Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
  • B67D7/02—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes for transferring liquids other than fuel or lubricants
  • B67D7/0288—Container connection means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
  • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/00112—Connection or coupling means
  • A61B1/00119—Tubes or pipes in or with an endoscope
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
  • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
  • B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
  • B65D41/0435—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with separate sealing elements
  • B65D41/0442—Collars or rings
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
  • B67D1/08—Details
  • B67D1/0829—Keg connection means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/00064—Constructional details of the endoscope body
  • A61B1/00066—Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles
  • A61B1/00068—Valve switch arrangements
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
  • A61B1/012—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
  • A61B1/015—Control of fluid supply or evacuation

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a cap for connecting a tube to a container.
• irrigating fluid such as sterile water
• the water is typically provided in a plastic bottle with a screw cap and transferred to the endoscope via a tube set consisting of at least one tube.
• One end of the tube is passed into the bottle through the neck when the cap is removed and the other end attached to the endoscope often via an adaptor.
• Part of the tube may pass through a peristaltic pump to pump water from the bottle to the endoscope.
• the tube must be secured in place to avoid it simply pulling out of the bottle under its own weight or by vibrations caused by the pump.
• the tube set includes an auxiliary screw cap to fit onto the bottle when its usual cap is removed, which includes an opening through which the tube passes .
• Such an auxiliary screw cap will only fit one size of threaded bottle neck. It is also relatively cumbersome to engage and disengage from the bottle, in that it generally requires the operator to use both hands. A cap with internal threads is also relatively complex mould and therefore more expensive to manufacture.
• the present invention provides a cap for a container having a neck defining an opening, the cap comprising a flange to extend over the opening in the container neck in use and defining an aperture, and a resilient collar for engaging the container neck, wherein the flange is spaced from the resilient collar and connected to it by at least one
• This type of cap is easy to fit to a bottle with one hand. It is simple to mould and therefore inexpensive and suited to single use as a disposable item.
• the cap comprises a pair of opposed arms connecting the flange to the collar and the collar comprises resilient struts extending between the connecting arms.
• the connecting arms are preferably movable towards and away from each other to cause the resilient struts to flex.
• the connecting arms may be provided with grip-enhancing features.
• the resilient collar may comprise a substantially C-shaped member. At least one tab may project from the C-shaped member for a user to grasp. The tab may be provided with grip-enhancing features.
• the resilient collar includes a plurality of projections for engaging the container neck.
• the collar is configured to engage the exterior of a container neck.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of a cap in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 2 is a perspective view from below of the cap shown in Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cap of Figures 1 and 2 in place on a bottle neck with a tube inserted;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view from above of a cap in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
• Figure 5 is a perspective view from below of the cap shown in Figure 4 ;
• Figure 6 shows the cap of Figures 4 and 5 in place on a bottle neck with a tube inserted.
• a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 1-3.
• a cap 10 is provided which can be fitted onto the neck of a container such as a plastic bottle.
• the cap 10 includes a flange 12 which is substantially circular and will extend over the opening of the bottle neck in use.
• the flange 12 defines an aperture 14 for receiving a tube.
• the cap 10 also comprises a resilient collar 16 for clipping the cap 10 to the neck of the bottle.
• a pair of connecting arms extend from the flange 12 and join it to the resilient collar 16.
• the collar 16 comprises a pair of resilient arcuate struts 20 joining the connecting arms 18 to form a generally oval shaped collar.
• the connecting arms 18 may have ridges 22 or other grip- enhancing features on their outer surfaces.
• the connecting arms 18 are diametrically opposed to one another on either side of the flange 12. Squeezing them towards one another causes the resilient arcuate struts 20 to flex outwardly so that the resilient collar 16 becomes a fatter oval or more circular shape. In this condition, the cap 10 can be fitted over the neck 30 of a bottle 32. Releasing the connecting arms 18 allows the collar 16 to resume its natural oval shape.
• the cap 10 is dimensioned such that the arcuate struts 20 will engage a given bottle neck 30 below the threads 34, as shown in Figure 3, thus retaining the cap 10 on the bottle neck 30.
• the aperture 14 in the flange 12 may include protruding beads 24 to grip a plastic tube 36 inserted therethrough.
• the upper edge 26 of the aperture 14 is preferably radiused and a tubular part 28 extends below the flange 12 to facilitate entry of the tube 36 and avoid any sharp edges which could damage the tube 36 or cause it to kink.
• the arcuate struts 20 may also include projecting beads 38 to assist with gripping.the bottle neck 30.
• the flange 12 in this example substantially covers the opening in the neck 30 of the bottle 32 as shown in Figure 3 but does not seal against it. In this way, air can enter the bottle 32 as water is withdrawn through the tube 36, to stop the bottle 32 collapsing under suction.
• FIG. 4-6 A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 4-6.
• a cap 40 is provided comprising a flange 42 defining an aperture 44.
• the flange 42 is connected to a generally C-shaped resilient collar 46 by a connecting arm 48.
• the collar 46 defines an opening 50 allowing the cap 40 to be pushed from the side on to the neck 30 of a bottle, rather than fitting the cap over the top of the bottle neck 32 as in the first embodiment.
• the cap 40 is preferably provided with a tab 52 opposite the opening 50 for gripping by a user.
• the tab 52 may include ridges 54 or other grip- enhancing features.
• the lower edge of the resilient collar 46 may be provided with inward projections 56 which can engage beneath the threads 34 on the bottle neck 30 to help retain it in position .
• the aperture 44 may have protruding beads 58 to grip a tube 36.
• the upper edge of the aperture 44 may also be radiused.
• the free ends 60 of the C-shaped collar 46 preferably flare outwardly to facilitate pushing the collar 46 around the bottle neck 30.
• the cap of the present invention is suitable as a disposable/single use item which does not require cleaning and sterilisation. The cap does not seal the bottle opening, thereby allowing the ingress of air to avoid the bottle collapsing under section. Further, the cap is suitable for use on a variety of different container necks and is not restricted to use with a neck of particular dimensions .
• the resilient collar fits the exterior of a container neck but the collar could be arrange to engage the interior of the neck.
• the collar may be continuous or discontinuous and other

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Surgery (AREA)
• Biophysics (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Medical Informatics (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=46605718

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (7)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2012
  • 2012-06-11 GB GB1210258.8A patent/GB2502970B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2013
  • 2013-04-23 WO PCT/GB2013/051026 patent/WO2013186521A1/fr not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (7)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events