Bottle cap

Abstract

A cap for sealing a container having a neck includes an annular outer skirt having an inner surface and an outer surface, a top portion of the outer skirt forming an annular rim. A generally concave top wall extends inwardly from and below a plane defined by the rim, the top wall having a top face and a bottom face. An annular inner skirt extends downward from the top wall bottom face and disposed radially inward from and concentric with the outer skirt, wherein the inner skirt is configured to sealingly engage with an inner surface of the container neck when the cap is attached thereto.

1 . A cap for sealing a container having a neck, the cap comprising:
 an annular outer skirt having an inner surface and an outer surface, a top portion of the outer skirt forming an annular rim;   a generally concave top wall extending inwardly from and below a plane defined by the rim, the top wall having a top face and a bottom face; and   an annular inner skirt extending downward from the top wall bottom face and disposed radially inward from and concentric with the outer skirt, wherein the inner skirt is configured to sealingly engage with an inner surface of the container neck when the cap is attached thereto.   
     
     
         2 . The cap according to  claim 1 , further comprising a shrink sleeve disposed around the outer skirt and the rim and partially spanning the top wall, a space being defined between the top wall and the shrink sleeve such that at least part of a finger fits therebetween for facilitating removal of the shrink sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The cap according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the concave top wall is at least about 80% of the diameter of the cap. 
     
     
         4 . The cap according to  claim 1 , wherein the distance from the center of the top wall top face to the plane defined by the rim is at least about 10% of the height of the cap. 
     
     
         5 . The cap according to  claim 1 , wherein the top face of the top wall includes indicia. 
     
     
         6 . The cap according to  claim 5 , wherein the top wall extends inwardly at a steep angle proximate to the rim such that a shadow is formed around a periphery of the top wall, thereby creating a shadow box effect with respect to the indicia. 
     
     
         7 . The cap according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer skirt, the top wall, and the inner skirt are integrally formed from a copolymer of polypropylene and ethylene-propylene to reduce brittleness and increase impact resistance of the cap. 
     
     
         8 . The cap according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner skirt includes an inwardly tapered portion for facilitating locating the inner skirt with respect to the inner surface of the container neck. 
     
     
         9 . The cap according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the outer skirt includes a plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         10 . The cap according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the outer skirt includes a threaded portion for cooperating with a corresponding threaded portion on an outer surface of the container neck. 
     
     
         11 . A cap for sealing a bottle containing a liquid energy supplement, the cap comprising:
 an annular outer skirt having an inner surface and an outer surface, a top portion of the outer skirt forming an annular rim;   a generally concave top wall extending inwardly from and below a plane defined by the rim, the top wall having a top face and a bottom face, wherein the diameter of the concave top wall is at least about 80% of the diameter of the cap; and   an annular inner skirt extending downward from the top wall bottom face and disposed radially inward from and concentric with the outer skirt, wherein the inner skirt is configured to sealingly engage with an inner surface of a neck of the bottle to prevent oxidation of the liquid energy supplement when the cap is attached thereto.   
     
     
         12 . The cap according to  claim 11 , further comprising a shrink sleeve disposed around the outer skirt and the rim and partially spanning the top wall, a space being defined between the top wall and the shrink sleeve such that at least part of a finger fits therebetween for facilitating removal of the shrink sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The cap according to  claim 11 , wherein the distance from the center of the top wall top face to the plane defined by the rim is at least about 10% of the height of the cap. 
     
     
         14 . The cap according to  claim 11 , wherein the top face of the top wall includes indicia. 
     
     
         15 . The cap according to  claim 14 , wherein the top wall extends inwardly at a steep angle proximate to the rim such that a shadow is formed around a periphery of the top wall, thereby creating a shadow box effect with respect to the indicia. 
     
     
         16 . The cap according to  claim 11 , wherein the outer skirt, the top wall, and the inner skirt are integrally formed from a copolymer of polypropylene and ethylene-propylene to reduce brittleness and increase impact resistance of the cap. 
     
     
         17 . The cap according to  claim 11 , wherein the inner skirt includes an inwardly tapered portion for facilitating locating the inner skirt with respect to the inner surface of the bottle neck. 
     
     
         18 . The cap according to  claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the outer skirt includes a plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         19 . The cap according to  claim 11 , wherein the inner surface of the outer skirt includes a threaded portion for cooperating with a corresponding threaded portion on an outer surface of the bottle neck. 
     
     
         20 . A cap for sealing a container having a neck, the cap comprising:
 an annular outer skirt having an inner surface and an outer surface, a top portion of the outer skirt forming an annular rim;   a generally concave top wall extending inwardly from and below a plane defined by the rim, the top wall having a top face and a bottom face, wherein the distance from the center of the top wall top face to the plane defined by the rim is at least about 10% of the height of the cap, and wherein the top face of the top wall includes indicia; and   an annular inner skirt extending downward from the top wall bottom face and disposed radially inward from and concentric with the outer skirt, wherein the inner skirt is configured to sealingly engage with an inner surface of the container neck when the cap is attached thereto;   wherein the top wall extends inwardly at a steep angle proximate to the rim such that a shadow is formed around a periphery of the top wall, thereby creating a shadow box effect with respect to the indicia.