Patent Publication Number: US-8985369-B2

Title: Container caps and systems

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/558,134 filed Jul. 25, 2012, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 12/407,391, filed Mar. 19, 2009 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,251,263), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/039,061, filed Mar. 24, 2008. The contents of these applications are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to containers, and, more particularly, to container caps and systems. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Products are typically stored within containers. For example, cosmetic and food products are often stored in bottles and the like. A container may have a cap or lid that allows a consumer to have access to the product in a controlled fashion. When the cap is in an open position, the product is dispensed typically under an externally applied pressure and/or due to the force of gravity. When the cap is in a closed position, the product is stopped from leaving the container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides container caps and systems. Some embodiments of the present caps include a bottom portion having a top surface that includes a centered opening, a first recessed holding element coupled to the centered opening through a first recessed region, a second recessed holding element coupled to the centered opening through a second recessed region, and a raised element coupled to the centered opening; and a top portion couplable to the bottom portion, the top portion having a bottom surface that includes an off-centered opening, a first raised element, and a second raised element. 
     In some embodiments, the present caps include a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion being couplable to the bottom portion, the top and bottom portions being configured to cause the cap to reach an open position starting from a closed position when: the top portion is rotated in a clockwise direction with respect to the bottom portion from a closed position; and the top portion is rotated in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the bottom portion from the closed position; the top and bottom portions being configured to restrict relative rotation between them to less than 360 degrees. In some embodiments, such rotation is restricted to approximately 240 degrees. In other embodiments, such rotation is restricted to approximately 90 degrees. In still other embodiments, such rotation is restricted to approximately 60 degrees. 
     Some embodiments of the present container systems include a bottle configured to hold a product, and a two-piece cap coupled to the bottle. The two-piece (or two-portion) cap may include a dispensing system that includes two or more open positions and one or more closed positions. 
     Any embodiment of any of the present container systems and caps may consist of or consist essentially of—rather than comprise/include/contain/have—the described elements and/or features. Thus, in any of the claims, the term “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of” may be substituted for any of the open-ended linking verbs recited above, in order to change the scope of a given claim from what it would otherwise be using the open-ended linking verb. 
     Details associated with the embodiments described above and others are presented below. Other embodiments of the present caps and container systems are possible. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following drawings illustrate by way of example and not limitation. Every feature of a given structure is not always labeled in every figure in which that structure appears, in order to keep the figures clear. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one of the present container systems that includes one of the present caps. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view taken along lines  2 - 2  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an assembly view of the container system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the top portion of the cap shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along  5 - 5  shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the bottom portion of the cap shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along  7 - 7  shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the cap shown in the preceding figures, and illustrates (via hidden lines and arrows) how the two cap portions can rotate with respect to each other. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     The term “coupled” is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless this disclosure explicitly requires otherwise. The terms “substantially,” “approximately,” “about,” and variations thereof are defined as being largely but not necessarily wholly what is specified, as understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. In one non-limiting embodiment, the term substantially refers to ranges within 10%, preferably within 5%, more preferably within 1%, and most preferably within 0.5% of what is specified. 
     The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a cap or container system that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more elements possesses those one or more elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Likewise, an element of a cap that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more features possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. For example, a cap that includes a top portion and a bottom portion that includes a centered opening, a first recessed holding element coupled to the centered opening through a first recessed region, a second recessed holding element coupled to the centered opening through a second recessed region, and a raised element coupled to the centered opening is a cap with a bottom portion that includes the specified features but is not limited to having only those features. Such a bottom portion could also include, for example, a second raised element. 
     Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but it may also be configured in ways other than those specifically described. 
       FIG. 1  depicts container system  100 . System  100  comprises cap or lid  101  operatively coupled to bottle  102 . Bottle  102  may be any type of bottle, bin, can, chamber, flask, jar, jug, receptacle, repository, tube, vessel, vial, or the like. A product such as, for example, a cosmetic or food product (not shown) may be stored within bottle  102 . Cap  102  allows a consumer to have access to the product in a controlled manner. Particularly, when system  100  is in an open position, the product may be dispensed, for instance, under an externally applied pressure, the force of gravity, or both. When system  100  in a closed position, the product is stopped from leaving bottle  102 . Although bottle  102  is shown as having a cylindrical shape, it may have any shape. 
     Cap  101  allows a user to operate system  100  with the right or left hand. Particularly, cap  101  is configured with a dispensing system that includes two open positions that are on opposite rotational sides of one closed position. As a result, system  100  may assume an open position when cap  101  is turned either clockwise or counterclockwise from its closed position. 
     In one embodiment, cap  101  comprises top and bottom portions, discussed in more detail below with respect to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . In another embodiment, cap  101  comprises only a top portion and another portion equivalent to the bottom portion of  FIG. 3  may be manufactured or otherwise provided as an integral part of bottle  102 . 
     Top portion  200 , which is shown in  FIG. 1 , and bottom portion  300  are shown in cross section in  FIG. 2 . Top portion  200  includes dispensing element or opening  201 , which may be positioned off-center and/or near the edge of top portion  200 . When system  100  is in one of its open positions, the product held within bottle  102  can exit cap  101  through opening  201 . Bottle  102  may be coupled to the underside of bottom portion  300  in any suitable manner, including via a threaded engagement as shown in  FIG. 2  or a snap-fit engagement. For a snap-fit engagement, the bottle and the cap (when the cap is of the two-piece configuration shown in the figures) can be provided with cooperating configurations well known to those of ordinary skill in the art for creating snap-fit engageable parts. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , bottom portion  300  includes surface elements on its top surface and, more specifically, on central projection  304 . Bottom portion also includes restriction element  302  and rail element  303 , which is female in nature. Top portion  200  includes surface elements that interact with the surface elements of bottom portion  300 , as described in greater detail below. Top portion  200  also includes stop element  202  that, together with restriction element  302 , controls the extent to which the two portions can rotate with respect to each other. In addition, top portion  200  includes one or more male rail elements  203  that ride in rail element  303  of bottom portion  300  and allow the portions to rotate with respect to each other; together these rail elements also serve at least in part as the mechanism that couples the depicted embodiment of top portion  200  and bottom portion  300  together. 
     Cap  101  may be configured such that the top and bottom portions can be coupled to each other in any suitable manner, such as through a snap fit. This may be achieved by tapering the bottom portion of male rail elements  203  (see  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 ) such that the top portion can fit down over the bottom portion more easily than if the male rail elements had a rectangular profile. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  are bottom and cross sectional views, respectively, of top portion  200 .  FIG. 4  shows that the surface elements of the bottom surface of top portion  200  include first protruding or raised (e.g., convex (cx)) element  401  and second raised (e.g., convex) element  402 . The surface elements of the bottom surface also include first and second raised (e.g., convex) regions  404  and  405  that extend from elements  401  and  402 , respectively, toward a central area of the bottom surface. The surface elements of the bottom surface also include region  406 , which may be recessed (e.g., concave) or otherwise indented into the top portion, coupling dispensing element or opening  201  to the central area of the bottom surface. 
     In addition to showing one or male rail elements  203  and stop element  202 ,  FIG. 5  shows vertical collar  204 , which encircles the surface elements of top portion  200  and helps keep top portion  200  centered over bottom portion  300  by contacting central projection  304  of bottom portion  300 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  are top and cross sectional views, respectively, of bottom portion  300 . The surface elements of the top surface of bottom portion  300  include first element  501  (also characterizable as first holding element  501 ), which includes a centrally oriented recessed (e.g., concave (cc)) portion  521  surrounded in part by a raised lip  531  that serves to help keep the top and bottom portions in a given open position once they get there; second element  502  (also characterizable as second holding element  502 ), which includes a centrally oriented recessed (e.g., concave (cc)) portion  522  surrounded in part by a raised lip  532  that serves to help keep the top and bottom portions in a given open position once they get there; central opening  507 ; and raised (e.g., convex (cx)) element  508 . Elements  501 ,  502 , and  508  may all be configured to fit with elements  401  and  402  and opening  201 . Bottom portion  300  also includes a downwardly-projecting section that defines a passageway  509  extending from central opening  507  and perpendicular to the flat portion of the top surface of bottom portion  300 . Recessed (e.g., concave) regions (e.g., channels)  504  and  505  extend from first and second holding elements  501  and  502 , respectively, toward a central area of the top surface of bottom portion  300 , and may be shaped or contoured to match the shape or contour of raised regions  404  and  405  of the bottom surface of top portion  200  when properly aligned with them. Center opening  507  may be coupled to raised element  508  via raised (e.g., convex) channel  506 , which can be shaped to conform to recessed channel  405  of top portion  200 . 
     As a result of the configuration of the top and bottom portions of cap  101 , product exiting bottle  102  through opening  507  can flow into channel  504  or  505 , depending on which is not occupied by either raised region  404  or  405 . The product is then directed by that recessed channel to holding element  501  or  502 . Product will be deterred from traveling on the top surface of bottom portion  300  other than through that channel (e.g., either  504  or  505 ) and into the holding element associated with that channel (e.g., either  501  or  502 ) because raised regions  404  and  405  will occupy the other of recessed channels  504  and  505  and raised region  506 . 
     Raised region  506  may interfere with raised region  404  or  405  when they are aligned. However, the container system (and more specifically cap  101 ) may be configured such that there is sufficient “play” in the fit between male rail elements  203  and (female) rail element  303  that the top and bottom portions may tilt somewhat without becoming uncoupled when opposed raised regions  506  and either  404  or  405  are aligned. Alternatively, either or both of raised region  506  and raised element  508  may be configured to be biased toward a raised position (which they would occupy when aligned with recessed region  406  and opening  201 , respectively) but depressable to a recessed position when contacted by raised region  404  or  405  and raised element  401  or  402 , respectively. Such a configuration may be achieved in a number of different way, such as for example through the material chosen for bottom portion  300  (if raised region  506  and raised element  508  are integral with bottom portion  300 ), or through the manner in which raised region and/or raised element  508  are coupled to bottom portion  300  if they are made from separate structures (though, in such a case, bottom portion  300  still may be characterized as having or including raised region  506  and raised element  508 ). Bottom portion  300  may also includes a tapered base section  510  that is configured to contact to some extent an upper tapered portion of container  102 , shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Top and bottom portions  200  and  300  are couplable to each other and, in operation, can rotate with respect to each other. More specifically, the top surface of bottom portion  300  can rotate with respect to the bottom surface of top portion  200 . However, restriction element  302  and stop element  202  are configured to interact with each other to restrict relative movement of the cap portions to less than 360 degrees. For example, bi-directional arrow  610  in  FIG. 8  shows that stop element  202  and restriction element  302  may be configured such that stop element  202  is allowed to travel approximately 240 degrees before reaching one side of restriction element  302  from the other side of the restriction element. In other embodiments, the total relative travel between the two may be 120 degrees or less, 90 degrees or less, 60 degrees or less, 40 degrees or less, or any other desired amount. 
     The depicted embodiment of the present caps is configured such that cap  101  assumes two open positions and one closed position as the user rotates top portion  200  with respect to bottom portion  300 . Cap  101  is in an open position when opening  201  is aligned with either first holding element  501  or second holding element  502  of bottom portion  300 , thus allowing a product to exit from bottle  102  into bottom portion  300  and out through top portion  200 . Cap  101  is in a closed position when opening  201  of the top portion is aligned with raised element  508 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . When top portion  200  is rotated relative to bottom portion  300  in the direction of clockwise arrow  614  from the depicted closed position, opening  201  moves to a first open position over first holding element  501 , and the bottom edge (from the perspective shown in  FIG. 8 ) of stop element  202  rests against (or may contact temporarily) the lower edge of restriction element  302 . When top portion  200  is rotated relative to bottom portion  300  in the direction of counterclockwise arrow  618  from the depicted closed position, opening  201  moves to a second open position over second holding element  502 , and the top edge of stop element  202  rests against (or may contact temporarily) the upper edge of restriction element  302 . As shown in the figures, raised element  508  may be positioned mid-way rotationally between first and second holding elements  501  and  502 . 
     In some embodiments, the surface elements of the two portions may be configured to make an audible sound (e.g., a “click”) to indicate a particular position is reached, such as an open position or the closed position. The height of raised element  508  may be such that it breaks the plane of the bottom surface of the top portion and protrudes into opening  201  when cap  101  is in its closed position. 
     The present caps may be made from any of a variety of suitable materials that are well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The material chosen may be translucent, transparent, semi-transparent, or opaque in different embodiments. 
     The present caps and container systems are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, they include all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the claims. For example, while the dispensing element of the top portion of the cap depicted in the figures is shown as a single opening, in other embodiments the dispensing element comprises multiple (e.g., 2 or more) smaller openings clustered together. Further, while the depicted embodiment of the present caps has been provided with one closed position flanked by two open positions, in other embodiments the surface elements of the bottom portion could be configured with another biased/depressable raised region and raised element surface element (similar to  506  and  508 ), to increase the number of closed positions to two. In such a case, the surface elements of the bottom portion would be arranged in the shape of a cross. The top portion&#39;s surface elements could remain three in number, though their positions would change to a T-configuration. Moreover, the top and bottom portions of the present caps could be configured with any number of alternating open and closed positions. 
     As another example, the restriction and stop elements can have different configurations than those shown. For instance, multiple restriction elements that are spaced apart from each other may be used rather than a single restriction element as shown in the figures. 
     The claims are not to be interpreted as including means-plus- or step-plus-function limitations, unless such a limitation is explicitly recited in a given claim using the phrase(s) “means for” or “step for,” respectively.