A CAP WITH A CLOSURE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

Some embodiments are directed to caps that include a closure assembly, which permits operational separation between the utilization of the container and utilization of a storage and/or mirrors' arrangement, such that a user may extract the container's contents independently from the use of the storage or mirrors' arrangement, and the storage and/or mirrors' arrangement may be used independently, without the need to open the container.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A cap for fitting onto a container's top portion, said cap having an upper end fitted with a closure assembly for sealing an orifice that is in flow communication with an opening of the container that is defined in said top portion, the closure assembly being hinged to the upper end by a first hinge and having (i) a closed state in which the first element engages the orifice and (ii) an open state in which the first element is disengaged from the orifice, the closure assembly comprising a first element and a second element, each of said first and second elements having an external face and an internal face, at least one of the internal faces bears a mirror, and the two elements being hinged to one another by a second hinge permitting the second element to be angled with respect to the first element between a collapsed state and an extended state; such that in the collapsed state the two elements are fitted one against the other and their internal faces are opposite one another, and in the extended state the internal faces are exposed, such that the closure assembly is capable of assuming at least the states of: (a) closed and collapsed state; (b) open and collapsed state; (c) closed and extended state; and (d) open and extended state.

3. The cap of claim 2, wherein each of the internal faces bears a mirror.

4. The cap of claim 2, wherein the second hinge is adjacent the first hinge.

5. The cap of claim 4, wherein the two hinges are formed at the same side of the closure assembly.

6. The cap of claim 2, wherein the first hinge and the second hinge are distantly positioned on the circumference of closure assembly.

7. The cap of claim 2, wherein the first hinge and the second hinge are formed at opposite sides of the closure assembly.

8. The cap of claim 7, wherein, in the extended state, the second hinge permits rotation of the second element with respect to the first element.

9. The cap of claim 2, made of a plastic material.

10. The cap of claim 9, formed by injection molding.

11. The cap of claim 2, wherein all elements of the cap are integrally formed.

12. A cap for fitting onto a container's top portion, said cap having an upper end in which an orifice is defined, as to establish flow communication with an opening defined the container's top portion, the upper end being fitted with a closure assembly, the closure assembly comprising a first movable element fitted with a first hinge and a second hinge, such that the first hinge links between the first movable element and the upper end, and permits the first movable element to assume (i) a closing state in which the first movable element engages the orifice and (ii) an opened state in which the first movable element is disengaged from the orifice, and a second movable element, linked to the first movable element by said second hinge permitting the second movable element to be angled with respect to the first movable element to define a collapsed state and an extended state; such that in the collapsed state the two movable elements are fitted one against the other to form an enclosed space, and in the extended state the two movable elements are angled one with respect to the other.

13. The cap of claim 12, in which the closure assembly is capable of assuming at least the states of: (a) closing and collapsed state; (b) opened and collapsed state; (c) closing and extended state; and (d) opened and extended state.

14. The cap of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and second movable elements bears a mirror on internal faces thereof.

15. The cap of claim 12, each of the first and second movable elements bears a mirror on internal face thereof.

16. The cap of claim 12, wherein the second hinge is adjacent the first hinge.

17. The cap of claim 12, wherein the first hinge and the second hinge are distantly positioned on the circumference of the first movable element.

18. The cap of claim 12, wherein the first hinge and the second hinge are formed at opposite sides of the first movable element.

19. The cap of claim 18, wherein, in the extended state, the second hinge permits rotation of the second movable element with respect to the first movable element.

20. A container associated with the cap of claim 12.

21. The container of claim 20, wherein the cap is integral with container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0044] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cap according to an embodiment of the invention, in the closed and collapsed state.

[0045] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cap of FIG. 1 in the open and collapsed state.

[0046] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cap of FIG. 1 in the closed and extended state.

[0047] FIGS. 4A-4C are perspective views of the cap of FIG. 1 in the open and extended state according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0048] FIGS. 5A-5D are perspective views of the cap in its various operative states according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0049] FIG. 1 depicts a cap 100 according to an embodiment of the invention in its closed and collapsed state. The cap comprises a body 102, suitable for fitting onto a container's top portion (in this, non-limiting specific embodiment, the top portion is in the form of a container's neck), and a closure assembly, generally designated as 104. The closure assembly comprises a first element 110 and a second element 112, each having an internal face 110A and 112A respectively, and an external face 110B and 112B, respectively. In some cases, at least one of the internal faces 110A and 112A bear a mirror. Alternatively, none or both of the internal faces 110A and 112A bear mirrors. In addition, the first and second elements (110,112) may be designed such that an enclosed space is formed between their internal faces (110A,112A) when in their collapsed state. The function of the first and second elements will now be explained in more details, for example when both internal faces 110A,112A bear mirrors.

[0050] As can better be seen in FIG. 2, the closure assembly is associated with an upper end 106 of the cap via a first hinge 108, which permits the closure assembly to displace from a closed state into an open state of the cap. Defined in the upper end is an orifice 114 that is in liquid communication with an opening of the container that is defined by the neck. When in the closed state, the orifice is sealed by protrusion 116 extending from external face 110B.

[0051] In FIG. 3, a cap according to an embodiment of the invention can be seen in the closed and extended state. The first and second elements 110,112 are hinged to one another by a second hinge 118, located at the opposite side of the upper end with respect to the location of the first hinge 108, which permits angular displacement of element 112 with respect to element 110. Once element 112 is displaced, mirrors which are fixed to each of the internal surfaces 110A and 112A are exposed, such that a user is provided with a broad viewing angle. In this position, the first element 110 engages the orifice 114, preventing extraction of the container's content, while permitting a viewer to independently use the mirror assembly.

[0052] Once returned into the collapsed state, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the internal faces 110A and 112A are fitted one against the other, such that two internal (mirror-bearing) faces are opposite one another, such that the mirrors are not exposed and are thus protected from damage or soiling.

[0053] Turning to FIGS. 4A-4C, a cap according to an embodiment of the invention can be seen in the open and extended state, in which the mirrors are exposed and the contents of the container may be extracted via orifice 114.

[0054] In another embodiment of the invention, the hinges may reside at the same side of the closure assembly. FIGS. 5A-5D depict such a cap, where similar elements to that of FIGS. 1-4C were given similar numerals, shifted by 100. Namely, element 100 is similar to element 200, element 102 is similar to element 202, etc.

[0055] FIG. 5A depicts a cap 200 in its closed and collapsed state. The cap comprises a body 202, and a closure assembly generally designated as 204. The closure assembly comprises a first element 210 and a second element 212, each having an internal face 210A and 212A respectively, and an external face 210B and 212B, respectively (as can be more clearly seen in FIG. 5D).

[0056] As seen in FIG. 5B, the closure assembly is associated with an upper end 206 of the cap via a first hinge 208, which permits the closure assembly to displace from a closed state into an open state of the cap. Defined in the upper end is an orifice 214 that is liquid communication with an opening of the container that is defined by the neck. When in the closed state, the orifice is sealed by protrusion 216 extending from external face 210B.

[0057] In FIG. 5C, the can be seen in the closed and extended state. The first and second elements 210,212 are hinged to one another by a second hinge 218, positioned close to and slightly above the first hinge 208, such that both hinges 208,218 reside at the same side of the assembly. Second hinge 218 permits angular displacement of element 212 with respect to element 210. Once element 212 is displaced, the mirrors fixed to the internal surfaces 210A and 212A are exposed, such that a user is provided with a broad viewing angle. In this position, the first element 210 engages the orifice 214, preventing extraction of the container's content, while permitting a viewer to use the mirror assembly.

[0058] Once returned into the collapsed state, shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the internal faces 210A and 212A are fitted one against the other, the two internal (mirror-bearing) faces being opposite one another, such that the mirrors are not exposed.

[0059] In FIG. 4D, the cap is in the open and extended state, in which the mirrors are exposed and the contents of the container may be extracted via orifice 214.