# US 10,246,233 B2 · Flap cap

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,246,233 B2
- Document ID: US10246233B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/478,166
- Filed: 2017-04-03
- Published: 2018-10-04
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2017-04-03
- Applicants: Mario Fagone
- Inventors: Mario Fagone
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246233B2

## CPC

- B65D 55/16: Devices preventing loss of removable closure members
- B65D 1/0246: {Closure retaining means, e.g. beads, screw-threads}
- B65D 41/0471: {with means for positioning the cap on the container, or for limiting the movement of the cap, or for preventing accidental loosening of the cap}
- B65D 41/0485: {with means specially adapted for facilitating the operation of opening or closing}
- B65D 53/02: Collars or rings
- 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

## Abstract

A bottle cap retaining device comprises a flap cap configured to retain a bottle cap to a bottle and includes a lever extending from a lateral side of the flap cap and a grip extending convexly from a crown of the flap cap to the brake configured to stop the angular movement of the lever against the bottle. The device also includes a bi-tether connected to the flap cap in two places. The device additionally includes an O-ring connected to the bi-tether in two places, the O-ring includes a boss and a skirt, the boss configured on a lateral portion of the O-ring to inhibit a torque of the O-ring and the skirt configured on a bottom portion of the O-ring to provide a frictional surface against the bottle. The flap cap also comprises teeth or helical threads configured to hold a bottle cap or act in its place.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for retaining a bottle cap to a bottle, the device comprising:
a flap cap configured to retain the bottle cap therein, the flap cap comprising a lever having a brake and a grip, the lever extending from a lateral side of the flap cap, the grip extending convexly from a crown of the flap cap to the brake configured to stop the angular movement of the lever against the bottle;
a bi-tether connected to the flap cap in two places; and
an O-ring connected to the bi-tether in two places, the O-ring comprising a boss and a skirt, the boss configured on a lateral portion of the O-ring to inhibit a torqueing of the O-ring and the skirt configured on a bottom portion of the O-ring to provide a frictional surface against a circumference of the bottle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bottle cap retaining device of claim 1, wherein the flap cap comprises teeth therein configured to one of grip and hold the bottle cap therein.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The bottle cap retaining device of claim 1, wherein the flap cap comprises helical threads therein configured to one of grip and hold the bottle cap therein and to act in its place.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The bottle cap retaining device of claim 1, wherein the flap cap, the tether and the O-ring and components thereof comprise a low durometer material configured to stretch and remember an original shape thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The bottle cap retaining device of claim 1, wherein the bi-tether is configured to have a binary hinge comprising a flap cap engaged position and a flap cap disengaged position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The bottle cap retaining device of claim 1, wherein the flap cap further comprises a lip extending radially outward from the flap cap, the lip configured to provide a leverage extension for an angular movement of the flap cap.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The bottle cap retaining device of claim 1, wherein the flap cap further comprises a knurled outside lateral circumference configured to facilitate twisting the flap cap.

### Claim 8

A method of retaining a bottle cap to a bottle, the method comprising:
retaining the bottle cap in a flap cap, the flap cap comprising a lever having a brake and a grip, the lever extending from a lateral side of the flap cap, the grip extending convexly from a crown of the flap cap to the brake configured to stop the angular movement of the lever against the bottle;
providing a tether connected to the flap cap; and
retaining the flap cap to the bottle via an O-ring connected to the tether, the O-ring comprising a boss and a skirt, the boss configured on a lateral portion of the O-ring to inhibit a torqueing of the O-ring and the skirt configured on a bottom portion of the O-ring to provide a frictional surface against a circumference of the bottle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of retaining a bottle cap of claim 8, further comprising removing the flap cap and the bottle cap therein away from the bottle via pressing down on the flap cap grip with a thumb.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of retaining a bottle cap of claim 8, further comprising holding the flap cap cylindrically stationary with respect to the bottle via pressing down on the O-ring skirt against the bottle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of retaining a bottle cap of claim 8, further comprising flipping the flap cap from the bottle via flipping a lip of the flap cap upward away from the bottle.