WO2020096451A1 - Cap for a drinking bottle and drinking bottle provided with such cap - Google Patents

Cap for a drinking bottle and drinking bottle provided with such cap Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2020096451A1
WO2020096451A1 PCT/NL2019/050724 NL2019050724W WO2020096451A1 WO 2020096451 A1 WO2020096451 A1 WO 2020096451A1 NL 2019050724 W NL2019050724 W NL 2019050724W WO 2020096451 A1 WO2020096451 A1 WO 2020096451A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cap
bottle neck
cap according
bottle
adapter sleeve
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NL2019/050724
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Colin Alessandro HILLEBRAND
Original Assignee
Cardinem
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cardinem filed Critical Cardinem
Publication of WO2020096451A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020096451A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
    • B65D47/26—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with slide valves, i.e. valves that open and close a passageway by sliding over a port, e.g. formed with slidable spouts
    • B65D47/261—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with slide valves, i.e. valves that open and close a passageway by sliding over a port, e.g. formed with slidable spouts having a rotational or helicoidal movement
    • B65D47/265—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with slide valves, i.e. valves that open and close a passageway by sliding over a port, e.g. formed with slidable spouts having a rotational or helicoidal movement between planar parts

Definitions

  • Cap for a drinking bottle and drinking bottle provided with such cap
  • the present invention relates according to a first aspect, to a cap for closing off a bottle neck of a drinking bottle, wherein the cap is designed to fit around the bottle neck as an annular body.
  • the invention further relates to a drinking bottle onto the bottle neck of which a cap according to the first aspect of the invention is provided.
  • the bottle neck of the drinking bottle has an external screw thread onto which the cap is attached, in accordance with the vast majority of drinking bottles available.
  • the most commonly known cap is a screw cap of a short cylindrical design with a closed top surface, wherein the side wall is provided with an internal screw thread in order to screw the cap off and on the external screw thread of the bottle neck.
  • Such a cap can be removed from the bottle, which has the intrinsic drawback that the cap can be lost or dropped.
  • caps have been designed which are still screwed onto the bottle neck, but have a hinged lid on its top side, which lid can be brought in an open and closed state with respect to the cylindrical part screwed onto the bottle neck.
  • the chance of losing a cap from a bottle are seriously reduced.
  • such a cap with a hinged lid can be screwed off and be lost inadvertently.
  • the hinged lid can still be an annoying hindrance when the user attempts to set his mouth to the opening, because of the inherent proximity of the opened, hinged lid to the opening itself.
  • Another cap design which is abundant in sports, especially cycling, relates to a cap that is screwed or clicked onto a drinking bottle (also:‘bidon’) and which has a mainly closed top surface that is centrally provided with a protruding drinking nipple that can be shifted into an open and closed state.
  • the drawback of such a design is that the drinking nipple is exposed to the outside world and gets easily contaminated, which compromises the hygienic properties of such a cap to the user.
  • the present invention has the objective of solving the above problems relating to known caps for drinking bottles, by providing:
  • a cap for closing off a bottle neck of a drinking bottle wherein the cap has the form of an annular body which is dimensioned to fit around the circumference of a bottle neck,
  • the annular body comprising:
  • a guiding mechanism that is configured to co-operate with the bottle neck, and allows a vertical displacement of the cap up and down over the bottle neck between an upper position for closing off the bottle neck and a lower position for drinking from the bottle neck.
  • the restraining means prevent the cap as a whole from being removed from the bottle neck, while the guiding mechanism still allows the cap to be shifted between an upward and downward position along the bottle neck.
  • the maximum upward position of the cap is herein limited by the restraining means, while the downward position of the cap may be limited by additional restraining means, or alternatively by a broadened shoulder part of the drinking bottle below the bottle neck, which functions as an abutment surface.
  • the cap is permanently attached to the bottle neck once it is positioned on the bottle neck for its purpose.
  • the cap is thus designed to be assembled onto the bottle neck in one instance, and its design does not allow a dis assembly thereafter.
  • the vertical displacement of the cap between the upward and downward position is sometimes also referred to as a vertical shifting.
  • the top side is provided with a lid that is movable between a closed and open state, and the guiding mechanism of the cap allows for a vertical displacement, the cap as a whole allows for opening the lid and subsequently shifting down the cap, so that the top end of the bottle neck sticks out of the opened lid, and allows the user to drink directly from it.
  • a system significantly enhances the hygiene for the user because the bottle neck is properly shielded off when the cap is shifted upwards and the lid is brought in a closed state.
  • the inner diameter of the lid in open state should be larger than the external diameter of the bottle neck, in order to allow the cap to be vertically shifted downward over the bottle neck, when the lid is in an open state.
  • the lid is movably connected to the top side, and preferably is a hinged lid, or an iris diaphragm.
  • the hinged lid comprises a closing surface that is configured to be clamped onto the top end of the annular body, and is permanently connected to the annular body by an additional bendable strip that constitutes a hinging connection.
  • the iris diaphragm is a well-known construction for opening and closing circular openings, which has a flat design and is positioned in a plane substantially perpendicular to the main axis of the annular body, and is positioned coaxially with the annular body.
  • the guiding mechanism is separately operable from the movable lid. This further allows for a reliable and safe use when drinking from a water bottle that is provided with the cap according to the invention.
  • An important feature of the cap according to the invention is that the vertical displacement of the cap for assuming the lower position, requires the lid to be moved into an open state.
  • the guiding mechanism is configured to co-operate with the bottle neck in such a way that when the cap assumes the lower position, the top side of the cap is in a position below a top end of the bottle neck.
  • the guiding mechanism is configured to co-operate with a screw thread that is present on the outer surface of the bottle neck.
  • Such a cap allows for conveniently making use of a screw thread that is normally present on the outer surface of the bottle neck.
  • the guiding mechanism provided in the form of a counter screw thread provided on the inner surface of the annular body of the cap.
  • the restraining means are configured to interact in an abutting way with the outer surface of the bottle neck, and preferably comprise an abutment surface protruding at the inner side of the annular body.
  • the abutment surface may be an inner rim protruding from the inner surface of the annular body, or could be an integral part of a counter screw thread on the inner surface.
  • the restraining means restrict the upward displacement of the cap, and optionally also the downward displacement of the cap.
  • the restraining means are configured to interact with a surrounding rib present on the outer surface of the bottle neck near the top end thereof.
  • the restraining means may additionally be configured to interact also with a second, lower surrounding rib on the outer surface of the bottle neck.
  • these surrounding ribs are formed onto the outer surface of the bottle neck during production of the drinking bottle and are an integral part of the drinking bottle.
  • the restraining means are configured to interact with the outer surface of the bottle neck in such a way, that an abutting contact is achieved which blocks a mutual displacement in one vertical direction and allows for a mutual displacement in an opposite vertical direction.
  • the lid is a hinged lid which is movably connected to the top side, which lid has a bottom surface facing the inside of the cap which bottom surface is spherically convex.
  • Such a lid is especially useful for closing off a drinking bottle containing a carbonated beverage.
  • the annular body comprises the assembly of two concentric annular modules:
  • the adapter sleeve is configured to be fixated onto the bottle neck and is provided on the outer surface with first guiding means, and the base segment is provided on the inner surface with second guiding means, wherein the first and second guiding means in co-operating fashion allow a vertical
  • the annular body is thus formed out of an assembly of two concentric modules i) and ii), wherein i) is the stationary part and ii) is the movable part (within certain limits) with respect to the bottle neck.
  • the adapter sleeve, or annular module i) may be made out of flexible material that tightly clings around the bottle neck, so that it is snugly fitted and fixated onto the bottle neck.
  • the base segment, or annular module ii) is preferably made out of a rigid or stiff material.
  • the first and second guiding means are for instance co-operating screw-threads, or a groove/tongue assembly, which together provide a guided sliding motion of the (movable) base segment with respect to the (stationary) adapter sleeve.
  • a further preferred embodiment of the cap according to the invention includes that the restraining means are provided by a first abutment surface protruding from the outer surface of the adapter sleeve and a second abutment surface protruding from the inner surface of the base segment, so that both abutment surfaces block a further displacement of the base segment over the adapter sleeve.
  • One or both of the abutment surfaces may be provided as a protruding rim.
  • the abutment surfaces may be an integral part of the first or second guiding means, in the form of a cam that acts as a stopping means at an end of the guiding path.
  • abutment surfaces achieve a blockage for a further displacement of the base segment in upward direction.
  • the base segment and the adapter sleeve are configured to allow their concentric assembly in a single orientation, which requires a top side of the base segment being moved upwardly over a bottom side of the adapter sleeve.
  • the bottom side of the adapter sleeve in this context is the lower part of the adapter sleeve that is correspondingly fixated at the bottom side of the bottle neck when the cap is positioned onto the bottle neck.
  • the respective guiding means may for instance be configured to allow for the concentric assembly as set out above.
  • the cap can only be positioned onto bottle neck in one sequence, which is as follows:
  • the base segment with open lid is moved as a ring over the bottle neck below its screw thread and its typical end ring, and let resting on the widening shoulder part of the bottle.
  • the adapter sleeve is applied as a ring over the bottle neck, and is fixated onto the bottle neck.
  • the base segment is assembled with the fixated adapter sleeve by moving the base segment upward over the fixated adapter sleeve wherein the base segment is held concentrically with the adapter sleeve.
  • the first and second guiding means are brought into co-operating position with respect to each other, so that the base segment after assembly is movable in vertical direction over the stationary adapter sleeve by guidance of the guiding means.
  • various attractive and therefore preferred embodiments exist for a manual control which allows the user to open and close the lid, as well as to displace the cap vertically.
  • Particularly preferred embodiments are the following:
  • the iris diaphragm is provided in a top segment of the annular body which is rotatably connected to the base segment of the annular body, wherein the iris diaphragm is manually movable between an open and closed state by rotation of the top segment with respect to the base segment.
  • a second preference features that the vertical displacement of the annular body over the adapter sleeve is manually controllable by helical rotation of the base segment over the adapter sleeve.
  • Such a helical rotation is for instance achieved when the first and second guiding means are co-operating screw-threads.
  • a third preference features that the vertical displacement of the annular body is manually controllable by shifting the base segment vertically.
  • first and second guiding means are a co-operating assembly of a longitudinal recess (e.g. a groove) and a longitudinal projection (e.g. a rib or dyke).
  • a longitudinal recess e.g. a groove
  • a longitudinal projection e.g. a rib or dyke
  • a fourth preference features that the iris diaphragm is incorporated in the base segment of the annular body, which base segment is rotatably connected to the adapter sleeve, wherein the iris diaphragm is manually movable between an open and closed state by rotation of the base segment with respect to the adapter sleeve.
  • the up and down shifting may be controllable by a longitudinal shift, as opposed to a rotation movement for controlling the lid.
  • the up and down shifting may be controllable by a helical motion of the base segment whereas a rotation movement of the top segment is needed for controlling the lid.
  • the cap according to the invention is preferably provided with an iris diaphragm that includes at least four movable blades mounted in an annular conformation, which in the opened state of the diaphragm form an aperture with a diameter that is larger than the outside diameter of the bottle neck of the drinking bottle.
  • the dimensions of the iris diaphragm may vary to some extent, which allows for the use of a larger number of blades such as 10 or 12.
  • the cap according to the invention may be provided with two iris diaphragms that are vertically stacked one above the other, and both positioned coaxially with the main axis of the annular body of the cap.
  • the movable blades close off the aperture of the iris diaphragm in a water-tight fashion, wherein preferably the closed state of the iris diaphragm includes a locking feature.
  • a further preferred embodiment features the iris diaphragm comprising an inner ring and an outer ring that are rotationally movable with respect to each other, wherein each movable blade has a first pivotal connection with the inner ring, and a second pivotal connection with the outer ring.
  • the inner ring is part of the base segment, and the outer ring is part of the adapter sleeve.
  • the blades are coated with a water-repellent layer and/or sealing layer.
  • the blades themselves may be made of a water-repellent and/or sealing material.
  • temper-evident means such as a tear-off seal.
  • temper-evident means may be provided on the iris diaphragm, so it can be established that it has not been used before.
  • the cap according to the invention may be made from any suitable material, which includes HDPE, PP, PETP, recycled plastic, metal, or aluminium.
  • a second aspect of the invention relates to a drinking bottle having a bottle neck provided with a cap according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein preferably the drinking bottle has a surrounding rib present on the outer surface of the bottle neck near the top end of the bottle neck.
  • the drinking bottle may further be provided with a second, lower surrounding rib present on the outer surface of the bottle neck.
  • Such a drinking bottle that includes the cap according to the invention, offers the user with the advantages already discussed above in regard of the cap itself.
  • Fig. 1 shows a cap provided with an iris diaphragm according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, which is assembled onto a drinking bottle;
  • Fig. 2 shows schematically an exploded view of the assembly depicted in fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 3 shows an alternative cap provided with an iris diaphragm according to a second preferred embodiment
  • Fig. 4 shows a further alternative cap with a hinged lid according to a third preferred embodiment, which is assembled onto a drinking bottle;
  • Fig. 4A shows a cap according to the third preferred embodiment in cross- section
  • Fig. 5 shows a detail of the mechanical parts of an iris diaphragm
  • Fig. 6 is top view of the cap shown in fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 7A and 7B show a first example of a guiding mechanism on an adapter sleeve and a corresponding base segment
  • Fig. 8A and 8B show a second example of a guiding mechanism on an adapter sleeve and a corresponding base segment.
  • Figure 1 shows in perspective the top part of a drinking bottle 1 , with shoulder parts 3 ending in the bottle neck 2, which is provided with screw thread 4.
  • a cap 5 according to a first embodiment of the invention is attached, in the form of an annular body 5 having a base segment 10 which is provided with vertical ribs 12 that offer a gripping surface to the user.
  • an iris diaphragm 15 is provided with blades 16 that are in a closed position. The iris diaphragm 15 is thus shown in closed state, which can be switched to an open state by the user by turning the base segment, so that the blades are retracted under the top rim 14.
  • Figure 2 shows schematically an exploded view of the individual parts of the cap shown in fig. 1 , which serves to explain the mounting of the cap onto the drinking bottle 1.
  • the individual parts are assembled in line with the main axis 22. Firstly, the base segment 10 with the iris diaphragm being in open state (wherein the blades are retracted under the top rim 14), is moved as a ring over the bottle neck below its screw thread 4 and its typical end ring 24, and let resting on the widening shoulder part of the bottle 1. Secondly, a flexible adapter sleeve 20 is torn over the bottle neck 2 and fixated onto it.
  • the fixated adapter sleeve 20 enlarges the outer diameter of the bottle neck 2 and is permanently attached onto it.
  • the base segment 10 is assembled with the fixated adapter sleeve 20 by moving the base segment upward over the fixated adapter sleeve wherein the base segment is held concentrically with the adapter sleeve.
  • the upward movement is guided by co acting guiding means that are brought into co-operating position with respect to each other, which guiding means are further explained in the following figures .
  • FIG. 3 shows a cap 5 according to a second embodiment of the invention, in the form of an annular body 5, wherein the annular body is composed of a base segment 10 and a top segment 25 which are rotatably connected to each other. As such, both the base and top segment can be rotated independently from each other with respect to the main axis of the annular body 5.
  • the top segment 25 is provided with an iris diaphragm which is brought in open state wherein the blades are retracted under the top rim 14.
  • the cap 5 according to this second embodiment allows for a same way of assembling onto an adapter sleeve, as has been shown in fig. 2 with respect to the first embodiment of the cap 5.
  • the ribs 27 on top segment 25 offer manual control of the top segment by a user, independently of the ribs 12 for controlling the base segment 10.
  • Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the invention, wherein the cap 5 is on the top side provided with a hinged lid 30 that is connected by a narrow bendable strip to the annular body 42.
  • the hinged lid which is shown in open state, has a flat surface 31 the underside of which is provided with a circular strip 32 which snugly fits inside the upper rim 14 of the annular body 42 when brought in closed state.
  • the cap 5 is shown in a lower position, wherein the top end of the bottle neck 2 sticks out from the upper rim 14 of annular body 42.
  • the cap 5 is accordingly set in a lower position for drinking from the bottle neck. From the shown lower position, the annular body 42 can be shifted up and down along the bottle neck 2 by virtue of an internal screw thread (not visible; see fig.
  • annular body 42 provided on an inner surface of the annular body 42 as guiding means which allows for screwing the annular body 42 up and down over the bottle neck 2 in co-operation with the external screw thread 44 on the bottle neck.
  • the bottle neck 2 of the drinking bottle broadens below the cap 5 along shoulder parts 3 of the drinking bottle.
  • Fig. 4A shows a cross-section of the cap 5 according to fig. 4, wherein identical features are indicated by the same reference numerals.
  • the cap 5 is shown in an upper position for closing off the bottle neck.
  • the hinged lid 30 is in a closed state, and is hingedly connected to a top side of the annular body 42 by a narrow strip 40 of resilient material.
  • the bottle neck 2 is provided with external screw thread 44 and a surrounding rib 46 present at the top end of the bottle neck 2.
  • the surrounding rib 46 is provided with a bevelled side surface 50, so that the diameter of the rib 46 increases in vertically downward direction.
  • the underside of the rib 46 projects virtually perpendicular to a central axis of the bottle neck 2.
  • a second, lower positioned surrounding rib 47 is present just above the shoulder parts 3 of the drinking bottle.
  • the inner surface of the annular body 42 is provided with an internal screw thread 45 that co-operates with the external screw thread 44 of the bottle neck 2. Further, the annular body 42 comprises an upper abutting surface 49 and a lower abutting surface 48 which respectively abut with surrounding rib 46 when the cap 5 is set to a maximum upward position, and with surrounding rib 47 when the cap 5 is set in a maximum downward position.
  • FIG. 5 shows a detailed a part of an iris diaphragm 15 of which one single blade 53 is depicted and its connection by respective pins 55 and 54 to an inner ring 52 and outer ring 51 that can concentrically be shifted (as indicated by arrow A) with respect to each other by rotation, in order to move the blade into an open position, or into a closed position (circumference depicted by dashed lines).
  • the pins 55 and 54 provide pivotal connections with respect to the rings 52 and 51 , wherein the outer ring 51 allows not only for the pin 54 to pivot, but only to make a slight radial translation inwardly so that the pin 54 can be moved into the closed position CP.
  • the iris diaphragm contains not a single one, but a multitude of neighbouring blades which are positioned on the inner and outer ring as depicted in fig. 5. These blades overlap with each other, and together achieve when set in the closed position, a closed state such of the iris diaphragm as depicted in fig. 1.
  • Fig. 6 shows a top view of the cap according to figure 1 , wherein the iris diaphragm is half opened, and bears a multitude of blades 16.
  • the blades 16 are shown in an intermediate state between closed and open, so that still a reduced aperture 60 is left open in the middle.
  • the mechanical connections between the blades and the inner and outer ring are not visible; they are positioned underneath the top rim 14.
  • Fig. 7A and 7B show a first type of a guiding mechanism on an adapter sleeve 70 and a corresponding annular body 5, which is particularly useful for the second preferred embodiment of the cap, which includes a top segment 25 that is rotatably connected to a base segment 12 as depicted in fig. 3.
  • Figure 7A shows a drinking bottle 1 with bottle neck 2 provided with a screw thread 4 and an end ring 24.
  • an adapter sleeve 70 which is torn over the bottle neck 2 and screw thread 4 so that the sleeve 70 is fixated on the bottle neck 2 and abuts the end ring 24.
  • the adapter sleeve 70 itself is provided with first guiding means in the form of an external screw thread 72.
  • Figure 7B shows a cross-section of an annular body 5 of a cap as depicted in fig. 3 with corresponding features of a base segment 10 and a top segment 25.
  • the base segment 10 is on the bottom side provided with an internally protruding closed ring 74, as a restraining means that keep the cap attached to the bottle neck.
  • the inside of the base segment is above the ring 74 provided with second guiding means in the form of an internal screw thread 76 corresponding with the external screw thread 72 of the adapter sleeve 70.
  • the inner ring 51 and outer ring 52 of the iris diaphragm are present at the interface between the base and top segment.
  • the blades connected to inner and outer ring are not shown, and should be construed as present as in figures 5 and 6.
  • the inner ring 51 is fixedly connected to the base segment 10, whereas the outer ring 52 is fixedly connected to the top segment 25.
  • the base segment 10 of fig. 7B By rotating in upwards direction the base segment 10 of fig. 7B, over the bottle neck provided with the adapter sleeve as shown in fig. 7A, - which will be the method of assembling the cap onto the drinking bottle - the corresponding screw threads 76 and 72 will guide the base segment 10 over the adapter sleeve further upwards, until the closed ring 74 abuts the screw thread 72.
  • the cap 5 is then in its most upward position, wherein the top segment sticks out above the bottle neck’s top end, so that the iris diaphragm can be freely brought in closed state by rotation of the top segment.
  • the iris diaphragm can be brought in open state in this upward position of the cap 5, and the cap may be brought downwards by rotating the base segment in the reversed direction, until the top segment 25 is below the top end of the bottle neck 2.
  • Fig. 8A and 8B show a second type of guiding mechanism on an adapter sleeve 80 and a corresponding annular body 5, which is particularly useful for the first preferred embodiment of the cap as depicted in fig. 1.
  • Figure 8A shows a drinking bottle 1 with bottle neck 2 provided with a screw thread 4 and an end ring 24.
  • An adapter sleeve 80 is torn over the bottle neck 2 and screw thread 4 so that the sleeve 80 is fixated on the bottle neck 2 and abuts the end ring 24.
  • the adapter sleeve 80 itself is provided with first guiding means in the form of vertical recesses, or grooves, 82 provided in the outer surface of the adapter sleeve.
  • Figure 8B shows a cross-section of an annular body 5 of a cap as depicted in fig. 1 with a corresponding base segment 10.
  • the base segment 10 is on the inside provided with vertical protrusions, or ribs, 84 which function as second guiding means that co-act with the vertical recesses 82 of the adapter sleeve.
  • an inner ring 51 and an outer ring 52 of the iris diaphragm are present, wherein the inner ring 51 is connected to an inner wall 86 of the base segment, onto which all the vertical ribs are fixedly connected.
  • the inner wall 86 is rotatably connected to the outer wall 88 of the base segment 10.
  • the outer wall 88 is fixedly connected to the outer ring 52 of the iris diaphragm.
  • the blades connected to inner and outer ring are not shown, and should be construed as present as shown in figure 5 and 6.
  • the vertical ribs 84 and vertical recesses 82 allow for a vertical shift of the cap 5 over the bottle neck 2, by linear translation, provided that both are in alignment with each other. From the lowest position of the cap with the iris diaphragm in open state, the cap 5 can be shifted vertically upwards until the top of the rib 84 abuts the top of the corresponding recess 82. The cap 5 is then in its most upward position, wherein the top rim 14 sticks out above the bottle neck’s top end, so that the iris diaphragm can be freely brought in closed state by rotation of the outer wall 88 of the base segment 10. Conversely, the iris diaphragm can be brought in open state in this upward position of the cap 5, and the cap may be brought downwards by shifting the cap vertically downward, until the top segment 25 is below the top end of the bottle neck 2.

Abstract

Cap for closing off a bottle neck of a drinking bottle, wherein the cap has the form of an annular body which is dimensioned to fit around the circumference of a bottle neck, the annular body comprising: - on a top side, a lid that is movable between an open and closed state, - restraining means that keep the cap attached to the bottle neck during its use, - a guiding mechanism that is configured to co-operate with the bottle neck, and allows a vertical displacement of the cap up and down over the bottle neck between an upper position for closing off the bottle neck and a lower position for drinking from the bottle neck. Drinking bottle having a bottle neck provided with a cap according to the invention.

Description

Cap for a drinking bottle and drinking bottle provided with such cap
The present invention relates according to a first aspect, to a cap for closing off a bottle neck of a drinking bottle, wherein the cap is designed to fit around the bottle neck as an annular body.
The invention further relates to a drinking bottle onto the bottle neck of which a cap according to the first aspect of the invention is provided.
In the art, various types of caps are known for closing off a bottle neck of a drinking bottle.
With respect to the type of drinking bottle, it is noted that in the context of the present invention, the bottle neck of the drinking bottle has an external screw thread onto which the cap is attached, in accordance with the vast majority of drinking bottles available.
The most commonly known cap is a screw cap of a short cylindrical design with a closed top surface, wherein the side wall is provided with an internal screw thread in order to screw the cap off and on the external screw thread of the bottle neck. Such a cap can be removed from the bottle, which has the intrinsic drawback that the cap can be lost or dropped. To accommodate for this drawback, caps have been designed which are still screwed onto the bottle neck, but have a hinged lid on its top side, which lid can be brought in an open and closed state with respect to the cylindrical part screwed onto the bottle neck. As such, the chance of losing a cap from a bottle are seriously reduced. Still, such a cap with a hinged lid can be screwed off and be lost inadvertently. Furthermore, the hinged lid can still be an annoying hindrance when the user attempts to set his mouth to the opening, because of the inherent proximity of the opened, hinged lid to the opening itself.
Another cap design which is abundant in sports, especially cycling, relates to a cap that is screwed or clicked onto a drinking bottle (also:‘bidon’) and which has a mainly closed top surface that is centrally provided with a protruding drinking nipple that can be shifted into an open and closed state. The drawback of such a design is that the drinking nipple is exposed to the outside world and gets easily contaminated, which compromises the hygienic properties of such a cap to the user. The present invention has the objective of solving the above problems relating to known caps for drinking bottles, by providing:
A cap for closing off a bottle neck of a drinking bottle, wherein the cap has the form of an annular body which is dimensioned to fit around the circumference of a bottle neck,
the annular body comprising:
- on a top side, a lid that is movable between an open and closed state,
- restraining means that keep the cap attached to the bottle neck during its use,
- a guiding mechanism that is configured to co-operate with the bottle neck, and allows a vertical displacement of the cap up and down over the bottle neck between an upper position for closing off the bottle neck and a lower position for drinking from the bottle neck.
The restraining means prevent the cap as a whole from being removed from the bottle neck, while the guiding mechanism still allows the cap to be shifted between an upward and downward position along the bottle neck. The maximum upward position of the cap is herein limited by the restraining means, while the downward position of the cap may be limited by additional restraining means, or alternatively by a broadened shoulder part of the drinking bottle below the bottle neck, which functions as an abutment surface.
As such, the cap is permanently attached to the bottle neck once it is positioned on the bottle neck for its purpose. The cap is thus designed to be assembled onto the bottle neck in one instance, and its design does not allow a dis assembly thereafter.
Dependent on the context, the vertical displacement of the cap between the upward and downward position, is sometimes also referred to as a vertical shifting.
As the top side is provided with a lid that is movable between a closed and open state, and the guiding mechanism of the cap allows for a vertical displacement, the cap as a whole allows for opening the lid and subsequently shifting down the cap, so that the top end of the bottle neck sticks out of the opened lid, and allows the user to drink directly from it. Such a system significantly enhances the hygiene for the user because the bottle neck is properly shielded off when the cap is shifted upwards and the lid is brought in a closed state. Evidently, the inner diameter of the lid in open state should be larger than the external diameter of the bottle neck, in order to allow the cap to be vertically shifted downward over the bottle neck, when the lid is in an open state.
In the cap according to the invention, the lid is movably connected to the top side, and preferably is a hinged lid, or an iris diaphragm.
The hinged lid comprises a closing surface that is configured to be clamped onto the top end of the annular body, and is permanently connected to the annular body by an additional bendable strip that constitutes a hinging connection.
The iris diaphragm is a well-known construction for opening and closing circular openings, which has a flat design and is positioned in a plane substantially perpendicular to the main axis of the annular body, and is positioned coaxially with the annular body.
Both types of lid will be further elucidated with reference to the appended drawings.
It is preferred in the cap according to the invention that the guiding mechanism is separately operable from the movable lid. This further allows for a reliable and safe use when drinking from a water bottle that is provided with the cap according to the invention.
An important feature of the cap according to the invention, is that the vertical displacement of the cap for assuming the lower position, requires the lid to be moved into an open state.
When the cap is moved in the upper position and the lid is closed off, such a downward vertical displacement is no longer possible because the closed lid blocks such a downward displacement of the cap.
Preferably, in the cap according to the invention, the guiding mechanism is configured to co-operate with the bottle neck in such a way that when the cap assumes the lower position, the top side of the cap is in a position below a top end of the bottle neck.
When the cap is provided with such a guiding mechanism is applied, a hygienic use of the drinking bottle is secured as explained above. It is further preferred that in the cap according to the invention, the guiding mechanism is configured to co-operate with a screw thread that is present on the outer surface of the bottle neck.
Such a cap allows for conveniently making use of a screw thread that is normally present on the outer surface of the bottle neck.
For instance is the guiding mechanism provided in the form of a counter screw thread provided on the inner surface of the annular body of the cap.
In a preferred embodiment of the cap according to the invention, the restraining means are configured to interact in an abutting way with the outer surface of the bottle neck, and preferably comprise an abutment surface protruding at the inner side of the annular body.
The abutment surface may be an inner rim protruding from the inner surface of the annular body, or could be an integral part of a counter screw thread on the inner surface.
It is especially preferred in the cap according to the invention, that the restraining means restrict the upward displacement of the cap, and optionally also the downward displacement of the cap.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the cap according to the invention, the restraining means are configured to interact with a surrounding rib present on the outer surface of the bottle neck near the top end thereof.
As an option, the restraining means may additionally be configured to interact also with a second, lower surrounding rib on the outer surface of the bottle neck.
Typically, these surrounding ribs are formed onto the outer surface of the bottle neck during production of the drinking bottle and are an integral part of the drinking bottle.
It is particularly advantageous, when in the cap according to the invention, the restraining means are configured to interact with the outer surface of the bottle neck in such a way, that an abutting contact is achieved which blocks a mutual displacement in one vertical direction and allows for a mutual displacement in an opposite vertical direction. When such a cap is assembled onto a drinking bottle, it is possible to let the restraining means pass relatively easily (some force may be needed) over the interacting outer surface of the bottle neck in a downward, assembling direction. Once the restraining means have passed the interacting outer surface, it is secured that in the reversed, upward direction the interaction with the outer surface is an abutting contact so that the cap is permanently attached onto the bottle neck.
In a special embodiment of the cap according to the invention, the lid is a hinged lid which is movably connected to the top side, which lid has a bottom surface facing the inside of the cap which bottom surface is spherically convex.
Such a lid is especially useful for closing off a drinking bottle containing a carbonated beverage.
In a preferred embodiment of the cap according to the invention, the annular body comprises the assembly of two concentric annular modules:
i) an adapter sleeve that is designed to fit around the bottle neck in an annular fashion,
ii) a base segment that is designed to fit around the adapter sleeve in an annular fashion,
wherein the adapter sleeve is configured to be fixated onto the bottle neck and is provided on the outer surface with first guiding means, and the base segment is provided on the inner surface with second guiding means, wherein the first and second guiding means in co-operating fashion allow a vertical
displacement of the base segment up and down over the adapter sleeve.
In this embodiment, the annular body is thus formed out of an assembly of two concentric modules i) and ii), wherein i) is the stationary part and ii) is the movable part (within certain limits) with respect to the bottle neck.
The adapter sleeve, or annular module i), may be made out of flexible material that tightly clings around the bottle neck, so that it is snugly fitted and fixated onto the bottle neck. The base segment, or annular module ii), is preferably made out of a rigid or stiff material. The first and second guiding means are for instance co-operating screw-threads, or a groove/tongue assembly, which together provide a guided sliding motion of the (movable) base segment with respect to the (stationary) adapter sleeve. A further preferred embodiment of the cap according to the invention, includes that the restraining means are provided by a first abutment surface protruding from the outer surface of the adapter sleeve and a second abutment surface protruding from the inner surface of the base segment, so that both abutment surfaces block a further displacement of the base segment over the adapter sleeve.
One or both of the abutment surfaces may be provided as a protruding rim. Alternatively, the abutment surfaces may be an integral part of the first or second guiding means, in the form of a cam that acts as a stopping means at an end of the guiding path.
It is further preferred that the abutment surfaces achieve a blockage for a further displacement of the base segment in upward direction.
It is further preferred for the cap according to the invention, that the base segment and the adapter sleeve are configured to allow their concentric assembly in a single orientation, which requires a top side of the base segment being moved upwardly over a bottom side of the adapter sleeve.
The bottom side of the adapter sleeve in this context is the lower part of the adapter sleeve that is correspondingly fixated at the bottom side of the bottle neck when the cap is positioned onto the bottle neck.
The respective guiding means may for instance be configured to allow for the concentric assembly as set out above.
As a consequence to the above preferred single orientation for concentrically assembling the adapter sleeve with the base segment, the cap can only be positioned onto bottle neck in one sequence, which is as follows:
Firstly, the base segment with open lid is moved as a ring over the bottle neck below its screw thread and its typical end ring, and let resting on the widening shoulder part of the bottle. Secondly, the adapter sleeve is applied as a ring over the bottle neck, and is fixated onto the bottle neck. Finally, the base segment is assembled with the fixated adapter sleeve by moving the base segment upward over the fixated adapter sleeve wherein the base segment is held concentrically with the adapter sleeve. Concomitant to this assembling movement upward, the first and second guiding means are brought into co-operating position with respect to each other, so that the base segment after assembly is movable in vertical direction over the stationary adapter sleeve by guidance of the guiding means. With regard to the cap according to the invention, various attractive and therefore preferred embodiments exist for a manual control which allows the user to open and close the lid, as well as to displace the cap vertically. Particularly preferred embodiments are the following:
As a first preference, the iris diaphragm is provided in a top segment of the annular body which is rotatably connected to the base segment of the annular body, wherein the iris diaphragm is manually movable between an open and closed state by rotation of the top segment with respect to the base segment.
A second preference features that the vertical displacement of the annular body over the adapter sleeve is manually controllable by helical rotation of the base segment over the adapter sleeve.
Such a helical rotation is for instance achieved when the first and second guiding means are co-operating screw-threads.
A third preference features that the vertical displacement of the annular body is manually controllable by shifting the base segment vertically.
Such a longitudinal shifting movement, can for instance be achieved when the first and second guiding means are a co-operating assembly of a longitudinal recess (e.g. a groove) and a longitudinal projection (e.g. a rib or dyke).
A fourth preference features that the iris diaphragm is incorporated in the base segment of the annular body, which base segment is rotatably connected to the adapter sleeve, wherein the iris diaphragm is manually movable between an open and closed state by rotation of the base segment with respect to the adapter sleeve.
The above discussed embodiments for manual control may also be featured in combination, with respect to the cap according to the invention.
An important advantageous effect of the above embodiments for manual control, is that the up and down shifting of the cap on the one hand, and the movement of the iris diaphragm on the other hand are manually controlled by independent movements:
The up and down shifting may be controllable by a longitudinal shift, as opposed to a rotation movement for controlling the lid.
Alternatively, the up and down shifting may be controllable by a helical motion of the base segment whereas a rotation movement of the top segment is needed for controlling the lid.
In particular, the cap according to the invention is preferably provided with an iris diaphragm that includes at least four movable blades mounted in an annular conformation, which in the opened state of the diaphragm form an aperture with a diameter that is larger than the outside diameter of the bottle neck of the drinking bottle.
In practice, the dimensions of the iris diaphragm may vary to some extent, which allows for the use of a larger number of blades such as 10 or 12.
Optionally, the cap according to the invention may be provided with two iris diaphragms that are vertically stacked one above the other, and both positioned coaxially with the main axis of the annular body of the cap.
It is further preferred that in the closed state of the iris diaphragm, the movable blades close off the aperture of the iris diaphragm in a water-tight fashion, wherein preferably the closed state of the iris diaphragm includes a locking feature.
A further preferred embodiment features the iris diaphragm comprising an inner ring and an outer ring that are rotationally movable with respect to each other, wherein each movable blade has a first pivotal connection with the inner ring, and a second pivotal connection with the outer ring.
In a specifically preferred embodiment of the cap according to the invention which includes the assembly of the adapter sleeve and the base segment as defined above, the inner ring is part of the base segment, and the outer ring is part of the adapter sleeve.
In a most suitable embodiment of the cap according to the invention, the blades are coated with a water-repellent layer and/or sealing layer. Alternatively, the blades themselves may be made of a water-repellent and/or sealing material.
It is further advantageous to provide the cap according to the invention, with temper-evident means such as a tear-off seal.
For instance, temper-evident means may be provided on the iris diaphragm, so it can be established that it has not been used before.
The cap according to the invention may be made from any suitable material, which includes HDPE, PP, PETP, recycled plastic, metal, or aluminium.
A second aspect of the invention relates to a drinking bottle having a bottle neck provided with a cap according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein preferably the drinking bottle has a surrounding rib present on the outer surface of the bottle neck near the top end of the bottle neck.
Additionally, the drinking bottle may further be provided with a second, lower surrounding rib present on the outer surface of the bottle neck..
Such a drinking bottle that includes the cap according to the invention, offers the user with the advantages already discussed above in regard of the cap itself.
Figures
The invention is further explained with reference to the appended figures that show preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein:
Fig. 1 shows a cap provided with an iris diaphragm according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, which is assembled onto a drinking bottle;
Fig. 2 shows schematically an exploded view of the assembly depicted in fig. 1 ;
Fig. 3 shows an alternative cap provided with an iris diaphragm according to a second preferred embodiment;
Fig. 4 shows a further alternative cap with a hinged lid according to a third preferred embodiment, which is assembled onto a drinking bottle;
Fig. 4A shows a cap according to the third preferred embodiment in cross- section;
Fig. 5 shows a detail of the mechanical parts of an iris diaphragm;
Fig. 6 is top view of the cap shown in fig. 1 ;
Fig. 7A and 7B show a first example of a guiding mechanism on an adapter sleeve and a corresponding base segment;
Fig. 8A and 8B show a second example of a guiding mechanism on an adapter sleeve and a corresponding base segment.
Figure 1 shows in perspective the top part of a drinking bottle 1 , with shoulder parts 3 ending in the bottle neck 2, which is provided with screw thread 4. Onto the bottle neck 2, a cap 5 according to a first embodiment of the invention is attached, in the form of an annular body 5 having a base segment 10 which is provided with vertical ribs 12 that offer a gripping surface to the user. Further, directly under the top rim 14 of the cap, an iris diaphragm 15 is provided with blades 16 that are in a closed position. The iris diaphragm 15 is thus shown in closed state, which can be switched to an open state by the user by turning the base segment, so that the blades are retracted under the top rim 14.
Figure 2 shows schematically an exploded view of the individual parts of the cap shown in fig. 1 , which serves to explain the mounting of the cap onto the drinking bottle 1. Corresponding features in both fig. 1 and 2, bear the same reference numerals. The individual parts are assembled in line with the main axis 22. Firstly, the base segment 10 with the iris diaphragm being in open state (wherein the blades are retracted under the top rim 14), is moved as a ring over the bottle neck below its screw thread 4 and its typical end ring 24, and let resting on the widening shoulder part of the bottle 1. Secondly, a flexible adapter sleeve 20 is torn over the bottle neck 2 and fixated onto it. The fixated adapter sleeve 20 enlarges the outer diameter of the bottle neck 2 and is permanently attached onto it. Thirdly, the base segment 10 is assembled with the fixated adapter sleeve 20 by moving the base segment upward over the fixated adapter sleeve wherein the base segment is held concentrically with the adapter sleeve. The upward movement is guided by co acting guiding means that are brought into co-operating position with respect to each other, which guiding means are further explained in the following figures .
Figure 3 shows a cap 5 according to a second embodiment of the invention, in the form of an annular body 5, wherein the annular body is composed of a base segment 10 and a top segment 25 which are rotatably connected to each other. As such, both the base and top segment can be rotated independently from each other with respect to the main axis of the annular body 5. The top segment 25 is provided with an iris diaphragm which is brought in open state wherein the blades are retracted under the top rim 14. The cap 5 according to this second embodiment, allows for a same way of assembling onto an adapter sleeve, as has been shown in fig. 2 with respect to the first embodiment of the cap 5. The ribs 27 on top segment 25 offer manual control of the top segment by a user, independently of the ribs 12 for controlling the base segment 10.
Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the invention, wherein the cap 5 is on the top side provided with a hinged lid 30 that is connected by a narrow bendable strip to the annular body 42. The hinged lid which is shown in open state, has a flat surface 31 the underside of which is provided with a circular strip 32 which snugly fits inside the upper rim 14 of the annular body 42 when brought in closed state. The cap 5 is shown in a lower position, wherein the top end of the bottle neck 2 sticks out from the upper rim 14 of annular body 42. The cap 5 is accordingly set in a lower position for drinking from the bottle neck. From the shown lower position, the annular body 42 can be shifted up and down along the bottle neck 2 by virtue of an internal screw thread (not visible; see fig. 4A) provided on an inner surface of the annular body 42 as guiding means which allows for screwing the annular body 42 up and down over the bottle neck 2 in co-operation with the external screw thread 44 on the bottle neck. The bottle neck 2 of the drinking bottle broadens below the cap 5 along shoulder parts 3 of the drinking bottle.
Fig. 4A shows a cross-section of the cap 5 according to fig. 4, wherein identical features are indicated by the same reference numerals. The cap 5 is shown in an upper position for closing off the bottle neck. The hinged lid 30 is in a closed state, and is hingedly connected to a top side of the annular body 42 by a narrow strip 40 of resilient material. The bottle neck 2 is provided with external screw thread 44 and a surrounding rib 46 present at the top end of the bottle neck 2. The surrounding rib 46 is provided with a bevelled side surface 50, so that the diameter of the rib 46 increases in vertically downward direction. The underside of the rib 46 projects virtually perpendicular to a central axis of the bottle neck 2. A second, lower positioned surrounding rib 47 is present just above the shoulder parts 3 of the drinking bottle.
The inner surface of the annular body 42 is provided with an internal screw thread 45 that co-operates with the external screw thread 44 of the bottle neck 2. Further, the annular body 42 comprises an upper abutting surface 49 and a lower abutting surface 48 which respectively abut with surrounding rib 46 when the cap 5 is set to a maximum upward position, and with surrounding rib 47 when the cap 5 is set in a maximum downward position.
When such a cap 5 is assembled onto a drinking bottle by pressing it downwardly over the top end of the bottle neck 2, it is possible to let the restraining means 48 and 49 pass relatively easily (some force may be needed) over the interacting bevelled side surface 50 of the surrounding rib 46. Once the restraining means 48 and 49 have passed the bevelled side surface 50, the cap 5 is secured onto the bottle neck 2, because a reversed, upward movement is blocked by an abutting contact of the restraining means 49 with the underside of the surrounding rib 46. As such, the cap 5 is permanently attached onto the bottle neck 2. Fig. 5 shows a detailed a part of an iris diaphragm 15 of which one single blade 53 is depicted and its connection by respective pins 55 and 54 to an inner ring 52 and outer ring 51 that can concentrically be shifted (as indicated by arrow A) with respect to each other by rotation, in order to move the blade into an open position, or into a closed position (circumference depicted by dashed lines). The pins 55 and 54 provide pivotal connections with respect to the rings 52 and 51 , wherein the outer ring 51 allows not only for the pin 54 to pivot, but only to make a slight radial translation inwardly so that the pin 54 can be moved into the closed position CP.
In reality, the iris diaphragm contains not a single one, but a multitude of neighbouring blades which are positioned on the inner and outer ring as depicted in fig. 5. These blades overlap with each other, and together achieve when set in the closed position, a closed state such of the iris diaphragm as depicted in fig. 1.
Fig. 6 shows a top view of the cap according to figure 1 , wherein the iris diaphragm is half opened, and bears a multitude of blades 16. The blades 16 are shown in an intermediate state between closed and open, so that still a reduced aperture 60 is left open in the middle. The mechanical connections between the blades and the inner and outer ring are not visible; they are positioned underneath the top rim 14.
Fig. 7A and 7B show a first type of a guiding mechanism on an adapter sleeve 70 and a corresponding annular body 5, which is particularly useful for the second preferred embodiment of the cap, which includes a top segment 25 that is rotatably connected to a base segment 12 as depicted in fig. 3.
Figure 7A shows a drinking bottle 1 with bottle neck 2 provided with a screw thread 4 and an end ring 24. In cross-section is depicted an adapter sleeve 70 which is torn over the bottle neck 2 and screw thread 4 so that the sleeve 70 is fixated on the bottle neck 2 and abuts the end ring 24. The adapter sleeve 70 itself is provided with first guiding means in the form of an external screw thread 72.
Figure 7B shows a cross-section of an annular body 5 of a cap as depicted in fig. 3 with corresponding features of a base segment 10 and a top segment 25. The base segment 10 is on the bottom side provided with an internally protruding closed ring 74, as a restraining means that keep the cap attached to the bottle neck. The inside of the base segment is above the ring 74 provided with second guiding means in the form of an internal screw thread 76 corresponding with the external screw thread 72 of the adapter sleeve 70. Further, the inner ring 51 and outer ring 52 of the iris diaphragm are present at the interface between the base and top segment. The blades connected to inner and outer ring are not shown, and should be construed as present as in figures 5 and 6. The inner ring 51 is fixedly connected to the base segment 10, whereas the outer ring 52 is fixedly connected to the top segment 25.
By rotating the top segment over the base segment, the rotational shift between inner ring and outer ring is established, and thus the closing resp. opening movement of the iris diaphragm.
By rotating in upwards direction the base segment 10 of fig. 7B, over the bottle neck provided with the adapter sleeve as shown in fig. 7A, - which will be the method of assembling the cap onto the drinking bottle - the corresponding screw threads 76 and 72 will guide the base segment 10 over the adapter sleeve further upwards, until the closed ring 74 abuts the screw thread 72. The cap 5 is then in its most upward position, wherein the top segment sticks out above the bottle neck’s top end, so that the iris diaphragm can be freely brought in closed state by rotation of the top segment. Conversely, the iris diaphragm can be brought in open state in this upward position of the cap 5, and the cap may be brought downwards by rotating the base segment in the reversed direction, until the top segment 25 is below the top end of the bottle neck 2.
Fig. 8A and 8B show a second type of guiding mechanism on an adapter sleeve 80 and a corresponding annular body 5, which is particularly useful for the first preferred embodiment of the cap as depicted in fig. 1.
Figure 8A shows a drinking bottle 1 with bottle neck 2 provided with a screw thread 4 and an end ring 24. An adapter sleeve 80 is torn over the bottle neck 2 and screw thread 4 so that the sleeve 80 is fixated on the bottle neck 2 and abuts the end ring 24. The adapter sleeve 80 itself is provided with first guiding means in the form of vertical recesses, or grooves, 82 provided in the outer surface of the adapter sleeve.
Figure 8B shows a cross-section of an annular body 5 of a cap as depicted in fig. 1 with a corresponding base segment 10. The base segment 10 is on the inside provided with vertical protrusions, or ribs, 84 which function as second guiding means that co-act with the vertical recesses 82 of the adapter sleeve. Further, an inner ring 51 and an outer ring 52 of the iris diaphragm are present, wherein the inner ring 51 is connected to an inner wall 86 of the base segment, onto which all the vertical ribs are fixedly connected. The inner wall 86 is rotatably connected to the outer wall 88 of the base segment 10.The outer wall 88 is fixedly connected to the outer ring 52 of the iris diaphragm. The blades connected to inner and outer ring are not shown, and should be construed as present as shown in figure 5 and 6.
By rotating the outer wall 88 over the inner wall 86, the rotational shift between outer ring 52 and inner ring 51 is established, and thus the closing resp. opening movement of the iris diaphragm.
The vertical ribs 84 and vertical recesses 82 allow for a vertical shift of the cap 5 over the bottle neck 2, by linear translation, provided that both are in alignment with each other. From the lowest position of the cap with the iris diaphragm in open state, the cap 5 can be shifted vertically upwards until the top of the rib 84 abuts the top of the corresponding recess 82. The cap 5 is then in its most upward position, wherein the top rim 14 sticks out above the bottle neck’s top end, so that the iris diaphragm can be freely brought in closed state by rotation of the outer wall 88 of the base segment 10. Conversely, the iris diaphragm can be brought in open state in this upward position of the cap 5, and the cap may be brought downwards by shifting the cap vertically downward, until the top segment 25 is below the top end of the bottle neck 2.

Claims

Claims
1. Cap for closing off a bottle neck of a drinking bottle, wherein the cap has the form of an annular body which is dimensioned to fit around the circumference of a bottle neck,
the annular body comprising:
- on a top side, a lid that is movable between an open and closed state,
- restraining means that keep the cap attached to the bottle neck during its use,
- a guiding mechanism that is configured to co-operate with the bottle neck, and allows a vertical displacement of the cap up and down over the bottle neck between an upper position for closing off the bottle neck and a lower position for drinking from the bottle neck.
2. Cap according to claim 1 , wherein the lid is movably connected to the top side, and preferably is a hinged lid, or an iris diaphragm.
3. Cap according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the guiding mechanism is separately operable from the movable lid.
4. Cap according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vertical displacement of the cap for assuming the lower position, requires the lid to be moved into an open state.
5. Cap according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the guiding mechanism is configured to co-operate with the bottle neck in such a way that when the cap assumes the lower position, the top side of the cap is in a position below a top end of the bottle neck.
6. Cap according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the guiding mechanism is configured to co-operate with a screw thread that is present on the outer surface of the bottle neck.
7. Cap according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the restraining means are configured to interact in an abutting way with the outer surface of the bottle neck, and preferably comprise abutment surfaces protruding from the inner surface of the annular body.
8. Cap according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the restraining means restrict the upward displacement of the cap, and optionally also the downward displacement of the cap.
9. Cap according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the restraining means are configured to interact with a surrounding rib present on the outer surface of the bottle neck near the top end thereof.
10. Cap according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the restraining means are configured to interact with the outer surface of the bottle neck in such a way, that an abutting contact is achieved which blocks the mutual displacement in one vertical direction and allows for a mutual displacement in an opposite vertical direction.
1 1 . Cap according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid is a hinged lid which is movably connected to the top side, which lid has a bottom surface facing the inside of the cap which bottom surface is spherically convex.
12. Cap according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the annular body comprises the assembly of two concentric annular modules:
i) an adapter sleeve that is designed to fit around the bottle neck in an annular fashion,
ii) a base segment that is designed to fit around the adapter sleeve in an annular fashion,
wherein the adapter sleeve is configured to be fixated onto the bottle neck and is provided on the outer surface with first guiding means, and the base segment is provided on the inner surface with second guiding means, wherein the first and second guiding means in co-operating fashion allow a vertical
displacement of the base segment up and down over the adapter sleeve.
13. Cap according to claim 12, wherein the restraining means are provided by a first abutment surface protruding from the outer surface of the adapter sleeve and a second abutment surface protruding from the inner surface of the base segment, so that both abutment surfaces block a further displacement of the base segment over the adapter sleeve.
14. Cap according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the base segment and the adapter sleeve are configured to allow their concentric assembly in a single orientation, which requires a top side of the base segment to be moved upwardly over a bottom side of the adapter sleeve.
15. Cap according to one of the preceding claims, which is provided with temper-evident means such as a tear-off seal.
16. Cap according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap is made from HDPE, PP, PETP, recycled plastic, metal, or aluminium.
17. Drinking bottle having a bottle neck provided with a cap according to one of the preceding claims, wherein preferably the drinking bottle has a surrounding rib present on the outer surface of the bottle neck near the top end of the bottle neck.
PCT/NL2019/050724 2018-11-05 2019-11-05 Cap for a drinking bottle and drinking bottle provided with such cap WO2020096451A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2021930 2018-11-05
NL2021930A NL2021930B1 (en) 2018-11-05 2018-11-05 Cap for a drinking bottle and drinking bottle provided with such cap

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WO2020096451A1 true WO2020096451A1 (en) 2020-05-14

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB243522A (en) * 1924-11-25 1925-12-03 Thomas Westwood Improvements in or relating to stoppers or closures for bottles or containers
US20050082248A1 (en) * 2003-10-21 2005-04-21 Omar Al-Jadda Elastic membrane container closure
WO2008041341A1 (en) * 2006-10-04 2008-04-10 Olympus Corporation Cap of reagent container and reagent container
FR3024827A1 (en) * 2014-08-12 2016-02-19 Univ Angers CONTAINER COMPRISING MEANS FOR CLOSING / RELEASING AN OPENING WITH A DIAPHRAGM IN IRIS AND A CONTROL MECHANISM
US9365335B2 (en) * 2012-08-09 2016-06-14 Incap International Ltd. Closure cap for a container

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB243522A (en) * 1924-11-25 1925-12-03 Thomas Westwood Improvements in or relating to stoppers or closures for bottles or containers
US20050082248A1 (en) * 2003-10-21 2005-04-21 Omar Al-Jadda Elastic membrane container closure
WO2008041341A1 (en) * 2006-10-04 2008-04-10 Olympus Corporation Cap of reagent container and reagent container
US9365335B2 (en) * 2012-08-09 2016-06-14 Incap International Ltd. Closure cap for a container
FR3024827A1 (en) * 2014-08-12 2016-02-19 Univ Angers CONTAINER COMPRISING MEANS FOR CLOSING / RELEASING AN OPENING WITH A DIAPHRAGM IN IRIS AND A CONTROL MECHANISM

Also Published As

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