Snap cap with deep plug and seal overmold

Abstract

In one example, a cap includes a body that has a plug defined by a recess extending downward from an upper surface of the body. The body also includes a skirt disposed circumferentially about the plug such that a gap is defined between an exterior surface of the plug and an inner surface of the skirt. Two or more tongues are connected to the skirt and extend radially inward toward the plug, each of the tongues configured to releasably engage respective corresponding structure of a container. A seal is provided that is disposed about an outer surface of the plug so as to be concentric with the plug, the seal including multiple radially extending circumferential fins.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A cap, comprising:
 a body, comprising:
 a plug defined by a recess extending downward from an upper surface of the body, and a bottom of the plug has a convex shape; 
 a skirt disposed circumferentially about the plug such that a gap is defined between an exterior surface of the plug and an inner surface of the skirt; and 
 two tongues connected to the skirt and extending radially inward toward the plug, each of the tongues configured to releasably engage respective corresponding structure of a container; and 
   a seal disposed about an outer surface of the plug so as to be concentric with the plug, the seal including a plurality of radially extending circumferential fins.   
     
     
         2 . The cap as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the body of the cap comprises a thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The cap as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         4 . The cap as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the seal is in the form of an overmold on the plug. 
     
     
         5 . The cap as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the tongues is disposed in a respective window defined in the skirt. 
     
     
         6 . The cap as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the seal is dynamically responsive to a load applied to the cap such that the seal elastically deforms in response to application of the load, and the load is a static and/or dynamic load. 
     
     
         7 . The cap as recited in  claim 1 , wherein part of the bottom of the plug is textured. 
     
     
         8 . The cap as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cap is configured to be snapped onto a neck portion of a container. 
     
     
         9 . The cap as recited in  claim 1 , wherein when the cap is fully engaged with a container, the cap is removable from the container with about a one quarter counterclockwise turn of the cap. 
     
     
         10 . The cap as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the seal includes a flared portion that is concentric with the fins and is disposed at an upper end of the seal. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a container including a reservoir and a neck portion in fluid communication with each other; and   a cap, comprising:
 a body, comprising:
 a plug defined by a recess extending downward from an upper surface of the body, and the plug having a bottom that is convex which has a convex shape over a pressure range of about −2 MPa to 4 MPa; 
 a skirt disposed circumferentially about the plug such that a gap is defined between an exterior surface of the plug and an inner surface of the skirt; and 
 two tongues connected to the skirt and extending radially inward toward the plug, each of the tongues configured to releasably engage respective corresponding structure of the neck portion of the container; and 
 
   a seal disposed about an outer surface of the plug so as to be concentric with the plug, the seal including a plurality of radially extending circumferential fins.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the container includes an integral dip tube in fluid communication with the reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein when the cap is fully engaged with the container, the cap is removable from the container with about a one quarter counterclockwise turn of the cap. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the seal is dynamically responsive to a load applied to the cap and/or container such that the seal elastically deforms in response to application of the load, and the load includes static and/or dynamic components. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the seal maintains a fluid tight seal of the container notwithstanding application of the load. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the body of the cap comprises a thermoplastic material and the seal comprises a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the seal includes a flared portion that is concentric with the fins and is disposed at an upper end of the seal, and when the cap is fully engaged with the neck portion of the container, the neck portion of the container is in contact with both the flared portion of the seal and the fins. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein when the cap is fully engaged with the neck portion of the container, the fins are positioned within the neck portion of the container, and an upper end of the neck portion is positioned in a gap between the plug and the skirt. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a container including a reservoir and a neck portion in fluid communication with each other; and   a cap, comprising:
 a body, comprising:
 a plug defined by a recess extending downward from an upper surface of the body, and the plug having a bottom that is elastically deformable between a first state where the bottom is convex and a second state where the bottom is horizontal; 
 a skirt disposed circumferentially about the plug such that a gap is defined between an exterior surface of the plug and an inner surface of the skirt; and 
 two tongues connected to the skirt and extending radially inward toward the plug, each of the tongues configured to releasably engage respective corresponding structure of the neck portion of the container; and 
 
   a seal disposed about an outer surface of the plug so as to be concentric with the plug, the seal including a plurality of radially extending circumferential fins.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , wherein when the fins are in an undeformed state, an outside diameter of the fins is larger than an inside diameter of the neck portion of the container.