Liquid dispensing cap

Abstract

A manifold dispensing cap is provided having a base that is adapted to be affixed to a bottle. The base seals to the bottle and can move fluid from inside the bottle to a manifold. The manifold has a series of fingers that are evenly spaced radially from the center where they extend outwardly. The fingers are flexible and extend outwardly away in a manner that the tips of the fingers are at a larger effective diameter at their tips than where they extend outwardly from the base. The fingers are obliquely angled with respect to each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A manifold dispensing cap affixed to an open mouth of a vessel, said cap comprising:
 a base having a pocket area and sealably affixed to said open mouth, said base having an inner top surface opposite said pocket area and coplanar with an outer top surface, said base having an annular tongue located between said inner and outer top surfaces, said annular tongue having an offsetting wall that extends into an overhanging portion having ramped surfaces and that terminate at a top surface, said overhanging portion having a base width near said offsetting wall and a top width spaced farther from said offsetting wall, said top width being narrower than said base width, said annular tongue is coaxial with a central axis and a center aperture, said center aperture in fluid communication with said open mouth;   a finger manifold having a collector portion with an annular groove receiving said annular tongue, said annular groove located between a first mating surface and a second mating surface, said annular groove being coaxial with said central axis, said annular groove circumscribing a central chamber, a plurality of fingers extending outwardly from said collector portion in a circular pattern, each said finger having a tubular portion with a corresponding finger axis, each said finger axis converging and intersecting said central axis at a point, each said finger having a semispherical terminal end surface with a corresponding finger aperture on said corresponding finger axis, said corresponding finger aperture in fluid communication with said collector portion, each said finger aperture being spaced equally from said point; and   said manifold is formed from a material being more flexible than said base.   
     
     
         2 . The manifold dispensing cap of  claim 1 , wherein each said finger having a corresponding finger axis obliquely angled with respect to an adjacent said finger axis. 
     
     
         3 . The manifold dispensing cap of  claim 1 , wherein said manifold dispensing cap forms a fluid path from said vessel to said finger apertures. 
     
     
         4 . The manifold dispensing cap of  claim 3 , further comprising a valve located in and interrupting said fluid path. 
     
     
         5 . The manifold dispensing cap of  claim 4 , wherein said valve is normally closed, when pressure in said vessel exceeds a valve release pressure, said valve opens to create an uninterrupted fluid path between said vessel and said finger apertures in said fingers. 
     
     
         6 . A manifold dispensing cap adapted to be affixed to an open mouth of a vessel, said manifold dispensing cap comprising:
 a base adapted to be sealably affixed to said open mouth, said base having an inner top surface and an outer top surface, said base having an annular tongue located therebetween, said annular tongue having an offsetting wall that extends outwardly from said top surfaces into an overhanging portion having ramped surfaces that terminate at a top surface, said annular tongue is coaxial with a central axis and a center aperture, said center aperture in fluid communication with said open mouth when said dispensing cap is affixed to said open mouth;   a finger manifold having a collector portion with an annular groove complimentary to and receiving said annular tongue, said annular groove located between a first mating surface and a second mating surface, said annular groove being coaxial with said central axis, said annular groove circumscribing a central chamber, a plurality of fingers extending outwardly from said collector portion in a circular pattern, each said finger having a tubular portion having a corresponding finger axis, each said finger axis converging and intersecting said central axis, each said finger having a terminal end surface with a corresponding finger aperture and in fluid communication with said central chamber, each said finger aperture being spaced equally from said central axis; and   said manifold formed from a material being more flexible than said base.   
     
     
         7 . The manifold dispensing cap of  claim 6 , wherein said base is sealably affixed to said finger manifold using said annular tongue and said annular groove. 
     
     
         8 . The manifold dispensing cap of  claim 6 , wherein groove is complimentary to said tongue to sealably affix said finger manifold to said base. 
     
     
         9 . The manifold dispensing cap of  claim 6 , wherein each said finger having a corresponding finger axis  64  obliquely angled with respect to an adjacent said finger axis. 
     
     
         10 . The manifold dispensing cap of  claim 6 , wherein said manifold dispensing cap forms a fluid path from said vessel to said finger apertures, further comprising a valve located in and interrupting said fluid path. 
     
     
         11 . The manifold dispensing cap of  claim 10 , wherein said valve is normally closed, when pressure in said vessel exceeds a valve release pressure, said valve opens to create an uninterrupted fluid path between said vessel and said finger apertures. 
     
     
         12 . The manifold dispensing cap of  claim 6 , wherein each said finger axis converging and intersecting said central axis at a point, each said finger aperture being spaced equally from said point, 
     
     
         13 . The manifold dispensing cap of  claim 12 , wherein said point is circumscribed by said base. 
     
     
         14 . A manifold dispensing cap adapted to be affixed to an open mouth of a vessel, said cap comprising:
 a base adapted to be sealably affixed to said open mouth, a center aperture, said center aperture in fluid communication with said open mouth when said dispensing cap is affixed to said open mouth;   a finger manifold sealably attached to said base and having a collector portion with a central chamber, said finger manifold having a plurality of fingers extending outwardly from said collector portion in a circular pattern, each said finger having a tubular portion having a corresponding finger axis, each said finger axis converging and intersecting said central axis at a point circumscribed by said base, each said finger having a terminal end surface with a corresponding finger aperture on said corresponding finger axis and in fluid communication with said finger manifold; and   said manifold formed from a material being more flexible than said base.   
     
     
         15 . The manifold dispensing cap of  claim 14 , wherein said finger manifold is attached to said base through an annular tongue and groove connection. 
     
     
         16 . The manifold dispensing cap of  claim 15 , wherein said base has said annular tongue and said finger manifold has said groove to form said annular tongue and groove connection. 
     
     
         17 . The manifold dispensing cap of  claim 15 , wherein said annular tongue and groove connection is coaxial to said central axis. 
     
     
         18 . The manifold dispensing cap of  claim 15 , wherein said base has an inner top surface and an outer top surface, said base having an annular tongue opposite said pocket area, said annular tongue having an offsetting wall that extends into an overhanging portion having ramped surfaces and that terminate at a top surface, said annular tongue circumscribes said central axis. 
     
     
         19 . The manifold dispensing cap of  claim 18 , wherein said finger manifold has an annular groove complimentary to and receiving said annular tongue, said annular groove located between a first mating surface and a second mating surface, said annular groove being coaxial with said central axis, said annular groove circumscribing said central axis. 
     
     
         20 . The manifold dispensing cap of  claim 15 , wherein each said finger aperture is spaced equally from said point.