WO2004074128A1

WO2004074128A1 - Bottle cap

Info

Publication number: WO2004074128A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/000318
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyun-Soo Chung
Original assignee: Hyun-Soo Chung
Priority date: 2003-02-19
Filing date: 2004-02-17
Publication date: 2004-09-02
Also published as: KR100503761B1; KR20040074493A

Abstract

A bottle cap is disclosed, which displays an opened state and cannot contain contents again once it is opened. In the bottle cap comprising a cap having a screw formed on its inner surface to be engaged with a screw formed on an outer surface of a nozzle of a bottle, a reverse screw rod fixed to a lower portion at the center of the cap, having a reverse screw positioned in a direction opposite to the screw of the cap at a pitch greater than that of the screw of the cap, a rod shaped nut having a screw engaged with the reverse screw rod and moving up and down in a screw direction without rotation, a display installed in the lower portion of the nut, displaying an opened state of the cap by moving downwardly by being pushed by the nut if the cap is opened so as to allow some portion to be hung in the nozzle, and a guide fixed into the nozzle, guiding up and down movement of the nut so as not to avoid rotation of the nut, wherein a plurality of air vents are formed in the guide and pass through upper and lower portions, a heart shaped hanging portion is formed in a certain height of the air vents, and a ball greater than the air vents is provided in the hanging portion.

Description

BOTTLE CAP

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a bottle cap, and more particularly, to a bottle cap that displays an opened state and cannot contain contents again once it is opened.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, there are different kinds of products that contain contents such as liquid. The most general product is completed by sealing a bottle with a bottle cap after containing contents in the bottle. The bottle is of glass, plastic, and metal.

Such a bottle product includes a bottle and a bottle cap. There are different kinds of bottle caps. - That is, there is a simple bottle cap that can be opened using an opener. There is another bottle cap that can be opened by turning the cap through a screw. In this case, the screw is formed on an outer surface of a nozzle of the bottle and is engaged with a screw formed in the bottle.

The products based on the above bottle caps do not have any special problems in case that they contain cheap contents. However, in case that they contain expensive contents, problems are likely to occur. That is, the expensive contents may be exchanged with the cheap contents .

To prevent such a problem, various methods ^• for sealing a bottle cap are being contrived but there is no method for solving the problem at present.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings :

Fig. 1 is a partially cut perspective view illustrating the state that a bottle cap of the present invention is inserted into a bottle;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a bottle cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1, illustrating that the state that a bottle cap is closed;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1, illustrating that the state that a bottle cap is opened;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 1, illustrating that the state that a bottle cap is closed; FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the state that contents in a bottle flow out as a bottle cap is opened;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the state that a bottle cap according to the present invention is inclined at 90°;

FIG. 8 illustrates an assembly of a guide member that is an element of the bottle cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a bottle cap according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating a bottle cap and a bottle in a state that the bottle is inclined. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEMS

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a bottle cap that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bottle cap that displays an opened state and cannot contain contents again once it is opened.

TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, in a bottle cap comprising a cap having a screw formed on its inner surface to be engaged with a screw formed on an outer surface of a nozzle of a bottle, a reverse screw rod fixed to a lower portion at the center of the cap, having a reverse screw positioned in a direction opposite to the screw of the cap at a pitch greater than that of the screw of the cap, a rod shaped nut having a screw engaged with the reverse screw rod and moving up and down in a screw direction without rotation, a display installed in the lower portion of the nut, displaying an opened state of the cap by moving downwardly by being pushed by the nut if the cap is opened so as to allow some portion to be hung in the nozzle, and a guide fixed into the nozzle, guiding up and down movement of the nut so as not to avoid rotation of the nut, wherein a plurality of air vents are formed in the guide and pass through upper and lower portions, a heart shaped hanging portion is formed in a certain height of the air vents, and a ball greater than the air vents is provided in the hanging portion.

The display includes a base having a slit with a protrusion formed at both ends, two facing hanging members having one sides fitted into the slit of the base and hung in the protrusion with splitting outwardly if it is removed from the nozzle by elasticity, and an elastic means formed between the hanging members, providing elasticity, the base including air vents extended to the center of the nut so that contents in the bottle move, a heart shaped hanging portion is formed in a certain height of the air vents, and a ball greater than the air vents is provided in the hanging portion.

APPLICABLE ADVANTAGES The bottle cap according to the present invention has the following advantages.

Since the hanging members of the display are hung in the lower portion of the nozzle once the bottle cap is opened, it is possible to recognize the fact that the bottle cap has been opened and to fail to insert the contents into the bottle.

Furthermore, a diameter enlarged portion in which a heart shaped hanging portion and a ball are mounted is formed in air vents so as to prevent contents from being outwardly inserted into the bottle.

Moreover, since a straw is connected to the bottom of the bottle through air vents, contents in the bottle can promptly be poured out.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated herein with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various . modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a partially cut perspective view illustrating the state that a bottle cap of the present invention is inserted into a bottle, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a bottle cap according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1, illustrating that the state that a bottle cap is closed, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1, illustrating that the state that a bottle cap is opened, FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line V-V of FIG. 1, illustrating that the state that a bottle cap is closed, FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the state that contents in a bottle flow out as a bottle cap is opened, FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the state that a bottle cap according to the present invention is inclined at 90°, FIG. 8 illustrates an assembly of a guide member that is an element of the bottle cap according to the present invention, FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a bottle cap according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating a bottle cap and a bottle in a state that the bottle is inclined.

Fig. 1 is a partially cut perspective view illustrating the state that a bottle cap of the present invention is inserted into a bottle. Parts inside ^'the bottle cap are shown in FIG. 1. A bottle cap 2 includes a screw formed on its inner surface. This screw is engaged with a screw formed on an outer surface of a nozzle la of a bottle 1. The bottle cap 2 includes a hole formed at the center and a reverse screw rod 5. The reverse screw rod 5 is fixed to the hole and has a reverse screw 5a. The reverse screw 5a is positioned in a direction opposite to the screw of the nozzle la and has a large pitch. The reverse screw rod 5 is threaded into a rod shaped nut 4 and the bottle cap 2 is fastened to the nozzle la so that the upper portion of the reverse screw rod 5 is inserted into the hole of the bottle cap 2. The reverse screw rod 5 is then fixed to the bottle cap 2 by an adhesive or a heat melting method so that it is rotated with the bottle cap 2. The reverse screw rod 5 is engaged with the nut 4 ^' having a screw 4b. The screw 4b is guided to move up and down and at the same time is engaged with the reverse screw rod 5. A guide member 3 is formed on an outer surface of the nut A and is fixed into the nozzle la. The guide member 3 guides the nut 4 to be prevented from being rotated. A protrusion 3a is formed in the guide member 3 and is protruded inwardly at a certain height from the lower portion of the guide member 3. The protrusion 3a is engaged with a groove 4a formed on the outer surface of the nut 4. This structure is shown in FIG. 2. The nut 4 moves up and down but is not rotated.

Further, four air vents 3b are formed in the guide member 3 in a vertical direction, and a heart shaped hanging portion 3c is formed in a predetermined position of the air vents 3b. A ball 10' is provided in the hanging portion 3c. Since the ball 10' has a diameter greater than that of the air vents 3b, it blocks the air vents 3b in a state that the bottle is upright. If the bottle is inclined as shown in FIG. 6, the ball 10' is hung in the hanging portion 3c so that the air vents 3b are ventilated. A diameter enlarged portion 3d is formed in a lower portion of the hanging portion 3c at the same diameter as that of the ball 10' . In this case, in a state that the bottle is upright, the ball 10' is positioned at the lower portion of the diameter enlarged portion 3d. Thus, it is possible to prevent any foreign material from being inserted into the bottle by inclining the bottle at a certain angle. Also, since the air vents are bent, it is difficult to push the ball 10' using a thin member such as a wire in a state that the bottle is inclined at a certain angle. Four protrusions 3e are formed on the circumference of the guide member 3 so that they are fitted into a groove lb formed in the nozzle of the bottle. The protrusions 3e gradually become smaller toward their lower portions. Therefore, once the guide member 3 is fixed into the bottle cap during the assembly process of the bottle <-vιp, it i difficult to take the guide member 3 out. Also, the guide member 3 is not rotated because it is tightly fixed into the bottle cap.

A cap shaped bearing 6 is provided at the lower portion of the nut 4 and the reverse screw rod 5. The bearing 6 includes grooves 6a and 6b. The groove 6a is formed at the center on the bearing 6. The lower portion of the reverse screw rod 5 is inserted into the groove 6a. The protrusion 3a of the guide member 3 is fitted into the groove 6b, so that the bearing is not rotated in the same manner as the nut 4. Therefore, if the nut 4 moves downwardly, the bearing moves downwardly by being pushed by the nut 4 in a state that it is not rotated. As shown in FIGs . 2, 5, and 6, the bearing 6 is provided with a passage 6c that moves contents in the bottle. The passage 6c is formed toward the groove 6a which is in contact with the lower portion of the reverse screw rod 5.

A display is provided in the lower portion of the bearing 6 and displays the state that the bottle cap has been opened. The display, as shown in FIGs. 1 and 2, includes a base 7, two facing hanging members 8, and a compressed spring 9. The base 7 has a slit 7a with a protrusion 7b formed at both ends. The one ends of the hanging members 8 are fitted into the slit 7a of the base and are hung in the protrusion 7b with being split outwardly if it is removed from the nozzle by elasticity. The compressed spring 9 is formed between the hanging members 8 and provides elasticity. Three passages 7c are respectively formed up and down in a symmetrical direction with respect to the center in a portion where the slit 7a of the base 7 is not formed, so that contents in the bottle move. A heart shaped hanging portion 7d and a diameter enlarged portion 7e are formed in the passages 7c in the same manner as the heart shaped hanging portion 3c and the diameter enlarged portion 3d of the guide member 3. A ball 10 is respectively provided in the passages 7c. The ball 10 serves to fail to put contents in the bottle through the nozzle la. The passages 7c are respectively positioned to be connected with the passage 6c of the bearing 6. A reference numeral 8a denotes a groove to which the spring 9 of the hanging members 8 is partially inserted.

The operation of the aforementioned bottle cap according to the present invention will now be described. If a user turns the bottle cap 2 to open the bottle cap 2, as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 6, the bottle cap 2 moves upwardly and the nut 4 engaged with the reverse screw rod 5 moves downwardly without rotation under the guide of the guide member 3. If the nut 4 moves downwardly, the bearing 6 also moves downwardly without rotation under the guide of the guide member 3 and pushes downwardly the display including the hanging members 8 and the base 7. If the upper portions of the hanging members 8 pass through the lower portion of the nozzle la, as shown in FIGs. 4 and 6, the hanging members 8 move outwardly by means of elasticity of the spring 9. As a result, the hanging members 8 are hung in the protrusion 7b. In this case, the display cannot be taken out as far as the bottle is not broken.

If the bottle cap 2 is removed, the user cannot ^' put contents in the bottle because the ball 10 blocks the passages 7c of the base 7. In this state, if the user inclines the bottle 1, as shown in FIG. 6, contents in the bottle 1 are taken out through the passages 7c of the base 7, the passage 6c of the bearing 6, and the portion where the reverse screw rod 5 is removed. The contents in the bottle 1 are easily taken out because the ball 10 hung in the protrusion 7d does not block the passages. Air is also circulated through the air vents 3b so that the contents can be taken out more easily.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the state that the bottle is inclined at 90°. In this state, since the ball blocks the air vents, contents cannot be poured into the bottle through the air vents.

FIG. 8 illustrates an assembly of the guide member. The state that the guide member 3 is being fixed into the bottle cap is shown at the upper portion of FIG. 8. The state that assembly of the guide member 3 is finished is shown at the lower portion of FIG. 8. In other words, once the guide member 3 starts to be fixed into the bottle cap through the nozzle of the bottle in a state that the protrusion 3e is protruded outwardly from the outer diameter of the guide member, the protrusion 3e is pushed to a groove 3f in the nozzle. The guide member, is outwardly protruded at the moment that it is positioned at the groove lb of the nozzle. Thus, the guide member is finally mounted in the groove lb. Two lengths L and L' shown in FIG. 4 should be the same as each other. In more detail, the length L' moving upwardly along a thread as the bottle cap is rotated should be the same as the line L which is a descending length of the display. If the length L is different from the length L' , the display does not descend to the position where the hanging member is hung or excessively descends so that it may be detached from the nozzle of the bottle. That is, since a pitch of the thread in the bottle cap is half of that of the reverse screw rod, the nut descends at the same length in a direction opposite to the screw of the bottle cap once the screw of the bottle cap ascends in a state that it is engaged with the nut. FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 illustrate a bottle cap according to another embodiment of the present invention. A straw 20 is connected to the air vents 3b formed in the guide member 3 so that contents in the bottle can easily be taken out after the bottle cap 2 is opened. In other words, the end of the straw 20 is connected to the lower portion of the air vents 3b, and the lower portion of the straw 20 is positioned at the bottom of the bottle 1. In this case, air moves to the lower portion of the bottle 1 through the air vents 3b and the straw 20. Thus, contents in the bottle 1 can promptly be taken out. The bearing 6 and a certain portion of the bearing 7 are cut to obtain cut portions 6d and 7f so that the straw 20 passes through the cut portions 6d and 7f.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. In a bottle cap comprising a cap having a screw formed on its inner surface to be engaged with a screw formed on an outer surface of a nozzle of a bottle, a reverse screw rod fixed to a lower portion at the center of the cap, having a reverse screw positioned in a direction opposite to the screw of the cap at a pitch greater than that of the screw of the cap, a rod shaped nut having a screw engaged with the reverse screw rod and moving up and down in a screw direction without rotation, a display installed in the lower portion of the nut, displaying an opened state of the cap by moving downwardly by being pushed by the nut if the cap is opened so as to allow some portion to be hung in the nozzle, and a guide fixed into the nozzle, guiding up and down movement of the nut so as not to avoid rotation of the nut, wherein a plurality of air vents are formed in the guide and pass through upper and lower portions, a heart shaped hanging portion is formed in a certain height of the air vents, and a ball greater than the air vents is provided in the hanging portion.

2. The bottle cap according to claim 1, wherein the hanging portion includes a diameter enlarged portion having the same length as the diameter of the ball at its lower portion so that the ball is mounted in the diameter enlarged portion.

3. The bottle cap according to claim 1, wherein the guide includes^' a protrusion on its circumference with a diameter gradually reduced toward the lower portion and the nozzle of the bottle includes a groove on its inner surface so that the protrusion of the guide is inserted into the groove.

4. The bottle cap according to claim 3, wherein the guide includes a groove so that the protrusion is pushed to the groove when the guide is inserted into the protrusion.

5. The bottle cap according to claim 1, wherein the display includes a base having a slit with a protrusion formed at both ends, two facing hanging members having one sides fitted into the slit of the base and hung in the protrusion with splitting outwardly if it is removed from the nozzle by elasticity, and an elastic means formed between the hanging members, providing elasticity, the base including air vents extended to the center of the nut so that contents in the bottle move, a heart shaped hanging portion is formed in a certain height of the air vents, and a ball greater than the air vents is provided in e hanging portion.

6. The bottle cap according to claim 5, wherein the heart shaped hanging portion includes a diameter enlarged portion with the same diameter as that of the ball at its lower portion, so that the ball is mounted in the diameter enlarged portion.

7. The bottle cap according to claim 1, wherein the air vents of the guide are bent once or more.

8. The bottle cap according to claim 1, wherein one end of a straw is fitted into the lower portion of the air vents and the other end is extended to the lower portion of the bottle.