US20050218106A1

US20050218106A1 - Cap for liquid container

Info

Publication number: US20050218106A1
Application number: US11/076,763
Authority: US
Inventors: George Yui
Original assignee: Yui George M
Current assignee: ELECTROTEMP TECHNOLOGIES Inc
Priority date: 2004-03-15
Filing date: 2005-03-10
Publication date: 2005-10-06
Also published as: WO2005087602A1

Abstract

A one piece plastic cap is used with a liquid container having a neck extending to an open mouth. The cap has an annular base and an outer skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the base. The outer skirt portion and base are adapted for sealing engagement over the neck and mouth of the container. A tubular portion defines a central opening in the base and extends from the base upwardly to an upper end. The tubular portion includes an inclined lid covering the upper end thereof. The lid is connected to the tubular portion by a lid tear line extending around the outer perimeter of the lid. A rib pattern extends across a central portion of the lid adding strength and enhancing the even flow of plastic when forming the lid. The lid tear line is interrupted at the upper most portion of the lid by an enhanced wall thickness portion which forms a hinge attachment between the lid and tubular portion when the lid tear line is severed from the tubular portion.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cap use to seal the mouth of a liquid container, such as a water bottle typically used in an inverted position to supply water to a water dispenser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known water dispensing systems often involve the use of an inverted water bottle, positioned in a centrally located upper opening in the dispensing system. Commonly, these bottles have an upwardly extending neck, extending to an open mouth and have a capacity of approximately 2 to 5 gallons (7.8L to 18.9L). To dispense water, the bottle is inverted and the neck is inserted within the dispensing system opening. In order to avoid spilling of water when placing the bottle in an inverted position into the opening in the dispenser, it is well known to seal the mouth of the bottle with a cap. These caps typically include an annular base which covers the mouth and an outer skirt extending around the annular base adapted to seal the cap against the neck. An inner centrally located tubular portion defines a central recess in the annular base. The tubular portion extends upwardly into the mouth of the bottle and is covered so as to prevent leakage of water, upon inversion of the bottle. Examples of such covers are a removable plug which sealingly covers the upper opening of the tubular portion or an integrally formed pierceable or removable plastic lid. To enhance the pierceability of the lid, the lid may include frangible lines extending thereacross. In known dispensing systems, a supply tube, dispensing probe or piercing spike extends upwardly from a central position within the dispensing system opening and is designed to open or remove the cover of the tubular portion of the cap when the bottle is positioned in an inverted position within the dispensing system and thereby allow water to flow into the dispensing system from the bottle. For example, in the case of an integrally formed cap having frangible lines, the probe would engage the cap, sever the lines, thereby piercing the cap. Alternately, in the case of plug type cover, the probe may push open the plug. In each case once the cover is pierced or removed, water can flow through from the interior of the water bottle to the dispensing system into a reservoir, where water may accumulate, be cooled and/or heated and ultimately dispensed by draining the reservoir through a faucet. Probes or piercing spikes are known to have a pointed tipped, which aids in the piercing the lid of the tubular portion. Alternately, the probe or spike may include a smooth or rounded tip which may be utilized to pierce a lid, and may also be utilized to push a plug type cover out of engagement with the tubular portion. Such type of probe may include a recess below the tip on which the plug type cover may attach as the probe pushes the plug type cover off the tubular portion.
Several problems may arise with the use of known caps. For example, the plug type covers may tend to disengage from the probe when urged out of contact with the tubular portion, and thereby enter the water bottle, float to the top of the water and create an undesirable aesthetic. Additionally, lids which are designed to be pierced by the piercing spike or probe, may have pieces thereof disengage from the tubular portion, again, causing pieces to enter the water supply. Furthermore, lids without frangible lines extending across the lid, may tend to be difficult to pierce, thereby causing undue pressure on the cap and probe, enhancing the possibility of leakage or breakage.
It is often desirable after consumption of water from within the bottle to remove the cap from the bottle. To assist in removal of the cap, it is known to include a tear line extending downwardly from the upper edge of the skirt of the cap. Commonly a pull tab extends from the upper edge of the skirt adjacent the tear line, which the user may pull down and away from the cap along the tear line to assist with removal of the cap from the bottle. Known pull tab and tear line arrangements do not facilitate the easy removal of the cap from the bottle as the pull tabs may tend to be difficult to grip and the angle of the tear line, makes tearing along same somewhat difficult. There is a need for an improved water bottle cap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention to provide an improved cap for closing a liquid container or bottle of the type typically used in an inverted position in a liquid dispensing system, such container having a neck, extending to an open mouth on which the cap is sealingly mounted and through which a liquid supply probe or piercing spike may pass when the container is installed onto the dispenser to cause release of the liquid from the container.
The cap according to the invention may be used in various liquid dispensing systems, regardless of the shape of the probe, piercing spike or liquid supply tubes. The cap in accordance with this invention is efficient and inexpensive to fabricate.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention there is provided a one piece plastic cap for use with a liquid container having a neck extending to an open mouth, said cap comprising an annular base, an outer skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the base, said outer skirt portion and base adapted for sealing engagement over the neck and mouth of the container, a tubular portion defining a central opening in the base and extending from the base upwardly to an upper end, said tubular portion positioned within the mouth, when the cap is positioned over the neck and mouth of the container, said tubular portion including an inclined lid covering the upper end thereof, the lid connected to the tubular portion by a lid tear line having reduced wall thickness extending around the outer perimeter of the lid, the tear line being interrupted at the upper most portion of the lid by an enhanced wall thickness portion which forms a hinge attachment between the lid and tubular portion when the lid tear line is severed from the tubular portion. Preferably the lid is planar, but it may be concave or convex shaped relative to the piercing spike.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided a one piece plastic cap for use with a liquid container having a neck extending to an open mouth, said cap comprising an annular base, an outer skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the base, said outer skirt portion and base adapted for sealing engagement over the neck and mouth of the container, a tubular portion defining a central opening in the base and extending from the base upwardly to an upper end, said tubular portion including a lid covering the upper end thereof, the lid connected to the tubular portion by a lid tear line having reduced wall thickness extending around the outer perimeter of the lid, the lid tear line being interrupted at a portion of the lid perimeter by an enhanced wall thickness portion which forms a hinge attachment between the lid and tubular portion when the lid tear line severed, and a rib of enhanced wall thickness extending from said enhanced wall thickness portion across a central portion of the lid.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention there is provided a one piece plastic cap for use with a liquid container having a neck extending to an open mouth, said cap comprising an annular base, an outer skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the base, said outer skirt portion and base adapted for sealing engagement over the neck and mouth of the container, a tubular portion defining a central opening in the base and extending from the base upwardly to an upper end, said tubular portion including a cover for the upper end thereof, the cover being pierceable, openable or selectively removable, wherein the skirt of the cap includes a skirt tear line of reduced wall thickness, extending downwardly from an upper edge of the skirt, a portion of the skirt above the skirt tear line including a pull tab defining a grip hole therein, bordering on the tear line to facilitate tearing of the skirt along the skirt tear line and thus the removal of the cap from the container.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention there is provided a one piece plastic cap for use with a liquid container having a neck extending to an open mouth, said cap comprising an annular base, an outer skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the base, said outer skirt portion and base adapted for sealing engagement over the neck and mouth of the container, a tubular portion defining a central opening in the base and extending from the base upwardly to an upper end, said tubular portion including a cover covering the upper end thereof, the cover being pierceable, openable or removable to allow flow of liquid from within the container out through the tubular portion, wherein the skirt of the cap includes a tear line of reduced wall thickness, extending downwardly from the upper edge of the skirt at an angle of no greater than approximately 40 degrees below a horizontal plane formed by the upper edge of the skirt, the portion of the skirt above the tear line including a pull tab bordering on the tear line to facilitate tearing of the skirt along the tear line and removal of the cap from the bottle.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following non-restrictive description of example embodiments of the invention, made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of an example embodiment of the cap in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view illustrating an embodiment of a cap in accordance with the invention positioned over the neck and mouth of a fluid container;
FIG. 3 is a further side elevational view of an embodiment of a cap in accordance with the invention positioned over the neck and mouth of a fluid container, showing a user tearing the cap off the container;
FIG. 4 is bottom plan view of the cap of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the cap of FIG. 1, illustrating the pull tab with grip hole and skirt tear line;
FIG. 6 is a section view of the cap of FIG. 4, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a section view of the cap taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 a partial side elevational view of the tubular portion and lid of an embodiment of a cap in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 9 is a partial section view of a portion of the tubular portion and lid of an embodiment of a cap in accordance with the invention, illustrating a probe prior to insertion through the tubular portion;
FIG. 10 is a partial section view of a portion of the tubular portion and lid of an embodiment of a cap in accordance with the invention, illustrating the insertion of a probe through the tubular portion and causing the disengagement of the lid from the tubular portion;
FIG. 11 is a partial section view of a portion of the tubular portion and lid of an embodiment of a cap in accordance with the invention, illustrating the insertion of a probe through the tubular portion with the lid with the lid tear line completely severed and the lid attached to tubular portion by the enhanced thickness portion;
FIG. 12 is a side elevational view illustrating a second example embodiment of a cap in accordance with the invention positioned over the neck and mouth of a fluid container;
FIG. 13 is perspective view of the second example embodiment of the cap in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 14 is a further side elevational view of the second embodiment of a cap in accordance with the invention positioned over the neck and mouth of a fluid container, showing a user tearing the cap off the container; and
FIGS. 12A, 13A and 14A are views of an embodiment of the cap corresponding to FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 respectively which illustrate a cap having an arc shaped skirt tear line;
FIGS. 15 and 16 are side elevational views of a further embodiment of the cap on a bottle in accordance with the invention.
Similar reference numerals are used in different figures to denote similar components.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 is an example embodiment of a one piece plastic cap 10, used with a liquid container 12 having a neck 14 extending to an open mouth 16. The liquid container shown is a common plastic water bottle having an 18.9L capacity, although it should be understood that the cap may adapted for utilization with bottles of various sizes and shapes. The cap 10 comprises an annular base 18, an outer skirt portion 20 which extends upwardly from an outer periphery of the base 18. As can be seen best in FIG. 2, the outer skirt portion 20 and base 18 are adapted for sealing engagement over the neck and mouth 16 of the container 12. A tubular portion 22 defines a central opening 23 in the base 18 and extends from the base upwardly to an upper end 24. When the cap is positioned over the mouth and neck of the container, the tubular portion 22 extends within the mouth 16 of the container. The tubular portion 18 includes a lid 26, which is preferably inclined, covering the upper end thereof 24. Preferably the lid is planar, as shown, but may be convex or concave shaped relative to the piercing spike. The lid 26 is connected to the tubular portion 22 by a lid tear line 28 having reduced wall thickness extending around the outer perimeter of the lid 26. The lid tear line 28 is interrupted at the upper most portion of the lid by an enhanced wall thickness portion 30. As can be seen best in FIGS. 9 to 11, the enhanced wall thickness portion 30 forms a hinge attachment between the lid 26 and tubular portion 18 when the lid tear line 28 is severed and the lid 26 is urged upwardly from the tubular portion 22 by a probe 32 (which also may be referred to as a liquid supply tube or piercing spike or the like).
The embodiment of the one piece cap 10 shown in the drawings is designed so as to be utilized with a container 12, such as a water bottle which may installed in an inverted position in a commonly known liquid dispenser system (not shown). In such known systems, the container neck 14 and mouth with cap 10 attached thereover, projects downwardly through a central opening defined in the liquid dispenser, and the liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply tube, probe or piercing spike (such as reference number 32) or the like, extending upwardly from said dispenser, positioned to enter the tubular portion 22 of the cap when said inverted container is positioned within said central opening. As can be seen in FIGS. 9 to 11, such tubes, probes or spikes 32 will engage and push the lid 26 upwardly causing tearing of the lid tear line 28 and the lid to open thereby allowing liquid to flow into the dispenser, the lid 18 maintaining hinged engagement with the tubular portion 22 at the enhanced thickness portion 30.
In the embodiments shown in the Figures, the cap lid 26 includes a rib pattern 34 extending across a central portion 36 of the lid. The rib pattern 34 is preferably connected to the enhanced wall thickness portion 30 and may include a cross pattern, the cross being at the approximate center of the lid. During forming of the cap, which may be by injection molding or any other suitable manner, the presence of the rib pattern 34 on the lid 26 enhances the spreading of materials evenly on the lid, allowing for the provision of an evenly formed lid of sufficient thickness and a lid tear line 28 of sufficient relative thinness to facilitate tearing thereof upon engagement and urging of the probe 32.
Although the probe (also referred to as supply tube or piercing spike) shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 is illustrated having a smooth tip, it should be understood that it may include a pointed tip. The rib pattern 34 assists in the prevention of the probe, whether it be smooth tipped or pointed tipped from piercing the lid 26, and instead causes the lid tear line 28 to sever when the probe urging the lid.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, the inclined lid 26 extends at an angle of approximately 20° to a horizontal plane across the upper end 24 of the tubular portion. It should be understood that this angle may increased or decreased, if desired. As mentioned above, the lid may be concave or convex shaped relative to the piercing spike.
The lid has a preferred thickness of approximately 1 to 2 mm, the enhance wall thickness portion has a preferred thickness at least as great as that of the lid, but certainly greater than that of the lid tear line. The enhanced wall thickness portion has a width, extending around the perimeter of the lid of approximately 2 to 3 mm. The tear line around the lid, may be a continuous line of reduced thickness or may comprise an interrupted type line comprised of a plurality of closely spaced reduced thickness lines, extending around the perimeter of the lid.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 6, 7 9, 10, 11 and 13, the cap may include a resilient sealing ring 38 positioned against the annular base of the cap between the tubular portion 22 and skirt 20, disposed between the base 18 of the cap and the container when the cap is positioned over the mouth and neck of the container so as to enhance the seal therebetween. The sealing ring may be comprised of polyurethane foam, polystyrene, polypropylene or other suitable resilient material, such as rubber or the like. The sealing ring has a preferred thickness of 1.5 mm.
The skirt portion 20 of the cap includes a bead including an inwardly disposed annular flange 40 spaced above the base 18 and sealing ring 38. The inwardly disposed flange 40 aids in keeping the sealing ring within the cap and provides added strength to the skirt.
To facilitate removal of the cap from the bottle, the skirt of the cap includes a skirt tear line 42 comprising a groove having reduced wall thickness, extending downwardly from an upper edge 44 of the skirt. The tear line may be a continuous line of reduced wall thickness, as shown, or it may comprise a plurality of closely spaced reduced wall thickness lines, extending in a row. A portion of the skirt above the skirt tear line includes pull tab 46 or 50, which may be a ring shaped pull tab 46 defining a grip hole therein (as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 5, 6) bordering on the tear line so as to facilitate tearing of the skirt along the tear line by pulling the pull tab downwardly and outwardly from the centre of the cap. Preferably, the grip hole is sized to accept a human finger which improves the ease by which the pull tab may be pulled to tear the tear line. An alternate type of pull tab 50 is illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 14, wherein the pull tab extends above the upper edge 44 of the skirt and includes enhanced thickness lines 52 to improve the gripping of the tab when pulling same. Preferably these thickness lines 52 form a pattern of horizontal and/or vertical lines, although any patterns of lines may be utilized. To enhance strength of the skirt and to ensure tearing occurs along the tear line when pulling the pull tab, enhanced thickness blocks 43 may be positioned along the skirt tear line. These blocks 43 are preferably spaced from one another as they extend along the tear line.
To improve the ease of tearing the skirt tear line 42, in the example embodiments of the cap shown, the skirt tear line 42 extends downwardly at an angle of no greater than 40 degrees below a horizontal plane. The tear line extends around at least half of the circumference of the cap. Having a reduced angle of descent of the skirt tear line 42 relative to the angle of descent observed in known caps, increases the ease by which the skirt tear line may be torn and thus the cap removed. The skirt tear line 42 in the example embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 11, and 12 to 14 may alternately be downwardly arced shaped (such as shown in FIGS. 12A, 13A and 14A). The skirt tear line extends downwardly until it approaches the annular bead 40, at which point it continues to run parallel to the bead as it extends around the skirt 20 of the cap 10. As the skirt tear line 42 is severed, the cap may be pulled off the bottle.
It should be understood that in another example of the cap in accordance with the herein invention, the cap 10 comprises an annular base 18, an outer skirt portion 20 extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the base, with the outer skirt portion 20 and base 18 adapted for sealing engagement over the neck 14 and mouth 16 of the container 12, a tubular portion 22 defining a central opening 23 in the base and extending from the base upwardly to an upper end 24. The tubular portion includes a cover for the upper end thereof, such as lid 26. However in this example, the cover may be any suitable type of cover which may be either pierceable, openable or selectively removable and the skirt of the cap includes a skirt tear line 42 of reduced wall thickness, extending downwardly from an upper edge of the skirt 44, a portion of the skirt above the skirt tear line including a pull tab 46 defining a grip hole 48 therein, bordering on the tear line to facilitate tearing of the skirt along the skirt tear line and thus the removal of the cap from the container.
In a further example of the cap in accordance with an aspect of the invention, a one piece plastic cap 10 for use with a liquid container 12 having a neck extending to an open mouth 16, said cap comprising an annular base 18, an outer skirt portion 20 extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the base, said outer skirt portion and base adapted for sealing engagement over the neck and mouth of the container, a tubular portion 22 defining a central opening in the base and extending from the base upwardly to an upper end 24, said tubular portion including a cover covering the upper end thereof, the cover being pierceable, openable or removable to allow flow of water from within the container out through the tubular portion, wherein the skirt of the cap includes a skirt tear line 42 of reduced wall thickness, extending downwardly from the upper edge 44 of the skirt at an angle of no greater than 40 degrees below a horizontal plane formed by the upper edge of the skirt, the portion of the skirt above the tear line including a pull tab bordering on the skirt tear line to facilitate tearing of the skirt along the skirt tear line and removal of the cap from the bottle. Although this example embodiment illustrates a skirt tear line of no greater than 40 degrees, it should understood that in certain embodiments of the cap, the angle of the skirt tear line may be reduced to as low as 20 degrees or raised as high as 80 degrees. An example of a severely reduced tear line angle, is illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16.
The cap is preferably made from plastic, such as polyethylenes or polypropylenes. However, any plastic or other material with similar characteristics could be used.
The tear lines referred to above may be formed of a continuous groove of reduced wall thickness, as shown, or it may comprise a plurality of closely spaced reduced wall thickness lines, extending in a row (i.e. segmented).
The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations may be effected to the particular embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A one piece plastic cap for use with a liquid container having a neck extending to an open mouth, said cap comprising an annular base, an outer skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the base, said outer skirt portion and base adapted for sealing engagement over the neck and mouth of the container, a tubular portion defining a central opening in the base and extending from the base upwardly to an upper end, said tubular portion positioned within the mouth, when the cap is positioned over the neck and mouth of the container, said tubular portion including an inclined lid covering the upper end thereof, the lid connected to the tubular portion by a lid tear line having reduced wall thickness extending around the outer perimeter of the lid, the tear line being interrupted at the upper most portion of the lid by an enhanced wall thickness portion which forms a hinge attachment between the lid and tubular portion when the lid tear line is severed from the tubular portion.

2. The one piece cap as recited in claim 1 wherein when said cap is positioned over the neck and mouth of the container said tubular portion extends within the mouth and said container is installed in an inverted position in a liquid dispenser with the container neck projecting downwardly through a central opening defined in said liquid dispenser, said liquid dispenser including a probe, extending upwardly from said dispenser, positioned to enter the tubular portion of the cap when said inverted container is positioned within said central opening, and to push the lid upwardly causing tearing of the lid tear line and the lid to open thereby allowing liquid to flow into the dispenser, the lid maintaining hinged engagement with the tubular portion at the enhanced thickness portion.

3. The one piece cap as recited in claim 1 wherein the lid includes a rib pattern extending across a central portion of the lid.

4. The one piece cap as recited in claim 1 wherein said rib pattern is connected to the enhanced wall thickness portion.

5. The one piece cap as recited in claim 1 wherein the rib pattern is a cross pattern, the centre of the cross being at the approximate center of the lid.

6. The one piece cap as recited in claim 1 wherein the inclined lid extends at an angle of approximately 20° to a horizontal plane across the top of the tubular portion.

7. The one piece cap as recited in claim 1 wherein said enhanced wall thickness portion has a thickness greater than that of the lid.

8. The cap as recited in claim 2 further comprising a resilient sealing ring positioned against the annular base of the cap between the tubular portion and skirt, disposed between the base of the cap and the container when the cap is positioned over the neck and mouth of the container so as to enhance the seal therebetween.

9. The cap as recited in claim 8 wherein the skirt portion includes an annular bead having an inwardly disposed portion, spaced above the base and sealing ring.

10. The cap as recited in claim 1 wherein the skirt of the cap includes a skirt tear line of reduced wall thickness, extending downwardly from an upper edge of the skirt, a portion of the skirt above the skirt tear line including a ring shaped pull tab defining a grip hole therein, bordering on the tear line so as to facilitate tearing of the skirt along the skirt tear line by pulling the pull tab in the direction of the skirt tear line.

11. The cap as recited in claim 10 wherein the grip hole is sized to accept a human finger to facilitate pulling of the pull tab to tear the skirt tear line.

12. The cap as recited in claim 10 wherein the skirt tear line extends downwardly at an angle of no greater than approximately 40 degrees below a horizontal plane.

13. The cap as recited in claim 12, wherein the skirt tear line is downwardly arc shaped and extends around more than half of the circumference of the skirt.

14. The cap as recited in claim 1 wherein the skirt portion includes an inwardly disposed annular flange extending around the circumference thereof, spaced above the base, and wherein the skirt of the cap includes a skirt tear line of reduced wall thickness, extending downwardly from an upper edge of the skirt, a portion of the skirt above the skirt tear line including a pull tab defining a grip hole therein, bordering on the tear line to facilitate tearing of the skirt along the tear line and removal of the cap from the bottle, the tear line extending downwardly at an angle of no greater than approximately 40 degrees from the horizontal until it approaches the annular ring and then extends parallel and above the annular ring around a portion of the circumference of the skirt.

15. A one piece plastic cap for use with a liquid container having a neck extending to an open mouth, said cap comprising an annular base, an outer skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the base, said outer skirt portion and base adapted for sealing engagement over the neck and mouth of the container, a tubular portion defining a central opening in the base and extending from the base upwardly to an upper end, said tubular portion including a cover for the upper end thereof, the cover being pierceable, openable or selectively removable, wherein the skirt of the cap includes a skirt tear line of reduced wall thickness, extending downwardly from an upper edge of the skirt, a portion of the skirt above the skirt tear line including a pull tab defining a grip hole therein, bordering on the tear line to facilitate tearing of the skirt along the skirt tear line and thus the removal of the cap from the container.

16. The cap as recited in claim 15 wherein the grip hole is sized to accept a human finger.

17. The cap as recited in claim 15 wherein the skirt tear line extends downwardly at an angle of no greater than approximately 40 degrees below a horizontal plane.

18. The cap as recited in claim 17 wherein the skirt tear line is downwardly arc shaped.

19. The cap as recited in claim 15 further comprising a resilient sealing ring positioned against the annular base of the cap between the tubular portion and skirt, disposed between the base of the cap and the container when the cap is positioned over the neck and mouth of the container so as to enhance the seal therebetween.

20. The cap as recited in claim 19 wherein the skirt portion includes an annular bead including an inwardly disposed portion, spaced above the base and sealing ring.

21. A one piece plastic cap for use with a liquid container having a neck extending to an open mouth, said cap comprising an annular base, an outer skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the base, said outer skirt portion and base adapted for sealing engagement over the neck and mouth of the container, a tubular portion defining a central opening in the base and extending from the base upwardly to an upper end, said tubular portion extending within the mouth of the container and including a cover covering the upper end thereof, the cover being pierceable, openable or removable to allow flow of liquid from within the container out through the tubular portion, wherein the skirt of the cap includes a tear line of reduced wall thickness, extending downwardly from the upper edge of the skirt at an angle of no greater than approximately 40 degrees below a horizontal plane formed by the upper edge of the skirt, the portion of the skirt above the tear line including a pull tab bordering on the tear line to facilitate tearing of the skirt along the tear line and removal of the cap from the bottle.

22. The cap as recited in claim 21 wherein the pull tab extends above the upper edge of the skirt and includes enhanced thickness lines to improve the gripping of the tab when pulling same.

23. The cap as recited in claim 22 wherein the thickness lines form a pattern of horizontal and vertical lines.

24. The cap as recited in claim 21 wherein, when the cap is positioned over said neck and mouth in sealing engagement therewith, the tubular portion extends within the mouth.

25. The cap as recited in claim 10 wherein said skirt tear line includes a plurality of closely spaced reduced thickness segments.

26. The cap as recited in claim 10 wherein the skirt tear line is a continuous line of reduced wall thickness.

27. The cap as recited in claim 1 wherein said lid is planar.

28. The cap as recited in claim 15 wherein said lid is planar.