MXPA99009301A - Disposable drinking container and nipple - Google Patents
Disposable drinking container and nippleInfo
- Publication number
- MXPA99009301A MXPA99009301A MXPA/A/1999/009301A MX9909301A MXPA99009301A MX PA99009301 A MXPA99009301 A MX PA99009301A MX 9909301 A MX9909301 A MX 9909301A MX PA99009301 A MXPA99009301 A MX PA99009301A
- Authority
- MX
- Mexico
- Prior art keywords
- nozzle
- container
- cap
- edge
- lid
- Prior art date
Links
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- 230000004634 feeding behavior Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 109
- 210000002445 Nipples Anatomy 0.000 title claims abstract description 12
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 168
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 51
- 210000000214 Mouth Anatomy 0.000 claims description 63
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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 furtherincludes 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
DRINKING CONTAINER AND DISPOSABLE NOZZLE
TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a single use disposable drinking container and a nozzle dispensing portion thereof. The drinking container is particularly suitable for use by infants or the elderly who have difficulty drinking liquids from a container having a conventional beverage dispensing aperture. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a drinking container and a method of preparing the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Disposable, single-use drinking containers are popular, at least in part, because of their convenience. In addition, single-use containers can offer guaranteed cleanliness and hygiene in view of the use of proven sterilization techniques and waterproof seals applied at the time of manufacture and / or packaging or packaging. A type of single-use drinking container that has become popular was derived from sports drinking bottles having a mouthpiece that is operable by the user's mouth or fingers to seal and remove the seal from the bottle. Athletes, such as cyclists, commonly used the previous forms of those bottles, but the bottle was sold without content and it was necessary to fill the bottle with a source of drinkable liquid before using it. The convenience of the disposable, single-use, pre-filled form of sports drinking bottles resulted in a large increase in sales of soft, non-carbonated, commercial beverages, particularly those drinks intended to replenish minerals or nutrients during or after a sports activity. Infants, and sometimes the frail elderly, often require or want to drink from a special container that has a mouthpiece or nipple to distribute the liquid into the child's mouth. The most common form of a drinking container for infants is a simple reusable bottle with a lid that has a nozzle or nipple made of rubber or plastic placed on it. To provide a child with a drink, it is necessary to open or separate the container from the drinkable fluid, fill the bottle and replace the cap with the mouthpiece or nipple. Between uses the bottle must be washed, and preferably sterilized. Therefore, it becomes problematic for those who provide care to the infant, provide the infant with a bottle-fed drink, especially when he is away from home and carries another paraphernalia of children. In the past, various forms of disposable, pre-filled drinking containers for infants have been proposed. For example, US Pat. No. 5,273,171 (Maricoma, et al) discloses a prefilled, disposable infant container for containing and distributing a liquid for infants by means of a mouthpiece. The container for infants is in the form of a rectangular box having a nozzle in the upper part joined to the box by means of a connecting piece of the mouthpiece. The nozzle attachment piece has a pointed projection, which is operable to pierce an access hole over the top of the box, allowing liquid from the box to flow towards the nozzle. The infant container makes use of a friction fit, a removable lid to cover the mouthpiece at the time of sale, and when not in use. Another example of a disposable infant bottle is that described in U.S. Patent No. 5,112,628 (Conrad), which, in use, resembles more clearly a conventional non-disposable bottle. The emphasis of the bottle feeder described in Conrad is on the sealing and a tamper evident cover assembly, which encloses a nozzle, making it particularly suitable for single use applications. In its initial configuration, the cap assembly is sealed at the top of the bottle in an operation such that the nozzle is reversed. To be used, the lid assembly is removed from the bottle and the seal removed from the bottle. A portion of the cap assembly having the nozzle is then inverted in orientation and attached again to the top of the bottle, placing the feeder of the bottle in a condition of use. Various other forms of disposable bottles are also known, and some examples can be found described in US Patent Nos. 4,678,092, 4,830,205 and 4,706,827.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a disposable container comprising a container body for receiving a liquid and having a mouth in the upper part with an opening in it, through which the liquid can pass through. liquid; and a lid assembly attached to the upper part of the container body, the lid assembly comprises a flexible nozzle in fluid communication with the container body through the opening in the upper part, a finishing edge or the lid attached to the mouth and sealed with the nozzle around it, the finishing edge or the lid has an opening through which the nozzle can be projected, in use, and a removable sealing portion which, in a first configuration of the container, is hygienically sealed around the opening of the finishing edge or the lid to prevent the ingress and egress of liquid or gas to and from the container, where the nozzle, in the first configuration of the container, is contained under the container. sealing portion; and wherein the sealing portion is removable from the finishing edge or from the lid to place the containers in a second configuration, so that the flexible nozzle can extend through the opening of the finishing edge or of the lid to project from the top of the container in condition for use. In one embodiment of the invention, the container is in the form of a small or similar bottle constructed of a plastic material. For example, the container may be in the form of a relatively thin walled plastic bottle constructed of recyclable PET plastic, polycarbonate plastic or the like, which can be manufactured by molding. The bottle preferably has a base at the bottom thereof to allow the bottle to be placed on a flat surface, and the mouth at the top to which the lid assembly is attached. The finishing edge or lid can also be constructed of a plastic material. The cap edge or cap is preferably formed with a peripheral rim extending downward and an annular portion inward defining the opening, which is located in the center and is aligned with the mouth of the container body. The flange is adapted to attach the cap assembly to the bottle. The finishing edge or lid can be secured to the mouth of the bottle by using interposed rim and / or grooves formed on the rim of the rim edge or lid and mouth of the body of the container, in known manner. Alternatively, the edge of the cap or the cap and the mouth of the container body can be formed, for example, to form a threaded fit together, or the flange of the cap edge or cap can be heat welded or fixed similarly to the body of the container. The flexible nozzle preferably has a peripheral rim that is flexible outwardly that is in contact around the underside of the annular portion of the rim or cap, so that the nozzle is located centrally with respect to the aperture. In the preferred form of the cap assembly, a portion of the nozzle can be inverted, so that the nozzle is partially "collapsed" in the first configuration of the container, where the nozzle is held at least partially below the annular portion of the container. top. In this configuration, with the cap edge or cap sealed to the mouth of the bottle and the sealing portion of the cap assembly in place over the opening, the nozzle is sealed within a space determined by the bottle, the edge of cap or lid in the sealing portion, the same space that contains the drinkable liquid of the container. When the sealing portion is removed, the end of the nozzle can be pulled out through the opening, without inverting the nozzle portion so that the nozzle extends completely through the opening at the top or bottom edge. the lid, placing the nozzle in a drinking configuration. The drinking configuration at the end of the nozzle is accessible to an infant to extract liquid through the body of the container. Preferably, the nozzle can be reinverted from the configuration to return back to the collapsed configuration for storage if the contents of the container are not finished all at once. A protective cover can be provided with the container to be placed over the cap assembly to protect the nozzle during storage and / or to protect the sealing portion after removal, if necessary or desired. In one embodiment, the sealing portion is formed integrally with the cap edge or the cap, having a brittle seal formed around its outer edge that is molded to an inner edge of the cap edge or cap, which defines the central opening. In this embodiment, the sealing portion has a vertical projection from the edge of the cap or the cap when in place, so that a user can apply a transverse force to it, sufficient to break the fragile seal and remove the portion for sealing the edge of the cap or the cap. The sealing portion can be formed with a hollow interior towards the vertical projection adapted to receive the tip of the nozzle. In another embodiment, the sealing portion comprises a plastic disk or flexible sheet or the like, which is fused or adhesively bonded to the annular portion of the finishing edge or cap to seal the opening. The sealing portion can then be formed with a loose tongue, which can be held by the user to detach the sealing portion from the finishing edge or from the lid to expose the mouthpiece in the opening. The nozzle can be brought from the collapsed configuration to the drinking configuration by holding the end of the nozzle and pulling it through the opening. Alternatively, where the body of the container is constructed of a flexible material, the nozzle can be dislodged by gently pressing on the walls of the container body. By tightening the body of the container, the initial pressure of the container is temporarily increased because the only outlet of the container is through the nozzle, which typically has only a very small opening. In this way, the increase in pressure forces the nozzle to expand through the opening in the lid ring and to extend into the drinking configuration. The nozzle is preferably constructed of a relatively soft, inert, flexible and moldable material, such as silicone rubber or the like. In one form of the invention, the nozzle has a peripheral rim, which, with the lid assembly attached to the mouth of the container body, is pressed between the surfaces of the lid ring and the mouth of the container body, both from which the nozzle can be secured to the container and provide a liquid tight seal between the lid assembly and the container body. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing a disposable drinking container, comprising: forming a container body suitable for containing a liquid and having a mouth at the top with an opening therein through which the liquid can pass through. from the container body; substantially filling the body of the container with a drinkable liquid; forming a lid assembly comprising an end cap or cap adapted to seal over the mouth of the container body, a flexible nozzle positioned within the cap edge or cap and having a suction end aligned with an orifice of access of the finishing edge or of the cover, and a removable sealing portion joined on the access hole of the finishing edge or of the cover to seal the access hole; and placing the cap assembly on the container body with the cap edge or the cap sealed around the mouth of the container body, so that the cap is held in the mouth of the container body and sealed thereto under the container. cap edge or cap and removable seal portion. In one embodiment of the invention, the body of the container comprises a bottle made of a plastic material such as PET or the like. This allows, for example, that the formation of the body of the container is carried out by a suitable molding process, such as "blow molding". The finishing edge or the lid can also be molded from plastic, although it may be desirable to use a different type of plastic materials for the lid than for the body of the container, as is practiced in the art. The nozzle should be constructed of a relatively soft and flexible material to make it suitable for suction by an infant, and it has been found that if it is molded of silicone rubber or the like, it is appropriate for that purpose. It is preferred that the container body and lid assembly be in sterile condition at the time the lid assembly is placed in the body of the container to prevent any inadvertent contamination of the drinkable liquid. Up to this point, it may be desirable in some situations that the methods of filling and placing the lid are carried out under relatively sterile conditions and / or any air space remaining in the container body after the introduction of the drinkable liquid, filled with an inert gas such as nitrogen before placing the lid assembly. Such precautions are generally known in the field of the manufacture of pre-filled food and beverage containers. In one form of the invention, the sealing portion is formed integrally with the cap edge or cap and has a vertical projection, which, when the cap assembly is placed on the container body, projects far from the cap. mouth of the container body. In this case, the sealing portion is preferably joined around the inner periphery of the access hole by means of a thin annular wall section, so that the lateral pressure of one finger on the vertical portion is sufficient to eliminate the fragile seal and remove the sealing portion of the finishing edge or lid. This form of construction is particularly advantageous, because the manufacturing formation of the drinking container involves assembling only three components, the container body, the nozzle and the finishing edge or the integral cap and the sealing portion. In addition, the sterile sealing between the finishing edge or the lid and the sealing portion does not depend on any joining process, since both are formed integrally and joined by the thin wall section. In this form of the invention, the vertical projection of the sealing portion is preferably hollow and is adapted to receive the suction end of the nozzle therein. The suction end of the nozzle is preferably positioned within the interior of the projection with an internal surface of the projection in contact with the end of the nozzle having a suction opening therein to seal the opening against leakage. In another form of the invention, the sealing portion is constructed in the form of a flexible flat disc made of a material impervious to liquids and gases, such as a suitable plastic, thin aluminum sheet or thin sheet aluminum and plastic sheet. In this case, the sealing portion can be attached to an external surface of the finishing edge or of the lid, over the access hole, using a fragile adhesive or a heat sealing technique, which allows the disc to be detached of the top edge or the lid and be removed for use. The manufacturing process may also include a step of attaching a protective cover to the cap assembly. The protective cover is preferably placed over the sealing portion and at least a portion of the cap edge or cap, and is removed from the cap assembly to expose the sealing portion, and may be placed again after removal of the seal for Protect the nozzle during storage of the container after opening. The protective cover also serves to protect the sealing portion before removing the seal and removing it, to prevent accidental removal of the sealing portion or premature breaking of the seal it provides. An additional sealing band or cover may also be provided around the cover when it is placed in the cover assembly, if desired, to prevent removal of the cover prior to use O- to provide a visual indication of unauthorized removal or improper handling of the cover. The invention also provides a lid for a disposable container having a container body with a mouth having an opening therein, through which liquid can pass from the body of the container, comprising a top edge or lid adapted to seal over the mouth of the container body and having a central access hole, a flexible nozzle arranged within the trim edge or the lid and having a suction end with an opening therein and aligned with the opening of the lid. access, and the removable seal attached and sealed around the access opening of the finishing edge or the lid, the suction end of the nozzle is contained within and / or in contact with the inner portion of the seal. In one form of the invention, the removable seal is integrally formed with the cap edge or cap and has a portion that projects vertically. The marginal portion between the seal and the cap edge or cap comprises an annular section of thin walls that is brittle to a lateral force that is applied to the vertical projection. The projecting portion is preferably hollow and adapted to receive the suction end of the nozzle therein. A base portion of the nozzle is partially inverted to allow the suction portion to be accommodated within the projecting portion of the seal, which preferably does not project from the top edge or lid, while the nozzle in FIG. if it does when it is in a position of use. In another form of the invention, the nozzle is also in a collapsed configuration, so that a base portion thereof is inverted as compared to a drinking configuration of the nozzle. In this form of the invention, a nozzle flange arranged around the periphery of the base portion is attached to the cap ring and, in the collapsed configuration, the inverted base portion of the nozzle projects from the flange away from the seal removable towards its integral union with an end portion of the nozzle. The suction end of the nozzle, which is the portion adapted to suck by an infant, extends backward toward the seal from its connection to the base portion. In this case, the seal can be a flexible flat disk of a material impervious to liquids and gases, such as a suitable plastic, thin foil of aluminum or plastic foil, thin foil of aluminum and / or cardboard or the like. In one embodiment, the nozzle has a flange portion that is arranged around the top edge or lid, where the finishing edge or the lid fits around the mouth of the container. Preferably, the lip of the nozzle is arranged to be sandwiched or pressed between the rim or cap and the mouth of the container to seal the junction of the rim edge or lid and the mouth of the container. The cap edge or the cap may comprise a flat disc having a central opening therein forming an access hole, and a peripheral flange extending downward, integrally formed, for attaching the cap to the container. The flange may be provided with a circumferential edge or groove formed on the inner side thereof and adapted to be interconnected with an edge or groove formed on an outer surface of the mouth of the container. The invention further provides a single-use, disposable drinking container, comprising a flexible plastic jar or jar containing a drinking liquid having a mouth with an opening sealed by means of a lid assembly, the lid assembly comprises a lid having a central opening, a nozzle arranged with the lid and having a suction portion aligned with the opening in the lid, and a sealing portion removably sealed on the lid opening, the lid assembly is coupled to the bottle or jar with a nozzle lip sandwiched between the lid and an edge of the mouth opening, where the mouthpiece is contained in the mouth opening and below the sealing portion, the sealing portion is, in use, removable from the cap to expose the nozzle in the opening allowing the suction portion to be pulled through the opening for use.
The invention further provides a nozzle for a disposable infant care container comprising a joining portion in the form of a generally annular flange for attaching the nozzle to a liquid container, a suction portion having an opening therein for distributing liquids from the container, when attached thereto, to an infant by means of the nozzle, and an intermediate connection portion to the suction portion and the attachment portion, where the nozzle is provided with a circumferential groove at the limit of the suction and connection portions to facilitate two stable configurations of the nozzle, one storage configuration being another and one configuration for drinking, and wherein the connection portion is inverted in the storage configuration as compared to the configuration for to drink. The nozzle is preferably molded from a relatively soft and flexible material, such as from silicone rubber or the like. The suction and connection portions of the nozzle are preferably of approximately equal extent, so that the circumferential groove is approximately midway in the nozzle path in the drinking configuration. In the storage configuration, the groove facilitates bending or circumferential bending of the nozzle approximately at the midpoint thereof. An additional circumferential groove may be formed over the nozzle at or near the boundary between the connection portion and the nozzle attachment portion. This additional slot can facilitate bending or circumferential bending and extension of the nozzle there, when the nozzle is moved between the storage and drinking configurations and the attachment portion is attached to an infant container. In a preferred construction, the connection portion of the nozzle has a uniform curvature, from a substantially horizontal plane in its connection to the rim, to a substantially vertical plane in its connection to the suction portion. This facilitates easy movement of the nozzle between the storage and drinking configurations. Surface reinforcement formations, preferably on the inner surface of the suction portion, may also be provided on the nozzle to reduce any tendency of the diametrically opposed surfaces of the nozzle to bend over one another to obstruct the flow of fluid through the nozzle. nozzle. The reinforcing formations may comprise, for example, one or more circumferential flanges and / or one or more longitudinal flanges arranged on the inner surface of the suction portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is described in more detail hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to modalities thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a drinking container in a sealed configuration with a protective cover in place; Figure 2 is an isometric view of the drinking container in a sealed configuration with the cover and seal removed; Figure 3 is an isometric view of the drinking container in a drinking configuration with a nozzle therein exposed for use; Figure 4 is an exploded view of the drinking container and the lid assembly with the protective cover; Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the drinking container in a sealed configuration, including the protective cover; Figure 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the drinking container with the seal in place and the nozzle collapsed; Figure 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the drinking container with the seal removed, illustrating the extraction of the nozzle; Figure 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the drinking container with the extracted nozzle; Figure 9 is a side view of a nozzle in extracted condition; Figure 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the nozzle of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a side view of the nozzle in collapsed condition; Figure 12 is a side cross-sectional view of the nozzle of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a side cross-sectional view of a particular shape of the nozzle; Figure 14 is a side cross-sectional view of the upper part of the drinking container with the nozzle attached; Figure 15 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a second drinking container equipped with a second top shape; Figure 16 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the drinking container of Figure 15 illustrating the removal of the sealing portion; Figures 17 and 18 are perspective views illustrating the second shape of the upper part of the drinking container with the removed sealing portion and the extended nozzle for use; Figure 19 is a central cross-sectional view through the second form of the upper part of the drinking container attached to a drinking container; Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred nozzle construction in extracted configuration; and Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred nozzle in a fully retracted configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A drinking container 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in various configurations and views in Figures 1 to 8. The container 10 comprises a container body 12, which is generally shaped cylindrical and has a flat base 14 at the lower end thereof and a mouth 16 having a round opening at the upper end (as best seen in Figure 4). In a preferred form of the invention, the body of the container 12 comprises a bottle constructed of a plastic material, such as recyclable PET plastic or the like, as is known for the construction of drinking bottles. The preferred form of the bottle is relatively small, for example having a liquid storage capacity of approximately 100 to 250 milliliters, particularly because the embodiments of the invention are adapted for use by infants. Referring in particular to Figures 1 to 4, the container 10 also comprises a lid assembly 20, which is placed over the mouth 16 of the container body so that, in use, it seals the opening of the mouth 18. The assembly of cap includes a cap edge or cap 22, which has a flat annular portion 24 with a central circular opening 25 and a flange portion extending downwardly 26. For ease of reference, the flange portion 26 is refers to that it extends downwards because, when the lid assembly is placed on the body of the container and the container is placed on its base 14, the rim extends downwardly from the annular portion 24 with respect to the externally oriented surface upwards of it. The internal circumference of the flange portion 26 is constructed to be marginally larger than the outer circumference of the mouth of the container 16, so that the finishing edge or lid 22 can be placed over the mouth of the container 16, where the surface of the inner side (facing downwards) of the annular portion is adjacent to the lip edge of the mouth. In use, the finishing edge or the lid 22 is firmly secured to the body of the container 12 in the mouth 16. The finishing edge or the lid and body of the container can be connected together in any convenient manner, such as by means of an adhesive, heat-sealed, or interference fit by interlocking and interposing edges and / or circumferential grooves formed on the edge of the cap or of the lid and the mouth of the container. A flexible nozzle 50 is attached to the finishing edge or the lid 22, so that the end of the nozzle is located centrally with respect to the opening 25. The nozzle 50 in its extended or drinking configuration is generally conical (see Figure 9, for example), and has a joint portion at the base thereof. The attachment portion, in the illustrated form of the nozzle, is a flat annular rim 52, which extends outwardly around the nozzle base. With the nozzle 50 positioned at the edge of the cap or the cap 22, the nozzle 52 rests against the lower surface of the annular portion 24. The rim 52 can be attached to the cap edge or cap 22 by means of an adhesive or similar, or may form a loose friction fit at the cap edge or cap and depend on the opposing pressures of the cap edge surfaces or the cap of the container mouth to secure the cap to the container when A lid assembly is attached, as discussed in more detail here below. The flexible nozzle preferably has two stable configurations, one in which the nozzle is generally conical in shape and extends in a direction from the base thereof, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, for example (hereinafter referred to as the configuration or extended condition, extracted or for drinking). The other configuration is the configuration or collapsed or storage condition, in which the nozzle is bent over itself around a bending area or circumferential fraction, which is located approximately in the middle of the extension of the nozzle when in extended configuration. The nozzle 50 is illustrated in its collapsed configuration in Figures 11 and 12, for example. While in the collapsed configuration, a connection portion 54 of the nozzle, which extends between the attachment portion 52 and the suction portion 56 (see Figure 9 or 10, for example) is inverted, so that the connection portion 54 extends downwardly from the attachment portion and suction portion 56 extends upwardly from its junction with the connection portion. This results in the collapsed configuration of the nozzle 50 illustrated in Figure 11 or 12. With the nozzle 50 in the collapsed configuration and the attachment portion 52 thereof attached to the edge of the cap or of the cap 22, the nozzle extends down from the cap edge or the cap at least substantially below the top surface of the annular portion 24, which is illustrated in Figures 2, 4 and 14. The cap assembly 20 also includes a seal 28. (Figure 4), which is in the form of a flexible disc of material. The seal 28 is preferably made of a material impermeable to liquids and gases, such as a suitable thin aluminum foil, plastic or plastic foil and thin aluminum foil. Seals of this type are well known in the field of pre-filled beverage and food containers. The seal 28 is removably affixed to the upper surface of the finishing edge or of the cover 22, so that it extends through the opening 25. The seal 28 together with the sealed attachment between the finishing edge or lid 22 and container body 12, ensure that contents of container 10 remain sealed until use of the container. With the leading edge or the lid 22 attached to the body of the container 12 and the seal 28 in place, the nozzle in the collapsed configuration is hidden under the seal 28 and enclosed within the space defined by the body of the container 12, the finishing edge or cover 22 and seal 28. This is the same space in which container 10 contains the liquid to be transported by it. Removal of seal 28 exposes the collapsed nozzle attached by opening 25 at the edge of the cap or lid 22 (Figure 2). The nozzle 50 can then be withdrawn through the opening 25 to place the nozzle in the drinking or extended configuration, where the nozzle 50 extends outwardly through the opening for use (Figure 3). With the nozzle 50 in the extended condition shown in Figure 3, an infant can place the suction portion in its mouth and invert the container to receive the liquid from the container through the opening at the end of the nozzle. The lid assembly may additionally include a protective cover 30 as seen particularly in Figure 4. The protective cover 30 is adapted to be placed over the seal 28 when attached to the edge, cap or cap, to prevent accidental breaking or removal of seal 28, and reduce the possibility of tampering with the container and its contents. To further improve resistance to tampering of the container, a sealing band (not shown in the drawings) may be placed around the edge of the cover and the adjacent portion of the container body 12, as is well known in the art. . Such a sealing band is designed so that the cover can not be removed from the container without damaging the sealing band, which provides a visual indication of the removal or tampering of the cover. With the cover in place (Figure 1), the seal 28 is hidden. The cover 30 of the preferred embodiment is marginally larger than the finishing edge or the cover 22 on top of which is, and may be formed with small edges projecting circumferentially apart around an internal side surface thereof that are against a lower edge of the cap edge or cap, to removably place the cover in place when it is placed on top of the cap. the finishing edge or the lid. Simple snap-fit caps of this type are well known in the field of disposable beverage and food containers. The cover is preferably placed over the finishing edge or the lid in a relatively narrow manner to avoid wasting space taken by it. The cover can be placed back on the container after the initial use thereof, but due to the closing fit between the cover and the finishing edge or the lid in the preferred form of the invention, the nozzle should be placed back in place. the storage configuration before repositioning the cover. This is done by pressing the suction portion 56 of the nozzle down towards the opening 25, so that the nozzle then remains at least substantially below the level of the annular portion 24. This allows the cover to be placed over the edge of the nozzle 24 again. cap or cap without interfering with the nozzle, even when the cap is placed closely over the opening from which nozzle 50 extends when in use. It may be desirable for the cover to be constructed with a locating structure such as a low annular wall or circular indentation around the center of the inner surface of the cover. Such a location structure would be dimensioned so that the end of the nozzle in the extended condition would rest therein when the cover is repositioned, so that the nozzle could be manipulated more easily from the condition extended to the collapsed by the pressure of the cover during the replacement of it. A particular advantage of the cap and nozzle according to the embodiments of the invention, when applied to disposable, pre-filled drinking containers, is the ease of use. A disposable, pre-filled drinking container 10 can be purchased, for example, in a supermarket or similar in the condition shown in Figure 1 or in the cross-sectional view of Figure 5. The container 10 already contains a suitable drinkable liquid 13 (see Figure 5), such as apple juice, and is sterilized and sealed against contamination at the time of manufacture, more particularly by seal 28, which conceals nozzle 50. To use the drinking container, whoever pays attention to children needs only to remove the protective cover 30 and releasing the seal 28. The nozzle 50 is then exposed within the opening 25, and to use it it must be extended from the storage configuration to the drinking configuration. This is easily done without having to remove the nozzle, and in this way the drinking container is prepared to be used with a minimum of effort. The procedure for the use of a disposable, pre-filled drinking container 10 is illustrated in the sequence of drawings comprising Figures 5 to 8. Figure 5 shows the container in a sealed condition, which is the condition in which a The consumer would typically buy the sealed pre-filled container. Any seal band that can be provided around the edge of the protective cover 30 is not shown in the drawings. The protective cover 30, as discussed above, is preferably placed under pressure on the edge of the cap or of the cap 22, and is thus easily removed by a user, such as the one providing provides care to children or the like. The container 10 without the protective cover is shown in a side cross-sectional view in Figure 6. The seal 28 is then removed from the container 10, which exposes the nozzle 50 below for user access. To use the drinking container 10 it is then necessary for the user to remove the nozzle 50 from the storage configuration, which is shown in Figures 5 and 6. There are several ways in which the nozzle 50 can be extracted from the storage configuration to the drinking configuration, and one is illustrated in Figure 7. In particular, the end of the nozzle can be clamped between the fingers of the user and gently pulled upwards to extract the nozzle through the opening 25. The nozzle can be extracted by increasing the internal pressure of the container 10 with respect to the atmospheric pressure to form forcing the nozzle 50 of vessel towards the extended configuration. When the container 10 is constructed of a flexible material, pressing or pressing gently on the external surface of the container body 12 can generate this increase in internal pressure. In an alternative, the nozzle can be constructed with a spring that deflects it toward the extended condition. In that case, the nozzle 50 can be constructed to spring outwardly from the collapsed configuration to the drinking configuration automatically after the removal of the seal 28. This is particularly advantageous to facilitate the first use of the drinking container, but creates problems if you want to return the nozzle to the storage configuration. Thus, if the nozzle is constructed in that manner, it may be advantageous to provide a cover that can be placed on the nozzle when in the extended condition for protection of the nozzle after removing the seal therefrom, if desired . The nozzle may be provided with the necessary spring deflection due to the nature of the material from which it is constructed, although it may be found that the thickness of the nozzle wall is required to be thicker in that case, as compared to the construction of the nozzle wall. the nozzle discussed above, which is stable in both extended and storage configurations. The additional wall thickness of the material from which the nozzle is constructed can be used to provide an increase in the elasticity of the nozzle and its ability to return to its extended configuration shape. The container 10 is shown in a side cross-sectional view with the nozzle 50 in the extended configuration in Figure 8. Referring particularly to Figures 9,
, 11 and 12, a nozzle 50 is shown in side views and in cross section in both extended and collapsed configurations. The nozzle 50 is preferably constructed of a relatively soft, inert non-toxic and moldable material, which is suitable for infants to place in their mouths. Silicone rubber is a suitable material, and other materials, such as plastics and / or rubbers, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The nozzle 50 is preferably formed by molding, and the type of molding technique employed may depend on the material from which the nozzle is to be constructed. The nozzle is preferably molded in the shape of the extended configuration (Figures 9 and 10), and then manipulated to the storage configuration (Figures 11 and 12) during the manufacture of the lid assembly 20. The nozzle, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. Figures 9 to 12, comprises a connecting portion 52, a suction portion 56 having a small drinking hole at the end thereof, and a connecting portion 54 intermediate the joining and suction portions. The connecting portion 52 comprises a flat annular flange, which is used to secure the nozzle to the edge of the cap or the cap 22 and / or the body of the container 12. The connecting portion 54, as shown in Figures 9 and 10 comprises a frusto-conical shape, which inclines from the inner surface of the annular attachment portion 52 and the base of the suction portion 56 having a smaller diameter. The suction portion 56 is generally conical in shape, extends from its junction with the connection portion to an end which contains the drinking hole (the drinking hole is not marked in the drawings). The suction portion of the nozzle may, of course, be constructed in any suitable form or may, for example, be formed substantially cylindrically with a bulb at the end thereof, or otherwise, in accordance with the appropriate forms established for drinking nozzles for infants. The preferred nozzle has two stable configurations, namely the extended configuration and the collapsed configuration as illustrated in lateral cross-section in Figures 10 and 12, respectively. The main difference between the two configurations is in the arrangement of the connection portion 54, which is inverted in the collapsed configuration. Where the connection portion of the nozzle is indicated as inverted, this means that the surface of the nozzle, which is normally oriented outward, in the inverted condition, is oriented inward, and vice versa. In the present case, this also means that the connecting portion 54 extends in the opposite direction also, for example, extending downward while inverted, upwardly opposite when it is not inverted. With the nozzle in the storage configuration (Figures 11 and 12), the connecting portion 54 extends downwardly from the attachment portion 52, and the suction portion 56 extends upwardly from its junction with the connection portion at the less substantially back towards the plane of the joint portion. On the other hand, with the nozzle in the drinking configuration (Figures 9 and 10), the connecting portion 54 extends upwardly from the attachment portion 52, and the suction portion 56 extends further up the end of the same Because the nozzle, in the storage configuration, is at least substantially below the plane of the joint portion, which in use is attached below the annular portion 24 of the trim edge or the lid, the seal 28 can be applied to the upper surface of the cap seal or cap without interfering with the nozzle during manufacture. Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of a particular shape of the nozzle 50 '. The nozzle 50 'is molded with formations that facilitate the two stable configurations of the nozzle as discussed above. In particular, the nozzle 50 'is provided with a circumferential groove 60' around it at the junction of the connection and suction portions 54 ', 56'. The slot 60 'facilitates bending or flexing there, which makes the nozzle more stable in the collapsed configuration. A similar groove formation 62 'may be provided at the junction of the connecting and joining portions 54', 52 ', for the same reasons. The formation of the grooves 60 ', 62' may be accompanied by the formation of corresponding ridges on the nozzle if the formation of the groove in other circumstances results in an unacceptable thinning or weakening of the material of the nozzle wall. Again referring to Figure 13, the nozzle 50 'may be provided with one or more surface formations, preferably on the inner surface thereof. For example, one or more reinforcing formations may be provided on the suction portion of the nozzle 56 ', for the purpose of reducing any tendency of the diametrically opposed surfaces of the nozzle to be bent over one another during the suction thereof. For example, one or more circumferential reinforcement ribs 64 'may be provided on the inner surface of the suction portion of the nozzle 56'. Alternatively, or, in addition, one or more reinforcement ribs extending longitudinally of the nozzle for the same purpose may be provided. The container body 12 of the prefilled, disposable drinking container 10 is preferably constructed of a plastic material, such as recyclable PET or other suitable plastic materials for drinking containers as is known in the art. Other materials may be used for the construction of the container body 12, alternatively, such as glass, metal or laminated cardboard, although plastic is preferred for several reasons, including its light weight and the ability to easily seal containers made of plastic. The manufacture of the container body preferably involves molding in a known manner, the details of which depend on the construction material. The blow molding technique can be used, for example. The cap edge or cap is also preferably constructed of plastic, although other suitable materials may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The finishing edge or the lid can be constructed of a different type of plastic than the body of the container, and can be formed of, for example, a polyethylene or polystyrene of suitable density. Of course, the manufacturing technique used to form the finishing edge or the lid may also depend on the material used, injection molding may be found appropriate for suitable materials. As mentioned, the nozzle is preferably molded in the extended configuration, and can be manipulated in the collapsed configuration either before or after being coupled with the cap edge or cap. In the preferred manufacturing process, the lid assembly including at least one cap or lid portion, nozzle and seal are manufactured as a unit, before being placed in the body of the pre-filled container. For example, the finishing edge or the cap and the nozzle are molded separately and the seal is cut from a sheet material. The nozzle is then placed inside the finishing edge or the lid by inserting it from underneath it. Simultaneously, the nozzle can be manipulated towards the collapsed configuration by applying compressive forces opposite the joining portion and the end of the suction portion along the nozzle extension axis. Alternatively, the nozzle can be manipulated into the collapsed configuration during or immediately after the removal of the mold. The nozzle can be secured to the edge of the cap or the cap by friction adjustment, or a foreign adhesive may be employed, as appropriate. The seal is then applied to the upper surface of the annular portion of the finishing edge or of the cap, using an adhesive, heat seal or any other suitable sealing method that is evident to those skilled in the art. This completes the formation of the lid assembly, and the cover, if required, can be placed on it before or after placing the lid assembly on the body of the container. If a sealing band or cover is also desired, it should preferably be applied after the cap assembly is placed on the container, since the sealing band or cover should also be placed on a portion of the container body to provide the indication visual aforementioned removal and tampering of the lid. The body of the container is formed and then filled with a drinkable liquid. The cap assembly is then placed and sealed therein, sealing the liquid contents of the container and the nozzle therein. The cap edge or cap can be attached to the mouth of the container body in any appropriate manner that is evident to those skilled in the art, such as by the use of adhesives or heat sealing. However, in the preferred form of the invention, the attachment portion of the nozzle itself is used to seal the lid assembly to the body of the container. As shown particularly in Figure 14, the rim 52 of the nozzle can be arranged to interpose between the internal surface of the rim or cap and the rim of the mouth of the container body, so that when the assembly of The cap is placed on the body of the container, the lip of the nozzle provides a seal between them. This is particularly advantageous where the nozzle is constructed of a relatively soft material such as silicone rubber, which allows some compression and provides excellent sealing characteristics. Although the seal can be provided by the nozzle flange, it is necessary that the finishing edge or the lid be secured to the body of the container, and it is preferred that this be effected using edges and / or inter-coupling grooves formed around the container. external circumference of the mouth of the body of the container and the internal circumference of the rim of the finishing edge or of the lid. For example, the construction illustrated in Figure 14 shows a circumferential edge 70 formed on the outer surface of the mouth of the container body, interengaged with a corresponding circumferential groove 72 and the edge 74 formed on the inner surface of the rim of the rim edge. or cover 24. The adjustment tolerances between the finishing edge or the cover and the mouth of the container body are such that, when the edges and / or corresponding grooves are interlocked in a secure manner, pressure is applied to the nozzle flange between the edge of the mouth and the finishing edge or the lid to provide a good seal. As an alternative, the internal surface of the edge of the cap or of the lid and the external surface of the mouth of the container body can be formed with helical screw threads, so that they can be interlocked in a threaded manner, and screwed together until that they seal. This form of joining is not preferred in the present case because it is neither necessary nor desirable that the edge of the cap or the lid 'be removable from the body of the container, as would be admitted with a threaded connection. Figures 15 to 19 illustrate another form of drinking container 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The drinking container 100 is similar, generally, to the container 10 described above, although with a modified construction of the lid assembly. The different form of the lid assembly is clearly seen in Figure 19, which is a central side cross-sectional view of the lid assembly 110 of the container 100. In this form of the lid assembly of the drinking container, the finishing edge or the lid 112 and the sealing portion 120 are, in fact, integrally formed, which avoids any possible difficulties with the attachment of a seal to the surface of the finishing edge or of the lid. Figure 17 is a top perspective view of the cap assembly 110 of the modified form of the container 100. The cap assembly 110 comprises a cap edge or cap 112, which is substantially the same as the cap edge or cap. of the lid 22 described hereinabove, with a flat annular top surface 114 and a downwardly extending flange portion 116, by which the cap edge or the cap is secured to the mouth of the container body. However, at the time of manufacture, the finishing edge or lid 112 is not formed with a central opening, as in the case of the finishing edge or lid 22, but with a removable, integrally molded sealing portion. and located at the center 120. The sealing portion 120 projects upwards from the center of the cap edge or the cap, above the flat annular surface 114, and is attached to the inner edge of the annular portion by means of a fragile marginal wall section 115 (indicated with the help of a dotted line in Figure 15). As can be seen in the cross-sectional view of the finishing edge or lid and the sealing portion shown in Figure 19, the sealing portion 120 is hollow in construction and very similar to the suction end of the nozzle in FIG. yes. The inner surface of the end of the sealing portion will preferably be formed to conform very closely to the shape of the outer surface of the end of the nozzle. This allows the end of the nozzle to be accommodated within the hollow interior of the sealing portion while the container is in the sealed condition, which has several advantages. For example, with the inner surface of the sealing portion closely surrounding the end of the nozzle containing the drinking aperture, the possibility of leakage of liquid from the container body through the opening into the space within the cap assembly is reduce to a minimum. The liquid can not flow freely through the drinking opening of the nozzle, since the opening is too small to allow this, and in any case come into contact with the surface of the sealing portion. The drinking opening can, in fact, be in the form of a small slot or the like, which does not allow the passage of liquid therethrough in the absence of a pressure difference or deformation of the nozzle in the opening. Since the sealing portion is molded from the same plastic material as the finishing edge or lid, it is relatively rigid, to substantially prevent deformation of the nozzle. In addition, a relative increase in pressure in the container body, such as may occur if the container is squeezed or dropped, causes the end of the nozzle with the opening to be pressed more firmly against the inner surface of the end. of the sealing portion, further reducing the probability of leakage of the liquid. An edge may additionally be formed around the inner surface of the sealing portion towards the end thereof, to marginally push around the outer surface of the nozzle towards the end of the nozzle end seal from the space between the nozzles. external surfaces of the mouthpiece and internal lid. It is preferred that the sealing portion 120 does not project from the cap edge or cap to the entire extent of the nozzle 130, since the greater the degree of projection of the sealing portion, the greater the possibility that the sealing the sealing portion and the finishing edge or lid can be inadvertently broken. Accordingly, it is preferred that the sealing portion project only a fraction of the length of the nozzle extension, with approximately half the length of the nozzle. For example, if the longitudinal length of the nozzle is of the order of 3 to 4 centimeters, then the degree of projection of the sealing portion may be of the order of 1.5 to 2 centimeters. In this way the nozzle is required to collapse or partially invert under the cap edge or cap as shown in Figure 19, but not to the same extent as in the case of the flat seal described above. In this form of the drinking container (100), as mentioned, the sealing portion 120 is formed integrally with the cap edge or the cap 112, so that the cap edge of the cap and the sealing portion are manufactured together, making the manufacture and assembly of the drinking bowl easier. The cap edge or the cap on the sealing portion is molded with a fragile section of annular thinned wall, (115) therebetween, where the sealing portion 120 breaks off from the cap edge or cap 112, in use . As seen in the Figures, for example, the sealing portion is curved upwards (indicated at 122 in Figure 16) from the flat surface 114 of the finishing edge or the lid to a vertically extending section, so General, (124), which is then bent over a hemispherical end section (126), the diameter of which closely matches the external diameter of the end of the nozzle (see Figure 19). With the narrow fitting of the end of the interior of the sealing portion, the possibility of leakage of liquid from the container body through the opening at the end of the nozzle is generally reduced. Because the outer circumference of the hemispherical end portion of the nozzle is placed closely to the inner surface of the hemispherical sealing portion, if a relative increase in internal pressure occurs within the container body, it tends to press to flexible nozzle more strongly against the inner surface of the sealing portion to prevent leakage of the end thereof. The annular thinned wall section (115) between the cap edge or the cap and the sealing portion may be only of the order of one millimeter or similar in width, and is preferably one millimeter or less in thickness. The actual wall thickness may depend on the material from which the cap or cap edge and the sealing portion are molded, and also on the desired force that is required to be applied to cause the seal portion to breach fragilely. edge of cap or cap. For example, the wall thickness in the marginal fragile portion can be made slightly thicker if more force is required to facilitate the opening, or vice versa, as appropriate. In the preferred form of the invention, the sealing portion is provided with laterally extending flat tab portions 128, which project from opposite sides of the exterior of the sealing portion. These tongue portions are provided to facilitate the application of a transverse force by the user to the sealing portion to break the sealing portion 120 of the capping edge or lid 112. For example, the user can hold the bottle with two. hands and pressing on the tongues 128 on each side of the sealing portion with the thumbs to break the sealing portion without difficulty. Since the sealing portion 120 in this form of the invention projects somewhat from the edge of the cap or the cap and the end of the nozzle is placed between them with the sealed container, it is evident that the mouthpiece will not "collapse". "completely when the sealing portion is in place. However, since the sealing portion preferably does not project to the full extent of the nozzle, the nozzle never partially collapses within the lid assembly when sealed. When the sealing portion is removed, the sealing portion is pressed from one side and inclined to break the brittle seal, as illustrated in Figure 16. The end of the nozzle remains within the sealing portion during this operation until the sealing portion is completely removed of the finishing edge or the lid (Figures 17 and 18). After completing the removal, the suction portion of the nozzle is pulled out completely, towards its extended configuration, by the frictional forces resulting from the relatively close fit between it and the interior of the sealing portion, which is increased by a compression applied at the same time, on the sides of the sealing portion after such removal. However, it is preferred that the nozzle be able to complete the retraction towards the "collapsed" configuration, which can be particularly useful if all the contents of the bottle were not consumed at one time and it is desired to store the bottle with a lower probability of contamination of the nozzle. With the nozzle in the collapsed configuration, even if the cover is not used, the likelihood of any contamination is greatly reduced because the nozzle does not project above the surface 114 of the top edge or the top, and in this way the possibility of contact with the non-hygienic surface or object is reduced. As discussed above, however, a cover (not shown) can also be provided with the pre-filled drinking container, and this can be placed on the finishing edge or lid to store the bottle without its contents being finished yet. better protect the nozzle against pollution. The cover is equally applicable to both preferred forms of the invention described in detail above. In the case of the second described form of the invention, the cover, being placed on the sealing portion during transport and sale, can help to avoid inadvertent breaking of the sealing portion, for example. Alternatively, in this second form of the invention, the bulk packing of the bottles can be arranged to protect the protective seal portion during transport and the like. For example, cardboard packages, pallets or the like adapted to transport and / or store the bottles with recessed portions in which the sealing portions project and are relatively "protected against breakage" can be constructed.
In another alternative, the sealing portion 120 itself can be constructed to allow it to be repositioned in the opening formed in the cap edge or cap after the removal of the sealing portion. For example, the sealing portion 120 can be formed with one or more circumferential edges (not shown in the drawings) located marginally above the weak wall section in which they connect to the edge of the cap or the cap, adapted to keep the sealing portion in the opening of the finishing edge or lid to protect the retracted nozzle. A circumferential edge of diameter slightly larger than that of the opening of the edge of the cap or of the cap would allow the base of the sealing portion to be pressed back toward the opening without passing too far through it. The sealing portion would then be held in the opening by interference fit between the edge of the opening and the edge of the sealing portion, and preventing excessive insertion by means of the circumferential edge. If the edge of the sealing portion does not provide a sufficient interference fit with the edge of the cap or cap opening once the two have been separated, an additional appropriate size circumferential edge placed slightly below and a little is provided. separated from the edge to prevent excessive insertion. The separation of the two edges, in this case, may correspond to the thickness of the material of the finishing edge or of the cover and of the edge of the opening. Alternatively, the circumferential edges formed on the sealing portion 120 may be undesirable, and instead of ears or the like, tabs 128 may be formed adjacent to the base of the sealing portion, for the purpose of holding the sealing portion in place. the opening of the finishing edge or the lid to close the bottle again after removing the seal. In any case, it is preferred that the nozzle be recessed towards the container in this collapsed configuration before the sealing portion is repositioned. The process of removing the seal and opening the drinking container 100 for use is illustrated in the sequence of Figures 15, 16 and 17. Figure 15 shows the bottle in the unsealed condition with the sealing portion 120 integrally formed with the finishing edge or the lid 112. To use the bottle, the sealing portion 120 must be removed, and this is done by first applying a latex force to the projection of the sealing portion. For example, while holding the bottle with the hands a force may be applied to the tongues 128 with the thumbs. This causes the fragile thin-walled wall section 115 to break, breaking the seal formed by the lid. The sealing portion 120 is then removed from the edge of the cap or the cap 112, as shown in Figure 16. When the sealing portion is removed from the cap edge or cap of the nozzle 130 having its end placed inside the sealing portion, it is pulled out through the opening left by the sealing portion. With the sealing portion fully removed, the nozzle 130 extends completely from the bottle, ready for use, as seen in Figures 17 and 18. Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred form of the nozzle. 130. As can be seen in the drawing, the nozzle base has a substantially flat annular peripheral flange portion 132 from which the vertical suction portion 134 of the nozzle extends. The nozzle is preferably constructed with a circumferential groove 136 about half the extent of the nozzle between the flanged base and the end of the nozzle 138. This circumferential groove may comprise a thinned wall section with the groove formed therein towards the inside of the mouthpiece, as shown. The thinned wall slot facilitates the stability of the nozzle in the "collapsed" configuration. further, the connecting portion 140 of the intermediate nozzle to the portions of the suction base is preferably constructed to uniformly curve from the flanged base towards the projecting suction portion extending transversely, and the transverse curvature may be arcuate, so that The nozzle can be easily moved between the extended and collapsed configurations. With the connecting portion 140 of the nozzle constructed to be substantially parallel to the plane of the rim portion 132, where the two portions meet, it is not difficult to press the nozzle downward from the extended to the collapsed configuration, as it is not it requires significant bending in no region of the nozzle more than in the groove or thinned wall section mentioned above. It has been found that it is more suitable for the connection portion of the nozzle to uniformly curl the internal diameter of the flange of the base to the midpoint of the slot. Figure 21 illustrates the nozzle 130 in cross section in its collapsed configuration. Because it is intended that the nozzle 130 be used once, the thickness of the wall of the nozzle construction need not be as thick as that of the reusable nozzles, which allows a saving of the material used in the molding process. . For example, the wall of most nozzles 130 can be of the order of 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters in thickness, with the thickest material (eg 2 millimeters) in the flange of the base 132. Additionally, the hemispherical end section in which the opening for the liquid is provided (not shown) can also be constructed with a slightly thicker wall material. As shown in the drawings, the end portion of the nozzle may be slightly larger in diameter compared to the tubular axis thereof, for ease of use by an infant. In view of the advantageous sealing characteristics of drinking containers described herein, drinking containers constructed in accordance with the present invention are particularly well suited for prefilled, single use applications, in which the contents of the bottle are inserted already then the lid assembly with the nozzle applied to hygienically seal the contents in the container. It can, of course, be desirable to sterilize the bottle and cap assembly prior to insertion of the contents and assembly, but this can be done in any convenient manner known to those skilled in the art. Of course, care should be taken with regard to hygiene during assembly, such as by applying a sterilizing steam jet or the like to the interior of the lid assembly immediately before sealing the body of the container. Depending on the content and filling technique, a single-use, pre-filled drinking bottle according to one embodiment of the invention can be distributed for mass consumption by means of supermarkets and the like. Of course, infants' drinkable liquids are currently available in this manner but, as mentioned above, typically they require transfer to a drinking container, such as a reusable bottle with its inherent drawbacks and disadvantages, both from the point of view of hygiene as of convenience. Furthermore, the present invention is easily applicable to medical uses such as the distribution of drugs taken orally for the vaccination or treatment of infants, or simply to feed infants in postnatal nurseries of hospitals, where the sterile contents are particularly important and the use of bottled products is high. In addition, the invention can find useful application in the distribution of drugs or infant foods in remote parts of the world, perhaps with severe shortages, where the sterilization of the bottles and the content on the site is not possible or difficult. The bottles to drink, single-use, pre-filled, also solve other difficulties that arise in the supply of drinkable nutrients to children with severe deficiencies where it is improper to mix or dilute formulas or the like in circumstances where the drinkable fluid can be improperly handled with or should be mixed before use. It will immediately be apparent to those skilled in the art that the shape of the container and in particular the container body is not important to the principles of the invention, and that although a bottle / bottle form has been described and illustrated herein, it can be used Many other forms of container, constructed of different materials. In addition, although all of the embodiments described herein utilize a "cap edge" or "safety cap" to join the nozzle and container, those skilled in the art will recognize that various aspects of the present invention can be practiced without that the mouthpiece is joined in that way. Actually, is it possible that the mouthpiece can be coupled directly to the body? container or even be integrated to it if the known manufacturing techniques and / or materials are used.
Through this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprises", or variations such as "understood" or "comprising", shall be understood as meaning the inclusion of a whole number or groups of numbers integers, but not the exclusion of any integer or group of integers. The above detailed description of the present invention has been presented by way of example only, and is not intended to be construed as limiting the invention as defined in the appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.
Claims (42)
1. A disposable container, characterized in that it comprises a container body for containing a liquid and having a mouth in the upper part with an opening in it, through which the liquid can pass; and a lid assembly attached to the upper part of the container body, the lid assembly comprises a flexible nozzle in fluid communication with the container body through the opening in the upper part, a finishing edge or the lid attached to the assembly and sealing with the nozzle around, the finishing edge or the lid has an opening through which the nozzle can be projected, in use, and a removable sealing portion which, in a first configuration of the container, is hygienically sealed around the opening of the cap edge or cap to prevent ingress and egress of liquid or gas to and from the container, where the nozzle, in the first container configuration, is contained beneath the sealing portion; and wherein the sealing portion is removable from the finishing edge or from the lid to place the containers in a second configuration, so that the flexible nozzle can extend through the opening of the finishing edge or of the lid to project from the top of the container in condition for use.
2. The disposable container according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle has first and second stable configurations, so that in the first stable configuration the nozzle is partially inverted and in the second stable configuration the nozzle is fully extended.
3. The disposable container according to claim 2, characterized in that the nozzle is constructed with a peripheral rim at its base, which is maintained in the mouth of the bottle by means of a finishing edge or the lid, and where the nozzle in the first stable configuration is recessed in the mouth of the container so as not to project substantially through the opening of the finishing edge or of the lid. The disposable container according to claim 1, characterized in that the finishing edge or the lid includes a flange extending downwards, which is placed over the mouth of the container and is secured thereto by means of formations of interacoplamiénto on the internal surface of the edge of the edge of auction or the lid and the external surface of the mouth of the container. The disposable container according to claim 1, characterized in that the cap edge or the cap includes an annular portion, which defines the opening, and wherein the sealing portion is integrally constructed with the cap edge or of the cap and attached thereto with a fragile section to allow the sealing portion to be broken off from the cap edge or cap to form the opening. 6. The disposable container according to claim 5, characterized in that the sealing portion has a projection, which extends from the edge of the cap or the cap to allow a lateral force to be applied to it with respect to the edge of the cap. cap or cap to cause the sealing portion to break off the cap edge or cap. The disposable container according to claim 6, characterized in that the projection of the sealing portion has a hollow interior, which is adapted to accommodate a suction end of the nozzle with it when the sealing portion is attached to the edge. of cap or cap, and where the removal of the sealing portion of the cap edge or cap facilitates removal of the suction end of the nozzle from the cap edge or cap for use. 8. The disposable container according to claim 2, characterized in that the sealing portion comprises a flexible disc, which is welded by fusion or adhesively bonded to the edge of the cap or the cap forming a seal on the opening, and where the flexible disc is formed with a loose tongue, which can be held by the user to detach the sealing portion of the finishing edge or lid to expose the nozzle in the opening. The disposable container according to claim 8, characterized in that the nozzle is arranged in the first stable configuration with the sealing portion attached over the opening of the cap edge or the cap, and where the nozzle may extend through the cap. the opening after removal of the sealing portion toward the second stable configuration. 10. A container for drinking, for infants, disposable, characterized in that it comprises: a container body to contain a drinkable liquid, the body of the container has an open mouth; a nozzle having a suction portion for distributing the drinkable liquid through the mouth of the container body to an infant; and a lid having an integrally formed cap edge and a sealing portion; where the nozzle is constructed to cover the open mouth of the container body, and is held in place over the open mouth by the cap edge or the cap, which is attached to the body of the container around the mouth, where the cap edge or cover and the integrally formed sealing portion cover the suction portion in the nozzle against exposure to external contaminants and, together with the nozzle, form a hygienic seal over the open mouth of the container body to prevent the entry and exit of liquid and gaseous fluids in and out of the container; and wherein the sealing portion of the lid can be broken off from the edge of the cap or the lid by the user to expose the suction portion of the nozzle for use. The disposable drinking container according to claim 10, characterized in that the cap edge or cap is annular and has a sealing portion projecting centrally therefrom, the sealing portion and the edge of the cap. The cap or cap is joined by means of a brittle joining section constructed to break and allow the sealing portion to be broken off from the cap edge or the cap after a lateral force is applied between the cap edge or the cap. lid and the sealing portion. 12. The disposable drinking container according to claim 11, characterized in that the projecting sealing portion has a hollow interior, which has one end of the suction portion of the nozzle fitted thereto. 13. The disposable drinking container according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the lid is molded in one piece from plastic material. 1
4. The disposable drinking container according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the finishing edge or the lid is attached to the body of the container - so that it can not be removed by the user. 1
5. The disposable drinking container according to claim 11, characterized in that the brittle joining section comprises a ring with a reduced wall thickness. 1
6. The disposable drinking container according to claim 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that the nozzle is constructed with a base having a peripheral rim, the suction portion projecting from the center of the base, and where the peripheral flange is maintained between an edge of the container body defining the open mouth and the finishing edge or the lid to thereby ensure the nozzle to the container body and facilitate the hygienic seal between the container body and the container. top. 1
7. The disposable drinking container according to claim 16, characterized in that the. The peripheral rim of the nozzle is substantially planar and the suction portion projects substantially at right angles from the center thereof with the base curving uniformly from the rim to the projecting suction portion. 1
8. The disposable drinking container according to claim 17, characterized in that the nozzle is also constructed with a region of bending or bending between the base and the suction portion, which facilitates the partial and stable inversion of the base of the nozzle by moving one end of the suction portion of the nozzle towards the plane of the rim to place the nozzle in a collapsed configuration. The disposable drinking container according to claim 18, characterized in that the bending or bending region comprises a circumferential groove or ring of reduced wall thickness around the interior of the nozzle. 20. The drinking container, disposable, according to claim 18, characterized in that the end of the suction portion of the nozzle, in the collapsed configuration, is positioned near the plane of an upper surface of the finishing edge or of the lid. 21. The disposable drinking container according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the separation of the sealing portion from the finishing edge or the lid creates a central round opening in the finishing edge or the lid, through which the suction portion of the nozzle is projected. 22. The disposable drinking container according to claim 21, characterized in that the sealing portion can be placed back into the central round opening to protect the nozzle from contaminants. 23. The disposable drinking container according to claim 22, characterized in that the sealing portion is constructed with peripheral formations, which are interengaged with the cap edge or cap to hold the sealing portion in place. when it is placed back in the central opening. 24. A closure for a drinking container, characterized in that it comprises a finishing edge or lid with a substantially flat upper panel having a connecting portion extending from the outer edge thereof, the joining portion is adapted for positioned and fixed over the mouth of a drinking container, and a sealing portion extending upwardly from the center of the upper panel, the sealing portion is joined and sealed around the inner edge of the annular top panel by means of a section of brittle connection, which allows the sealing portion to be broken off from the joint portion after the application of a transverse force on the sealing portion with respect to the joint portion by a user's fingers, the closure comprises, in addition , a flexible nozzle adapted to be sucked by an infant, wherein the sealing portion and the nozzle are constructed so that one end of the nozzle is colored The inside of the hollow interior of the sealing portion extends through an opening formed in the joint portion when the sealing portion is removed. 25. The closure according to the container 24, characterized in that the nozzle has a base with an annular peripheral rim which is placed inside a joining portion, a suction portion of the nozzle has an end of the nozzle therein extending from the base, and where the interior of the hollow seal portion is placed very close around the end of the nozzle to reduce the likelihood of leakage of liquids from the suction opening at the end of the nozzle, in use. 26. The closure according to claim 24, characterized in that the connecting portion and the sealing portion are molded from a plastic material in one piece, the connecting section comprises a ring of "reduced thickness" plastic material. . 27. The closure in accordance with the container 25, characterized in that the sealing portion projects from the joining portion a fraction of the extension of the suction portion of the nozzle from the base, so that the nozzle partially collapses within the closure when the end of the nozzle it is placed inside the sealing portion and the flange of the base within the joint portion. 28. The closure according to the container 24, characterized in that the sealing portion has a peripheral edge at this junction with the connecting section, and wherein the sealing portion is constructed with at least one formation adjacent to the peripheral edge to inter-engage with at least one area of the inner edge of the joint portion, so that the sealing portion can be repositioned and secured to the joint portion after removing the seal and removing it. The closure according to claim 24, characterized in that the sealing portion is constructed with at least one flat tab portion to facilitate the application of the transverse force to the sealing portion by a user's fingers. The closure according to claim 28, characterized in that the sealing portion is constructed with at least one flat tab portion to facilitate the application of the transverse force to the sealing portion with the fingers of the user, and where at least a formation is arranged in a joint of at least one portion of flat tongue with the peripheral edge. 31. A method for forming a disposable drinking container for infants, characterized in that it comprises: molding a container body having an open mouth, molding a flexible suction nozzle adapted to be connected over the mouth opening of the container body , molding a one-piece lid having a central sealing portion formed integrally but removably, attaching the lid around the mouth of the container body to hold the nozzle over the opening and sealing the drinking container, where the sealing portion Removable can be broken from the rest of the lid to remove the seal from the container and expose the nozzle. 32. The method according to claim 31, characterized in that it includes fng the container with a drinkable liquid before joining the lid. 33. The method according to claim 31 or 32, characterized in that it includes the step of sterilizing the interior of the container before sealing it. 34. The method according to claim 31, characterized in that the lid is attached to the container body so that it is not easily removable by the user of the container, except the sealing portion. 35. The method according to claim 31, characterized in that it includes the step of placing one end of the nozzle in a hollow interior of the sealing portion of the lid before attaching the lid to the body of the container. 36. A disposable, single-use drinking container, characterized in that it includes a bottle or bottle of. flexible plastic that contains a drinkable liquid and is sealed by a lid assembly, the lid assembly comprises a lid having an opening with a nozzle therein and a removable seal, which is attached over the opening when the container is in condition sealed, the nozzle collapses towards the container when it is in a sealed condition, but can be withdrawn into an extended configuration to project from the bottle or flask after removal of the seal over the opening. 37. The drinking container according to claim 36, characterized in that the nozzle comprises a flange portion for attaching the nozzle to the container, a nozzle portion having an opening for distributing liquid therein and adapted to be sucked by a nozzle. infant, and an intermediate base portion to the flange portion and the suction portion, and where the base portion of the nozzle, in the sealed condition of the container, it is inverted in comparison with the extended configuration of the nozzle when the nozzle projects from the bottle or flask after removal of the seal. 38. The drinking container according to claim 37, characterized in that the nozzle is stable in both the extended configuration and the collapsed configuration with the base portion thereof inverted, and where the nozzle can be extracted from the configuration collapsed to the extended configuration by holding the suction portion thereof between the tips of the fingers and extracting from the bottle or flask, or by squeezing the bottle or flask. 3
9. A single-use, disposable drinking container, characterized in that it comprises a flexible plastic bottle or flask containing a drinkable liquid, the bottle or flask has an opening with an edge, which is sealed by a lid assembly , the lid assembly comprises a lid having a central opening, a nozzle placed in the lid and a flexible removable seal, which is attached to the lid over the opening when the container is in a sealed condition, the nozzle has a portion of peripheral flange, which is pressed between the edge of the bottle or bottle and an inner surface of the lid with the lid fixed to the bottle or flask, the nozzle collapses towards the container when it is in sealed condition but can be withdrawn towards an extended configuration for projecting from the bottle or flask after the removal of the seal on the opening. 40. The drinking container according to claim 39, characterized in that the nozzle has a suction portion extending from the flange portion having a liquid distribution opening therein and which is adapted to be sucked by an infant. , and an intermediate base portion to the flange portion and the suction portion, and wherein the base portion of the nozzle, in the sealed condition of the container, is inverted compared to the extended nozzle configuration when the nozzle projects from the bottle or bottle after the removal of the seal. 41. The drinking container according to claim 40, characterized in that the nozzle is stable in shape both in the extended configuration and in the collapsed configuration with the base portion thereof inverted, and wherein the drinking container is placed in a condition to be used from the sealed condition by peeling off the cap seal and removing the nozzle from the collapsed configuration to the extended configuration, holding the suction portion thereof between the tips of the fingers and pulling from the bottle or vial, or squeezing the bottle or jar. 42. A closure for a drinking container, characterized in that it comprises a lid having an edge portion adapted to be joined over the mouth of a drinking container and an integrally formed central portion, which is sealed to the edge portion of the container. so that, with the edge portion attached over the mouth of the drinking container, the interior of the drinking container is sealed from the outside thereof, the central portion is formed with a hollow interior, and a flexible nozzle having a peripheral rim , which can be attached to the edge portion of the cap and the end of the nipple, which is adapted to closely interengage with the interior of the hollow of the central portion, where the central portion in use is fragilely removable. the edge portion to expose the nipple end.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| POPO6131 | 1997-04-11 | ||
| PPPP0523 | 1997-11-24 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| MXPA99009301A true MXPA99009301A (en) | 2000-12-06 |
Family
ID=
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