Closure having a valve with an arcuate frangible line

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a closure for a container. In one of the embodiments provided herein, the closure is provided with a cap having a roof portion and a cylindrical skirt. A well extends from the roof portion into the cap, the well having an inner wall structure that terminates at an edge and a frangible valve joined to the well by a frangible section that extends about a first portion vicinal to a periphery of the frangible valve and by a non-frangible section that extends about a second portion vicinal to said periphery. In another embodiment the frangible valve is defined as a dish-like member positioned at an inclination relative to a central axis defined by the well, such that the frangible section is joined about the inner wall structure of said well and the non-frangible section is joint about the edge of the well. Since the non-frangible section is stronger than the frangible section it does not substantially separate from the inner wall when the frangible valve is moved to an open position. In a further embodiment, the cap has a well having an inner wall structure that terminates into a base structure at an edge, the base structure having a frangible valve defined as having a frangible section that extends about a first portion vicinal to a periphery of the edge and having a non-frangible section that extends about a second portion vicinal to said periphery of the edge.

1 . A cap for a container used on a water dispenser, said cap having a roof portion and a cylindrical skirt, said cap comprising:
 a well extending from said roof portion into said cap, the well having an inner wall structure that terminates at an edge and a frangible valve joined to said well by a frangible section that extends about a first portion vicinal to a periphery of the frangible valve and by a non-frangible section that extends about a second portion vicinal to said periphery.   
     
     
         2 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the frangible valve is defined as a dish-like member positioned at an inclination relative to a central axis defined by the well, such that the frangible section is joined about the inner wall structure of said well and the non-frangible section is joined about the edge of said well. 
     
     
         3 . The cap of  claim 2 , wherein said frangible section is longer then said non-frangible section. 
     
     
         4 . The cap of  claim 3 , wherein said frangible section extends about 320 degrees to about 340 degrees of said inner wall and said non-frangible section is complementary to a remaining 360 degree extension of said inner wall. 
     
     
         5 . The cap of  claim 2 , wherein the non-frangible section is stronger than said frangible section such that the non-frangible section does not substantially separate from said inner wall. 
     
     
         6 . The cap of  claim 5 , wherein the non-frangible section has a tendency to act as a spring hinge during operation of said cap. 
     
     
         7 . The cap of  claim 2 , wherein the well further includes a member extending from said edge above at least a portion of said non-frangible section. 
     
     
         8 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the frangible valve is defined as a dish-like member joined substantially about the edge of said well. 
     
     
         9 . A cap for a container used on a water dispenser that has a dispensing probe used to penetrate said cap for dispensing fluid within said container, said cap having a roof portion and a cylindrical skirt, said cap comprising:
 a well extending from said roof portion into said cap, the well having an inner wall structure that terminates at an edge and a frangible valve joined to said well by a frangible section that extends about a first portion vicinal to a periphery of the frangible valve and by a non-frangible section that extends about a second portion vicinal to said periphery,   wherein the frangible valve is defined as a dish-like member positioned at an inclination relative to a central axis defined by the well, such that the frangible section is joined about the inner wall structure of said well and the non-frangible section is joint about the edge of said well, and   wherein the non-frangible section is stronger than said frangible section such that the non-frangible section does not substantially separate from said inner wall when said frangible valve is moved to an open position.   
     
     
         10 . The cap of  claim 9 , wherein said non-frangible section acts as a spring hinge and has a tendency to return said dish-like member to a closed position, 
     
     
         11 . The cap of  claim 9 , wherein the dispensing probe used to penetrate said cap has a blunt end, such that the blunt end of the dispensing probe opens the valve along the frangible section during use. 
     
     
         12 . The cap of  claim 10 , wherein the frangible valve has a tendency to move to the closed position when said dispensing probe is removed. 
     
     
         13 . A cap for a container used on a water dispenser, said cap having a roof portion and a cylindrical skirt, said cap comprising:
 a well extending from said roof portion into said cap, the well having an inner wall structure that terminates into a base structure at an edge, said base structure having a frangible valve defined as having a frangible section that extends about a first portion vicinal to a periphery of the edge and having a non-frangible section that extends about a second portion vicinal to said periphery of the edge.   
     
     
         14 . The cap of  claim 13 , wherein said first portion abuts said edge. 
     
     
         15 . The cap of  claim 13 , wherein the frangible valve is defined as a dish-like member. 
     
     
         16 . The cap of  claim 13 , wherein said frangible section extends about 320 degrees to about 340 degrees around said edge and said non-frangible section is complementary to a remaining 360 degree extension of said edge. 
     
     
         17 . The cap of  claim 13 , wherein the non-frangible section is stronger than said frangible section such that the non-frangible section does not substantially separate from said inner wall. 
     
     
         18 . The cap of  claim 17 , wherein the non-frangible section has a tendency to act as a spring hinge during operation of said cap.