Bottle closure and cap assembly

Abstract

A clip permits a bottle-type container to be modified without requiring any reconfiguration of the basic bottle, eliminating both the need for an after market purchase and also the inconvenience of keeping track of the clip independently of the bottle. The cap or closure design includes an integrated clip in the cap. The cap is designed to fit on standard bottle constructions. The clip may be either an integrated feature of a reconfigured cap or may be an add-on adapted to be secured to an existing cap. Alternatively, the integrated clip is part of the cap mold or an add-on clip is frictionally mounted, sonic-welded or otherwise glued or secured to an existing cap design. The bottle container is not altered and may be manufactured, filled, labeled and process using existing equipment. The cap is then secured to the bottle with the integral clip, or the clip can be added as a downstream step after the bottle is closed and sealed. This permits the clip to be added to the original product at a minimum of expense to the manufacturer.

1 . An integral clip and bottle cap assembly for a bottle having a neck and a body, including a first portion forming a bottle cap and a second portion depending from the cap and forming a clip, the clip having a first member for securing the clip to the cap and a second clip defining member having an outer end coacting with the body of the bottle.  
     
     
         2 . The clip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cap is a closure cap.  
     
     
         3 . The clip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cap is a dispenser cap.  
     
     
         4 . The clip assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the dispenser cap is a push-pull dispenser cap.  
     
     
         5 . The clip assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the dispenser cap is a threaded dispenser cap.  
     
     
         6 . The clip assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the dispenser cap is a hinged dispenser cap.  
     
     
         7 . The clip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second member is movable between a stowed position and an active position.  
     
     
         8 . The clip assembly of  claim 7 , wherein there is further included a scored separation line between the first member and the second member for securing the second member in the stowed position relative to the first member, whereby the second member is separated from the first member along the separation line when it is moved to the active position.  
     
     
         9 . The clip assembly of claim of  claim 8 , wherein there is further included a live hinge between the first member and the second member for permitting pivoting the second member relative to the first member when separated along the separation line.  
     
     
         10 . The clip assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the separation line is a spiral line permitting peeling of the second member away from the first member.  
     
     
         11 . The clip assembly of  claim 8 , further including a lock for locking the clip in place when it is in the locked position.  
     
     
         12 . The clip assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the second member forms a T-handle when the clip is in the stowed position.  
     
     
         13 . A clip assembly for a standard bottle container cap having an outer peripheral wall, comprising: 
 a. A first member for securing the clip to the cap without interfering with the standard function of the cap; and    b. A second member extending from the first member for defining the clip.    
     
     
         14 . The clip assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the cap includes a flat top and the first member includes a flat base secured to the flat top.  
     
     
         15 . The clip assembly of  claim 14 , the flat top of the cap further including a pair of posts for and the flat base further including a pair of post receptive holes.  
     
     
         16 . The clip assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the base is snap fit onto the posts.  
     
     
         17 . The clip assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the base is glued onto the posts.  
     
     
         18 . The clip assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the cap includes a flat top having a single post and wherein the first member includes a flat base having a single post-receptive hole whereby the flat base is positioned on the flat top.  
     
     
         19 . The clip assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the flat base is sonic welded to the flat top in the vicinity of the post.  
     
     
         20 . The clip assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first member comprises a ring secured about the outer peripheral wall of the container cap.  
     
     
         21 . The clip assembly of  claim 20 , the cap including a peripheral channel for receiving the ring and an enlarged cap area above the channel, whereby the ring is snap fit over the enlarged cap area and into the channel.  
     
     
         22 . The clip assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the first member includes a high friction interior surface and the clip is frictionally held on the outer peripheral wall of the cap.  
     
     
         23 . The clip assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the cap is a flat closure cap.  
     
     
         24 . The clip assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the cap is a dispensing cap.  
     
     
         25 . The clip assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the dispensing cap is a push-pull dispensing cap.  
     
     
         26 . The clip assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the dispensing cap is a threaded dispensing cap.  
     
     
         27 . The clip assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the dispensing cap is a hinged, pivotable dispensing cap.  
     
     
         28 . The clip assembly of  claim 23 , the flat top of the cap including a mounting post and the second member including a flat base, the flat base further including a mounting post receptive hole.  
     
     
         29 . The clip assembly of  claim 28 , including a snap tab on the mounting post for securing the base to the cap.  
     
     
         30 . The clip assembly of  claim 28 , including an adhesive means for securing the base to the cap in the area of the mounting post.  
     
     
         31 . The clip assembly of  claim 20 , the cap further including a raised, reduced boss area forming the outer peripheral wall for receiving the ring.  
     
     
         32 . The clip assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first member is an integral portion of the cap.  
     
     
         33 . The clip assembly of  claim 13 , further including a bottle having a cylindrical neck for receiving the cap and wherein the first member is a ring adapted to fit over the neck, whereby the clip assembly is secured in place by placing the cap on the neck with the clip assembly below the cap on the neck and in engagement with the bottle.  
     
     
         34 . The clip assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the second member forms an elongated clip.  
     
     
         35 . The clip assembly of  claim 34 , further including a bottle upon which the cap is placed and wherein the clip forms a gap between the bottle and the clip when the cap is secure on the bottle.  
     
     
         36 . The clip assembly of  claim 34 , further including a bottle upon which the cap is placed, and wherein the clip forms a positive engagement with the bottle when the cap is secure on the bottle.  
     
     
         37 . The clip assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the bottle includes a wall area adapted for positively engaging the clip.  
     
     
         38 . The clip assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the clip includes an abutment adapted for positively engaging the clip.  
     
     
         39 . The clip assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the second member defines a downwardly extending hook.  
     
     
         40 . The clip assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the second member defines and upwardly extending hook.  
     
     
         41 . The clip assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the second member defines an upwardly extending eyelet.  
     
     
         42 . The clip assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the second member defines an outwardly extending eyelet.  
     
     
         43 . The clip assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the second member includes an elongated inner leg and an elongated outer leg with a gap therebetween.  
     
     
         44 . The clip assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the second member is movable between a stowed position and an active position.  
     
     
         45 . The clip assembly of  claim 44 , wherein there is further included a scored separation line between the first member and the second member for securing the second member in the stowed position relative to the first member, whereby the second member is separated from the first member along the separation line when it is moved to the active position.  
     
     
         46 . The clip assembly of  claim 45 , wherein there is further included a live hinge between the first member and the second member for permitting pivoting the second member relative to the first member when separated along the separation line.  
     
     
         47 . The clip assembly of  claim 45 , wherein the separation line is a spiral line permitting peeling of the second member away from the first member.  
     
     
         48 . The clip assembly of  claim 45 , further including a lock for locking the clip in place when it is in the locked position.  
     
     
         49 . The clip assembly of  claim 45 , wherein the second member forms a T-handle when the clip is in the stowed position.