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. Additional embodiments are presented wherein an opening is formed in a top end of the cap for receiving a nipple allowing the bottle closure assembly to be used on a baby bottle.

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:  
     
         1 . A closure assembly adapted to be secured to a nozzle of a container, the nozzle having a plurality of threads formed thereon, the closure assembly comprising: 
 a cap portion having a top, the top having an opening therein, the cap portion adapted to be threaded onto the nozzle;    a sleeve portion, the sleeve portion adapted to be threaded onto the nozzle; and    a hinge connecting the cap portion to the sleeve portion.    
     
     
         2 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the cap portion includes a side wall extending from the top, a plurality of threads being disposed on the side wall, the side wall adapted to be threaded onto the threads of the nozzle.  
     
     
         3 . The closure assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the opening is circular.  
     
     
         4 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the opening is centrally disposed in the top.  
     
     
         5 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve portion includes a side wall and a plurality of threads formed on the side wall, the threads of the side wall of the sleeve portion adapted to be threaded onto the threads of the nozzle.  
     
     
         6 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a nipple, the nipple being received in the opening.  
     
     
         7 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a position indicator, the position indicator adapted to indicate the position of the cap portion with respect to the nozzle.  
     
     
         8 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the position indicator is a rotation impediment adapted to indicate that the cap portion is no longer threaded onto the nozzle.  
     
     
         9 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the position indicator is a protuberance, the protuberance adapted to extend toward the nozzle.  
     
     
         10 . The closure assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein the cap portion is selectively axially alignable with the sleeve portion.  
     
     
         11 . A closure and container assembly comprising: 
 a container formed with a fluid storage cavity, the container having a threaded nozzle formed with a fluid access port therein, the fluid access port being in fluid communication with the fluid storage cavity;    a closure having a cap portion, a sleeve portion, and a hinge extending between the cap portion to the sleeve portion;    the cap portion having a top and a side wall, the top having an opening, the side wall extending from the top;    a plurality of threads formed on each of the cap portion and the sleeve portion, the threads cooperating threadably with the threaded nozzle;    the closure having a fully threaded position, a partially threaded position, and a removed position with respect to the threaded nozzle;    the threads of the cap portion and the sleeve portion both at least minimally engaging the threaded neck when the closure is in the fully threaded position;    the threads of the cap portion being disengaged from the threaded nozzle and the threads of the sleeve portion at least minimally engaging the threaded neck when the closure is in the partially threaded position; and    the threads of the cap portion and the sleeve portion both being disengaged from the threaded neck when the closure is in the unthreaded position.    
     
     
         12 . The closure and container assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising a nipple received in the opening of the top.  
     
     
         13 . The closure and container assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the sleeve portion is open at both ends.  
     
     
         14 . The closure and container assembly as set forth in  claim 11  further comprising a position indicator, the position indicator adapted to indicate the position of the cap portion relative to the threaded nozzle.  
     
     
         15 . The closure and container assembly as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the position indicator is a rotation impediment adapted to indicate that the cap portion is disengaged from the nozzle.  
     
     
         16 . The closure and container assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the position indicator includes at least a first protuberance formed on the closure and extending toward the nozzle.  
     
     
         17 . The closure and container assembly as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the position indicator further includes a second protuberance formed on the container and extending toward the closure.  
     
     
         18 . The closure and container assembly as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the at least first and second protuberances are in register with one another when the closure is in the partially threaded position.  
     
     
         19 . The closure and container assembly as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the at least first and second protuberances are in register with one another at some position between the fully threaded position and the removed position.  
     
     
         20 . The closure and container assembly as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the position indicator further includes a third protrusion formed on the container and extending toward the closure, the at least first protrusion interposed between the second and third protrusions when the closure is in the partially threaded position.  
     
     
         21 . The closure and container assembly as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising a nipple received in the opening of the top and an annular ring extending from the top, the annular ring defining a recess adjacent the top, at least a portion of the nipple being received in the recess.  
     
     
         22 . The closure and container assembly as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the portion of the nipple received in the recess is clamped between the top and the threaded nozzle when the closure is in the fully threaded position.