Abstract:
A cover for caps of the plastic threaded variety typically associated with beverage bottles, the apparatus being comprised of two primary components, namely 1) a hollowed body sized and shaped for the receipt of promotional or advertising indicia or other visually distinctive personalizing indicia on its exterior surface and adapted for frictional engagement with a bottle cap, and 2) optional three-dimensional personalization means integrally formed with or mounted to the top of said hollowed body. By means of this construction is provided a combination bottle identification apparatus and bottle cap removal apparatus which may be used in conjunction with an ordinary beverage bottle equipped with a threaded cap for purposes of facilitating removal of the cap from the bottle, 2) personalizing the bottle so as to avoid the unintended consumption of its contents by another, and 3) serving as a media upon which organizations may impart various promotional and advertising indicia.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/204,410, filed Jan. 5, 2009 and entitled, Bottle Cap Cover and Removal Apparatus. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a bottle cap accessory apparatus and more specifically to a decorative cap cover for mounting to a plastic threaded beverage bottle cap as a means for 1) facilitating removal of the cap from the bottle, 2) personalizing the bottle so as to avoid the unintended consumption of its contents by another, and 3) serving as a media upon which organizations may impart various promotional and advertising indicia. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Bottles having plastic threaded caps are widely used for various beverages including water, juices, teas, soft drinks and the like. A first frequently encountered problem associated with bottled beverages is that the cap can often be difficult to remove without resorting to the use of a cloth or one&#39;s own clothing to get a better grip. Several devices have been created to facilitate the removal of caps from the bottle, however, none of these devices also resolve a second problem, namely the unintended consumption of the bottle&#39;s contents by a person who mistakes the bottle as their own. 
         [0004]    Often the contents of a bottle are consumed directly from the bottle itself as opposed to pouring the contents into a separate drinking vessel such as a glass or cup. Bottled beverages are consumed in a variety of different settings including social gatherings and public places where the bottle may be temporarily rested on a table or bar making it possible for a second party to mistake the bottle for their own, thus resulting in two people drinking from the same container. This may have deleterious consequences including the transmission of germs through shared saliva. 
         [0005]    There has been a longstanding need for a single apparatus designed to obviate both of the above described problems. The subject invention offers individuals or organizations a personalized bottle identifier for plastic bottles of all types. It acts as an advertising fixture as well as a product that personalizes and shows ownership of a bottle. 
         [0006]    Existing related technology includes decorative corks for wine bottles, flat fiberboard cap covers used to expand surface area for advertising and informational purposes on individually packaged retail products, and replacement bottle caps. 
         [0007]    The following additional U.S. patents and applications relating to equine training aids and the like are incorporated herein by reference: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 1,593,947 
                 July 1926 
                 Miller et al 
                 Jar Wrench 
               
               
                 D184,726 
                 March 1959 
                 Gill 
                 Jar and Bottle Opener 
               
               
                 3,730,025 
                 May 1973 
                 Monnerhahn 
                 Gripper for Unscrewing Caps 
               
               
                 3,812,741 
                 May 1974 
                 Heine 
                 Bottle Cap Remover 
               
               
                 4,681,358 
                 July 1987 
                 Smith 
                 Container Opening Technology 
               
               
                 4,759,139 
                 July 1988 
                 Ricks 
                 Baby Bottle Identification Skirt 
               
               
                 5,301,802 
                 April 1984 
                 Nemerof 
                 Individual Drinking Cups 
               
               
                 5,358,770 
                 October 1994 
                 Evans 
                 Device for Releasably Identifying Objects 
               
               
                 5,492,077 
                 February 1996 
                 Rose 
                 Indicating Pop Top Beverage Container 
               
               
                 5,704,144 
                 January 1998 
                 Groth 
                 Beverage Container Identification Tag 
               
               
                 5,799,815 
                 September 1998 
                 Lang 
                 Device and Kit for Identifying Pop Top Cans 
               
               
                 6,745,505 
                 June 2004 
                 Moran 
                 Color Coded Beverage Cap 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Collection with Permanent 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Passive Indicia Indicating 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Beverage Bottle User Identities 
               
               
                 6,834,763 
                 December 2004 
                 Shrader 
                 Personal Identification for Improved Hygiene 
               
               
                 D452,802 
                 January 2002 
                 Peabody 
                 Tool for Threaded Cap 
               
               
                 D581,229 
                 November 2008 
                 Uglum 
                 Novelty Bottle Cap Remover 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0008]    None of the existing technology offers a decorative, personalized, reusable, cap cover that facilitates removal of the cap from the bottle, personalizes the bottle so as to avoid the unintended consumption of its contents by another, and serves as a media upon which organizations may impart various promotional and advertising indicia. 
         [0009]    All patents, patent applications, provisional applications, and publications referred to or cited herein, or from which a claim for benefit of priority has been made, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety to the extent they are not inconsistent with the explicit teachings of this specification. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In order to meet the need in the art, the subject bottle cap cover and removal apparatus has been created. At least one preferred embodiment of the invention is discussed below. 
         [0011]    According to the present invention there is provided a cover for caps of the plastic threaded variety typically associated with beverage bottles, the apparatus being comprised of two primary components, namely 1) a hollowed body sized and shaped for the receipt of promotional or advertising indicia or other visually distinctive personalizing indicia on its exterior surface and adapted for frictional engagement with a bottle cap, and 2) optional three-dimensional personalization means integrally formed with or mounted to the top of said hollowed body. By means of this construction is provided a combination bottle identification apparatus and bottle cap removal apparatus which may be used in conjunction with an ordinary beverage bottle equipped with a threaded cap for purposes of facilitating removal of the cap from the bottle, 2) personalizing the bottle so as to avoid the unintended consumption of its contents by another, and 3) serving as a media upon which organizations may impart various promotional and advertising indicia. 
         [0012]    More specifically, the subject invention relates to a cover and removal apparatus for bottle caps of the plastic threaded variety, the apparatus being comprised of an elastically deformable hollowed body having a closed top, an open bottom and a cylindrical side wall therebetween; said top, bottom and side wall defining a chamber; said chamber having a cap engaging portion proximate said top and a skirt portion below said cap engaging portion; said cap engaging portion being sized and shaped to receive the bottle cap therein; said cap engaging portion including a plurality of incrementally spaced cap engaging members extending radially from said side wall into said chamber and longitudinally from said top a distance down said side wall in tapered fashion for frictional engagement with the bottle cap; whereby said hollowed body has a smooth exterior surface for receipt of promotional or other visually distinctive personalizing indicia thereon and three-dimensional personalization means are optionally integrally formed with or mounted to the top of said hollowed body. 
         [0013]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important components and features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0014]    Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
         [0015]    It is, therefore, a primary object of the subject invention to provide a bottle cap cover capable of facilitating the removal of the cap from the bottle by providing an ergonomically advantageous shape, soft resilient materials of construction to protect the user&#39;s hands and fingers during twisting of the cap, and increased surface area for a better grip and added leverage. 
         [0016]    It is another primary object of the subject invention to provide a bottle cap cover available in a plurality of different colors, textures, designs and with other visibly distinctive characteristics and/or components such that the bottle with which the cap is associated is personalized to avoid the unintended consumption of its contents by another. 
         [0017]    It is another primary object of the subject invention to provide a bottle cap cover shaped and sized to serve as a substrate upon which an organization may display promotional and advertising indicia. 
         [0018]    Another object of the subject invention is to provide a bottle cap cover that facilitates the rapid identification of the user&#39;s bottle with which the cap and cover are associated. 
         [0019]    Still another object of the subject invention is to provide a means for preventing the spread of germs transmitted through the unintentional sharing of a drinking bottle. 
         [0020]    Yet another object of the subject invention is to provide a bottle cap cover that is designed to receive bottle caps of varying sizes. 
         [0021]    It is also an object of the subject invention to provide a bottle cap cover that is comprised of relatively few components to facilitate easy assembly and use as well as reduce the chances of mechanical failure. 
         [0022]    Another object of the subject invention is to provide a bottle cap cover which is relatively simple in design and therefore capable of rapid construction at relatively low costs. 
         [0023]    For a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of the bottle cap cover of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the bottle cap cover of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the bottle cap cover of  FIG. 1  taken along lines A-A; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the bottle cap cover of the present invention attached to a bottle cap which in turn is threaded onto a bottle; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the bottle cap cover of the present invention having a bottle cap frictionally mounted therein; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of a set of the subject bottle cap covers of the present invention each having different surface ornamentation to distinguish one corresponding bottle from another. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0031]    It should be clearly understood at the outset that like reference numerals are intended to identify the same structural elements, portions or surfaces consistently throughout the several drawings herein, as such elements, portions or surfaces may be further described or explained by the entire written specification, of which this detailed description is an integral part. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (e.g., cross-hatching, arrangement of parts, proportion, degree, etc.) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, any reference to the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up”, “down”, “inward”, and “outward” and the like as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate. 
         [0032]    Reference is first made to  FIG. 1  in which there is illustrated a front elevational view of the bottle cap cover and removal apparatus of the present invention designated generally by reference numeral  10 . The apparatus is comprised of two primary components, namely a hollowed body  12 , and optional 3-dimensional personalization means  14  integrally formed with or mounted to the top of hollowed body  12 . Body  12  is comprised of a material deformable under hand pressure, but which returns to its original shape when pressure is released. Body  12 , therefore, is subject to elastic deformation, a deformation which is reversible. Soft thermoplastics have moderate elastic deformation ranges and are therefore preferred. Thermoplastics are desirable because of their light weight relative to other deformable materials such as metals, and because of their considerable longevity in terms of extension/flexion cycles and because they can be impregnated with antimicrobials. Body  12  of the subject invention may be fabricated to varying dimensions to afford different degrees of deformation. In one example, body  12  is made of a molded rubber or silicon product, but may be made of any material having suitable resiliency and malleability for purposes herein described. The exterior of body  12  is preferably circular in cross section ( FIG. 2 ) and has a first portion comprised of preferably either cylindrical or slightly tapered (wider at bottom) wall  16  and a second portion comprised of dome-shaped top  18 . 
         [0033]    Reference being made to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the bottom edge  20  of body  12  forms an opening  22  for access to chamber  24  which will receive a bottle cap  102 . Bottom edge  20  is ring shaped which allows the subject apparatus  10  to stand on its own, providing for easy storage or display. 
         [0034]    Chamber  24  is comprised of cap engaging portion  26  and skirt portion  28 . Cap receiving portion  26  is defined by that portion of chamber  24  that includes a plurality of incrementally spaced cap engaging members  30  extending radially from the interior surface  32  of body  12  a distance into chamber  24  ( FIG. 2 ). As best observed upon reference to  FIG. 3 , each cap engaging member  30  is attached at a first end to ceiling  34  of dome-shaped top  18  and extends in tapered fashion downwardly along interior surface  32  of wall  16  until terminating at first shoulder  36  a distance above bottom edge  20 . Each cap engaging member  30 , therefore, is wider at the top than at the bottom, each having a tapered edge  38  when viewed in profile. Conversely, cap engaging members  30  together create a cap engaging portion  26  of chamber  24  that is wider at its bottom (substantially equal to the diameter of opening  22 ) and tapers inwardly, narrowing in the direction of ceiling  34 . Thusly shaped, cap receiving portion  26  of chamber  24  is better able to accommodate caps  102  (not shown) of different diameters. Each cap engaging member  30  may be further modified with a second shoulder  40  intermediate ceiling  34  and first shoulder  36 . The distance between first shoulder  36  and second shoulder  40  may, for instance be substantially equal to the height of a standard bottle cap such that its top edge comes into abutting engagement with second shoulder  40  when mounted within the subject apparatus. Caps with smaller diameters can be mounted in that portion of chamber  34  above second shoulder  40 . 
         [0035]    As mentioned above, it is an important feature of the subject invention that its body be constructed of materials that are resilient and malleable. This characteristic aids in conforming the apparatus around a bottle cap by permitting a degree of temporary deformation of body  12  in the form of stretching and bending as cap engaging members  30  are caused to come into frictional engagement with the ribbed surface of a cap  102  in a snug fitting fashion. The frictional grip between interior surface  32  and bottle cap  102  keeps cap cover  10  firmly in place, but also allows for easy separation and preservation of both bottle cap  102  and cap cover  10 , making both reusable. 
         [0036]    Once a cap  102  is removed, the apparatus will resume its original shape if any stretching of body  12  was required to accomplish mounting of the apparatus. Moreover, the resilient and malleable nature of body  12  facilitates a better hand grip on the apparatus thereby providing greater leverage for accomplishing the removal of a cap from its bottle. Gripping this material is also easier on the hands and fingers than is gripping the smaller and rigid bottle cap itself. Similarly, the larger surface area of the subject bottle cap cover  10  as compared with a bottle cap  102  makes the former easier to hold and turn than the latter. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  depicts a bottle cap cover  10  of the subject invention removably mounted to a bottle cap which in turn is threaded onto a beverage bottle  100 . 
         [0038]    With reference being made to  FIG. 5 , note that skirt portion  28  of body  12  is not necessarily intended to receive a bottle cap  102  against its inner surface. Rather, the purpose of skirt portion  28  is to increase the exterior surface area of body  12  thereby increasing the amount of surface ornamentation that may be displayed upon it (as well as providing a greater gripping area to facilitate cap removal). Creating a uniform and relatively large surface area is an important feature of the subject apparatus. Specifically, body  12  may be customized to distinguish it from others of its kind. For example, body  12  may include surface ornamentation in the form of color, graphics, logos, textures, text or other visually distinctive indicia such as an organization&#39;s promotional or advertising indicia. With reference being made to  FIG. 6  it may be observed that a plurality of the subject bottle cap covers may be sold as a set, with each individual bottle cap cover having its own unique surface ornamentation. An infinite number of different visual effects are possible. 
         [0039]    In another embodiment of the invention, 3-dimensional personalization means  14  may be either integrally formed with or mounted to the top of hollowed body  12 . With reference once again being made to  FIGS. 1-3 , 3-dimensional personalization means may be any decorative object that size and weight allow to be attached to body  12 . For example, 3-dimensional personalization means  14  may be a figurine or other 3-D work of visual art molded, sculpted or otherwise fabricated into any sturdy shape within size and weight constraints and can also be ornamented with colors, graphics, logos, textures, or text. In the embodiment illustrated, 3-dimensional personalization means  14  is in the form of a simple metallic button which may bear any one or combination of the aforesaid ornamental indicia. In a preferred embodiment, dome-shaped top  18  includes an aperture  42  through which a mounting stem  44  affixed to 3-dimensional personalization means  14  may be inserted for mounting purposes. 3-dimensional personalization means  14  may be secured to body  12  using appropriate mounting means which in the example illustrated is a screw  46  reciprocally threaded with the interior of hollowed stem  44 . Glow in the dark for nightstand visibility. 
         [0040]    It should now be readily understood and appreciated that subject bottle cap cover  10  when mounted to a bottle cap  102  of conventional beverage bottle  100  not only serves as a means of facilitating the screwing and unscrewing of the cap from the bottle, but further personalizes the bottle so as to avoid the unintended consumption of its contents by another, and still further serves as an advertising and promotional vehicle of either two-dimensional or 3-dimensional form, or both. Personal identification of beverage bottles reduces waste because no bottle will go unclaimed due to an individual&#39;s reluctance to drink from the wrong bottle and sanitary benefits will be experienced because mistaken identification of one&#39;s bottle will occur less often. Logos, text, graphics, mascot miniatures, and the like can be represented on the beverage container without disturbing the manufacturer&#39;s seal and provide an advertisement that can be reused by the consumer. 
         [0041]    In a final embodiment of the subject invention, either body  12  or 3-dimensional personalization means  14 , or both, may be constructed from or coated with a luminescent material so that the accompanying beverage bottle to which the apparatus is mounted may be found in the dark. A glow-in-the-dark bottle cap cover  10  could have utility when placing the bottle on a nightstand while sleeping, for example. 
         [0042]    It will be seen that the advantages set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
         [0043]    It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. 
         [0044]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiments herein set forth, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the foregoing specifications, but rather only by the scope of the claims ultimately appended hereto.