Caps and containers containing the same
One aspect of the invention provides a cap comprising: a plane defining an opening and a slidable closure adapted and configured to seal the opening. The slidable closure includes: a projection extending above an external surface of the plane and a flexible seal coupled to the projection and located on an internal surface of the plane opposite the projection. The flexible seal includes: a connection portion coupled to the projection; a sealing portion having a profile that is complementary to a shape of the opening; and a flexible hinge adapted and configured to bias the sealing portion against the internal surface. Another aspect of the invention provides a container assembly including: a container and the cap as described herein coupled to the container.
1. A cap comprising:
a straight, horizontal plane defining an opening; and
a slidable closure adapted and configured to seal the opening, the slidable closure comprising:
a projection extending above an external surface of the horizontal plane; and a flexible seal coupled to the projection and located on an internal surface of the horizontal plane opposite the projection, the flexible seal configured to slide between an open position and a closed position of the opening, the flexible seal comprising:
a connection portion coupled to the projection;
a sealing portion having a profile that substantially corresponds to a shape of the opening, the sealing portion comprising:
a peripheral ring defining an uppermost portion of the sealing portion; and
two or more support ribs disposed along a bottom surface of said sealing portion, wherein said two or more support ribs each join at one end and extend to differing locations of a periphery of said sealing portion at respective second ends; and
a flexible hinge directly connected to the sealing portion and the connection portion, said flexible hinge arranged in an arcuate manner between a bottom surface of the connection portion and said bottom surface of the sealing portion without being fixed to a remainder of the cap, the flexible hinge having an arcuate structure that biases the peripheral ring of the sealing portion against the internal surface and around the opening such that the sealing portion is prevented from entering the opening when the slidable closure is in the closed position, the sealing portion being displaced horizontally along the horizontal plane from the opening when the slidable closure is in the open position, said two or more support ribs engaging said flexible hinge at said one end and engaging said bottom surface of said sealing portion; wherein
the flexible seal prevents passage of a beverage therethrough when in the closed position and allows passage of the beverage when in the open position.
2. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the flexible seal is fabricated from silicone.
3. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the flexible hinge is an arc, an underside of which faces the internal surface.
4. The cap of claim 3 , wherein the arc has a radius of about 180°.
5. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the opening has a profile selected from the group consisting of: a circle, an oval, and an ellipse.
6. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal plane defines a linear slot adapted and configured to receive the slidable closure and permit sliding in a single dimension.
7. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral ring having a stiffness that is less than a remainder of the sealing portion.
8. A container assembly comprising:
a container; and
the cap of claim 1 coupled to the container.
9. The container assembly of claim 8 , wherein the container is a single-walled container.
10. The container assembly of claim 8 , wherein the container is a double-walled container.