Sports bottle cap
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A container that is adapted to hold a fluid for dispensing, comprising:
- (a) A container having an opening;
(b) a cap member mountable to the container and enclosing the opening, the cap member having a cylindrically walled sleeve forming an outer opening in the cap member at the proximal end of the sleeve, a plug enclosing the distal end of the sleeve, an annular lip extending radially outwardly from the plug, the lip having an annular outer wall spaced from the plug, and an annular channel formed in the lip, the channel defining an inner surface and an outer surface, and at least one orifice disposed in the sleeve distally of the outer opening and proximally of the outer wall of the lip;
(c) a movable nozzle valve having a generally cylindrical hollow body disposed for longitudinal movement within the cylindrically walled sleeve between an open position to permit flow of a fluid through said hollow body from the container and a closed position to prevent flow of a fluid through the hollow body, the valve body having at least one seal member projecting radially outwardly from an exterior surface and engaging the cylindrically walled sleeve, the valve body having an ear projecting radially outwardly and received in the at least one orifice to define a stop member for limiting movement of the valve body within the sleeve between the open and closed positions, the valve body having a distal end with an inner and outer surface, wherein the distal end of the valve body nests within the channel when the valve is in a closed position, to form a first annular seal between the inner surface of the distal end of the valve body and the inner surface of the channel and a second annular seal between the outer surface of the distal end of the valve body and the outer surface of the channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid container is disclosed with a cap body made of rigid or semi rigid material and a valve body disposed within the cap body and movable between and open and closed position. The valve body is made of a semi flexible semi rigid material that has a coefficient of thermal linear expansion that is smaller than that of the cap body. The cap body and nozzle valve are configured with three different hermetic seals to counteract the effects of exposure to heat and cold over time and thereby extend the useful life of the cap and valve.
30 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A container that is adapted to hold a fluid for dispensing, comprising:
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(a) A container having an opening; (b) a cap member mountable to the container and enclosing the opening, the cap member having a cylindrically walled sleeve forming an outer opening in the cap member at the proximal end of the sleeve, a plug enclosing the distal end of the sleeve, an annular lip extending radially outwardly from the plug, the lip having an annular outer wall spaced from the plug, and an annular channel formed in the lip, the channel defining an inner surface and an outer surface, and at least one orifice disposed in the sleeve distally of the outer opening and proximally of the outer wall of the lip; (c) a movable nozzle valve having a generally cylindrical hollow body disposed for longitudinal movement within the cylindrically walled sleeve between an open position to permit flow of a fluid through said hollow body from the container and a closed position to prevent flow of a fluid through the hollow body, the valve body having at least one seal member projecting radially outwardly from an exterior surface and engaging the cylindrically walled sleeve, the valve body having an ear projecting radially outwardly and received in the at least one orifice to define a stop member for limiting movement of the valve body within the sleeve between the open and closed positions, the valve body having a distal end with an inner and outer surface, wherein the distal end of the valve body nests within the channel when the valve is in a closed position, to form a first annular seal between the inner surface of the distal end of the valve body and the inner surface of the channel and a second annular seal between the outer surface of the distal end of the valve body and the outer surface of the channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 19)
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10. A cap body for closing a fluid container, comprising:
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a. an exterior and an interior, and an aperture extending through the cap body; b. a cylindrical sleeve extending from the aperture on the interior of the cap body and defining a longitudinal axis, the sleeve comprising; i. a proximal end proximate the aperture; ii. a closed distal end having a first cylindrical annular surface with a first diameter, and a second annular surface positioned radially outwardly from the first surface, the second surface projecting radially outwardly relative to the first surface; iii. at least one orifice extending through the sleeve and disposed between the proximal and distal ends; c. a movable nozzle valve comprising; i. a cylindrical hollow body with a proximal end and a distal end, an aperture formed in the proximal end, the hollow body disposed within the sleeve and movable within the sleeve between an open position, wherein fluid may pass through the at least one orifice in the sleeve, the hollow body and out the aperture, and a closed position, wherein fluid may not flow through the at least one orifice in the sleeve; ii. a first sealing member disposed around the interior of the distal end of the cylindrical hollow body; iii. a second sealing member disposed around the exterior of the cylindrical hollow body and projecting radially outwardly; and iv. at least one ear projecting radially outwardly and received in the at least one orifice to define a stop member for limiting movement of the valve body within the sleeve between the open and closed positions; wherein, when the nozzle valve is in the closed position, the second surface of the sleeve engages the second sealing surface of the nozzle valve and imposes a radially inward force on the distal end of the nozzle valve to cause the first sealing member of the nozzle valve to form a fluid seal with the first cylindrical surface of the distal end of the sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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Specification