Two-piece hygienic cap and opening probe or feed tube

A hygienic liquid dispensing system

• comprising, in combination, a cap adapted to close the discharge opening in the neck of a substantially rigid drinking water or other potable liquid container, said cap having a lid portion adapted to overlie and sealingly close said discharge opening and an annular skirt portion extending axially away from said lid portion sand adpated to surround and engage an outer axial portion of said container neck, said lid portion having an axially inwardly extending recess formed therein, said recess including a first annular sleeve portion located generally centrally in said lid portion and integrally connected thereto and a second annular plug portion connected to the inner end of said sleeve portion and extending axially inwardly therefrom, said plug portion having a substantially centrally disposed internal cavity with a closed inner end for normally closing said recess,
• an upstanding feed tube dimensioned for forcible insertion into said recess for separating said plug portion from said sleeve portion to permit the discharge of liquid from and admission of replacement air into said substantially rigid liquid dispensing container when inverted,
• said centrally disposed cavity of said plug portion being formed with internal gripping means therein for temporarily securing said plug portion on said upstanding feed tube when said feed tube is inserted in said recess and said plug portion is separated from said sleeve portion by said upstanding feed tube,
• and said plug portion being formed with an annular surface including plug sealing means dimensioned for engaging complementary sleeve sealing means formed on an annular surface of said sleeve portion for resealing said recess when said plug portion is drawn into said sleeve portion as said upstanding feed tube is withdrawn from said recess,
• said skirt portion being formed with a line of weakness extending toward said lid portion and a pull tab extending axially away from said skirt portion to facilitate manually tearing said skirt portion along said line of weakness when said cap is removed from said container.

A hygienic liquid dispensing system comprising, in combination, a cap adapted to close the discharge opening in the neck of a substantially rigid drinking water or other potable liquid container, said cap having a lid portion adapted to overlie and sealingly close said discharge opening and an annular skirt portion extending axially away from said lid portion and adapted to surround and engage an outer axial portion of said container neck, said lid portion having an axially inwardly extending recess formed therein, said recess including a first annular sleeve portion located generally centrally in said lid portion and integrally connected thereto and a second annular plug and recess sealing portion connected to the inner end of said sleeve portion and extending axially inwardly therefrom, said plug and recess sealing portion having a substantially centrally disposed internal cavity with a closed inner end for normally closing said recess,

• an upstanding probe dimensioned for forcible insertion into said recess for separating said plug and recess sealing portion from said sleeve portion to permit the discharge of liquid from and admission of replacement air into said substantially rigid liquid dispensing container when inverted,
• said centrally disposed cavity of said plug and recess sealing portion being formed with internal gripping means therein for temporarily securing said plug and recess sealing portion on said upstanding probe when said probe is inserted in said recess and said plug and recess sealing portion is separated from said sleeve portion by said upstanding probe,
• and said plug and recess sealing portion being formed with an annular surface including sealing means dimensioned for engaging complementary sleeve sealing means formed on an annular surface of said sleeve portion for resealing said recess when said plug and recess sealing portion is drawn into interfitting engagement with said sleeve portion as said upstanding probe is withdrawn from said recess,
• and including a protective seal disposed to cover said recess to prevent contaminants from entering therein and also serving to indicate if said cap has been tampered with prior to insertion of said feed tube into said recess.

A hygienic liquid dispensing system comprising, in combination, a cap adapted to close the discharge opening in the neck of a substantially rigid drinking water or other potable liquid container, said cap having a lid portion adapted to overlie and sealingly close said discharge opening and an annular skirt portion extending axially away from said lid portion and adapted to surround and engage an outer axial portion of said container neck, said lid portion having an axially inwardly extending recess formed therein, said recess including a first annular sleeve portion located generally centrally in said lid portion and integrally connected thereto and a second annular plug and recess sealing portion connected to the inner end of said sleeve portion and extending axially inwardly therefrom, said plug and recess sealing portion having a substantially centrally disposed internal cavity with a closed inner end for normally closing said recess,

• an upstanding probe dimensioned for forcible insertion into said recess for separating said plug and recess sealing portion from said sleeve portion to permit the discharge of liquid from and admission of replacement air into said substantially rigid liquid dispensing container when inverted,
• said centrally disposed cavity of said plug and recess sealing portion being formed with internal gripping means therein for temporarily securing said plug and recess sealing portion on said upstanding probe when said probe is inserted in said recess and said plug and recess sealing portion is separated from said sleeve portion by said upstanding probe,
• said plug and recess sealing portion being formed with an annular surface including sealing means dimensioned for engaging complementary sleeve sealing means formed on an annular surface of said sleeve portion for resealing said recess when said plug and recess sealing portion is drawn into interfitting engagement with said sleeve portion as said upstanding probe is withdrawn from said recess,
• said skirt portion being formed with a line of weakness extending toward said lid portion and a pull tab extending axially away from said skirt portion to facilitate manually tearing said skirt portion along said line of weakness when said cap is removed from said container.