Bottle cap

Abstract

A bottle cap, and a method for making it, the bottle cap including a cap member having internal screw threads adapted for sealing engagement with a neck of a beverage bottle; and a bi-directional tubing coupler integrally formed with the cap member, the tubing coupler including a first coupling element for coupling a first tube inside the bottle and including a second coupling element coupling a second tube outside the bottle, to permit drinking of a beverage from inside the bottle through the tubes and the tubing coupler.

1 . A bottle cap comprising: 
 a cap member having internal screw threads adapted for sealing engagement with a neck of a beverage bottle; and    a bi-directional tubing coupler integrally formed with the cap member,    the tubing coupler including a first coupling element for coupling a first tube inside the bottle and including a second coupling element coupling a second tube outside the bottle, to permit drinking of a beverage from inside the bottle through the tubes and the tubing coupler.    
   
   
       2 . The bottle cap according to  claim 1 , and further comprising an aperture for receiving a check valve for inflow of air to replace beverage removed during drinking.  
   
   
       3 . The bottle cap according to  claim 1 , wherein said bi-directional tubing coupler is adapted and configured for sealingly coupling the first and second tubes.  
   
   
       4 . The bottle cap according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure resistant check valve permitting inflow of air to replace beverage removed during drinking, said check valve being urged into a sealed position when contents of the bottle are under pressure.  
   
   
       5 . The bottle cap according to  claim 4 , wherein said pressure resistant check valve includes a chamber having an opening formed in the cap, an annular elastomeric seal disposed against said opening of the chamber and held in place by an apertured cover, and a reciprocating pin member disposed in said chamber and arranged to seat against said elastomeric seal when pressure in the bottle is higher than atmospheric pressure to seal said chamber opening.  
   
   
       6 . The bottle cap according to  claim 5 , wherein said chamber is substantially cylindrical, and at least a portion of said pin member has a smaller diameter than said chamber, whereby air can flow around said pin member into said chamber when said pin member does not engage said elastomeric seal.  
   
   
       7 . The bottle cap according to  claim 1 , wherein said beverage bottle is a conventional soft drink bottle.  
   
   
       8 . The bottle cap according to  claim 4 , wherein said beverage bottle is a conventional soft drink bottle.  
   
   
       9 . A method for forming a bottle cap, the method comprising: 
 forming a cap member with internal screw threads adapted for sealing engagement with a neck of a beverage bottle; and    integrally forming a bidirectional tubing coupler with the cap member, the tubing coupler including a first coupling element for coupling a first tube inside the bottle and a second coupling element for coupling a second tube outside the bottle, to permit drinking of a beverage from inside the bottle through the tubes and the tubing coupler.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising coupling a first tube to said first coupling element and coupling a second tube to said second coupling element.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising mounting a check valve in said cap member to permit inflow of air to replace beverage removed during drinking.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising mounting a check valve in said cap member to permit inflow of air to replace beverage removed during drinking.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising mounting a pressure resistant check valve in said cap member to permit inflow of air to replace beverage removed during drinking, said check valve being urged into a sealed position when contents of the bottle is under pressure.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising mounting a pressure resistant check valve in said cap member to permit inflow of air to replace beverage removed during drinking, said check valve being urged into a sealed position when contents of the bottle is under pressure.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said step of mounting includes forming a chamber having an opening in the cap, disposing an annular elastomeric seal against said opening of the chamber, holding said elastomeric seal in place by an apertured cover, and disposing a reciprocating pin member in said chamber arranged to seat against said elastomeric seal when pressure in the bottle is higher than atmospheric pressure to seal said chamber opening.  
   
   
       16 . The bottle cap according to  claim 15 , wherein said wherein said chamber is substantially cylindrical, and at least a portion of said pin member has a smaller diameter than said chamber, whereby air can flow around said pin member into said chamber when said pin member does not engage said elastomeric seal.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said step of mounting includes forming a chamber having an opening in the cap, disposing an annular elastomeric seal against said opening of the chamber, holding said elastomeric seal in place by an apertured cover, and disposing a reciprocating pin member in said chamber arranged to seat against said elastomeric seal when pressure in the bottle is higher than atmospheric pressure to seal said chamber opening.  
   
   
       18 . The bottle cap according to  claim 17 , wherein said chamber is substantially cylindrical, and at least a portion of said pin member has a smaller diameter than said chamber, whereby air can flow around said pin member into said chamber when said pin member does not engage said elastomeric seal.