US-20260125190-A1 - CAP FOR A LIQUID CONTAINER

US20260125190A1US 20260125190 A1US20260125190 A1US 20260125190A1US-20260125190-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cap for consuming a liquid from a container which comprises at least one orifice for the outlet of liquid from the container and at least one orifice for the inlet of air into the container, said air inlet orifice incorporating a one-way valve that allows air to enter but does not allow liquid to come out through the same.

Inventors

Ramón Tamarit Rios

Assignees

DESARROLLOS TAMARIT PLAZA SL

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20220211

Claims (15)

1 . A cap for a liquid container comprising: a perimeter wall to be fit to an opening of a liquid container, and a first surface having at least one mouthpiece that rises from said surface and with at least one first orifice for the outlet of liquid from the container, the first surface also having at least one second orifice for the inlet of air into the container, and this second orifice having a one-way valve that allows air to enter the container, but prevents liquid from coming out, the cap further comprises an air supply system that extends from an orifice or aperture arranged in the perimeter wall to the second orifice to lead air to said second orifice from the perimeter wall.
2 . The cap, according to claim 1 , wherein: the first surface is arranged in a first body, the perimeter wall is arranged in a second body formed by a second surface with a hole to insert the mouthpiece of the first body, and the air supply system is at least one duct located between the first surface of the first body and the second surface of the second body, in communication with the outside of the cap through at least one third orifice arranged in the perimeter wall of the second body to allow air (A) to enter said air supply system.
3 . The cap, according to claim 2 , wherein the first surface of the first body comprises at least one first channel connected to the second orifice and also connected to the at least third orifice in the perimeter wall through at least one second channel, determining the air supply system allowing air (A) to circulate from the third orifice to the second orifice through the channels.
4 . The cap, according to claim 2 , wherein the second surface of the second body comprises on the underside thereof a third channel following the at least third orifice in the perimeter wall through at least one fourth channel, said third channel determining the air supply system.
5 . The cap, according to claim 3 , wherein the second surface of the second body comprises on the underside thereof a third channel complementary to the first channel of the first body and a fourth channel complementary to the second channel of the first body determining the duct of the air supply system, the second channel and fourth channel being connected to the at least third orifice in the perimeter wall, allowing air (A) to circulate from the third orifice to the second orifice through the duct of the air supply system.
6 . The cap, according to claim 3 , wherein the first surface of the first body is in contact with the second surface of the second body over the entire area thereof except for the area occupied by the channels that determine the duct of the air supply system.
7 . The cap, according to claim 2 , wherein the duct of the air supply system is determined by the second surface of the second body, the first surface of the first body and the perimeter wall of the second body, the second surface and the first surface being separated from each other and the at least one third orifice in the perimeter wall arranged in said gap.
8 . The cap according to claim 1 , wherein the perimeter wall and the first surface form a single body, said first surface comprising at least one first channel that at least partially surrounds the mouthpiece and connected to the second orifice, said first channel being connected to the perimeter wall through at least one second channel, said channels determining the duct of the air supply system that allows air (A) to circulate from the perimeter wall to the second orifice.
9 . The cap, according to claim 2 , wherein the second surface of the second body has a slot separated from the hole.
10 . The cap, according to claim 9 , wherein the slot is aligned with the second orifice of the first surface of the first body.
11 . The cap, according to claim 1 , comprising coupling means for coupling to said container which are integrated in the perimeter wall.
12 . The cap, according to claim 11 , wherein said coupling means are a thread for fitting thereof to the container located on the perimeter wall of the cap.
13 . The cap, according to claim 1 , comprising a cover or lid.
14 . The cap, according to claim 13 , wherein the cover or lid has internal projections intended to block the first orifices, the second orifices and the slots.
15 . The cap, according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid outlet orifice is open.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cap with a one-way valve for a liquid container, preferably a cap of the type that is coupled to an opening of the container, such as PET bottles, although it can also be used in other types of containers, such as the bottles used by cyclists or athletes. In particular, the cap described in the application is applicable to a liquid container and comprises a mouthpiece for the outlet of the liquid that rises from a surface which also incorporates an orifice with a one-way valve that allows air to enter inside the container, but prevents the liquid from coming out from inside the same. The cap also incorporates a perimeter wall to fit the cap on the opening of the liquid container. The cap of the present invention allows air to access the orifice with the one-way valve without interruption, i.e., maintaining the air supply, even when this orifice is blocked by the user's lips when said user inserts the mouthpiece into his or her mouth to drink. This invention is applicable in the sector of closures for liquid containers, and in particular closures of containers for beverages, mainly water, isotonic drinks, soft drinks and juices, as well as receptacles for sauces and other food products, which are liquid or partially liquid, among others. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the state of the art, closure devices for liquid containers are known which incorporate an orifice for the outlet of liquid from the container and an orifice for the inlet of air into the same, such that said air inlet makes it easier for the liquid to come out. Examples of said closure devices are used in cups or bottles with a large diameter, especially used by young children and the elderly. Likewise, different mechanisms can be incorporated into the closure device to prevent the liquid from coming out through the air inlet orifice. These mechanisms are made up of elements that make it easier for the user or consumer to drink the liquid. Said closure devices mainly consist of elements, coupled to the body of the cap or integrated into the body of the cap, specifically one-way valves, which prevent the liquid from coming out from inside the container when the liquid is being consumed, but do allow air to enter the container to achieve smooth outlet of the liquid. In the case of elements coupled to the cap, they are made of materials with specific characteristics such as latex or silicone, whereas in the case of being integrated into the body of the cap, the material of the valve is the same as the material of the rest of the cap. Thus, there are currently caps for bottles of the type mentioned above, for mineral water, soft drinks and isotonic drinks, which only incorporate an orifice for the outlet of liquid which is small, such that the consumer needs to suck to be able to extract the liquid or compress the receptacle or container if the material thereof allows it in order to drink directly from the stream that comes out of the liquid outlet orifice. If the consumer sucks, problems derived from said suction will arise, such as the need to stop sucking to take a breath and be able to continue drinking, and deformation due to the collapse of the container, indiscriminately wrinkling and/or becoming crushed during suction and causing a change in the shape of the container, especially when it is made of PET, which makes it difficult to hold. These problems become worse if the consumers are young children, convalescent people or the elderly who need to stop to take a breath, running the risk of ingesting a lot of liquid by not controlling the suction exerted with the consequent risk of choking. Likewise, in the caps of the state of the art, a suction effect is created when ceasing to drink, which is bothersome to the consumer. Likewise, the cap object of the invention can also be applied to receptacles for sauces and other food products. Caps are also known which incorporate, on the surface of the same body of the cap or closure device, an orifice for the outlet of the liquid and an orifice for the inlet of air with a valve that regulates the inlet of air into the container and prevents the liquid contained therein from coming out, or a one-way valve, said valve being integrated into the body of the cap or closure device forming a single body or part of one and the same single material, i.e., said valve is part of the same part as the cap with the outlet orifice thereof. The problem that these caps or closure devices with an orifice for the outlet of liquid from the container and an orifice for the inlet of air into the container, with or without a one-way valve, may have is that the user, when inserting the orifice for the outlet of liquid into his or her mouth, blocks the orifice for the inlet of air with their lips, thus preventing air from entering the container at the same time that the liquid comes out. This problem is especially evident in caps where the liquid outlet orifice, loc