Bottle Closure with Chamber for Holding an Item

Abstract

A closure is provided for a bottle having an inside surface defining a mouth. The closure may include a head portion comprising a chamber for housing an item and defining an opening, an imperforate stub portion coupled to a bottom of the head portion and configured to extend across the mouth and engage the bottle inside surface with a releasable interference fit, and a cap releasably coupled to the head portion and extending over the opening to retain the item.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closure for a bottle having an inside surface defining a mouth, the closure comprising:
 a head portion comprising a chamber for housing an item, the chamber defining an opening formed in a top of the head portion to provide access to the item, the head portion configured to abut a rim of the bottle;   an imperforate stub portion coupled to a bottom of the head portion and having a substantially fixed position relative to the head portion, the stub portion being configured to extend across the mouth and engage the bottle inside surface with a releasable interference fit; and   a cap releasably coupled to the head portion and extending over the opening to retain the item.   
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , in which the cap is releasably adhered to the head portion. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 2 , further comprising a bead of adhesive disposed between the cap and the head portion and configured to releasably adhere the cap to the head portion. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 1 , in which the cap is transparent to provide visual access to the item in the chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 1 , in which the cap is substantially planar. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge extending between the cap and the head portion. 
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 6 , in which the cap further comprises a protrusion extending from a bottom of the cap configured to frictionally engage the chamber opening. 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion comprises a grip positioned on a periphery of the head portion. 
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 8 , wherein the grip comprises at least one of a plurality of longitudinally oriented protrusions and a plurality of longitudinally oriented depressions. 
     
     
         10 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the item comprises a promotional item. 
     
     
         11 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the item comprises an identification tag. 
     
     
         12 . A closure for a bottle having an inside surface defining a mouth, the closure comprising:
 a head portion comprising a chamber for housing an item, the chamber defining an opening formed in a top of the head portion to provide access to the item, the head portion configured to abut a rim of the bottle;   an imperforate stub portion coupled to a bottom of the head portion and having a substantially fixed position relative to the head portion, the stub portion being configured to extend across the mouth and engage the bottle inside surface with a releasable interference fit; and   a cap releasably adhered to the head portion and extending over the opening to retain the item.   
     
     
         13 . The closure of  claim 12 , further comprising a bead of adhesive disposed between the cap and the head portion and configured to releasably adhere the cap to the head portion. 
     
     
         14 . The closure of  claim 12 , in which the cap is transparent to provide visual access to the item in the chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The closure of  claim 12 , in which the cap is substantially planar. 
     
     
         16 . A closure for a bottle having an inside surface defining a mouth, the closure comprising:
 a head portion configured to abut a rim of the bottle;   an imperforate stub portion coupled to a bottom of the head portion and having a substantially fixed position relative to the head portion, the stub portion being configured to extend across the mouth and engage the bottle inside surface with a releasable interference fit; and   a cap coupled to the head portion by a hinge;   wherein at least one of the cap and the head portion define a chamber for housing an item; and   wherein the cap is movable between a closed position, in which the cap releasably engages the head portion to close the chamber, and an open position, in which the cap is disengaged from the head portion to permit access to the chamber.   
     
     
         17 . The closure of  claim 16 , in which the head portion defines the chamber, and in which the chamber defines an opening formed in a top of the head portion to provide access to the item with the cap in the open position. 
     
     
         18 . The closure of  claim 17 , in which the cap further comprises a protrusion extending from a bottom of the cap configured to frictionally engage the chamber opening formed in the head portion. 
     
     
         19 . The closure of  claim 16 , in which the cap defines the chamber, and in which the chamber defines an opening formed in the cap to provide access to the item with the cap in the open position. 
     
     
         20 . The closure of  claim 16 , in which the cap is transparent to provide visual access to the item in the chamber.