectional view of the nipple of FIG. 11,

13 is a side cross-sectional view of a particular form of a faucet,

14 is a side sectional view of the top of a beverage container with a nipple,

15 is a perspective view of an upper portion of a second beverage container equipped with an upper portion of the second form,

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the beverage container of FIG. 15 showing the detachment of the seal; FIG.

17 and 18 are perspective views showing a second form of the top of the beverage container with the seal separated and the nipple extended for use,

19 is a central cross-sectional view showing that the upper portion of the beverage container of the second aspect is attached to the beverage container,

20 is a cross sectional view of a preferred faucet structure in a pulled out shape;

21 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred nipple of a sufficiently retracted shape.

A beverage container 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in various shapes and figures in FIGS. The vessel 10 is generally cylindrical in shape and has a vessel body 12 having a flat base 14 at its lower end and a spout 16 having a round hole at its upper end (best shown in FIG. 4). In a preferred form of the invention, the container body 12 comprises a bottle made of plastic material, such as recyclable PET plastic, as is known for the construction of the beverage container. Preferred forms of the bottle are relatively small, for example, having a liquid storage capacity of approximately 100 to 250 millimeters, because embodiments of the present invention are particularly suitable for use by infants.

1 to 4, the container 10 further includes a cap assembly 20 that fits into the spout 16 of the container body and seals the opening 18 of the spout in use. The cap assembly includes a cap rim 22, which has a flat annular portion 24 with a central circular hole 25 and a flange portion 26 extending downward. For ease of reference, the flange portion 26 is referred to as extending down because the flange faces upward when the cap assembly is fitted to the container body and the container is placed with its base 14 downward. This is because it extends downward from the annular portion 24 with respect to the outer surface of the container. Since the inner circumference of the flange portion 26 is configured to be slightly larger than the outer circumference of the container spout 16, the cap rim 22 can fit into the container spout 16, with the lower (downward) surface of the annular portion being spouted. It is adjacent to the lip edge of the. In practice, the cap rim 22 is firmly fixed to the container body 12 at the spout 16. The cap rim and container body may be provided with adhesive bonds, heat-sealing, or interference fits that engage or interlock grooves and ridges formed in the cap rim and container spout. Can be interconnected in a convenient way.

The flexible faucet 50 is attached to the cap rim 22 so that the end of the faucet is centered with respect to the hole 25. The elongated or drinking shaped spigot 50 is generally conical in shape (see eg FIG. 9), with its attachment at its base. In the nipple of the illustrated type, the attachment is a flat annular flange 52 extending outward around the base of the nipple. In the spigot 50 fitted to the cap rim 22, the flange 52 lies on the lower surface of the annular portion 24. The flange 52 is attached to the cap rim 22 by an adhesive or the like, or by forming a loose frictional fit in the cap rim depending on the opposing pressure from the surface of the cap rim and the container spout, as will be described in more detail below. Once the cap assembly is attached, the nipple can be secured to the container.

The flexible nipple preferably has two stable shapes, in which the nipple is generally conical and extends in one direction from the base, for example as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 (extended and drawn out here). Or referred to as a drinking shape or state). Another shape is a collapsed or storage shape or state, with the nipple itself being folded inward about a circumferential fold or bend area located approximately in the middle of the nipple size when in the elongated shape. The spigot 50 is shown, for example, in a folded shape in FIGS. 11 and 12. When in the folded shape, the connection part 54 of the nipple extending between the attachment part 52 and the suction part 56 (see FIG. 9 or FIG. 10) is inverted, so that the connection part 54 extends downward from the attachment part. The suction part 56 extends upward from the connection point with the connection part. This results in the folded shape of the nipple 50 shown in FIG. 11 or 12. By means of the folds 50 and the attachment portion 52 attached to the cap rim 22, the spigot extends downward from the cap rim substantially below the top surface of the annular portion 24, which is shown in FIGS. 4 and FIG. 14.

The cap assembly 20 also includes a seal 28 in the form of a flexible disk of some material (FIG. 4). Seal 28 is preferably made of a liquid and gas impermeable material such as a suitable foil, plastic, or a stack of plastic and foil. Seals of this type are well known in the art of prefilled beverage and food containers. The seal 28 is detachably attached to the top surface of the cap rim 22 and extends across the hole 25. By means of a seal between the cap rim 22 and the container body 12 and the seal 28, the contents of the container 10 are securely sealed until use of the container.

By the cap rim 22 attached to the container body 12 and the seal 28 in place, the collapsed nipple is concealed under the seal 28 and the container body 12, the cap rim 22 ) And the space formed by the seal 28. This is the same space where the container 10 holds the liquid to be stored. The separation of the seal 28 exposes the folded faucet in contact with the hole 25 in the cap rim 22 (FIG. 2). The nipple 50 can then be pulled out through the hole 25 and placed in a suction or elongated shape where the nipple extends out through the hole for use of the nipple (FIG. 3). If the nipple 50 is in the stretched state shown in FIG. 3, the infant can suck the liquid from the container through the hole at the end of the nipple by placing the intake in his mouth and turning the container upside down.

The cap assembly may further comprise a protective over cap 30, in particular as shown in FIG. 4. The protective overcap 30, when attached to the cap rim, fits over the seal 28 to prevent accidental breakage or separation of the seal 28 and reduces the likelihood of fraudulent use of the container and its contents. To further improve the tamper resistance of the container, a sealing band (not shown in the figure) may be placed around the edge of the overcap and the adjacent portion of the container body 12, as is known in the art. Can be. Such sealing bands are designed such that the overcap cannot be separated from the container without damaging the sealing band, thus visually directing the removal or misuse of the overcap. When the over cap is in place (FIG. 1), the seal 28 is hidden.

The overcap 30 of the preferred embodiment is slightly larger than the cap rim 22 in which the overcap is fitted and has a small protruding ridge circumferentially spaced around the inner surface to be supported against the lower edge of the cap rim. And may be detachably held in place when fitted over the cap rim. Simple snap-fit caps of this type are well known in the beverage and food container art for use and disposal.

The overcap is preferably fitted over the rim of the cap relatively tightly in order to avoid waste of the space occupied by it. The overcap of the container may be repositioned after the first use, but due to the tight fit between the overcap and the cap rim in the preferred form according to the invention, the nipple must be relocated to a storage shape prior to repositioning the overcap. This is done by pressing the suction portion 56 of the nipple into the hole 25 so that the nipple remains substantially below the height of the annular portion 24. Thus, even in use, the overcap can be repositioned over the rim without interfering the nipple even if the nipple 50 fits tightly over the extending hole. The overcap may preferably be composed of a positioning structure such as a low annular wall or annular indentation around the center of the inner surface of the overcap. Such positioning structures are sized such that the ends of the elongated faucet rest inward when the overcap is repositioned, so that the faucet is more easily manipulated from the elongated state by the compression from the overcap during relocation. Can be.

When applied to prefilled used and discarded beverage containers, a remarkable advantage of caps and taps according to embodiments of the present invention is ease of use. Pre-filled used and discarded beverage containers 10 may be purchased, for example, in a state as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 or 5 in a supermarket or the like. The container 10 is already filled with a suitable beverage 13, such as apple juice (see FIG. 5), sterilized during manufacture, and sealed by a seal 28 that seals the contaminant, more specifically the nipple 50. Is sealed. To use the beverage container, the caregiver only needs to remove the protective overcap 30 and peel off the seal 28. The nipple 50 is then exposed in the hole 25 and must be stretched from the storage shape to the drinking shape for use. This is easily done without having to remove the nipple, so the beverage container is ready for use with a minimum of work.

The procedure for use of the pre-filled used and discarded beverage container 10 is shown in a series of figures consisting of FIGS. 5 shows the container 10 in a sealed state, in which the consumer usually purchases a prefilled container. Certain sealing bands that may be provided around the edge of the protective overcap 30 are not shown in the figure. As mentioned above, the protective overcap 30 is preferably snapped onto the cap rim 22 and thus can be easily removed by a user such as a caregiver or the like. In figure 6 a container 10 without a protective overcap is shown in a side cross-sectional view. The seal 28 is then removed from the container 10 to expose the underlying faucet 50 for access by the user. Then, in order to use the beverage container 10, the user must pull the nipple 50 out of the storage shape shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The spigot 50 can be pulled from the storage shape to the drinking shape in various ways, one of which is shown in FIG. Specifically, the end of the nipple can be grasped between the user's fingers and gently pulled up to pull the nipple out through the hole 25.

The internal pressure of the container 10 can be increased relative to atmospheric pressure to press the nipple 50 into a shape extending from the container, thereby bringing out the nipple. When the container 10 is made of a flexible material, the internal pressure can be increased by gently squeezing or compressing the outside of the container body 12.

Alternatively, the spigot 50 may be comprised of a spring bias biased towards the extended state. In that case, the spigot 50 may be configured to automatically spring from the folded shape to the drinking shape upon separation of the seal 28. This is particularly beneficial for the convenience of first use of the beverage container but causes problems if one wants to return the tap to the storage shape. Thus, if the nipple is constructed in such a way, it is advantageous to provide an overcap which, if desired, can be fitted over the elongated nipple for protection of the nipple after unsealing. The faucet may be provided with the required spring deflector by the nature of the material from which the faucet is constructed, although it can be seen that the wall thickness of the faucet should be thicker than the above-mentioned faucet configuration, which is stable in both elongated and storage shapes. . The walls of the material from which the nipple is constructed can be thickened to increase the ability of the nipple to return to its elastic and elongated shape.

A container 10 having an elongated shaped spout 50 is shown in FIG. 8 in cross section.

9-12, the spigot 50 is shown in a side cross-sectional view of both the elongated and folded shapes. The nipple 50 is preferably comprised of a relatively soft, inert, non-toxic moldable material suitable for use in an infant's mouth. Silicone rubber is one suitable material and other materials such as plastic and / or rubber will be very apparent to those skilled in the art. The spigot 50 is preferably formed by molding, and the type of molding technique used will depend on the material from which the spigot is constructed. The nipple is preferably shaped into an elongated shape (FIGS. 9 and 10) and then manipulated into a storage shape (FIGS. 11 and 12) during manufacture of the cap assembly 20.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9-12, the nipple has an attachment portion 52, a suction portion 56 with a small drinking hole at its end, and a connection portion 54 between the attachment portion and the suction portion. . The attachment portion 52 has a flat annular flange which is used to secure the nipple to the cap rim 22 and / or the container body 12. The connecting portion 54 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is in the form of an upper cutting cone, tapering from the inner circumference of the annular attachment portion 52 to the base of the smaller diameter suction portion 56. The suction portion 56 is usually in the form of a cone and extends from the connection point with the connection portion to the end including the drinking hole (the drinking hole is not shown in the figure). Of course, the suction portion of the nipple may be configured in any preferred form, for example formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a spherical shape at the end, or in accordance with a suitable shape determined for the infant suction nipple.

Preferred nipples have two stable shapes, an elongated shape and a folded shape, shown in cross-section in FIGS. 10 and 12, respectively. The main difference between the two shapes is the placement of the connecting portion 54 inverted into the folded shape. When the connection of the nipple is referred to as inverted, this usually means that the outwardly facing surface is inward with the inverted state, and vice versa. In this example, this also means that the connection part 54 also extends in the opposite direction as well, for example extending downwards during inversion and vice versa. In the storage shaped faucet (FIGS. 11 and 12), the connection part 54 extends downwardly from the attachment part 52 and the suction part 56 is substantially back up in the plane of the attachment part from the connection point with the connection part. Extend. On the other hand, in a drinking-shaped tap (FIGS. 9 and 10), the connection portion 54 extends up from the attachment portion 52 and the suction portion 56 extends further up from the end of the connection portion 54.

The storage shaped nipple lies at least substantially below the attachment plane that is attached below the annular portion 24 of the cap rim in use, so that the seal 28 does not interfere with the top of the cap rim without interfering with the nipple during manufacture. Can be attached.

13 is a side cross-sectional view of a particular form of nipple 50 ′. The spigot 50 'is shaped to promote two stable shapes of the spigot as described above. In particular, a circumferential groove 60 'is provided around the junction of the nipple 50' and the joining point of the suction portions 54 ', 56'. The groove 60 'facilitates folding or bending at that point so that the nipple is in a more stable folded shape. For the same reason, a similar groove structure 62 'may be provided at the junction of the connection portion and the attachment portion 54', 52 '. If the grooved structure results in unacceptable thinning or weakening of the nipple wall material, the grooved ridges 60 ', 62' may be accompanied by corresponding ridged structures on the nipple.

Referring back to FIG. 13, the spigot 50 ′ may be preferably provided with one or more surface constructs on its inner surface. For example, one or more reinforcing structures may be provided in the nipple intake 56 'to reduce the phenomenon that the diametrically opposed surfaces of the nipple fold each other during inhalation. One or more circumferential reinforcing ridges 64 ′ may be provided on the inner surface of the nipple suction 56 ′. Alternatively or in addition, one or more reinforcing ridges extending in the longitudinal direction of the nipple may be provided for the same purpose.

The container body 12 of the prefilled beverage container 10 to be used and discarded is preferably composed of a plastic material such as renewable PET or other plastic material suitable for beverage containers known in the art. Other materials for the construction of the container body 12, such as glass, metal or laminated cardboard, may alternatively be used, but plastics are preferred for several reasons, such as lightweight and plastic containers that are easy to seal. The manufacture of the container body involves the forming step in a known manner, the details of which will depend on the material of the construct. For example, a blow molding method can be used.

Although other suitable materials will be very apparent to those skilled in the art, the cap rim is also preferably composed of plastic. The cap rim can be composed of a different type of plastic than the container body, for example formed of polyethylene or polypropylene at an appropriate concentration. Of course, the manufacturing techniques used to form the cap rims may also vary depending on the material used, and injection molding may be appropriate for the appropriate material.

As mentioned above, the nipple may be molded into an elongated shape, and manipulated into a folded shape before or after it is connected to the cap rim. In a preferred manufacturing process, a cap assembly comprising at least a cap rim, nipple and seal is made into one unit and then fitted into a prefilled container body. For example, the cap rim and nipple are molded separately and the seal is cut from the sheet material. The spigot is then inserted from below the rim of the cap and fitted into the cap rim. At the same time, it is possible to operate the nipple in a folded shape by applying a compressive force opposite the ends of the attachment portion and the suction portion along the extension axis of the nipple. Alternatively, the stem can be manipulated into a folded shape during or immediately after separation from the mold. By friction fit, the nipple can be fixed to the cap rim, or some additional adhesive suitable. The seal can then be attached to the top surface of the annular portion of the cap rim by an adhesive, heat seal or other suitable sealing method apparent to those skilled in the art. This completes the formation of the cap assembly and, if desired, the overcap may be fitted to the cap assembly before or after the cap assembly is fitted to the container body. In addition, where a sealing band or cover is also required, it is preferred that the cap assembly be attached after it has been fitted to the container, which means that the sealing band or cover is also fitted over a portion of the container body to provide the aforementioned visual indications for cap removal or abuse. This is because it must be provided.

The container body is filled with a beverage after being molded. The cap assembly is then fitted into the vessel body and sealed to seal the vessel liquid contents and the nipples therein. The cap rim may be attached to the spout of the container in any suitable manner apparent to those skilled in the art, such as the use of adhesives or heat seals. However, in a preferred form of the invention, the cap assembly is sealed to the container body using the attachment of the nipple itself. As specifically shown in FIG. 14, the flange 52 of the nipple can be arranged to be inserted between the inner surface of the cap rim and the edge of the container body spout, so that when the cap assembly is fitted to the container body the nipple flange is in between. Seal it. This is particularly beneficial when the nipple is composed of a relatively soft material such as silicone rubber that allows some compression and provides excellent sealing properties.

Although the seal may be provided by a tap flange, the cap rim must still be secured to the container body, and this fastening is a ridge and / or groove that fits together formed around the outer circumference of the container body spout and the inner circumference of the cap rim flange. It is preferably implemented using. For example, the structure shown in FIG. 14 may have a peripheral ridge 70 formed on the outer surface of the container body spout, which meshes with a corresponding peripheral groove 72 and ridge 74 formed on the inner surface of the cap rim flange 24. Shows. The fitting tolerance between the cap rim and the container body spout is such that when the corresponding ridges and / or grooves are firmly interlocked, pressure is applied to the nipple flange between the spout edge and the cap rim to provide good sealing.

Alternatively, the inner surface of the cap rim and the outer surface of the container body spout can be threaded to each other screwed together until they are sealed, by forming a spiral thread. This type of attachment is not preferred in this example, since it is neither necessary nor desired that the cap rim can be detached from the container body as allowed by threaded attachment.

15 to 19 show another form of beverage container 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The beverage container 100 is generally similar to the container 10 described above, although the structure of the cap assembly has been modified. The different form of the cap assembly is clearly shown in FIG. 19, which is a central cross-sectional view of the cap assembly 110 of the container 100. In this type of beverage container cap assembly, the cap rim 112 and the seal 120 are actually formed integrally, thus avoiding the difficulties that may arise in connection with attaching the seal to the surface of the cap rim.

17 is a top perspective view of a cap assembly 110 in a modified form of the container 100. The cap assembly 110 has a cap rim 112 substantially the same as the cap rim 22 described above, which has a flat annular top surface 114 and a flange portion 116 extending downwards. The cap rim 112 is fixed to the spout of the container body by the flange portion 116. However, in manufacturing, the cap rim 112 does not have a central hole as in the case of the cap rim 22, but instead has a separable seal 120 which is centrally located and integrally molded. The seal 120 projects above the flat annular surface 114 upward from the center of the rim and is attached to the inner edge of the annular portion by a brittle edge wall section 115 (indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 15).

As shown in the sectional view of the cap rim and seal shown in FIG. 19, the seal 120 is hollow in construction and substantially similar in shape to the suction end of the nipple. The shape of the inner surface of the seal end is preferably formed so as to closely match the shape of the outer surface of the nipple end. In this way the end of the nipple can be received in the hollow interior of the seal while the container is in a sealed state, which has several advantages. For example, by the inner surface of the seal that tightly surrounds the end of the faucet having the drinking hole, the possibility of liquid leaking from the container body through the hole into the space in the cap assembly is minimized. The liquid cannot flow freely through the drinking hole of the faucet because the hole is too small to allow it, and it abuts against the seal surface anyway. The drinking hole may actually be in the form of a small slit or the like that does not allow the passage of liquid without the pressure difference or deformation of the nipple in the hole. Since the seal is molded from the same plastic material as the cap rim, it is relatively rigid and substantially prevents deformation of the nipple. In addition, the perforated faucet end is more firmly pressed against the inner surface of the seal end, for example by an increase in the relative pressure of the container body, which may occur, for example, by squeezing or dropping the container, further reducing the likelihood of liquid leakage. Ridges may be further formed towards the ends around the inner surface of the seal, thereby slightly bumping around the outer surface of the nipple toward the end to seal the nipple end from the space present between the nipple outer and the cap inner surface.

It is preferred that the seal 120 does not protrude from the cap rim by the full size of the nipple 130, since the larger the size of the seal protrusion, the greater the likelihood of unexpected failure of the seal between the seal and the cap rim. . Thus, it is preferred that the seal project only a portion of the length of the nipple, ie only about half of the nipple length. For example, if the longitudinal length of the nipple ranges from 3 to 4 centimeters, the size of the seal protrusion may range from 1.5 to 2 centimeters. In this way, the nipple must then be partially folded or inverted under the rim as shown in FIG. 19, although not the same size as in the case of the flat seal described above.

In the beverage container 100 of this type described above, since the sealing portion 120 is formed integrally with the cap rim 112, the cap rim and the sealing portion are manufactured together to facilitate both the production and assembly of the beverage container. An annular thin brittle wall section 115 is formed between the cap rim and the seal, and in use the seal 120 is cut from the cap rim 112 in this section 115. For example, as shown in the figure, the seal is bent up from the flat surface 114 of the cap rim up to a substantially vertically extending section 124 (indicated by reference numeral 122 in FIG. 16), and then bent up to a hemispherical end Section 126, and the inner diameter of the end section 126 closely matches the outer diameter of the nipple end. Since the tip end fits tightly within the end inside the seal, the possibility of liquid leaking from the container body through the hole in the tip end is greatly reduced. Since the outer circumference of the hemispherical faucet end portion closely matches the inner circumference of the hemispherical seal, if a relative increase in internal pressure occurs within the container body, the flexible faucet is tighter against the inner surface of the seal to prevent leakage from the end. can do.

The annular thin wall section 115 between the cap rim and the seal may be in the range of just a few millimeters, with a thickness of preferably less than 1 millimeter. Depending on the material forming the cap rim and seal and the desired force applied to break and cut the seal from the cap rim, the actual wall thickness may vary. For example, the wall thickness at the brittle edge can be made slightly thicker if greater strength is desired for easy opening, or vice versa.

In a preferred form of the invention, the seal is provided with a laterally flat tab portion 128, which protrudes from both sides of the exterior of the seal. By providing these tab portions, it is easy for the user to apply lateral forces to the seal to cut and remove the seal 120 from the cap rim 112. For example, the user can easily cut the seal by grasping the container with both hands and pressing the tab 128 on each side of the seal with a finger.

Since the seal 120 of this type according to the invention slightly protrudes from the cap rim and the nipple end is disposed therebetween with the container sealed, it is clear that the nipple is not completely "folded" when the seal is in place. . However, the nipple nevertheless folds partially inside the cap assembly when sealed, since the seal preferably does not protrude enough of the nipple. When the seal is detached, the seal is pressed from the side, and as shown in FIG. 16, the brittle seal is inclined to break. During this operation, the ends of the nipples remain inside the seal until the seal is completely separated from the cap rim (FIGS. 17 and 18). When fully disconnected, the nipple suction is pulled out completely into an elongated shape by the frictional force of the relatively tight fit between the suction and the interior of the seal, the tight fit being applied simultaneously to the sides of the seal during such separation. Increased by some compression. Nevertheless, it is preferred that the faucet can be fully retracted in a "folded" shape, which can be particularly useful when the entire contents of the container have not been consumed at once and where it is desired to store the container so that the possibility of faucet contamination is reduced. have. In the folded shaped faucet, even if no other cover is used, the likelihood of contamination is greatly reduced since the faucet does not protrude above the surface of the rim rim and thus less likely to come into contact with an unsanitary surface or object.

However, as noted above, an overcap (not shown) can be supplied with a prefilled beverage container, which can be placed over the cap rim for further storage of unused containers to further protect the nipple from contamination. have. The overcap is equally applicable to all of the preferred forms of the invention described above in detail. In the case of the second aspect of the invention described, an overcap placed on the seal during transport and sale may help to avoid, for example, unexpected failure of the seal. Alternatively, in a second aspect of the invention, the bulk packaging of the container may be arranged to protect the protruding seal, for example during transportation. For example, indentations may be constructed in cardboard wrappers, pallets, etc. for the transport and / or storage of the containers, with seals entering these indentations to provide considerable protection from destruction.

As another method, the seal 120 itself is configured to be repositionable into a hole formed in the cap rim upon separation of the seal. For example, the seal 120 may be formed with one or more circumferential rims (not shown in the figure) located slightly above the brittle wall section where the seal is connected to the cap rim, which protects the retracted spigot. To keep the seal in the cap rim hole. By a peripheral rim that is slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the cap rim hole, the base of the seal can be pushed back into the hole without passing too far. The seal is then held in the hole by an interference fit between the edge of the hole and the edge of the seal, and excessive insertion is prevented by the rim. Once the two elements are separated so that the edge of the seal does not have sufficient interference fit with the edge of the cap rim hole, an additional appropriately sized circumferential rim is spaced slightly below the provided rim to prevent excessive insertion. Are arranged. In that case, the distance between the two rims may correspond to the thickness of the cap rim material at the edge of the hole. Alternatively, a lug or the like is adjacent to the base of the seal for the purpose of retaining the seal in the cap rim hole for reclosing the container after releasing the seal instead of requiring a rim formed in the seal 120. The tab portion 128 may be formed. In any case, it is preferred that the nipple enters the container in a folded shape prior to repositioning of the seal.

The process of unsealing and opening the beverage container 100 for use is shown in sequence in FIGS. 15, 16 and 17. 15 shows the sealed container with the seal 120 integrally formed with the cap rim 112. In order to use the container, the seal 120 must be separated, which is first performed by applying a lateral force to the protrusion of the seal. For example, a thumb may be applied to the tab portion 128 while the container is grasped by hand. This causes the brittle thin wall section 115 to rupture and break the seal formed by the cap. In this way, the seal 120 is twisted open from the cap rim 112 as shown in FIG. 16. As the seal is twisted open from the cap rim, the nipple 130 with the end fitted in the seal is drawn out through the hole left by the seal. Once the seal is totally separated, the nipple 130 is fully extended from the container and ready for use as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.

20 is a cross-sectional view of the nipple 130 in a preferred form. As can be seen in the figure, the base of the nipple has a generally flat annular circumferential flange 132 from which the protruding suction 134 of the nipple extends. The nipple preferably has a circumferential groove 136 at a position approximately intermediate in the direction of extension of the nipple between the flanged base and the nipple end 138. The peripheral groove may have a grooved thin wall section formed towards the interior of the nipple as shown. Grooves or thin walls promote the stability of the folded faucet. In addition, the connection portion 140 of the nipple between the base and the suction portion is preferably configured to be gently curved with a protruding suction portion extending laterally from the flanged base, the curvature of the cross section between the elongated shape and the folded shape of the nipple. It may be arched to be easily moved in. If the connection portion 140 of the nipple is configured substantially parallel to the plane of the flange portion 132 where the two parts meet, it is not difficult to press the nipple down from the elongated shape into the folded shape, which is the aforementioned groove or thin wall This is because no significant bending is required in any area of the nipple except for the section. It has been found that it is most appropriate for the connection of the nipple to bend gently from the inner diameter of the base flange to the height of the intermediate groove. 21 shows a cross section of the nipple 130 which is in a folded shape.

Since the spigot 130 is intended to be used only once, the wall thickness of the spigot structure need not be as thick as the reusable spigot, thereby reducing the material used in the molding process. For example, the walls of most nipples 130 range in thickness from 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters and the material at the base flange 132 is thicker (eg, 2 millimeters). In addition, the hemispherical end sections provided with liquid holes (not shown) may also consist of slightly thicker wall material. As shown in the figure, the nipple end may be slightly larger in diameter compared to the tubular shaft for ease of use by an infant.

Given the beneficial sealing properties of the beverage containers described herein, beverage containers constructed according to the invention are particularly suitable for single-use, pre-filled applications, in which case the container contents are inserted followed by a capped cap assembly attached to the container. Seal the contents hygienically. Of course, it may be desirable to sterilize the container and cap assembly prior to insertion and assembly of the contents, which may be done in any conventional manner known to those skilled in the art. Of course, attention should also be given to hygiene during assembly, such as applying a sterile steam jet or the like to the interior of the cap assembly immediately before sealing to the container body.

Depending on the contents and the filling technique, a prefilled disposable beverage container according to an embodiment of the present invention may be provided in a supermarket or the like and supplied for mass consumption. Of course, infant beverages are currently available in this way, but as mentioned above, conventional beverages are all required to be transferred to beverage containers such as reusable baby bottles which have inherent drawbacks and disadvantages in terms of hygiene and convenience. do. In addition, the present invention is intended for medical uses, such as the delivery of drugs orally administered for vaccination or treatment of infants, or when the sterile contents are particularly important and the use of containers in containers is high. It is easily applied for feeding of infants in the ward. In addition, the present invention may be usefully applied for the delivery of a medicament or for infant feeding in some places in the famined world, possibly where sterilization of containers and contents is impossible or difficult in the field. The prefilled disposable beverage container also solves other difficulties in the supply of drinking foods to famine-fighted children, which improper mixing of the formulation in environments where the beverage may be misused or must be mixed before use. And dilution and the like.

For those skilled in the art, the shape of the container and specifically the container body is not critical to the spirit of the present invention, although bottle / jar forms are described and illustrated herein, however, many other container forms composed of many different materials may alternatively be used. It will be apparent that it can be used. In addition, although the embodiments described herein all use a "cap rim" or a retaining ring to attach the nipple to the container, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various features in accordance with the present invention may be practiced without attaching the nipple in such a manner. will be. Indeed, where appropriate known manufacturing techniques and / or materials are used, it is possible to couple the nipple directly to the container body or even integrally with the container body.

Throughout this specification, the words "comprise" and its variations, "comprises" or "comprising", unless stated otherwise, include the constituents or groups of constructs mentioned, but do not exclude other constructs or groups of constructs. You will have to understand.

The foregoing detailed description of the invention has been described by way of example only and is not intended to limit the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (42)

As a drink container for infants to use and throw away, A container body for holding a beverage with an open spout, A nipple having a suction unit for discharging a beverage to the infant through the spout of the container body; Cap with integrally formed cap rim and seal Including; The spigot is configured to cover the open spout of the container body and is held in place over the open spout by the cap rim attached to the container body around the spout, the cap rim and the integrally formed seal of the faucet. Protects the intake from exposure to external contaminants, and forms a sanitary seal over the open spout of the container body with the nipple to prevent the ingress and discharge of liquid and gaseous fluids into and out of the container, and the seal of the cap is used. Cut away from the cap rim by the user to expose the suction portion of the nipple for use, the remaining portion of the cap rim being held in place over the spout, while being attached to the container around the spout and Discard the drink container. 2. The cap rim of claim 1, wherein the cap rim is annular and has a seal projecting from the center thereof, wherein the seal and the rim rupture when a lateral force is applied between the cap rim and the seal. A used and discarded beverage container characterized by being attached by a brittle joining section configured to be cut. 3. A beverage container according to claim 2, wherein the protruding seal has a hollow interior into which an end of the nipple suction is fitted. 3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cap is molded from a plastic material into a single piece. 3. A beverage container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cap rim is attached to the container body so as not to be separated by a user. The beverage container of claim 2, wherein the brittle joint section comprises a ring with reduced wall thickness. 4. A valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the spigot is configured to have a base with a circumferential flange, the suction portion protruding centrally from the base, the circumferential flange forming the open spout. A beverage container for use and discarded, characterized in that it is held between the rim of the container body and the cap rim to secure the nipple to the container body to promote hygienic sealing between the container body and the cap. 8. The use and discard of claim 7 wherein the circumferential flange of the nipple is generally flat, the intake portion protrudes approximately at right angles from the center of the circumferential flange, and the base is gently curved from the flange to the protruding intake portion. Beverage containers. 9. The valve of claim 8 further comprising a bend zone between the curved base and the suction section, wherein the bend zone is provided by displacing the end of the tap suction section toward the plane of the flange such that the tap is arranged in a folded shape. Use and discard beverage containers characterized by facilitating partial and stable reversal of the faucet base. The beverage container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, when the sealing part is separated from the cap rim, a central round hole is formed in the cap rim through which the suction part of the nipple protrudes. 11. A container according to claim 10, wherein the seal can be relocated in the central round hole to protect the nipple from contaminants. 12. The used and discarded beverage container of claim 11, wherein the seal has a circumferential structure that, when repositioned in the central hole, fits with the edge of the cap rim to hold the seal in place. . As a closure for a beverage container, Includes a cap rim and a flexible faucet configured to suck infants, The cap rim has a generally flat annular top panel having an attachment portion extending from the outer edge and adapted to fit over the spout of the beverage container and a seal extending upward from the center of the top panel, The seal is attached and sealed around the inner edge of the annular panel by a brittle connection section, the brittle connection section being cut from the attachment when the user exerts a lateral force on the seal against the attachment with a finger. The remaining portion of the cap rim holds the nipple in place over the spout, while being attached to the container around the spout, And the sealing portion and the nipple are configured to extend through a hole formed in the attachment portion when the sealing portion is separated by the end of the nipple being fitted into the hollow interior of the sealing portion. 15. The faucet of claim 13, wherein the faucet has a base with an annular circumferential flange fitted within the attachment portion and a suction portion of the faucet extending from the base having an end of the faucet, wherein the interior of the hollow seal has a faucet end in use. A plug, which is fitted in close contact with the end of the nipple to reduce the possibility of liquid leakage from the drinking hole of the nipple. 14. The closure of claim 13 wherein the attachment portion and the seal are molded from a plastic material into a single piece and the connecting section comprises a ring of plastic material of reduced thickness. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the seal projects from the attachment by a portion of the size of the nipple suction from the base, such that the tip end fits in the seal and the base flange fits in the attachment. A stopper, characterized in that the faucet is partially folded within the stopper. 14. The seal according to claim 13, wherein the seal has a circumferential rim at the point of attachment to the connecting section, and the seal has one or more constructs adjacent to the circumference that interfit with at least one area of the inner edge of the attachment. A closure, characterized in that the seal can be repositioned and secured to the attachment portion after unsealing and detaching. 14. The closure of claim 13, wherein the seal comprises one or more flat tab portions to facilitate a user applying lateral forces to the seal with a finger. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the seal includes one or more flat tab portions to facilitate a user in applying lateral forces to the seal with a finger, wherein the one or more configurations are points of connection between the one or more flat tab portions and the peripheral rim. Stopper characterized in that disposed on. Forming a container body with an open spout, Shaping a flexible suction nipple configured to fit over the opening of the container body spout; Molding a single piece cap having an integrally formed but separable central seal; Filling the container with a beverage; Attaching the cap around the container body spout to seal the beverage container by holding the tap over the opening Including; The detachable seal is cut from the remainder of the cap, thereby unsealing the container and exposing the faucet, while the remaining remainder of the cap holds the faucet in place over the spout while attached to the container around the spout. A method of forming a beverage container for use and discarded. 21. The method of claim 20 including inserting an end of the nipple into the hollow interior of the seal of the cap prior to attaching the cap to the container body. Includes lead and flexible faucet, The lid has a rim portion configured to be attached to a spout of a beverage container and a central portion formed integrally, wherein the central portion is sealed so that the inside of the beverage container is sealed from the outside when the rim portion is attached to the beverage container spout. Sealed to the rim portion, the central portion is formed with a hollow interior, The flexible nipple includes a circumferential flange attachable to the rim portion of the lid, and a teat end configured to closely fit with the hollow interior of the central portion, Wherein the center portion is destroyed and separated from the rim portion so that the teat end is exposed during use, the remaining rim portion holding the nipple in place over the spout, while being attached to the vessel around the spout. stopper. delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete

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