Cap for liquid container

Abstract

A one piece plastic cap is used with a liquid container having a neck extending to an open mouth. The cap has an annular base and an outer skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the base. The outer skirt portion and base are adapted for sealing engagement over the neck and mouth of the container. A tubular portion defines a central opening in the base and extends from the base upwardly to an upper end. The tubular portion includes an inclined lid covering the upper end thereof. The lid is connected to the tubular portion by a lid tear line extending around the outer perimeter of the lid. A rib pattern extends across a central portion of the lid adding strength and enhancing the even flow of plastic when forming the lid. The lid tear line is interrupted at the upper most portion of the lid by an enhanced wall thickness portion which forms a hinge attachment between the lid and tubular portion when the lid tear line is severed from the tubular portion.

1 . A one piece plastic cap for use with a liquid container having a neck extending to an open mouth, said cap comprising an annular base, an outer skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the base, said outer skirt portion and base adapted for sealing engagement over the neck and mouth of the container, a tubular portion defining a central opening in the base and extending from the base upwardly to an upper end, said tubular portion positioned within the mouth, when the cap is positioned over the neck and mouth of the container, said tubular portion including an inclined lid covering the upper end thereof, the lid connected to the tubular portion by a lid tear line having reduced wall thickness extending around the outer perimeter of the lid, the tear line being interrupted at the upper most portion of the lid by an enhanced wall thickness portion which forms a hinge attachment between the lid and tubular portion when the lid tear line is severed from the tubular portion.  
   
   
       2 . The one piece cap as recited in  claim 1  wherein when said cap is positioned over the neck and mouth of the container said tubular portion extends within the mouth and said container is installed in an inverted position in a liquid dispenser with the container neck projecting downwardly through a central opening defined in said liquid dispenser, said liquid dispenser including a probe, extending upwardly from said dispenser, positioned to enter the tubular portion of the cap when said inverted container is positioned within said central opening, and to push the lid upwardly causing tearing of the lid tear line and the lid to open thereby allowing liquid to flow into the dispenser, the lid maintaining hinged engagement with the tubular portion at the enhanced thickness portion.  
   
   
       3 . The one piece cap as recited in  claim 1  wherein the lid includes a rib pattern extending across a central portion of the lid.  
   
   
       4 . The one piece cap as recited in  claim 1  wherein said rib pattern is connected to the enhanced wall thickness portion.  
   
   
       5 . The one piece cap as recited in  claim 1  wherein the rib pattern is a cross pattern, the centre of the cross being at the approximate center of the lid.  
   
   
       6 . The one piece cap as recited in  claim 1  wherein the inclined lid extends at an angle of approximately 20° to a horizontal plane across the top of the tubular portion.  
   
   
       7 . The one piece cap as recited in  claim 1  wherein said enhanced wall thickness portion has a thickness greater than that of the lid.  
   
   
       8 . The cap as recited in  claim 2  further comprising a resilient sealing ring positioned against the annular base of the cap between the tubular portion and skirt, disposed between the base of the cap and the container when the cap is positioned over the neck and mouth of the container so as to enhance the seal therebetween.  
   
   
       9 . The cap as recited in  claim 8  wherein the skirt portion includes an annular bead having an inwardly disposed portion, spaced above the base and sealing ring.  
   
   
       10 . The cap as recited in  claim 1  wherein the skirt of the cap includes a skirt tear line of reduced wall thickness, extending downwardly from an upper edge of the skirt, a portion of the skirt above the skirt tear line including a ring shaped pull tab defining a grip hole therein, bordering on the tear line so as to facilitate tearing of the skirt along the skirt tear line by pulling the pull tab in the direction of the skirt tear line.  
   
   
       11 . The cap as recited in  claim 10  wherein the grip hole is sized to accept a human finger to facilitate pulling of the pull tab to tear the skirt tear line.  
   
   
       12 . The cap as recited in  claim 10  wherein the skirt tear line extends downwardly at an angle of no greater than approximately 40 degrees below a horizontal plane.  
   
   
       13 . The cap as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the skirt tear line is downwardly arc shaped and extends around more than half of the circumference of the skirt.  
   
   
       14 . The cap as recited in  claim 1  wherein the skirt portion includes an inwardly disposed annular flange extending around the circumference thereof, spaced above the base, and wherein the skirt of the cap includes a skirt tear line of reduced wall thickness, extending downwardly from an upper edge of the skirt, a portion of the skirt above the skirt tear line including a pull tab defining a grip hole therein, bordering on the tear line to facilitate tearing of the skirt along the tear line and removal of the cap from the bottle, the tear line extending downwardly at an angle of no greater than approximately 40 degrees from the horizontal until it approaches the annular ring and then extends parallel and above the annular ring around a portion of the circumference of the skirt.  
   
   
       15 . A one piece plastic cap for use with a liquid container having a neck extending to an open mouth, said cap comprising an annular base, an outer skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the base, said outer skirt portion and base adapted for sealing engagement over the neck and mouth of the container, a tubular portion defining a central opening in the base and extending from the base upwardly to an upper end, said tubular portion including a cover for the upper end thereof, the cover being pierceable, openable or selectively removable, wherein the skirt of the cap includes a skirt tear line of reduced wall thickness, extending downwardly from an upper edge of the skirt, a portion of the skirt above the skirt tear line including a pull tab defining a grip hole therein, bordering on the tear line to facilitate tearing of the skirt along the skirt tear line and thus the removal of the cap from the container.  
   
   
       16 . The cap as recited in  claim 15  wherein the grip hole is sized to accept a human finger.  
   
   
       17 . The cap as recited in  claim 15  wherein the skirt tear line extends downwardly at an angle of no greater than approximately 40 degrees below a horizontal plane.  
   
   
       18 . The cap as recited in  claim 17  wherein the skirt tear line is downwardly arc shaped.  
   
   
       19 . The cap as recited in  claim 15  further comprising a resilient sealing ring positioned against the annular base of the cap between the tubular portion and skirt, disposed between the base of the cap and the container when the cap is positioned over the neck and mouth of the container so as to enhance the seal therebetween.  
   
   
       20 . The cap as recited in  claim 19  wherein the skirt portion includes an annular bead including an inwardly disposed portion, spaced above the base and sealing ring.  
   
   
       21 . A one piece plastic cap for use with a liquid container having a neck extending to an open mouth, said cap comprising an annular base, an outer skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the base, said outer skirt portion and base adapted for sealing engagement over the neck and mouth of the container, a tubular portion defining a central opening in the base and extending from the base upwardly to an upper end, said tubular portion extending within the mouth of the container and including a cover covering the upper end thereof, the cover being pierceable, openable or removable to allow flow of liquid from within the container out through the tubular portion, wherein the skirt of the cap includes a tear line of reduced wall thickness, extending downwardly from the upper edge of the skirt at an angle of no greater than approximately 40 degrees below a horizontal plane formed by the upper edge of the skirt, the portion of the skirt above the tear line including a pull tab bordering on the tear line to facilitate tearing of the skirt along the tear line and removal of the cap from the bottle.  
   
   
       22 . The cap as recited in  claim 21  wherein the pull tab extends above the upper edge of the skirt and includes enhanced thickness lines to improve the gripping of the tab when pulling same.  
   
   
       23 . The cap as recited in  claim 22  wherein the thickness lines form a pattern of horizontal and vertical lines.  
   
   
       24 . The cap as recited in  claim 21  wherein, when the cap is positioned over said neck and mouth in sealing engagement therewith, the tubular portion extends within the mouth.  
   
   
       25 . The cap as recited in  claim 10  wherein said skirt tear line includes a plurality of closely spaced reduced thickness segments.  
   
   
       26 . The cap as recited in  claim 10  wherein the skirt tear line is a continuous line of reduced wall thickness.  
   
   
       27 . The cap as recited in  claim 1  wherein said lid is planar.  
   
   
       28 . The cap as recited in  claim 15  wherein said lid is planar.