Bottle Cap and Method of Use With a Liquid Dispensing Apparatus and System

Abstract

A cap is provided for sealing a liquid container such as a water bottle. The cap may include a cap body with an outer annular wall engaging the bottle neck, and an inner annular wall with a plug gripping formation engaging a cap gripping formation on a cap plug. The cap body and the cap plug may be attached by a tether to ensure that the cap plug does not completely disassociate from the cap during liquid container removal and replacement. A method for using such a cap, including various embodiments of the cap body and cap plug, is also disclosed and claimed.

1 . A cap for sealing a liquid container, comprising: 
 a cap body comprising an outer annular wall sized to sealingly contact a neck of the liquid container, and an inner annular wall with at least one plug gripping formation; and    a cap plug having an outer surface with at least one cap gripping formation for engaging a corresponding of the at least one plug gripping formation;    wherein the cap body and the cap plug are physically attached by a tether to ensure that the cap plug does not completely disassociate from the cap during liquid container removal and replacement.    
   
   
       2 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the tether is connected to a plastic ring sized to fit over the inner annular wall of the cap body.  
   
   
       3 . A liquid container closure and probe combination for use in dispensing a liquid from a container, comprising: 
 a probe in fluid communication with the liquid container and adapted to allow the removal of liquid from the container; and    a closure comprising a cap body and a cap plug, the cap body comprising an annular wall sized to sealingly contact a neck of the liquid container, an inner surface of the annular wall comprising at least one plug gripping formation; and    the cap plug having an outer surface with at least one cap gripping formation for engaging a corresponding of the at least one plug gripping formation;    wherein the cap body and the cap plug are physically attached by a tether.    
   
   
       4 . The liquid container closure and probe combination of  claim 3 , wherein the plug comprises an annular sealing portion abutting a corresponding portion of the inner annular wall of the cap body to provide a liquid-tight seal between the plug and the cap body, and wherein the plug further comprises an engaging portion which engages and retains the plug in a fixed position adjacent the probe when the probe is engaged to remove liquid from the container.  
   
   
       5 . A method for enabling dispensing from a liquid container, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a cap body comprising an annular wall sized to connect to a portion of the liquid container, and a frangible cap plug having a seal that may be ruptured;    inserting a hollow probe into the cap plug, rupturing the cap plug and thereby enabling fluid communication between the liquid container and the probe; and    disengaging the probe from the cap plug, wherein the cap plug automatically substantially reseals.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cap plug comprises a resilient check valve.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the check valve comprises an elastomeric material.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein when the probe is disengaged from the cap plug, the cap plug returns to its approximate original shape prior to insertion of the probe and seal rupture.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cap plug contains a thinned portion which ruptures upon insertion of the probe into the cap plug.  
   
   
       10 . A method for enabling dispensing from a liquid container, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a cap body comprising concentric outer and inner annular walls, the outer annular wall adapted to engage a portion of the liquid container in fluid communication between the liquid container and the cap body, and the inner annular wall adapted to seat a generally wedge-shaped cap plug;    inserting a hollow probe is inserted into the cap body to thereby engage the cap plug, raising the cap plug above the inner annular wall of the cap body and enabling fluid communication between the liquid container and the probe;    disengaging the cap body from the probe, whereby the cap plug is caused to reseat itself within the inner annular wall of the cap body, the cap plug thereby substantially resealing the liquid container.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the cap plug does not contact any outside or top surface of the inner annular wall of the cap body.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the inner annular wall of the cap body bows outwardly when the probe is disengaged from the cap and the cap plug reseats itself between within the inner annular wall of the cap body.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein when the liquid container is removed from the probe, the frictional force between the inner annular wall of the cap body and outer wall of the cap plug exceeds a snap engagement force between the cap plug and the post, thereby allowing the post to disengage from the cap plug while permitting the cap plug to reseal the liquid container by reseating itself within the inner annular wall of the cap body.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the inner annular wall and the outer wall of the cap plug include one or more annular ribs designed to engaged each other in a liquid-tight manner.  
   
   
       15 . A method for dispensing liquid from a bottle having a bottle cap normally sealing the bottle and in selective fluid communication with a water dispensing unit housing a reservoir and an upstanding hollow probe, comprising the steps of: 
 placing the bottle adjacent the water dispensing unit, and seating the probe in contact with and in fluid communication with the bottle cap, wherein a cap plug is attached to the bottle cap by an attachment mechanism;    dispensing the liquid from the bottle, so that the liquid flows through the bottle neck, the bottle cap and the attached cap plug and through the probe; and    removing the bottle from the probe while retaining the bottle cap sealed to the bottle, with the cap plug remaining attached to the bottle cap by the attachment mechanism.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a tether.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the tether is connected to a ring attached to a portion of the bottle cap.