Carabiner bottle closure

Abstract

A closure for removably sealing a container and for attaching to external articles having an external hooking device. The closure includes a container cap configured to removably engage the container and having a strip engaging portion formed proximate an end of the cap. The closure includes an attachment member that has a resilient hooking strip extending from the lid to define a hooking aperture therebetween. The attachment member has a cap engaging portion formed adjacent an end thereof and releasably engaged to the strip engaging portion. The engaging portions are configured such that the cap engaging portion is releasable from engagement by applying disengaging force upon any portion of the hooking strip.

1 . A closure for removably sealing a container and for attaching to external articles having an external hooking device, the closure comprising:
 (a) a container cap sized and configured to removably engage the container, the container cap having first and second diametrically opposed cap ends, the cap comprising:
 (1) a top lid having a peripheral edge, 
 (2) a circumferential side wall integrally formed with and extending substantially perpendicularly from the peripheral edge of the top lid, and 
 (3) a strip engaging portion formed proximate the second cap end; and 
   (b) an attachment member comprising:
 (1) an elongated, generally bent, and resilient hooking strip extending from a portion of the top lid to define a hooking aperture therebetween, the hooking strip having a first strip end connected to and integrally formed with the first cap end, and an opposing second strip end, and 
 (2) a cap engaging portion formed adjacent the second strip end and releaseably engaged to the strip engaging portion, 
   wherein the engaging portions are configured such that the cap engaging portion is releaseable from engagement by applying disengaging force upon any portion of the hooking strip in a direction toward the top lid, whereby engaging the cap engaging portion with the strip engaging portion closes the hooking aperture for securably retaining the external hooking device therein and removably attaching the container cap to the external articles thereby.   
   
   
       2 . The closure as in  claim 1 , wherein the hooking strip and the container cap are configured such that application of force upon the hooking strip extends the cap engaging portion away from the strip engaging portion so as to engage the hooking strip and the container cap with each other. 
   
   
       3 . The closure as in  claim 2 , wherein the hooking strip and the container cap are configured to extend laterally away from the cap by receiving further force upon the hooking strip subsequent to engagement of the hooking strip and the container cap. 
   
   
       4 . The closure as in  claim 1 , wherein the cap engaging portion forms a protrusion integrally formed with and extending away from both the top lid and the side wall. 
   
   
       5 . The closure as in  claim 4 , wherein the strip engaging portion and the protrusion are configured to be mateably engageable with each other. 
   
   
       6 . The closure as in  claim 5 , wherein the strip engaging portion comprises a male locking member, and the protrusion comprises a female locking member formed therein sized and configured to receive the male lock member. 
   
   
       7 . The closure as in  claim 6 , wherein the hooking strip and the protrusion are configured such that application of force upon the hooking strip extends the male locking member away from the female locking member to engage the hooking strip and the container cap at a strip contact portion and a protrusion contact portion. 
   
   
       8 . The closure as in  claim 7 , wherein the hooking strip and the protrusion are further configured such that application of further force upon the hooking strip subsequent to engagement of the hooking strip and the container cap extends the male locking member laterally away from the cap. 
   
   
       9 . The closure as in  claim 8 , wherein the inner strip surface defines a generally convex section formed adjacent the strip contact portion, the convex section being configured to extend the male locking member laterally away from the cap as the protrusion contact portion slides along the convex section under the force applied upon the hooking strip. 
   
   
       10 . The closure as in  claim 6 , wherein the hooking strip has an inner strip surface and an opposing outer strip surface, the male locking member comprises a generally L-shaped hook formed on the inner strip surface adjacent the second strip end, and the female locking member comprises a slot formed on an outer surface of the protrusion. 
   
   
       11 . The closure as in  claim 10 , wherein the attachment means further comprises a plurality of ridges formed upon the outer strip surface proximate the second strip end for reducing slippage during engagement of the hook. 
   
   
       12 . The closure as in  claim 6 , wherein the attachment means further comprises an elongated supporting strip for providing structural rigidity to the hooking strip, the supporting strip extending from the inner strip surface to the top lid proximate the first cap end. 
   
   
       13 . The closure as in  claim 12 , wherein the supporting strip is integrally formed with both the hooking strip and the top lid. 
   
   
       14 . The closure as in  claim 13 , wherein the first cap end is located at the peripheral edge of the top lid; and the hooking strip, the supporting strip, and the top lid define a generally triangular region surrounded thereby. 
   
   
       15 . The closure as in  claim 14 , wherein the generally triangular region defines a generally triangular cavity therein. 
   
   
       16 . The closure as in  claim 13 , wherein the attachment member further comprises a raised ridge formed upon the support strip for providing structural rigidity to the hooking strip. 
   
   
       17 . The closure as in  claim 16 , wherein the ridge extends along the inner strip surface. 
   
   
       18 . The closure as in  claim 17 , wherein the ridge is integrally formed with both the supporting strip and the hooking strip. 
   
   
       19 . The closure as in  claim 1 , wherein the hooking strip is shaped as a generally inverted parabola. 
   
   
       20 . The closure as in  claim 19 , wherein the hooking strip is disposed above the plane defined by the peripheral edge of the top lid. 
   
   
       21 . The closure as in  claim 20 , wherein the hooking strip is oriented such that the plane defined thereby is substantially perpendicular to the top lid. 
   
   
       22 . The closure as in  claim 1 , wherein the side wall of the container cap defines a plurality of grooves extending circumferentially therealong. 
   
   
       23 . The closure as in  claim 1 , wherein the closure is fabricated of plastic material. 
   
   
       24 . A container attachable to external articles having an external hooking device, the container comprising:
 (a) a container body having an open mouth at an end; and   (b) a container closure comprising:
 (1) a container cap sized and configured to removably engage the open mouth of the container body, the container cap having first and diametrically opposed second cap ends, the cap comprising:
 (i) a top lid having a peripheral edge, 
 (ii) a circumferential side wall integrally formed with and extending substantially perpendicularly from the peripheral edge of the top lid, and 
 (iii) a strip engaging portion formed proximate the second cap end; and 
 
 (2) an attachment member comprising:
 (i) an elongated, generally bent, and resilient hooking strip extending from the top lid to define a hooking aperture therebetween, the hooking strip having a first strip end connected to and integrally formed with the first cap end, and an opposing second strip end, and 
 (ii) a cap engaging portion formed adjacent the second strip end and releaseably engaged to the strip engaging portion, 
 
 wherein the engaging portions are configured such that the cap engaging portion is releaseable from engagement by applying disengaging force upon any portion of the hooking strip directed toward the top lid, whereby engaging the cap engaging portion with the strip engaging portion closes the hooking aperture for securably retaining the external hooking device therein and removably attaching the container cap to the external articles thereby. 
   
   
   
       25 . A method of advertising and promotion comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a container attachable to external articles having an external hooking device, the container comprising a container body having an open mouth at an end and a container closure comprising:
 (1) a container cap sized and configured to removably engage the open mouth of the container body, the container cap having first and diametrically opposed second cap ends, the cap comprising:
 (i) a top lid having a peripheral edge, 
 (ii) a circumferential side wall integrally formed with and extending substantially perpendicularly from the peripheral edge of the top lid, and 
 (iii) a strip engaging portion formed proximate the second cap end; and 
 
 (2) an attachment member comprising:
 (i) an elongated, generally bent, and resilient hooking strip extending from the top lid to define a hooking aperture therebetween, the hooking strip having a first strip end connected to and integrally formed with the first cap end, and an opposing second strip end, and 
 (ii) a cap engaging portion formed adjacent the second strip end and releaseably engaged to the strip engaging portion, 
 
 wherein the engaging portions are configured such that the cap engaging portion is releaseable from engagement by applying disengaging force upon any portion of the hooking strip directed toward the top lid, whereby engaging the cap engaging portion with the strip engaging portion closes the hooking aperture for securably retaining the external hooking device therein and removably attaching the container cap to the external articles thereby; and 
   (b) imprinting advertising material on at least one visible outer surface of the container or the container closure.