Cap and Closure System for Closing a Large Potable Liquid Bottle

Abstract

A threadless cap for closing a potable liquid bottle is provided. The potable liquid bottle has a neck with an upper edge defining a discharge opening. The threadless cap comprises a lid for overlying and sealingly engaging the upper edge of the neck. The lid includes a tension ring for retaining the cap on the neck of the bottle, the tension ring having an inwardly extending rib for engaging the neck of the bottle. The threadless cap also comprises a skirt depending from the lid, the skirt including a line of weakness facilitating a manual tear of the skirt. The threadless cap further comprises a tear stop at a location intersecting a line of tear propagating as a result of a manual pull applied on the skirt, the tear stop preventing the line of tear to propagate beyond the tear stop. The line of weakness may include a portion extending across the tension ring to reduce a retaining force exerted by the tension ring on the neck of the bottle when a tear line propagating as a result of a manual pull applied on the skirt extends across the tension ring. Also, provided is a closure system that includes such a threadless cap and a protective sheath for application on the cap.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A closure system for a potable liquid bottle, the potable liquid bottle having a neck having an upper edge defining a discharge opening and an annular recessed area below the upper edge, the annular recessed area having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, said closure system comprising:
 a) a threadless cap, having:
 i) a lid for overlaying and sealingly engaging the upper edge; 
 ii) a skirt depending from said lid, said skirt having a lower edge, said skirt having dimensions such that when said cap sealingly engages the upper edge of the neck, at least a portion of the lower edge of said skirt is located between the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the annular recessed area; 
   b) a protective sheath for application on said cap and on a portion of the neck of the bottle below the cap, said protective sheath being shrinkable to create a recessed zone within the annular recessed area adjacent the portion of the lower edge of said skirt located between the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the annular recessed area.   
   
   
       22 . A closure system as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said sheath is heat shrinkable on said cap and on the portion of the neck of the bottle below the cap. 
   
   
       23 . A closure system as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said sheath includes a line of weakness to facilitate tear and removal of said sheath after said sheath has been heat shrunk on said cap and on the portion of the neck of the bottle below the cap. 
   
   
       24 . A closure system as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said skirt includes a line of weakness facilitating a manual tear of said skirt. 
   
   
       25 . A closure system as defined in  claim 24 , including a pull tab on said skirt for initiating a tear of said skirt. 
   
   
       26 . A closure system as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the portion of the lower edge of said skirt that is located between the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the annular recessed area includes the entirety of the lower edge of said skirt except said pull tab. 
   
   
       27 . A closure system as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said line of weakness is configured such that a strip is formed when said skirt is being torn. 
   
   
       28 . A closure system as defined in  claim 27 , including a tear stop at a location intersecting the line of tear propagating as a result of a manual pull applied on said skirt, said tear stop preventing the line of tear to propagate beyond said tear stop. 
   
   
       29 . A closure system as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said tear stop includes a thickened portion on said cap. 
   
   
       30 . A closure system as defined in  claim 29 , wherein said tear stop prevents complete separation of said strip from a remainder of said cap. 
   
   
       31 . A closure system as defined in  claim 30 , wherein said strip extends partially around the perimeter of said cap. 
   
   
       32 . A closure system as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said lid and said skirt are integrally formed. 
   
   
       33 . A closure system as defined in  claim 32 , wherein said lid and said skirt are integrally formed by injection molding. 
   
   
       34 . A closure system as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said lid includes a tension ring for retaining said cap on the neck of the bottle, said tension ring having an inwardly extending rib for engaging the neck of the bottle, said line of weakness including a portion extending across said tension ring to reduce a retaining force exerted by said tension ring on the neck of the bottle when a tear line propagating as a result of a manual pull applied on said skirt extends across said tension ring. 
   
   
       35 . A water bottle, comprising:
 a) a neck having an upper edge defining a discharge opening;   b) an annular recessed area on said neck below said upper edge, said annular recessed area having an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion;   c) a threadless cap, having:
 i) a lid overlaying and sealingly engaging said upper edge; 
 ii) a skirt depending from said lid, said skirt having a lower edge, at least a portion of said lower edge being located within said annular recessed area between said upper edge portion and said lower edge portion; 
   d) a protective sheath applied on said bottle, said protective sheath extending over said cap and over a portion of said neck located below said cap, said protective sheath forming a recessed zone overlaying said annular recessed area and being adjacent to the portion of said lower edge of said skirt located within said annular recessed area between said upper edge portion and said lower edge portion.   
   
   
       36 . A water bottle as defined in  claim 35 , wherein said sheath is heat shrunk on said cap and on a portion of the neck of the bottle below said cap. 
   
   
       37 . A water bottle as defined in  claim 36 , wherein said sheath includes a line of weakness to facilitate tear and removal of said sheath. 
   
   
       38 . A water bottle as defined in  claim 35 , wherein said skirt includes a line of weakness facilitating a manual tear of said skirt. 
   
   
       39 . A water bottle as defined in  claim 38 , including a pull tab on said skirt for initiating a tear of said skirt. 
   
   
       40 . A water bottle as defined in  claim 39 , wherein the portion of the lower edge of said skirt that is located between said upper end portion and said lower end portion includes the entirety of the lower edge of said skirt except said pull tab. 
   
   
       41 - 60 . (canceled)