Container and Cap Assembly

Abstract

A container assembly is disclosed in various configurations such as a flexible or substantially rigid wall. The container, therefore, may at least partially enclose a container volume. A cap assembly may be retained, such as tethered, to the container in a selected manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cap assembly configured to selectively close a container, comprising:
 a cap member having an inner closing member and an outer portion;   a retaining member configured to be substantially fixed to a fitment; and   a tether member extending from a first end to a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the cap member and the second end is connected to the retaining member;   wherein the tether member attaches the cap member to the retaining member;   wherein the tether member fixes the cap member to the fitment when the retaining member is substantially fixed to the fitment.   
     
     
         2 . The cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tether member is configured to flex relative to the cap member. 
     
     
         3 . The cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tether member is configured to be positioned between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The cap assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the collapsed configuration is annularly positioned around an axis of the cap member. 
     
     
         5 . The cap assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the axis of the cap member is coaxial with a fitment axis when the retaining member is substantially fixed to the fitment. 
     
     
         6 . The cap assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the tether member positioned in the collapsed configuration has a tether member diameter substantially equal to a retaining member diameter of the retaining member. 
     
     
         7 . The cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member includes at least one retaining portion to engage the fitment to substantially fix the retaining member to the fitment. 
     
     
         8 . The cap assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one retaining portion includes a projecting member extending from an inner wall of the retaining member towards an interior of the retaining member. 
     
     
         9 . The cap assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one retaining portion includes a plurality of the projecting members extending from an inner wall of the retaining member towards an interior of the retaining member;
 wherein at least a first projecting member of the plurality of the projecting members axially fixes the retaining member relative to the fitment; and   wherein at least a second projecting member of the plurality of the projecting members rotationally fixes the retaining member relative to the fitment.   
     
     
         10 . The cap assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the fitment including at least a fitment retaining portion to engage with the at least one retaining portion of the retaining member.   
     
     
         11 . The cap assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the fitment including at least a fitment retaining portion to engage with at least one retaining portion of the retaining member; and   a container configured to be fixed to the fitment;   wherein the cap member is configured to open and close the fitment relative to the container.   
     
     
         12 . The cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tether member is connected to at least one of the cap member or the retaining member with a first connection portion and a second connection portion. 
     
     
         13 . The cap assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first connection is a frangible connection configure to break at a selected force. 
     
     
         14 . The cap assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the selected force is about 19N. 
     
     
         15 . The cap assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first connection portion includes a plurality of first connection portions. 
     
     
         16 . The cap assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the second connection portion includes at least a cap second connection portion fixed to the cap member and a retaining member second connection portion fixed to the retaining member. 
     
     
         17 . The cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cap member, the retaining member, and the tether member are formed as one piece. 
     
     
         18 . A method of providing a tethered cap assembly having a cap member configured to selectively close a container, comprising:
 providing a cap member having an inner closing member and an outer portion;   providing a retaining member configured to be substantially fixed to a fitment;   providing a tether member extending from a first end to a second end; and   connecting the tether member at the first end to the cap member and the second end to the retaining member;   wherein the tether member connects the cap member to the retaining member.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 forming the cap member, the retaining member and the tether member as one piece.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 forming a retaining portion extending from the retaining member to engage the fitment to substantially fix the retaining member both axially and rotationally relative to the fitment.