US20080171109A1

US20080171109A1 - Cap assembly for cold steeping drinks

Info

Publication number: US20080171109A1
Application number: US11/653,343
Authority: US
Inventors: Kun-Jhan Hsieh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-01-16
Filing date: 2007-01-16
Publication date: 2008-07-17

Abstract

A cap assembly includes a body, a punch assembly, a safety ring and a connector strip. The body has a cap connector, a primary tube, a cover, a drive tube and a chamber. The primary tube is formed coaxially on the cap connector and has at least one annular seal. The drive tube is mounted on the cap connector and has multiple outer pawl teeth and multiple top pawl teeth. The punch assembly includes a drive cap, a punch tube and multiple upper teeth corresponding to the top pawl teeth. The punch tube is formed coaxially on and extends down from on the drive cap, is longer than the body and presses against the at least one annular seal. The safety ring is connected to the cap connector. The connector strip is connected to the punch assembly and has multiple inner pawl teeth engaging the outer pawl teeth.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a cap, and more particularly to a cap assembly for cold steeping drinks that can hold steeping materials and improve sealability of the steeping materials and safety of drinks.
2. Description of the Related Art
Steeping materials such as tea leaves, dried vegetables and fruit, Chinese traditional medicine, leaven and concentrated vinegar are brewed in cold water for hours to make cold brewed drinks. Because some harmful and bad-tasting substances dissolve in hot water when steeping materials are steeped in hot water, cold steeped drinks taste better and are healthier than drinks steeped in hot water.
Taking cold steeping tea as an example, because tannic acid and caffeine cause a bitter taste and are difficult to extract from tea leaves in cold water, cold steeping tea results in a smooth taste and prevents disadvantages like palpitations, stomach ulcers, insomnia and low calcium absorption rate caused by caffeine. Cold steeping tea is also helpful to reduce a person's blood pressure and uric acid because less theophylline is extracted. In addition, catechins like EC, EGC and EGCg extract effectively from tea leaves in cold water and have healthy effects such as reducing free radials and cholesterol, producing anticarcinogens, antioxidants for antiaging and antibacterial agents, preventing stomach ulcers, protecting the cardiovascular system and increasing helpful bacteria in the intestinal tract.
With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a conventional cap assembly for cold steeping tea as disclosed in the applicant's prior art is mounted on a mouth (61A) of a bottle (60A) and comprises a body (10A), a punch assembly (20A), a safety ring (30A) and a connector strip (50A).
The body (10A) is mounted on the mouth (61A) and has a cap connector, a primary tube (12A), a cover (16A), a drive tube (14A) and a chamber (13A). The cap connector is screwed on an outer thread formed on the mouth (61A) and has a sidewall and a shoulder. The sidewall has an upper edge, a lower edge, an inner surface and an inner thread. The inner thread is formed on the inner surface of the cap connector and screws onto the outer thread on the mouth (61A). The shoulder is formed on and protrudes in from the upper edge of the sidewall and 11 has an outer surface and an inner surface. The primary tube (12A) is formed on and protrudes coaxially down from the inner surface of the shoulder and has a distal end. The cover (16A) is mounted detachably on the distal end of the primary tube (12A). The drive tube (14A) is formed on and protrudes coaxially up from the outer surface of the shoulder and has an inner surface, an outer surface, a drive thread and an annular lip (144). The drive thread is formed on the inner surface of the drive tube (14A). The annular lip (144) is formed on and protrudes out from the outer surface of the drive tube (14A). The chamber (13A) is defined in the primary tube (12A) and the drive tube (14A) above the cover (16A) and holds steeping materials (70A).
The punch assembly (20A) is mounted on the body (10A) and comprises a drive cap (24A) and a punch tube (22A). The drive cap (24A) has a top and a sidewall. The top is circular and has an outer edge and a bottom surface. The sidewall is formed on and protrudes down from the outer edge of the top and has a lower edge. The punch tube (22A) is formed coaxially on and protrudes down from the bottom surface of the top, is mounted slidably in the drive tube (14A) and the primary tube (12A), is longer than the body (10A), selectively punches the cover (16A) off the distal end of the primary tube (12A) to release the steeping materials (70) into the bottle (50) and has an outer surface and a thread. The thread is formed on the outer surface of the punch tube (22A) and screws into the drive thread on the drive tube (14A).
The safety ring (30A) is connected to the cap connector, engages a flange on a bottle (60A), is removable so the cap assembly can be removed from the bottle (60A) and has an upper edge, an inner surface, a connector and multiple resilient teeth (32A). The connector is formed on the upper edge of the safety ring (30A), is connected to the lower edge of the cap connector and tears to allow the cap assembly to be removed from a bottle (60A). The resilient teeth (32A) are formed on and protrude in and up from the inner surface of the safety ring (30A) and engage a flange on the bottle (60A) to hold the cap assembly on a bottle (60A).
The connector strip (50A) is connected detachably to the punch assembly (20A) and has an upper edge, an inner surface, a connector, multiple teeth (51A), a crack and a pull tab. The connector is formed on the upper edge of the connector strip (50A), is connected to the lower edge of the drive cap (24A) and is torn to remove the connector strip (60A) and allow the drive cap (24A) to be removed. The teeth (51A) are formed on and protrude in from the inner surface of the connector strip (50A) and engage a notch between the annular lip (144) on the drive tube (14A) and the shoulder on the cap connector. The crack is defined in the connector strip (50A). The pull tab is mounted near the crack to separate the connector strip (50A) from the cap connector. Though the conventional cap assembly is capable of holding steeping materials (70A) and performing cold steeping, safety of the drinks and sealability of the steeping materials (70A) still need to be improved and enhanced.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a cap assembly for cold steeping drinks to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a cap assembly for cold steeping drinks that is mounted on a bottle, holds steeping materials and improves sealability and safety of the drinks.
A cap assembly in accordance with the present invention for cold steeping drinks comprises a body, a punch assembly, a safety ring and a connector strip.
The body has a cap connector, a primary tube, a cover, a drive tube and a chamber. The cap connector comprises a sidewall and a shoulder. The sidewall has an upper edge, a lower edge, an inner surface and an inner thread formed on the inner surface. The shoulder is formed on and protrudes in from the upper edge of the sidewall and has an outer surface and an inner surface. The primary tube is formed on and protrudes coaxially down from the inner surface of the of the shoulder and has an inner surface, an outer surface, a distal end and at least one annular seal formed on the inner surface of the primary tube. The cover is attached to the distal end of the primary tube. The drive tube is formed on and protrudes coaxially up from the outer surface of the shoulder and has an inner surface, an outer surface, a top edge, multiple outer pawl teeth and multiple top pawl teeth. The outer pawl teeth are formed between the top surface of the shoulder and the outer surface of the drive tube. The top pawl teeth are formed on the top edge of the drive tube. The chamber is defined in the primary tube and the drive tube.
The punch assembly is mounted on the body and comprises a drive cap, a punch tube and multiple upper teeth. The drive cap is mounted slidably on the drive tube and comprises a top and a sidewall. The top is circular and has a bottom surface and an outer edge. The sidewall is formed on and protrudes down from the outer edge of the top of the drive cap and has a lower edge and an inner surface. The punch tube is formed coaxially on and protrudes down from the bottom surface of the top wall, is mounted slidably in the drive tube and the primary tube, is longer than the body and has an outer surface and a distal end. The outer surface presses against the at least one annular seal in the primary tube. The distal end selectively extends through the distal end of the primary tube to separate the cover from the distal end of the primary tube. The upper teeth are formed on the bottom surface of the top of the drive cap between the outer surface of the punch tube and the inner surface of the sidewall of the drive cap and correspond to the top pawl teeth on the drive tube.
The safety ring is connected to the cap connector, is removable and has an upper edge, an inner surface, multiple connectors and a locking ring. The connectors are tearable, are formed on the upper edge of the safety ring and are connected to the lower edge of the sidewall of the cap connector. The locking ring is formed on the inner surface of the safety ring.
The connector strip is connected detachably to the punch assembly and has an upper edge, an inner surface, multiple connectors, multiple inner pawl teeth, a crack and a pull tab. The connectors are formed on the upper edge of the connector strip, are connected to the lower edge of the sidewall of the drive cap. The inner pawl teeth are formed on and protrude in from the inner surface of the connector strip and engage the outer pawl teeth on the drive tube. The crack is defined in the connector strip. The pull tab is mounted near the crack to separate the connector strip from the cap connector.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cap assembly in accordance with the present invention for cold steeping drinks;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view in partial section of the cap assembly in FIG. 1 on a bottle;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the cap assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an operational cross-sectional view of the cap assembly in FIG. 1 with steeping materials released into the bottle;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view in partial section of a conventional cap assembly in accordance with the prior art; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the conventional cap assembly in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a cap assembly in accordance with the present invention for cold steeping drinks is mounted on a mouth (61) of a bottle (60) having a top edge, an outer thread and a flange (62) and comprises a body (10), a punch assembly (20), a safety ring (30) and a connector strip (50).
The body (10) is mounted on the bottle mouth (61) and has a cap connector (11), a primary tube (12), a cover (16), a drive tube (14) and a chamber (13).
The cap connector (11) screws onto the outer thread of the mouth (61) and comprises a sidewall and a shoulder. The sidewall has an upper edge, a lower edge, an inner surface and an inner thread. The inner thread is formed on the inner surface of the sidewall and screws onto the outer thread of the mouth (61). The shoulder is formed on and protrudes in from the upper edge of the sidewall and has an outer surface and an inner surface.
The primary tube (12) is formed on and protrudes coaxially down from the inner surface of the shoulder and has an inner surface, an outer surface, a distal end, at least one annular seal (121) and a sealing lip (122). The at least one annular seal (121) is formed on the inner surface of the primary tube (12). The sealing lip (122) is formed between the inner surface of the shoulder and the outer surface of the primary tube (12). When the body (10) is screwed onto the mouth (61), the sealing lip (122) presses against the top edge of the mouth (61) to prevent air or moisture from entering the bottle (60) and improves sealability.
The cover (16) may be plastic, metallic or airtight papery film and is attached to the distal end of the primary tube (12).
The drive tube (14) is formed on and protrudes coaxially up from the outer surface of the shoulder and has an inner surface, an outer surface, a top edge, multiple outer pawl teeth (141), an outer thread (142) and multiple top pawl teeth (143). The outer pawl teeth (141) are formed between the top surface of the shoulder and the outer surface of the drive tube (14). The outer thread (142) is formed on the outer surface of the drive tube (14). The top pawl teeth (143) are formed on the top edge of the drive tube (14).
The chamber (13) is defined in the primary tube (12) and the drive tube (14) to hold steeping materials (70).
The punch assembly (20) is mounted on the body (10) and comprises a drive cap (21), a punch tube (22) and multiple upper teeth (23). The drive cap (21) is mounted slidably on the drive tube (14) and comprises a top and a sidewall. The top is circular and has a bottom surface and an outer edge. The sidewall is formed on and protrudes down from the outer edge of the top and has a lower edge, an inner surface and an optional inner thread (211). The inner thread (211) is formed on the inner surface of the sidewall and corresponds to and is screwed onto the outer thread (142) of the drive tube (142).
The punch tube (22) is formed coaxially on and protrudes down from the bottom surface of the top, is mounted slidably in the drive tube (14) and the primary tube (12), is longer than the body (10) and has an outer surface and a distal end. The outer surface of the punch tube (22) presses against the at least one annular seal (121) to prevent air or moisture from entering the chamber (13) in the body (10). With further reference to FIG. 4, the distal end of the punch tube (22) may be oblique, selectively extends through the distal end of the primary tube (12) when the drive cap (21) is screwed fully on the body (10) and separates the cover (16) from the distal end of the primary tube (12) to release the steeping materials (70) in the chamber (13).
The upper teeth (23) are formed on the bottom surface of the top of the drive cap (21) between the outer surface of the punch tube (22) and the inner surface of the sidewall of the drive cap (21) and correspond to the top pawl teeth (143) on the drive tube (14). When the drive cap (21) is screwed fully on the body (10), the upper teeth (23) engage the top pawl teeth (143) to prevent the punch assembly (20) from loosening from the body (10) and safety of the cap assembly is improved.
The safety ring (30) is connected to the cap connector (11), engages a flange (62) on a bottle (60), is removable so the cap assembly can be removed from the bottle (60) and has an upper edge, an inner surface, multiple connectors (31) and a locking ring (32). The connectors (31) are tearable, are formed on the upper edge of the safety ring (31) and are connected to the lower edge of the sidewall of the cap connector (11). The locking ring (32) is formed on the inner surface of the safety ring (30) and abuts the flange (62) on the mouth (61) of the bottle (60) when the body (10) is loosened from the bottle mouth (61) to prevent the safety ring (30) from moving with the body (10). Consequently, the connectors (31) are torn, and the safety ring (30) remains around the mouth (61) of the bottle (60) to indicate that the body (10) has been loosed from the mouth (61) of the bottle (60).
The connector strip (50) is connected detachably to the punch assembly (20) and has an upper edge, an inner surface, multiple connectors (52), multiple inner pawl teeth (51), a crack and a pull tab (53). The connectors (52) are formed on the upper edge of the connector strip (50), are connected to the lower edge of the sidewall of the drive cap (21) and are torn to remove the connector strip (50) and allow the drive cap (24) to be removed. The inner pawl teeth (51) are formed on and protrude in from the inner surface of the connector strip (50) and engage the outer pawl teeth (141) on the drive tube (14) to keep the punch assembly (20) from loosening from the body (10). The crack is defined in the connector strip (50). The pull tab (53) is mounted near the crack to separate the connector strip (50) from the cap connector (11). To release the steeping materials, the pull tab (53) is pulled to tear the connectors (52) on the connector strip (50) and to remove the connector strip (50) from the punch assembly (20) and allow the punch assembly to be turned.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A cap assembly for cold steeping drinks comprising

a body having

a cap connector comprising

a sidewall having

an upper edge;

a lower edge;

an inner surface; and

an inner thread being formed on the inner surface; and

a shoulder being formed on and protruding in from the upper edge of the sidewall and having

an outer surface; and

an inner surface;

a primary tube being formed on and protruding coaxially down from the inner surface of the of the shoulder and having

an inner surface;

an outer surface;

a distal end; and

at least one annular seal being formed on the inner surface of the primary tube;

a cover being attached to the distal end of the primary tube;

a drive tube being formed on and protruding coaxially up from the outer surface of the shoulder and having

an inner surface;

an outer surface;

a top edge;

multiple outer pawl teeth being formed between the top surface of the shoulder and the outer surface of the drive tube; and

multiple top pawl teeth being formed on the top edge of the drive tube; and

a chamber being defined in the primary tube and the drive tube;

a punch assembly being mounted on the body and comprising

a drive cap being mounted slidably on the drive tube and comprising

a top being circular and having

a bottom surface; and

an outer edge; and

a sidewall being formed on and protruding down from the outer edge of the top of the drive cap and having

a lower edge; and

an inner surface;

a punch tube being formed coaxially on and protruding down from the bottom surface of the top wall, being mounted slidably in the drive tube and the primary tube, being longer than the body and having

an outer surface pressing against the at least one annular seal in the primary tube; and

a distal end selectively extending through the distal end of the primary tube to separate the cover from the distal end of the primary tube; and

multiple upper teeth being formed on the bottom surface of the top of the drive cap between the outer surface of the punch tube and the inner surface of the sidewall of the drive cap and corresponding to the top pawl teeth on the drive tube;

a safety ring being connected to the cap connector, being removable and having

an upper edge;

an inner surface;

multiple connectors being tearable, being formed on the upper edge of the safety ring and being connected to the lower edge of the sidewall of the cap connector; and

a locking ring being formed on the inner surface of the safety ring; and

a connector strip being connected detachably to the punch assembly and having

an upper edge;

an inner surface;

multiple connectors being formed on the upper edge of the connector strip, being connected to the lower edge of the side wall of the drive cap;

multiple inner pawl teeth being formed on and protruding in from the inner surface of the connector strip and engaging the outer pawl teeth on the drive tube;

a crack being defined in the connector strip; and

a pull tab being mounted near the crack.

2. The cap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the primary tube further has a sealing lip formed between the bottom surface of the shoulder of the cap connector and the outer surface of the primary tube.

3. The cap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the drive tube further has an outer thread formed on the outer surface of the drive tube; and

the side wall of the drive cap further has an inner thread being formed on the inner surface of the side wall and being corresponding to and screwed onto the outer thread of the drive tube.

4. The cap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the distal end of the punch tube is oblique.

5. The cap assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the sidewall of the drive cap further has an inner thread formed on the inner surface of the sidewall and corresponding to and screwed onto the outer thread of the drive tube.

6. The cap assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the distal end of the punch tube is oblique.

7. The cap assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the distal end of the punch tube is oblique.