Flexible Lid

Abstract

A flexible lid for containers provides a secure and leak-proof seal. The lid includes a top wall and a cylindrical flange forming a valve closure portion. A central plug extends from an underside of the top wall, wherein an annular channel is formed between the plug and the flange. The plug is deformable and can form a tight seal with a bottle when received within the annular channel. The flexible lid includes threads on the inner surface of the side wall for cooperating with the thread on the neck of the bottle, which is rotated to engage the threads and secure the lid to the bottle. The lid can be easily removed by unthreading from the neck and disengaging the plug to unseal the lid. In some embodiments, the plug is separable from the flange and replaced with a nipple that is inserted through an aperture in the top wall.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A flexible lid, comprising:
 a top wall;   a flange forming a sidewall extending from the top wall, the flange forming a valve closure portion configured to form a seal with a container;   a plug extending from an underside of the top wall within the valve closure portion;   wherein a channel is formed between the plug and the flange, the channel is configured to receive a neck of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible lid of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible lid is monolithic. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible lid of  claim 1 , wherein the flange comprises silicone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the plug is made of silicone. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the top wall is made of silicone. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible lid of  claim 1 , wherein an inner side of the sidewall comprises a first thread adapted for cooperating with a corresponding second thread on the neck of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The flexible lid of  claim 6 , wherein the first thread on the inner surface of the sidewall is helical and female as they are formed by being recessed in the sidewall. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is annular. 
     
     
         9 . The flexible lid of  claim 8 , wherein the flange comprises an annular shape. 
     
     
         10 . The flexible lid of  claim 1 , wherein the plug is tapered from the underside of the top wall to a distal end thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The flexible lid of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing ring extending around the plug and positioned within the channel. 
     
     
         12 . The flexible lid of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall extends continuously from the top wall. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plug is sized to fit within the neck of the container and does not extend past a lowermost end of the sidewall. 
     
     
         14 . The flexible lid of  claim 1 , wherein the plug is configured to be larger than an interior of the neck opening. 
     
     
         15 . The flexible lid of  claim 1 , wherein the top wall comprises an aperture for separating the plug the flange. 
     
     
         16 . The flexible lid of  claim 15 , further comprising a nipple insertable through the aperture and securable within the flange. 
     
     
         17 . A method for closing a container with a flexible lid comprising:
 providing a lid having a top wall, a flange extending continuously from the top wall forming a valve closure portion, a plug extending from an underside of the top wall within the valve closure portion, wherein the plug forms an annular channel with the flange;   inserting the plug into the neck of the container such that the neck fits within the annular channel formed between the plug and the flange, wherein the plug forms a seal with the container;   rotating the lid relative to the container to engage a helical thread disposed on an interior wall of the flange of the lid and a helical thread disposed on the container neck, wherein the threads are only aligned for cooperation after the plug is inserted into the neck opening, and a single force is applied to the cap for coupling and decoupling the cap from the container.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the top wall comprises an aperture for separating the plug the flange. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising separating the plug from the flange. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , inserting a nipple through the aperture and securing the nipple to the flange.