Patent Application
20190062006
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Not Applicable.
The present disclosure pertains to a bottle closure for a liquid container, and more particularly, to a two part bottle closure providing for selection of one of multiple discharge openings.
Typical bottle closures provide a single type of opening through which to discharge a liquid. For example, a typical bottle closure may include a single poppet style drink spout. If a user desires to discharge a large volume of liquid, this is impeded by the limited cross section of the poppet style drink spout. If possible, a user can remove the bottle closure and may be able to access a larger opening, but this results in the bottle being separate from the bottle closure. The two parts are clumsy to use. For example, the user may have to set down the bottle closure on the ground or another surface which may not be clean in order to use the bottle, for example, to pour a liquid into a glass or the like. Further, a user may be more likely to misplace either the bottle closure or the bottle when the two are separated. There is a need for a bottle closure that allows for the selection of one of multiple discharge openings for different uses.
The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. One aspect of the present disclosure is a bottle closure for releasable attachment to a bottle. The bottle closure includes a base portion and a top portion. The base portion is adapted and configured to releasably attach to a bottle. The base portion has a first passageway extending therethrough and is adapted and configured to communicate with an interior of a bottle. The top portion is releasably connectable with the base portion such that the top portion is movable relative to the base portion between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the top portion is spaced from the base portion in a manner to provide access to the base portion first passageway. In the closed position, the top portion is in register with the base portion and covers the base portion first passageway. The top portion further has a second passageway extending therethrough. The top portion further has a drink spout in the second passageway. The drink spout has a portion adapted and configured for movement in the second passageway between an open position and a closed position. The open position allows fluid communication through the second passageway. The closed position prevents fluid communication through the second passageway.
A further aspect of the present disclosure is a container including a bottle having a bottle finish and a bottle closure adapted and configured to be releasably secured to the bottle by the bottle finish. The bottle closure includes a base portion and a top portion. The base portion is adapted and configured to releasably attach to a bottle. The base portion has a first passageway extending therethrough and is adapted and configured to communicate with an interior of a bottle. The top portion is releasably connectable with the base portion such that the top portion is movable relative to the base portion between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the top portion is spaced from the base portion in a manner to provide access to the base portion first passageway. In the closed position, the top portion is in register with the base portion and covers the base portion first passageway. The top portion further has a second passageway extending therethrough. The top portion further has a drink spout in the second passageway. The drink spout has a portion adapted and configured for movement in the second passageway between an open position and a closed position. The open position allows fluid communication through the second passageway. The closed position prevents fluid communication through the second passageway.
Further features and advantages, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments disclosed herein, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosed embodiments. In the drawings:
Reference numerals in the written specification and in the drawings figures indicate corresponding items.
In one embodiment, shown in
The base portion 24 may be adapted and configured to releasably attach to the bottle 22. The base portion 24 may include a plurality of threads 34 configured to engage with the bottle. In alternative embodiments, the base 24 may be adapted and configured to engage with a lip or other feature of the bottle 22. In further alternative embodiments, the base portion 24 may be permanently affixed to the bottle 22.
The bottle closure base portion 24 may be releasably connected to the bottle closure top portion 26. The base portion 24 may including a first hinge portion 28 and the top portion 26 may be provided with a second hinge portion 30 configured to be coupled to the first hinge portion by a shaft 32. In alternative embodiments, the releasably adjustable connection may include one or more of: a tether, a latch, a twist lock and a releasable interference fit between the top portion 26 and the base portion 24. The twist lock is adapted and configured to couple the top portion 26 to the base portion 24 when the top portion 26 is rotated in a first direction, and the twist lock is adapted and configured to release the top portion 26 from the base portion 24 when the top portion is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction. For example, and without limitation, the twist lock includes a flange on the base portion 24 and a second flange on the top portion 26 that cooperate as described. In the case of the interference fit, the top portion 26 and the base portion 24 are dimensioned such that the top portion 26 fits around at least a portion of the base portion 24 and remains coupled to the base portion 24. A user can remove the top portion 26 from the base portion 24 by applying a sufficient force and can couple the top portion 26 to the base portion 24 by applying an opposite force. The top and bottom portions of the bottom closure may also be releasably connectable to each other with a bayonet fitting, a system of arcuate tabs and slots or latches.
The base portion 24 may have a first end 38 and a second end 40 axially opposite the first end. The first end 38 may include the plurality of threads, and the second end may include a lip 42. The lip 42 may be intermediate of the first end 38 and the second end 40. The lip 42 may be adapted and configured to engage with one or more portions or features of the top portion 26 to form a seal with the base portion 24. The base portion 24 may be tapered from the first end 38 as it extends axially towards the second end 40 such that the base portion has a first radius at the first end 38 and a second smaller radius at the second end 40. A first passageway 44 extends through the base portion 24 from the first end 38 to the second end 40. The base portion 24 further includes a large opening 46 which may be disposed adjacent the lip 42 on the second end 40. The large opening and the first passageway 44 may be adapted and configured to be in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the bottle 22 when the closure is releasably attached to the bottle. The first passageway 44 provides a user with access to fluid within the bottle 22. For example, and without limitation, a user may release the top portion 26 from the base portion 24 to access the first passageway 44 to drink or pour a liquid from the bottle 22. For example, and without limitation, a user can pivot the top portion 26 away from the base portion to access liquid from the bottle 22 directly through the first passageway 44, for example, by pouring a liquid from the relatively large opening 46 of the base portion 24 which in the drawings terminates at the lip 42.
The top portion 26 of bottle closure 20 includes a drink spout 48 and, optionally, a cap 50 over the drink spout 48. For example, and without limitation, the drink spout 48 may be a poppet style drink spout, and the cap 50 may be adapted and configured to removably cover the drink spout 48. A second passageway 52 may extend through the top portion 26 from a first end 54 to a second end 56 of the top portion. The top portion 26 may be tapered from the first end 54 as it extends axially towards the second end 56 such that the top portion 26 has a first radius at the first end 54 and a second smaller radius at the second end 56. The top portion 26 may further include a seal 58 configured to engage with the base portion 24. The top portion 26 may include an intake 60, having a first axial end 62 and a second axial end 64, configured to receive a liquid from the first passageway 44 of the base portion 24. The top portion 26 may include a one way valve 66 in fluid communication with the second passageway 52 and may include at least one opening 68 on a cylindrical wall 70 of the intake 60. The second passageway 52 is adapted and configured to be in fluid communication with the base portion 24 when the top portion 26 is in the closed position relative to the base portion. For example, and without limitation, a user may pivot the top portion 26 about the shaft 32 to close the top portion 26 onto the base portion 24. This brings the second passageway 52 into fluid communication with the first passageway 44 through the large opening 46. The user can then extract liquid from within the bottle 22 through the top portion 26 via the first passageway 44 in the base portion 24, the second passageway 52 in the top portion 26, and the drink spout 48. When a user pivots the top portion 26 about the shaft 32 to open the top portion 26 and bring the top portion 26 away from the base portion 24, the second passageway 52 is brought out of fluid communication with the first passageway 44.
The seal 58 is adapted and configured to engage with the base portion 24 to form a seal between the base portion 24 and the top portion 26. The seal 58 may be a rubber gasket, o-ring, or any other suitable element or material for forming a re-sealable connection between the top portion 26 and the base portion 24. The seal 58 may be generally ring shaped and bound the first passageway 44 and the second passageway 52 when the top portion 26 is closed onto the base portion 24. In some embodiments, the seal 58 is adapted and configured to contact the lip 42 of the base portion 24 to form a seal. In alternative embodiments, the seal 58 is adapted and configured to contact the base portion 24 radially outward from the lip 42 such that the lip 42 extends through an opening in the seal 58. The seal 58 may be recessed into the top portion 26. In still further alternative embodiments, the base portion 24 does not include a lip 42 and the seal 58 engages with the top surface of the base portion 24. Alternatively, the top portion 26 may not include a seal 58.
The top portion 26 of the bottle closure 20 includes the intake 60 mounted within the top portion. The intake 60 may at least partially define the second passageway 52. The intake 60 may be a generally cylindrical member disposed within the second passageway 52. The intake 60 may have a first axial end 62 and a second axial end 64 opposite the first axial end 62. The second axial end 64 includes the one way valve 66. The one way valve 66 may be a diaphragm check valve. The one way valve 66 is positioned downstream of the first axial end 62 of the intake 60. In alternative embodiments, the top portion 26 does not include a one way valve 66. The intake 60 may have at least one opening 68 on a cylindrical wall 70 of the intake. In some embodiments, the at least one opening 68 is nearer the first axial end 62 than the second axial end 64. In alternative embodiments, the at least one opening 68 is nearer the second axial end 64 than the first axial end 62. The drink spout 48 may be adapted and configured to move axially relative to the intake 60 and may have a running fit with both the exterior of the intake 60 and at least one interior surface 72 of the top portion 26. The drink spout 48 may include one or more flanges 74 that engage with corresponding features 76 of the top portion 26 to limit the movement of the drink spout 48 between fully depressed and fully raised positions. The drink spout 48 may be positioned radially about the intake 60 and may be adapted and configured to move axially with respect to the intake 60 such that the at least one opening 68 is sealed and unsealed as the drink spout 48 is depressed and raised respectively. For example, and without limitation, a user may pull the drink spout 48 upward relative to the first axial end 62 of the intake 60. This causes the drink spout 48 to unseat from the first axial end 62 and to unseal the at least one opening 68 of the intake 60 such that a liquid can be extracted from the hollow interior of the bottle 22 through the drink spout 48. A user may push the drink spout 48 downward relative to the first axial end 62 of the intake 60. This causes the drink spout 48 to seal the at least one opening 68 of the intake and prevent fluid flow through the second passageway 52. The drink spout 48 may be seated against the first axial end 62 of the intake 60 when in the sealed position. With the top and base portions in register and the drink spout 48 unseated from the intake first axial end 62, fluid from the hollow interior of the bottle 22 may flow from the first passageway 44 through the opening created by the separation of the drink spout from the intake first axial end. The fluid may then flow through the at least one opening 68 and through the one way check valve 66 in exiting the drink spout 48 in flowing through the second passageway.
The bottle closure 20 may include a biasing member 78. The biasing member 78 may be adapted and configured to bias the top portion 26 open and away from the base portion 24. This allows the top portion 26 to remain in an open configuration relative to the base portion while a user is accessing liquid from the bottle 22 through the first passageway 44 and the large opening 46. For example, and without limitation, the biasing member 78 is torsion spring or a leaf spring. The bottle closure 20 may include a latch 80 adapted and configured to releasably secure the top portion 26 to the base portion 24 in a closed configuration. The latch 80 is positioned substantially opposite to the adjustable connection, e.g., the hinge portions 28,30. The latch 80 may be secured to the top portion 26 and is adapted and configured to engage with a lip 82 positioned on the base portion 24. The combination of the biasing member 78, the latch 80, and the lip 82 allow for a user to selectively configure the bottle, for example, (i) use of the drink spout 48 with the top portion 26 latched closed to the base portion 24, or (ii) use of the large opening 46 in the base portion 24, with the top portion 26 in an open configuration relative to the base portion and biased in the direction of the open configuration by the biasing element 78.
The bottle closure 20 may include additional features and/or components. For example, and without limitation, the bottle closure 20 may include a carry loop 84. The carry loop 84 is adapted and configured to allow a user to carry the bottle closure 20 and any bottle 22 attached to the bottle closure 20 by threads 34. The carry loop 84 allows, for example and without limitation, a user to attach the bottle closure 20 to a backpack or the like using a suitable fastener (e.g., a snap link fastener, carabiner or the like). The carry loop 84 is coupled to one or more of the base portion 24 and the top portion 26. In some embodiments, the carry loop 84 is coupled to the shaft 32 such that the carry loop 84 is pivotable about the shaft 32.
In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the several advantages of the disclosure are achieved and attained. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular uses contemplated. As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. For example, the shape of components such as the base portion 24 and top portion 26 may vary, the type and number of drink spouts 48 or other openings in the top portion 26 may vary, or the like. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
