Thermochromic cap

• US 6,929,136 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2002
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fabricas Monterrey, S.A. De C.V. (Crown Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fabricas Monterrey, S.A. De C.V. (Crown Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Salazar-Leal, Rita Lorena
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMALLEY, JAMES N
• Application Number:
  US10/038,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20030127416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 206/459.1, 215/230, 215/343, 116/216, 116/207, 436/1, 436/2, 436/164, 422/58, 422/61, 73/614.6, 73/61, 426/118, 426/231, 374/150, 374/151, 374/161, 374/162, 374/208, 374/159
• US Class Current: 215/230
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/245 provided with decoration, information or contents indicating devices, labels B65D81/366 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/248 the closure being provided with transient audible or visual signaling means, e.g. for indicating dispensing, or other illuminating or acoustic devices, e.g. whistles B65D55/026, B65D55/028 take precedence; for indicating incorrect storage B65D79/02

Abstract

The present invention provides a cap, which includes:

• • a cap body of a plastic composition; and
  • at least one thermochromic material in contact with or admixed with the plastic composition, the thermochromic material selected such that the cap has a visually altered appearance when the cap temperature changes within a temperature range of −25 to 85° C.; wherein the cap is adapted to be removably secured to a beverage container, the container having an opening through which a beverage in the container can be dispensed from the container, and to cover the opening of the beverage container.

Claims

1. An article, comprising:

a beverage container having an opening through which a beverage in the container can be dispensed from the container; and

a threaded cap adapted to be removably secured to said container to cover said opening,

wherein a material comprising said cap comprises at least one thermochromic material in admixture with at least one thermoplastic polymer resin, said thermochromic material selected such that the cap has a visually altered appearance when the cap temperature changes within a temperature range of −

25 to 85°

C.,

wherein said cap further comprises at least one non-thermochromic printing ink layer on at least a portion of an outer surface thereof, and said non-thermochromic printing ink is visible at a first temperature of said cap and is not visible at a second temperature of said cap.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the visible non-thermochromic printing ink has a different color than a color of the cap.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein at said first temperature, one or more conventional cap colors are visible and a thermochromic ink is either transparent or visible as a first color, and, at said second temperature, said thermochromic printing ink is no longer transparent or is visible as a second color different from its first color.

4. The article of claim 1, wherein a thermochromic ink is transparent at said first temperature and is visible at said second temperature.

5. The article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said temperature range is −

10 to 40°

C.

6. The article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said temperature range is 0 to 25°

C.

7. The article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said temperature range is 5 to 20°

C.

8. The article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said material comprising said cap further comprises at least one thermoplastic polymer resin is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, copolymers of polypropylene and polyethylene, and combinations thereof.

9. The article as claimed in claim 8, wherein said polyethylene is selected from the group consisting of linear, high density, low density polyethylene, and combinations thereof.

10. The article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said visibly altered appearance comprises a change in a color of said cap.

11. The article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cap is a one-piece cap.

12. The article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cap comprises more than one piece.

13. The article as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a beverage, and wherein said beverage is carbonated or non-carbonated.

14. The article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cap provides a hermetic seal on said container.

15. The article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the admixed thermochromic material is present in the cap in an amount of 1-50% by weight, based on the weight of the cap.

16. The article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polymer resin of the cap further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of ultraviolet absorber, antioxidant, dye, pigment, optical brightener, metal soap, surfactant, water repellant, filler, nucleation agent, antistatic agent, foaming agent, slip agent, and combinations thereof.

17. The article as claimed in claim 1, wherein,

the threaded cap further comprises a liner.

18. A method for making the article as claimed in claim 1, comprising contacting said cap with said container.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising, prior to said contacting, filling said container with said beverage.