Patent EA-002662-B1 (EA)
Title: A single use disposable drinking container, a closure for drinking container and a method of forming disposable drinking container
IPC: A61J11/00
Filed: 1998-04-09
Abstract: 1. A single use disposable container comprising a container body for holding a liquid and having a mouth at the top with an opening therein through which liquid can pass; and a cap assembly attached to the top of the container body, the cap assembly comprising a flexible nipple in fluid communication with the container body through the opening in the top, a cap rim attached to the mouth and sealed with the nipple therearound, the cap rim having an aperture through which the nipple can project, in use, and a removable sealing portion which, in a first configuration of the container, is hygienically sealed around said aperture of the cap rim so as to prevent ingress and egress of liquid or gas to and from the container, wherein the nipple, in the first configuration of the container, is contained beneath said sealing portion; and wherein the sealing portion is removable from the cap rim to place the container in a second configuration such that the flexible nipple can be extended through the cap rim aperture to protrude from the top of the container in condition for use. 2. A single use disposable container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nipple has first and second stable configurations, such that in the first stable configuration the nipple is partially inverted and in the second stable configuration the nipple is fully extended. 3. A single use disposable container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the nipple is constructed with a peripheral flange at its base which is held to the bottle mouth by the cap rim, and wherein the nipple in the first stable configuration is recessed into the container mouth so as to not substantially protrude through the cap rim aperture. 4. A single use disposable container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap rim includes a downwardly extending flange which fits over the container mouth an is secured thereto by way of inter-engaging formations on the inner surface of the cap rim flange and the outer surface of the container mouth. 5. A single use disposable container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap rim includes an annular portion which defines said aperture, and wherein the sealing portion is integrally constructed with the cap rim and joined thereto with a frangible section to allow the sealing portion to be broken away from the cap rim to form said aperture. 6. A single use disposable container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sealing portion has a projection which extends from the cap rim to enable a lateral force to be applied thereto with respect to the cap rim to cause the sealing portion to break away from the cap rim. 7. A single use disposable container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sealing portion projection has a hollow interior which is adapted to accommodate a suckling end of the nipple therewithin when the sealing portion is attached to the cap rim, and wherein removal of the sealing portion from the cap rim facilitates drawing out of the nipple suckling end from the cap rim for use. 8. A single use disposable container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sealing portion comprises a flexible disk which is fusion welded or adhensively attached to the cap rim forming a seal over the aperture, and wherein the flexible disk is formed with a loose tab which can be grasped by the user in order to peel the sealing portion from the cap rim to expose the nipple in the aperture. 9. A single use disposable container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the nipple is arranged in said first stable configuration with the sealing portion attached over the cap rim aperture, and wherein the nipple can be extended through the aperture upon removal of the sealing portion into said second stable configuration. 10. A single use disposable infant drinking container comprising: container body for holding a drinking liquid, the container body having an open mouth; a nipple having a suckling portion for dispensing the drinking liquid through the container body mouth to an infant; and a cap having an integrally formed cap rim and sealing portion; wherein the nipple is constructed to cover the open mouth of the container body, and is held in place over the open mouth by the cap rim which is attached to the container body around the mouth, wherein the cap rim and integrally formed sealing portion cover the suckling portion of the nipple from exposure to external contaminants and, together with the nipple, form a hygienic seal over the open mouth of the container body to prevent ingress and egress of liquid and gaseous fluids into and out of the container; and wherein the sealing portion of the cap can be broken away from the cap rim by a user to expose the suckling portion of the nipple for use. 11. A single use disposable drinking container as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cap rim is annular and has the sealing portion projecting centrally therefrom, the sealing portion and cap rim being attached by way of a frangible joining section constructed to rupture and allow the sealing portion to be broken away from the cap rim upon a lateral force being applied between the cap rim and sealing portion. 12. A single use disposable drinking container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the projecting sealing portion has a hollow interior which has an end of the nipple suckling portion fitted therewithin. 13. A single use disposable drinking container as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the cap is moulded in single piece from plastic material. 14. A single use disposable drinking container as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the cap rim is attached to the container body so as to not be removable by the user. 15. A single use disposable drinking container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the frangible joining section comprises a ring of reduced wall thickness. 16. A single use disposable drinking container as claimed in claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein the nipple is constructed with a base having a peripheral flange, the suckling portion projecting centrally from the base, and wherein the peripheral flange is held between the a rim of the container body defining the open mouth and said cap rim to thereby secure the nipple to the container body and facilitate said hygienic seal between the container body and cap. 17. A single use disposable drinking container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the peripheral flange of the nipple is substantially flat and the suckling portion projects substantially at right angle centrally therefrom with the base curving smoothly from the flange to the projecting suckling portion. 18. A single use disposable drinking container as claimed in claim 17, wherein the nipple is further constructed with a bending region between the curved base and suckling portion which facilitates partial and stable inversion of the nipple base by displacement of an end of the nipple suckling portion toward the plane of the flange to place the nipple in a collapsed configuration. 19. A single use disposable drinking container as claimed in claim 18, wherein the bending region comprises a circumferential groove or ring of reduced wall thickness around the interior of the nipple. 20. A single use disposable drinking container as claimed in claim 18, wherein the end of the nipple suckling portion, in the collapsed configuration, is positioned near the plane of an upper surface of the cap rim. 21. Single use A disposable drinking container as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein separation of the sealing portion from the cap rim creates a central round aperture in the cap rim through which the suckling portion of the nipple projects. 22. A single use disposable drinking container as claimed in claim 21, wherein the sealing portion is replaceable in the central round aperture to shield the nipple from contaminants. 23. A single use disposable drinking container as claimed in claim 22, wherein the sealing portion is constructed with peripheral formations which interfit with the edge of the cap rim to hold the sealing portion in place when replaced in the central aperture. 24. A closure for a drinking container comprising a cap rim with a substantially flat annular upper panel having an attaching portion extending from the outer edge thereof, the attaching portion being adapted to fit and be affixed over the mouth of a drinking container, and a sealing portion extending upwardly from the centre of the upper panel, the sealing portion being attached and sealed around the inner edge of the annular upper panel by way of a frangible connecting section which allows the sealing portion to be broken away from the attaching portion on application of a transverse force on the sealing portion with respect to the attaching portion by the fingers of a user, the closure further comprising a flexible nipple adapted for suckling by an infant, wherein the sealing portion and nipple are constructed such that an end of the nipple fits within a hollow interior of the sealing portion to extend through an aperture formed in the attaching portion when the sealing portion is removed. 25. A closure as claimed in claim 24, wherein the nipple has a base with an annular peripheral flange which fits within the attaching portion, a suckling portion of the nipple having said nipple end thereon extending from the base, and wherein the interior of the hollow sealing portion fits closely about the nipple end to reduce likelihood of liquid leakage from a suckling aperture in the nipple end, in use. 26. A closure as claimed in claim 24, wherein the attaching portion and sealing portion are moulded from a plastic material in a single piece, the connecting section comprising a ring of reduced thickness plastic material. 27. A closure as claimed in claim 25, wherein the sealing portion projects from the attaching portion for a fraction of the extent of the nipple suckling portion from the base, such that the nipple is partially collapsed within the closure when the nipple end is fitted within the sealing portion and the base flange withi