Bottle closure assembly

Abstract

A bottle closure assembly for providing access to the fluids within a bottle without the complete removal of the closure. The bottle closure apparatus comprising a cap and a sleeve connected by a hinge. Both the cap and the sleeve containing internal threads for twisting the closure apparatus onto a threaded bottle opening. The closure sealing the container when fully threaded on to the threaded opening, while providing access to the fluid therein when only partially threaded (sleeve only) by allowing the cap to pivot about the hinge. In addition, position nubs may be provided along the threads to resistively indicate when the cap is pivotable.

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:  
     
         1 . A closure assembly securable to a nozzle of a container, the nozzle having a plurality of threads formed thereon, said closure assembly comprising: 
 a first portion having a plurality of internal threads formed thereon;    a second portion having a plurality of internal threads formed thereon; and    a flexible hinge connecting the first portion to the second portion.    
     
     
         2 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 1  in which said first portion comprises a cap and the second portion comprises a sleeve.  
     
     
         3 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 1  in which said flexible hinge includes at least one thread formed thereon whereby said hinge is adapted to selectively threadably engage the threads formed on the nozzle.  
     
     
         4 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 2  in which the threads formed on the hinge cooperate with the threads formed on at least one of the cap and the sleeve.  
     
     
         5 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 4  in which the threads formed on the hinge are co-linear with the threads formed on at least on of the cap and the sleeve.  
     
     
         6 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 5  in which the threads formed on the hinge are co-linear with the threads formed on both the cap and the sleeve.  
     
     
         7 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 2  in which the threads formed on the cap are continuous with the threads formed on the sleeve.  
     
     
         8 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 7  in which the threads operatively connect the threads formed on the cap to the threads formed on the sleeve.  
     
     
         9 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 2  in which the threads formed on the hinge are adapted to remain engaged with the nozzle after the threads formed on the cap have disengaged the nozzle.  
     
     
         10 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 9 , further comprising a position indicator disposed on the sleeve, the position indicator being adapted to indicate the position of said cap relative to the sleeve, and the threads formed on said hinge being adapted to remain engaged with the nozzle when said position indicator indicates that said cap is rotatable about said hinge.  
     
     
         11 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 4  in which the cap comprises a circular top and a cylindrical sidewall extending transversely therefrom; said side wall terminating at an annular face opposite said top; and in which said internal threads are formed on said cylindrical side wall.  
     
     
         12 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 11  in which the sleeve has internal threads formed thereon.  
     
     
         13 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 12  in which said internal threads on said cap are- disposed adjacent said face at a position opposite said hinge, said internal thread adjacent said face being adapted to selectively abut the nozzle and selectively prevent said cap from rotating about said hinge.  
     
     
         14 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 2  further comprising a position indicator that indicates the position of the cap relative to the sleeve.  
     
     
         15 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 14  in which said position indicator is a rotation impediment adapted to indicate that the cap is free of engagement with the nozzle.  
     
     
         16 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 15  in which said position indicator is an inwardly extending protuberance.  
     
     
         17 . A closure assembly securable to the nozzle of a container having a plurality of threads formed thereon, said closure assembly comprising: 
 a cap having a plurality of threads formed thereon;    a sleeve having a plurality of threads formed thereon;    a flexible hinge connecting the cap and the sleeves; and    a position indicator formed on the sleeve for indicating the position of the cap relative to the sleeve.    
     
     
         18 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 17  in which said sleeve has a sidewall having an arcuate outer surface, said sidewall being thicker adjacent said protuberance than adjacent said hinge.  
     
     
         19 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 17  in which the position indicator includes a rim adapted to stabilize the closure as it is threaded onto and off of the nozzle.  
     
     
         20 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 17  in which the position indicator is adapted to cooperate with indicators formed on the container.  
     
     
         21 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 20  in which the closure will still rotate when the position indicator is cooperating with indicators formed on the container.  
     
     
         22 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 17  in which the position indicator includes an inwardly extending protuberance extending at least partially around the sleeve and in which the inwardly extending protuberance is adapted to communicate with at least one outwardly extending protuberance formed on the neck.  
     
     
         23 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 22  in which the inwardly extending protuberance is adapted to communicate with a pair of outwardly extending protuberances formed on the neck.  
     
     
         24 . A closure and container assembly for resealable access to the container without complete closure removal, said closure and container assembly comprising: 
 a container having a neck with an access port formed therein, said neck having a plurality of external threads formed thereon; and    a fluid access port closure having a cap portion and a sleeve portion separated by a substantially circumferential gap and connected by a hinge, the cap and sleeve portions each having threads to operatively engage the externally threaded neck thereby defining a fully threaded position where the threads of both the cap and the sleeve portions at least minimally engage the externally threaded neck, a partially threaded position where only the threads of the sleeve portion at least minimally engage the threaded neck, and a removed position where none of the threads engage any of the threaded neck.    
     
     
         25 . The closure and container assembly as defined in  claim 24  in which said hinge includes at least one thread formed thereon whereby said hinge is selectively threadable with said external threads of said neck.  
     
     
         26 . The closure and container assembly as defined in  claim 24  in which the cap portion is a cylindrical end cap closed at one end by a top surface, and open on the opposite end with an annular side wall therebetween, said threads on the cap portion formed on at least a portion of the side wall, the threads formed on the cap engaging the threads formed on the neck.  
     
     
         27 . The closure and container assembly as defined in  claim 26  in which the cap threads and sleeve threads operatively engage the neck threads as the closure is rotated onto and off of the container.  
     
     
         28 . The closure and container assembly as defined in  claim 27  in which the threads formed on the hinge cooperate with the threads on at least one of the cap and the sleeve.  
     
     
         29 . The closure and container assembly as defined in  claim 28  in which the threads formed on the hinge are co-linear with the threads formed on both the cap and the sleeve.  
     
     
         30 . The closure and container assembly as defined in  claim 27  in which the threads formed on the cap are continuous with the threads formed on the sleeve.  
     
     
         31 . The closure and container assembly as defined in  claim 27  in which the threads formed on the hinge operatively connect the cap threads to the hinge threads.  
     
     
         32 . The closure and container assembly as defined in  claim 27  in which the threads formed on the hinge are adapted to remain engaged with the nozzle after the threads formed on the cap have disengaged the nozzle.  
     
     
         33 . The closure and container assembly as defined in  claim 27  further comprising a position indicator that indicates the position of the cap relative to one of the sleeve and the neck.  
     
     
         34 . The closure and container assembly as defined in  claim 33  in which the position indicator is a rotation impediment adapted to indicate that the cap is no longer threaded on the nozzle.  
     
     
         35 . The closure and container assembly as defined in  claim 34  in which the position indicator is an inwardly extending protuberance extending at least partially around the sleeve.  
     
     
         36 . The closure and container assembly as defined in  claim 34  in which the neck includes a pair of positioning indicators extending outwardly therefrom, and in which the inwardly extending protuberance operatively communicates with the pair of positioning indicators.  
     
     
         37 . The closure and container assembly as defined in  claim 36  in which the closure remains rotatable when the inwardly extending protuberance is positioned intermediate the pair of outwardly extending protuberances.  
     
     
         38 . The closure assembly securable to a nozzle of a container, the nozzle having a plurality of threads formed thereon, said closure assembly comprising: 
 a first portion having at least a first internal thread formed thereon;    a sleeve;    a flexible hinge extending between said first portion and said sleeve; and    said flexible hinge having at least a first thread formed thereon, said flexible hinge being adapted to selectively threadably engage the threads formed on the nozzle.    
     
     
         39 . A closure assembly as set forth in  claim 38  in which said sleeve includes at least a first internal thread formed thereon.  
     
     
         40 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 39  in which said at least first thread formed on said hinge is co-linear with said at least first thread formed on said first portion.  
     
     
         41 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 39  in which said at least first thread formed on said hinge is co-linear with said at least first thread formed on said sleeve.  
     
     
         42 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 39  in which said at least first thread formed on said first portion is continuous with said at least first thread formed on said sleeve.  
     
     
         43 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 39  in which said at least first thread formed on said hinge operatively connects said at least first thread formed on said first portion with said at least first thread formed on said sleeve.  
     
     
         44 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 38 , further comprising a position indicator disposed on said sleeve, the position indicator being adapted to indicate the position of said first portion relative to the nozzle, said at least first thread formed on said hinge being adapted to remain engaged with the nozzle when said position indicator indicates that said first portion is rotatable about said hinge.  
     
     
         45 . A closure assembly securable to a nozzle of a container, the nozzle having a plurality of threads and a pair of position indicators formed thereon, said closure assembly comprising: 
 a first portion having at least a first internal thread formed thereon;    a sleeve;    a flexible hinge extending between said first portion and said sleeve; and    a position indicator formed on said sleeve, said position indicator adapted to indicate the position of said first portion relative to the nozzle, said position indicator adapted to allow said closure to rotate when said position indicator formed on said sleeve is cooperating with the pair of position indicators formed on the nozzle.    
     
     
         46 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 45  in which said sleeve includes at least a first internal thread formed thereon.  
     
     
         47 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 45  in which said sleeve has a sidewall having an arcuate outer surface,- said-sidewall being thicker adjacent said position indicator formed on said sleeve than adjacent said hinge.  
     
     
         48 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 45  in which said position indicator formed on said sleeve is a rotation impediment adapted to indicate that said first portion is free of engagement with the nozzle.  
     
     
         49 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 48  in which said position indicator formed on said sleeve is an inwardly extending protuberance.  
     
     
         50 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 48  in which said position indicator formed said sleeve is adapted to operatively cooperate with the pair of position indicators formed on the nozzle.  
     
     
         51 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 48  in which said position indicator is adapted to communicate with the pair of position indicators formed on the nozzle.