US20030017236A1

US20030017236A1 - Bottle cap with a chamber for raw material and pressure gas

Info

Publication number: US20030017236A1
Application number: US10/164,197
Authority: US
Inventors: Masayuki Makita; Masashi Takahashi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-19
Filing date: 2002-06-05
Publication date: 2003-01-23
Also published as: JP2003002350A; KR20020096853A; CA2374538A1; EP1270435A3; EP1270435A2

Abstract

A bottle cap provided with a fixed portion and a movable portion which are separably screwed with each other. The fixed portion is for supporting the movable portion and has an attaching portion to an opening of a bottle and a through hole on an axial line. The movable portion has an inner plug portion which protrudes from a face thereof on the axial line and passes through the through hole. The inner plug portion is provided with a chamber for raw material and pressure gas. An opening plane at the other end of the chamber is sealed by a plug. The plug has a flange projects from the inner plug portion and is to be opened as a periphery portion of the through hole interferes the flange during relative movements of the fixed portion and the movable portion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cap for a bottle which encloses therein a liquid such as a refreshing drink, mineral water, alcohol drink, milk drinks and the like.

2. Prior Art

Environmental pollution increases at present and quality of water also deteriorates considerably. Without a severe sterilization course, water cannot be used for drink as it is. However, city water which has been sterilized excessively is, because of its peculiar medicinal smell, preferably not used as for drink. So, as drink substituted for city water, recently, drink charged in a bottle like a plastic bottle is widely spread.

These bottled drinks are almost, except a part such as mineral water etc., supplied to consumers, after liquid and raw material have been mixed in a factory.

However, for bottled drink whose liquid and raw material are previously mixed, as raw material causes oxidation, deterioration, rot, brownishness, etc., under the influence of the air temperature, ultraviolet rays, oxygen in the air enclosed in a bottle, or the like, it is difficult to keep freshness of produced moment and newly made taste till the very end of best consuming term.

Accordingly, as a means to prevent raw material from oxidation and the like till a bottled drink is consumed, it is disclosed, for example, in the official Utility Model publications Nos.50-18846, 50-18847 and 50-18848, bottles having a chamber between a cap and an inner plug.

According to these bottles, when a cap is taken out of the bottle a inner plug remains at the top of the bottle, a member for opening and closing which hangs from the back of the top wall of the cap parts from the bottom of the inner plug, a leak provided in the bottom is opened, and raw material enclosed in the chamber between the cap and the inner plug is to be discharged in the bottle.

Therefore, by enclosing liquid and raw material in a bottle and a chamber respectively, and transferring the bottle from a manufacturer to a consumer, it can be intended so that the raw material and the liquid are mixed when a consumer opens the cap to use the bottle. Deterioration etc of raw material under the air temperature and ultraviolet rays during transferring are to be prevented.

However, even said bottle having a chamber between a cap and an inner plug, it has been difficult to prevent oxidation, brownishness, aging and deterioration of raw material enclosed in a chamber by contact with oxygen in the air enclosed in the chamber. Further, discharging through a leak in an inner plug relies on dead load of raw material; there is a fear of not achieving smooth discharge on account of the clogging etc. of a leak by solidification of raw material.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a bottle cap which can supply a consumer with a bottled drink composed of raw material and liquid, keeping freshness of produced moment without causing deteriorating etc. of raw material, and which can smoothly make raw material and liquid be mixed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The first bottle cap relating to the present invention is provided with a fixed portion and a movable portion which are separably screwed with each other.

The fixed portion is for supporting the movable portion and has an attaching portion to an opening of a bottle and a through hole on an axial line.

The movable portion has an inner plug portion which protrudes from a face thereof on the axial line and passes through the through hole.

The inner plug portion is provided with a chamber for raw material and pressure gas. An opening plane at the other end of the chamber is sealed by a plug. Between the plug and the fixed portion, there exists a plug opening means and the plug is to be opened by the plug opening means during relative movements of the fixed portion and the movable portion.

According to the first bottle cap, as the inner plug portion has a chamber for raw material and pressure gas, and an opening at the other end of the chamber is sealed with a plug, raw material charged in the chamber is shut off from air by pressure gas and prevented from oxidation, deterioration etc. which are caused by contact with oxygen in the air. Therefore, it can be supplied to a consumer, keeping freshness of produced moment. Also, as a plug opening means exists between a plug and a fixed portion, and the plug is to be opened by the plug opening means during relative movements of the fixed portion and the movable portion, when opening the bottle, the chamber can easily be opened by rotating the movable portion. At this time, raw material is discharged by means of pressure gas charged therein, so that releasing from the chamber can smoothly be done.

The second bottle cap relating to the present invention is the same structure as of the said first bottle cap, and its material is either of PE (polyethylent) or PP (polypropylene).

According to the second bottle cap, in addition to the effects brought by the first bottle cap, as material is PE or PP, it can easily be recycled. Further, by recycling, problem of producing dioxin at incinerating which a former bottle cap made of PVC possesses can be solved.

The third bottle cap relating to the present invention is the same structure as of the said first bottle cap, and its material is either of PET (Polyethylene-terephthalate) or aluminum.

According to the third bottle cap, in addition to the effects brought by said first bottle cap, as material is PET or aluminum, by recycling, it can bring same effects as of said second bottle cap. Further, cyclical efficiency can be raised because of omitting detaching work by enabling collection as one body of a PET bottle or an aluminum bottle.

Preferably, said plug opening means consists of a flange projecting from the inner plug portion of the plug and a periphery portion of the through hole which protrudes in the passage of the flange.

In this case, as the plug opening means is to be a simple structure, it can reduce cost, simplifying a manufacturing process.

Preferably, said periphery portion comprises a pin member protruding in parallel with said axial line.

In this case, by only rotating a movable member slightly, a chamber can rapidly be opened.

Preferably, said plug opening means consists of a fixed portion, a plug and a connecting member which connects the fixed portion with the plug.

In this case, the plug which rises with the rotation of the movable portion can be opened by the tension of the connecting member. Also, after opening process, as the plug is connected to the fixed portion by the connecting member, it can be prevented from dropping into the liquid in the bottle.

Preferably, said pressure gas is an inert gas.

In this case, it can maintain a safe quality of raw material.

Preferably, said pressure gas is one which is chosen among Nitrogen, Helium, Argon, CO ₂, NO or mixing gasses of two or more these gases.

In this case, it is obtainable easily at low cost as an article on the market and cost can be reduced.

Preferably, said raw material is powder and one which is chosen among green tea, coffee, black tea, enriched mineral, an extracted mineral from the water in the depths of the sea, healthy food, medicine, an extracted fruit juice, dairy products, alcohol, an extracted vegetable, vitamins, sugar, herbs or ferment bacilli.

In this case, raw material is easily handled and can rapidly be mixed with liquid. Also, by using raw materials of many kinds, application range of a bottle cap can be extended. Here, enriched mineral is, for example, the four main minerals of magnesium, natrium, kalium and calcium. Healthy food is, for example, chitosam, agarics, rakanka, ginseng. Ferment bacilli is, for example, yogurt bacilli and yakult bacilli.

Preferably, said raw material is solid and one which is chosen among green tea, coffee, black tea, enriched mineral, an extracted mineral from the water in the depths of the sea, healthy food, medicine, an extracted fruit juice, or dairy products.

In this case, raw material is very easily handled and easily charged into a chamber. In case raw material is the form of a tablet, as being formed beforehand handling becomes easier, and therefore it is preferable. By using raw materials of many kinds, the aforesaid effects can be obtained.

Preferably, said raw material is liquid and one which is chosen among green tea, coffee, black tea, enriched mineral, an extracted mineral from the water in the depths of the sea, healthy food, medicine, an extracted fruit juice, or dairy products.

In this case, raw material can be mixed into liquid rapidly and satisfactorily. Further, by using raw materials of many kinds, the aforesaid effects can be obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a section showing an original state where a bottle cap seals a bottle. [0037]
FIG. 2 is a section showing a state just before a plug is opened, by rotating a movable portion of the bottle cap. [0038]
FIG. 3 is a section showing a state just after a plug of the bottle cap has been opened. [0039]
FIG. 4 is a section showing another embodiment of a bottle cap in respect of the present invention. [0040]
FIG. 5 is a section showing a further embodiment of a bottle cap in respect of the present invention. [0041]
FIG. 6 is a section showing a further embodiment of a bottle cap in respect of the present invention.[0042]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIGS. 1 through 3, an embodiment of bottle cap in respect of the present invention is shown. FIG. 1 is a section showing a first state where a bottle cap seals a bottle. FIG. 2 is a section showing a state just before a plug is opened, by rotating a movable portion of the bottle cap. FIG. 3 is a section showing a state just after a plug of the bottle cap has been opened. [0043]
A [0044] bottle cap 1 is provided with a fixed portion 2 and a movable portion 3 which are separably screwed with each other.
The fixed [0045] portion 2 is for supporting the movable portion 3 and has an attaching portion 2 a to an opening 11 a of a bottle 11 and a through hole 2 b on an axial line x.
The [0046] movable portion 3 has an inner plug portion 4 which protrudes from a face 3 a thereof on the axial line x and passes through the through hole 2 b. The inner plug portion 4 is provided with a chamber 5 for raw material 12 and pressure gas 13. An opening plane 5 a at the other end of the chamber 5 is sealed by a plug 6. Between the plug 6 and the fixed portion 2, there exists a plug opening means 7 and the plug 6 is to be opened by the plug opening means 7 during relative movements of the fixed portion 2 and the movable portion 3.
According to the [0047] bottle cap 1, raw material 12 charged in a chamber 5 is shut off from air by means of pressure gas 13 and prevented from oxidation and deterioration caused by contact with oxygen in air. Therefore, it can be supplied to a consumer, keeping freshness of produced moment. Also, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when opening a bottle 11, the chamber 5 can easily be opened by rotating the movable portion 3. At this time, as raw material 12 is discharged by means of pressure gas 13 charged therein, so that releasing from the chamber 5 can smoothly be done.
Material of the [0048] bottle cap 1 is PE.
To do like this, it can easily be recycled. Further, by recycling, problem of producing dioxin at incinerating which a former bottle cap made of PVC possesses can be solved. Also in case material is PP, same effect brought by recycling can be obtained. [0049]
Further, in case of using PET or Aluminum as material of the [0050] bottle cap 1, in addition to the aforesaid effect brought by recycling, cyclical efficiency can be raised because of omitting detaching work by enabling collection as one body of a PET bottle or an aluminum bottle, and therefore it is preferable.
The plug opening means [0051] 7 consists of a flange 6 a projecting from the inner plug portion 4 of the plug 6 and a periphery portion 2 c of the through hole 2 b which protrudes in the passage of the flange 6 a.
To do like this, as the plug opening means [0052] 7 is to be a simple structure, it can reduce cost, simplifying a manufacturing process.
It is preferable that the [0053] pressure gas 13 is inert gas. To do like this, it can maintain a safe quality of raw material.
It is especially preferable that the [0054] pressure gas 13 is one which is chosen among Nitrogen, Helium, Argon, CO₂, NO or mixing gasses of two or more these gases.
To do like this, it is obtainable easily at low cost as an article on the market and cost can be reduced. [0055]
It is preferable that the [0056] raw material 12 is powder and one which is chosen among green tea, coffee, black tea, enriched mineral, an extracted mineral from the water in the depths of the sea, healthy food, medicine, an extracted fruit juice, dairy products, alcohol, an extracted vegetable, vitamins, sugar, herbs or ferment bacilli.
To do like this, raw material is easily handled and can rapidly mixed with liquid. Also, by using raw materials of many kinds, application range of a [0057] bottle cap 1 can be extended.
It is preferable that [0058] raw material 12 is solid and one which is chosen among green tea, coffee, black tea, enriched mineral, an extracted mineral from the water in the depths of the sea, healthy food, medicine, an extracted fruit juice, or dairy products.
To do like this, [0059] raw material 12 is easily handled and easily charged into the chamber 5. In case raw material 12 is the form of a tablet, as being formed beforehand handling becomes easier, and therefore it is preferable. By using raw materials of many kinds, the aforesaid effects can be obtained.
It is preferable that [0060] raw material 12 is liquid and one which is chosen among green tea, coffee, black tea, enriched mineral, an extracted mineral from the water in the depths of the sea, healthy food, medicine, an extracted fruit juice, or dairy products.
To do like this, [0061] raw material 12 can be mixed into with liquid rapidly and satisfactorily. Further, by using raw materials of many kinds, aforesaid effects can be obtained.
FIG. 4 is a section showing another embodiment of a bottle cap in respect of the present invention. In the following embodiment, same symbols are used to the portion substantially same as aforesaid embodiment and explanation thereof is omitted or simplified. [0062]
A [0063] bottle cap 21 is made to comprise, in a periphery portion 2 c of a through hole 2 b of the bottle cap 1, a pin member 2 d which projects in parallel with an axial line x.
To do like this, by only rotating a [0064] movable portion 3 slightly, a chamber 5 can be rapidly opened.
FIG. 5 is a section showing a further embodiment of a bottle cap in respect of the present invention. [0065]
A bottle cap [0066] 31 is a substitution of a plug opening means 7 of the bottle cap 1 for the composition of a fixed portion 2, a plug 6 and a connecting member 2 c which connects these fixed portion 2 with the plug 6.
To do like this, the [0067] plug 6 which rises with the rotation of the movable portion 2, can be opened by means of tension of the connecting member 2 e. Also, after opening process, as the plug 6 is connected by the connecting member 2 e with the fixed portion 2, it can be prevented from dropping into liquid in the bottle 11.
FIG. 6 is a section showing a further embodiment of a bottle cap in respect of the present invention. A bottle cap [0068] 41 is of elongating the periphery portion 2 c of the bottle cap 1 toward the surface of liquid and of connecting the plug 6 with the fixed portion 2 by the connecting member 2 e′.
To do like this, as being discharged from the [0069] chamber 5 directly into the liquid, raw material 12 can be mixed into the liquid efficiently. In this bottle cap 41, the plug 6 is opened when the flange 6 a engages with the periphery portion 2 c. The connecting member 2 e′ is not to be structural elements of the opening means 7, however to do like this, after opening process, the plug 6 can be prevented from dropping into the liquid.
According to the first bottle cap in respect of the present invention, as an inner plug portion is provided with a chamber for raw material and pressure gas and an opening at the other end of the chamber is sealed with a plug, raw material charged in the chamber is shut off from air by pressure gas and prevented from oxidation, deterioration etc. which are caused by contact with oxygen in the air can be prevented. Therefore, it can be supplied to a consumer, keeping freshness of produced moment. Also, as a plug opening means exists between a plug and a fixed portion, and the plug is to be opened by the plug opening means during relative movements of the fixed portion and the movable portion, when opening the bottle, the chamber can easily be opened by rotating the movable portion. At this time, raw material is discharged by means of pressure gas charged therein, so that releasing from the chamber can smoothly be done. [0070]
According to the second bottle cap in respect of the present invention, in addition to the effects brought by the first bottle cap, material being PE or PP, it can easily be recycled. Further, by recycling, problem of producing dioxin at incinerating which a former bottle cap made of PVC possesses can be solve. [0071]
According to the third bottle cap in respect of the present invention, in addition to the effects brought by said first bottle cap, as material is PET or aluminum, by recycling, it can bring same effects as of said second bottle cap. Further, cyclical efficiency can be raised because of omitting detaching work by enabling collection as one body of a PET bottle or an aluminum bottle. [0072]
According to the present invention, as the plug opening means is to be a simple structure, cost can be reduced, simplifying a manufacturing process. [0073]
According to the present invention, by only rotating a movable member slightly, a chamber can rapidly be opened. [0074]
According to the present invention, the plug which rises with the rotation of the movable portion can be opened by tension of the connecting member. Also, after opening process, as the plug is connected to the fixed portion by means of the connecting member, it can be prevented from dropping into the liquid in the bottle. [0075]
According to the present invention, it can maintain a safe quality of raw material. [0076]
According to the present invention, it is obtainable easily at low cost as an article on the market and cost can be reduced. [0077]
According to the present invention, raw material is easily handled and can rapidly be mixed with liquid. Also, by using raw materials of many kinds, application range of a bottle cap can be extended. [0078]
According to the present invention, raw material is very easily handled and easily charged into a chamber. Also, by using raw materials of many kinds, application range of the bottle cap can be extended. [0079]
According to the present invention, raw material can be mixed into liquid rapidly and satisfactorily. Also by using raw materials of many kinds, application range of the bottle cap can be extended. [0080]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A bottle cap (1) provided with a fixed portion (2) and a movable portion (3) which are separably screwed with each other;

said fixed portion (2) being for supporting said movable portion (3) and having an attaching portion (2 a) to an opening (11 a) of a bottle (11) and a through hole (2 b) on an axial line (x),

said movable portion (3) having an inner plug portion (4) protruding from a face (3 a) thereof on said axial line (x) and through said through hole (2 b), said inner plug portion (4) being provided with a chamber (5) for raw material (12) and pressure gas (13), an opening plane (5 a) at the other end of said chamber (5) being sealed with a plug (6), between said plug (6) and said fixed portion (2) there existing a plug opening means (7) and said plug (6) being to be opened by said plug opening means (7) during relative movements of said fixed portion (2) and said movable portion (3).

2. A bottle cap as claimed in claim 1 wherein of which material is either of PE (polyethylene) or PP (polypropylene).

3. A bottle cap as claimed in claim 1 wherein of which material is either of PET (polyethylen-telephtalate) or aluminum.

4. A bottle cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said plug opening means (7) consists of a flange (6 a) projecting from said inner plug portion (4) of said plug (6) and a periphery portion (2 c) of said through hole (2 b) which protrudes in the passage of said flange (6 a).

5. A bottle cap as claimed in claim 4, wherein said periphery portion (2 c) comprises a pin member (2 d) protruding in parallel with said axial line (x).

6. A bottle cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said plug opening means (7) consists of said fixed portion (2), said plug (6) and a connecting member (2 e) which connects said fixed portion (2) with said plug (6).

7. A bottle cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said pressure gas (13) is inert gas.

8. A bottle cap as claimed in claim 7, wherein said pressure gas (13) is one which is chosen among Nitrogen, Helium, Argon, CO₂, NO or mixing gasses of two or more these gases.

9. A bottle cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said raw material (12) is powder and one which is chosen among green tea, coffee, black tea, enriched mineral, an extracted mineral from the water in the depths of the sea, healthy food, medicine, an extracted fruit juice, dairy products, alcohol, an extracted vegetable juice, vitamins, sugar, herbs or ferment bacilli.

10. A bottle cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said raw material (12) is solid and one which is chosen among green tea, coffee, black tea, enriched mineral, an extracted mineral from the water in the depths of the sea, healthy food, medicine, an extracted fruit juice, or dairy products.

11. A bottle cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said raw material (12) is liquid and one which is chosen among green tea, coffee, black tea, enriched mineral, an extracted mineral from the water in the depths of the sea, healthy food, medicine, an extracted fruit juice, or dairy products.