Source selecting cap and closure for multiple chamber bottles

Abstract

A source selecting cap and closure for multiple cavity bottles incorporates a first element sealingly engaging a first opening in a first cavity of a bottle and a second opening in a second cavity of the bottle. A second element is movably engaged by the first element and provides an outlet and one or more channels connected to the outlet for selectively communicating with the first cavity of the bottle in a first position and communicating with the second cavity of the bottle in a second position.

1 . A source selecting cap and closure for multiple cavity bottles comprising: 
 a first element sealingly engaging a first opening in a first cavity of a bottle and a second opening in a second cavity of the bottle;    a second element movably engaged by the first element and having a single outlet;    means connected to the outlet for selectively communicating with the first cavity of the bottle in a first position and communicating with the second cavity of the bottle in a second position.    
   
   
       2 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 1  wherein the means for selectively communicating placed in a third position precludes communication from either cavity to the outlet.  
   
   
       3 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 1  wherein the first element includes a wall covering the first and second opening, the wall including a first orifice in communication with the first cavity and a second orifice in communication with the second cavity; 
 the second element incorporates a sealing face adjacently opposed to the wall and    the means for selectively communicating comprises at least one channel in the second element extending from the outlet to an aperture in the sealing face, said aperture in alignment with the first orifice in said first position and in alignment with the second orifice in a second position.    
   
   
       4 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 2  wherein the second element is rotatably engaged in the first element and the means for selectively communicating comprises: 
 a first channel extending from the outlet to a first aperture at a first radius from a center of rotation of the second element, said first orifice located at a radius equal to the first radius and at a first angular orientation; and,    a second channel extending from the outlet to a second aperture at a second radius from the center of rotation, said second orifice located at a radius equal to the second radius and at a second angular orientation.    
   
   
       5 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 4  wherein selective rotation of the upper element to a third angular orientation places the first aperture and second aperture adjacent the wall to create an “off” position.  
   
   
       6 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 1  wherein the multiple cavity bottle incorporates two cavities having a separating septum, said cavities and septum terminating in a common circular neck having a first substantially D-shaped opening formed by the septum and a first portion of a circumference of the neck and a second substantially D-shaped opening formed by the septum and a second portion of the circumference of the neck, the first element further comprising a substantially cylindrical body with a wall substantially bisecting the cylindrical body to sealingly cover the D-shaped openings.  
   
   
       7 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 6  wherein the wall includes 
 a first orifice adjacent the first D-shaped opening and a second orifice adjacent the second D-shaped opening;    the second element incorporates a sealing face adjacently opposed to the wall; and    the means for selectively communicating comprises at least one channel in the second element extending from the outlet to an aperture in the sealing face, said aperture in alignment with the first orifice in said first position and in alignment with the second orifice in a second position.    
   
   
       8 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 6  wherein at least one mating groove on the neck and at least one rib on an inner circumference of the cylindrical body to capture the neck in the body.  
   
   
       9 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 1  wherein the multiple cavity bottle incorporates a first outer bottle forming a first cavity and a second inner bottle forming the second cavity, each bottle having a neck with an opening, the first element further comprising: 
 a substantially cylindrical body sealingly receiving the neck of the first bottle;    a wall substantially horizontally bisecting the cylindrical body;    a substantially cylindrical receptacle depending from the wall and sealingly receiving the neck of the second bottle, the wall sealingly covering both openings.    
   
   
       10 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 9  wherein the wall includes 
 a first orifice adjacent the opening of the first bottle and a second orifice adjacent the opening of the second bottle;    the second element incorporates a sealing face adjacently opposed to the wall; and    the means for selectively communicating comprises a first channel in the second element extending from the outlet to a first aperture in the sealing face, said first aperture in alignment with the first orifice in said first position and a second channel in the second element extending from the outlet to a second aperture in the sealing face in alignment with the second orifice in said second position.    
   
   
       11 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 9  wherein mating threads on the neck of the first bottle and an inner circumference of the cylindrical body provide the sealing engagement for the first bottle.  
   
   
       12 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 9  wherein mating threads on the neck of the second bottle and an inner circumference of the cylindrical receptacle provide the sealing engagement for the second bottle.  
   
   
       13 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 1  wherein 
 the first element incorporates a bore and further comprises:    a first channel communicating with the first opening and terminating at a first orifice in the bore and a second channel communicating with the second opening and terminating at a second orifice in the bore; and    the second element further comprises:    a hollow cylindrical stem, a portion of which is closely received within the bore, the outlet located proximate a first end of the stem; and    means for rotating the stem; and    the means for selectively communicating comprises an aperture in a side wall of the stem distal the outlet and aligned with the first orifice in a first angular orientation of the stem and with the second orifice in a second angular orientation of the stem.    
   
   
       14 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 13  further comprising means for sealing the stem and orifices.  
   
   
       15 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 14  wherein the sealing means comprises: 
 a first seal mounted on the stem angled from above the aperture to a point diametrically distal and below the aperture to seal the aperture for interface with the orifices; and    a second horizontal seal mounted on the stem spaced outboard from the first angled seal to seal the stem and bore.    
   
   
       16 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 14  wherein the sealing means comprises a first seal circumferentially surrounding the first orifice and a second seal circumferentially surrounding the second orifice.  
   
   
       17 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 16  wherein the first and second seals have a substantially triangular cross section.  
   
   
       18 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 13  further comprising means for sealing the outlet.  
   
   
       19 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 10  further comprising: 
 a first seal operably surrounding the first orifice and a second seal operably surrounding the second orifice, the sealing face engaging the first and second seals.    
   
   
       20 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 19  further comprising: 
 at least one plateau depending from the sealing face, said plateau oriented and sized to engage and hyper compress one of said seals with the second element in a “hard off” position.    
   
   
       21 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 10  wherein the second element comprises: 
 a molded cover having a facing surface and a diametric web, said means for selectively communicating incorporating a keyway having a first cylindrical column and a second cylindrical column in said web, said keyway in communication with a third cylindrical column depending from said outlet; and    said sealing surface comprises a sealing disk engaging said molded cover on the facing surface and having a first aperture aligned with said first cylindrical column and a second aperture aligned with said second cylindrical column.    
   
   
       22 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 21  wherein the second element further incorporates indexing indicia for indicating said first and second position.  
   
   
       23 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 21  wherein the second element further incorporates a dimple received in one of at least two detents in the cylindrical body of the first element, each detent positioned for engaging the dimple at one of said first or second positions.  
   
   
       24 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 21  wherein said sealing disk incorporates a raised lip surrounding said first and second aperture, said lip sealingly received in said keyway.  
   
   
       25 . A source selecting cap and closure for a multiple cavity bottle incorporating a first outer bottle forming a first cavity and a second inner bottle forming a second cavity, each bottle having a neck with an opening, said cap and closure comprising: 
 a first element having 
 a substantially cylindrical body sealingly receiving the neck of the first bottle;  
   a wall substantially horizontally bisecting the cylindrical body;    a substantially cylindrical receptacle depending from the wall and sealingly receiving the neck of the second bottle, the wall sealingly covering both openings, said wall further having a first orifice communicating with the opening of the first bottle and a second orifice communicating with the opening of the second bottle; 
 a second element movably engaged by the first element and having an outlet;  
   a molded cover having a facing surface and a diametric web, a keyway having a first column and a second column in said web, said keyway in communication with a third column depending from said outlet;    a sealing disk intermediate and engaging said molded cover on the facing surface and said wall, the disk having a first aperture aligned with said first column and a second aperture aligned with said second column; and    said first aperture in alignment with the first orifice in a first position and said second aperture in alignment with the second orifice in a second position.    
   
   
       26 . A source selecting cap and closure as defined in  claim 10  wherein the wall includes a third orifice communicating with the first bottle and a forth orifice communicating with the second bottle, said third and forth orifices aligned with the first and second aperture in a third position.  
   
   
       27 . A sealing system for a multiple cavity bottle comprising: 
 a surface sealing a first cavity in the bottle;    a first orifice in the surface communicating with a first cavity in the bottle;    a seal surrounding the first orifice;    a mating surface closely adjacent the sealing surface and having at least one aperture, the mating surface movable to align the first aperture with the first orifice in a first open position;    a plateau extending from the mating surface, intermediate the mating surface and the sealing surface, said plateau alignable with the first orifice in a second hard off position, the pleateau hyper compressing the seal in the second hard off position.    
   
   
       28 . A sealing system as defined in  claim 27  wherein the mating surface engages the seal orientations other than the hard off position.  
   
   
       29 . A sealing system as defined in  claim 27  further wherein the sealing surface has a second orifice communicating with a second cavity in the bottle, said mating surface movable to a third position to align the aperture with the second orifice.