Cap assembly for multi size bottle necks

Abstract

A cap assembly for use with multiple bottles having different size necks is provided. The assembly includes a base, at least one adapter and a lid. The base includes a compartment for storing the adapter and an opening having at least two internally threaded sections of different size and a port. The adapter includes an internally threaded opening having at least two sections of different size and an externally threaded surface having at least two sections of different size. The lid is mounted on the base for movement between a position wherein the base opening port is closed and a position wherein the base opening port is open. Additional adapters may be included. The additional adapters are configured to accept bottle necks of different sizes than the base opening and first adapter such that at least six bottles with different size necks can be used with the assembly.

Claims

1. A cap assembly for use with multiple bottles having different size necks, said assembly comprising a base comprising at least one opening, said base being configured to support a bottle on a surface, at least one adapter and a lid, said base comprising a compartment for storing said at least one adapter when said adapter is not in use such that said at least one adapter may be inserted into and removed from said base storage compartment through said at least one base opening, said base further comprising a surface with an opening, said base surface opening being adapted to receive a bottle neck, and comprising at least two internally threaded sections of different size and a port, said at least one adapter comprising an internally threaded opening having at least two sections of different size and an externally threaded surface and being configured to be received in said base surface opening, said lid being mounted on said base for movement between a position wherein said base opening port is closed and a position wherein said base opening port is open, when said base is remote from said surface.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said sizes of said base opening sections are different from said sizes of said internally threaded sections of said adapter opening.

3. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second adapter comprising an internally threaded opening having at least two sections of different sizes and an externally threaded surface having at least two sections of different sizes.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said sizes of said base opening sections, said sizes of said internally threaded sections of said adapter opening and said sizes of said internally threaded sections of said second adapter opening are all different from each other.

5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said base comprises a second compartment in said base for storing said second adapter.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said base surface opening further comprises a funnel extending between said internally threaded sections of the base surface opening and said port.

7. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a hinge for connecting said lid to said base.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said lid comprises a protrusion and wherein said protrusion is received in said port in said closed position of said lid.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said base has a partially open bottom and wherein said lid extends over a portion of said partially open base bottom when said lid is in said position wherein said base opening port is closed.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said lid comprises a protrusion and wherein said protrusion is tightly received in said port in said closed position of said lid such that said lid tends to remain in its closed position.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said lid comprises a recess and wherein said base comprises a part adapted to be received in said recess when said lid is in its open position.

12. The assembly of claim 2 further comprising a protrusion which extends from the surface of said lid and is adapted to seal said port.

13. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one part situated in said base compartment adapted to engage said adapter when said adapter is stored within said base compartment.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said base has a substantially cylindrical side wall surface and a substantially flat top surface portion.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein said base side wall surface and said base top surface portion are connected by an arcuate surface portion.

16. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said lid has an edge which is accessible from the exterior of said base when said lid is in the closed position.

17. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said adapter has a rim and wherein said compartment comprises a channel adapted to receive said adapter rim.

18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said adapter has a rim and further comprising a part flexibly mounted to move out of the path of said adapter as said adapter is received in said compartment and thereafter engage said adapter rim to secure said adapter within said compartment.

19. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said compartment comprises an inner wall and an outer wall, and further comprises at least one fin extending from one of said compartment walls toward said other of said compartment walls, wherein said adapter is received between said fin and said other of said compartment walls.

20. A cap assembly adapted for use with at least four bottles having different size necks, said assembly comprising a base configured to support a bottle on a surface, at least one adapter and a lid, said base comprising opening comprising at least two internally threaded sections of different size adapted to receive two different size bottle necks and a port, said at least one adapter comprising an internally threaded opening having at least two sections of different sizes adapted to receive two other bottles and an externally threaded surface such that said adapter can be received in said base opening, said lid being mounted on said base for movement between a position wherein said base opening port is closed and a position wherein said base opening port is open.

21. A cap assembly adapted for use with at least six bottles having different size necks, said assembly comprising a base configured to support a bottle on a surface, a first adapter and a lid, said base comprising an opening comprising at least two internally threaded sections of different size adapted to receive two of the bottles and a port, said first adapter comprising an internally threaded opening having at least two sections of different size adapted to receive two other bottles and an externally threaded surface such that said adapter can be received in said base opening, a second adapter comprising an internally threaded opening having at least two sections of different size adapted to receive the remaining two bottles and an externally threaded surface such that said second adapter can be received in said base opening or said first adapter opening, said lid being mounted on said base for movement between a position wherein in said base opening port is closed and a position wherein said base opening port is open.

22. A cap assembly for use with multiple bottles having different size necks, said assembly comprising a base, at least one adapter and a lid, said base comprising a compartment for storing said at least one adapter and an opening comprising at least two internally threaded sections of different size and a port, said at least one adapter comprising an internally threaded opening having at least two sections of different sizes and an externally threaded surface having at least two sections of different sizes, said lid being mounted on said base for movement between a position wherein said base opening port is closed and a position wherein said base opening port is open, further comprising a second adapter comprising an internally threaded opening having at least two sections of different sizes and an externally threaded surface having at least two sections of different sizes, wherein said base comprises a second compartment for storing said second adapter.

23. A cap assembly for use with multiple bottles having different size necks, said assembly comprising a base, at least one adapter and a lid, said base comprising a compartment for storing said at least one adapter and an opening comprising at least two internally threaded sections of different size and a port, said at least one adapter comprising an internally threaded opening having at least two sections of different sizes and an externally threaded surface having at least two sections of different sizes, said lid being mounted on said base for movement between a position wherein said base opening port is closed and a position wherein said base opening port is open, wherein said lid comprises a recess and wherein said base comprises a part adapted to be received in said recess when said lid is in its open position.

24. A cap assembly for use with multiple bottles having different size necks, said assembly comprising a base, at least one adapter and a lid, said base comprising a compartment for storing said at least one adapter and an opening comprising at least two internally threaded sections of different size and a port, said at least one adapter comprising an internally threaded opening having at least two sections of different sizes and an externally threaded surface having at least two sections of different sizes, said lid being mounted on said base for movement between a position wherein said base opening port is closed and a position wherein said base opening port is open, wherein said adapter has a rim and wherein said compartment comprises a channel adapted to receive said adapter rim.

25. A cap assembly for use with multiple bottles having different size necks, said assembly comprising a base, at least one adapter and a lid, said base comprising a compartment for storing said at least one adapter and an opening comprising at least two internally threaded sections of different size and a port, said at least one adapter comprising an internally threaded opening having at least two sections of different sizes and an externally threaded surface having at least two sections of different sizes, said lid being mounted on said base for movement between a position wherein said base opening port is closed and a position wherein said base opening port is open, wherein said adapter has a rim and further comprising a part flexibly mounted to move out of the path of said adapter as said adapter is received in said compartment and thereafter engage said adapter rim to secure said adapter within said compartment.

26. A cap assembly for use with multiple bottles having different size necks, said assembly comprising a base, at least one adapter and a lid, said base comprising a compartment for storing said at least one adapter and an opening comprising at least two internally threaded sections of different size and a port, said at least one adapter comprising an internally threaded opening having at least two sections of different sizes and an externally threaded surface having at least two sections of different sizes, said lid being mounted on said base for movement between a position wherein said base opening port is closed and a position wherein said base opening port is open, wherein said compartment comprises an inner wall and an outer wall, and further comprises at least one fin extending from one of said compartment walls toward said other of said compartment walls, wherein said adapter is received between said fin and said other of said compartment walls.

27. A cap assembly for use with multiple bottles having different size necks, said assembly comprising a base configured to support a bottle on a surface, at least one adapter and a lid, said base comprising a surface with an opening adapted to receive a bottle neck and support a bottle, said base surface opening comprising at least two internally threaded sections of different size and a port, said at least one adapter comprising an internally threaded opening having at least two sections of different size and an externally threaded surface configured to be received in said base surface opening, said lid being mounted on said base for movement between a position wherein said base opening port is closed and a position wherein said base opening port is open, when said base is remote from said surface.

28. The assembly of claim 27 wherein said base comprises a compartment configured to store said at least one adapter and an opening through which said at least said adapter may be received in and removed from said compartment.

29. A cap assembly for use with a bottle with a neck, said assembly comprising a base comprising at least one opening, said base being configured to support a bottle on a surface, at least one adapter and a lid, said base comprising a compartment for storing said at least one adapter when said adapter is not in use, such that said at least one adapter may be inserted into and removed from said base storage compartment through said at least one base opening, said base further comprising a surface with an opening, said base surface opening being adapted to receive the bottle neck, said lid being mounted on said base for movement between a position wherein said base opening port is closed, and a position wherein said base opening port is open when said base is remote from said surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

(1) To these and to such other objects that may hereinafter appears, the present invention relates to a cap assembly for multi size bottle necks as described in detail in the following specification and recited in the annexed claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the base of the cap assembly of the present invention resting on a horizontal surface and a bottle, before the bottle is received in the adapter situated in the base opening;

(3) FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the base with the bottle received in the adapter situated in the base opening and the lid in the open position allowing the contents of the bottle to flow from the cap assembly;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base of the cap assembly;

(5) FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the base of the cap assembly;

(6) FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the base of the cap assembly showing the adapters stored in the base storage compartments and the lid in its closed position;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the base of the cap assembly showing the base storage compartments and the lid in its closed position;

(8) FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the base of the cap assembly without the lid showing the base storage compartments;

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view base of the cap assembly without the lid showing the base storage compartments;

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the base of the cap assembly with the lid in the open position;

(11) FIG. 10 is a side elevation view base of the cap assembly with the lid in the open position;

(12) FIG. 11 is a perspective cut-away side view of the base of the present invention showing the lid in the open position;

(13) FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of the base of the present invention showing the lid in the open position;

(14) FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the lid and adjacent parts of the base showing the lid before the base protrusion enters the lid recess;

(15) FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the lid and adjacent parts of the base showing the lid as the base protrusion enters the lid recess;

(16) FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the lid and adjacent parts of the base showing the lid after the base protrusion has entered the lid recess;

(17) FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the base in the inverted position without any adapter or lid;

(18) FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the base in the inverted position with an adapter in the base opening;

(19) FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the base in the inverted position with adapters in the base compartments;

(20) FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the base opening port with the lid protrusion received therein; and

(21) FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of a corner of a base storage compartment showing the part in engagement with an adapter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(22) Throughout this disclosure the word threaded is used to describe the contours of the base opening and of the adapter surfaces. The term threaded is intended to include a single helical thread commonly found on bottles with rotatable screw caps as well as one or more horizontally extending spaced parallel ribs commonly used on snap-on caps.

(23) Further, the word size is used to describe the outer diameter of a bottle neck or the internal or external diameter of the surface of an adapter or base opening.

(24) The present invention relates to a cap assembly for use with multiple bottles having different size necks. The cap assembly includes a base, generally designated A, at least one adapter, generally designated B, and a lid, generally designated C. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings two adapters B1 and B2 are provided.

(25) As seen in FIG. 1, base A has a cylindrical side wall surface 10 and a top surface with a flat surface portion 12 with an arcuate corner surface 14 therebetween. The bottom 16 of the base is flat and designed to rest on a horizontal surface 18 in a stable manner.

(26) Prior to placing base A on surface 18, the base is placed over a bottle 20 which is in the upright position. The cap assembly is rotated relative to the bottle. The base with the bottle attached is then inverted into the position of the base shown in FIG. 1.

(27) FIG. 2 shows the bottle attached to the base removed from surface 18. Lid C of the base is moved to its open position so that the contents of the bottle can flow from the bottle and exit the bottom 16 of the base.

(28) As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, surface 12 of base A has a central opening 22 which is configured to receive an adapter B. As best seen in FIGS. 16 and 18, which are cross-sectional views of base A, the opening 22 is internally threaded in two sections 22a and 22b. Sections 22a and 22b are of different sizes, the top section 22a being larger in diameter that section 22b. Thus opening 22 is capable of receiving bottles with two different neck sizes.

(29) Alternatively, base opening 22 can receive either of the adapters B1 or B2. FIG. 17 shows the base with adapter B1 situated with opening 22. Each adapter B1, B2 has the same externally threaded exterior having two sections of different size and is structured to be received in opening 22. Thus, either adapter B1 or adapter B2 can be situated in the base opening.

(30) Each adapter B1, B2 has at least two internally threaded sections of different diameter. However, the internally threaded sections of each adapter are different sizes from each other. Moreover, the internally threaded sections of each adapter are different sizes in each adapter and from the internally threaded sections of the base opening 22. Accordingly, adapter B1 can accept two bottles with different size bottle necks and adapter B2 can accept two bottles with different size bottle necks. The adapters B1 and B2 are each designed to accept bottles with different size bottle necks. Therefore, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, the base can accept at least six different bottles with different bottle neck sizes: two bottles in base opening 22, two bottles in adapter B1, when adapter B1 is situated in base opening 22, and two bottles in adapter B2, when adapter B2 is received in base opening 22.

(31) As best seen in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, base has two compartments 24, 26 for storing adapters B1 and B2 respectively. The adapter storage compartments are each defined between a pair of spaced vertical walls 27 and a wall 29 which connects the inner corners of the walls 27. The bottom of base A is open such that the adapters can be removed and replaced as needed, greatly reducing the possibility that either of the adapters would be lost or misplaced.

(32) As best seen in FIG. 8, wall 29 of each adapter storage compartment 24, 26 includes two flexible fingers, one on each side of the wall. Mounted to the end of each finger 25 is a part 30 which can take the shape of a nub, a pin or a button, as shown. Parts 30 serve to retain the adapter within the compartment when the adapter is not in use. The flexible fingers allow the parts 30 to be moved out of the path of an adapter as the adapter is inserted into the compartment. Once fully seated in the compartment, the flexible fingers return the parts 30 to their original position, over the rim of the adapter so as to secure the adapter within the compartment.

(33) Spaced fins 31, extending inwardly from the interior surface of the side wall 10 of the base of each compartment, further stabilize and secure the adapter in the compartment which lodges between the fins and wall 29.

(34) Preferably, the rim of the top of each adapter has an external edge 32 which is grooved or knurled to provide an enhanced grip when screwing the adapter into the base opening and removing the adapter from the storage compartment. It also provides increased frictional engagement with the parts 30.

(35) Moreover, as best seen in FIGS. 7 and 20, the edge of each wall 27 meets the side of wall 29 in a manner which defines a channel 33. Fins 31 assist in aligning the adapter within the storage compartment such that the rim of the adapter can be received in channel 33 as the adapter is inserted into the compartment. Once the adapter is fully seated within the compartment, channel 33 and fins 31 help secure the adapter within the compartment.

(36) Base A has a central cylindrical wall 34 which includes base opening 22. Vertical walls 28 radially extend from the exterior surface of wall 34 to the interior of side wall 10 of the base. Walls 28 serve to provide additional structural rigidity to the base.

(37) Within cylindrical wall 34 is a funnel 36 which extends from base opening 22 to a port 38. Funnel 36 serves to guide the contents of the bottle attached to the base from base opening 22 to port 38. Lid C includes a cylindrical protrusion 40 extending from the bottom surface of the lid. Protrusion 40 is adapted to be received into and to seal port 38 when lid C is in its closed position, as seen in FIGS. 5, 6, 17, 18 and 19. Protrusion 40 is structured to fit tightly within port 38. It is made of a material which provides a high friction engagement with the port such that the protrusion seals the port and maintains the lid in its closed position such that the application of an external force on the lid is required to withdraw the protrusion from the port to move the lid from its closed position. This avoids accidental opening of the port.

(38) As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 9, one end of lid C is attached to base A by a hinge which allows the lid to be moved between its closed position, in which the protrusion 40 seals port 38 and an open position, shown in FIGS. 2, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 15, wherein port 38 is open and the contents of the bottle can flow through funnel 36 and out of port 38.

(39) One vertically extending wall 44 of base A has a protruding edge 46 which extends toward lid C. As best seen in FIGS. 5, 6, 13, 14 and 15, lid C has an elongated recess or channel 48 which is situated to align with and accept edge 46 when the lid is in its fully open position.

(40) FIG. 13 shows the lid as it is moved from its closed position toward its open position. FIG. 14 shows the lid as it approaches its open position and edge 46 begins to enter recess 48. FIG. 15 shows lid C in its open most position wherein edge 46 is fully received in recess 48. In its most open position, edge 46 frictionally engages recess 48 to maintain the lid in the open position. An external force must be applied to the lid to overcome the friction force between edge 46 and recess 48 to move the lid from its open position toward its closed position.

(41) Thus, lid C is retained at each of its end positions. It is maintained in its closed position by the frictional engagement of protrusion 40 in port 38. It is maintained in its open position by the frictional engagement of edge 46 in recess 48.

(42) Wall 10 of base A has a recessed portion 50, as best seen in FIG. 3. As best seen in FIG. 4, the tip 52 of the free end of lid C extends beyond the surface of recess 50 and is accessible from the exterior of side wall 10 of the base. This allows the lid to be easily moved between its closed and open positions.

(43) In a preferred embodiment, the base opening 22 may for example have an internally threaded section adjacent surface 12 which is sized to accept a 38 mm diameter bottle neck and an internally threaded section adjacent funnel 36 which is sized to accept a 33 mm bottle neck. Adapter B1 may have a larger internally threaded section sized to receive a 28 mm bottle neck and a smaller internally threaded section sized to receive a 24 mm bottle neck. Adapter B2 may have a larger internally threaded section sized to receive a 22 mm bottle neck and a smaller internally threaded section sized to receive a 20 mm bottle neck. Accordingly, the cap assembly of the present invention can be used with at least six bottles with at least six different bottle neck sizes.

(44) It should now be understood that the present invention relates to a cap assembly having a two section, dual diameter threaded opening adapted to receive and fit one of two different size threaded bottle necks with one motion making it for easy sizing. The cap assembly has a low profile and a storage capacity for at least two adapters each with two internally threaded sections to accommodate additional bottle neck sizes and types (threaded and snap-on).

(45) The exterior wall surface of each adapter has two sections, and dual diameter to fit securely into the cap assembly base opening. The interior surface of each adapter has two sections. The size of each section of each adapter may be different in diameter and in type (threaded, snap-on). The section combinations may include dual or single diameter, both sections threaded, both sections snap-on, or one section threaded and one-level snap-on.

(46) While only a single preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that many modifications and variations could be made thereto. It is intended to cover all of those modifications and variations which fall within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims: