AU730000B3 - Pierceable cap - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A PETTY PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: PLASTECH HOLDINGS PTY LTD ANTON KOTZE CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street, Brisbane, QId. 4000, Australia.

Invention Title: PIERCEABLE CAP The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to caps for liquid containers.

BACKGROUND ART Drinking water dispensers are a popular facility for the home and workplaces.

The dispensers are generally provided by a supplier and serviced by a water supplier on demand.

The drinking water is provided on a supply and return basis with the delivery person replacing spent containers will full containers.

A typical water dispensing device require containers to be fitted in an inverted state.

In some instances prior to the containers being inverted and married with the dispenser caps are removed and during the inversion process the opening to the bottle is blocked off, usually by hand prior to the nozzle of the bottle being engaged with a complimentary opening in the dispenser.

As can be imagined such exercise is difficult to complete without spillage occurring and the procedure is suspect from a hygiene point of view.

In other instances, the opening of the container is provided with a piercing spike which creates an opening in the cap and for this purpose the cap is provided with an internal socket into which the spike can enter.

In this area hygiene is important and it is desirable that no contact be made with the liquids contents of the container and that the container caps be designed in such a way that the external top surfaces of the caps are smooth.

If the cap tops are not smooth it is likely that health authorities will require a protective skin of some type to cover features such as a socket or indent.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pierceable cap for containers which will enable liquid dispensers to be re-supplied iin a hygienic and convenient manner.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a pierceable cap for a liquid container said cap comprising a cap top having a top surface and a bottom surface a cap rim extending from the cap top, a peripheral skirt extending from the cap rim, a tear line which extends from the bottom edge of the skirt to the cap rim and facilitates removal of the skirt and, a weakened portion in the cap top which can be readily pierced to allow liquid to pass through the cap top.

The weakened portion in the cap top can be created by scoring in the bottom surface thereof.

The weakened portion of the cap top can be created by intersecting flutes in the bottom surface thereof.

The cap can be moulded in plastics.

The skirt can be provided with a tear tab extending from the bottom edge of the skirt adjacent to the tear line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

Aspects of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; FIGURE 1 is a side view of a typical liquid container and dispenser to which the present invention relates, and FIGURE 2 is a side view of an inverted liquid container shown adjacent a piercing device which is typical of known water dispensers, and FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a pierceable cap in accordance with the present invention, and FIGURE 4 is a sectional drawing of the cap of figure 3.

With respect to figures 1 and 2 of the drawings in a typical water dispensing device water containers 1 are inverted and supported by a dispenser 2.

In some instances prior to the containers being inverted and married with the dispenser caps are removed and during the inversion process the opening to the bottle is blocked off, usually by hand prior to the nozzle of the bottle being engaged with a complimentary opening 3 in the dispenser. As can be imagined such exercise is difficult to complete without spillage occurring and the procedure is suspect from a hygiene point of view.

In other instances, such as illustrated by figure 2 the opening 3 of the container is provided with a piercing spike 4 which creates an opening in the cap 5 and for this purpose the cap 5 is provided with an internal socket into which the spike 4 can enter.

With respect to figures 3 and 4 of the drawings the present invention provides a pierceable cap generally indicated by arrow 10 said cap comprising a cap top 11 having a top surface 11a and a bottom surface 11 b, a cap rim 12 extending from the cap top 11 and a peripheral tear off skirt 13 extending from the rim.

The skirt 13 has a tear tab 14 which extends from the bottom edge of the skirt and which has an associated tear line 15 which extends to the cap rim 12. The tear line can be formed by providing a continuous or non-continuous channel in the outer surface of the cap.

The cap 10 is provided with a weakened portion generally indicated by arrow 16 which can be readily pierced to allow liquid to pass through the cap.

In the illustrated instance the weakened portion 16 is provided by scoring 17 in the bottom surface 11 b of the cap.

The scoring reduce the thickness of the top wall of the cap. In the present instance the scoring 17 is provided by the intersecting fluted portion illustrated.

It is no doubt appreciated that there are alternative ways of creating an equivalent weakened portion.

The cap 10 is by preference moulded in plastics materials.

The rim 12 of the cap 10 provides an internal channel 18 which is locatable with an external rim (not shown) at the opening of a container and the cap is a push and/or shrink fit on the neck of a container.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it is to be appreciated that modifications and additions thereto may be made without departing from the scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (2)

1. A pierceable cap for a liquid container said cap comprising a cap top having a top surface and a bottom surface a cap rim extending from the cap top, a peripheral skirt extending from the cap rim, a tear line which extends from the bottom edge of the skirt to the cap rim and facilitates removal of the skirt and, a weakened portion in the cap top which can be readily pierced to allow liquid to pass through the cap top, characterised in that the weakened portion of the cap top is created by scoring in the bottom surface of the cap top.

2. A pierceable cap as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 13 th day of December 2000 PLASTECH HOLDINGS PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.