Patent Grant
11472608
The present invention relates to container fittings; more particularly, to container fittings capable of being releasably mounted to more than one size container opening; and most particularly, to container fittings including a leak-resistant aperture adapted to permit passage of a disposable, standard size drinking straw therethrough.
Container fittings and caps coupled to container mouth openings are known in the art. Typically, containers are closed using a dedicated fitting/cap, with one class of containers holding liquid refreshments such as water, soft drinks and sport/energy drinks. To partake of the liquid within the container, particularly when a secondary container is unavailable, a user needs to remove the fitting/cap and drink directly from the bottle mouth opening. Such direct drinking may be difficult for young children and may cause issues for adults, such as inadvertent spillage or smearing of lipstick. Direct drinking may also pose a danger by causing an unnecessary distraction while driving. Moreover, to ease drink accessibility, a user may decide not to replace the fitting/cap in between sips thereby necessitating that the container remain in an open state. Thus, any tipping or inversion of the container may result in spilling, and potentially catastrophic emptying, of the container contents.
As an attempt to alleviate the above shortcomings of conventional caps/fitting, there are a number of alternative container fittings available. However, each of these fittings suffers from one or more significant drawbacks. For instance, one example of a typical fitting includes a threaded fitting with a resealable nozzle. The threaded fitting is sized to fit a standard disposable water bottle. Its nozzle may be opened using fingers or teeth so that liquid may be poured or squirted into the mouth and then closed when not in use to prevent spilling.
Another example of a bottle fitting is a “spout adapter for water bottle” sold by i play Inc. of Asheville, N.C. A reusable/non-disposable, soft nipple is removably connected to a screw-on cap; the cap is adaptable to a fit a standard water bottle mouth of approximately 25 mm. The cap is reversible and sized to fit water bottles having the same diameter mouth but different thread sizes. The nipple sold with the cap has a diameter almost equal to the diameter of the cap and, if removed or lost, leaves the bottle completely open for spilling if tipped. Further, since the nipple is non-disposable, it may be difficult to keep the nipple clean and ready for repeated use.
To further complicate matters, not all bottles suitable for an alternative container fitting have the same mouth opening diameter. For instance, water bottles typically have a mouth opening diameter (and therefore associated fitting/cap) of approximately 25 mm. Juice and sport/energy drink bottles typically come with mouth diameters of approximately 35 mm. Further, while maintaining a common opening diameter such as 25 mm or 35 mm, many bottles use a non-standard thread size (pitch or threads per inch). As a result, since the above alternative fittings are dedicated to a single container mouth diameter or thread size, the prior art alternative fittings described above cannot be interchangeably used with various commonly used bottles.
Alternative fittings have been developed to accommodate two or more differing mouth opening diameters. One such fitting is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,315. The disclosed fittings are arranged to include two serially stacked openings of varying diameters. The stacked openings are arranged such that the widest diameter opening is positioned at the bottom of the fitting, with the smaller diameter opening in direct communication above. As a result, such a fitting may fit containers having different mouth diameters. This proposed solution, however, also suffers a number of drawbacks. For instance, the fitting must be proportioned so that each diameter opening may, when needed, engage the container mouth opening. However, due to the needed threaded length, if the axial length of the bottom opening is of a length that the fitting engages the container body prior to the smaller fitting diameter engaging the container mouth, the fitting cannot be properly mounted onto the container.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a container fitting which addresses the above recited limitations in the art. What is needed is a container fitting that can mount onto containers having differences in mouth diameter and thread size. What is further needed is a container fitting that is usable with a standard 6 mm diameter disposable straw, is leak-resistant while also allowing the container contents to be readily available to a user in a safe, clean and accessible manner.
Briefly described, a fitting for affixing to a mouth of a receiving container comprises a tubular body having a top end, a bottom end and a side wall extending between the top and bottom ends and having an inner surface and an outer surface. A partition is integrally formed on the inner surface between the top end and the bottom end. The partition divides the body into an open top region and an open bottom region with the inner surface of the open top region having a top threading and the inner surface of the open bottom region having a bottom threading. The partition further includes an aperture therein adapted to permit close fitting passage of a standard size disposable straw therethrough from the open top region to the open bottom region. The top threading may have a different pitch or number of threads per inch or both than the bottom threading.
A further embodiment of a side wall that has a planar surface substantially normal to the open top and bottom ends such that the side wall defining the open top region has a thickness greater than a thickness of the side wall defining the open bottom region. As a result, the open top region has a smaller open internal diameter than an open internal diameter of the bottom region. In an alternative embodiment, the outer surface of the side wall has a stepped profile so that the thickness of the side wall defining the open top region is substantially the same thickness as the side wall defining the open bottom region.
Yet another embodiment of a fitting according to the present invention includes a partition that is rigid yet flexible and the aperture is substantially leak-resistant. Moreover, the open top end may accommodate a container mouth having an external diameter of 25 mm and the open bottom end may accommodate a container mouth having an external diameter of 35 mm. The outer surface of the body may also be knurled.
In yet another embodiment of a fitting according to the present invention, the inner surface of the side wall includes a plurality of inwardly extending nodes. Each node may have a generally conical shape and may be randomly placed about the circumference of the inner surface and operate conjunctively with one another so as to secure the container fitting to the receiving container. By being discontinuous and randomly spaced, the individual nodes ensure secure engagement of the fitting to the container regardless of thread type or pitch.
In a further embodiment of a fitting in accordance to the present invention the partition may further include a plug seal extending perpendicularly outwardly from the partition so as to form a land area seal on the top surface of the partition. The plug seal may also have a sloped outer wall surface wherein the top end of the plug seal has a smaller thickness than its base. Thus, as the mouth opening of a receiving container is threadably mounted to the outwardly extending nodes, the container's mouth orifice may seat within the land area seal while the outer wall surface engages the inner wall of the mouth opening. Alternatively, if the mouth orifice cannot seat within the land area seal, the sloped outer wall surface will tend to wedge the mouth orifice between the sloped outer wall surface and the nodes to tightly grip the container fitting and to enhance its seal.
In each of the above embodiments, the fitting may be constructed of any suitable material, but in a preferred embodiment is constructed as a unitary body from a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, a copolyester and combinations thereof. The fitting may also be color coded or branded to aid in the ready identification of the fitting's opening sizes.
The above-mentioned and other features are advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and be better understood by reference to the following description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring to the drawings in detail, and specifically to
Partition 116 may be integrally formed on inner surface 110 a spaced distance from top end 104 and bottom end 106. In this manner, partition 116 divides body 102 into an open top region 118 and an open bottom region 120. Inner surface 110a of open top region 118 may be sized as diameter Dt. while inner surface 110b of open bottom region 120 may be sized as diameter Db, wherein Db is greater than Dt. In one aspect of the invention, inner surfaces 110a and 110b may be smooth surfaced so as to offer a slight interference fit with the mating container mouth. In another aspect of the invention, inner surfaces 110a and 110b may include a series of flexible circular ridges formed axially along the circumferences of the surfaces so as to offer an interference fit with the mating container mouth. In yet another aspect of the invention, inner surface 110a of open top region 118 may include threading 122 while inner surface 110b of open bottom region 120 may include bottom threading 124. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, top threading 122 may have a different pitch or number of threads per inch or both than bottom threading 124. Partition 116 may further include an aperture 126 appropriately sized through which a standard size disposable straw 128 may close-fittedly pass from the environment, through partition 116 and into the interior of container 130. As for example, aperture 126 may be sized to close-fittedly receive a disposable drinking straw having a diameter of approximately 6. mm as distributed by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. of Bentonville, Ark.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, partition 116 is formed of a rigid yet flexible material such that aperture 126 is in a substantially closed position when straw 128 is absent, but also forms around the circumference of straw 128 when the straw is inserted and resides within aperture 126. In this manner, container fitting 100 may be substantially leak-resistant. That is, container fitting 100 may resist leaking of fluid within container 130 should container 130 be tipped or inverted. It should be understood that, should container 130 be tipped or inverted for too long a time period, or should sufficient back pressure be exerted upon the fluid in container 130, some small amount of fluid may leak through aperture 126. However, even in this case, the amount of fluid loss and/or the rate of fluid loss would be substantially less than should container 130 not be outfitted with container fitting 100 whereby catastrophic spillage may occur, potentially including the entire fluid volume resident within container 130.
Following removal of straw 128, partition 116 may resiliently close aperture 126 to reform the leak-resistant closure. It should be understood that a completely sealed closure is not required or, in the case of certain embodiments, expected. Rather, aperture 126 may remain partially open but have such opening be small enough so as not to disrupt the intermolecular forces within the fluid within container 130 thereby promote resistance to leaking.
By way of example, container 130 may be a bottle of water wherein aperture 126 may maintain a sufficiently small opening such that the intermolecular adhesive forces between water molecules are maintained proximate aperture 126. These intermolecular forces may enable a droplet of water to not readily pass through aperture 126. As described above, however, should the water bottle be inverted or tipped for a sufficient amount of time or sufficient pressure be applied to the bottle or water within, the intermolecular adhesion of the water droplet at the aperture may be overcome thereby resulting in leakage of the water.
As can be seen in
By way of example, in reference to
Turning now to
With reference to
Second, inner surface 186 of side wall 182 includes a number of additional features. Rather than defining continuous threading, such as threading 122/124, 172/174 on container fittings 100, 150, respectively, inner surface 186 includes a plurality of inwardly extending nodes 188 (toward central axis 181 of container fitting 180). In one aspect of the present invention, each node 188 may have a generally conical shape and may be randomly placed about the circumferential surface 185 of inner surface 186. As will be described in greater detail below, when mounting container fitting 180 onto a receiving container, nodes 188 operate in conjunction with one another so as to secure container fitting 180 to the receiving container. Containers currently available may have thread diameters of a common size, such as 28 mm or 38 mm, but the thread pitch and/or threads per inch vastly differ from container to container and are often non-standard making it difficult to provide a “one-size-fits-all” container fitting. By being discontinuous and randomly-spaced, individual nodes, nodes 188 may accommodate non-standard or variable container threading while ensuring threaded engagement of the fitting to the container.
Inner surface 186 may also define a recess, such as recess 190a, 190b, which is configured to accommodate tamper resistant features formed proximate the mouth opening on the receiving container.
Similar to container fittings 100, 150, container fitting 180 includes a partition 192 integrally formed along inner surface 186 so as to define an open top region 194 and an open bottom region 196. Similar to regions 118, 120 and 168, 170 described above, regions 194 and 196 may define openings of different diameters. As such, regions 194, 196 (and therefore, container fitting 180) may be mounted onto receiving containers have mouths of differing diameters (D3, D4). By way of example and without limitation thereto, region 194 may be proportioned to receive a 28 mm wide container mouth (
Partition 192 may further include a plug seal 200a, 200b extending perpendicularly outwardly therefrom into open regions 194 and 196, respectively. Plug seal 200a may be spaced apart from inner surface 186a so as to form a land area seal 202 on surface 204 of partition 192. Plug seal 200a may also have a sloped outer wall surface 206 wherein top end 208 of plug seal 200a has a smaller thickness than base 210. Thus, as shown most clearly in
Similarly, plug seal 200b may be spaced apart from inner surface 186b so as to form a land area seal 220 on surface 222 of partition 192. Plug seal 200b may also have a sloped outer wall surface 224 wherein top end 226 of plug seal 200b has a smaller thickness than base 228. Thus, as shown most clearly in
While the fitting embodiment described above and illustrated in
With reference to
Outer side wall 246 is arranged a spaced distance from the perimeter edge 248 of top panel 242 so as to define a first land area seal 250. Inner side wall 244 is arranged a spaced distance from outer side wall 246 so as to define a second land area seal 252. The diameter of outer side wall 246 is selected such that outer surface 256 is snuggly received within a mouth opening of a first receiving container whereby outer side wall 246 forms a substantially water tight seal with the container. To improve seal performance, outer surface 256 may include concentric rings 258 so as to define a crenellated or scalloped cross section (
Inner side wall 244 may be configured to operate as a plug seal similar to plug seals 200a, 200b described above with reference to container fitting 180. The inner side wall 144 may include a sloped outer wall surface 260 wherein top end 262 of inner side wall 244 has a smaller thickness than base 264. Thus, as described above, when a mouth opening of a second receiving container is mounted to container fitting 240, the container mouth orifice will seat against second land area seal 252 while outer wall surface 260 engages the inner wall of the container mouth opening. Or, if the mouth orifice cannot seat within land area seal 252, the sloped outer wall surface 260 will tend to wedge the mouth orifice between the sloped outer wall surface and the concentric rings or nodes to tightly grip the container fitting and to enhance its seal. In this manner, the receiving container may form a near water-tight seal with the container fitting at one or more locations.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, container fittings 100, 150, 180, 240 may be fabricated as a unitary member. While any suitable material may be used to fabricate container fittings 100, 150, 180, 240, examples of such materials include, but are not limited to silicone, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, a copolyester and combinations thereof. Container fittings 100, 150, 180, 240 may further be fabricated from colored materials. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, container fittings 100, 150, 180, 240 may be fabricated according to a color scheme wherein an individual fitting may be fabricated from a colored material wherein that color is indicative of the mouth diameters to be received by that fitting.
By way of example, a first fitting 100, 150, 180, 240 may be colored red to indicate that open top region 118, 168, 194, inner side wall 244 may receive a 25 mm mouth diameter while open bottom regions 120, 170, 196, outer side wall 246 may receive a 35 mm mouth diameter. A second fitting 100, 150, 180, 240 may then be fabricated in blue to indicate receipt of a 26 mm mouth diameter at the open top region and a 28 mm mouth diameter is receivable in the open bottom region. A user may then visually retrieve a desired fitting without careful interrogation of each individual container fitting, particularly when attempting to visually discern small differences in receivable diameters (i.e. visually discerning between 28 mm and 35 mm) or through attempting to physically mount a suspected container fitting which would require unwanted and premature opening of the container 130 as well as possibly damaging the fitting or bottle mouth opening.
While the invention has been described by reference to various specific embodiments, it should be understood that numerous changes may be made within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts described. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the described embodiments, but will have full scope defined by the language of the following claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/357,601, filed Nov. 21, 2016, titled CONTAINER FITTING, which is incorporated herein by reference.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20190023462 A1 | Jan 2019 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15357601 | Nov 2016 | US |
| Child | 16137033 | US |
