WO2019011387A1

WO2019011387A1 - Bottle cap, building brick and kit

Info

Publication number: WO2019011387A1
Application number: PCT/DK2018/050179
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karsten NØRKJÆR
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-07-14
Filing date: 2018-07-05
Publication date: 2019-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-14
Also published as: DK179644B1; DK179644B8; DK201770572A1

Abstract

A cap (10) of the screw-type, a building brick and a kit comprising the cap (10) and the building brick (110). The cap (10) has a cup-shaped body centred on an axis (30). The body has a top perpendicular to the axis (30) and a skirt extending from the top in an axial direction. Further, the cap (10) has an interior adapted for connecting to a threaded, tubular neck (81) of a container (80). The cap (10) also has an exterior having an exterior face. The building brick (110) has an interior adapted for connecting and disconnecting a cap of the screw-type.

Description

Bottle cap, building brick and kit

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an alternative bottle cap of the screw-type. The bottle cap has an interior adapted for connecting and disconnecting to a threaded, tubular neck of a container. The bottle cap has an exterior adapted for connecting and disconnecting a building brick.

The invention further relates to a building brick suitable to a bottle cap.

The bottle cap may constitute a part of a kit with a building brick or a building brick and a container.

Background of the Invention

During recent years bottle caps of the screw-type have become an enormous sales article. Generally, bottle caps are used to close containers of fluid materials including water, milk, soft drinks, juice and others. Often bottle caps have a cup-shaped body with a threaded interior to match the treaded neck of a container. The top of the bottle cap is generally a flat, flush surface.

Lids, bottle caps and closures in form of building blocks are known and have been described in several patent publications (see examples below).

US20140073217 relates to a bottle cap that may be used for collection, teaching or education purposes. The bottle cap may interlock with similar bottle caps similar to putting together a jigsaw puzzle. It is not possible to interlock the bottle cap with e.g. the well-known LEGO® building brick.

US20150336019 relates to a lid in form of a building block compatible with basic connection to LEGO® and/or DUPLO® or other compatible brands. The bottle caps known today to form building bricks have several problems. The bottle cap and the building brick are constructed as one unit, and it is not possible to separate them. Thereby they may only be used for one purpose at the time. Either as a building block or as a bottle cap. Furthermore, the bottle cap is in direct contact with the content of the container. This constitutes a problem, if the content of the container is intended for consumption. Then the bottle cap has to be made of a material suitable for food-contact which is not necessarily suitable for material for building bricks. If it is necessary to use a food-suitable material for the building brick, it may affect the quality and lifetime of the building brick. GB 2410493A and WO 2014/008666A1 discloses particular examples of such bottle caps.

Object of the Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved bottle cap of which it is possible to connect and disconnect a building brick and through simple means further improve the usefulness of a bottle cap, building brick and a container.

Description of the Invention

An object of the invention is achieved by a bottle cap of the screw-type. The bottle cap may have a cup-shaped body centred on an axis. The body may have a top per- pendicular to the axis. The body may have a skirt extending from the top in an axial direction. The bottle cap has an interior adapted for connecting to a threaded, tubular neck of a container. The bottle cap has an exterior having an exterior face.

The top may comprise one or more recesses. The recesses extend in an axial direction parallel to the axis and which are adapted for connecting and disconnecting a building brick on the exterior face.

It is hereby achieved that the possible content of the container is not in contact with the building brick. It is possible to use a building brick made of a material not suitable for food and beverages even though the content of the container is used for consumption. Thereby the building brick may be made of a material such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene or other materials suitable for the wear and tear that naturally occurs when children play with building bricks. The lifetime of the building brick is thereby enhanced.

A further advantage is that the bottle cap will maintain its purpose to secure a tight seal to the container even though the building brick is disconnected. A bottle cap may then be reused after disconnection of the building brick for other purposes such as playing or teaching.

In the disclosed invention the building brick and the bottle cap are two separate units. Several advantages that the current state-of-the art lacks are solved by this, namely:

- the building brick may be disconnected from the bottle cap and the bottle cap may still maintain its function to secure tightness of a container,

-the building brick and the bottle cap may be made of different materials.

-the bottle cap may have a compatibility with well-known building blocks such as Lego®, Duplo® or any other desired building brick.

The recesses may be defined by walls and a bottom. They may extend in an axial direction parallel to the axis. They may end within the cup-shaped body or extend fur- ther. The recesses may be of different size and shape. A cross-section of a recess may be circular, square, rectangular, triangular or any other geometric shape. The recesses may extend in the axial direction towards the top of the cap and in the axial direction away from the top, so it forms both male and female recesses. It is hereby possible to connect the bottle cap to a variety of building bricks.

In an embodiment the interior annular recess may have a threaded surface extending from the top followed by a flush interior surface. Thereby the bottle cap is guided into the right position in relation to the neck of the container and screwing and unscrewing of the bottle cap from the container with high speed is possible. In an embodiment of the invention the bottle cap may have an annular tamper-evident band. It may be connected to the skirt with thin bridges. When the bottle cap is used as intended with a container, the bridges will break when unscrewing the bottle cap the first time. Thereby a consumer may inspect an unopened bottle cap and will know if he is the first person to open the bottle, and food safety is thereby secured. Furthermore, tightness is further secured to prevent leakage from the bottle cap when screwed onto the neck of a container.

In an embodiment of the invention the threaded interior of the bottle cap may be com- pliant with a standard plastic closure only (PCO) 1881 container neck and other standard container necks.

Thereby the bottle cap is interchangeable with standard bottle caps and may be used as closure to standard containers such as (PET) bottles, cartons, flasks, glass, jar and oth- ers used for water, milk, soft drinks, juice, jam and others.

In an aspect of the invention the bottle cap may further comprise a release strap connected to the interior. It may be connected to the walls or the bottom of the recess. Thereby easy and fast release of the building brick is possible. The release of the building brick from the bottle cap may be accomplished by applying a force to the release strap.

In an embodiment of the release strap, the recess may deform when applying force to the release strap and the building brick is pushed out.

The release strap may be connected to the recess by connection points. The connection points may be placed on the surface of the recess with the greatest possible distance. Thereby the least amount of force is needed to release the building brick from the bottle cap. The release strap may be of different length and may extend further than the bottle cap. Thereby the release strap has a suitable length so it is possible to pull the release strap with a finger or a tool such as a fork, knife, stick or others. The release strap may have an edge. Thereby it is easy to grab with a finger or a tool.

In a further aspect of the release strap, the release strap is short and does not extend further than the bottle cap. Thereby the release strap will not be in direct contact with the content of an upright container. This allows for a more hygienic embodiment, if the release strap is touched by several individuals and/or tools, and the bottle cap is connected and disconnected to a container intended for food or beverages. In an embodiment of the invention the release strap may be almost parallel to the bottom of the recess. The distance from the centre of the bottom of the recess to the release strap is short, e.g. 0.5 mm.

Thereby the strap will not be in contact with the content of an upright container, it is easy to produce, and it is easy to release the building brick with a tool.

In an embodiment the release strap may be made of a flexible material.

Thereby the disconnection of the building brick is easy with a finger or a tool.

In an aspect of the invention the skirt of the bottle cap may comprise a rough surface on the exterior face.

The rough surface may extend to the shoulder of the bottle cap with rounding edges extending to the top of the bottle cap.

The rough surface facilitates easier handling and facilitates manual screwing and unscrewing of the bottle cap onto the container. If used as intended with a building brick, the rough surface of the skirt may provide a better grip of the building brick.

Thereby the building brick may be fastened enough to prevent the building brick from being disconnected without using the release strap. This prevents the building brick from falling off the bottle cap and prevents theft of the building bricks before it is sold and the bottle cap is disconnected from the bottle.

In an embodiment the rough surface of the skirt may be made of lamellae. The exteri- or diameter of the bottle cap including the lamellae may be smaller than the diameter of a standard bottle cap, e.g. 0.5 mm smaller.

Thereby when the bottle cap is used as intended, it will fit in the building brick of e.g. the DUPLO® type so it is possible to screw and unscrew the building brick in combi- nation with the bottle cap onto the container. Due to the presence of the lamellae and the smaller diameter it is possible to disconnect the building block by pulling it.

In an aspect of the invention the bottle cap may be made of polyethylene. Thereby the bottle cap is impermeable for fluids. A further advantage is that polyethylene is suitable for contact with food and beverage, hygienic and does not affect the taste of the content of the container.

In an embodiment the bottle cap is made of high density polyethylene (HDPE), poly- ethylene, plastic, metal, composite material or a combination thereof.

In an aspect of the invention the bottle cap may be a monolith.

Thereby it is easier to preclude any distortion that could cause leakage. The manufac- turing may be faster and more protected from construction failure.

An object of the invention is achieved by a bottle cap having one tubular recess. The recess extends away from the top in the axial direction. The recess has walls and a bottom. Thereby it is possible to connect the well-known Duplo® building brick or similar to the bottle cap. An object of the invention is achieved by a building brick. The building brick may be centred on an axis and may comprises one or more recesses extending in an axial direction. The building brick is adapted for connecting and disconnecting a bottle cap of the screw-type. The bottle cap comprises a cup-shaped body centred on an axis. The body may have a top perpendicular to the axis. The body may have a skirt extending from the top in an axial direction. The bottle cap has an interior adapted for connecting to a threaded, tubular neck of a container. The bottle cap has an exterior having an exterior face.

The top may comprise one or more recesses. The recesses extend in an axial direction parallel to the axis and which are adapted for connecting and disconnecting a building brick on the exterior face

Thereby it is possible to connect a desired building brick in relation to the bottle cap. In order to further improve the building brick according to the invention it may be advantageous that the outer plane side of the bottle cap is provided with letters, numbers or mathematical signs or figures. The building brick may also be constructed in different colours. Thereby the building brick can be used for collection, education and teaching of primary school children.

In another embodiment of the building brick, the building brick may be a variety of sizes and shapes e.g. cylinder, square, pentahedron or others. Thereby several building bricks may be used to connect to the bottle cap. An object of the invention is achieved by a building brick configured to a bottle cap. The building brick comprises one first top side with two cylindrical recesses and one second top side with one elongate recess, the length of which is similar to the width of the two recesses at said first top side. Thereby several types of building bricks may be combined in several ways for collection, education or teaching of primary school children. Different types of building blocks may be combined and mounted next to each other or on top of each other to create words, sentences or mathematical constructions.

An object of the invention is achieved by a building brick configured to a bottle cap. The building brick comprises two elongated recesses, the length of which is similar to the width of the two recesses at said first top side. Thereby several types of building bricks may be combined in several ways for collection, education or teaching of primary school children. Different types of building blocks may be combined and mounted next to each other or on top of each other to create words, sentences or mathematical constructions. An aspect of the invention may be achieved by a kit. The kit comprises a bottle cap and a building brick.

Thereby when used as intended the exterior brick-shaped bottle cap is easier to grab and open for children, elderly or handicapped persons. This easier handling for elderly or handicapped persons may be further improved by the fact that the bottle cap at the exterior configuration has at least two substantially parallel outer plane sides - such that it is even easier to grab and unscrew the bottle cap by means of a suitable wrench tool. Hereby is achieved an improved bottle cap by means of which it may be possible to obtain more improvements in connection with the recycling and handling of empty water bottles or similar packaging for fluid foodstuff such as milk or the like. In this connection it is of great importance that the bottle cap is in fact collected by the user before the disposable water bottle or similar packaging is taken over by the recycling system such that the sorting work is simplified by the fact that bottle caps most often are made from polyethylene, HDPE, plastic, metal, composite material or a combina- tion thereof, while the empty water bottles most often are made from polyethylene- terephthalate.

The building brick and the bottle cap may be connected and disconnected. It is hereby achieved that the possible content of the container is not in contact with the building brick. It is possible to use a building brick made of a material not suitable for food and beverages even though the content of the container is used for consumption. Thereby the building brick may be made of a material such as acrylonitrile buta- diene styrene or other materials suitable for the wear and tear that naturally occurs when children play with building bricks. The lifetime of the building brick is thereby enhanced.

An aspect of the invention may be achieved by a kit. The kit comprises a bottle cap, a building brick and a container configured to receive the bottle cap.

The building brick and the container may be movable relative to each other.

Thereby any side of the building brick may be in front to match a possible logo on the container.

Description of the Drawing

Embodiments of the invention will be described in the figures, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates an isometric top view (A) and bottom view (B) of a bottle cap, Fig. 2 illustrates a bottle cap of the screw-type in relation to a building brick and a container,

Fig. 3 illustrates a front view (A) and a front, sectional view (B) of a bottle cap, Fig. 4A, B illustrates an isometric view of two bottle caps moulded as monoliths, Fig. 5 illustrates a top view (A) of a bottle cap with a magnification of a shoulder with a rough surface (B) and a bottom view of a bottle cap,

Fig. 6 illustrates an isometric top view (A) and bottom view (B) of a bottle cap with a strap, Fig. 7 illustrates a bottle cap of the screw-type with a strap in relation to a building brick and a container,

Fig. 8A,B illustrate two front views of a bottle cap,

Fig. 9A,B illustrate two front, sectional views of a bottle cap,

Fig. 10 illustrates a top view (A) and a bottom view (B) of a bottle cap with a strap,

Fig. 11 illustrates an isometric bottom view of a bottle cap with a release strap not extending further than the interior of the cap,

Fig. 12 illustrates a front view (A) and a bottom view (B) of a bottle cap with a release strap not extending further than the interior of the cap,

Fig. 13A,B illustrate two front views of a bottle cap with a release strap not extending further than the interior of the cap,

Fig. 14 illustrates a building brick with four standard recesses,

Fig. 15 illustrates a building brick with two standard recesses and one elongated recess.

Fig. 16 illustrates a bottle cap of the screw-type in relation to a DUPLO® building brick and a water bottle.

Reference table

Item No

Bottle cap 10

Body 20

Axis 30

Axial direction 31

Top 40

Skirt 50

Rough surface 51

Shoulder 52

Face parallel to the axis 53

Annular tamper-evident band 54

Bridges 55

Exterior 60

Exterior face 61

Interior 70 Interior annular recess 72

Flush interior surface 73

Container 80

Neck 81

Recess 90

Surface of the recess 91

Recess wall 92

Recess bottom 93

Building brick 110

Building brick top 111

Building brick recess 113

Building brick elongated recess 114

Building brick first top side 115

Building brick second top side 116

Building brick small recess 117

Building brick recess top 118

Building brick side 119

Release strap 120

Edge 121

Connection points 122

Kit 130

Detailed Description of the Invention

Fig. 1A illustrates a bottle cap 10 having a cup-shaped body 20 centred on an axis 30. The bottle cap 10 has a top 40 perpendicular to the axis 30 and a skirt 50 extending from the top 40 in an axial direction 31.

The bottle cap 10 has an exterior 60 having an exterior face 61 with a rough surface 51. The top 40 comprises one or more recesses 90 extending in an axial direction 31a and which are adapted for connecting and disconnecting a building brick 110 (not shown). The axial direction 31a,b is shown in both directions, but in the shown embodiment the bottle cap 10 has one recess 90 extending away from the top in the axial direction 31a. In another embodiment the recess may extend in the opposite direction 31b (not shown).

Fig. IB illustrates a bottom view of the bottle cap 10 with the recess 90. The recess 90 is sealed towards the interior 70 of the bottle cap 10. The recess surface 91 is flush. The bottle cap 10 has an interior 70 with an interior annular cavity 72 adapted for connecting to a threaded, tubular neck 81 of a container 80 (not shown).

Fig. 2 illustrates a bottle cap 10 of the screw-type having a recess 90 centred on an axis 30 in relation to a building brick 110 and a threaded, tubular neck 81 of a con- tainer 80.

Fig. 3 A illustrates a bottle cap 10 with a skirt 50 extending from the top 40 in an axial direction 31 (not shown). The skirt has a face parallel to the axis 53. The bottle cap 10 has a shoulder 52 with a rough surface 51. The shoulder 52 is extending to the top 40 of the bottle cap 10. The shoulder 52 has a rough surface 51 extending from the top 40.

The bottle cap has an annular tamper-evident band 54 connected to the skirt with thin bridges 55.

Fig. 3B illustrates a front, sectional view of the bottle cap 10. The bottle cap 10 has an interior annular recess 72 adapted for the threaded neck 81 of a container 80 (not shown). The interior annular recess 72 has a treaded surface. The bottle cap has one recess 90. The recess 90 is formed by a tubular wall 92 and a bottom 93.

Fig. 4A,B illustrate a bottle cap 10 with the same features shown in fig. 1-3 such as a skirt 50 and a recess 90. The bottle cap 10 is a monolith. Fig. 5 A illustrates a top view of the bottle cap 10 having a recess 90.

The bottle cap 10 has a shoulder 52 connecting a skirt 50 (not shown) and a top 40. The shoulder has rounded edges.

Fig. 5B is a magnification of the shoulder 52.

Fig. 5C is a bottom view of a bottle cap 10 with a recess 90. The recess 90 has walls 92 and a flush surface 91 toward the interior annular cavity 72.

Fig. 6A illustrates a bottle cap 10 having a cup-shaped body 20 centred on an axis 30. The bottle cap 10 has a top 40 perpendicular to the axis 30 and a skirt 50 extending the top 40 in an axial direction 31.

The bottle cap 10 has an exterior 60 having an exterior face 61.

The top 40 comprises one or more recesses 90 extending in an axial direction 31a adapted for connecting and disconnecting a building brick 110 (not shown). The axial direction 31a,b is shown in both directions, but in the shown embodiment of the bottle cap 10 the recess 90 is extending away from the top in the axial direction 31a. In another embodiment the recess may extend in the opposite direction 31b (not shown).

The release strap 120 is extending beyond the bottle cap 10. The release strap has an edge 121.

Fig. 6B is a bottom view of the bottle cap 10 with a release strap 120. The release strap 120 is connected to the recess 90. Fig. 7 illustrates a bottle cap 10 of the screw-type having a release strap 120, a recess 90 centred on an axis 30 in relation to a building brick 110 and a threaded, tubular neck 81 of a container 80. Fig. 8A,B are front views of a bottle cap 10 with a release strap 120, a skirt 50 and a shoulder 52.

Fig. 9A,B illustrate a front, sectional view of a bottle cap 10 centred on an axis 30. The bottle cap 10 has an interior annular recess 72 adapted for the threaded neck 81 of a container 80 (not shown). The interior annular recess 72 has a treaded surface extending from the top 40 followed by a flush interior surface 73.

The bottle cap has an exterior recess 90. The recess is formed by a tubular wall 92 and a bottom 93.

The bottle cap 10 has a release strap 120 connected to the walls 92 of the recess 90 in two connection points 122a,b. Fig. 10A illustrates the top 40 of a bottle cap 10 with a release strap 120 (not seen). The presence of a release strap 120 does not affect the features of the top 40.

Fig. 10B illustrates the bottle cap 10 with the release strap 120. The connection points 122 of the release strap 120 are located at the recess 90 with the greatest possible dis- tance.

Fig. 11-13 illustrate different views of another embodiment of a bottle cap 10 centred on an axis 30 with the same features as shown in fig. 1-5. In addition the bottle cap 10 has a release strap 120. The release strap 120 is not extending beyond the bottle cap 10. The release strap 120 is connected to the interior 70 of the bottle cap 10 to the bottom 93 of the recess 90 in connection points 122. The connection points 122 of the release strap 120 are located at the recess 90 with the greatest possible distance.

Fig. 14 illustrates a building brick 110 centred on an axis 30 (not shown). The build- ing brick 110 has at least two substantially parallel exterior plane sides 119. The building brick 110 has four cylindrical recesses 113 extending in an axial direction 31 (not shown) adapted for connecting and disconnecting a bottle cap 10 (not shown) with the same features as shown in one or more of the previous figs. 1-13. The recess- es 113 extend further than the top 111. The recess 113 has yet another small recess 117 inside the first mentioned recess 113 extending in the opposite axial direction.

The building brick sides 119 may be provided with letters, numbers or mathematical signs and figures.

Fig. 15 illustrates another embodiment of the building brick 110 with the same features as shown in fig. 14. Additionally, the building brick 110 has a first top side 115 with two cylindrical recesses 113a,b and a second top side 116 with one elongate re- cess 114, the length of which is similar to the width of the two recesses 113 at said first top side 115. The top 118 of the recesses 113 is parallel to the top 111 of the building brick 110.

In another embodiment (not shown) of the building brick 110 with the features shown in fig. 23, the top 111 has two elongate recesses 114, the length of each of these recesses is similar to the width of two recesses 113 as shown on the first top side 115 in % 15.

Fig. 16 illustrates a kit 130 with a bottle cap 10 with the features shown in one or more of the figs. 1-13 in relation to a building brick 110 with the features shown in one or more of figs. 14-15 and a container 80 with a threaded, tubular neck 81. The building brick 110 is shown as the well-known LEGO^® toy building bricks 110 of the DUPLO^® type. The container 80 is a standard water bottle.

Claims

1. Bottle cap (10) of the screw-type comprising:

-a cup-shaped body (20) centred on an axis (30) having

- a top (40) perpendicular to the axis (30) and a skirt (50) extending from the top (40) in an axial direction (31);

- an interior (70) adapted for connecting to a threaded, tubular neck (81) of a container (80);

- an exterior (60) having an exterior face (61); and wherein the top (40) comprises one or more recesses (90) extending in an axial direction (31) parallel to the axis and which one or more recesses (90) are adapted for connecting and disconnecting a building brick (110) on the exterior face (61).

2. Bottle cap (10) according to claim 1, wherein the bottle cap (10) further comprising a release strap (120) connected to the interior (70), which release strap (120) is configured for applying an external force to facilitate releasing the bottle cap (10) from the building brick (110).

3. Bottle cap (10) according to any one or more of claims 1 to 2, wherein the skirt (50) of the bottle cap (10) further comprises a rough surface (51) on the exterior face (61) to provide a better grip between the bottle cap (10) and a connected building brick (110).

4. Bottle cap (10) according to any one or more of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bottle cap (10) is made of polyethylene.

5. Bottle cap (10) according to any one or more of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bottle cap (10) is a monolith.

6. Bottle cap (10) according to any one or more of the claims 1-5, wherein the bottle cap (10) having

- one tubular recess and is extending away from the top in the axial direction

- the recess has walls and a bottom.

7. Building brick (110) centred on an axis (30) comprising a top (111), an interior and one or more recesses (113) extending in an axial direction (31), and which building brick (110) comprises an interior adapted for connecting and disconnecting a bottle cap (10) of the screw-type, which bottle cap (10) comprises:

-a cup-shaped body (20) centred on an axis (30) having

- an exterior (60) having an exterior face (61); and wherein the top (40) comprises one or more recesses (90) extending in an axial direction (31) and which one or more recesses (90) are adapted for connecting and disconnecting a building brick (110) on the exterior face (61).

8. Building brick (110) according to claim 7, wherein the top (111) is provided at one first top side with two cylindrical recesses (113) and one second top side with one elongate recess (114), the length of which is similar to the width of the two recesses (113) at said first top side.

9. Building brick (110) according to claim 7, wherein the top (111) is provided with two elongate recesses (114), the length of each of these recesses is similar to the width of two recesses (113) according to claim 8.

10. Kit (130) comprising a bottle cap (10) according to any one or more of claims 1 to 6 and a building brick (110) according to any one of claims 7-9.

11. Kit (130) according to claim 10 further comprising a container (80) configured to receive a bottle cap (10) according to any one of claims 1-6.