Abstract:
An improved cap for a container broadly includes an end cap, a sidewall, and a radially-extending tab. The cap is removed by grasping and lifting the tab, deforming the end cap and sidewall, and removing the cap from the container, or by applying circumferential force to the tab and unscrewing the cap.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/945,937, filed Feb. 28, 2014 that is incorporated by specific reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to containers. More particularly, the invention relates to easily removable caps for containers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Caps have long been used on bottles to seal the contents therein. Various types of bottles use a myriad of different cap types with two common types being a screw cap and a crown cork cap. The screw cap can be removed by hand. The crown cork, traditionally, is removed by using a bottle opener. The “twist off” crown cap is an additional variant of the crown cap that allows for opening by hand in addition to opening by using a bottle opener. 
         [0004]    Regardless of variety of bottle cap, each cap has its disadvantages. First, all caps can be applied too tightly and can be difficult to remove. Second, at times, bottle caps can have sharp points or rough sides and can cause pain while opening. Additionally, crown caps still have the disadvantage that they need a separate opener to remove the cap from the bottle. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present invention solves the above-described problems and provides a distinct advance in the field of easily removable caps for containers. The problem of removing a cap from a bottle is solved by including a tab on the cap of the container. More particularly, the present invention provides a radially-extending tab that extends from a sidewall of the cap. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention make removing tightly fitted caps easier to remove and reduce the causes for pain when removing caps. 
         [0006]    One embodiment of an improved cap for a container includes an end cap, a sidewall, and a tab. 
         [0007]    The endcap seals against an edge of a container to sealing the contents of the container therein. The sidewall extends from a peripheral edge of the endcap for matingly receiving a portion of the container therewithin. The cap and the sidewall, collectively, form a conventional cap for a resealable container, such as would be found on various types of conventional bottles. 
         [0008]    The tab extends radially from the sidewall for enabling easier removal of the cap from the container. In the first embodiment, the endcap, sidewall, and tab are formed from polypropylene, but in other embodiments they may be formed from various plastics, nylons, metals, elastomeric materials, or the like. 
         [0009]    A second embodiment of an improved cap for a container comprises an end cap, a sidewall, and a tab. 
         [0010]    The endcap is circular and smoothly lofts into the sidewall. The sidewall extends at a generally perpendicular direction from endcap. The sidewall includes a plurality of depressions extending from a second end of the sidewall. The sidewall and endcap collectively form a generally conventional 21-tooth crown cork bottle cap. 
         [0011]    The tab extends from the outer side of the sidewall for easily removing the cap and further comprises a grip. In this embodiment, the tab extends from only a portion of the outer side of the sidewall and, thus, a conventional bottle opener may be used to remove the cap, if desired. In this embodiment, the endcap, sidewall, and tab are formed from a single piece of stamped aluminum. 
         [0012]    In use, embodiments of an improved cap for a container replaces a conventional removable cap and would generally be supplied to a user installed on a neck of a container. The user may then remove the cap in two distinctly different ways. 
         [0013]    In a first method for removing and replacing the cap, the user grasps the tab. The user then lifts the tab away from a body of the container causing deformation in the cap and allowing the cap to be removed from the neck of the container. 
         [0014]    In a second method for removing and replacing the cap, particularly for containers using helical grooves, the user applies a circumferential force to the tab to rotate and loosen the cap. By nature of the increased radius provided by the tab, more torque may be applied by the user to the cap without requiring additional force as compared to conventional caps. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0015]    Embodiments of the present technology are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a cap constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a right perspective view of the cap of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a back perspective view of the cap of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a left perspective view of the cap of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the cap of  FIG. 1 , particularly illustrating the cap from above; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the cap of  FIG. 1 , particularly illustrating the cap from below; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of a cap constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a right perspective view of the cap of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a back perspective view of the cap of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a left perspective view of the cap of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the cap of  FIG. 7 , particularly illustrating the cap from below; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the cap of  FIG. 7 , particularly illustrating the cap from above; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a cap, particularly illustrating a first embodiment of a method for using an embodiment of a cap; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a perspective time series of a cap, particularly illustrating a second embodiment of a method for using an embodiment of a cap at a first time; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a perspective time series of the cap of  FIG. 14  at a second time; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a perspective time series of the cap of  FIG. 14  at a third time. 
       
    
    
       [0032]    The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the technology. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    The following detailed description of various embodiments of the present technology references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which the technology can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the technology in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the technology. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present technology is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
         [0034]    Note that in this description, references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” mean that the feature being referred to is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Further, separate references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment; however, such embodiments are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated, and except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments. Thus, the present invention can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein. 
         [0035]    Turning now to the drawing figures and, in particular  FIGS. 1-6 , a cap  10  for a container comprises an end cap  12 , a sidewall  14 , and a tab  16 . 
         [0036]    The endcap  12  is circular and seals against an edge of a container to sealing the contents of the container therein. The cap  12  may include a variety of seals or other structures to more completely seal the opening of the container, as is generally known in the art. 
         [0037]    The sidewall  14  extends from a peripheral edge of the endcap  12  at a generally perpendicular orientation for matingly receiving a portion of the container therewithin. The sidewall  14  includes an inner side  18  and an outer side  20  as well as a first end  22  and second end  24 . The sidewall  14  may contain ridges, flanges, helical grooves or the like to enable the sidewall  14  to be removably retained on the container, as is known in the art. The sidewall  14  may also include various ridges and grooves on the outer side  20 . The cap  12  and the sidewall  14 , collectively, form a conventional cap for a resealable container, such as would be found on various types of conventional bottles. In this embodiment the sidewall is connected to the endcap  12  at or near its first end  22 . 
         [0038]    The tab  16  extends radially from the outer side  20  of the sidewall  14  for enabling easier removal of the cap  10  from the container. In this embodiment, the tab  16  extends radially from or near the second end  24  of the sidewall  14  and continues circumferentially around the second end  24  of the sidewall  14 , but various locations are possible including near the first end  22  or at various points between the first end  22  and second end  24 . In this embodiment, the tab  16  is integrally formed with the sidewall  14  and the endcap  12 , but in other embodiments, the tab  16  may be separately formed and and attached with various conventional methods. In this embodiment, the endcap  12 , sidewall  14 , and tab  16  are formed from polypropylene, but in other embodiments, the endcap  12 , sidewall  14 , and tab  16  may be formed from various plastics, nylons, metals, elastomeric materials, or the like. In some embodiments, the tab  16  may include a rounded distal edge  25  to allow greater comfort when removing the cap  10 . In this embodiment the length of the tab  16 , measured from the sidewall  14  to the distal edge  25  is 3 cm, but in other embodiments the tab  16  may be between 1 cm and 4 cm. Additionally, in this embodiment, the tab  16  measures 2 cm wide, as measured perpendicular to a radius centered on the endcap  12 , but in various embodiments the tab  16  may be between 0.5 cm and 4 cm. Some embodiments may also taper or change the shape of the tab  16  so that the width measured near the sidewall  14  is narrower or wider than the width of the tab measured near to the distal edge  25 . In other embodiments, the tab  16  may also be formed so as to resemble various shapes, such as letters, numbers, logos, words, or the like. Thus, it is contemplated that the tab  16  may also contain voids or windows, depressions, relief, bumps, protuberances, or the like, to enhance the appearance of such shapes, to save on material costs, or for purely aesthetic reasons. 
         [0039]    In use, the cap  10  replaces a conventional removable cap and would generally be supplied to a user installed on a neck of a container  26 . The user may then remove the cap  10  in two distinctly different ways. 
         [0040]    Turning to  FIGS. 13-15 , in a first method for removing and replacing the cap  10 , the user places the tab  16  between a thumb and forefinger and grips the tab  16  therebetween. The user then lifts the tab  16  in an upward direction FU away from a body of the container causing deformation in the cap  10  and allowing the cap  10  to be removed from the neck of the container  26 . 
         [0041]    Turning now to  FIG. 16 , in a second method for removing and replacing the cap  10 , particularly for containers using helical grooves, the user applies a force to the tab  16  in a circumferential direction Fc to rotate and loosen the cap  10 . By nature of the increased radius provided by the tab  16 , more torque may be applied by the user to the cap  10  without requiring additional force as compared to conventional caps. Additionally, the tab  16  allows the user to apply force directly in the circumferential direction Fc through the tab  16 , rather than applying inward radial pressure Ri on the sidewall  14  and then applying a circumferential twisting force thereto. Because the force may be applied directly to the tab  16 , rather than the sidewall  14  as in a conventional removable cap, the force required is less than in conventional removable caps and thus is easier for those with less hand-strength, such as the elderly and children. The cap  10  may be replaced and tightened by substantially reversing the steps of this method. 
         [0042]    Turning now to  FIGS. 7-12 , another embodiment of a cap  100  is illustrated. In this embodiment, the cap  100  comprises an end cap  102 , a sidewall  104 , and a tab  106 . 
         [0043]    The endcap  102  is circular and smoothly lofts into the sidewall  104 . The sidewall  104  extends at a generally perpendicular direction from endcap  102 . The sidewall  104  includes a plurality of depressions  108  extending from a second end of the sidewall  104 . The sidewall  104  includes an innner side  110  and an outer side  112 . The sidewall  104  and endcap  102  collectively form a generally conventional 21-tooth crown cork bottle cap. 
         [0044]    The tab  106  extends from the outer side  112  of the sidewall  104  for easily removing the cap  100  and further comprises a grip  114  for more easily handling the tab  106  and to avoid discomfort to a user while manipulating the tab  106 . In this embodiment, the tab  106  extends from only a portion of the outer side  112  of the sidewall  104  and, thus, a conventional bottle opener may be used to remove the cap  100 , if desired. In other embodiments, the grip  106  may include alternate configurations of raised portions, surface patterns, scoring, or the like, or combinations thereof. In this embodiment, the tab  106  is integrally formed with the sidewall  104  and the endcap  102 , but in other embodiments, the tab  106  may be separately formed and attached with various conventional methods, such as weld beads, adhesives, or the like. In this embodiment, the endcap  102 , sidewall  104 , and tab  106  are formed from a single piece of stamped aluminum, but in other embodiments, the endcap  102 , sidewall  104 , and tab  106  may be formed from various plastics, nylons, metals, elastomeric materials, or the like. 
         [0045]    The methods of using cap  10 , described above in relation to the first embodiment of a cap  10 , are also applicable to the second embodiment of the cap  100 , as well as other various embodiments. 
         [0046]    Although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.