Cap Tap Seal Puncturing and Removal Device

The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/658,020, which was filed on Jun. 10, 2024, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present invention relates generally to the field of cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a container cap with the capability of puncturing and removing the safety seal applied to various types of containers. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.

By way of background, this invention relates to improvements in container cap devices by providing the end user with the capability of puncturing and removing the safety seal from a container. Generally, end users or consumers who purchase products in containers manufactured with a safety seal to prevent product leakage or tampering are confronted with the problem of safely and conveniently removing the safety seal before the product can be dispensed. Further, after removing the cap from a container, the end user or consumer is faced with the dilemma of removing the safety seal. Often the safety seal can be difficult to pierce or remove in a safe and efficient manner. Additionally, end users or consumers may not have a suitable implement or means to remove the safety seal prior to dispensing the contents of the container.

Containers employing safety seals below the container capping mechanism are in widespread use today. Products such as medicine, juices, condiments, and certain foods contain safety seals. Additionally, automotive fluids such as anti-freeze, oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid and battery acid utilize safety seals below the container cap to prevent leakage during handling and shipping, and the possibility of tampering with the contents of the container. Safety seals in general serve a valuable purpose by preventing the contents of the container from leaking, or spoiling by providing an air and liquid tight seal thus ensuring the end user or consumer is receiving a fresh, pure, and unadulterated product.

Accordingly, there is a demand for an improved container cap that incorporates the features necessary to safely and efficiently puncture and remove the safety seal from the container prior to dispensing the product contained therein. More particularly, there is a demand for a safety seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device that will not only enable for the safe and efficient removal of the safety seal but will also prevent contamination of the product while removing the safety seal.

Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for a cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device that provides end users and consumers with a safe, efficient, and convenient means for puncturing and removing safety seals used in conjunction with traditional container caps. There is also a long felt need in the art for a container cap that incorporates the necessary features to enable the end user or consumer an immediate means of accessing the contents of the container without adulterating the contents contained therein. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal tool that is accessible when needed, convenient, effective, efficient and simple to use. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that improves safety seal puncturing by utilizing a pointed cone shape for puncturing the safety seal in an efficient, uniform manner. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that not only incorporates the use of a pointed cone shape for puncturing the safety seal but additionally incorporates a barbed feature for complete removal of the seal.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a safety seal cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device. The device is a handheld and hand actuated mechanical device designed to safely and efficiently puncture and remove a safety seal from a container so equipped. The device generally is comprised of two major components. One end of the device is a container cap similar to a threaded cap with an attached safety tab as used on a container of milk or anti-freeze. The opposite end of the cap features a non-threaded tube shape that serves as a guide to enable the effective use of the cap seal puncturing feature of the device. The bottom of the non-threaded tube shape contains a raised, pointed or cone like protrusion to be used as a cap seal puncturing feature of the device. After removal of the cap from the container, the non-threaded end of the device if placed over the neck of the container and using hand motion to twist or press the device firmly against the safety seal will enable the seal to be punctured. Additionally, the outer diameter of the tube is fashioned with a protruding barb shape. The barb shape is hand rotated around the circumference of the safety sealed portion of the container to completely remove the seal.

In this manner, the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device of the present invention accomplishes all the forgoing objectives and provides users with a device that effectively caps a container, punctures the safety seal, and removes the seal in its entirety.

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device. The device is a mechanical device utilized to puncture and remove the safety seal from a container if so equipped. The cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device comprises at one end a container cap with a safety tab. The opposite end of the cap comprises the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal feature. The container cap portion of the device is cylindrical in shape and contains an internal or female thread to match the external or male thread as utilized on the container employing the cap. Additionally, the cap portion of the device will employ a safety tab feature. The safety tab feature is to be broken prior to removal of the cap from the container. The opposite end of the container cap is comprised of the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device. This end of the device is also cylindrical in shape and contains a smooth counterbored section to act as a guide over the threaded portion of the container. The bottom of the counterbore contains a point or protruding cone shape which acts as the safety seal puncturing device. Additionally, the cylindrical shape contains a notch or barb feature that acts as the seal removal device.

It can be beneficial in a variety of applications to provide the manufacture with a safe means of sealing a product within a container while providing the end user or consumer a convenient and safe means of opening the container, puncturing and removing the safety seal prior to dispensing the contents contained therein. The device described herein provides all the above-mentioned benefits for both manufacturer and end users or consumers. By utilizing this inexpensive device, a manufacturer or seller can provide added value, convenience and safety for the end user or consumer and provide a more user-friendly product consumption experience. Furthermore, the device not only provides a user-friendly experience, but prevents remnants of the safety seal from adulterating the contents of the container when less efficient means of safety seal removal are employed. Such inefficient means of seal removal include but are not limited to puncturing the seal with a knife or screwdriver, utilizing a finger, fingernail or stick or other implement not specifically designed for the task. For example, puncturing a safety seal on a container of anti-freeze by a consumer using their finger may place them in direct contact with a poisonous or harmful substance increasing the risk of illness or death.

The cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device may be configured in a variety of ways to facilitate safety seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal. Such devices may be configured to be stored for a protracted period before use, to be fabricated at low cost, to be fabricated from a variety of materials, in a variety of configurations, or according to some other considerations.

In one embodiment, the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device has a round or cylindrical external shape and is made of plastic. One end of the device comprises the container cap feature similar to a milk container screw cap. The one end of the device contains a removable safety tab that is to be broken and removed prior to removal of the container cap end of the device. The internal portion of the container cap end of the device is also round and comprises internal or female threads that match the external or male threads on the neck of the container. Once the safety tab is removed from the cap end of the device the end user or consumer will employ a counterclockwise twisting motion with their hand to unscrew the device from the container so affixed. Specifically, once the device has been removed from the container, the safety seal will be exposed and ready for removal or piercing with the opposite end of the device.

In one embodiment, the external shape of the device may have a square, hexagonal, octagonal, or other geometric shape to aid the end user or consumer in obtaining an enhanced grip on the device. Such a feature is important to assist the elderly, infirm, or those individuals with arthritis or wrist and hand problems in accessing the product. Furthermore, by varying the external shape of the device the consumer or end user will have additional gripping power to actuate the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal feature of the device. Additionally, varying the external shape of the device may be contingent upon the environment in which the container may be opened. Specifically, the consumer or end user may have wet or oily hands limiting the grip on a round shaped cap thus making removal difficult. The cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device can become much more versatile by altering the external shape of the device to more suit the environment in which the device will be employed.

In one embodiment, the external portion of the device may be knurled or fluted to assist the end user or consumer in obtaining an enhanced grip during usage. The knurling or fluting of the device would be performed during the manufacturing process. Again, this feature would enable individuals with limited gripping ability to effectively access the product. As an example, one possible configuration of the external portion of the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device can be described as round or cylindrical in shape with knurls or flutes applied to the exterior of the device. In one embodiment, the external shape of the device may be hexagonal with knurls or flutes manufactured into the exterior providing the end user or consumer with far greater gripping ability while removing the cap from the container and employing the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal features of the device.

In one embodiment, the device may be manufactured from a wide variety of engineered plastics. Plastics have proven to be a cost effective and versatile method of manufacture. In addition, many plastics can withstand exposure to a myriad of chemicals, including, but not limited to caustics, cleaners, oils, fuel, and acids to name but a few. Plastic manufacturing techniques employed today permit the cost-effective production of the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device in practically any configuration imagined. In general, the device can be manufactured from any solid material depending on the proposed application and environment in which the device will be used. For example, the device may be made of metal or metal alloys if additional strength is needed. In another embodiment the cap may be made of glass if necessary for use in a laboratory environment.

In one embodiment, the cap seal puncture and removal device comprise a plastic container cap at one end and cap seal puncture and removal feature at the opposite end. The cap seal puncture and removal end of the device can be generally described as having a round or cylindrical exterior. As stated above other geometric shapes may be employed. Other enhancements to the exterior such as knurling or fluting may be employed. The interior portion of the container cap portion of the device has an internal thread matching the external thread on the container to facilitate attachment of cap to container. Additionally, this portion of the cap will contain a safety tab to be removed prior to use. The interior portion of the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal end of the device is round or counterbored and smooth walled to an approximate depth matching the external thread on the container. At the base of the counterbore a protruding cone or point is manufactured into the device. The protruding cone or point is best described as the cap seal puncturing feature of the device. The angle and diameter of the cone can vary depending upon many factors. For example, a one-quart plastic oil container has a much smaller neck than a one-gallon plastic oil container therefore it is necessary to alter the diameter and angle of the cone portion of the device to enable proper performance. Additionally, the device incorporates a barb feature into the circumference of the exterior of this portion of the device. This barb can best be described as the safety seal removal feature of the device. The barb can be manufactured in a wide variety of configurations and geometric shapes based on the application.

In one embodiment, the device can be manufactured as two separate components. For example, the cap end and the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal end can be joined together by means of a removable mechanical attachment or chemically joined by way of an adhesive product.

In yet another embodiment, the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device comprises a plurality of indicia.

Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, upon reading and understanding the following detailed specification.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

As noted above there exists a long felt need in the art for a cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device that provides end users and consumers with a safe, efficient and convenient means for puncturing and removing safety seals used in conjunction with traditional container caps. There is also a long felt need in the art for a container cap that incorporates the necessary features to enable the end user or consumer an immediate means of accessing the contents of the container without adulterating the contents contained therein. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal tool that is accessible when needed, convenient, effective, efficient and simple to use. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that improves safety seal puncturing by utilizing a pointed cone shape for puncturing the safety seal in an efficient, uniform manner. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that not only incorporates the use of a pointed cone shape for puncturing the safety seal but additionally incorporates a barbed feature for complete removal of the seal without adulterating the product contained therein.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a novel cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device. The cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device comprises a container cap component that is configured in a round or cylindrical shape and designed to be secured to a neck of a container with an internal thread that corresponds to the external thread as manufactured onto the container neck. The cap seal puncture and removal component is affixed to the container cap component of the device either by manufacturing the device as a unitized construction or joining both components with a mechanical or adhesive bonding process. The cap seal puncture and removal component of the device comprises a smooth cylindrical shaped bore. At the bottom of the bore is a protruding point or cone shape which acts as a puncturing tool to pierce the safety seal of the container. The exterior of the cylindrical portion of the device contains a barb feature which is utilized to remove the safety seal from the container after the seal has been punctured with the protruding point or cone component. The present invention provides a novel way of removing a safety seal from a container by combining a container cap with a safety seal or cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal component providing the consumer or end user a safe, convenient and efficient means of accessing the contents of containers employing safety seals.

Referring initially to the drawings,illustrate perspective views of one embodiment of the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal deviceof the present invention. In the present embodiment, the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal deviceis an improved cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal devicethat provides a consumer or end user with a convenient and efficient device for removing the safety seal of a container prior to accessing the contents of the container. Specifically, the cap seal puncture and removal devicecomprises a container cap componentwith a safety seal or cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal componentsecured to a container. Referring again to, the cap seal puncture and removal componentcomprises a protruding point or coneand a barb, hook, or removal component of the device. It is to be appreciated that the tip of the coneis recessed below a top edge of the container cap component. When employed, the cap is removed from the container, inverted, and the cap seal puncture and removal deviceis then applied to the safety sealof the containerpermitting safe, convenient, efficient and complete removal of the safety sealwithout adulterating the contents of the container.

It can be beneficial in a variety of applications to puncture and remove safety sealsin a safe and efficient manner that protects not only the consumer or end user from coming into contact with the contents of the container, but also preventing contamination of the contents of the container. For example, products such as anti-freeze, weed killer, and certain acids (i.e. battery acid) are typically sold to consumers and end users in plastic containers. Containersare typically filled with the product by the manufacturer or bottler and a safety sealis applied to the containerprior to installing the container cap. Products such as these can be hazardous to the health of the consumer or end user. If the product were to come into contact with the skin while the consumer or end user is attempting to remove the safety sealin an inefficient or unsafe manner irritation, rash or burning may occur. Furthermore, employing improper safety sealremoval techniques may permit the product to splash into the eyes or mouth of the consumer or end user causing blindness, poisoning, or death. By providing the consumer or end user with a safe and efficient means of puncturing and removing the safety sealfrom a container, the consumer or end user is protected from these hazards. The cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal deviceprovides the consumer or end user with the means to safely and efficiently puncture and remove a safety sealfrom a container.

The cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal devicemay be configured in a variety of ways to facilitate safety sealpuncturing, piercing, and/or removal. Such devicesmay be configured to be stored for a protracted period of time before use, to be fabricated at low cost, or according to some other considerations. Additionally, the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal devicemay be fabricated from a variety of materials or in a variety of configurations or geometric shapes depending upon the application. The barb is adjacent a top edge of the container cap component.

Generally, the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal devicecomprises a container cap componentthat includes internal threadsand a breakable safety tab. The cap componentof the deviceis designed to be affixed to the externally threadedneckof a container. The manufacturer or bottler of the product will fill the containerwith the product and seal the outlet of the container with a safety seal. The seal may be made of foil, plastic or other materials. Once the safety seal is affixed to the containerthe manufacturer or bottler will install the cap component of the devicewith a twisting motion exerted upon the cap engaging the internal threadswith the external threadsof the container. The twisting motion may be performed by hand or machine during the time of manufacture or bottling. Once the cap componentis installed upon the container the safety tabis engaged by the manufacturer or bottler. The cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal deviceis typically configured in a round or cylindrical shape but could be any suitable shape as is known in the art. Specifically, the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal devicecomprises two halves (i.e., an inner or lower sideand an outer or upper side)—the container cap component halfand the seal or cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal component half. The two halves (i.e., an inner or lower sideand an outer or upper side) may be joined during the manufacturing process as a unitized or monolithic construction or manufactured as two separate components joined by a mechanical means such as a tear away strip or a chemical or adhesive means of joining.

As shown in, the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal componentcontains a smooth internal borewhich is designed to fit over the major diameter of the external threadsof the container neck. Upon removing the cap seal puncture and removal device fromfrom the containerthe deviceis inverted by the consumer or end user. The cap seal puncture and removal deviceis placed over the neckof the containerguided by the smooth internal bore. The consumer or end user applies a downward hand pressure on the device while simultaneously employing a twisting motion. This action engages the protruding point or coneand the barb, hook, or removal componentagainst the safety seal. The rotation of the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal devicemay be clockwise or counterclockwise depending upon the application. Upon completing the action, the safety sealwill be effectively punctured and removed from the neckof the container. The safety seal may now be disposed of in an environmentally conscious manner and the contents of the containercan be dispensed. The container cap componentmay be reinstalled on containerafter dispensing the needed product to avoid spilling or contaminating any product remaining in the container. Additionally, the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal devicecould include other means for puncturing and removing safety sealsor could include multiple means for safety seal removal, as is known in the art.

Further, the cap seal puncture and removal deviceof the present invention could be sized to fit a variety of containers. The containermay require various sizes or diameters of container necksdepending upon the product contained therein. For example, a containerof antifreeze generally has a larger diameter of neckthan a containerholding a quart of engine oil. The design of containeris determined by the manufacturer to enable the consumer or end user to effectively dispense the product. Oil containers typically have a long neck to serve as a funnel when dispensing the product while antifreeze containers do not, the common feature of both containers is the use of safety sealsthat need to be punctured and removed prior to dispensing the product. The cap seal puncture and removal devicecan be manufactured in any size and can be used on any containerconfiguration.

The cap seal puncture and removal devicemay be attached to the container by a variety of methods. In the present example devicecontains internal threadsto match the external threadsof the container. In this embodiment the cap seal puncture and removal deviceis attached to the containerby rotating the device around the container with a twisting or threading motion. Additionally, devicemay be attached to the container by lugs, snap fit, partial threads, straps or any other cap attachment methods as is known in the art.

The cap seal puncture and removal device'sexternal shape can be configured in many ways. In one embodiment, the external shape of the device may be round or cylindrical. However, square, hexagonal, octagonal, or other geometric shape to aid the end user or consumer in obtaining an enhanced grip on the device. Such a feature is important to assist the elderly, infirm, or those individuals with arthritis or wrist and hand problems in accessing the product. Furthermore, by varying the external shape of the devicethe consumer or end user will have additional gripping power to actuate the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal componentof the device. Additionally, varying the external shape of the device may be contingent upon the environment in which the containermay be opened. Specifically, the consumer or end user may have wet or oily hands limiting the grip on a round shaped cap thus making removal difficult. The cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal devicecan become much more versatile by altering the external shape of the device to more suit the environment in which the device will be employed.

In one embodiment, the external portion of the devicemay be knurled or fluted to assist the end user or consumer in obtaining an enhanced grip during usage. The knurling or fluting of the device would be performed during the manufacturing process. Again, this feature would enable individuals with limited gripping ability to effectively access the product. As an example, one possible configuration of the external portion of the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal devicecan be described as round or cylindrical in shape with knurls or flutes applied to the exterior of the device. In one embodiment, the external shape of the device may be hexagonal with knurls or flutes manufactured into the exterior providing the end user or consumer with far greater gripping ability while removing the cap from the container and employing the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal features of the device.

In one embodiment, the devicemay be manufactured from a wide variety of engineered plastics. Plastics have proven to be a cost effective and versatile method of manufacture. In addition, many plastics can withstand exposure to a myriad of chemicals, including, but not limited to caustics, cleaners, oils, fuel and acids to name but a few. Plastic manufacturing techniques employed today permit the cost-effective production of the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device in practically any configuration imagined. In general, the devicecan be manufactured from any solid material depending on the proposed application and environment in which the device will be used. For example, the device may be made of metal or metal alloys if additional strength is needed. In another embodiment the cap may be made of glass if necessary for use in a laboratory or medical environment.

In one embodiment the cap seal puncture and removal devicemay employ one configuration of angle and design for the protruding point or coneand in yet another application the angle and shape of the protruding point or conemay be altered to reflect the needed design parameters to effectively puncture and remove the safety seal. Furthermore, the barb, hook, or removal componentof the devicecan be reconfigured to best match the intended application. The design parameters of the components will therefore be varied depending on containertype, size and design shape. Additionally, the safety sealmaterial employed can be considered a factor as well. A foil safety sealmay require design parameters that differ from those of a paper safety seal.

In yet another embodiment, the cap seal puncture and removal devicecomprises a plurality of indicia. The devicemay include advertising, a trademark, or other letters, designs, or characters, printed, painted, stamped, or integrated into the device, or any other indiciaas is known in the art. Specifically, any suitable indiciaas is known in the art can be included, such as but not limited to, patterns, logos, emblems, images, symbols, designs, letters, words, characters, animals, advertisements, brands, etc., that may or may not be diaper, sensor, or brand related.

illustrates a flowchart of the method of employing the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device. The method includes the steps of removal of the devicefrom the containerby a twisting motion. The method also comprises using the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal component of the deviceto puncture and remove the safety sealfrom the container. Finally, the containeris shown with the safety sealremoved from the container in its entirety.

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different users may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the cap tap seal puncturing and removal deviceof the present invention.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal deviceof the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal deviceas shown inis for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal deviceare well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal deviceare important design parameters for user convenience, the cap seal puncturing, piercing, and/or removal devicemay be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.