Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a divisional application of allowed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/848,455, filed on May 17, 2004, which is a divisional application of U.S. Pat. No. 6,786,179, filed on Nov. 22, 2002, which in turn is a divisional application of U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,814, originally filed on Aug. 31, 2000, the entirety of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to an improved removable cap assembly for an animal feeding bottle.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Small rodents such as mice, rats, guinea pigs, and hamsters are used in scientific research and they are sometimes kept as pets by children. Typically, such animals are held in small cages where they are provided with nesting material along with food and water. Solid food is kept in a feeding device. So that the cage remains dry and relatively orderly, liquids, such as water and medicines, are usually stored in a special bottle with a dispensing device that allows small portions to be released to the animal.  
         [0004]     A common type of dispensing device, widely used in the laboratory animal industry, is a sipper tube that is connected to a bottle filled with liquid. The tube points downward and is accessible to the animal. Often the hole in the tube is relatively small and, therefore, surface tension, along with a partial vacuum that is created in the bottle, prevents liquid from flowing freely from the bottle. Other sipper tubes include ball bearings disposed therein to block the hole at the bottom of the tube. The bearing is free to move—and when it does—it allows liquid to exit in a controlled manner.  
         [0005]     In the prior art, it is well known that a sipper tube—such as the one just described—can be coupled to a bottle with a stopper made of rubber, neoprene, or another similar material. The stopper is placed in the mouth of the bottle where it is held by friction fit. Similarly, a hole in the stopper is dimensioned to hold the sipper tube by friction fit. With the bottle inverted, the sipper tube is accessible to an animal, and limited amounts of liquid can flow out of the bottle as needed.  
         [0006]     The use of a simple friction fit between the stopper and the bottle has at least one major limitation. Because the bottle is inverted, the weight of the liquid tends to loosen the stopper. Furthermore, the stopper is loosened by vibrations and motion caused by an animal using the bottle. These loosening effects may eventually cause the stopper to come apart from the bottle, allowing liquid to escape. In some cases, animals attempt and sometimes succeed in removing stoppers from the bottle. In order to avoid these potentialities, stoppers are usually inserted into the bottle by hand with relatively high force. However, this action may cause health problems, such carpal tunnel syndrome, for a person who must repetitively insert stoppers into bottles. After all, typical laboratories utilize large quantities of these bottles and stoppers.  
         [0007]     One example of a removable cap assembly is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,440 to Murray et al. This invention makes steps to overcome the limitations—discussed above—of standard, friction fit stoppers. The patent teaches an assembly that includes a stopper which has a neck disposed between two lip structures. The neck is dimensioned to receive a flange that is disposed on a cap. Finally, a sipper tube is provided which is positioned within a hole in the stopper, to extend through the opening. The patent also teaches a cap that needs to be turned only 180 degrees in order to seal the bottle.  
         [0008]     While the device described in this patent helps to solve some problems inherent in prior art, at least one major limitation is intrinsic in its design. The lip and neck structure, which is held in place by a single circumferential flange, tends to lack rigidity. Thus, the problem remains that the sipper tube can be wriggled, allowing leakage of the bottle contents or the removal of the sipper tube. Moreover, wriggling of the sipper tube can allow air to enter the bottle, eliminating the partial vacuum and causing liquid to flow freely from the sipper tube. An additional concern with this prior art device is that the upper lip is exposed on the outside of the cap. The lip tends to collect dirt and germs which can be harmful to the animals or those handling the bottle assemblies.  
         [0009]     Another problem with this prior art device is manner in which the seal is crated after the cap is turned 180 degrees. The 180 degree turn is achieved by having a single continuous thread on both the bottle and cap. The cap bottoms out after the cap has turned 180 degrees. As such, the cap is compressed along only half of the sealing surface.  
         [0010]     Thus, what is needed is an improved removable cap assembly that overcomes prior art limitations. Specifically, these limitations include the rigidity and security with which the sipper tube is held by a stopper in the bottle. Additionally, problems with regard to cleanliness stem from design features in the prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved removable cap assembly for use in conjunction with a bottle.  
         [0012]     It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved removable cap assembly that can be easily attached to and detached from a standard threaded bottle.  
         [0013]     It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved removable cap assembly that provides a relatively rigid support for a sipper tube.  
         [0014]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved removable cap assembly that has multiple thread starts for use in conjunction with threaded bottle.  
         [0015]     Thus, according to one embodiment of the invention, a removable cap assembly comprising a cap, a stopper and a sipper tube. The cap has a curved side wall which has an inner and outer surface. From this wall extends a top portion. A boss extends perpendicularly from the top portion. The boss has a bottom portion and a top portion. A circumferential rib extends perpendicularly from the top portion of the boss. The boss and define an opening in the cap. A stopper is provided that is dimensioned to seal the opening of the cap. The stopper is maintained in the cap by the circumferential rib. The stopper includes a disc-shaped base and a cylindrical wall portion that extends therefrom. Additionally, a first groove that is dimensioned to receive the bottom portion of the boss, is positioned in the base around the wall portion. Also, a second circumferential groove is positioned in the top portion of the wall portion. This second groove is dimensioned to receive the circumferential rib. The stopper has a hole for receiving a sipper tube.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with features, objects, and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a removable cap assembly constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2   a  is a cross sectional view depicting the cap of  FIG. 1  detached from a standard threaded bottle, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2   b  is a cross sectional view depicting the stopper of  FIG. 1  detached from a standard threaded bottle and configured to be coupled with the cap shown in  FIG. 2   a,  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3   a  is a cross sectional view depicting the cap detached from a standard threaded bottle, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 3   b  is a cross sectional view depicting the stopper detached from a standard threaded bottle and configured to be coupled with the cap shown in  FIG. 3   a,  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 4   a  is a cross sectional view depicting the cap detached from a standard threaded bottle, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4   b  is a cross sectional view depicting the stopper detached from a standard threaded bottle and configured to be coupled with the cap shown in  FIG. 4   a,  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5   a  is a cross sectional view depicting the cap detached from a standard threaded bottle, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5   b  is a cross sectional view depicting the stopper detached from a standard threaded bottle and configured to be coupled with the cap shown in  FIG. 5   a,  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6   a  is a cross sectional view depicting the cap detached from a standard threaded bottle, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 6   b  is a cross sectional view depicting the stopper detached from a standard threaded bottle and configured to be coupled with the cap shown in  FIG. 6   a,  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 7   a  is front view of a standard bottle, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 7   b  is a top view of the standard bottle shown in  FIG. 7   a,  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 8   a  is a cross sectional of a plug detached from the stopper shown in  FIG. 4   b , in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0031]      FIG. 8   b  is a cross sectional of a plug inserted into the stopper shown in  FIG. 4   b , in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]     In accordance with one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a removable cap assembly  10 . The salient features of the present invention, according to one embodiment, are shown in  FIG. 1 . Although not limited thereto, assembly  10  includes a sipper tube  20 , a cap  30 , and a stopper  40  that, together, can be coupled to a bottle mouth  50 . The stopper fits in the cap to help provide a water tight sealing device for covering mouth  50 . Tube  20  is then held by stopper  40  to provide an animal feeding bottle.  
         [0033]     Sipper  20  can be one of many commercially available and well-known tube shaped devices that are designed to dispense small amounts of liquid on demand. The simplest of these devices, shown in  FIG. 1 , includes a vertical portion  22  and an angled portion  24  that is bent about an elbow  23 . Tube  20  has a hole  26  at its end. The hole is dimensioned so that a relatively small amount of liquid can flow when the liquid&#39;s surface tension is broken. It is understood that many different types of sipper tubes can be used in conjunction with assembly  10  and the invention is not limited to use with tube  20  shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0034]     Cap  30  is preferably formed of plastic, but it can also be formed from metal or any other appropriate material. Cap  30  includes a curved side wall  37 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , wall  37  may include serrations on its outer surface in order to provide an improved gripping surface for a user. The inner surface of wall  37  is formed with threads so that cap  30  can be attached to bottle mouth  30 . Extending from wall  37  is a top portion  32  of cap  30 . Now considering  FIG. 2   a  along with  FIG. 1 , a boss  34  extends perpendicularly from portion  32  and together they form a T-shape in cross section. Also, a circumferential rib  36  extends from the top portion of boss  34  and together they form an L-shape in cross section. A rigid cylindrical opening is defined by rib  36  that—as discussed below—is dimensioned to receive part of stopper  40 . The opening is large enough so that sipper tube  20  may pass therethrough. Boss  34  and rib  36  serve multiple functions. Besides being configured to hold stopper  40 , the they cause the entire structure of cap  30  to be more rigid. Other function and advantages of this design will be discussed below.  
         [0035]     Stopper  40  is formed from rubber, or a material with similar properties, and includes a disk-shaped base  42 . A cylindrical wall portion  46  rises from the center of base  42  and has a hole  49  which extends through the stopper as can be seen in  FIG. 2   b.  A first groove  44  encircles wall portion  46  in base  42 . Groove  44  is dimensioned to receive the bottom portion of boss  34  of cap  30 . A second groove  48  is located on wall portion  46  in a position that corresponds to rib  36  of cap  30 . In one embodiment, a channel  45 —with an upper surface  60  and a lower surface  62 —is formed along the bottom of base  42  and the surfaces are dimensioned to respectfully receive an upper surface  61  and inner surface  63  of bottle mouth  50 . Described below are additional embodiments of cap  30  along with corresponding stoppers  40 .  
         [0036]     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b,  second groove  48  is located at the base of wall portion  46  in a position that corresponds to a rib  35  of cap  30 . In this embodiment, rib  36  is extended and serves to enclose stopper  40  when stopper  40  is inserted into cap  30 . This enclosure helps to prevent collection of dirt between stopper  40  and cap  30 . As shown in  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b,  a plug  80  may be provided that is sized to frictionally fit within hole  49 . While  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  illustrate such a plug as it is used with stopper  40  shown in  FIG. 4   b,  it is understood that plug  80  can be used with any of the stopper embodiments. Plug  80  is useful for sealing hole  49  when tube  20  has not yet been inserted into hole  49 . Thus, should bottle  50  be filled with liquid before tube  20  is inserted, plug  80  can be used to prevent spillage and evaporation of the contents of bottle  50 . This is useful in at least two circumstances. Namely, it is often the case that bottles must be filled but they are not immediately needed. Also, at times bottles are used without sipper tubes. Instead bottles are drilled with side feeding holes that can be accessed by an animal. In this instance, it is desirable to completely seal the bottle. Plug  80  allows for both of these contingencies.  
         [0037]     In an additional embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b,  wall portion  46  of stopper  40  is cone-shaped and therefore has a smaller lower diameter as compared to its upper diameter. In this embodiment, wall portion  46  lacks second ridge  48 . However, cap  30  includes rib  36  which is designed to contain stopper  40 . Instead, boss  34  of cap  30  is also cone-shaped to complement wall portion  46  of stopper  40 .  
         [0038]     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b,  wall portion  46  of stopper  40  has threads  41  disposed on its outer surface which are configured to engage threads  35  disposed on boss  34  of cap  30 . In this embodiment, wall portion  46  lacks second ridge  48 . However, cap  30  includes rib  36  which is designed to contain stopper  40 .  
         [0039]     In yet another embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b,  wall portion  46  of stopper  40  includes one or more depressions  43  in the form of half-spheres, quarter-spheres, cones, or any other appropriate shape, that are dimensioned to receive corresponding protuberances  39  that are disposed on boss  34 . Alternatively, protuberances may be disposed on stopper  40  and depressions may be disposed on boss  34 . Once again, in this embodiment, wall portion  46  lacks second ridge  48 . However, cap  30  includes rib  36  which is designed to contain stopper  40 .  
         [0040]     Now turning more specifically to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  in addition to  FIG. 1 , an explanation can be given of the manner in which assembly  10  is used. Stopper  40  is fit into cap  30  by forcing part of wall portion  46  through the opening formed by boss  34  and rib  36 . The diameter of portion  46  is wider than the diameter of the opening made by rib  36 . Thus, in one embodiment, beveling on the top of portion  46  aids in forcing portion  46  through the opening. Also, the material itself is capable of being compressed and subsequently retains its original shape. Forcing the top of portion  46  through the opening allows rib  36  of cap  30  to engage second groove  48  of stopper  40 . Likewise, boss  34  engages groove  44  of stopper  40 . With stopper  40  in this position, base  42  is adjacent to the top portion  32 . Finally sipper  20  can be inserted into opening  49 , where it remains in place by friction fit.  
         [0041]     As with the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b,  structural features of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3, 4 ,  5 , and  6  allow stopper to remain engaged to cap  30 . Turning first to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , cone-shaped wall portion  46  must be forced into complementary shaped opening formed by boss  34 . Because the upper diameter of wall portion  46  is larger than the lower diameter of the opening formed by boss  34 , stopper  40  remains engaged to cap  30  unless force is applied to separate the two components.  
         [0042]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , threads  41  on wall portion  46  of stopper  40  engage threads  35  on boss  34  of cap  30 , so that stopper  40  is connected to cap  30 . Stopper  40  is screwed on to cap until base  42  meets the underside of top portion  32  of cap  30 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 a  multitude of protuberances  39  are positioned to mate with depressions  43  so that stopper  40  remains attached to cap  30  when base  42  is adjacent to the underside of top portion  32 .  
         [0043]     In one embodiment, cap  30  and stopper  40  are formed separately and then joined together as discussed above. Instead, stopper  40  may be molded using a previously formed cap  30  as a mold. In this instance, molten material is poured into cap  30  and sets to form stopper  40 . This method can be used for any of the above embodiments of stopper  40  and cap  30 . Thus, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b,  stopper  40  would take on a shape including threads  41 .  
         [0044]     For any of the previously described embodiments, when cap  30  is clamped down around bottle neck  50 , the underside of base  42  of stopper  40  compresses to provide a biasing force to separate cap  30  from the bottle neck. So that stopper  40  seals against bottle  50  along two surfaces, as shown in  FIG. 1 , lower surface  62  of groove  45  engages inner surface  63  of bottle  40 , and upper surface  60  engages upper surface  61  of bottle  40 . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b,  four discreet threads  55  are disposed on bottle  50  and four corresponding threads are disposed on cap  30 . It is understood that any number of threads may be disposed on bottle  50  and cap  30 . The use of more than one continuous thread allows cap  30  to be tightened on bottle  50  with less than 360 degrees of turning. And, the use of multiple threads helps to create a seal along the full 360 degrees of cap  30 . Attachment of assembly  10  to bottle  50  causes a tension fit and positive engagement of threads  34  and  54  so that the cap need only be rotated a relatively small amount to maintain a safe, tight fit. Furthermore, because the material is in a compressed state and seeks to expand, it provides a friction surface against the bottom of the cap further preventing any inadvertent loosening of the cap during use. Therefore, a tight seal is provided without twisting to engage all of the neck threads. This seal is improved by the relatively large surface area of stopper  40  that is in contact with cap  40 . As compared to prior art assemblies, this surface area is increased by introducing boss  34  and rib  36 .  
         [0045]     At least one major advantage of the design herein described, is the cylinder shaped opening that is generally defined by boss  34  of cap  30 . Unlike prior art caps, boss  34  provides lateral support for stopper  40 . This support minimizes the range of motion of tube  20 . In the prior art, a lack of support resulted in tube  20  being free to move in relatively unrestricted manner. This in turn may result in loosening the tube in the stopper. Also, the additional surface contact between cap  30  and stopper  40  serves to assure a water-tight seal. Another advantage of the presently described device is that the width of the opening formed in cap  30  for stopper  40  is relatively smaller than prior art openings. This is another factor which helps to improve the overall rigidity of assembly  10 . Preferably the width of the opening is less than two times the height of the cylinder forming the opening. This further assures rigidity of the structure. Also disclosed have been features that were designed improve the overall cleanliness characteristics of a bottle feeder.  
         [0046]     While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes or equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore, to be understood that this application is intended to cover all such modifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Technology Category: b