Abstract:
Capped containers for use on a residence counter have caps which swingably connect the cap to the container for closure. If the contents of the container is a thin or watery liquid the ordinary closure may not prevent leakage during vibration, travelling or pressure. There is here provided a container with an additional closure formed when a sleeve is arranged to move to an extended position and then to thread to both the cap and the container to provide a fluid tight connection to each.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to containers having caps. Such containers have caps swingably connecting the cap to the container and usually provide a design wherein the cap may through said swingable connection be moved relative to the container between an open position and a closure position relative to a dispensing opening. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A dispensing opening in the container when the cap is open allows the withdrawal or dispensing of materials from the container. Over the range of containers the materials may vary from very viscous material such as toothpaste or thick oil to very watery materials such as suntan oils, baby lotion, etc. Cap closure means is usually adequate to prevent the escape of such contents as viscous lotions or thick oil but frequently will allow some leakage of very thin or watery substances such as suntan and baby oils, contact lens solution, etc. particularly if the container is under pressure, vibrated or inverted. 
   Typically the dispensing opening is defined by a spout being an upwardly directed outlet from the container upper surface in the usual attitude of the container for frequent use on a counter in a dwelling or residence. 
   Thus the container of the thin liquid is provided with a cap movable to leave the dispensing opening open or in closure position and is very convenient to use while standing on a counter or at home while being subject to the risk of leakage due to changing orientation or pressures during travel. 
   For thin liquids this invention provides a container having two closures, the first of which is a cap closure used when the container is in frequent use, e.g. on a counter in a residence or dwelling. The cap closure usually involves the dispensing opening and a plug therefor. 
   The term ‘container’ herein frequently includes a container top threaded to the container body, the threaded connection being then unconnected with the other threading described herein. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accord with the invention a second closure is provided for the container during travel or other action when the container may be inverted, on its side or vibrated. The second closure utilizes a threaded sleeve which in a retracted position is threaded to one of the cap or the container. The other of the cap or the container is also provided with threading designed to form a continuation of the threading on the one of the cap or container members when the cap is placed in closure position. 
   Thus when the container is to be taken travelling, the cap is first placed in closure position unless it was in the closure position already, then the sleeve is rotated from its retracted position on threading of one of the container or cap. The sleeve is then rotated on its container or cap to thread onto the other of the container or cap and thus the boundary between the container and cap is closed by the threaded joints between cap and sleeve and container and sleeve. 
   The type of cap closure may vary so long as it provides a near closure when the container is on a counter and so long as it allows provision of the second closure with the sleeve threaded to each of the container and cap. 
   The invention may be designed to operate with the customary orientation of the container in the residence or dwelling whichever this may be. For example a container with which the invention is used may be shaped to be upright with the cap at the top, may be designed to be laid on the side, and some may be designed to be kept in or may be designed to stand on the cap, the last referred to as a “stand on cap design”. 

   
     A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention: 
       FIG. 1A  shows a first embodiment of the invention with the sleeve retracted and the cap in closure position and in open position; 
       FIG. 1B  shows the first embodiment with the cap in closure position and the sleeve in extended position; 
       FIG. 2A  shows a second embodiment of the invention with the sleeve retracted and the cap in closure and in open position; 
       FIG. 2B  shows the second embodiment with the cap in closure position and the sleeve in retracted and extended position. 
       FIG. 3A  is a perspective of a third embodiment with the cap open and the sleeve retracted; 
       FIG. 3B  is a vertical section of the device of  FIG. 3A  with the cap in closure position and the sleeve in extended position. 
       FIG. 3C  is a perspective of the bottle closed by threaded sleeve. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, a container usually has a top portion  12  which may be screwed on and off the remainder of the container. This threading (not shown) is not related to the inventive threading but such upper attachment is also shown in  FIG. 3B . On the top surface of the container is a spout  15 . The spout often comprises an upraised neck with an outwardly directed rim  14 , which is usually a circle in plan view. 
   Above the rim  14 , the spout tapers upwardly at  19  to define a dispensing opening  17  through which liquid may be released, by shaking, tipping, etc. 
   The spout  15  is provided with outwardly directed threading  28  below the convexity  25  in rim  14  and the top of upper portion  12 . The threading faces outwardly and is helical about the circular spout, and is located outwardly far enough beyond the rim  14  that it may receive the complementary threads of a sleeve, to be described, without interference between rim and sleeve. 
   A cap  18  for the spout is part of and movable on the resilient tether  20  from open position clear of the spout  15  dotted position in  FIG. 1A  to a closure position, solid position in  FIG. 1A , where, as is to be described, it closes the space about the dispensing opening to a large degree against escape of liquid. 
   The cap is shaped to define an inwardly facing concavity  21  to receive the tapering portion  19  of the spout. The inwardly facing circular area on the cap which is located to contact the rim  14  when the cap moves to closure position is shaped at  27  to be concave toward the rim so that it may couple to the convexity  25  by a snap action to hold the cap in closure position and form a partial closure, although not necessarily a full closure for a thin liquid. 
   The cap  18  is provided with threading  30  of the same dimensions and pitch as threading  28 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1B , the threading  30  is located to act as an extension of threading  28  in the closure position of the cap. The dimensions and pitch of the threadings  28  and  30  thus correspond. 
   Threadedly mounted by its threading  29  on the cap threading  30  there is a sleeve  32  preferably of a length sufficient to cover the cap threads when the sleeve is retracted. The sleeve may be provided with an outwardly projecting rim  22  which may be knurled or shaped to assist digital manipulation. 
   When the cap is held by rim  14  and concavity  27  in closure position, the sleeve  32  may be digitally rotated to couple its threading  29  to container threading  28 . It will be noted that such coupling will take place even if there is a slight gap between cap and container threads  30  and  28  and any slight misalignment will tend to correct itself as the sleeve  32  is screwed down on the container threading  28 . Moreover, it will be noted that even with such small gap or slight misalignment the closure of the space inside the cap, to prevent escape of liquid from the container to the outside, is formed by threaded junction threading  29  and  28  at the container and by threading  29  and  30  at the cap. 
   Thus in accord with the invention, to use the liquid in the container sleeve, in retracted position as shown in  FIG. 1A  (dotted and solid), the cap  18  is retracted to open position as shown in  FIG. 1A  dotted position, and the liquid may then be dispensed from the container by shaking, squeezing or pouring depending on the contents. When not in use, in a residence or dwelling, the cap is preferably snapped shut as in  FIG. 1A  solid line position with rim  14  held by concavity  27 . When the container is to be taken travelling, the container is placed in  FIG. 1A  solid position. The sleeve  32  is then rotated to thread its threading  29  on to threading  28 . The container is then in condition to travel substantially closed by the threaded junction of sleeve  29  and cap  30  threading and by the threaded junction of sleeve  29  and container  28  threading. 
   (It should be clearly understood that another releasable closure or snap closure is permissable. The requirement then is that whatever initial closure is used, it must allow the releasable completion of the threaded coupling.) When the container of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  has been closed for travel and it is desired to use it at the destination location then it is necessary to rotate sleeve  32  to retracted position so that the threads  29  no longer connect to container threads  28  and the container may be used on a counter with the cap open and/or closed. 
   In the second embodiment of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  the tether  20  and the snap closure between rim  25  and concavity  27  may be the same as illustrated  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
   With the second embodiment the cap  18 A may be open in the dotted position of  FIG. 2A  and the material in the container may be dispensed from the spout through opening  17  as with the container of  FIG. 1A . 
   To close the container for residential or dwelling use, it is snapped closed at members  27  and  25  as with the previous embodiment and the closed snap closure is shown at  FIG. 2A  solid line. 
   In  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, the upper portion of the container is outwardly threaded at  42  to threadedly mount a sleeve  44  at sleeve threading  46 . The sleeve  44  may then be rotated upward until the threads make threaded junction with threading  40  of same depth and pitch on cap  18 A. 
   To close the container for travel with the cap  18 A already in closure position, the sleeve  44  is threadedly rotated until threading  46  engages threading  40  on the cap  18 A. With the sleeve thus extended the escape of liquid is closed off by meshed threads  46 – 42  at the sleeve container junction and  46 – 40  at the sleeve cap junction. When the container of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  has been closed for travel and it is desired to use it at the destination location then it is necessary to rotate sleeve  46  to its retracted (solid line position in  FIG. 2B ) after which the container may be used at its new location with cap  18 A closed or open as desired. 
   The material used for the container cap and sleeve will be any mouldable plastic thought suitable for use. 
   The third embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C.  FIG. 3B  shows that the upper end of the container  50  threadably mounts on (threads  51 ) container top member  53 . (The threading  51  is not part of the sleeve and container cap threading forming part of the invention.) The term container herein includes top member  53 . Container  50  is assumed to be for watery liquids such as described. In  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  3 C, container  50  has an outward threading  76  terminating below upper surface  54  having a cylindrical spout  56  having a central dispensing opening  57  to allow dispensing of material from the container. 
   A hinge  65  has its lower end attached at  59  to the container intermediate the upper and lower limits of threading  76 . The threading  76  between the hinge attachment  59  and top of hinge  65  is removed at  61  and the surface  63 , below the then closed position of hinge, is recessed so that the outer surface of the hinge  65  may be inward of the sleeve  78  threading  82  in the closed position of the cap. 
   The upper surface or cap base  54  is at the top of the cap  66 ,s shown in  FIG. 3B . 
   Cap  66  has surface  68  upwardly facing in  FIG. 3A  and downwardly facing in  FIG. 3B . A downwardly depending edge  69  from surface  68  is designed to snap onto band  64  above the container threading  76  to form a snap closure. Band  64  is cut away at  63  to allow the hinge to rest in closed position with the hinge  65  sufficiently radially inward so that it is not contacted by the sleeve threads  82  in the extended position of the sleeve. A cylindrical wall  70  projecting from surface  68  fits relatively snuggly about the spout  56  in the closure cap position. At the same time cylindrical plug  72  snuggly fits in spout  56  in the closure cap position. 
   In closure position the spout  56  is snuggly surrounded by wall  70  and is snuggly filled by plug  72 . The cap  66  is preferably provided with an outwardly extending brim  73  which extends outwardly about as far as sleeve  78 . The brim  73  allows easy digital manipulation of the cap with sleeve  78  retracted. Digital manipulation may also be achieved without a full brim, with a projection from band  64  opposed to the hinge location as at  73 * in dotted outline. The closure with the snap action of edge  69  and band  64  is relatively secure if materials in the container  50  are relatively viscous. However watery substances such as previously described may leak through the closure. Thus to the snap closure referred to above is added the sleeve closure to be described. The principle of the snap closure is well known and the parts here used are schematically shown at  87 . Alternate snap closures may be used which do not interfere with the thread operation. 
   The container  50  has a cylindrical top member  53 . The exterior of top  53  is threaded at  76  to threadedly receive sleeve  78  through the latter&#39;s threading  82 . The threading  76  is interrupted at  63  and the surface of the container is there recessed beyond the roots of the threads  76  so that, in the closure position of the cap  66 , the hinge  65  is received in the recess and does not interfere with the sleeve threads  82  when they are rotated. The edge  64  is also interrupted at  63  to allow the presence of hinge  65 . 
   Moreover the surface at  63  is of sufficiently limited diameter as to allow the sleeve threads  82  to uninterruptedly contact the cap threads  80  to be described. 
   On the cap the side walls are provided with thread  80  adapted to make thread meshing junction with the sleeve threads  82  on rotating of the latter when the cap is in closure position. 
   The band  64  is limited to a diameter inwardly of the threads  76  so that the band  64  will not interfere with the sleeve threads  82  when they are engaged with threads  80  or moving into or out of contact therewith. 
   The cap  66  may be manipulated digitally with sleeve  78  retracted as in  FIG. 3A . 
   The embodiment of  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C operates in accord with the principles of the invention for use with watery substances such as previously referred to. 
   In accord with the invention the embodiment has an open state shown in  FIG. 3A  with sleeve  78  retracted on threading  76  and edge  69  is free of band  64 . Thus the container may be used by the owner, so that the cap is open to allow the dispensing of liquid from spout  56  at will. 
   When it is desired to close the container but keep it ready for future use on a residence counter, the cap  66  is moved to closure position in the position of  FIG. 3B  with edge  69  snapped about band  64  and the sleeve  78  remains in its retracted position on threading  76  as shown in  FIG. 3A . 
   When it is decided to seal the container for travel, the cap  66  is first snapped to a closure position (edge  60  on band  64 ). Then the sleeve  78  is manually rotated from its position of  FIG. 3A  to move the sleeve  78  upwardly on container threading  76  until the sleeve threads  82  pass the end of the container threads  76  and continue until they contact cap threads  80 . With further rotation to the position of  FIG. 3B  sleeve threads  82  then continue further upwardly to make a threaded connection with threading  80 . 
   With an extent of meshing of sleeve threads  82  and cap threads  80  a second closure for the container is achieved. The sleeve is threadedly sealed to the container by the threaded contact of threads  76  and  82  below hinge  65  and below the location of thread removal, and recessing. The sleeve is also threadedly sealed by cap threads  80  meshed with sleeve threads  82  at a location upward of hinge  65  and above the location  63  of thread removal and recessing. 
   Thus the two threaded connections  76 – 82  and  80 – 82  seal the container against the escape of liquid. 
   It is within the scope of the invention to use a container and hinge type of  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C where the cap will threadedly carry the sleeve in the sleeve&#39;s retracted position so that with the cap closed the sleeve may be moved to an extended position, threading onto threads on the container top (like  53 ) to complete the threaded closure. 
   The invention may be made with any suitable plastic known to those skilled in the art. Such plastics include polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene 
   For hinge  65  I prefer to use hinges commonly in use. However any hinge which will allow pivoting of the cap between open and closure positions and non-interference with the sleeve threading when moved to extended position, may be used within the scope of the invention. 
   This invention extends to devices where the cap closure is or is not a snap closure.