Patent Publication Number: US-2010116773-A1

Title: Structure for prevent the liquid from leaking of a cap

Description:
FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
     The present invention relates to a “bottle cap with leakage-proof feature for liquid therein”, particularly for a bottle cap filled with liquid being constantly kept therein by leakage-proof design without any leakage so that defective commodity from liquid therein unexpectedly mixing with the liquid in the container is avoided when the lateral surface of the bottle cap deforms due to the stress of the external force. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     By means of filling a second beverage in the bottle cap of the associated bottle or container beforehand for optionally mixing with the first beverage in the bottle or container, the integral bottle and cap provides the consumer with extra choice for tasting the mingling flavor of mixture of second beverage and first beverage other than the usual flavor of first beverage in the bottle or container. Accordingly, various structures of such kind bottle cap with filling of second beverage are contrived and disclosed, for example, US patents in number of U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,872, U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,865 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,888; Japanese published patents in number of 2003-12015, 2004-83022, 2004-323097, 2004-338751, 2005-22706, 2006-27727, 2006-103781, 2006-117305, 2006-151449, 2006-151457 and 2006-232290 as well as mainland China utility model patent in number of 93241475.3 and the like are all in this category. Wherein, the structure of the bottle cap disclosed in the China utility model patent in number of 93241475.3 is shown as in the  FIG. 1 . Basing on the associated specifications which disclosed the related technique, the internal-screw-topped bottle cap  1  comprises a diaphragm  4  stuck over its middle sectional internal thread  101  to encompass a closed space for filling liquid material  5  therein. For screw-fitting together with the spout opening of the bottle in the mixing beverage operation, turn and drive the bottle cap  1  further forwardly to break the diaphragm  4  so that the liquid material  5  originally in the bottle cap  1  is automatically infused into the bottle  3  to mix with the beverage therein. 
     From disclosure above, the material of diaphragm  4  is different from that of the bottle cap  1  as they stuck together by some kind of glue over the surface of the internal thread  101  in the bottle cap  1 . Since the surface of the internal thread  101  of the bottle cap  1  is continuous spiral scraggy thread without any backing supporting jut for the diaphragm  4 , to firmly stick the smooth peripheral of disk-shaped diaphragm  4  with the jagged surface of the internal thread  101  without defect in mass production is hardly achieved by the level of current industrial facility and technology. Moreover, applying the glue over the peripheral of the diaphragm  4  for sticking together with the internal thread  101  of the bottle cap  1  inevitably causes the hygienic safety issue due to liquid material  5  therein either contaminated or chemically reacted with the glue so that becomes the main reason for the real product of such new model patent is not introduced in the market so far. As generally knowledge, industrial mass production of the bottled drinking water in the current market must be automatically controlled via a series of consistent process without any contamination or pollution to comply with regulatory requirements and criterion for the drinkable and hygienic safety. However, the technology disclosed in the China utility model patent in number of 93241475.3 is only an infeasible hollow word as essentially unable to achieve the requirements and criterion aforesaid that does not meet the patentable criterion of practical usage. 
     For the products of other prior arts from the USA and Japan patents mentioned above, they are not popularly accepted in the market because their astonishing high price reflected from the structural complexity of the component design. Realizing all the facts aforesaid and addressing various drawbacks associated, the applicant of the present invention sets forth a previous patent application to your USPTO with filing number of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/149,355 after the accomplishment of a technological breakthrough via research and development. The marketable product of mass production associated with U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/149,355 proves that meets the expected effects and the regulatory requirements and criterion for the drinkable and hygienic safety. Unexpectedly, a minor leakage of the filled liquid in the bottle cap happened during transportation. After careful study and research for troubleshooting the leakage issue, the cause is pinpointed as well as remedied and improved as below. As shown in the  FIGS. 2 and 3 , after filling the second beverage R into the hollow cavity  14  of the bottle cap  10 , insert the dividing disk  20  into the communicating channel  15  at the bottom surface  12  of the bottle cap  10  so that the buckling groove  24  on the lateral surface  23  of the dividing disk  20  buckling-fits together with the inside buckling flange ring  16  of the bottle cap  10  in firmly fixed position for isolating the second beverage R in the hollow cavity  14  from outflow. At this moment, the buckling groove  24  on the lateral surface  23  of the dividing disk  20  entirely contacts together with the surface of the inside buckling flange ring  16  of the bottle cap  10  without any gap to let second beverage R leak out (as shown in view a-a of the  FIG. 2 ). As shown of two arrowhead directions in the  FIG. 3 , if exerting forces F of the hands apply over the lateral surface  13  of the bottle cap  10  by the worker during transportation or the consumer in the shopping store, two inward bends will be created (as shown of the hypothetic lines in the  FIG. 3 ) at the sides pinched or held by the fingers and two deformation gaps g will be created at the other sides which being not borne the exerting forces F by the holding fingers (as shown in view b-b of the  FIG. 3 ) so that the second beverage R in the hollow cavity  14  will leak out from the deformation gaps g by the gravity action. From observation, for lateral surfaces  13  of the same bottle cap  10 , the more frequent hand fingers pinch or hold (for example it is taken up for inspection by many consumers in the shopping store), the more possibility of the leakage from the deformation gaps g will be; On the contrary, the less frequent hand fingers pinch or hold, the less or even no possibility of the leakage from the deformation gaps g will be. As long as there is any possibility of the leakage from the deformation gaps g, the batch products of the defective commodity should not be allowed to sell in the market to assure the drinkable and hygienic safety in conformity with regulatory requirements and criterion for the for the consumers though the possibility of the leakage from the deformation gaps g aforesaid is not definite. 
     Besides, as shown in the  FIG. 4 , during the screw-fitting procedure of the bottle cap  10  with dividing disk  20  to fit together with the container  30 , when the bottom surface  22  contacts with the spout opening end of the container  30 , an upward force Fn will be created in turning and driving the bottle cap  10  further forwards, meanwhile a downward counteraction resistance Fr will be created and constantly existed against the turning and driving upward force Fn as long as the buckling groove  24  of the dividing disk  20  remaining kept in the buckling flange  16  of bottle cap  10  so that pushing the dividing disk  20  off the buckling flange  16  of bottle cap  10  becomes hard and retarded for consumers with weak physical strength such as children and female consumers. Accordingly, how to achieve the blending effect of said two beverages via physical strength effort-saving way is also another issue to be solved by the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a “bottle cap with leakage-proof feature for liquid therein”, which comprises an internal hollow cavity, an internal communicating channel and an internal concentric lining ring with inwards buckling groove ring being crotched in the inner wall of the hollow cavity facing the communicating channel such that a flexible rift ring being formed between the peripheral surface of the lining ring and the inner surface of the communicating channel; and an integral body of dividing disk having an up-facing flexible cleft ring being notched near the peripheral of the top surface. Firstly fill the liquid material into the hollow cavity of the bottle cap and next buckling-fit the buckling flange of the dividing disk together with the buckling groove ring around the lining ring in the hollow cavity inner wall of the bottle cap. Both of the rift width of the flexible rift ring and cleft width of the flexible cleft ring after the assembly of the bottle cap and dividing disk become smaller than those of the original widths because both of the flexible rift ring and flexible cleft ring have been strained by the forward squeezed stress. By means mutual counter elastic stress by the strained flexible rift ring and flexible cleft ring reciprocally, the buckling-fitting condition between the lateral surface of the dividing disk and the inner surface of the lining ring is more firmly tight. When the lateral surface of the bottle cap deforms due to the stress of the external force such as hand fingers pinch or hold, the corresponding strains of the flexible rift ring and flexible cleft ring respond to offset by their elasticity so that the tightly close-fitting condition is constantly kept without any gap; thereby, a watertight hollow cavity is remained to keep the liquid material therein and completely prevent it from leaking out. 
     The other object of the present invention is to provide a “bottle cap with leakage-proof feature for liquid therein” with plural blocking juts being evenly configured on the inner wall of the hollow cavity over the buckling groove ring of the lining ring within a quadrant manner. During screw-fitting operation of the bottle cap and the spout opening end of the container, when the buckling flange ring on the lateral surface of the dividing disk begins to slip away the buckling groove ring, the top surface of the dividing disk contacts the blocking juts meanwhile. By means of contact points of the blocking juts with the top surface of the dividing disk to serve as the fulcrums to let other side of the dividing disk raised, the liquid beverage in the hollow cavity easily flows downwards quickly and the downward counteraction resistance acting on the top surface of the dividing disk is indirectly deleted meanwhile; thereby, during entire slipping procedure of the dividing disk away the internal lining ring of the bottle cap, the effort-saving effect in turning and driving effort is achieved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is the structural cross section view for the conventional China utility model patent in number of 93241475.3. 
         FIG. 2  is the structural cross section view for the conventional Taiwan invention patent in number of 1271358. 
         FIG. 3  is the illustrative view showing the bottle cap in the  FIG. 2  being borne force on the lateral surface. 
         FIG. 4  is the operation illustrative view for the  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an assembly perspective view according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded sectional view according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an assembly sectional view according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional illustrative view showing the assembly for the first preferred embodiment of the present invention with a container. 
         FIG. 10  is the first operation illustrative view for the  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is the second operation illustrative view for the  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is the third operation illustrative view for the  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13  is the fourth operation illustrative view for the  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded sectional view according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a sectional illustrative view showing the assembly for the second preferred embodiment of the present invention with a container. 
         FIG. 17  is the first operation illustrative view for the  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is the second operation illustrative view for the  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 19  is the third operation illustrative view for the  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 20  is the fourth operation illustrative view for the  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 21  is the fifth operation illustrative view for the  FIG. 16 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 7 , a bottle cap with leakage-proof feature for liquid therein according to a the first preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a bottle cap  50  and a dividing disk  60 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 7  the bottle cap  50  having a closed-end top surface  51 , an open-end bottom surface  52 , a cylinder-shaped lateral surface  53  and a safety tear strip ring  40  such that an internal hollow cavity  54  being formed near the top surface  51  for filling the second beverage R therein and an internal communicating channel  55  with female thread  551  therein being formed near the bottom surface  52  for screw-fitting together with the male thread  32  on the spout opening end  31  of the container  30 , both of hollow cavity  54  and communicating channel  55  being connected through each other, the safety tear strip ring  40  with a breakable end  41  being formed the outer peripheral of the bottom surface  52 , wherein, an internal concentric lining ring  56  with inwards buckling groove ring  561  being crotched in the inner wall of the hollow cavity  54  facing the communicating channel  55  such that a flexible rift ring  57  being formed between the peripheral surface of the lining ring  56  and the inner surface of the communicating channel  55  (as shown of the enlarged view in the  FIG. 7 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the dividing disk  60  having a top surface  61 , a bottom surface  62  and a ring-shaped lateral surface  63  such that the top surface  61  facing the hollow cavity  54  of the bottle cap  50  and the bottom surface  62  facing the communicating channel  55  of the bottle cap  50  after the dividing disk  60  being inserted between the hollow cavity  54  and the communicating channel  55  inside of the bottle cap  50 , wherein, an up-facing flexible cleft ring  64  being notched near the peripheral of the top surface  61  and a buckling flange ring  65  bulging around the top peripheral of the lateral surface  63  for being buckle-fitted together with the buckling groove ring  561  on the lining ring  56  of the bottle cap  50  as well as a sealing flange ring  66  wrapping the bottom peripheral of the top surface  61  so that second beverage R in the hollow cavity  54  being kept therein in watertight manner to prevent it from leaking out after the dividing disk  60  being inserted in final position. 
     Please refer to the  FIGS. 7 and 8  showing the assembly for the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Firstly fill the second beverage R of different flavor into the hollow cavity  54  of the bottle cap  50 ; next insert the dividing disk  60  into the communicating channel  55  via the bottom surface  52  of the bottle cap  50  until the buckling flange  65  around the top lateral surface  63  peripheral of the dividing disk  60  buckling-fits together with the buckling groove ring  561  around the lining ring  56  in the hollow cavity  54  inner wall of the bottle cap  50  so that a watertight hollow cavity  54  is formed to keep the second beverage R therein and prevent it from leaking out. Both of the rift width A of the flexible rift ring  57  and cleft width δ of the flexible cleft ring  64  before the assembly of the bottle cap  50  and dividing disk  60  are freely opened to maximum manner (as shown of two separated enlarged views in the  FIG. 7 ), and both of the rift width Δ′ of the flexible rift ring  57  and cleft width δ′ of the flexible cleft ring  64  after the assembly of the bottle cap  50  and dividing disk  60  become smaller than those of the original widths (as shown of enlarged view in the  FIG. 8 ) because both of the flexible rift ring  57  and flexible cleft ring  64  have been strained by the forward squeezed stress so that the relations of Δ&gt;Δ′ and δ&gt;δ′ are created, thereby, the buckling-fitting condition between the lateral surface  63  of the dividing disk  60  and the inner surface of the lining ring  56  is more firmly tight due to mutual counter elastic stress by the strained flexible rift ring  57  and flexible cleft ring  64  reciprocally. When the lateral surface  53  of the bottle cap  50  deforms due to the stress of the external force such as hand fingers pinch or hold, the corresponding strains of the flexible rift ring  57  and flexible cleft ring  64  respond to offset by their elasticity so that the tightly close-fitting condition is constantly kept without any gap; thereby, a watertight hollow cavity  54  is remained to keep the second beverage R therein and completely prevent it from leaking out. 
     Please further refer to the  FIGS. 9 through 13  showing the operation steps of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention for mixing the second beverage R with the first beverage G by the drinker. Firstly, pull safety tear strip ring  40  at the bottom peripheral of the bottle cap  50  until the breakable end  41  being ruptured and torn off (as shown in the  FIG. 10 ); Secondly, turn and drive the bottle cap  50  forwards for screw-fitting of the bottle cap  50  and the spout opening end  31  of the container  30  (as shown in the  FIG. 11 ); Thirdly, keep turn and drive the bottle cap  50  forwards so that the buckling flange ring  65  on the lateral surface  63  of the dividing disk  60  begins to slip away the buckling groove ring  561  on the lining ring  56  of the bottle cap  50  by the upward pushing force from the contacted spout opening end  31  of the container  30  (as shown in the  FIG. 12 ); Fourthly, further keep turn and drive the bottle cap  50  forwards until the dividing disk  60  being completely slipped away the internal lining ring  56  so that the second beverage R in the hollow cavity  54  flows downwards to blend with the first beverage G in the container  30  (as shown in the  FIG. 13 ). 
     As further shown in the  FIGS. 14 through 16 , the second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Three additional blocking juts  58  are evenly configured on the inner wall of the hollow cavity  54  over the buckling groove ring  561  of the lining ring  56  within a quadrant manner (as shown of the sectional view and enlarged view in the  FIG. 15 ) in order to provide aiding fulcrums to easily slip the dividing disk  60  away the internal lining ring  56  of the bottle cap  50  with more effort-saving effect during the screw-fitting procedure of the bottle cap  50  and the spout opening end  31  of the container  30 . The stepwise operation method is shown as in the  FIGS. 17 through 21  for mixing the second beverage R with the first beverage G by the drinker. Firstly, pull safety tear strip ring  40  at the bottom peripheral of the bottle cap  50  until the breakable end  41  being ruptured and torn off (as shown in the  FIG. 17 ); Secondly, turn and drive the bottle cap  50  forwards for screw-fitting of the bottle cap  50  and the spout opening end  31  of the container  30  (as shown in the  FIG. 18 ); Thirdly, keep turn and drive the bottle cap  50  forwards so that the buckling flange ring  65  on the lateral surface  63  of the dividing disk  60  begins to slip away the buckling groove ring  561  on the lining ring  56  of the bottle cap  50  and the top surface  61  of the dividing disk  60  contacts three blocking juts  58  meanwhile (as shown in the  FIG. 19  with enlarged view); The contact points of three blocking juts  58  with the top surface  61  of the dividing disk  60  will serve as the fulcrums to let other side of the dividing disk  60  raised (as shown in the  FIG. 20 ); Fourthly, by means of the aiding fulcrums of three blocking juts  58 , further keep turn and drive the bottle cap  50  forwards until the dividing disk  60  being completely slipped away the internal lining ring  56  so that the second beverage R in the hollow cavity  54  easily flows downwards quickly (as shown in the  FIG. 21 ) and the downward counteraction resistance Fr acting on the top surface  61  of the dividing disk  60  is indirectly deleted meanwhile; thereby, during entire slipping procedure of the dividing disk  60  away the internal lining ring  56  of the bottle cap  50 , the effort-saving effect in turning and driving effort is achieved.