Abstract:
An improved bottle cap device formed so as to have a positive sealing arrangement for use with bottles that store gaseous fluid such as soda water and like beverages, wherein the bottle cap device includes a threaded cap body and a hinged cover or lid that is formed having a sealing annular structure which compresses an annular gasket against the mouth of the bottle by a depending convex wall that engages a gasket mounted when the cover is locked in a close sealed position and a pressure release latch for limiting the movement of the hinged cover after it is unlocked from the cap body to relieve pressure within the bottle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Related Application 
     This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/961,479, filed Oct. 15, 1992, for Positive-Sealing Bottle Cap. 
    
    
     2. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an improved bottle cap device and more particularly to a bottle cap that is formed having a positive sealing and a pressure release arrangement for use with bottles that store gaseous liquid such as soda water and like carbonated beverages. 
     3. Description of the Prior Art 
     Many types of cap devices are presently in use and they vary in configuration and how they are capped on a bottle. This is generally due to the configuration of the bottle in which the soda is stored. Some known soda-bottle caps are just simple plastic snap-on units or caps having internal threads that match particular bottle arrangements and these caps have no particular sealing arrangement. Both of the types of caps often do not provide proper sealing to prevent gases within the soda water from slowly leaking out. When the gas is allowed to escape from the bottled soda it is no longer desirable since it becomes what is referred to as &#34;flat&#34;. 
     Therefore, such bottle caps generally have inherently poor sealing qualities. This is particularly true with bottle caps that are mounted to the larger 2 liter soda bottles commonly sold in markets, liquor stores, drug stores and like places. These bottles are often provided with soft aluminum caps that are fixedly sealed to the thread outlet neck portion of the bottle. This type of cap is removed from a bottle by rotating the cap so as to force it to break loose from an integrally formed holding ring member. Many times, the soft metal caps are distorted by the force required to remove them, causing the cap to lose its circular shape which then prevents it from being properly sealed, and allows the gases to leak out of the bottle. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a sealing cap that is simple to operate and yet provides a very positive seal when remounted to the threaded neck portion of a 2 liter plastic bottle or other container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a novel bottle cap or cover member that is hingedly mounted to a cap body that is internally threaded so as to be readily secured to any compatible threaded neck portion of a soda bottle. The capping lid or cover is formed having an annular wall structure that is adapted to engage a gasket member in a tight sealing manner. The capping lid and cap body have cooperating pressure release means for arresting the movement of the lid after the annular wall structure has disengaged the gasket to relieve any pressure within the bottle. A hinge device may be provided between the snap lid or cover and the cap body, wherein a hinge is formed having a pivot pin that includes a latch arrangement which allows the lid to be held in an open position with respect to the cap body as the soda or other gaseous liquid is poured from the bottle. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved bottle cap that is particularly designed to be used with large plastic-type soda bottles and more particularly with 2 liter bottles that are provided with a screw cap. These bottles are commonly found in most stores today as they are used by most producers of various gaseous drinks from carbonated water to soda pop. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle cap that includes a unique sealing arrangement wherein the cover or lid is hingedly mounted to the cap body which is internally threaded so as to be screwed to the existing threads on the neck portion of the typical 2 liter soda bottle. The hinged lid is defined by an annular wall structure e.g., in the form of an inverted section of a dome so as to establish a positive sealing engagement with the inner annular sealing lip of the gasket member and the inner circular edge of the mouth of the bottle. This arrangement will automatically cause a positive aligned sealing engagement between the gasket and the inverted dome wall structure and the bottle mouth. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sealable and lockable lid having the above characteristics, whereby a positive sealing arrangement is provided to substantially extend the shelf life of stored bottled gaseous fluids well beyond that possible with any of the simple cap devices now employed for the same purpose. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of this character having a pressure release catch mechanism for limiting the movement of the lid until the pressure within the bottle has been relieved. 
     Still a further object of the invention is to provide a bottle cap device of this character that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and is simple but rugged in construction. 
     The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufficiently referred to in connection with the accompanying drawings, which represent one embodiment. After considering this example, skilled persons will understand that variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed; and we contemplate the employment of any structures, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With the above and related objected in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and numbered parts, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the upper portion of a typical soda bottle on which there is illustrated the present invention that defines a bottle-sealing device having a hinged sealing lid or cover member which is shown in a secured open position on the cap body; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sealing lid or cover showing it removed from the cap body member; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the bottle sealing cap in a closed locked position; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the bottle-sealing cap in a closed and locked position; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 5--5 of FIG. 4 showing the cap body screwed to the threaded neck of the bottle; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bottle sealing cap in its pressure release position; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the bottle sealing cap in its fully open position; and 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the hinge connection of the sealing cap illustrating the latch arrangement in the hinge for holding the lid in an open position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown an upper portion of a typical plastic soda bottle or other like bottle that is formed having a threaded neck portion 10. The soda bottle may be the commonly used 2 liter size that has become a popular bottle size now available at most super markets and convenience stores. As previously mentioned, this type of bottle is normally provided with a sealed soft metal or plastic cap (not shown) that is threadably secured to threads 12 that are formed in the upper portion of neck 10 of the bottle In the cross-section of FIG. 5, the neck portion 10 is shown with an annular outer wall member 14 that defines an opening or mouth 13 which includes an upper planer surface 13a and an inner circular edge 13b. The receiving threads 12 are formed in neck 10 just below the mouth 13 as illustrated. 
     Threadably mounted to threaded neck portion 12 is the present invention which is defined as a bottle cap device, generally designated at 20 which may be made of a suitable plastic such as plastic elastomer. A suitable thermal plastic elastomer for the bottle cap device is sold by Shell Chemical Co. under its trademark &#34;Kraton&#34;. Bottle cap device 20 is formed with a cap body 22, as seen in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5 which is defined by a cylindrical wall 24 having an inner surface 26 formed with internal threads 28. The external surface of the wall 24 (except for the areas occupied by a hinge and locking mechanisms to be described) is provided with longitudinal grooves 25 to provide a gripping surface for a user&#39;s fingers. These threads are arranged to be threadably compatible with the threads 12 of the bottle. The cap body defines an inwardly projecting shoulder 29 which is arranged to extend over the upper surface 13a of the mouth of the bottle and compress a gasket to be described against the surface 13a for sealing purposes. The outer surface of wall 24 of the cap body is formed with a cap-locking means that is defined by a pair of outwardly projecting locking hooks 30 and a lid arresting hook 31 for limiting the initial movement of the lid (to be described) to relieve the pressure within the bottle. Also formed in wall 24 is a hinge means which is oppositely disposed to that of hooks 30 and 31. The hinge means, designated generally at 32, comprises an upper hinge arm member 34 formed integrally with the cap body 22 and a lower hinge arm member 36 formed integrally with a cover lid or cover cap 40. The upper hinge arm member 34 includes an outwardly and downwardly extending wall 34a and a pair of end walls 34b which form two semicircular recesses 34c with downwardly facing openings 34d aligned in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis x--x of the cap body and bottle 10 as is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 8. The openings 34d are slightly smaller than the semicircular recesses 34c to retain a pivot pin (36b) which forms a part of the lower hinge arm member 36 to be described. 
     The lower hinge member 36 includes a pair of spaced downwardly extending arms 36a and the pivot pin 36b extending between the ends of the arms 36a. See FIG. 2. The pivot pin 36b is snapped into the semicircular recesses 34c for rotation therein. 
     The cover lid 40 includes a top wall 42 which is formed having an annular V-shaped channel 43 defined by an outer curved wall 44 and an inner vertical wall 47, whereby curved wall 44 provides a convex semi-spherical gasket-engaging surface which has the appearance of a section of an inverted dome member. Channel 43 further defines a central hub member 45 as part of top wall 42. An annular lip member 46 establishes the outer peripheral edge of lid 40 and covers the upper peripheral edge of cap body 22. Pivot pin 38 is provided with a latch-positioning means, designated generally at 50, which comprises an elongated rib member 52 that is formed longitudinally along the upper side of pin 36b when sealing cap cover 40 is in a closed position, as seen in FIG. 2. Latch-positioning means 50 also includes the narrowed opening 34d to the pin receiving recess 34c as is illustrated in FIG. 8. Cover lid 40 is thus rotatably mounted via hinge 34 so as to rotate between an open and closed sealed position, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7. That is, when the cover 40 is in a closed and locked position, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, rib member 52 is facing upwardly and is free to be rotated to an open position when cover lid 40 is disengaged from the hooks 30 and 31. To pour the fluid from the bottle, the cover lid 40 is rotated rearwardly to the position as shown in FIG. 1 and is then latched in an open position as rib 52 moves out of the opening 34d in the side walls 34b of the upper hinge arm member 34. 
     When in a sealed closed position, cover lid 40 and the semi-spherical sealing surface 44 thereof is forced against a sealing means, designated at 66, which comprises an annular gasket 70 positioned between the shoulder 29 of the cover lid 40 and the upper surface 13a of the neck of the bottle as illustrated. The gasket includes an inner annular, inclined, sealing lip member 72 that is arranged in such a manner as to provide a very positive and stable seal when it is engaged with the convex semi-spherical gasket-engaging wall 44, thereby preventing gases in the soda water 75 from escaping through the neck of the bottle. The engaging lip member 72 of the gasket is compressed between the inner circular edge 13a of the mouth of the bottle and the curved wall 44 of the inverted dome member to provide a unique and positive seal. The configuration of the semi-spherical wall structure (44) of the cover lid 40, together with the overlapping of the inclined annular lip member 72, provides a self-adjusting sealing means for accommodating a misalignment between the upper surface of the bottle neck and the cap 40, not found in any known cap device. The self adjusting feature results, at least in part, because the surface of the semi-spherical wall 44 of the inverted dome member which engages the gasket lip is circular whether or not the plane of the top of lid 40 is parallel to the plane of the bottle mouth. 
     The cover lid 40 is locked to the cap body 22 to compress the sealing lip member 72 of the gasket 70 between the annular sealing surface 44 and the inner circular edge 13a of the mouth of the bottle by a locking means which comprises the pair of lower locking hooks 30 on the cover body, discussed previously, and a locking tongue 76 affixed to the cover lid 40 by means of a pair of front leg member 82, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The locking tongue 76 has an outwardly projecting flange 76a with serrations 76b on the bottom thereof and a hook engaging ledge 76c (FIG. 7) which is disposed parallel to the top wall 42 (and perpendicular to the axis x--x in the closed position). See FIG. 2. 
     In the closed or locked position the hook engaging ledge 76c of the locking tongue 76 is snapped under the lower edges 30a of the hooks 30 as is illustrated in FIG. 5. The lower edges 30a (like the ledge 76c) are also disposed in a plane parallel to the top wall 42 to ensure that a sufficient locking force exists between the locking tongue 76 and the hooks 30 to withstand any anticipated pressure (e.g., 30-80 psia or more) build up in the bottle to which the bottle cap 20 is affixed. To open the cover lid, a user may simply grasp the serrated portion 76b of the locking tongue with a finger and force it outwardly from the cover body until the ledge 76c is free from the lower edges 30a of the hooks 30. 
     To prevent the pressure build-up within the bottle from rotating the cover lid with sufficient acceleration to startle the user, the lid arresting hook 31 and specifically the lower edge 31a thereof (also aligned parallel to the top 42) is arranged to catch the hook engaging ledge 76c of the locking tongue 76 as is illustrated in FIG. 6. In this position the cover lid is partially open to relieve the pressure within the bottle. For example, the cover lid may pivot about the hinge through an angle within the range of about 2° to 15° and preferably about 7° to 8° in the pressure relief position. The lower edges of the hooks 30 and 31 need to be separated a sufficient distance (e.g., about 1/8&#34;) to allow the locking tongue to catch the lid arresting hook 31 after it has been disengaged from the hooks 30. 
     Once the pressure has been relieved the locking tongue may be disengaged from the arresting hook 31 and the lid rotated into the latched open position as discussed previously. It should be noted that the alignment of the openings 34d (downward and parallel to the axis x--x) in the upper hinge member 34 serves two functions. This alignment facilitates the assembly of the cover lid to the cap body i.e., the pivot pin 36b may be placed against the opening 34d and the lid rotated to a closed position to snap the pin into the recesses 34c. This alignment also serves to prevent the lid from being detached from the cap body in the event that the arresting hook 31 fails to catch the locking tongue (and relieve the pressure) when the lid is opened. 
     It may be thus seen that the objects of the present invention set forth herein, as those made apparent from the foregoing description are efficiently attained. While preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.