Cinch caps

Abstract

A cap for sealing the top opening of a fluid-carrying vessel, the vessel having an upstanding narrow neck with a central opening leading into the vessel, the neck of the type wherein it is surrounded by a short, thickened border of circular periphery about the opening, the cap including a substantially non-flexible top cap portion for positioning transversely atop the neck of the vessel to cover the central opening therein, the top cap portion defined by an outer perimeter, extending beyond the periphery of the border, and spaced-apart top and bottom surfaces, a circular, flexible bottom cap portion, adapted to extend about the outside of the neck of the vessel, a flexible center band joining the top cap portion and the bottom cap portion, extending about the neck of the vessel below the border thereof and having an outer perimeter substantially less than the respective perimeters of the top cap portion and the bottom cap portion and to form a groove therebetween, a planar, stretchable cinch ring surrounding the neck of the vessel for location in the groove, and a lever defined by first and second spaced-apart terminal ends engaging the cinch ring between the terminal ends and moveable between a first position wherein the cinch ring is relaxed in the groove and a second position wherein the cinch ring is tightened against the groove to seal the cap tightly about the neck of the vessel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cap for sealing the top opening of a fluid-carrying vessel, said vessel having an upstanding narrow neck with a central opening leading into the vessel, said neck of the type wherein it is surrounded by a short, thickened border of circular periphery about the opening, said cap comprising: 
 (a) a substantially non-flexible top cap portion for positioning transversely atop the neck of the vessel to cover the central opening therein, said top cap portion defined by an outer perimeter, extending beyond the periphery of the border, and spaced-apart top and bottom surfaces;    (b) a circular, flexible bottom cap portion, adapted to extend about the outside of the neck of the vessel;    (c) a flexible center band joining said top cap portion and said bottom cap portion, extending about the neck of the vessel below the border thereof and having an outer perimeter substantially less than the respective perimeters of said top cap portion and said bottom cap portion and to form a groove therebetween;    (d) a planar, stretchable cinch ring surrounding the neck of the vessel for location in said groove; and,    (e) a lever defined by first and second spaced-apart terminal ends engaging said cinch ring between said terminal ends and moveable between a first position wherein said cinch ring is relaxed in said groove and a second position wherein said cinch ring is stretched and tightened about the neck of the vessel and, as it is stretched, said cinch ring is pulled slightly above or below said planar groove.    
     
     
         2 . The cap of  claim 1  wherein: 
 (a) said bottom cap portion forms a narrow slot, including a pair of spaced-apart slot walls with at least one detent formed therein, said slot and said walls axially aligned with said neck; and,  
 (b) said lever has formed thereon a pair of outwardly facing nubs on opposite sides thereof for insertion in said detent, said nubs spaced-apart from said cinch ring so that movement of said lever from said first position to said second position causes said cinch ring to be stretched tightly about the neck of the vessel.  
 
     
     
         3 . The cap of  claim 1  wherein said nubs are inside said cinch ring.  
     
     
         4 . The cap of  claim 1  wherein said nubs are outside said cinch ring.  
     
     
         5 . The cap of  claim 1  wherein said top cap top surface contains a printable or smooth finish.  
     
     
         6 . The cap of  claim 1  wherein said top cap bottom surface protrudes slightly into the central opening of the neck of the vessel.  
     
     
         7 . The cap of  claim 1  wherein said top cap top and bottom surfaces have printable smooth outer finishes.  
     
     
         8 . The cap of  claim 1  wherein said bottom surface of said top cap portion extends downward over the outer surface of the thickened border of the vessel adjacent and is arranged to press tightly against the short, thickened border, to seal the cap to the vessel, when said lever is in said second position.  
     
     
         9 . The cap of  claim 1  wherein said groove is of the same diameter as said cinch ring.  
     
     
         10 . The cap of  claim 1  wherein the mean diameter of said cinch ring is sufficiently large to allow said cap to be slipped over the thickened border of the vessel when said lever is in said first position.  
     
     
         11 . The cap of  claim 1  wherein the mean diameter of said cinch ring is sufficiently small to allow said flexible center band to enter into an interference fit about the vessel when said lever is in said second position.  
     
     
         12 . The cap of  claim 1  further including a handle located on said lever.  
     
     
         13 . The cap of  claim 1  further including a handle formed on said lever.  
     
     
         14 . A cap for sealing the opening of a fluid-carrying or solid-carrying container of the type having a generally pliable tubular body at one end of which is located a narrow neck about the opening, for squeezing out the contents thereof, the narrow neck of the type that is surrounded by a short, thickened outer collar at the distal end thereof, said cap comprising: 
 (a) a central outer cap portion for positioning transversely across the open end of the neck of the container to cover the opening therein, said outer cap portion defined by a top surface terminating at an outer periphery and a spaced-apart bottom surface;    (b) a circular, flexible inner cap portion extending about the outside of the neck of the container spaced below the border;    (c) a thin, flexible center band joining said outer cap portion and said inner cap portions and extending about the neck of the container to form a groove between said outer cap portion and said inner cap portion;    (d) a stretchable cinch ring surrounding the neck of the container in said groove; and,    (e) a lever defined by first and second spaced-apart terminal ends and joined to said cinch ring therebetween, said lever moveable between first and second positions adjacent the outside surface of the container wherein said first position allows said cinch ring to remain loose in said groove and said second position causes said cinch ring to be stretched tightly about the neck of the vessel and, as it is stretched, said cinch ring is pulled slightly above or below said planar groove.    
     
     
         15 . The cap of  claim 14  wherein: 
 (a) said inner cap portion has a narrow slot formed therethrough, including a pair of spaced-apart slot walls with at least one detent formed in each said wall therein, said slot and said walls axially aligned with said neck; and,  
 (b) said lever has formed thereon a pair of outwardly facing nubs on opposite sides thereof for insertion in said detents, said nubs spaced-apart from said cinch ring so that movement of said lever from said first position to said second position causes said cinch ring to be stretched tightly in said groove and about the neck of the vessel.  
 
     
     
         16 . The cap of  claim 14  wherein said nubs are located inside said cinch ring.  
     
     
         17 . The cap of  claim 14  wherein said nubs are located outside said cinch ring.  
     
     
         18 . The cap of  claim 14  wherein said top cap top surface contains a printable or smooth finish.  
     
     
         19 . The cap of  claim 14  wherein said outer cap portion further includes a bottom surface that protrudes slightly into the central opening of the neck of the vessel.  
     
     
         20 . The cap of  claim 14  wherein said bottom surface of said top cap portion extends downward over the outer surface of the thickened border of the vessel adjacent and is arranged to press tightly against the short, thickened border, to seal the cap to the vessel, when said lever is in said second position.  
     
     
         21 . The cap of  claim 14  wherein said groove is of the same diameter as said cinch ring.  
     
     
         22 . The cap of  claim 14  wherein the mean diameter of said cinch ring is sufficiently large to allow said cap to be slipped over the thickened border of the vessel when said lever is in said first position.  
     
     
         23 . The cap of  claim 14  wherein the mean diameter of said cinch ring is sufficiently small to allow said flexible center band to enter into an interference fit about the vessel when said lever is in said second position.