Vented closure

• US 6,474,515 B1
• Filed: 11/10/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Courtesy Corporation Incorporated, Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Company)
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Stoneberg, Thomas C., Berge, Gary L., Ladina, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US09/709,245
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 222/481.5, 222/483, 222/484, 222/525, 222/521
• US Class Current: 222/481.5
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/242 moving helically
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/1688 Venting occurring during initial closing or opening of the container, by means of a passage for the escape of gas between the closure and the lip of the container mouth, e.g. interrupted threads

Abstract

A closure for a bottle. The closure includes a spout neck attached to the bottle and a cap rotatably positioned on the spout neck. The spout neck may have a sealing lip and the cap may have an internal vent and an internal body portion. The sealing lip of the spout neck and the body portion of the cap align to seal the bottle when the cap is in a first position. The sealing lip of the spout neck and the circular vent of the cap align so as to vent the bottle when the cap is turned to a second position.

Claims

1. A closure for a bottle, comprising:

a spout neck attached to said bottle;

said spout neck comprising a sealing lip; and

a cap positioned for movement on said spout neck;

said cap comprising an internal vent and an internal body portion such that said sealing lip of said spout neck and said body portion of said cap align to seal said bottle when said cap is in a first position and such that said sealing lip of said spout neck and said internal vent of said cap align so as to vent said bottle when said cap is moved to a second position.

2. The closure for a bottle of claim 1, wherein said cap comprises a twist cap rotatably positioned on said spout neck.

3. The closure for a bottle of claim 1, wherein said spout neck and said cap comprise a substantially rigid thermoplastic.

4. The closure for a bottle of claim 1, wherein said spout neck comprises a base such that said base is removably attachable to said bottle.

5. The closure for a bottle of claim 4, wherein said spout neck comprises a plurality of recesses positioned on said base such that said cap may be positioned within one of said plurality of recesses.

6. The closure for a bottle of claim 1, wherein said spout neck comprises a channel positioned thereon.

7. The closure for a bottle of claim 6, wherein said internal body portion of said cap comprises a threaded segment thereon such that said segment engages said channel of said spout neck for movement therein.

8. The closure for a bottle of claim 1, wherein said spout neck comprises an extended body portion extending adjacent to said sealing lip.

9. The closure for a bottle of claim 8, wherein said cap comprises a circular rib positioned adjacent to said internal body portion such that said circular rib aligns with said extended body portion of said spout neck when said cap is in said first position and said second position and such that said circular rib aligns with said sealing lip of said spout neck when said cap is in a third position.

10. The closure for a bottle of claim 1, wherein said internal vent comprises a predetermined diameter such that an air gap is created therebetween when said vent aligns with said sealing lip.

11. The closure for a bottle of claim 1, wherein said internal vent comprises a plurality of cut out areas therein.

12. The closure for a bottle of claim 11, wherein said internal vent comprises a plurality of gaps positioned among said plurality of cut out areas.

13. The closure for a bottle of claim 12, wherein said internal vent comprises a plurality of segmented grooves therein.

14. The closure for a bottle of claim 13, wherein said plurality of segmented grooves comprises a plurality of bosses therein.

15. The closure for a bottle of claim 1, wherein said sealing lip of said spout neck comprises a spout aperture therein.

16. The closure for a bottle of claim 15, wherein said spout aperture comprises a sealing cap positioned therein.

17. The closure for a bottle of claim 16, wherein said cap comprises a top surface and wherein said top surface comprises a cap aperture therein.

18. The closure for a bottle of claim 17, wherein said cap aperture comprises a circular wall and wherein said circular wall is sized such that said circular wall and said sealing cap of said spout neck align to seal said cap aperture when said cap is in said first position and when said twist cap is moved to said second position.

19. The closure for a bottle of claim 17, wherein said cap aperture comprises a circular wall and wherein said sealing cap is sized such that said circular wall and said sealing cap of said spout neck align to seal said cap aperture when said cap is in said first position and when said twist cap is moved to said second position.

20. The closure for a bottle of claim 17, wherein said cap aperture comprises a circular wall and wherein said circular wall and said sealing cap are sized such that said circular wall and said sealing cap of said spout neck align to seal said cap aperture when said cap is moved to said second position and said sealing lip of said spout neck and said circular vent of said cap align so as to vent said bottle.

21. The closure for a bottle of claim 20, wherein said circular wall and said sealing cap of said spout neck align to open said cap aperture when said cap is moved to a third position.

22. The closure for a bottle of claim 1, further comprising an over-cap positioned over said cap.

23. The closure for a bottle of claim 22, wherein said over-cap comprises a flexible thermoplastic.

24. The closure for a bottle of claim 23, wherein said over-cap comprises an internal surface and wherein said interior surface comprises a raised over-cap rib.

25. The closure for a bottle of claim 24, wherein said cap comprises an exterior surface and wherein said exterior surface comprises a raised cap rib such that said raised over-cap rib and said raised cap rib align to secure said over-cap on said cap.

26. A twist-top closure for a bottle, comprising:

a spout neck mounted to said bottle;

said spout neck comprising a sealing lip;

said sealing lip comprising an aperture therein;

said aperture comprising a seal cap positioned therein; and

a twist cap rotatably positioned on said spout neck;

said twist cap comprising a top aperture therein; and

said twist cap comprising a circular wall surrounding said top aperture such that said seal cap of said spout neck and said circular wall of said twist cap align to seal said bottle when said twist cap is closed and when said twist cap is turned to a first position.

27. The twist-top closure for a bottle of claim 26, wherein said seal cap of said spout neck and said circular wall of said twist cap align to open said bottle when said twist cap is turned to a second position.

28. A twist-top closure for a bottle, comprising:

a spout neck attached to said bottle;

said spout neck comprising a sealing lip;

said sealing lip comprising a spout aperture;

said spout aperture comprising a seal cap positioned therein; and

a twist cap rotatably positioned on said spout neck;

said twist cap comprising an internal vent and an internal body portion;

said twist cap comprising a top aperture positioned therein such that (1) said seal cap of said spout neck and said top aperture of said twist cap and (2) said sealing lip of said spout neck and said body portion of said twist cap align to seal said bottle when said twist cap is in a first position and such that said sealing lip of said spout neck and said internal vent of said twist cap align to vent said bottle while said seal cap of said spout neck and said top aperture of said twist cap remain sealed when said twist top is turned to a second position.

29. The twist-top closure for a bottle of claim 28, wherein said sealing lip of said spout neck and said internal body portion of said twist cap align to seal said internal vent while said seal cap of said spout neck and said aperture of said twist cap align to open when said twist cap is turned to a third position.

30. A closure for a bottle, comprising:

a spout;

said spout comprising a twist top cap;

said twist top cap comprising an exterior surface and wherein said exterior surface comprises a raised spout rib; and

an over-cap positioned on said twist top cap;

said over-cap comprising an interior surface and wherein said interior surface comprises a raised cap rib such that said raised spout rib and said raised cap rib align to secure said over-cap on said twist top cap.

31. The closure for a bottle of claim 30, wherein said spout comprises an over-cap recess for positioning said over-cap therein.

32. The closure for a bottle of claim 31, wherein said over-cap comprises a frangible line, said frangible line positioned below said raised spout rib but above said over-cap recess when said over-cap is positioned therein such that said raised spout rib and said raised cap rib align to secure said over-cap on said spout while said frangible line is visible.

33. A method for venting an internal pressure of a bottle with a beverage therein, said bottle having a twist-top closure with a spout neck and a twist cap, said spout neck and said twist cap forming an upper seal and a side seal, said method comprising the steps of:

twisting said twist cap such that said side seal opens while said top seal remains closed;

venting said internal pressure through said side seal; and

twisting said twist cap further such that said side seal closes and said top seal opens to permit said beverage to flow out of said bottle.