Measuring bottle cap

Abstract

Disclosed is a measuring bottle cap that attaches to the neck of a bottle. The measuring bottle cap has a seal for sealing the top of the bottle to prevent fluid within the bottle from leaving the bottle, a cylinder that fits over the neck and is fixed to the seal, an annular ring having an inside edge that is fixed to the cylinder and an outside edge that is displaced away from the cylinder, and sides that extend upward from the outside edge of the annular ring. The sides, annular ring, cylinder, and seal form a cup for holding a liquid. The inside edge of the annular ring may be fixed to the top or the bottom of the cylinder. The sides of the measuring bottle cap may be marked with gradations to indicate the amount of fluid held by the cup. The cup may be sealed with a lid.

1 . A measuring bottle cap that attaches to the neck of a bottle comprising 
 (A) a seal for sealing the top of said bottle to prevent fluid within said bottle from leaving said bottle;    (B) a cylinder that fits over said neck and is fixed to said seal;    (C) an annular ring having an inside edge that is fixed to said cylinder and an outside edge that is displaced away from said cylinder; and    (D) sides that extend upward from said outside edge of said annular ring, where said sides, annular ring, cylinder, and seal form a cup for holding a liquid.    
   
   
       2 . A measuring bottle cap according to  claim 1  wherein said inside edge is fixed to the top of said cylinder.  
   
   
       3 . A measuring bottle cap according to  claim 1  wherein said inside edge is fixed to the bottom of said cylinder.  
   
   
       4 . A measuring bottle cap according to  claim 1  including a lid that removeably attaches to the top of said sides to seal said cup.  
   
   
       5 . A measuring bottle cap according to  claim 4  made of a single piece of molded plastic.  
   
   
       6 . A measuring bottle cap according to  claim 4  wherein said lid snaps on to the top of said sides and is attached to said sides by a resilient hinge.  
   
   
       7 . A measuring bottle cap according to  claim 4  wherein the rim of said lid is provided with an annular indentation and an annular projection that engages an annular projection and an annular indentation, respectively, on the top of said sides.  
   
   
       8 . A measuring bottle cap according to  claim 6  that is made of polyethylene or polypropylene.  
   
   
       9 . A measuring bottle cap according to  claim 1  wherein said sides have at least one horizontal mark thereon that indicates the quantity of liquid within said cup.  
   
   
       10 . A measuring bottle cap according to  claim 1  wherein said cylinder has female threads that engage male threads on said neck.  
   
   
       11 . A measuring bottle cap according to  claim 1  wherein said cylinder snaps on to said neck.  
   
   
       12 . A measuring bottle cap according to  claim 1  wherein said sides are wider than said neck of said bottle.  
   
   
       13 . A measuring bottle cap according to  claim 1  wherein said sides are transparent or translucent.  
   
   
       14 . A measuring bottle cap according to  claim 1  wherein said cup holds about 0.25 to about 8 ounces.  
   
   
       15 . A bottle filled with a consumable liquid sealed with a measuring bottle cap according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       16 . A method of using a measured amount of a liquid from a bottle according to  claim 14  comprising 
 (A) removing said measuring bottle cap from said bottle;    (B) without inverting said measuring bottle cap, pouring liquid from said bottle into said cup;    (C) pouring said liquid from said cup; and    (D) without inverting said measuring bottle cap, replacing said measuring bottle cap on to said bottle.    
   
   
       17 . A measuring bottle cap that screws on to the male-threaded neck of a bottle comprising 
 (A) a female-threaded cylinder that fits over said neck;    (B) a seal fixed to the top of said cylinder for sealing said neck to prevent fluid within said bottle from leaving said bottle;    (C) an annular ring having an inside edge that is fixed to the top of said cylinder and an outside edge that that is displaced away from said cylinder;    (D) sides that extend upward from said outside edge of said annular ring, where said sides, annular ring, cylinder, and seal form a cup for holding a liquid;    (E) a lid that removeably seals said cup; and    (F) at least one horizontal mark on said sides that indicates the amount of liquid held within said cup.    
   
   
       18 . A method of using a measured amount of a liquid from a bottle according to  claim 14  comprising 
 (A) removing said measuring bottle cap from said bottle;    (B) without inverting said measuring bottle cap, pouring liquid from said bottle into said cup;    (C) pouring said liquid from said cup; and    (D) without inverting said measuring bottle cap, replacing said measuring bottle cap on to said bottle.    
   
   
       19 . A measuring bottle cap that screws on to the male-threaded neck of a bottle comprising 
 (A) a female-threaded cylinder that fits over said neck;    (B) a seal fixed to the top of said cylinder for sealing said neck to prevent fluid within said bottle from leaving said bottle;    (C) an annular ring having an inside edge that is fixed to the bottom of said cylinder and an outside edge that that is displaced away from said cylinder;    (D) sides that extend upward from said outside edge of said annular ring, where said sides, annular ring, cylinder, and seal form a cup for holding a liquid;    (E) a lid that removeably seals said cup; and    (F) at least one horizontal mark on said sides that indicates the amount of liquid held within said cup.    
   
   
       20 . A method of consuming a measured amount of a liquid from a bottle according to  claim 17  comprising 
 (A) unscrewing said measuring bottle cap from said bottle;    (B) without inverting said cap, placing it in a horizontal position;    (C) pouring liquid from said bottle into said cup to the level of said at least one horizontal mark;    (D) pouring said liquid from said cup; and    (E) without inverting said cap, screwing said cap back on to said bottle.