Abstract:
A device for repeatedly opening and closure of a container is described. The device comprises a base member ( 1, 20 ) and a top member ( 2, 21 ), where a central bore ( 9, 31 ) is provided in the base member ( 1, 20 ), and where the top member is adapted to be fastened to the basis member ( 1, 20 ) and close the central bore ( 9, 31 ). The top member ( 2, 21 ) is fastened to the base member ( 1, 20 ) by means of retainers ( 11, 27 ) that are forced into interaction with the basic member ( 1, 29 ) by means of a press member ( 19, 24 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     A multitude of goods are sold in containers of different kinds where the container can be opened and closed using a screw cap. The opening and closing of screw caps usually requires two hands. Moreover, screw caps may be difficult to open if they have been screwed on tight or for persons who are physically disabled.  
         [0002]     Vast amounts of beverages, both carbonated and non-carbonated, are sold in bottles with screw caps. For car drivers it is dangerous to use both hands to open a bottle. For other users it may also be advantageous to be able to open and close a bottle without having to use both hands.  
         [0003]     Opening and closing devices, which can easily be opened and closed repeatedly, for bottles with a bead around the upper end of the neck are known from U.S. Pat. No. 2,903,148, U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,688 and DE 3009568. A common feature of these opening and closing devices is that they comprise a flexible internal sealing member that is slidably mounted in a cavity in a rigid outer cap. The cavity in the outer cap is a substantially conical bore. When the outer cap is pressed down onto the neck of a bottle, the inner sealing member is pressed into engagement with the neck of the bottle and the bead around the top thereof, so that the bottle is temporarily closed. When the bottle is to be opened, the outer cap is pulled up, the sealing member disengages from the neck of the bottle and the device can be removed.  
         [0004]     However, the previously known opening and closing devices of the prior art as mentioned above relate to bottles having a bead uppermost on the neck of the bottle.  
         [0005]     An opening and closing device for bottles with a threaded neck is known from PCT/NO01/00449, later WO 02/38461. This device comprises a plurality of retainers that are pressed into engagement with a bottom part by means of an outer part that lies around the retainers and is movable along the longitudinal axis of the bottle. However, the solution is difficult and expensive to produce, and it protrudes from the neck of a bottle more than a traditional screw cap. This could cause problems when bottles on which this device has been fitted are to be placed and transported in the crates for bottles that exist today.  
         [0006]     Thus, there is a need for an improved opening and closing device for containers such as bottles, cans, medicine phials and the like, wherein the container can be opened and closed in a simple way without the user having to use both hands.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     According to the present invention, a closing device is provided for the repeated opening and closing of a container, comprising a base member and a top member, 
    wherein there is an opening in the base member, wherein the base member is adapted to be secured to a container opening on the container or is a part of the container opening, and the top member is adapted to be locked to the base member and to close the opening, wherein a ring of retainers adapted to be inserted into the opening is provided on the top member,     wherein an axially extending flange or edge adapted to engage with projections on the retainers is provided in the opening,     and wherein a press member adapted to press the retainers out against the base member and into engagement with the edge or flange is provided in the top member.    
 
         [0011]     It is preferable that the press member should be approximately axially movable between a position in which it presses the retainers into engagement with the edge or flange and a position in which it does not press the retainers into engagement with the edge or flange.  
         [0012]     It is also preferable that the retainers are elastic and retract from engagement with the edge or flange when they are not pressed by the press member.  
         [0013]     Preferably, the press member is an elastic body that is fastened to a central portion of the top member so that the elastic body is moved into a position in which it does not press on the retainers when the central portion is pressed down.  
         [0014]     According to a preferred embodiment, the central portion is elastically mounted in the top member in such manner that the central portion is drawn up and draws the elastic body with it when pressure on the central portion ceases.  
         [0015]     It is preferable that the container should be a bottle. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0016]     The invention will be described below with reference to the attached figures, wherein:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a longitudinal section through a first embodiment of the present opening and closing device in a closed position;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a longitudinal section through the opening and closing device shown in  FIG. 1  in an open position;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of the present opening and closing device in a closed position;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a longitudinal section through the opening and closed device shown in  FIG. 3  in an open position;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a longitudinal section through the embodiment of the device shown in  FIG. 3  ready to be opened;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an elastic body from the embodiment according to  FIG. 3 ; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a section though a perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a section through a first preferred embodiment of the present device in a closed and open position respectively. The illustrated device comprises a base member  1 , a top member  2  and a closing member  3 .  
         [0025]     The base member  1  is designed to replace a standard screw cap and comprises a cylindrical wall  4  and a top plate  5 . The inner surface of the cylindrical wall is equipped with internal threads  6  adapted to the threads on the neck of the bottle. An annular seal  7  which rests against the top plate  5  ensures sealing between the base member  4  and the non-illustrated top of the neck of the bottle.  
         [0026]     The top member  2  and the closing member  3  are fitted together so that they form one unit. The top member is preferably connected to the base member  1  by an arm  13 . The arm  13  is preferably fastened to the base member  1  and can be moulded in one piece therewith. The arm preferably has a trapezoidal cross-section and runs in the top member  2  in a non-illustrated groove having a trapezoidal cross-section that runs across the top member. The length of the arm  13  can be adjusted by means of a manipulator button  14 . The manipulator button  14  may optionally be adapted for engagement with grooves in the top member so that it can be locked in one or more positions.  
         [0027]     The closing member  3  is arranged to be axially movable on a core portion  10  of the top member  2 . The core portion  10  runs in an axial bore in the closing member  3 . The central bore in the closing member  3  is surrounded by a ring of retainers  11  which project down from an annular supporting member  15  away from the top member  2 . An annular seal  12  is provided on the supporting member  15  to seal between the top of the base member  1  and the supporting member  15  when the device is closed.  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  shows the same embodiment as that shown in  FIG. 1  in an open position, wherein the closing member has been placed against the base member  1 . In this figure the ring of retainers  11  from the closing member has been placed against a central bore  9  in the base member. The retainers  11  are made of an elastic material and their lower ends are drawn in towards the longitudinal axis of the device by the material.  
         [0029]     The ring of retainers  11  has a total diameter that allows this ring to be inserted into the central bore  9 . To close the present device, the ring of retainers  11  is passed into the central bore  9 . When the closing member  3  has been placed against the base member  1  so that the supporting member  15  rests against the base member  1 , the top member  2  is pressed down against the closing member. The core portion  10  is then pressed down into the ring of retainers and presses the retainers out from the longitudinal axis of the device. The retainers  11  then engage below the bore  9 , preferably with the bottom edge of a cylindrical flange  8  that projects axially downwards from the bore  9 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The device is now closed, but can be opened again by pulling the top member  2  up, thereby pulling the core portion out of the ring of retainers so that the retainers disengage from the base member  1 . The closing member is then pulled up with the top member, and the bottle is open.  
         [0030]     The reason it is preferable that a flange  8  should be arranged in connection with the central bore  9  is that the retainers  11  have limited elasticity. When a flange is provided below the bore, it is easier to press the retainers  11  into engagement with the base member.  
         [0031]     Non-illustrated pins which slide between the retainers  11  are preferably arranged on the core portion  10 . The non-illustrated pins prevent the closing member  3  from falling off the top member and ensure that the closing member is taken out of the base member together with the top member.  
         [0032]     As can be seen from the figures, the core portion  10  is slightly conical, with its smallest diameter at the bottom. This ensures that the core portion  10  fits snugly against the closing member when the device is closed. It is also preferable that there should be a small flange on the upper side of the bore  9  on the base member for abutment against the seal  12 . However, this small flange is not strictly speaking necessary as the seal  12  may be designed for direct abutment against the top of the base member.  
         [0033]     The external diameter of the flange  8  is adapted to the internal diameter of the neck of a bottle, so that the flange  8  projects down into the neck when the device is screwed onto a bottle.  
         [0034]     FIGS.  3  to  6  show a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 7  shows a detail of the same. This second preferred embodiment comprises a base member  20  and a top member  21 .  
         [0035]     The top member  21  comprises a main part  19 , a central portion  22  and retainers  27 ,  28 . The main part  19  is designed to rest against the top of the container or against the top of the base member  20 . The specific design of the main part  19  may therefore have a different appearance and shape depending upon the area of usage and the container or base member with which it is to be used. The main part  19  of the device shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  is annular and has a lower part  32  that projects downwards and is adapted to surround the top of the base member  20 .  
         [0036]     A plurality of retainers  27 ,  28  are arranged in a ring on the side of the main part that is to rest against the base member. The ring of retainers  27 ,  28  is adapted to be inserted into the opening  31  in the base member that is to be closed. The top member  21  also comprises a central portion  22  that is fastened to an elastic intermediate member  23 . An elastic body  24  is fastened to the central portion  22 . When the central portion  22  is pressed, the elastic body can be shifted from a position in which it can push the retainers  27 ,  28  out from a central line through the device, and a position in which it is disengaged from the retainers.  
         [0037]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show a longitudinal section through the retainers  27 ,  28  which are elongate and have a projection  28  at the lower end that is adapted to engage with a edge or flange  25  on the inside of the base member  20 .  
         [0038]     When the device is to be closed, the top member  21  is put on the base member in that the retainers  27  are inserted into the opening  31  in the base member. During the closing and when the device is closed, the retainers are pressed out against the sides of the base member by means of an elastic body  24 .  FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of the present invention in the form of a bottle cap, in a position in which the cap is closed. The retainers  27  are then pressed out against the base member  20  by the elastic body  24 .  
         [0039]     When the device is to be opened, the central portion  22  is pressed down. This causes the elastic body  24  to be pressed down below the retainers so that the elastic body no longer presses against the retainers  27 .  FIG. 5  shows the device when the elastic body  24  is pressed down below the retainers  27 , thereby allowing the projections to disengage from the edge or flange  25  so that the top member  21  can be pulled up and out of the base member, and the device is open.  
         [0040]     As can be seen from  FIG. 5 , the opening  31  is slightly conical with the smallest opening at the top so that the retainers rest against the edge of the opening at the top and are thus pressed out of engagement with the edge or flange  25 . When the top member has been taken out of the base member, the central portion  22  that is mounted in the elastic intermediate member  23  will be drawn up and will draw the elastic body with it. The elastic body  24  will then in turn pull up the inside of the ring of retainers and press the retainers outwards.  
         [0041]     When the top member is replaced on the base member, the elastic body will be compressed so that the ring of retainers can be put into the top member, and will press the retainers out against the edge of the opening  31  and into engagement with the edge or flange  25  so as to close the device.  
         [0042]     The retainers  27  and the elastic body  24  press in different directions when the device is closed. When the outward pressure from the elastic body ceases in that it is pressed down below the retainers, the lowermost part of the retainers, and thus the projections,  28  will swing out of engagement with the edge or flange  25 . The retainers  27  are preferably swung out of engagement with the edge or flange  25  because they are elastic.  
         [0043]     When it is required or desirable that the present device should be almost air or water-tight, it must be sealed with one or more seals between the base member and the top member. This is shown in the figures by a seal  26 . However, there may be a question of optimising the location of the seal. It is also possible that it may be advantageous for the seal to be fastened to the top member.  
         [0044]     The main part  19 , the central portion  22 , the intermediate member  23  and the retainers  27 ,  28  are preferably made in one piece.  
         [0045]     The base member is designed to be fastened to the container on which the device is to be used. For example, on the inside of the base member there may be threads, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , or there may be other means on the base member for fastening to the container. The base member does not need to be a separate part. If the container opening is made so that but can also be a part of the container.