Cap assembly for drink containers

Abstract

A cap assembly for a container. The cap assembly include a base, a drink spout, a closure, a tether, and a biasing device. The base is configured to be removably coupled to the container. The drink spout extends from the base. The tether retains the closure and is pivotably connected to the base at a location spaced away from the drink spout. The tether is transitionable between a closed arrangement that positions the closure over the drink spout and an opened arrangement in which the closure is spaced away from the drink spout. The biasing device biases the tether from the closed arrangement toward the opened arrangement. The cap assemblies can incorporate features to enhance handling and use, including as a drink spout format, connection of the closure over the drink spout, connection of the closure to the base via the tether, and/or other a swinging a handle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cap assembly for a container, comprising:
 a base configured to be removably coupled to the container;   a drink spout extending away from the base;   a closure configured to selectively obstruct a passage through the drink spout;   a tether coupling the closure to the base, wherein a first portion of the tether retains the closure and a second portion of the tether is pivotably connected to the base at a location spaced away from the drink spout such that the tether is transitionable between a closed arrangement in which the closure is positioned over the drink spout and an opened arrangement in which the closure is spaced away from the drink spout; and   a biasing device configured to bias the tether from the closed arrangement toward the opened arrangement.   
     
     
         2 . The cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing device includes a biasing body disposed between the base and the tether. 
     
     
         3 . The cap assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the biasing body is formed of a resilient material. 
     
     
         4 . The cap assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the biasing body is connected to the base and the tether. 
     
     
         5 . The cap assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the base includes a platform and a post projecting from the platform at a location spaced away from the drink spout, wherein the second portion of the tether is pivotably connected to the post, and further wherein the biasing body is connected to the post. 
     
     
         6 . The cap assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the biasing body is a ring. 
     
     
         7 . The cap assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the tether includes:
 a floor defining an aperture sized to receive the closure;   opposing legs projecting from the floor, wherein the legs combine to define a gap sized to receive the post; and   a finger projecting from the floor proximate the gap;   wherein the ring is captured by, and extends between, the post and the finger, and further wherein the ring exerts a pulling force onto the finger in the closed arrangement.   
     
     
         8 . The cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the drink spout is formed apart from, and assembled to, the base. 
     
     
         9 . The cap assembly of  claim 8 , wherein a material of the drink spout differs from a material of the base. 
     
     
         10 . The cap assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the drink spout is formed of a silicone material. 
     
     
         11 . The cap assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the base includes a platform defining an opening and a tubular body projecting from an upper face of the platform in alignment with the opening, and further wherein the drink spout is configured for assembly within an interior of the tubular body. 
     
     
         12 . The cap assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the passage extends between, and is open to, opposing ends of the drink spout, and further wherein an exterior face of the drink spout defines a circumferential channel at a location between the opposing ends, the channel sized to receive a length of the tubular body. 
     
     
         13 . The cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the closure is rotatably retained by the first portion of the tether. 
     
     
         14 . The cap assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the closure includes a cap body defining a cover panel and a side wall projecting from the cover panel, and further wherein a portion of the side wall defines interior threads configured to threadably engage threads of the base. 
     
     
         15 . The cap assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the side wall defines an exterior face forming a circumferential channel, wherein the first portion of the tether defines an aperture circumscribed by a rim, and further wherein the circumferential channel is sized to slidably receive the rim. 
     
     
         16 . The cap assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the base includes a platform defining an opening and a tubular body projecting from an upper surface of the platform in alignment with the opening, and further wherein an exterior surface of the tubular body defines a threaded surface configured to threadably engage the interior threads of the cap body. 
     
     
         17 . The cap assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a handle rotatably coupled to the base.   
     
     
         18 . The cap assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the handle is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer material. 
     
     
         19 . A cap assembly for a container, comprising:
 a base configured to be removably coupled to the container;   a drink spout extending away from the base, wherein the drink spout is formed of a material differing from a material of the base;   a closure configured to selectively obstruct a passage through the drink spout; and   a tether coupling the closure to the base;   wherein the base includes a platform defining an opening and a tubular body projecting from an upper face of the platform in alignment with the opening, and further wherein the drink spout is configured for assembly within an interior of the tubular body.   
     
     
         20 . A cap assembly for a container, comprising:
 a base configured to be removably coupled to the container;   a drink spout extending away from the base;   a closure configured to selectively obstruct a passage through the drink spout; and   a tether coupling the closure to the base; and   a flexible handle rotatably coupled to the base.