Abstract:
A cap system for a container includes a cap that can be coupled to an open top of a container. The cap incorporates a hole that provides for fluid communication with an interior region of the container. A closure element movably coupled to the cap defines a solid region and an open region. The closure element is disposed at an angle with respect to a portion of the cap. At least one weight is coupled to the closure element such that the closure element moves as gravity acts thereon to align the closure element&#39;s solid region with the hole when the cap is in a first or upright orientation, and to align the open region with the hole when the cap is in a second or tipped orientation.

Description:
Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119, the benefit of priority from provisional application 61/626,435, with a filing date of Sep. 28, 2011, is claimed for this non-provisional application. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to caps for containers, and more particularly to a cap system that automatically opens/closes a flow hole based on orientation of the cap system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Convenience stores and coffee shops provide disposable cups and caps for their beverages. Reusable travel cups or mugs are used by commuters, students, parents, children, and anyone that takes their drinks “to go.” Typically, the disposable caps as well as the caps used on reusable travel cups/mugs are provided with a drink or flow hole formed therein. Some caps include a closure mechanism that one manually pulls or peels, snaps, slides, etc., so that one can access or close off the cap&#39;s flow hole. Looking for and operating such a closure mechanism can be problematic and/or distracting if a user is carrying on another activity (e.g., driving, biking, working, etc.) or only has one free hand at the time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cap system for use with cups or mugs. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a cap system that automatically opens/closes the cap system&#39;s flow hole based on the orientation of the cap system. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious hereinafter in the specification and drawings. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a cap system for a container includes a cap that can be coupled to an open top of a container. The cap has a hole formed therethrough that provides for fluid communication with an interior region of the container. A closure element movably coupled to the cap defines a solid region and an open region. The closure element is disposed at an angle with respect to a portion of the cap. At least one weight is coupled to the closure element such that the closure element moves as gravity acts thereon to align at least a portion of the closure element&#39;s solid region with the hole when the cap is in a first or upright orientation, and such that the closure element moves as gravity acts thereon to align at least a portion of the open region with the hole when the cap is in a second or tipped orientation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reference to the following description of the preferred embodiments and to the drawings, wherein corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side schematic view of a cap system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the cap system taken along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a cap system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view from the top of a cap system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a cap system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a cap system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view from the underside of the cap system in  FIG. 6  taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view from the underside of a cap system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view from the underside of a cap system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a cap system having its flow hole formed in a side of the cap in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and with simultaneous reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a cap system for use with an open-top container such as a cup or mug  100  is illustrated schematically and is referenced generally by numeral  10 . Cup  100  is illustrated using dashed lines to indicate that is not part of the present invention. Cap system  10  illustrates the essential features of the present invention and will be used to describe the operating principles thereof. However, it is to be understood that cap system  10  can be realized by a variety of constructions as will be evidenced by several additional embodiments presented herein. Further, cup  100  is illustrative of any type of container with some top portion thereof being open to allow the container&#39;s contents to be poured through the open top when the container is tipped from its upright orientation. 
     Cap system  10  includes a cap  12  and a closure element  14  rotatably coupled to cap  12  via an axle  16  fixed to or integrated with cap  12 . Bi-directional rotation of closure element  14  about axle  16  is indicated by two-headed arrow  18 . By way of example, cap  12  and axle  16  can be one integrated (e.g., molded) unit, and closure element  14  can be another integrated (e.g., molded) unit. Closure element  14  and axle  16  can be configured for easy assembly/disassembly (e.g., snapped engagement, held together by a threaded fastener, etc.) with respect to one another to simplify assembly, facilitate cleaning, etc. 
     Cap  12  will generally be configured for secure attachment to the open top  100 A of cup  100  by any of a variety of attachment techniques known in the art (e.g., screw threads, snap fit, press-fit engagement, etc.), the choice of which is not a limitation of the present invention. Cap  12  can include or incorporate various well-known sealing features such as o-rings (not shown) without departing from the scope of the present invention. Cap  12  includes a flow hole  12 A formed therethrough at one edge thereof to allow a liquid or other fluent material (not shown) in cup  100  to flow through cap  12  when cup  100  is tipped at an angle relative to earth&#39;s gravitational force vector indicated in the drawings by arrow “G”. In the upright orientation of cup  100 /cap  12  (as shown), the cup&#39;s top  100 A faces substantially upward relative to gravitational force vector G. However, when tipped, the cup&#39;s top  100 A rotates through an angle such that top  100 A no longer faces substantially upward with respect to earth&#39;s gravitational force vector G. Cap  12  can also include a much smaller air hole  12 B separated from flow hole  12 A to facilitate a smooth liquid/material flow when cup  100  is tipped to a drinking/pouring position as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Axle  16  is constructed and positioned to support rotation of closure element  14  relative to cap  12  when the orientation of cup  100  is altered, e.g., cup  100  is tipped to cause the liquid in cup  100  to flow towards flow hole  12 A or cup  100  is righted (from a tipped orientation) to stop the flow of liquid in cup  100  from flowing towards flow hole  12 A. Axle  16  can be centrally located in cap  12  but such placement is not required to support rotation  18  of closure element  14 . 
     Closure element  14  can be shaped as a substantially circular disk (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), portion thereof (e.g., half disk, “piece-of-pie” shape or wedge-like shape, etc.), or other suitable shape without departing from the scope of the present invention. Closure element  14  incorporates a flow opening  14 A that partially or fully aligns with flow hole  12 A when cup  100  is tipped (e.g., for drinking, pouring, etc.) and that misaligns with flow hole  12 A when cup  100  is righted (as shown). That is, when cup  100  is upright (as shown), flow hole  12 A is blocked by some solid portion of closure element  14 . Closure element  14  can also include an airhole  14 B that is aligned (or partially aligned) with airhole  12 B when cup  100  is tipped and is misaligned with air hole  12 B when cup  100  is righted. 
     In general, the structure of cap system  10  automatically controls rotation  18  of closure element  14  in correspondence with the orientation of cup  100  with cap system  10  installed thereon. More specifically, cap system  10  cants closure element  14  at an angle α relative to the top of cap  12  (or the top of cup  100 ) and provides a weight (“W”)  20  (or more than one weight) on or integrated with closure element  14  at a location thereon such that gravitational forces acting on weight  20  cause rotation  18  in accordance with changes in orientation of cup  100 . The apex of canting angle α is located at or near the cap&#39;s flow hole  12 A with the size of canting angle α being somewhat dependent on the size and placement of weight  20 , the frictional relationship between closure element  14  and axle  16 , as well as the desired amount of tipping required for partial or full alignment between flow hole  12 A and flow opening  14 A. Canting angle α can be realized by a variety of angles without departing from the scope of the present invention. Angles in the range of approximately 3° to approximately 35° are adequate for most applications. In addition, canting angle α can be a compound angle. That is, if the plane of the paper in the figures represents a west-to-east direction and into the plane of the paper represents a south-to-north direction, a compound canting angle α has a west-to-east component and a south-to-north component. The two components of a compound canting angle can be the same or different without departing from the scope of the present invention. Canting angle α can be formed by the structure supporting closure element  14  to include, for example, the shape/configuration of cap  12 , axle  16 , combinations thereof, or another support element/structure without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Weight  20  is positioned at a radial location on closure element  14  that is misaligned with a radius  14 C of closure element  14  where radius  14 C is aligned with some portion of flow opening  14 A. Placing weight  20  at or near an outboard radial edge of closure element  14  reduces the actual weight needed as this placement provides the greatest moment arm for closure element  14 . Weight  20  can be made from the same or a different material than that used for closure element  14 , and can be coupled to or integrated with closure element  14  without departing from the scope of the present invention. The shape of weight  20  and/or the mass thereof are not limitations of the present invention. 
     Cap system  10  can also include travel stop arrangement to control or limit the amount of rotation  18 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, cap  12  incorporates a fixed post  12 C that engages a travel control slot  14 D formed in closure element  14 . At one end of slot  14 D, post  12 C stops rotation  18  such that flow hole  12 A and flow opening  14 A are fully or partially aligned. At the other end of slot  14 D, post  12 C stops rotation  18  with flow hole  12 A and flow opening  14 A being misaligned as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     In use of cap system  10 , flow hole  12 A and flow opening  14 A are misaligned when cup  100  is upright as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as weight  20  causes rotation  18  owing to canting angle α and gravity G. That is, flow hole  12 A (and air hole  12 B if present) are closed off by closure element  14  when cup  100  is upright. This will prevent liquid from sloshing out of cup  100 , will prevent foreign objects from entering cap  100 , and will help retain the temperature of the contents of cup  100 . When cup  100  is tipped to initiate a flow of liquid towards flow hole  12 A, closure element  14  also tips whereby gravity G again acts on weight  20  to automatically cause rotation  18  as weight  20  tries to align itself with gravity G. During tipping, rotation  18  ceases when post  12 C engages the other end of control slot  14 D at which point flow opening  14 A is fully or partially (depending on the size, shape, and/or placement of flow opening  14 A) aligned with flow hole  12 A. This process is automatically reversed when cup  100  is returned to its upright position. 
     As mentioned above, multiple constructions for the present invention are possible without departing from the scope thereof. One such construction is illustrated in cross-section in  FIG. 3  where common reference numerals are used for those elements already described herein. In the  FIG. 3  embodiment, cap  12  is a molded one-piece element having a central top  12 D recessed within a rim  12 E of cap  12 . Top  12 D is canted at canting angle α within rim  12 E where canting angle α originates at flow hole  12 A. As in the previous embodiment, canting angle α is measured with respect to, for example, the horizontal/upright position of cap  12  defined in this example by the top of rim  12 E. Mounted on axle  16  and parallel to top  12 D is closure element  14  such that closure element  14  is at the same canting angle α. Weight  20  can be integrated with closure element  14  (e.g., molded therewith and having a weight greater than that of closure element  14 ) and extends axially therefrom. Cap  12  includes an integrated (arcuate) channel  12 F in which weight  20  rides as closure element  14  experiences rotation  18  as described above. Channel  12 F is analogous to control slot  14 D ( FIG. 2 ) in that the length/extent of channel  12 F can serve as the travel control stop for closure element  14 . 
     A top view of another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 4  where closure element  14  is a “piece-of-pie” or wedge-like shaped element. Weight  20  can be attached to or integrated with closure element  14 . Cap  12  can incorporate axially-extending protrusions or posts  12 G to serve as travel stops that control the amount of rotation  18  for upright and tipped orientations of the cap system. A blocking arm  14 E incorporated with closure element  14  can be provided to close off air hole  12 B when flow hole  12 A and flow opening  14 A are misaligned as shown. 
     Still another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 5  where closure element  14  is slidingly coupled to central top  12 D. For example, closure element  14  can have one or more guides  14 F extending therefrom that snap into and then slide in a slot  12 H (or more than one slot) formed in cap  12 . When cup  100  is upright as shown, gravitational force G acting on weight  20  causes closure element  14  to slide in a linear direction  30  (relative to cap  12 ) so that flow hole  12 A and flow opening  14 A are misaligned. When cup  100  is tipped, gravitational force G acting on weight  20  causes closure element  14  to slide linearly (relative to cap  12 ) in direction  32 . The length/position of slot  12 H is selected so that such tipping causes flow hole  12 A to align with flow opening  14 A. Closure element  14  could also be installed above central top  12 D without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The present invention can also be readily adapted for use with disposable caps made available by most convenience stores and coffee shops when a consumer buys a hot beverage. One such cap system is illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7  where cap  12  is a molded one-piece cap designed to snap onto the top  100 A of a disposable cup  100  as is well known in the art. Top  12 D of cap  12  has a portion thereof canted at canting angle α as described above with flow hole  12 A being located at a position on the canted portion of top  12 D that is near the interface between top  12 D and rim  12 E. On the underside of the canted portion of top  12 D ( FIG. 7 ), opposing slide rails  12 R incorporated in cap  12  provide sliding support of closure element  14 . As in the previous embodiments, weight  20  is coupled to or integrated with closure element  14  and a flow opening  14 A is defined in closure element  14 . Rails  12 R can define/limit the amount of slide travel of closure element  14  or travel stops (not shown) can be provided on the underside of top  12 D. Operation is similar to the previous embodiments in that the upright position of cup  100 /cap  12  ( FIG. 6 ) causes closure element  14  to be positioned (under the force of gravity G) so that flow hole  12 A and flow opening  14 A are misaligned ( FIG. 7 ), while tipping of cup  100 /cap  12  causes alignment of flow hole  12 A and flow opening  14 A as gravity G acts on weight  20 . 
     The closure element for use with cap  12  illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7  could also utilize two weights  20 A and  20 B as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Still further, the closure element for use with cap  12  illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7  could be a simple U-shaped closure element  14  as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . In this embodiment, opposing legs  14 G of closure element  14  will cooperate with slide rails  12 R, while the connecting leg  14 H incorporates weight  20 . An open region  14 I is defined between opposing legs  14 G. Connecting leg  14 H closes off flow hole  12 A when cap  12  (and the cup it is attached to) is upright, while a portion of open region  14 I will align with flow hole  12 A when cap  12  (along with the cup it is attached to) is tipped. 
     Although the invention has been described relative to specific embodiments thereof, there are numerous variations and modifications that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. For example, the cap system is not limited to use with drinking cups/mugs as it can be readily adapted for use with any container of liquid or other material that can flow (e.g., granular material) from which liquid/material is to be poured when the container is tipped. Accordingly, the present invention could be readily adapted for use with milk/juice/water containers, paint containers, cleaning liquid containers, spice containers, etc. Furthermore, the present invention can be readily adapted (i.e., adjust cap system&#39;s canting angle, weight, etc.) to work with paperboard containers (e.g., milk and juice containers) whose “open top” is at an acute angle relative to earth&#39;s gravitational force vector when the container is in its upright orientation. Still further, the cap system&#39;s closure element  14  could be configured/shaped to close/open a flow hole  12 A formed in the side of the cap system&#39;s cap  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . It is therefore to be understood that the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.