US20130287905A1

US20130287905A1 - Drink-through spout cap for a beverage bottle, set of a cover and such a drink-through spout cap, a drinking device, and methods of manufacturing and preparing a drinking device

Info

Publication number: US20130287905A1
Application number: US13/978,745
Authority: US
Inventors: Vincent Loisel
Original assignee: Societe des Eaux Minerales dEvian SA SAEME
Current assignee: Societe des Eaux Minerales dEvian SA SAEME
Priority date: 2011-01-13
Filing date: 2012-01-12
Publication date: 2013-10-31
Also published as: ES2587508T3; MX2013008107A; EP2663505A1; PL2663505T3; CN103402883B; CN103402883A; MX345687B; WO2012095491A1; WO2012095191A1; EP2663505B1

Abstract

A drink-through spout cap for a beverage bottle having a body and a neck, a set of a cover and such a drink-through spout cap, a drinking device including a beverage bottle and a set, and methods of manufacturing or preparing a drinking device. The drink-through spout cap (10) has a top wall (32) and a sidewall (34) extending therefrom, the top wall (32) being provided with a spout (36) having an aperture (38) formed therein. The sidewall (34) has an inner surface (34A) and an outer surface (34B), the inner surface (34A) being provided with a threaded region (40) adapted to engage the threaded region (42) of the bottle (12). A lip (44) extends from the top wall (32) and has a lip height which is smaller than half of the sidewall length.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The invention relates to a drink-through spout cap for a beverage bottle, a set of a cover and a drink-through spout cap, a pack of at least two beverage bottles comprising a set of a cover and a drink-through spout cap, a drinking device, a method of manufacturing a drinking device and a method of preparing a drinking device.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

In particular, the invention is related to a drink-through spout cap for a beverage bottle having a body and a neck provided with an opening.
Generally, the drink-through spout caps can be attached to a container such as baby learning cup, etc.
However, the known drink-through spout caps are provided to be attached to a corresponding container; therefore, the container needs to be fulfilled with the beverage before use. This leads to the manipulation of a first beverage bottle containing the beverage which is emptied in the container. This manipulation can be difficult depending on where we are, especially for example in the transport like in the bus, because the risk of pouring the beverage out of the container. Moreover, this manipulation can lead to a contamination of the beverage.
Besides, the known drink-through spout caps which can be adapted for several kinds of containers are leaking.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

To this aim, it is provided a drink-through spout cap for a beverage bottle, a set of a cover and a drink-through spout cap which is adapted to be attached to a usual beverage bottle, like water for instance.
To this end, according to the invention, the drink-through spout cap for a beverage bottle has a substantially top wall and a sidewall extending therefrom and having a sidewall length, the top wall being provided with a spout which extends therefrom opposite from the sidewall and which has at least one aperture formed therein, the sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface being provided with a threaded region adapted to engage the threaded region of the neck of a beverage bottle, wherein an internal lip extends from the top wall and has a lip height which is smaller than half of the sidewall length.
In various embodiments of the drink-through spout cap according to the invention, one and/or the other of the following features may be incorporated in this cover alone or in mutual combination:
the threaded region of the inner surface of the sidewall is a three-start threaded ring;
the sidewall of the drink-through spout cap is preferably cylindrical and has an internal diameter comprised between 25 mm and 40 mm, preferably comprised between 29 mm and 30 mm;
the lip height is comprised between 0.1 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 3 mm and 4 mm; the lip is preferably cylindrical;
the spout comprises a front, an upper and a lower wall, the upper and lower walls being connected together and extending both from the top wall of the drink-through spout cap, wherein the upper wall is substantially flat and the lower wall is curved and wherein the front wall is provided with the at least one aperture;
the spout is provided with three apertures;
the spout is eccentrically positioned toward the sidewall;
the material of the drink-through spout cap comprises a polypropylene or a polyethylene;
the outer surface of the sidewall is provided with a finger grip;
a cap membrane seal.
The invention concerns also a set of a cover and a drink-through spout cap, the cover being adapted to be push-fitted over the drink-through spout cap to protect the spout in cooperating with the sidewall. The material of the cover can comprise a polypropylene or a polyethylene. When the cover is mounted on the drink-through spout cap it is preferably surrounded by a shrink-wrap.
The invention concerns also a pack of at least two beverage bottles comprising at least one of the above set. Actually, the pack can contain two, four, six, eight, nine, ten, twelve, fifteen or sixteen bottles. Each of these bottles and especially when packed in group of two bottles, are sealed with a usual and well-known cap.
The invention concerns also a drinking device comprising a beverage bottle and a set as above mentioned, or comprising a beverage bottle and at least a drink-through spout cap as above mentioned, said bottle having a cylindrical body and a cylindrical neck provided with an opening and a threaded region, the bottle being at least partially filled with a beverage. The beverage can be water, juice, milk and/or powder of milk. The beverage can be specific for babies or not.
In various embodiments of the drinking device according to the invention, one and/or the other of the following features may be incorporated in this cover alone or in mutual combination:
the material of the bottle comprises a PET;
the bottle has preferably a capacity comprised between 15 cl and 75 cl, preferably comprised between 20 cl and 40 cl; actually, the capacity of beverage to be contained in the bottle can be of 15 cl, 20 cl, 25 cl, 33 cl, 40 cl, 50 cl or 75 cl and preferably of about 33 cl;
the drink-through spout cap is attached to the bottle in being connected to its neck, the cover covering the drink-through spout cap; a shrink-wrap can surround the cover;
the opening provided on the bottle's neck is closed by a bottle membrane seal;
the lip is provided with a protrusion adapted to pierce the membrane seal.
The invention concerns also a method of manufacturing a drinking device, comprising the following steps:

- a) providing a bottle having a neck and filled at least partly with a beverage,
- b) providing a drink-through spout cap as above mentioned, and
- c) connecting the drink-through spout cap on the neck.

When the bottle is provided empty, the method comprises a step of filling the bottle at least partly with a beverage. When the bottle is provided filled with the beverage, the method of manufacturing a drinking device further comprises the step of unsealing the neck of the bottle.
This method of manufacturing a drinking device can further comprise the step of providing the drink-through spout cap with a membrane seal and/or the step of covering the drink-through spout cap with a cover. It can further comprise the step of covering the cover with a shrink-wrap and/or the step of sealing the neck of the bottle with a bottle membrane seal.
The invention concerns also a method of preparing a drinking device, comprising the steps of:

- providing a bottle covered by a usual cap and filled at least partly with a beverage,
- providing a drink-through spout cap,
- unsealing the bottle by removing the usual cap provided on it, and threading the threaded region of the sidewall of the drink-through spout cap onto the threaded region of the bottle, or
- unsealing the bottle by tearing off the membrane seal and threading the threaded region of the sidewall of the drink-through spout cap onto the threaded region of the bottle, or
- unsealing the bottle by piercing the membrane seal while threading the threaded region of the sidewall of the drink-through spout cap onto the threaded region of the bottle.

The method of preparing a drinking device can further comprise the step of providing a cover onto the drink-through spout cap and/or the step of unsealing the bottle by tearing off the bottle membrane seal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will readily appear from the following description of one embodiment, provided as non-limitative examples, in reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a set of a cover and a drink-through spout cap according to the invention, the drink-through spout cap being attached to a beverage bottle and the cover being removed from the cap.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a set of a cover and a drink-through spout cap of FIG. 1A, in which the cover and the cap are removed from the bottle.

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a set of a cover and a drink-through spout cap of FIG. 1A, in which the cover is covering the cap.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a pack according to the invention.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a pack according to another embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a view in section of the drink-through spout cap according to the invention.

FIG. 3B is a view in section of the drink-through spout cap according to another embodiment.

FIG. 3C is a view in section of the drink-through spout cap according to another embodiment.

FIG. 3D is a view in section of the drink-through spout cap according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of detail IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the drink-through spout cap according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a view in section of the drink-through spout cap according to the invention, mounted onto a bottle and covered with a cover.

FIG. 7 is a view in section of the drink-through spout cap according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of detail VIII of FIG. 7.

On the different Figures, the same reference signs designate identical or similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

FIG. 1A illustrates a drink-through spout cap 10 for a beverage bottle 12. The beverage bottle 12 has a cylindrical body 14 extending along a longitudinal axis X-X and has a cylindrical neck 16. More precisely, the illustrated example shows a bottle having a shape of a cylinder of revolution, but the shape may be of any kind since it is a drinking bottle. Besides, the section can be circular or square, etc. As best seen of FIG. 1B, the neck 16 is provided with an opening 17 and has a diameter D16 which is smaller than the diameter D14 of the body 14 of the bottle. Actually, the diameter D16 of the neck of the bottles concerns with the present invention is less than half of the diameter D14 of the body 14 of the bottle 12.
The bottle 12 is more specifically a bottle of water or infant beverage and is preferably made of PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate), more specifically by blow molding or injection stretch blow molding a PET preform. The bottle 12 has preferably a capacity of 75 cl maximum and more preferably of 33 cl to be taken in baby's hands. This kind of water bottles are very light (from preform weight comprised between 10 g and 15 g e.g. for bottles of 33 cl or from preform weight comprised between 9 g and 15 g for bottles of 50 cl) since the thickness of the body 14 of the bottle 12 (except possibly the bottom of it) is much thinner than the thickness of the neck 16.
FIG. 1C illustrates the drink-through spout cap 10 attached to the beverage bottle 12 and covered by a cover 18. Both the drink-through spout cap 10 and the cover 18 can be made of polyethylene for instance. However, it is preferable that they are made of polypropylene, such that they can be boiled at 100° C. to be sterilized if needed.
A shrink-wrap 22 can cover the cover 18 to protect it from dust and any other kind of dirt. This shrink-wrap 22 is also a tamper evidence and prevents also the cover 18 to be unintentionally removed from the drink-through spout cap 10. Two rows of precuts 24 can be provided on the shrink-wrap 22 to facilitate the opening of the last by tearing off the tongue 26 formed between the rows of precuts 24.
One of this drink-through spout cap 10 or preferably one of this set 20 comprising one cover 18 and one drink-through spout cap 10 can be provided in a package comprising at least two beverage bottles 12 as above mentioned. Besides, the set 20 can be protected with a shrink-wrap 22.
Actually according to the number of beverage bottles 12 contained in the pack, the number of sets can vary. For instance, a pack of two beverage bottles can contain one set and as illustrated on FIG. 2A, two sets are preferably provided in a pack of six beverage bottles 12. Besides, such a pack 28 of bottles 12 and of at least one set 20 is preferably covered by a package shrink-wrap 28.
When the pack 28 is provided with a number of set(s) 20 inferior to the number of bottles 14, the bottles are sealed by the usual cap 30 (which is not a drink-through spout cap). The pack 28 can also be provided with a number of sets 20 equal to the number of bottles contained in the pack 28 (e.g. six sets 20 with six bottles, etc.) forming six drinking devices 15 (not illustrated). In that 0case, the bottles can be closed with the sets which can be W0rapped with the shrink-wrap 22 mentioned above (one set being connected to one bottle) or the sets can just be comprised in the pack 28, without being mounted on the bottles 14, the last being closed by their usual cap 30. The opening 17 of the bottles 12 can otherwise or in complement to the usual cap 30 be provided with a bottle membrane seal 31 closing tightly the neck 16 as illustrated on FIG. 2B. The bottle membrane seal 31 can be made of plastic and/or metallic material.
When the drink-through spout cap 10 is tightly attached to the neck 16 of a bottle 14, it forms a drinking device 15. More precisely and as best illustrated on FIGS. 3 and 4, the drink-through spout cap 10 comprises a top wall 32 which can be substantially flat and a cylindrical sidewall 34 extending therefrom and having a sidewall length L34. The top wall 32 is provided with a spout 36 or sipper which extends therefrom opposite from the sidewall 34. More precisely, the sidewall 34 extends in one direction, whereas the spout 36 extends in the opposite direction with regards to the top wall 32.
As best illustrated on FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 5, the spout 36 which is preferably eccentrically positioned toward the sidewall 34 has at least one aperture 38 formed therein, to allow the beverage contained in the bottle 14 onto which the drink-through spout cap 10 is attached to flow through. Actually, the spout 36 comprises a front wall 37, an upper wall 39 and a lower wall 41. The upper 39 and lower 41 walls are connected together and extend both from the top wall 32 of the drink-through spout cap 10 toward the front wall 37. The upper wall 39 is preferably substantially flat but could also be curved, whereas the lower wall 41 is preferably curved. Actually, the upper wall 39 is adapted to be in contact with the upper lip of a baby's mouth, whereas the lower wall 41 is adapted to be in contact with the lower lip of a baby's mouth. Besides, the upper wall 39 is preferably inclined of an angle α with reference to the longitudinal axis X-X. The value of the angle α is comprised between 10° and 40°, preferably of about 12°.
The eccentricity e36 of the spout 36 can be assessed with regards to the distance between the upper wall 39 at the front wall 37 and the center O of the drink-through spout cap 10. More precisely, the eccentricity e36 can be comprised between 0 mm and 6 mm, preferably of about 5 mm.
Besides, the spout 36 has preferably three apertures 38 rather than one. The apertures 38 are provided on the upper wall of the spout 36 and are preferably aligned and spaced one from the other with a gap G38 of about 2.95 mm. The three apertures 38 can preferably be circular and have a diameter D38 of about 1.2 mm or more preferably of about 1.4 mm, so that the beverage contained in the bottle and especially water flows at a correct rate for a baby, neither too fast nor too low. Actually, in order to obtain a good flow, the global section of the apertures which can be comprised between one and five apertures should be comprised between 3.5 mm²and 6 mm².
Coming back to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4, the sidewall 34 has an inner surface 34A and an outer surface 34B, the inner surface 34A being provided with a threaded region 40 adapted to engage the threaded region 42 of the beverage bottle 14 as best illustrated on FIG. 6.
Besides, the drink-through spout cap 10 and more precisely the threaded region 40 has an internal cylindrical lip 44 extending from the top wall 32 and has a lip height H32 which is smaller than a half of the sidewall length L34, more precisely the lip height H32 is preferably smaller than one third of the sidewall length L34. Actually, the lip height H32 is preferably comprised between 0.1 mm and 5 mm, more preferably of about 3.5 mm, whereas the sidewall length L34 is preferably comprised between 5 mm and 17 mm, more preferably of about 9.8 mm.
The sidewall 34 of the drink-through spout cap 10 has an internal diameter D34 comprised between 25 mm and 40 mm, more preferably of about 29.6 mm and an external diameter D′34 comprised between 27 mm and 43 mm, more preferably of about 31.6 mm. Besides, the threaded region 40 of the inner surface of the sidewall 34 is preferably with a three-start threaded ring 46 extending radially inwards and has an internal diameter D46 comprised between 27 mm and 35 mm, more preferably of about 28.1 mm.
In order to prevent dust and/or other contamination of getting inside the drink-through spout cap 10 before use, one or several cap membrane seal(s) can be provided on it.
More precisely, a first cap membrane seal 33A can be provided on the top of front wall 37 of the spout. This first cap membrane seal 33A can be thermo-mechanically or thermo-chemically sealed on the front wall 37 (by stuck or by melt) and/or it can be mechanically hold on the spout especially when it is provided with corresponding protrusions located inside the apertures 38 as illustrated on FIG. 3A.
A second cap membrane seal 33′A can be provided on the free end of the sidewall 34 in complement or in replacement of the first cap membrane seal 33A. Like for the first cap membrane seal 33A, this second cap membrane seal 33′A can be thermo-mechanically sealed on the sidewall 34 as illustrated on FIG. 3A and/or can be mechanically hold inside the sidewall 34 by jamming.
Actually, the second cap membrane seal 33B illustrated on FIG. 3B is jammed in the interior of the sidewall 34 and the second cap membrane seal 33C illustrated on FIG. 3C or on FIG. 3D is jammed in the interior of the lip 44. Actually, the cap membrane seal 33C can be jammed in the interior of the lip 44 in being near the free end of the last as illustrated on FIG. 3C or can be jammed in the bottom of the lip 44 as illustrated on FIG. 3D. In that case, the cap membrane seal 33C is jammed in the interior of the lip 44 until it arrives against the inward face 32A of the top wall 32. The cap membrane seal 33C preferably bears also against a part of the spout 36, more precisely against a part of the lower wall 41.
One should understand that these cap membrane seals can be hold by sticking and/or jamming.
These cap membrane seals can also have a function of sealing the drinking device 15 when the drink-through spout cap 10 is connected to the neck 16 of a bottle 12.
The neck 16 of the bottle 12 is formed by a cylindrical annular wall 48 extending around the longitudinal axis X-X at the bottom edge or rim 16A. The threaded region 42 of the bottle 12 begins preferably at a certain distance below the bottom edge 16A. Like for the drink-through spout cap 10, the threaded region 42 of the bottle 12 has a corresponding three-start threaded ring 50 preferably separated by angles of 120° which makes the drink-through spout cap 10 easier to screw on and off the bottle 12. The three-start threaded ring 50 comprises three threads extend radially outwards and asymmetrical in profile, with an inclined longitudinally upper face to allow the cap to be fitted in a known manner along the longitudinal axis X-X.
The three-start threaded ring 46 of the drink-through spout cap 10 is of course complementary to the three-start threaded ring 50 of the bottle 12 to allow the two to be screwed together. According to the value of the diameters of this complementary threaded regions an elastic deformation occurs; therefore, the complementary threaded regions form more or less a first barrier member between the drink-through spout cap 10 and the bottle 12, thereby limiting or even preventing the ingress of external contaminants into the space between the outer face of the neck 16 and the inner face of the drink-through spout cap 10.
Actually, the drink-through spout cap 10 can be screwed down until the inward face 32A of the top wall 32 meets the rim 16A of the neck 16, the inward face 32A forming a sealing bead for contact all around the perimeter of the rim 16A of the neck 16 of the bottle 16. This contact which is plane and transversal to the longitudinal axis X-X leads to the creation of a radial elastic deformation of the sidewall 34 of the drink-through spout cap 10 so that the pressure applied by said bead to the rim 16A is significant and there is no gap between them. This also allows the sidewall 34 of the drink-through spout cap 10 to absorb certain variations in the outside diameter of the neck 16. Thus, said bead forms a second barrier member between the drink-through spout cap 10 and the bottle 12, thereby gradually limiting or even preventing the ingress of external contaminants into the space between the outer face of the neck 16 and the inner face of the drink-through spout cap 10.
Besides, the neck 16 has an annular a tamper-evident collar 52 located beneath the three-start threaded ring 50. This collar 52 has a shape of an annular protuberance projecting radially outwards from the neck outermost surface. A collar of this kind is normally designed to engage with a tamper-evident band connected to the usual cap 30 and to retain the tamper-evident band.
Actually, when the drink-through spout cap 10 is sold directly attached on a bottle in being connected to its neck (no usual cap is provided) it forms a drinking device 15. In that case, the drink-through spout cap 10 can be provided with a tamper-evident band 35 as depicted on FIG. 6. This tamper-evident band 35 is engaged around the bottle 12 against the collar 52 in an analogous manner as the tamper-evident band provided for usual caps. This tamper-evident band 35 allows the user to know whether the drink-through spout cap 10 was previously removed from the neck of the bottle 12.
A second collar 54 defining the bottom edge 16B of the neck 16 is located at a distance from this first collar 52. This second collar 54 is usually of a larger outside diameter and of a smaller height and is especially used for carrying the bottles.
The lip 44 of the drink-through spout cap 10 extends downwards from the top wall 32 of the drink-through spout cap 10 and has a circumferential profile adapted to make contact with the interior of the annular wall 56 of the neck 16 of the bottle 12 and thus form a first sealing means. The shape of the lip 44 is adapted to make contact with the rim 16A of the bottle 12.
The top wall 32 of the drink-through spout cap 10 is preferably circular and the sidewall 34 is preferably cylindrical.
Besides, the outer surface 34B of the sidewall 34 is preferably provided with a finger grip 58. This finger grip 58 can be provided with a plurality of thin longitudinal serrations 60 as illustrated on FIG. 1A. This finger grip 58 allows the drink-through spout cap 10 to be better gripped especially when mounted onto the neck 16 of the bottle 12.
This finger grip 58 allows also the cover 18 to be better retained on it, since the cover 18 cooperated with said finger grip 58. More precisely, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the internal diameter D18 of the cover 18 has a value comprised between 31 mm and 32 mm, preferably of about 31.8 mm so that it can be pushed on the external diameter D′34 of the drink-through spout cap 10. An internal and circular rim 61 is provided on the free end of the cover 18 and has a diameter D61 comprised between 31 mm and 31.5 mm, preferably of about 31.4 mm, such that the cover 18 can be elastically rose in strength onto the outer surface 34B of the drink-through spout cap 10.
Besides, a circular rim 62 provided on the free end of the outer surface 34B of the drink-through spout cap 10 can cooperate with the rim 61 and thus prevents the cover 18 from being too much pushed on the drink-through spout cap 10 and thus prevents the apertures 38 to be damaged. Thus, cover 18 can be push-fitted over the drink-through spout cap 10 to protect the spout 36 in cooperating with the sidewall 34.
The cover 18 can further be provided with at least one internal longitudinal serration 64 provided inside the cover 18 as best illustrated on FIG. 1A. When a plurality of serrations is provided, they are preferably distributed equidistantly. These serrations 64 can cooperate with the serrations 60 provided on the drink-through spout cap 10. The number of serrations is preferably comprised between one and a number equal to the number of serrations 60 provided on the drink-through spout cap 10, preferably between one and five.
These serrations 64 allow the cover 18 to be attached onto a bottle 12 simultaneous with the drink-through spout cap 10. Besides, when the cover 18 is covering the drink-through spout cap 10 and the circular rim 62 cooperates with the rim 61, the force needed to open the cover 18 is comprised between 0.5 N.m and 1.6 N.m. In that case, an adult can open the cover, but a baby is not capable to remove the cover 18 from the drink-through spout cap 10.
As explained above, the drink-through spout cap 10 can be provided directly mounted on a bottle 12 (forming a drinking device 15) or can be separately provided on a bottle 12 or on in a pack of bottles 12.
When the drink-through spout cap 10 is not mounted on the bottle 12, several methods of preparing a drinking device 15 can be achieved according to the sealing means provided on the bottle.
More precisely, when the bottle 12 is sealed by a usual cap 30 as illustrated on FIG. 2A, the method comprises the step of unsealing the bottle by removing the usual cap 30 provided on it, and then threading the threaded region 40 of the sidewall 34 of the drink-through spout cap 10 onto the threaded region 42 of the bottle 12. The bottle 12 is of course in that case filled at least partly with a beverage, such that after having connected the drink-through spout cap 10 onto the bottle 12, the drinking device 15 is ready to be used.
When the bottle 12 is sealed by a bottle membrane seal 31 as illustrated on FIG. 2B, the method comprises the step of unsealing the bottle 12 by tearing off the bottle membrane seal 31 and then threading the threaded region 40 of the sidewall 34 of the drink-through spout cap 10 onto the threaded region 42 of the bottle 12.
When the drink-through spout cap 10 is provided with one or more membrane seal 33′A, 33B and/or 33C, they are of course removed from it before the drink-through spout cap 10 is connected onto the neck 16 of the bottle 12. The first membrane seal 33A which is provided on the front wall of the spout 36 can be removed before or after the drink-through spout cap 10 is connected onto the neck 16 of the bottle 12 since it is not sealing the neck 16 of the bottle 12.
After the drink-through spout cap 10 is mounted onto a bottle it can be used especially by a baby which can put the spout 36 in his/her mouth for drinking the beverage contained in the bottle 12. The cover 18 can be push-fitted over the drink-through spout cap 10 to protect the spout 36. For a further use, the user has just to remove the cover 18 from the drink-through spout cap 10 by pulling it possibly while turning it and the drinking device 15 is ready for use. After drinking, the cover 18 can be replaced in the drink-through spout cap 10.
Of course, when the drink-through spout cap 10 or more precisely the cover 18 is covered with a the shrink-wrap 22 above mentioned it is preliminary necessary to removed it before using in tearing off the tongue 26.
When the drink-through spout cap 10 is sold directly mounted on a bottle 12 as a drinking device 15, the method of manufacturing the drinking device 15 comprises the step of providing a bottle 12 having a neck 16. The bottle 12 can be prefilled with a beverage or can be filled with the last during the method of manufacturing the drinking device 15. The filling is preferably made under aseptic conditions.
When the bottle 12 is provided prefilled with the beverage, it can be sealed with either a usual cap 30 and/or a bottle membrane seal 31. In that case, the method of manufacturing the drinking device further comprises the step of unsealing the neck of the bottle. This means that
The next step of the method is providing a drink-through spout cap 10 according to the invention and connecting it on the neck 16 of the bottle.
When the drink-through spout cap 10 is provided with a tamper-evident band 35, the method of manufacturing the drinking device also comprises the step of connecting the drink-through spout cap 10 on the neck of the bottle such that the tamper-evident band 35 engaged around the bottle 12 against the collar 52.
The method of manufacturing the drinking device 15 can also comprise the step of providing the drink-through spout cap 10 with one or more cap membrane seal 33A, 33′A, 33B and/or 33C. When the drink-through spout cap 10 is provided with one of the cap membrane seal 33′A, 33B and/or 33C, the method of manufacturing the drinking device 15 comprises also the step of removing said cap membrane seal 33′A, 33B and 33C, before connecting the drink-through spout cap 10 onto the bottle 12. The cap membrane seal 33A remains preferably on the spout until the drinking device 15 is used.
The method of manufacturing the drinking device 15 can also comprise the step of covering the drink-through spout cap 10 with a cover 18 for protecting the drink-through spout cap 10 from dust and/or contamination. A shrink-wrap 22 can also be provided, the last step of the method being in that case the step of covering the cover 18 with the shrink-wrap 22.

Claims

1-29. (canceled)

30. A drink-through spout cap for a beverage bottle having a body and a neck provided with an opening, wherein the drink-through spout cap has a substantially flat top wall and a sidewall extending therefrom and having a sidewall length, the top wall being provided with a spout which extends therefrom opposite from the sidewall and which has at least one aperture formed therein, the sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface being provided with a threaded region adapted to engage a threaded region of the neck of a beverage bottle, wherein an internal lip extends from the top wall and has a lip height which is smaller than half of the sidewall length.

31. A drink-through spout cap according to the claim 30, wherein the threaded region of the inner surface of the sidewall is a three-start threaded ring.

32. A drink-through spout cap according to claim 30, wherein the sidewall of the drink-through spout cap is cylindrical and has an internal diameter comprised between 25 mm and 40 mm.

33. A drink-through spout cap according to claim 30, wherein the lip height is comprised between 0.1 mm and 5 mm.

34. A drink-through spout cap according to claim 30, wherein the spout comprises a front wall, an upper wall and a lower wall, the upper and lower walls being connected together and extending both from the top wall of the drink-through spout cap, wherein the upper wall is substantially flat and the lower wall is curved and wherein the front wall is provided with the at least one aperture.

35. A drink-through spout cap according to claim 30, wherein the spout is provided with three apertures.

36. A drink-through spout cap according to claim 30, wherein the spout is eccentrically positioned toward the sidewall.

37. A drink-through spout cap according to claim 30, wherein the material of the drink-through spout cap comprises a polypropylene or a polyethylene.

38. A drink-through spout cap according to claim 30, wherein the outer surface of the sidewall is provided with a finger grip.

39. A drink-through spout cap according to claim 30, further comprising a cap membrane seal.

40. A set of a cover and a drink-through spout cap according to claim 30, the cover being adapted to be push-fitted over the drink-through spout cap to protect the spout in cooperating with the sidewall.

41. A set according to claim 40, wherein the cover is mounted on the drink-through spout cap and is surrounded by a shrink-warp.

42. A set of a cover and a drink-through spout cap according to claim 40, wherein the material of the cover comprises a polypropylene or a polyethylene.

43. A pack of at least two beverage bottles comprising at least one drink-through spout cap according to claim 30, or a set according to claim 39.

44. A pack according to claim 43, wherein the at least two beverage bottles are sealed with a usual cap.

45. A drinking device comprising a beverage bottle and a drink-through spout cap according to claim 30 or a set according to claim 39, said bottle having a body and a neck provided with an opening and a threaded region, said bottle being at least partially filled with a beverage.

46. A drinking device according to claim 45, wherein the material of the bottle comprises a PET.

47. A drinking device according to claim 45, wherein the bottle has a capacity comprised between 15 cl and 75 cl.

48. A drinking device according to claim 45, wherein the drink-through spout cap is connected to the bottle, the cover covering the drink-through spout cap.

49. A drinking device according to claim 48, wherein a shrink-wrap surrounds the cover.

50. A drinking device according to claim 45, wherein the opening provided on the bottle's neck is closed by a bottle membrane seal.

51. A method of manufacturing a drinking device, comprising the following steps:

a) providing a bottle having a neck and filled at least partially with a beverage,

b) providing a drink-through spout cap for a beverage bottle having a body and a neck provided with an opening, wherein the drink-through spout cap has a substantially flat top wall and a sidewall extending therefrom and having a sidewall length, the top wall being provided with a spout which extends therefrom opposite from the sidewall and which has at least one aperture formed therein, the sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface being provided with a threaded region adapted to engage a threaded region of the neck of a beverage bottle, wherein an internal lip extends from the top wall and has a lip height which is smaller than half of the sidewall length,

c) connecting the drink-through spout cap on the neck.

52. A method of manufacturing a drinking device according to claim 51, further comprising the step of providing the drink-through spout cap with a cap seal membrane.

53. A method of manufacturing a drinking device according to claim 51, further comprising the step of covering the drink-through spout cap with a cover.

54. A method of manufacturing a drinking device according to claim 53, further comprising the step of covering the cover with a shrink-wrap.

55. A method of manufacturing a drinking device according to claim 51, further comprising the step of unsealing the neck of the bottle.

56. A method of preparing a drinking device, comprising the following steps:

providing a bottle covered by a usual cap filled at least partly with a beverage,

unsealing the bottle by removing the usual cap provided on it,

providing a drink-through spout cap drink-through spout cap for a beverage bottle having a body and a neck provided with an opening, wherein the drink-through spout cap has a substantially flat top wall and a sidewall extending therefrom and having a sidewall length, the top wall being provided with a spout which extends therefrom opposite from the sidewall and which has at least one aperture formed therein, the sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface being provided with a threaded region adapted to engage a threaded region of the neck of a beverage bottle, wherein an internal lip extends from the top wall and has a lip height which is smaller than half of the sidewall length, and

threading the threaded region of the sidewall of the drink-through spout cap onto the threaded region of the bottle.

57. A method of preparing a drinking device according to claim 56, further comprising the step of providing a cover onto the drink-through spout cap.

58. A method of preparing a drinking device according to claim 56, further comprising the step of unsealing the bottle by tearing off the bottle membrane seal.