Abstract
Universal fluid dispensing container cap assemblies having a closure in which is disposed an integrated externally pointing LED light, a battery power source, circuit with switch actuatable to automatically turn-ON the LED when the cap closure is actuated to open an aperture for portion dispensing. This permits one-handed dispensing in low light environments. The LED may be located in or on the cap lid, so that it is automatically oriented to point in the direction of dispensing and at the surface location on which the dispensing is directed, in order to illuminate the target area so that the contents are accurately disposed directly from the container in terms of target location and amount. In Pop-up cap embodiments, the LED may be positioned to shine through a clear cap wall or positioned on the cap exterior, pointing in the direction of the target area. White or colored LEDs may be used.
Claims
1. An improved dispensing cap assembly for a liquid fluid-retaining container comprising in operative combination: a. a cap body including threads adapted to engage a threaded neck of a liquid fluid-retaining container and having a conduit for passage of liquid fluid from said container through said cap to an exterior location without removal of said cap body from said container; b. said cap body having a lid portion movable from a first, CLOSED position in which said cap body conduit is closed to prevent passage of said liquid fluid from said container to said exterior location, to a second, OPEN position to permit passage of said liquid fluid to said exterior location; c. at least one visible light emitting LED light disposed in said cap assembly, said LED being oriented to point externally of said container to direct visible light toward a target area of said exterior location onto which target area said liquid fluid from said container is to be dispensed; d. a circuit assembly disposed in said cap assembly including a battery and an ON-OFF switch, said circuit providing power to selectively illuminate said visible light emitting LED when switched to the ON position; e. said circuit assembly switch is selectively activated by movement of said lid to automatically energize said visible light emitting LED to an ON state when said cap lid is moved to said second opened position, and to automatically de-energize said visible light emitting LED to an OFF state when said cap lid is moved to said first closed position, to permit in low light environments one-handed manual dispensing of liquid fluid from said container to said target area that is visibly illuminated by said visible light emitting LED in said ON state; and f. whereby said cap assembly is configured to provide one-touch OPEN and ON functionality such that said fluid can be dispensed onto said illuminated target area, and said visible light emitting LED turns ON automatically, as said visible light emitting LED continues without need for additional actuation of said cap assembly.
2. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 1 wherein said LED is disposed on an inner surface of said cap lid so that when said lid is opened, said LED will be pointing at said target area and will turn ON to visibly illuminate said target area onto which said liquid fluid may be manually dispensed.
3. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 1 wherein said LED is disposed on an outer surface of said cap and oriented to be pointing at said target area so that when said lid is opened, said LED will turn ON to visibly illuminate said target area onto which liquid fluid may be manually dispensed.
4. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 1 wherein said lid movement is selected from at least one hinge or pivot member disposed to permit said lid to be moved from said first closed position to said second open position.
5. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 4 wherein said lid is a pop-up pivoting type lid assembly configured so that when one edge of said lid assembly is depressed downwardly, the opposite edge of said lid assembly is raised to expose a dispensing opening for dispensing of liquid fluid from said container.
6. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 5 wherein said LED is exposed on the exterior of said pop-up pivoting type lid assembly and disposed to project light in the direction of dispensing of liquid fluid from said lid assembly.
7. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 5 wherein said pop-up pivoting type lid assembly comprises a pivoting sealed compartment in which said LED is disposed, a wall portion of said compartment is selected from a transparent and a translucent material, and said LED is oriented to provide light through said wall material to project light in the direction of manual dispensing of liquid fluid from said lid assembly when said lid assembly is pressed down to expose said dispensing opening.
8. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 7 wherein said pivoting sealed compartment comprises a circular circumferential upstanding side wall defining a compartment volume, said side wall includes said portion selected from said transparent or translucent material through which said illumination from said LED may project, said cap body includes a recess for receiving said pop-up pivoting type lid assembly, said compartment wall includes a pair of projecting bosses disposed on opposite sides and defining there-between a pivot axis, said bosses are pivotably received in mating receivers in said cap body recess so that said lid assembly is movable down to an open position and up to a closed position, said lid assembly includes a conduit which when said lid assembly is in said open position is in communication with a tube disposed in said cap body to permit flow of liquid fluid retained in said container, said compartment volume includes said circuit assembly and said LED, and a planar lid engaging said side wall around said circumference, said lid being secured to said side wall around said circumference to form said compartment volume sealed against moisture intrusion.
9. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 8 wherein said compartment includes a bottom wall, said bottom wall including an aperture plugged with a flexible diaphragm, said circuit assembly switch is actuated by an upstanding boss in said cap body aligned to engage said diaphragm when said lid assembly is in the down, open position to turn said switch to an ON state, thereby energizing said LED to illuminate in the direction of manual liquid fluid dispensing from said conduit.
10. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 9 wherein said cap body includes a relieved portion disposed orthogonal to said pivot axis of said lid assembly wall bosses so that one edge of said lid assembly may be depressed down to the open, ON position.
11. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 10 wherein said cap body includes a lip disposed adjacent said dispensing opening of said lid assembly.
12. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 4 wherein said cap body includes a compartment for said circuit assembly.
13. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 1 which includes multiple visible light emitting LED lights disposed to point toward said target area.
14. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 1 wherein said cap includes a flip-type lid secured to said cap through a living hinge member.
15. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 14 wherein said flip-type lid includes at least one LED light disposed on the interior of said lid and oriented so that when said lid is opened, said LED light is oriented to point toward and visibly illuminate said target area.
16. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 15 wherein said flip-type lid includes a compartment for said circuit assembly.
17. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 14 wherein said flip-type lid comprises only a segment of a top of said cap.
18. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 17 wherein said LED is disposed on said top of said cap oriented to point toward and illuminate said target area when said flip-type lid segment is opened.
19. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 1 wherein both said cap body and said lid include at least one LED disposed to point toward and visibly illuminate said target area.
20. An improved dispensing cap assembly as in claim 1 wherein said cap is selected from flip-lid, pop-up lid and twist-type caps.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The invention is described in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which:
(2) FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partly in section, showing the inventive assembly of a dispensing container plus closure cap having at least one LED light positioned to illuminate a dispensing target area;
(3) FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the inventive lighted cap showing the hinge side and the upper lid portion fitting onto the lower threaded dispensing portion in the closed position;
(4) FIG. 3 is a top view of the inventive lighted cap in position of the lid portion open and showing an embodiment having four LED lights;
(5) FIG. 4A is a schematic side elevation view of the inventive lighted cap showing a lid opened to a first position to illuminate a target area relatively close to the dispensing portion of the cap;
(6) FIG. 4B is a schematic side elevation view of the inventive lighted cap of FIG. 4A showing the lid opened to a second position to illuminate a target area further away from the dispensing spout;
(7) FIG. 5A is a front elevation view of a second embodiment of the inventive lighted cap assembly in which the cap is domed and the battery and LED light is disposed in either the lid or in the threaded portion of the cap; in this view, cap lid is closed;
(8) FIG. 5B is a front elevation view of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5A in which the cap is partly open causing the LED to light up, and showing there may alternative locations for the LED;
(9) FIG. 5C is a side elevation of the second embodiment of FIGS. 5A and 5B, showing the cap in the fully open position, alternate positions for the LED, and a switch assembly associated with the lid hinge;
(10) FIG. 6A is a top plan view of a third embodiment of the inventive cap light assembly, in which the cap is a “Pop-Up” type which has been fitted with an LED that illuminates the target area for a side-dispensing nozzle;
(11) FIG. 6B is a side elevation view of the third, Pop-Up cap assembly of FIG. 6A, showing the piggy back arrangement of the LED;
(12) FIG. 6C is a front elevation view of the third, Pop-Up cap assembly of FIGS. 6A and 6B, showing the LED illuminating in the direction of dispensing by the pop-up nozzle bore;
(13) FIG. 6D is a rear elevation view of the third, Pop-Up cap assembly of FIGS. 6A-6C showing the recess in the lip of the lower cap to permit pressing down on one edge of the cap top pivoting disk to open the conduit for fluid dispensing and switch ON the LED(s);
(14) FIGS. 7A and 7B are enlarged schematics of an exemplary switch assembly using a circuit breaker finger or projection that is actuated upon opening and closing the cap lid member, FIG. 7A showing the switch in the Normally Open position when the cap lid is closed, and FIG. 7B showing the switch in the Normally Closed position when the cap lid is opened;
(15) FIG. 8A is an isometric view of a fourth embodiment of the inventive cap light assembly in which the cap has a segmented or split, partial lid in the closed position and an LED disposed on the top outward-facing surface of the cap;
(16) FIG. 8B is an isometric view of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 8A in which the segment of the cap is opened actuating the LED on the surface of the cap to illuminate the dispensing target area:
(17) FIG. 9A is an isometric view of another implementation of the third embodiment, the Pop-up cap assembly, in the closed, or OFF position;
(18) FIG. 9B is an isometric view of the implementation of the Pop-up cap embodiment in the open, or ON position;
(19) FIG. 10A is a section view along the line 10A-10A of FIG. 9A showing the internal assembly in the closed position in which the bottle contents-dispensing conduit is closed;
(20) FIG. 10B is a section view along the line 10B-10B of FIG. 9B showing the internal assembly in the open, or ON position and the bottle contents-dispensing conduit is open; and
(21) FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the implementation of the third, Pop-up embodiment of the inventive cap assembly shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A and 10B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(22) The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example, not by way of limitation of the scope, equivalents or principles of the invention. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention.
(23) In this regard, the invention is illustrated in the several figures, and is of sufficient complexity that the many parts, interrelationships, and sub-combinations thereof simply cannot be fully illustrated in a single patent-type drawing. For clarity and conciseness, several of the drawings show in schematic, or omit, parts that are not essential in that drawing to a description of a particular feature, aspect or principle of the invention being disclosed. All publications, patents and applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication, patent or application had been expressly stated to be incorporated by reference.
(24) FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the inventive cap light and dispensing bottle assembly 10. The cap assembly 12 is retained on dispensing container 14 that retains fluid composition 16 to be dispensed by the user. The lower dispensing portion 18 of the cap includes inner threads 20 that engage the threaded neck of the container 14 and a spout or aperture 22 that has a bore or lip 23 through which the fluid contents 16 of the bottle may be dispensed when the container is inverted. The cap assembly 12 also includes an upper lid portion 24 that is connected to the lower threaded dispensing portion 18 via a hinge 26, in this example a living hinge of the butterfly type. The upper lid portion 24 includes at least one LED 28 and a battery compartment 30, containing battery 36 plus necessary circuitry (not shown) including an ON/OFF switch automatically activated by opening and closing the lid 24 portion. The LED(s) are positioned on the inside surface of the upper lid portion 24 of the cap so that when the lid is opened, the circuit is closed causing the LED(s) to light up. An important aspect of the invention is that when the lid portion 24 is in the open position as shown in FIG. 1, the LED(s) point at the target area for dispensing of fluid 16 so that the target area is illuminated. The LED(s) are not oriented to illuminate the contents 16 of the container 14, nor are they intended-to. Finger notch 32, assists in opening the lid section 24. Interior contour 34 of the lid may include a projection 36 that serves to close the dispensing bore 23 when the lid is in the closed position.
(25) FIG. 2 illustrates the cap assembly 12, from the position of the butterfly living hinge 26. The cap assembly lower dispensing portion 18 is threaded on the container 14. The upper lid 18 is closed on the lower portion 18, and shows the arrangement of the LEDs projecting from the inner surface of the lid 24, and having a centrally located battery compartment including a battery 36 with the appropriate circuitry including lid-actuated pressure switch (as described above) to power the LEDs.
(26) FIG. 3 illustrates the cap assembly 12 in the open position, top view. The LEDs in the lid portion 24 in this embodiment are positioned in an array around the central aperture plug 36, and the battery 38 is centrally located in its compartment in the lid. When the lid is opened, the LEDs are pointing in the same general direction as the pour spout 22, so that when the container is inverted and the bottle squeezed to dispense the bottle fluid contents, the light will be pointing at the target area for deposit of the dispensed fluid. It should be clear that while in this embodiment, four LEDs are shown, as few as one may be all that is necessary to provide suitable level of illumination, depending on the battery size and the efficiency of the LED element.
(27) FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show a two position lid version of the flip-lid embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. In FIG. 4A, the contents will be dispensed in the direction shown by Arrow A when the bottle is inverted. When the lid 24 is opened to a first position, FIG. 4A, the LEDs (in this embodiment, two are shown) will be pointing in a direction shown by the Arrow B. The arrows converge generally at the target area C. In FIG. 4B, the lid can be opened to a second position and the area of convergence is farther away.
(28) FIGS. 5A-C are to be considered together. They show a second embodiment of the inventive cap light assembly 10, in which the cap 12 is dome-shaped. The lid is hinged at the back side as before. FIG. 5B shows the battery located in the lower, threaded cap portion 18. The circuit 40 (shown schematically and in part as the drawing does not permit the detail that will be straight-forward to one skilled in this art) includes a switch assembly 42 disposed just below the upper, flexible surface of the cap, as shown. This switch 42 is activated from a NC state when the lid 24 is closed, to an NO state when the lid 24 is opened by means of a circuit breaker finger 44. As shown in FIG. 5B the finger is located on the forward edge of the lid, opposite the hinge (see FIG. 5C). In FIG. 5B the LED is shown in alternate positions, at 28 on the underside of the lid, and at 28′ on the top surface of the lower dispensing portion of the cap. The dispensing spout 22 and its closure plug 36 are also illustrated. FIG. 5C illustrates the cap assembly of FIG. 5B in which the cap is now fully opened so that the LED, either in the lid at 28, or on the top surface of the lower portion at 28′ is directed to the target area on which fluid 16 is dispensed from the container 14. Note in this alternative of this embodiment, the battery 38 is disposed in the domed lid, the switch 42 is located adjacent the hinge 26 in the lower portion 18, and the actuating circuit breaker finger 44 is located adjacent the hinge on the lid, as shown. For details of an exemplary switch assembly, see FIGS. 7A and 7B.
(29) The FIGS. 6A-D drawings are to be considered together. They show still another embodiment of the inventive cap light assembly, in this case adapted for use with a “Pop-Up” type dispensing cap assembly. In this embodiment the lid portion of the cap assembly 12 comprises a disk-shaped pop-up cap element 46 that is pivoted on diametrically opposed bosses 48 having a common center-line CL of pivot. Upon pressing down on an area of the disk 46 opposite the spout area 22, the bore 23 of the spout is raised permitting dispensing; this is best seen in FIGS. 6B and 6C. As shown in FIG. 6B, pressing down on the area marked “PRESS” (see FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6D) closes the switch 42, causing the LED to illuminate. The battery (not shown) may be located in any convenient place, such as in the disk 46 in the “PRESS” area, or vertically adjacent the threaded portion 20 of the lower portion of the cap 18. The LED 28 is disposed in a raised hood portion 50 of the disk element 46. FIGS. 6C and 6D clearly show that when the disk is pressed downwardly (FIG. 6B), the opposite end is raised above the lip of the lower cap portion 18 exposing the nozzle 23, and the LED 28 disposed in the hood is pointed in the same direction as dispensing, even though the dispensing is orthogonal to the bottle neck 20. Thus, the LED will illuminate the target area on which the fluid from bottle 14 will be dispensed. FIG. 6D shows a recess 62 in the outer wall of the cap lower portion 18 to facilitate pressing down on the disk element 46. The recess 62 permits pressing with the pad of the finger, that is, the finger can be oriented horizontally, to effect full depression of the disk 46 to insure activation of the switch 42 (FIG. 6B).
(30) FIGS. 7A and 7B show one example of a switch that advantageously may be used in the lighted cap assembly of the invention. In FIG. 7A, the cap lid 24, 46 (depending on embodiment) is closed as indicated by Arrow C, in which case the circuit actuating finger 44 presses down on a flexible area 18′ of the top of the lower portion 18 of the cap 12. The switch assembly in this exemplary embodiment includes a flexible or pivoted leaf 52 that is pushed out of contact with the opposite lead 54 by the action of finger 44, as shown, thus putting the switch in the Normally Open, NO, state, in which case the LED is dark. In FIG. 7B, when the lid 24, 46 is opened as indicated by Arrow O, pressure is removed from the area 18′ and the leaf 52 springs up to contact the other lead 54, completing the circuit and energizing the LED to light up.
(31) FIGS. 8A and 8B show another embodiment in which the cap assembly 12 includes an openable split or segmented lid portion 24′. In this embodiment, one or more LED(s) is/are disposed adjacent the central openable segment 24′ on the outer top surface of the cap, as at 28. The segment 24′ may be opened by engaging a lip or fingernail notch 32. In FIG. 8B the segment has been opened at hinge 26 and the LED lights up as the pressure from finger 44 has been relieved from the surface 18′ (see FIGS. 7A and 7B above). The spout 22 is now exposed for dispensing via its bore 22 from the container 14. The LED 28 is directed to the target area and illuminates it for dispensing.
(32) FIGS. 9-11 show another implementation of the third, Pop-up embodiment of the inventive cap assembly. FIG. 9A shows a Pop-up cap assembly 10 comprising bottle closure (cap) 12 in which the pivotable assembly 46 is housed. As shown, the pivoting member is in the OFF (circuit NO), closed position so that no contents of a bottle (not shown, but see FIG. 6B) can be dispensed via lip 22. In FIG. 9B the finger press area 74 of the back of the pivoting assembly 46 is depressed downwardly (see FIG. 6B) and the assembly 46 pivots down, exposing the conduit 23b that communicates with the interior of the bottle in order to permit dispensing of contents via the lip 22. This is the ON position (circuit NC) so that the LED, positioned inside the assembly 46 shines light through the clear side wall area 76, thus illuminating both the contents dispensing and the target area.
(33) FIGS. 10A and 10B show the internals of the cap assembly 10, showing the bottle threads 20, the dispensing tube 23a communicating from the inside of the bottle (not shown, see FIG. 6B) yet not aligned with external dispensing conduit 23b and closed-off by plug 36. As seen in FIG. 10A, the pivotable assembly 46 comprises a lower, cup member 46a (best seen in FIG. 11) which contains the LED 28, battery 38 and circuit board 40. A switch actuator 44 is spaced from a flexible diaphragm (gasket) so that the circuit board switch is open, and the LED 28 is OFF. In FIG. 10B, finger pressure on area 74 presses the back of the assembly 46 down, raising the plug from off the top of the tube 23a and permitting connection to dispensing conduit 23b. This permits dispensing contents out of the container via the lip 22. At the same time projection 44 engages the diaphragm that pushes up to close the switch on the circuit board 40, causing the battery 38 to energize the LED 28. Since the side wall of the cup 46a is transparent or translucent, the LED light shines on both the contents as delivered out of the container and on the target area onto which the contents are dispensed.
(34) FIG. 11 shows the several parts of the cap assembly 10 in an exploded view, including the lower cap base containing the threads (see FIGS. 10A and 10B) and the vertical tube 23a. This view also shows the notch 62 at the back of the cap which permits pressing down on the lid 46b at area 74 to pivot the assembly 46. The front lip 22 is also shown. The pivoting Pop-up assembly 46 comprises lower cup 46a, which includes a recess volume 30 formed by an upstanding perimeter wall, at least the front portion of which 76 is transparent or translucent. The circuit board assembly 40, containing the battery, circuit, ON-OFF switch and LED is received in the recess 30, and the top closed by a generally planar lid 46b which may be ultrasonically sealed to the inner surface of the upstanding side wall adjacent the top. That is the circuit board assembly 40, including battery and LED are sealed in the pivoting Pop-up assembly 46, preventing leakage of fluid contents into contact with the circuit assembly 40 and shorting it out. The bottom surface of the cup 46a includes an aperture 80 that is sealed with the flexible diaphragm 78. Diaphragm 78 includes a central knob as shown to engage the switch on the circuit board 40 when actuated by the actuator 44 (compare FIGS. 10A and 10B). The diaphragm 78 also serves as a gasket to seal the aperture 80. Thus the entire Pop-up assembly 46 is sealed.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
(35) It is clear that the inventive cap light assembly of this application has wide applicability to the fluid dispensing industry, usefully so in the medical, personal care and personal hygiene fields. The inventive cap assembly provides additional functionality to a dispensing bottle, permitting one-handed use for targeted application of dispensed fluids in low light environments. Thus, the inventive lighted cap assembly has the clear potential of becoming adopted as the new standard for hand dispensed fluid container systems.
(36) It should be understood that various modifications within the scope of this invention can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit thereof and without undue experimentation. For example, the caps can have a wide range of designs to provide the functionalities disclosed herein. Likewise, the batteries and LEDs may be located in any suitable portion of the assembly, whether in the lower threaded portion of the cap or the lid. This invention is therefore to be defined by the scope of the appended claims as broadly as the prior art will permit, and in view of the specification if need be, including a full range of current and future equivalents thereof.
(37) TABLE-US-00001 Parts List (This Parts List is provided as an aid to Examination and may be canceled upon allowance) 10 Inventive illuminated cap and bottle assembly 82 12 Cap assembly 84 14 Container (bottle or tube) 86 16 Liquid contents of container 88 18 Lower threaded portion of cap 90 20 Cap/container threads 92 22 Dispensing spout or pour-type lip 23 Spout bore 94 24 Upper lid portion of cap assembly 96 26 Hinge, e.g. living hinge 98 28 1 or more LED lights 100 30 Battery compartment 102 32 Finger notch 104 34 Interior contour of lid 106 36 Projection to plug bore 23 of spout 22 108 38 Battery(ies) 110 40 Circuit 112 42 Switch Assembly 114 44 Circuit breaker finger (switch actuator) 116 46 Pivotable Pop-Up assembly; 46a cup; 46b lid 118 48 Pivots (bosses) 120 50 Hood 122 52 Leaf of switch 124 54 Second contact of switch 126 56 C/L Center line of pivots in Pop-Up Lid 128 58 NO Normally Open 130 60 NC Normally Closed 132 62 Pop-up cap recess 134 Arrow C Closed Lid position 136 Arrow O Open Lid position 138 Arrow PRESS downward pressure on edge of disk 140 Arrow A, A′: Direction of dispensing of fluid 142 Arrow B, B′: Direction of illumination 144 74 finger press area for Pop-up embodiment caps 146 76 Clear wall (area) of cup 46a. 148 78 flexible diaphragm member with central knob 150 80 aperture in bottom of cup 46a for diaphragm 78 152
