Contianer cap

• US 5,184,740 A
• Filed: 02/14/1992
• Issued: 02/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bradley W. Pittman, Eddie J. Humphres, Floyd W. Flanigan, Gerald W. Mandrell II
• Original Assignee: Bradley W. Pittman, Eddie J. Humphres, Floyd W. Flanigan, Gerald W. Mandrell II
• Inventors: Mandrell, Gerald W. II, Flanigan, Floyd W., Pittman, Bradley W., Humphres, Eddie J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garbe, Stephen P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schwarz, Paul
• Application Number:
  US07/839,570
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 215/311, 215/314, 215/305, 215/295, 215/302, 215/303, 215/315, 220/284, 220/260, 220/203, 220/206, 220/209, 220/367, 220/94 A, 220/231, 222/484, 222/483, 222/481
• US Class Current: 215/315
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/1683 by actuating a separate element in the container or closure
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/242 provided with means for facilitating lifting or suspending of the container

Abstract

A container cap includes a cylindrical cap portion to secure to an upper distal end of an externally threaded beverage container and the like. The cap structure includes a top wall orthogonally oriented relative to an axis of the cap, and is further formed with a central boss coaxially aligned and diametrically positioned relative to the top wall to include first and second ring members that are diametrically aligned with the top wall and relative to one another to permit manual insertion of an individual'"'"'s fingers to assist in the removal and application of the cap structure to the beverage container. A modification of the invention includes a vent member arranged to permit ease of ascertaining freshness of a fluid within the beverage container by permitting depressing of an associated valve structure directed through the central boss.

Claims

1. A container cap arranged for securement to a beverage container, the beverage container including an externally threaded spout and the spout including an upper rim, the container cap including a closure member, the closure member including a cylindrical side wall formed about predetermined axis and including an internally threaded interior surface arranged for inter-engagement with the externally threaded spout, and

a top wall fixedly mounted to an upper distal end of the cylindrical side wall orthogonally oriented relative to the axis, the top wall including a top wall bottom surface and a top wall top surface, and

the top wall top surface including a rigid central boss fixedly and orthogonally mounted coaxially aligned with the predetermined axis, the central boss including spaced side walls, the side walls each including spaced parallel ribs to enhance manual grasping of the central boss, and

a first ring member and a second ring member fixedly mounted to opposed sides of the central boss, with the first ring member and the second ring member integrally mounted to the top wall top surface and projecting laterally beyond the top wall, and

the first ring member including a first bore directed therethrough, the second ring member including a second bore directed therethrough, wherein the first bore and the second bore project beyond the cylindrical side wall, and

the central boss includes a boss bore coaxially aligned with the predetermined axis directed coextensively through the central boss and through the top wall, and the central boss slidably mounting a valve member assembly thereto, and

the valve member assembly includes a valve member top wall arranged parallel relative to the top wall bottom surface, with the top wall including a torroidal sealing ring concentrically positioned about the boss bore directed through the top wall, with the valve member top wall including a rigid valve member rod fixedly and orthogonally mounted to the valve member top wall and the valve member rod directed into the boss bore, the valve member rod including a plunger rod extending from the valve member rod through the boss bore, and the plunger rod terminating in a plunger head, and a spring member captured between the plunger head and the boss, and an arcuate flexible side wall extending downwardly of the valve member top wall canted towards the cylindrical side wall interior surface, the arcuate flexible side wall including a plurality of window openings directed therethrough to permit gaseous flow through the window openings, and the valve member rod and the plunger rod are spaced from a cylindrical boss interior wall to permit gaseous flow between the valve member rod, the plunger rod, and the cylindrical boss bore interior wall.