GB2268737A - A bottle lid assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A bottle lid assembly for a barbecue seasoning bottle comprises a lid seat 5 and a closure 54 the lid seat including a protruding outlet 51 and an air flow aperture 52 provided in a recess 53 which deepens towards the air flow aperture. Seasoning can flow out of the bottle fluently by the help of air flow, and residual seasoning remaining on top of the lid seat can flow back along the recess and through the aperture 52 into the bottle interior. Preferably the lid seat is removably mounted by screw threads on a bottle mouth ring 22 and the closure 54 is hinged and has a plug 61 to close the aperture 51. The ring 22 may include a pull ring and seal ring (3,31,Fig.4) which has to be removed before use. A user can take off the lid seat and closure and pour a large amount of seasoning through mouth ring 22. <IMAGE>

Description

A BOTTLE LID ASSEMBLY This invention relates to bottle lids. The background to the invention will be explained with reference to a lid for a barbecue seasoning bottle.

Other applications may occur to the reader.

To prepare for barbecue, a man should take grill, charcoal, meat, seasoning material and a dispensing brush, etc. The seasoning material may include soy sauce, hot pepper sauce, sesame oil and barbecue oil.

All of those seasonings are contained in bottles, and the dispensing brush can dip into the sesame oil bottle with large opening directly. However, for other seasoning bottles with narrow openings, this way does not work, and seasoning should be poured to a dish first, and then be dipped or brushed. However, this process is not convenient and users might easily overturn the seasoning dish, which would cause much trouble and complaint.

In Taiwan patent No. 77203279 "Dispensing brushing attachment," wherein a dispensing brush is used cooperating with a soy sauce bottle. A sleeve is inserted in the bottle mouth, and a lid is threaded around the periphery portion. In use, the lid of the bottle is unscrewed, and the bottle mouth inclined downward, so that seasoning can flow out through the sleeve and the mouth. When barbecue is in progress, a dispensing brush can be inserted into the hole of the sleeve, and the bottle mouth can be inclined downward, then seasoning can flow to each bundle of brush evenly through the hole of the sleeve. Thus the seasoning can be brushed evenly on meat.

In Taiwan Patent No. 77203279 "Dispensing brushing attachment" invented by the same applicant, a dispensing brush (which can be seen in Figure 6 of the present invention) cooperates with a bottle. It comprises a hollow connecting socket with its lower end readily squeezed onto the mouth of a sauce containing bottle, and its upper end detachably mating with a connecting sleeve of a brush assembly so that when an opened bottled is held upside-down, the sauce flows through the flow channel within the connecting sleeve and is distributed through the brush seat among a plurality of grooves and then seeps out of brush bristles for being applied to the meat.

Said invention really integrates a dispensing brush and a seasoning bottle. Furthermore, the seasoning bottle per se can pour out a great amount of seasoning. However, it is hard for seasoning bottle per se to pour out a small amount of seasoning.

Due to the abovesaid drawback, the inventor studies the way to overcome the drawback and through numerous designs, tries and efforts, finally he designs the invention "Dispensing brushing attachment".

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a bottle lid assembly, comprising a lid and a lid seat, the lid seat containing an outlet from which the contents of the bottle may be dispensed, an elongate recess surrounding the outlet which is located in one end thereof, the recess deepening towards its other end through which an air aperture, smaller than the outlet, opens into the bottle so that air may flow into the bottle to replace the volume of the contents as it is dispensed and so that residue from contents which has been dispensed but which remains on the lid seat can flow down the recess through the air aperture and back into the bottle, the lid including a closure for the outlet and being arranged to cover the air aperture when closed.

The air aperture assists the contents to flow out of the outlet easily, which facilitates dispensing small amounts of seasoning. Any residual seasoning can also flow back into the bottle through the recess, thus even if, as in a preferred form, the outlet is in the form of a spout, residual seasoning can flow back into the bottle.

The lid seat is preferably removably mounted, and a seal included which may be broken after removing the lid seat.

This enables the bottle to be sealed, e.g. before sale. Removal of the lid seat facilitates fitting dispensing large amounts of the seasoning and may allow a barbecue dispensing brush to be fitted.

A preferred embodiment includes a bottle mouth ring on which the lid seat is removably mounted, the mouth ring including an annular slot for receiving the top of the bottle sealingly. The assembly may thus be manufactured separately from the bottle. The lid is preferably hingedly mounted on the lid seat.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of this invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 wherein the lid has been opened; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the mouth of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of figure 1 wherein the pulling ring has been removed; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 1, wherein the lid is opened; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bottle mouth of Figure 1 cooperating with a barbecue dispensing brush.

Now referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, a bottle has a body 1, a bottle mouth 2, a pull ring 3 with a sealing ring 31 (both can be found in Figure 4), a dispensing brush 4 (in Figure 6), a lid seat 5, a lid 6 etc. The mouth 2, the pull ring 3 and seal ring 31, the lid seat 5 and the lid 6 are made of plastic by injection moulding.

Now referring to Figure 5, a vertical mouth ring 21 is formed at the upper portion of mouth 2, male threads are provided at the central bottom portion of the mouth ring 21, and a hollow sleeve 22 is provided at the bottom of mouth 2. A concentric inner ring 23 forms a circular ring enclosing a space of circular slot (as shown in Figure 5, so that the top of the bottle body 1 can be pushed upward and inserted into between the hollow sleeve 22 and the inner ring 23 (please refer to Figure 5), to provide an elastic and tight seal.

Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 5, wherein the lid seat 5 of the preferred embodiment of this case has a hollow cylinder, and the bottom has an opening.

Female threads are provided on the inner wall to mate with the outward male threads of the circular mouth ring 21 of the mouth 2. The top of the lid seat 5 has an outlet 51 protruding upward, and an air flow aperture 52 is provided at the rear position. Both openings communicate with the space above the lid seat 5. The diameter of the outlet 51 is about five times of that of the air flow apertures 52. A recess 53 surrounds the outlet 51 and the air flow aperture 52.

The portion of the recess 53 around the outlet 51 is shallow and becomes deeper gradually toward the air flow aperture.

An integral and openable lid 6 is provided at the top of the lid 5, and a flexible connecting slip 54 with a left and a right slip is provided at the rear for a flexible connection. However, this flexible structure has already been used on other containers for hair shampoo, skin lotion, etc., and accordingly is not the subject of this invention and thus will not be detailed. A downward protruding plug 61 is provided at the front position of the lid 6 to match with the outlet 51 of the lid seat 5. When the lid 6 is closed, the plug 61 can be pushed tightly into the outlet 51 to prevent any leaking of seasoning.

Please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 5, wherein the lower portion of the mouth ring 21 of bottle and the top rim of the inner ring 23 is formed integrally and is connected with a sealing ring 31 having a pull ring 3 (as shown in Figure 4). This pull ring 3 is located on top of the seal ring 31 and both are formed integrally.

Please refer to Figure 4, wherein the sealing ring 31 of the pull ring 3 is connected with inner ring 23 (the connecting surface there-between is a circular line), so that a user can tear them apart easily. The connection technique between the pull ring 3 and the seal ring 31 is a conventional art that has been applied widely, and thus the cross-sectional view thereof is omitted.

Please refer to Figure 5, wherein the verge of the mouth ring 21 of the mouth 2 diverges outward to match tight with the relative converging portion of the top rim of lid seat 5 to achieve a tight contact.

When this embodiment is used practically, the lid seat 5 together with the lid 6 should be screwed off first, then the pull ring 3 with seal ring 31 is unplugged, and the lid seat 5 with lid 6 is screwed on.

Now a user can tilt the outlet 51 of the bottle 1 downward, so that seasoning contained in bottle 1 can flow through mouth 2 and then the outlet 51 of the lid seat 5. With the help of air flow from the air flow aperture 52, seasoning can flow out smoothly. It is suitable for providing a small amount of seasoning.

On the other hand, for providing a large amount of seasoning, the user can take off the lid seat 5 with lid 6, and slope downward the bottle 1 and mouth 2, then the seasoning contained in bottle 1 can flow out through the mouth 2.

Along the recess 53 surrounded by the outlet 51 of the lid seat 5 and the periphery of the air flow aperture 52, the recess 53 around the periphery of the outlet 51 is most shallow, then it gets deeper and deeper toward the air flow aperture 52. After a user pours seasoning downward and then uprights the bottle (i.e., stop using it), residual seasoning remaining on the recess 53 around the outlet 51 will flow back along the sloping recess 53 through the air-flow aperture 52, and finally into the mouth 2 and the bottle 1.

Now please refer to Figure 6. Alternatively, a user can take off the lid seat 5 together with lid 6, and then un-plug the pull ring 3 with seal ring 31, finally the brush stem 41 of the dispensing brush 4 can be inserted tight into the central hole of the mouth 2.

Then the bottle 1 is turned upside-down, and seasoning can flow downward through the central hole of the brush stem 41 and can be dispensed evenly to bristles of the brush. Accordingly, seasoning can be brushed on meat directly and conveniently.

Summing up the above, this the lid assembly is suitable for pouring seasoning in either a small or large amount, and is suitable to be adapted with a barbecue dispensing brush. A protruding outlet and an air-flow aperture are provided on the top of lid seat.

Besides, cooperating with a sloping recess connecting with said two apertures, air-drafting can be achieved to help pouring the seasoning. Besides, the residual seasoning remaining outside the outlet can automatically flow back into the bottle smoothly.

Further with the said feature of the lid assembly, environment can be kept clean and neat and it can be used easily.

Claims (9)

1. A bottle lid assembly, comprising a lid and a lid seat, the lid seat containing an outlet from which the contents of the bottle may be dispensed, an elongate recess surrounding the outlet which is located in one end thereof, the recess deepening towards its other end through which an air aperture, smaller than the outlet opens into the bottle so that air may flow into the bottle to replace the volume of the contents as it is dispensed and so that residue from contents which has been dispensed but which remains on the lid seat can flow down the recess through the air aperture and back into the bottle, the lid including a closure for the outlet and being arranged to cover the air aperture when closed.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid seat is removably mounted, and including a seal which may be broken after removing the lid seat.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, including a bottle mouth ring on which the lid seat is removably mounted, the mouth ring including an annular slot for receiving the top of the bottle sealingly.

4. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the closure is a plug.

5. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the outlet is in the form of a spout.

6. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the contents are barbecue seasoning.

7. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lid is hingedly mounted on the lid seat.

8. A barbecue seasoning bottle lid assembly, comprising a bottle body, a bottle mouth, a upright hollow mouth ring formed on the upper portion thereof, and male threads formed on the central and lower portion thereof, and at the lower portion of the bottle a hollow sleeve with concentric inner rings enclosing a space of circular slot in order to receive the bottle tightly; a circular pull ring, the bottom thereof being connected with a seal ring, and the seal ring being linearly connected with the central portion of the bottle mouth; a lid seat, being a hollow cylinder with an opening at the bottom, and female threads being provided on the inner wall to lock with the male threads outside the mouth ring of the bottle mouth, an outlet being provided at the front of the top of the lid cap;; a lid, being provided above the lid seat and two being connected by a flexible slip with one protruding left and one right strip to facilitate opening or closing of the lid, and a plug corresponding to the outlet being provided on the lid, characterised in that: an air flow aperture being provided at the rear side of the lid seat, so that seasoning can flow out fluently by the help of air flow; the diameter of the aperture being smaller than that of the outlet, and a recess surrounded by the periphery portion of the outlet and the air-flow aperture as well as two tangents surrounding the outlet and the air flow aperture, the portion around the outlet being most shallow and larger, then sloping and converging toward the air flow aperture, so that residual seasoning remaining on top of the lid seat can flow back along the recess through the air flow aperture and finally into the bottle.

9. A bottle lid assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.