The present invention is directed to an improved container closure or lever cap comprising one or more of the following features: (i) an improved interface on the interior surface of the closure that consists of strategically positioned locking lugs to securely affix the closure onto a container, (i
The present invention is directed to an improved container closure or lever cap comprising one or more of the following features: (i) an improved interface on the interior surface of the closure that consists of strategically positioned locking lugs to securely affix the closure onto a container, (ii) a repositioned lever handle and fulcrum to optimize function and mechanical advantage, (iii) a retro-fit sleeve for an incompatible container, which on the inner surface is fashioned to interface with twist necks bottles, or other closure designs and mechanisms incompatible with the interior fitting of the lever cap, and which on the exterior is fashioned to receive the interior fitting of the lever cap, (iv) a tamper-evident safety indicator, (v) a specialized vertical sloping sidewall at the container's distal end near the opening to improve the closure's vertical lift during operation, (vi) a child safety design and mechanism that requires two functions to unlock the lever and position it for normal operation, and (vii) certain ergonomic, aesthetic, and customizable features that improve its function and consumer appeal.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed: 1. An easy open, reusable, removable closure apparatus for a container having a terminal end with an orifice and a radially outwardly extending edge having an outer surface and a radially outwardly extending undercut below said edge, the closure apparatus comprising: a cap portion
What is claimed: 1. An easy open, reusable, removable closure apparatus for a container having a terminal end with an orifice and a radially outwardly extending edge having an outer surface and a radially outwardly extending undercut below said edge, the closure apparatus comprising: a cap portion having a top, a peripherally depending sidewall comprising an inner surface that conforms to said container outer surface and one or more radially inwardly extending lugs that engage a portion of said edge undercut thereby sealably securing said closure to said container, wherein a material housed by said container is secured in said container by said cap portion; a handle depending from said cap portion, said handle comprising a fulcrum portion that abuts a portion of the surface of the outer sidewall of said container near the terminal end orifice; and a tamper indicator that becomes deformed when said handle is actuated or the closure is removed from the container, wherein said tamper indicator is positioned on an inner surface of said handle and becomes deformed by contact with the outer sidewall of the container when said handle is actuated or the closure is removed from the container. 2. An easy open, reusable, removable closure apparatus for a container having a terminal end with an orifice and a radially outwardly extending edge having an outer surface and a radially outwardly extending undercut below said edge, the closure apparatus comprising: a cap portion having a top, a peripherally depending sidewall comprising an inner surface that conforms to said container outer surface and one or more radially inwardly extending lugs that engage a portion of said edge undercut thereby sealably securing said closure to said container, wherein a material housed by said container is secured in said container by said cap portion; and a handle depending from said cap portion, said handle comprising a fulcrum portion that abuts a portion of the surface of the outer sidewall of said container near the terminal end orifice, wherein said cap portion has a gasket that abuts the terminal end of the container when the closure is sealably secured to the container. 3. An easy open, reusable, removable closure system for a container having a terminal end with an orifice and a container securing structure, the system comprising: a sleeve having a sleeve securing structure and a radially outwardly extending edge with an outer surface and a radially outwardly extending undercut below said edge, said sleeve securing structure being connectable to the container securing structure thereby securing said sleeve to the container; a cap portion having a top, a peripherally depending sidewall comprising an inner surface that conforms to said sleeve outer surface and one or more radially inwardly extending lugs that engage a portion of said edge undercut thereby sealably securing said closure to said sleeve, wherein a material housed by the container is secured in the container by said cap portion when said sleeve is secured to the container; and a handle depending from said cap portion, said handle comprising a fulcrum portion that abuts a portion of either the surface of the outer sidewall of said sleeve or the container, wherein said sleeve securing structure is inwardly extending threads. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said sleeve has a locking bar that substantially prevents vertical movement of said handle when said handle is positioned between said locking bar and said sleeve. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein said sleeve has a rib that substantially prevents movement of said handle towards said sleeve when said handle is positioned between said locking bar and said rib. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein a middle portion of said rib extends farther from said sleeve than an end of said rib extends from said sleeve. 7. The system of claim 4, wherein said sleeve has a locking mechanism that prevents said handle from being rotated out from under said locking bar unless said locking mechanism is actuated. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein said locking mechanism is a thumb gate that is resiliently depressible towards said sleeve thereby allowing said handle to be rotated out from under said locking bar. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein said thumb gate is at least partially disposed between said locking bar and said sleeve. 10. An easy open, reusable, container system comprising: a container having a terminal end with an orifice and a radially outwardly extending edge with an outer surface and a radially outwardly extending undercut below said edge; a cap portion having a top, a peripherally depending sidewall comprising an inner surface that conforms to said container outer surface and one or more radially inwardly extending lugs that engage a portion of said edge undercut thereby sealably securing said closure to said container, wherein a material housed by said container is secured in said container by said cap portion; and a handle depending from said cap portion, said handle comprising a fulcrum portion that abuts a portion of the surface of the outer sidewall of said container near the terminal end orifice, wherein said portion of the surface of the outer sidewall of said container abutted by said fulcrum portion is at an angle with respect to vertical. 11. The container system of claim 10, wherein said portion of the surface of the outer sidewall of said container abutted by said fulcrum portion has a non-linear shape. 12. The container system of claim 10, wherein said one or more radially inwardly extending lugs is a plurality of said lugs dispersed around a circumference of said edge undercut to engage a portion of said edge undercut thereby sealably securing the closure to said container. 13. The container system of claim 12, wherein said plurality of lugs is substantially equidistantly dispersed around said circumference of said edge undercut. 14. The container system of claim 10, wherein said handle communicates and depends from said sidewall and extends radially downward and away from said container. 15. The container system of claim 10, wherein either said cap portion or said handle has a tamper indicator that becomes deformed when said handle is actuated or said closure is removed from said container. 16. The container system of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of said handle and/or said cap portion changes color when said handle is actuated. 17. The container system of claim 10, wherein said container has a locking bar that substantially prevents vertical movement of said handle when said handle is positioned between said locking bar and said container. 18. The container system of claim 17, wherein said container has a rib that substantially prevents movement of said handle towards said container when said handle is positioned between said locking bar and said rib. 19. The container system of claim 18, wherein a middle portion of said rib extends farther from said container than an end of said rib extends from said container. 20. The container system of claim 17, wherein said container has a locking mechanism that prevents said handle from being rotated out from under said locking bar unless said locking mechanism is actuated. 21. The container system of claim 20, wherein said locking mechanism is a thumb gate that is resiliently depressible towards said container thereby allowing said handle to be rotated out from under said locking bar. 22. The container system of claim 21, wherein said thumb gate is at least partially disposed between said locking bar and said container. 23. A method of opening a container using an easy open, reusable, removable closure apparatus for a container having a terminal end with an orifice and a radially outwardly extending edge having an outer surface and a radially outwardly extending undercut below said edge, the closure apparatus comprising: a cap portion having a top, a peripherally depending sidewall comprising an inner surface that conforms to said container outer surface and one or more radially inwardly extending lugs that engage a portion of said edge undercut sealably securing said closure to said container, wherein a material housed by said container is secured in said container by said cap portion; and a handle depending from said cap portion, said handle comprising a fulcrum portion that abuts a portion of the surface of the outer sidewall of said container near the terminal end orifice; the method comprising: holding said container and the lower handle portion of said handle simultaneously with at least one hand; and depressing said lower handle portion towards said container until said one or more radially inwardly extending lugs disengages said container's edge undercut. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said handle must be moved in at least two directions to remove the closure apparatus from the container. 25. The method of claim 23, further comprising resealing the container with the cap portion by engaging said one or more radially inwardly extending lugs with said container's edge undercut. 26. The method of claim 23, wherein said container and the lower handle portion of said handle are simultaneously held with only one hand when removing or securing the closure to the container. 27. A method of opening a container using an easy open, reusable, removable closure system for a container having a terminal end with an orifice and a container securing structure, the closure system comprising: a sleeve having a sleeve securing structure and a radially outwardly extending edge with an outer surface and a radially outwardly extending undercut below said edge, said sleeve securing structure being connectable to the container securing structure thereby securing said sleeve to the container; a cap portion having a top, a peripherally depending sidewall comprising an inner surface that conforms to said sleeve outer surface and one or more radially inwardly extending lugs that engage a portion of said edge undercut thereby sealably securing said closure to said sleeve, wherein a material housed by the container is secured in the container by said cap portion when said sleeve is secured to the container; and a handle depending from said cap portion, said handle comprising a fulcrum portion that abuts a portion of either the surface of the outer sidewall of said sleeve or the container; the method comprising: engaging said sleeve securing structure with said container securing structure thereby connecting said sleeve with said container; holding said container and/or said sleeve and the lower handle portion of said handle simultaneously with at least one hand; and depressing said lower handle portion towards said container and/or said sleeve until said one or more radially inwardly extending lugs disengages said sleeve's edge undercut. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein said handle must be moved in at least two directions to remove the cap portion from the sleeve. 29. The method of claim 27, further comprising resealing the container with the cap portion by engaging said one or more radially inwardly extending lugs with said sleeve's edge undercut. 30. The method of claim 27, wherein said container and/or sleeve and the lower handle portion of said handle are simultaneously held with only one hand when removing or securing the cap portion to the sleeve.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (27)
Phillips David S. (821-68th St. ; S.E. ; Apt. 5 Kentwood MI 49508), Beverage container opener.
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