Squeeze bottle cap

Abstract

A bottle cap including a cover having a front end defining a pair of substantially parallel flanges extending generally perpendicularly from the cover, a deformable panel extending between the flanges, and an opposed rear end defining a pair of body-engaging hinges extending from a portion thereof. The cap includes a body having a top portion defining an outwardly projecting spout at one end and an inwardly projecting cavity at another end that may pivotally receive the body-engaging hinges for rotating the cover about an x-axis relative the body when attached thereto. Pressure applied to the flanges causes the panel to resiliently deform and disengage from the body allowing the cover to transition from a closed position mating the front end of the cover with the top portion of the body for providing a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and an open position retaining the rear end of the cover against the body.

1 . A bottle cap comprising: 
 a cover having 
 a front end defining at least one release member extending from a portion thereof, and an opposed rear end defining a pair of body-engaging hinges extending from a portion thereof, the body-engaging hinges defining a locking protrusion extending therebetween;  
   a body having 
 a top portion defining an outwardly projecting spout at one end thereof and an inwardly projecting cavity at another end thereof, the cavity being sized and configured to pivotally receive the body-engaging hinges for rotating the cover about an x-axis relative the body when attached thereto, the cavity further being sized and configured to slidably engage the locking protrusion, and  
 a bottom portion at an opposite end thereof, the spout and the bottom portion cooperating to define an orifice for receiving fluid therethrough; and  
   wherein the cover is positionable between a first closed position mating the front end of the cover with the top portion of the body for providing a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and a second open position retaining the rear end of the cover against the body via the locking protrusion.    
   
   
       2 . The cap as in  claim 1  wherein the cover further includes an a) outer surface extending between the front and rear ends, and b) a plug extending from the outer surface.  
   
   
       3 . The cap as in  claim 2  wherein the plug is sized and configured to mateably frictionally engage the spout when the cover is in the first closed position.  
   
   
       4 . The cap as in  claim 3  wherein the spout is formed having a substantially concave profile for preventing drips therefrom, and the plug is formed having a substantially convex profile.  
   
   
       5 . The cap as in  claim 2  wherein the cover further defines a recess therethrough and the plug is sized and configured to be frictionally retained within the cover via the recess.  
   
   
       6 . The cap as in  claim 5  wherein the plug is fabricated from a rubber-like material.  
   
   
       7 . The cap as in  claim 6  wherein the plug further includes advertising indicia visible on a surface thereof when the plug is frictionally retained within the recess and the cover is in the first closed position.  
   
   
       8 . The cap as in  claim 2  wherein the plug further includes advertising indicia visible when the plug is frictionally retained within the recess and the cover is in the first closed position.  
   
   
       9 . The cap as in  claim 1  wherein the at least one release member includes: 
 a pair of substantially parallel flanges extending generally perpendicularly from the outer surface of the cover;    a deformable panel extending between the flanges; and    wherein external pressure applied to the flanges causes the panel to resiliently deform and disengage from the body allowing the cover to transition from the first closed position to the second open position.    
   
   
       10 . The cap as in  claim 9  further including a thumb tab extending generally perpendicularly from the panel.  
   
   
       11 . The cap as in  claim 1  wherein the cover is rotatable about the x-axis relative the body to provide up to 180 degrees of rotation between the first open position and the second closed position.  
   
   
       12 . A fluid-container comprising: 
 a substantially cylindrical bottle;    a bottle cap including: 
 a cover having a front end defining at least one release member extending from a portion thereof, and an opposed rear end defining a pair of body-engaging hinges extending from a portion thereof, the body-engaging hinges defining a locking protrusion extending therebetween;  
 a body having 
 a top portion defining an outwardly projecting spout at one end thereof and an inwardly projecting cavity at another end thereof, the cavity being sized and configured to pivotally receive the body-engaging hinges for rotating the cover about an x-axis relative the body when attached thereto, the cavity further being sized and configured to slidably engage the locking protrusion, and  
 
 a bottom portion at an opposite end thereof, the spout and the bottom portion cooperating to define an orifice for receiving fluid therethrough; and  
   wherein the cover is positionable between a first closed position mating the front end of the cover with the top portion of the body for providing a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and a second open position retaining the rear end of the cover against the body via the locking protrusion, the bottle cap being sized and configured to be removably engaged to the bottle.    
   
   
       13 . The fluid-container as in  claim 12  wherein the bottle further includes a bottle top and a bottle bottom at an opposite end thereof cooperating to define a bottle body therebetween, the bottle top having a substantially circular neck portion, the neck portion defining a substantially circular orifice.  
   
   
       14 . The fluid-container as in  claim 13  wherein bottle body defines a substantially concave grip portion between the bottle top and the bottle bottom.  
   
   
       15 . The fluid-container as in  claim 14  wherein the grip portion defines a plurality of ribs extending concentrically around the bottle body.  
   
   
       16 . The fluid-container as in  claim 12  wherein the cover further includes an a) outside surface extending between the front and rear ends, and b) a plug extending from the outer surface.  
   
   
       17 . The fluid-container as in  claim 16  wherein the plug is sized and configured to mateably frictionally engage the spout when the cover is in the first closed position.  
   
   
       18 . The fluid-container as in  claim 17  wherein the spout is formed having a substantially concave profile for preventing drips therefrom, and the plug is formed having a substantially convex profile.  
   
   
       19 . The fluid-container as in  claim 16  wherein the cover further defines a recess therethrough and the plug is sized and configured to be frictionally retained within the cover via the recess.  
   
   
       20 . The fluid-container as in  claim 19  wherein the plug is fabricated from a rubber-like material.  
   
   
       21 . The fluid-container as in  claim 20  wherein the plug further includes advertising indicia visible on a surface thereof when the plug is frictionally retained within the recess and the cover is in the first closed position.  
   
   
       22 . The fluid-container as in  claim 12  wherein the at least one release member includes: 
 a pair of substantially parallel flanges extending generally perpendicularly from the outer surface of the cover;    a deformable panel extending between the flanges; and    wherein external pressure applied to the flanges causes the panel to resiliently deform and disengage from the body allowing the cover to transition from the first closed position to the second open position.    
   
   
       23 . The fluid-container as in  claim 22  further including a thumb tab extending generally perpendicularly from the panel.  
   
   
       24 . The fluid-container as in  claim 12  wherein the cover is rotatable about the x-axis relative the body to provide up to 180 degrees of rotation between the first open position and the second closed position.  
   
   
       25 . A bottle cap comprising: 
 a cover having 
 a front end defining at least one release member extending from a portion thereof, the at least one release member including a pair of substantially parallel flanges extending generally perpendicularly from therefrom, the at least one release member further including a deformable panel extending between the flanges, and an opposed rear end defining a pair of body-engaging hinges extending from a portion thereof;  
   a body having 
 a top portion defining an outwardly projecting spout at one end thereof and an inwardly projecting cavity at another end thereof, the cavity being sized and configured to pivotally receive the body-engaging hinges for rotating the cover about an x-axis relative the body when attached thereto, and  
 a bottom portion at an opposite end thereof, the spout and the bottom portion cooperating to define an orifice for receiving fluid therethrough; and  
   wherein external pressure applied to the flanges causes the panel to resiliently deform and disengage from the body allowing the cover to transition from a first closed position mating the front end of the cover with the top portion of the body for providing a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and a second open position retaining the rear end of the cover against the body.