STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is in the technical field of bottles. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of travel bottles for consumable liquids. Most particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of travel bottles for consumable liquids with self- defense features.
The human body is comprised of roughly 60% water by volume. Water helps carry nutrients throughout the body, flush waste products from the body, regulate body temperature and assist in digestion, among other functions. While the human body can go many days without food, a person will die from dehydration after only a few days without water. In order to stay properly hydrated, doctors recommend a person consume no less than ½ oz. of water per pound of body weight per day.
Because easily accessible sources of water are not always available or convenient, portable liquid containers, colloquially known as water bottles, are popular consumer products. The idea of using reusable vessels to transport liquids has been around for thousands of years, with technology and materials sciences continually improving the functionality of such vessels. Modern water bottles come in a plurality of shapes and sizes, with a plurality of features, limited only by the imagination of the designers and the needs of the consumers.
Self-defense products are another popular category of consumer goods. As with water bottles, self-defense products come in a plurality of shapes and sizes and incorporate varying features to help a person fend off potential attackers or alert others if help is needed. Self-defense products may include whistles, pepper spray or other lacrimation spray containers, blunt surfaces, and knives.
Many self-defense products are comprised of relatively small designs. While smaller designs lead to more portable products, there are many practical disadvantages to smaller sized devices, namely accessibility. Often times, self-defense devices are placed into purses or bags along with other items. In these instances, the smaller size of the self-defense device, presence of other items of similar shapes and sizes and panicked state of the user can result in the self- defense device not being accessed in time. In addition, many popular self-defense devices feature safety mechanisms that may be compromised by the movement of the device in a purse or bag and accidentally discharge.
Many popular self-defense courses teach the use of everyday items that may be easily accessed in the event of an attack as mechanisms for self-defense. One of the primary goals of the present invention is to provide additional self-defense features to a popular consumer product already in use by many consumers.
An aspect of self-defense that is often overlooked is the ability to find a path to safety in the event of a kidnapping, abduction, or similar circumstance involving a threat to personal safety. A person with immediate safety needs may require a mechanism to help direct them to safety. A compass is a simple navigational instrument that shows directions relative to a fixed frame of reference, namely the surface of the Earth. The compass can be used to navigate in unknown territory and when used correctly can prevent the user from becoming lost or can help the user to maintain a desired direction of travel. However, a person often does not have a compass as a matter of daily routine.
The inventor has performed a prior art search and believes the present invention is a new and useful improvement over the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a container for carrying liquids, more specific, consumable liquids, with at least one feature on the container designed to function as a self- defense, alerting, or navigation mechanism in the instance the user is under threat. The design of the container is such that the alerting, navigation, and/or self-defense features of the container do not protrude from the container when not needed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 depicts a front view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 depicts an isometric view from the bottom of an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In broad embodiment, the present invention is a bottle designed for holding consumable liquids incorporating self-defense, alerting, and/or navigation mechanisms.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention calls for construction utilizing an impact-resistant and lightweight material, such as plastic or stainless steel. Because many materials are suitable for the present invention, alternative embodiments may encompasses any other material that suits the scope and spirit of the invention. The inventor believes utilizing molds to create the individual parts would be the easiest and most cost-effective manner to construct the present invention, though other embodiments of the invention may encompasses any other method of creating the individual parts that would be suitable to the scope and spirit of the invention.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention shares similar dimensions to the bottles on the market in the 0.5 L to 1.0 L range. Because users may wish for smaller volumes for activities such as short-distance running or larger sizes for activities such as hiking, the inventor wishes the invention to encompass a plurality of volumes. In addition to variations in size, shape and materials used, the invention encompasses an embodiment wherein the bottle may contain an insulating element to keep hot beverages hot and cold beverages cold.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention calls for a shape generally cylindrical in design. Because users may wish for alternative shapes depending on their specific needs, alternative embodiments of the present invention may utilize a variety of shapes and designs, including an extruded rectangular or generally box-shaped design. Also within the scope and spirit of this invention are other features common to water bottles, such as reflective tape; straws; variations on lid designs; hooks, straps, or other attachment point features for clipping, securing, or holding the bottle; and/or carrying straps.
Referring now to the front view of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1, there is shown the lid 100. The lid 100 attaches to the bottle body 102 and is easily removed when the user wishes to refill the bottle body 102 with liquids. The bottle body 102 is hollow to hold liquids. The hollow nature of the bottle body 102 enables the body itself to be utilized as a storage compartment. Alternatively, compartments accessible to the exterior of the bottle body 102 may be built into an embodiment of the invention, protruding into the interior hollow space of the bottle body 102. The lid 100 may attach to the bottle body in different ways. The preferred embodiment of the present invention calls for internal threads on the lid 100 and external threads on the bottle body 102 to facilitate a screw-on type attachment. Alternative embodiments of the present invention may utilize different attachment mechanisms, such as snap closures, so long as the seal between the lid 100 and bottle body 102 is watertight. The preferred embodiment of the present invention may include an attachment feature 104 either on the lid 100 or on the bottle body 102, so the user may clip the bottle to his/her person or his/her gear when not needed. The attachment feature 104 may be rigid or flexible, may encompass a variety of different shapes, designs and materials, and may be either incorporated as part of the lid 100 or body 102 or as a separate but attached feature.
Still referring to FIG. 1, the lid 100 may be designed in many different ways that may include features to allow the user to drink from the bottle without having to remove the lid 100 from the body 102. The preferred embodiment is shown with a straw 200 protruding from the lid 100. Featured on the lid 100 is the straw channel 202, in which the straw 200 may be retained when not in use. The design of the straw 200 is such that it folds out of place into the straw channel 202 when not in use, but is easily unfolded when desired. The straw 200 extends through the lid 100 and down to the base of the bottle body 102, so the user may use oral suction to draw liquids from the base of the bottle body 102 to the user's mouth. The straw channel 202 and straw 200 are designed in such a manner as to be leak-proof when not in use. Alternative embodiments may include lid designs with a variety of common leak-proof drinking apparatus such as lids often featured on containers designed to contain warm beverages or different straw designs.
Still referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an alerting device, such as a whistle 300. Alternative embodiments of alerting devices include electronic noise generating mechanisms including but not limited to buzzers, and/or electronic light generating mechanisms such as LED flashing lights. In FIG. 1, the whistle 300 is shown folded in place into a recess on the exterior of the bottle body 102 and held in place with the whistle attachment point 304. FIG. 2 will elaborate on this placement. The preferred embodiment calls for the whistle attachment point 304 to consist of a simple pressure snap, where the whistle 300 “clicks” in the recess and is held in place with pressure. Alternative embodiments of the present invention allow for different attachment mechanisms, including detachable mechanisms, such as latches or snaps, while remaining within the scope and spirit of the invention. The whistle 300 may be used for signaling others in times of distress, or whenever desired by the user. The size, shape, and materials that comprise the whistle 300 may vary and be constructed from plastic or any other material suitable for its designed purpose. When folded into the bottle body 102, the whistle 300 remains out of the way and completely snag-free.
Still referring to FIG. 1, there is shown the impact base 400 held in place with the impact base attachment point 402 at the bottom of the bottle body 102. The impact base 400 is designed as a striking plate for self-defense or utility, such as breaking a car's window when the user is trapped inside. The preferred embodiment of the present invention calls for the impact base 400 to be constructed of stainless steel, or any other dense and rigid material suitable for its designed purpose. In the preferred embodiment, the impact base 400 is attached to the bottle body 102 by the impact base attachment point 402 and is designed to firmly stay shut when the impact base attachment point 402 is engaged, but readily swing free when the impact base attachment point 402 is disengaged. Alternative embodiments of the present invention allow for variations on the shape, size, and attachment mechanism for the impact base 400, while remaining within the scope and spirit of the invention.
Still referring to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment is shown with a canister of self-defense spray 500 within a hollow channel encompassed by the outer surface area of the bottle body 102. The preferred embodiment includes a spring 502 that is compressed when the self-defense spray 500 is loaded into the hollow channel and held in place when the impact base 400 is shut and the impact base attachment point 402 is engaged. For the shown preferred embodiment, when the user wishes to access the self-defense spray 500, he/she disengages the impact base attachment point 402, causing the spring 502 to expand, pushing the self-defense spray 500 outward and causing the impact base 400 to swing open. Alternative embodiments of the present invention allow for the canister of self-defense spray to be stored within the bottle body 102 and released using a variety of different mechanisms and methods, including detachable mechanisms, while remaining within the scope and spirit of the invention. In jurisdictions that do not allow self-defense spray, the hollow channel may be used for storage of other items, such as keys or a flashlight. Embodiments of the invention may specifically incorporate a compartment for storage space.
Still referring to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the invention includes a compass 600 embedded within the bottle body 102. Alternative embodiments of the present invention may use different means such as glue or adhesives to attach the compass 600 to the bottle body 102 and are within the scope of the invention. The compass 600 may be used to determine a frame of reference or direction of travel in the event the user is lost, being transported, or whenever desired by the user. The size, shape, and materials that comprise the compass 600 may vary and be constructed from plastic or any other material suitable for its designed purpose.
Still referring to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the invention includes a knife 700. In an embodiment of the invention, a hollow channel sheath 704, encompassed by the outer surface area of the bottle body 102, encompasses the knife 700 in the stored position. An embodiment of the invention incorporates a utility or pocket style knife blade with a small handle 702 at the base of the knife blade. In an embodiment, the user may remove the knife 700 from the hollow channel sheath 704 to use the knife in a customary fashion. In the preferred embodiment, the knife 700 is held in place when the impact base 400 is shut and the impact base attachment point 402 is engaged. The knife 700 can be accessed when the user disengages the impact base attachment point 402, and swings the impact base 400 open. The sheath 704 dimensions will be such that the knife 700 is held firmly within the sheath cavity, but can easily be removed by pulling on the knife handle 702. The knife 700 shares similar dimensions to utility and pocket style knives currently on the market and may range depending on the size and dimensions of the bottle and jurisdictional compliance requirements for concealed knife types and lengths. An embodiment of the invention incorporates a knife blade length of 2.5 inches or less to enable a user to carry such an embodiment of the invention in compliance with national and state regulations known in the United States of America. Alternative embodiments of the invention may incorporate knife blade lengths of up to 7 inches. The spirit and scope of the invention may yet incorporate knife blade sizes of greater than 7 inches in larger embodiments. In the preferred embodiment, the knife 700 is intended to be used either as a self-defense weapon, a means to aid escape, or to cut through a variety of materials as desired by the user. In alternative embodiments, the knife 700 is intended to be used for purposes similar to uses of a general utility knife or pocket style knife known in the prior art, including for instance a slide-style cutter. The knife blade may be straight, serrated, or a combination of the two, and can be made from metal, ceramic, or any other material suitable for its designed purpose. Alternative embodiments of the present invention allow for the knife 700 to be stored within the bottle body 102 and released using a variety of different mechanisms and methods, while remaining within the scope and spirit of the invention.
Referring now the side view of the present invention as shown in FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment for the attachment point 104 and straw 200 are shown protruding from the lid 100. The lid 100 is shown secured to the bottle body 102.
Still referring to the side view of the present invention as shown in FIG. 2, the whistle 300 is shown folded out from the whistle recess 302 in the bottle body 102. Also shown is the whistle attachment point 304. The preferred embodiment of the present invention calls for the whistle 300 to swing in and out of the whistle recess 302 by means of hinge 306, though any alternative mechanism within the scope and spirit of this invention may be used to accomplish this means.
Still referring to the side view of the present invention as shown in FIG. 2, there is shown the impact base 400 with the impact base attachment point 402 disengaged. The preferred embodiment of the present invention calls for the impact base 400 to swing free with a hinge 404 when the impact base attachment point 402 is disengaged, though any alternative mechanism within the scope and spirit of this invention may be used.
Still referring to the side view of the present invention as shown in FIG. 2, the figure demonstrates the placement for the preferred embodiment of the self-defense spray canister 500 within the hollow channel within the outer surface of the bottle body 102. When the self-defense spray canister 500 is pushed within the hollow channel, it loads the spring 502 at the base of the hollow channel. Closing the impact base 400 with the impact base attachment 402 engaged holds the entire self-defense spray assembly 500-502 in place securely within the hollow channel and the outer portion of the bottle body 102. Alternative embodiments may employ a variety of different storage and release mechanisms for the self-defense spray canister 500 and remain within the scope and spirit of the invention.
Still referring to the side view of the present invention as shown in FIG. 2, the figure demonstrates the placement for the preferred embodiment of the knife 700 within the hollow channel sheath 704 within the outer surface of the bottle body 102. The preferred embodiment for the knife 700 includes a knife handle 702 that can be seen to protrude slightly from the base of the bottle body 102 when the impact base 400 is open allowing access to the knife 700. Alternative embodiments may employ a variety of different handle shapes/sizes, sheath dimensions, and release mechanisms for the knife 700 and remain within the scope and spirit of the invention.
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings.
The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”, “having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”, “approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The terms “coupled” and “linked” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed. Also, the sequence of steps in a flow diagram or elements in the claims, even when preceded by a letter does not imply or require that sequence.
Patent Application
20150259096
