Mechanically sealed container cap

Abstract

A cap for a container includes a base portion that connects to the container, the base portion including a mouthpiece in fluid communication with an internal cavity of the container. A seal member is movably connected relative to the base portion, and the seal member moves between an unactuated and an actuated position. The seal member allows a fluid to flow from the internal cavity of the container through the mouthpiece when the seal member is in the actuated position, and seals the internal cavity of the container in the unactuated position. The cap also includes an actuating portion that actuates the seal member between the unactuated position and the actuated position to selectively open the internal cavity of the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cap for a container, comprising:
 a base portion configured to connect to the container, the base portion including a mouthpiece configured to be in fluid communication with an internal cavity of the container;   a seal member movably connected relative to the base portion, the seal member being configured to move between an unactuated and an actuated position, wherein the seal member is configured to allow a fluid to flow from the internal cavity of the container through the mouthpiece when the seal member is in the unactuated position, wherein the seal member is configured to seal the internal cavity of the container in the actuated position; and   an actuating portion configured to actuate the seal member between the unactuated position and the actuated position to selectively open the internal cavity of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the seal member includes a gasket. 
     
     
         3 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating portion includes a button. 
     
     
         4 . The cap of  claim 3 , wherein the actuating portion includes a spring and cam mechanism configured to selectively lock the seal member in the actuated position and the unactuated position with each actuation of the button. 
     
     
         5 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the seal member moves away from the base portion to create a gap therebetween to allow fluid communication between the inner cavity of the container and the mouthpiece when the seal member is in the actuated position. 
     
     
         6 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the seal member abuts the base portion to prevent fluid communication between the inner cavity of the container and the mouthpiece when the seal member is in an unactuated position. 
     
     
         7 . The cap of  claim 6 , wherein the base portion further includes a diaphragm configured to abut the seal member when the seal member is in the unactuated position. 
     
     
         8 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion further includes at least one gasket disposed around the base portion for sealing an outer surface of the base portion and the container together. 
     
     
         9 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece is substantially cup shaped and the base portion includes a plurality of openings circumferentially disposed therein to create a fluid path between the internal cavity of the container and the mouthpiece that is substantially circumferential about an inner surface of the mouthpiece such that a user may receive fluid from an internal cavity of the container regardless of the orientation of the mouthpiece or container. 
     
     
         10 . The cap of  claim 9 , wherein the actuating portion further includes a housing configured to mount to the base portion, wherein the housing includes a mounting portion configured to attach to the base portion and a flow guide portion that defines an inner bather of a flow path from the inner cavity of the container to the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         11 . The cap of  claim 10 , wherein the flow guide portion includes a cylindrical shape extending from about the plurality of openings in the base portion up to a flange portion that extends radially outward therefrom. 
     
     
         12 . The cap of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting portion is removably secured to the base portion with screw threading. 
     
     
         13 . The cap of  claim 10 , wherein the seal member includes a plate member and a seal ring disposed around the plate member. 
     
     
         14 . The cap of  claim 13 , wherein the plate member is removably secured to the actuating portion with pinch clips. 
     
     
         15 . The cap of  claim 14 , wherein the actuating portion includes an elastic cover configured to change state between a first state in the unactuated condition and a second state in the actuated condition to indicate whether fluid may flow from the inner cavity of the container. 
     
     
         16 . An actuating portion for a container cap, comprising:
 a housing, wherein the housing includes a mounting portion configured to attach to a base portion of a container cap, and a flow guide portion that defines an inner bather of a flow path from the inner cavity of the container to the mouthpiece;   an actuating mechanism disposed at least partially within the housing, wherein the actuating mechanism is configured to move a seal member between an unactuated position and an actuated position.   
     
     
         17 . A container including:
 a container housing defining an inner cavity configured to hold a fluid; and   a cap including:
 a base portion configured to connect to the container, the base portion including a mouthpiece configured to be in fluid communication with an internal cavity of the container; 
 a seal member movably connected relative to the base portion, the seal member being configured to move between an unactuated and an actuated position, wherein the seal member is configured to allow a fluid to flow from the internal cavity of the container through the mouthpiece when the seal member is in the unactuated position, wherein the seal member is configured to seal the internal cavity of the container in the actuated position; and 
 an actuating portion configured to actuate the seal member between the unactuated position and the actuated position to selectively open the internal cavity of the container.