Pressure equalization cap and bottle for use therewith

Abstract

The present invention provides a bottle cap for use in association with a bottle. The cap has a roof and sidewall, and is releasably attachable to the bottle. A flexible membrane is attached to the cap whereby an air tight seal between the flexible membrane and the bottle rim is achievable when the cap is attached to bottle. The flexible membrane is moveable responsive to change in pressure inside the bottle and the flexible membrane has an inside between the membrane and the cap. The cap has at least one flow means between the outside of the cap and the inside of the flexible membrane whereby air can move freely between the outside of the cap and the inside of the flexible membrane. The flexible membrane remains attached to the cap when the cap is removed from the bottle.

1 . A bottle cap for use in association with a bottle having a bottle rim comprising:
 a cap having a roof and sidewall, the cap being releasably attachable to the bottle;   a flexible membrane attached to the cap whereby an air tight seal between the flexible membrane and the bottle rim is achievable when the cap is attached to the bottle, the flexible membrane being moveable responsive to change in pressure inside the bottle and the flexible membrane having an inside between the membrane and the cap;   at least one flow means between the outside of the cap and the inside of the flexible membrane whereby air can move freely between the outside of the cap and the inside of the flexible membrane.   
   
   
       2 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the flexible membrane has at least one bubble preformed therein and wherein each bubble is flaccid when the pressure on either side of the flexible membrane is generally equal. 
   
   
       3 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the cap has a threaded closure formed along the sides thereof adapted to engage a threaded closure on the bottle. 
   
   
       4 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the cap has at least one groove extending from the roof down the side, through the threaded closure and wherein the groove is the flow means. 
   
   
       5 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 4  further including a plurality of grooves. 
   
   
       6 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 5  further including a sealing ring that is attached between the flexible membrane and the cap. 
   
   
       7 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the sealing ring is an inner sealing ring is an inner sealing ring and further including an outer sealing ring. 
   
   
       8 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the cap has a rim and further including an upper extension that extends upwardly from the rim and whereby the flexible membrane may extend upwardly into the cap upper extension. 
   
   
       9 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 8  further including a sealing ring that is attached to the flexible membrane. 
   
   
       10 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the sealing ring is an inner sealing ring is an inner sealing ring and further including an outer sealing ring. 
   
   
       11 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the cap has a rim and further including an upper extension that extends upwardly from the rim and whereby the flexible membrane may extend upwardly into the cap upper extension. 
   
   
       12 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 11  further including a sealing ring that is attached between the flexible membrane and the cap. 
   
   
       13 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the sealing ring is an inner sealing ring is an inner sealing ring and further including an outer sealing ring. 
   
   
       14 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the cap includes an outer cap portion, an inner cap portion, and a means of keeping the outer cap portion and the inner cap portion nested together, the inner cap portion loosely fits within the outer cap portion such that air can flow therebetween, the inner cap portion has an aperture formed therein thereby allowing air between the inside of the flexible membrane and the outside of the cap. 
   
   
       15 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the inner cap portion has a threaded closure formed along the sides thereof adapted to engage a threaded closure on the bottle. 
   
   
       16 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the outer cap portion has a lower edge and further including a lip extending inwardly around the lower edge of the outer cap portion and the lip acts as a stop to keep the inner cap portion and the outer cap portion nested together. 
   
   
       17 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 16  further including a sealing ring that is attached between the flexible membrane and the cap. 
   
   
       18 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the sealing ring is an inner sealing ring is an inner sealing ring and further including an outer sealing ring. 
   
   
       19 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the outer cap portion has a rim, the aperture in the inner cap portion is a central opening and further including an upper extension that extends upwardly from the rim and whereby the flexible membrane may extend upwardly through the central opening in the inner cap portion and into the outer cap portion upper extension. 
   
   
       20 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 2  further including a plurality of bubbles. 
   
   
       21 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the flexible membrane includes a gas barrier. 
   
   
       22 . A bottle cap as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the flexible membrane is made from one of ethyl vinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyvinyl dichloride. 
   
   
       23 . A bottle and cap assembly comprising:
 a pressure equalizing cap; and   a bottle having a generally smooth portion and a neck portion, the generally smooth portion being free of engineered panels and wherein the generally smooth portion is designed to have a label adhered thereto.   
   
   
       24 . A bottle and cap assembly as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the generally smooth portion is cylindrical. 
   
   
       25 . A bottle and cap assembly as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the bottle has a rim and the pressure equalizing cap includes a cap having a roof and sidewall, the cap being releasably attachable to the bottle; a flexible membrane attached to the cap whereby an air tight seal between the flexible membrane and the bottle rim is achievable when the cap is attached to the bottle, the flexible membrane is moveable responsive to change in pressure inside the bottle, and the flexible membrane has an inside between the membrane and the cap; and at least one flow means between the outside of the cap and the inside of the flexible membrane whereby air can move freely between the outside of the cap and the inside of the flexible membrane. 
   
   
       26 . A bottle cap and assembly as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the flexible membrane has at least one bubble preformed therein and wherein each bubble is flaccid when the pressure on either side of the flexible membrane is generally equal. 
   
   
       27 . A bottle cap and assembly as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the cap has a plurality of threads formed along the sides thereof adapted to engage a plurality of threads on the bottle. 
   
   
       28 . A bottle cap and assembly as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the cap has at least one groove extending from the roof down the side, through the plurality of threads and wherein the groove is the flow means. 
   
   
       29 . A bottle cap and assembly as claimed in  claim 28  further including a plurality of grooves. 
   
   
       30 . A bottle cap and assembly as claimed in  claim 29  further including a sealing ring that is attached to the flexible membrane. 
   
   
       31 . A bottle cap and assembly as claimed in  claim 30  wherein the cap has a rim and further including an upper extension that extends upwardly from the rim and whereby the flexible membrane may extend upwardly into the cap upper extension. 
   
   
       32 . A bottle cap and assembly as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the cap has a rim and further including an upper extension that extends upwardly from the rim and whereby the flexible membrane may extend upwardly into the cap upper extension. 
   
   
       33 . A bottle cap and assembly as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the cap includes an outer cap portion, an inner cap portion, and a means of keeping the outer cap portion and the inner cap portion nested together, the inner cap portion loosely fits within the outer cap portion such that air can flow therebetween, the inner cap portion has an aperture formed therein thereby allowing air between the inside of the flexible membrane and the outside of the cap. 
   
   
       34 . A bottle cap and assembly as claimed in  claim 33  wherein the inner cap portion has a plurality of threads formed along the sides thereof adapted to engage a plurality of threads on the bottle. 
   
   
       35 . A bottle cap and assembly as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the outer cap portion has a lower edge and further including a lip extending inwardly around the lower edge of the outer cap portion and the lip acts as a stop to keep the inner cap portion and the outer cap portion nested together. 
   
   
       36 . A bottle cap and assembly as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the outer cap portion has a rim, the aperture in the inner cap portion is a central opening and further including an upper extension that extends upwardly from the rim and whereby the flexible membrane may extend upwardly through the central opening in the inner cap portion and into the outer cap portion upper extension. 
   
   
       37 . A bottle cap and assembly as claimed in  claim 26  further including a plurality of bubbles. 
   
   
       38 . A bottle cap and assembly as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the flexible membrane remains in the cap when the cap is removed from the bottle. 
   
   
       39 . A bottle cap and assembly as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the flexible membrane includes a gas barrier. 
   
   
       40 . A bottle cap and assembly as claimed in  claim 39  wherein the flexible membrane is made from one of ethyl vinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyvinyl dichloride.