Bottle and bottle closure assembly

• US 6,902,076 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2002
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Jensen, Thomas D., King, John W., Huston, Van W., Bauer, Richard W., Ricks, Theodore K., McFeaters, Malinda L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Lien M.
• Application Number:
  US10/080,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20030155321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 215/253, 215/303, 215247-249, 215/250, 215/226, 215/DIG.3, 215/257, 222/490, 222/494, 222/80, 222/83.5, 2225411-5418, 220/229, 2202583-2585, 220/255.1, 220/257.1, 220/258.1, 220277-279
• US Class Current: 215/253
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/002 Closures to be pierced by an extracting-device for the contents and fixed on the container by separate retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/20 Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing B65D51/185 takes precedence; co-operating with an auxiliary container for additional articles or materials B65D51/28

Abstract

A bottle and bottle closure assembly for draining a solution contained within a bottle, the bottle closure assembly. The bottle has a base section, a body portion extending from the base and terminating into a neck portion having an outlet through which the solution may pass. A seal is secured to the neck portion so as to cover the opening such that the seal will retain solution within the bottle. A cap member has rupture members designed to assist in the rupture of the seal.

Claims

1. A cap member for use on a bottle having a sealed member placed over the outlet of the bottle, said cap member having a skirt for securing said cap member to said bottle and a plurality of rupture members that engages said seal upon engagement with an external probe, each of said plurality of rupture members having a shape that will substantially clear said seal at said outlet for allowing quick and easy egress of solution from said bottle while said external probe is present in said bottle and having a connecting hinge that allows said rupture member to pivot approximately 90°

with respect to a plane parallel to said outlet.

2. A cap member assembly according to claim 1 wherein said outlet defines a rim, said seal is secured to said rim for preventing liquid from being dispensed from said bottle.

3. A cap member assembly according to claim 1 wherein said bottle has a neck portion having external threads that engage internal threads provided on said cap member.

4. A cap member assembly according to claim 1 wherein said cap member has a body section having internal threads for engaging external threads provided on said bottle.

5. A cap member assembly according to claim 1 wherein said rupture members have a cutting edge for assisting in rupturing said seal.

6. A cap member assembly according to claim 1 wherein said rupture members have a rib for engaging said probe for assisting in moving rupture members against the inside surface of said neck portion.

7. A cap member assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least one tie is provided for securing said rupture members together, said at least one tie being easily broken upon engagement with said probe.

8. A cap member assembly according to claim 1 wherein said rupture members have a thickness in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm, is made of a material comprising HDPE.

9. A cap member assembly according to claim 8 wherein a hinge radius of the range 0.25 mm to 0.4 mm is formed at the juncture of the connecting hinge and the lateral skirt.

10. A cap member assembly according to claim 9, wherein the connecting hinge is bordered by a hinge slot, the hinge slot having a width greater than 0 and a length greater than 0 and less than or equal to ¼

D1, where D1 is the diameter of the inside circumference of the annular surface of said cap member.

11. A cap member assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rupture members are in contact with the seal when the cap assembly is fully seated on the bottle neck.

12. A cap member assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rupture members are not in contact with the seal when the cap assembly is fully seated, the gap between the seal and the rupture members is greater than 0 inches and equal to or less than T, where T is the thickness of said rupture members.

13. A cap member assembly according to claim 1, wherein a space S between the rupture members is greater than 0 inches and less than T, where T is the thickness of the rupture members.

14. A bottle and bottle closure assembly for draining a solution contained within a bottle, the bottle and bottle closure assembly comprising:

a bottle for holding a processing solution, said bottle having a base section, a body portion extending from said base and terminating into a neck portion having an outlet through which said solution may pass;

a seal secured to said neck portion so as to cover said outlet such that said seal will retain solution Within said bottle;

a cap member for assisting in the rupture of said seal, said cap member having an annular skirt for securing said cap member to said neck portion and a plurality of rupture members that engages said seal upon engagement with an external probe, said plurality of rupture members having a shape that will substantially clear said seal at said outlet for allowing quick and easy egress of solution from said bottle while said external probe is present in said bottle, said plurality of rupture members each having a connecting hinge member that allows said rupture members to pivot approximately 90°

with respect to a plane parallel to said outlet.

15. A bottle and bottle closure assembly according to claim 14 wherein said outlet defines a rim, said seal is secured to said run for preventing liquid from being dispensed from said bottle.

16. A bottle and bottle closure assembly according to claim 14 wherein said neck portion has external threads that engage internal threads provided on said annular skirt.

17. A bottle and bottle closure assembly according to claim 14 wherein said cap member has a body section having internal threads for engaging external threads provided on said neck portion.

18. A bottle and bottle closure assembly according to claim 14 wherein said rupture members have a cutting edge for assisting in rupturing said seal.

19. A bottle closure assembly according to claim 14 wherein said rupture members have a rib for engaging said probe for assisting in moving rupture members against the inside surface of said neck portion.

20. A bottle and bottle closure assembly according to claim 14 wherein at least one tie is provided for securing said rupture members together, said at least one tie being easily broken upon engagement with said probe.

21. A bottle and bottle closure assembly according to claim 14 wherein said rupture members have a thickness in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm, is made of a material comprising HDPE.

22. A bottle and bottle closure assembly according to claim 21 wherein a hinge radius of the range 0.25 mm to 0.4 mm is formed at the juncture of the connecting hinge and the lateral skirt.

23. A bottle and bottle closure assembly according to claim 22, wherein the connecting hinge is bordered by a hinge slot, the hinge slot having a width greater than 0 and a length greater than 0 and less than or equal to ¼

D1, where D1 is the diameter of the inside circumference of the annular surface of said cap member.

24. A bottle and bottle closure assembly according to claim 17, wherein the rupture members are in contact with the seal when the cap assembly is fully seated on the bottle neck.

25. A bottle and bottle closure assembly according to claim 17, wherein the rupture members are not in contact with the seal when the cap assembly is fully seated, the gap between the seal and the rupture members is greater than 0 inches and equal to or less than T, where T is the thickness of said rupture members.

26. A bottle and bottle closure assembly according to claim 17, wherein a space S between the rupture members is greater than 0 inches and less than T, where T is the thickness of the rupture members.