COVERING DEVICE FOR A DRINKING VESSEL

Abstract

A covering device (1) for a drinking vessel (2) such as a bottle, includes an attachment member (3) for attaching the covering device (1) to the drinking vessel (2), a cover member (4) for covering a drinking opening (5) of the drinking vessel (2) and an operating mechanism (6) for displacing the cover member (4) from a closed position into an open position and from an open position into a closed position. The operating mechanism (6) includes an operating element (19) such as an operating lever. The operating element (19) which may be configured as an operating weight (7) is coupled to the cover member (4) via a transmission (8).

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a covering device for a drinking vessel.

Drinking vessels such as bottles or cans usually have a drinking opening, through which a liquid can be removed. However, this drinking opening is usually open towards the top, thus enabling foreign substances such as dust, dirt or insects to find their way into the drinking vessel. Therefore, covers for such drinking vessels are known in the state of the art in order to prevent foreign substances from entering.

For example, simple lids are known which can be removed when using the drinking vessel. Furthermore, covering devices are known which have an operating mechanism.

However, all these covering devices for drinking vessels suffer from the disadvantage that the exposure of the drinking opening is not easy and requires further hand movements. Also, conventional covering devices often interfere with the removal of liquids from the drinking vessel, i.e. in particular with drinking.

SUMMARY

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a covering device for a drinking vessel which can be opened as easily as possible and without any additional effort and which is not perceived by the user as interfering with the removal of liquids from the drinking vessel, i.e. in particular with drinking.

The object of the invention is solved by the features hereinafter disclosed.

In particular, the invention relates to a covering device for a drinking vessel such as in particular a bottle, comprising an attachment member for attaching the covering device to the drinking vessel, a cover member for covering a drinking opening of the drinking vessel and an operating mechanism for displacing the cover member from a closed position into an open position and from an open position into a closed position.

The invention provides that the operating mechanism comprises an operating element, in particular an operating lever or an operating weight, and that the operating mechanism comprises a transmission, via which the operating element is coupled to the cover member.

It is optionally provided that the operating element is configured as an operating weight.

It is optionally provided that the cover member is pivotably mounted about a first pivot axis, that the operating element is pivotably mounted about a second pivot axis and that the transmission has a transmission ratio of greater than 1, causing the cover member to pivot about the first pivot axis by an angle of α*x, x being greater than 1, when the operating element pivots about the second pivot axis by the angle α, wherein the transmission ratio x is in particular between 1.5 and 4.5.

It is optionally provided that the cover member has an opening angle of 0° relative to the attachment member in the closed position and that the cover member has an opening angle of more than 80° or more than 90°, in particular of 80 to 120°, preferably 100°, relative to the attachment member in the open position.

It is optionally provided that the attachment member comprises a clamp or that the attachment member is configured as a clamp.

It is optionally provided that the attachment member has two retaining legs for enclosing the drinking vessel and/or for clamping the attachment member to the drinking vessel and that a drinking space is provided between the two free ends of the two retaining legs.

It is optionally provided that the cover member is configured as a closure lid and/or as a closure flap and forms a continuous, liquid-tight cover, or that the cover member is configured as a closure lid and/or as a closure flap and forms a non-continuous cover, preferably provided with holes for the passage of air.

It is optionally provided that the first gear wheel section comprises an external gear wheel section and that the second gear wheel section comprises an internal gear wheel section.

It is optionally provided that a first gear wheel section is provided, which is pivotably arranged about the first pivot axis, wherein the first gear wheel section is coupled to the cover member in a rotationally fixed manner, that a second gear wheel section is provided, which is pivotably arranged about the second pivot axis, wherein the second gear wheel section is coupled to the operating element in a rotationally fixed manner, that the second gear wheel section is in engagement with the first gear wheel section and that the second gear wheel section has a greater effective diameter than the first gear wheel section, the transmission thus having a ratio of greater than 1.

It is optionally provided that the centre of gravity of the operating weight is arranged at a distance from the second pivot axis and in particular that the operating weight is arranged in a suspended manner when used as intended, the centre of gravity of the operating weight being at a distance from the second pivot axis and below the second pivot axis.

An alternative embodiment provides that the operating element is configured as an operating lever.

It is optionally provided that at least one third gear wheel section is provided for coupling the first gear wheel section to the second gear wheel section.

It is optionally provided that the operating lever is kept in a rest position by a spring element, wherein the rest position of the operating lever corresponds to the closed position of the covering device.

It is optionally provided that a groove or annular groove is provided on the attachment member, in particular on the retaining legs, for centring the position of the covering device on the drinking vessel.

In particular, the invention also relates to an arrangement of an inventive covering device on a drinking vessel, in particular in the area of the drinking opening of the drinking vessel.

It is optionally provided that in the closed position a clearance is provided between the drinking vessel and the operating element in order to allow the operating element to be pivoted in the direction of the drinking vessel, so that the operating element is spaced apart from the drinking vessel in the closed position of the covering device.

It is optionally provided that the attachment member encloses the drinking vessel only partially in the area of the drinking opening so that a drinking space is left free against which the lips can be placed in an unhindered manner.

When a person intends to drink from a drinking vessel on which the inventive covering device is attached, the cover member has to be lifted from the drinking opening. To this end, the invention provides an operating mechanism with an operating element. According to a feature of the invention, the operating element is coupled to the cover member by means of a transmission in order to be able to open the covering device as easily as possible, i.e. to move it into its open position. The transmission causes a particularly efficient transmission of force from the operating element to the cover member and allows the covering device to be opened and closed easily and without problems.

In order to minimise the space needed for the covering device according to the invention, it may be provided that the transmission has a transmission ratio of greater than 1. This causes that pivoting the operating element by an angle α causes the cover member to pivot by an angle greater than said angle α. Thus, a space-saving dimensioning of the operating element or its space of movement can be achieved even though the cover member is suitably lifted from the drinking opening. To this end it may optionally be provided that both the cover member and the operating element are pivotably mounted about two mutually independent pivot axes.

In order to be able to achieve the preferred transmission ratio of greater than 1, transmission elements of any desired design, such as gear wheel sections or gear wheels may be provided. These may for example have external and/or internal toothings. Also, linearly toothed sections, such as toothed rods, may be provided in order to achieve a desired transmission ratio.

In order to keep the constructional expenditure of the covering device according to the invention as low as possible, it may be optionally provided that only two gear wheel sections or two gear wheels are provided, which are in direct engagement with each other. Optionally, the gear wheel sections or gear wheels, respectively, may be connected or coupled to the cover member or the operating element, respectively, in a rotationally fixed manner. In this context, a rotationally fixed connection is in particular a rotational coupling of two elements in which the rotation of one element causes substantially the same rotation of the other element, any elastic torsional deformations are being neglected.

In order to achieve a ratio of greater than 1 without the use of further gear wheels and/or gear wheel sections, the gear wheel section or the gear wheel on the operating element may have a greater effective diameter than the gear wheel section or the gear wheel on the cover member.

By operating the operating element the covering device may be brought from a closed position to an open position. In order to optimally protect the content of the drinking vessel from external influences it may be provided that the angle between the attachment member and the cover member, which is also referred to as opening angle, is about 0° in the closed position. In order to fully prevent foreign substances and liquids from entering the drinking vessel, a continuous, fluid-tight cover member may optionally be provided, fully closing the drinking opening in the closed position.

However, the cover member also be configured to be at least partially permeable to air or liquids and may, for example, have holes or other ventilation openings. Thus, larger contaminants such as insects may be prevented from entering the drinking vessel while at the same time guaranteeing sufficient air circulation.

When the covering device is opened in order to allow liquid to be removed, it is preferably provided that the opening angle is greater than 80°. A large opening angle can prevent the cover member from contacting parts of the user's face, such as in particular the user's nose, in an uncomfortable manner during drinking.

In order to ensure unhindered opening and closing, it may optionally be provided that in the closed position there is a clearance between the operating element and the drinking vessel, which allows the operating element to pivot.

The closing mechanism may, for example, be triggered manually by means of an operating lever when the drinking vessel is gripped or automatically by means of an operating weight when the drinking vessel is tilted.

If an operating lever is used for opening, a spring element may be provided, which serves to hold the operating lever in a certain position when no force is applied. If the user wants to open the covering device, he pushes the operating lever and the opening of the cover member is triggered via the transmission. If the covering device is to be closed again, the user releases the operating lever, which causes the operating lever to be moved back to its initial position by the spring element.

If an operating weight is used, no direct manual intervention is necessary to trigger the covering device. It may be provided that the operating weight is arranged in such a way that the covering device changes or is moved to the open position when the drinking vessel is tilted during normal use of the drinking vessel. Particularly advantageously, the operating weight has a large mass in order to bring the covering device into its open position as quickly and reliably as possible. This prevents parts of the face of the user of the covering device from coming into contact with the cover member when the user places the drinking vessel against his lips and drinks from the drinking vessel.

If, after the removal of liquid, the drinking vessel is brought back into a position in which no liquid is removed in normal use, it may be provided that the transmission mechanism is triggered to bring the covering device back into the closed position. It is preferable that the covering device is automatically moved into the closed position.

“Normal use” in this context means the usual and known use of a drinking vessel such as a bottle, a mug or a drinking glass. For removing liquid, the drinking vessel is for example tilted to a point at which liquid flows over the drinking edge.

For the simplest possible attachment and removal of the covering device to/from the area of the drinking opening of a drinking vessel, the attachment device may optionally include a clamp. The user can thus easily mount the device according to the invention and remove it when he no longer needs the covering device.

To attach the covering device to the drinking vessel, there may also be provided two retaining legs extending on both sides of the cover member. If the device according to the invention comprises such retaining legs, a drinking space may be provided between the two free ends of the retaining legs. Thus, the lips do not have to be placed against the attachment member when drinking, but can touch the drinking opening in an unhindered manner.

In order to prevent the covering device from moving during use, or to ensure that the position of the covering device is centred in relation to the drinking vessel, a groove, an annular groove or another geometry may be provided on the attachment member, i.e. in particular on the clamp or the retaining legs. This groove, annular groove or geometry can be brought into effective contact with a structure present on the drinking vessel, such as an annular collar or a thread, in such a way that the position of the covering device relative to the drinking vessel is defined and fixed.

The geometry provided on the inside of the attachment member may be configured and/or suitable to be connected to different drinking vessels. In particular, a geometry may have different elements which allow the position of the covering device to be centred relative to the drinking vessel or relative to different drinking vessels.

When using the device according to the invention as intended, the attachment member is arranged substantially parallel to the drinking opening. When used as intended, the cover member is also arranged substantially parallel to the drinking opening in the closed position.

Further features according to the invention result from the exemplary embodiments, the figures and the claims.

In the following, the invention is explained in detail with reference to figures, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1a is a schematic, three-dimensional view of a first exemplary embodiment of the inventive covering device in the closed position,

FIG. 1b is a schematic side view of the first exemplary embodiment of the inventive covering device in the closed position,

FIG. 2a is a schematic, three-dimensional view of the first exemplary embodiment of the inventive covering device in the open position,

FIG. 2b is a schematic side view of the first exemplary embodiment of the inventive covering device in the open position,

FIG. 3a is a schematic, three-dimensional view of a second exemplary embodiment of the inventive covering device in the closed position,

FIG. 3b is a schematic side view of the second exemplary embodiment of the inventive covering device in the closed position,

FIG. 4a is a schematic, three-dimensional view of the second exemplary embodiment of the inventive covering device in the open position,

FIG. 4b is a schematic side view of the second exemplary embodiment of the inventive covering device in the open position,

FIG. 5a is a schematic, three-dimensional view of an attachment member and an upper part of a drinking vessel, and

FIG. 5a is a schematic side view of an attachment member and an upper part of a drinking vessel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Unless otherwise indicated, the reference numbers correspond to the following components: Covering device 1, drinking vessel 2, attachment member 3, cover member 4, drinking opening 5, operating mechanism 6, operating weight 7, transmission 8, first pivot axis 9, second pivot axis 10, first gear wheel section 11, second gear wheel section 12, centre of gravity of the operating weight 13, retaining leg 14, drinking space 15, operating lever 16, spring element 17, third gear wheel section 18, operating element 19, groove 20, collar 21, mounting direction 22.

FIGS. 1a and 1b show an inventive covering device 1 according to a first exemplary embodiment in a closed position. FIG. 1a shows the inventive covering device 1 in a three-dimensional view, while FIG. 1b shows it in a side view. The covering device 1 is attached in the area of the drinking opening 5 of a drinking vessel 2, in this case a bottle. For attaching the covering device 1, an attachment member 3 is provided, comprising two retaining legs 14 partially enclosing the drinking vessel 2 in the area of the drinking opening 5. Thus, a drinking space 15 is kept free in the area against which the lips are placed for drinking. The attachment member 3 with its retaining legs 14 has a groove 20 on its inside in order to allow the covering device 1 to be centred and attached. The groove 20 is in particular configured and/or suitable to receive a collar 21 of a bottle with a screw cap. However, the groove 20 may alternatively be configured to receive other elements of a drinking vessel such as a shoulder or a collar 21 of a bottle with a crown cap.

The cover member 4 is continuous, made of a liquid-tight material and fully covers the drinking opening 5 of the drinking vessel 2. In a further embodiment, which is not shown, the cover member 4 can be provided with multiple openings in order to allow air to circulate. A first gear wheel section 11, which is pivotably mounted about a first pivot axis 9, is coupled to the cover member 4 in a rotationally fixed manner. A second gear wheel section 12 is in engagement with the first gear wheel section 11 and forms with it parts of a transmission 8. In this first exemplary embodiment the second gear wheel section 12 is connected to the operating element 19, which is configured as an operating weight 7, in a rotationally fixed manner and can be pivoted about a second pivot axis 10. In this exemplary embodiment the centre of gravity of the operating weight 13 lies in the centre of the operating weight 7, as it is designed as a sphere. The arrangement of transmission 8 and operating element 19 forms the essential parts of the operating mechanism 6 for one embodiment of the covering device 1 according to the invention.

FIGS. 2a and 2b show the same exemplary embodiment as FIGS. 1a and 1b; however, the covering device 1 is in its open position.

By tilting the drinking vessel 2 a displacement of the centre of gravity of the operating weight 13 relative to the attachment member takes place and the opening of the covering device 1 is triggered via the transmission 8, which results in the cover member 4 being lifted from the drinking opening 5 of the drinking vessel 2. When using the device according to the invention as intended, the attachment member 3 with its two retaining legs 14 stays in a fixed position in the area of the drinking opening 5 of the drinking vessel 2. In particular in case of bottles with a collar 21, the fixing is enhanced by means of the groove 20.

By displacing the centre of gravity of the operating weight 13 in the direction of the drinking vessel 2, the second gear wheel section 12 is set in motion, causing the cover member 4 to move as a result of the engagement with the first gear wheel section 11. Since the second gear wheel section 12, which in this exemplary embodiment is designed as an internal gear wheel, has a bigger effective diameter than the first gear wheel section 11, which in this exemplary embodiment is designed as an external gear wheel, a transmission ratio of greater than 1 is achieved. According to this exemplary embodiment, this results in the cover member 4 pivoting about the first pivot axis 9 by about 100° when the operating weight 7 pivots about the second pivot axis 10 by about 45°.

In this exemplary embodiment a clearance is provided between the drinking vessel 2 and the operating weight 7 in order to allow the operating weight 7 to be pivoted in an unhindered manner.

In order to minimise the space needed for the operating weight 7 the density of the operating weight is advantageously as high as possible. Therefore, an operating weight made of tungsten carbide was used in this exemplary embodiment. Alternatively, operating weights 7 made of steel or brass can be used. However, the selection of the material is not limited to these exemplary embodiments and any material may be used as long as the mass of the operating weight 7 is big enough to trigger the operating mechanism 6.

In an exemplary embodiment, which is not shown, the operating weight 7 of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be replaced by an operating lever 16 in order to allow the covering device 1 to be manually opened and closed independently of the state of tilting.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show a second exemplary embodiment of the covering device 1 according to the present invention in the closed position. FIG. 3a is a three-dimensional view, FIG. 3b is a side view.

The covering device 1 is attached above retaining legs 14 arranged on the attachment member 3 in the area of the drinking opening 5 of the drinking vessel 2, which, also in this exemplary embodiment, is a bottle. By providing the attachment member 3 with the two retaining legs 14 a drinking space 15 in the area of the drinking opening 5 is kept free or formed to allow the user of the covering device 1 to place his lips against it in an unhindered manner. A first gear wheel section 11, which can be pivoted about a first pivot axis 9, is coupled to the covering device 4 in a rotationally fixed manner. A second gear wheel section 12, which is coupled to the operating element 19 configured as an operating lever 16 in a rotationally fixed manner and can be pivoted about a second pivot axis 10, is coupled to the first gear wheel section 11 via a third gear wheel section 18. The first gear wheel section 11, the second gear wheel section 12 and the third gear wheel section 18 are parts of the transmission 8. The operating lever 16 is kept in a fixed position corresponding to the closed position of the covering device 1 by a spring element 17. Together, the parts mentioned above make up the operating mechanism 6.

In this exemplary embodiment, the cover member 4 fully covers the drinking opening 5 of the drinking vessel 2.

FIGS. 4a and 4b show the second exemplary embodiment described in FIGS. 3a and 3b in the open position, FIG. 4a in a three-dimensional view, FIG. 4b in a side view. For lifting the cover member 4, the user pushes the operating lever 16 towards the drinking vessel 2, causing a displacement of the second gear wheel section 12, which is coupled to the operating lever 16 in a rotationally fixed manner. A transmission of force to the first gear wheel section 11, which is coupled to the cover member 4 in a rotationally fixed manner, takes place via the third gear wheel section 18. Due to the larger effective diameter of the third gear wheel section 18 in comparison to the first gear wheel section 11, a transmission ratio of greater than 1 is achieved, whereby in this exemplary embodiment a pivoting of the operating lever 16 of about 30° results in a pivoting of the cover section 4 by about 120°. When the user releases the operating lever 16, the lever is pushed back into its initial position by the spring element 17. This causes the cover member 4 to be returned to the closed position.

FIGS. 5a and 5b show enlarged views of the area of the drinking opening 5 of a drinking vessel 2, in this case in the shape of a crown cap bottle with a screw cap. FIG. 5a is a three-dimensional view, FIG. 5b is a side view. The drinking vessel 2 has a collar 21 in the area of the drinking opening 5. A groove 20, which is designed to allow the collar 21 to engage it, is provided on the inside of the cover member 4, which, for the sake of simplicity, is shown without the rest of the covering device 1, as well as in particular on the inside of the retaining legs 14. The attachment member 3 is mounted in the mounting direction 22. This allows an enhanced attachment and centring of the attachment member 3 and the covering device 1 can be prevented from moving during use. In the present embodiment, apart from the groove 20 a further contour is provided on the inside of the attachment member 3, allowing the centring of its position relative to another drinking vessel 2, for example relative to a bottle which is usually closed by means of a crown cap. Therefore, the geometry provided on the inside of the attachment member 3 comprises multiple elements suitable for connecting and centring the position of the covering device 1 relative to different drinking vessels 2.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A covering device (1) for a drinking vessel (2) such as a bottle, comprising: an attachment member (3) for attaching the covering device (1) to the drinking vessel (2);a cover member (4) for covering a drinking opening (5) of the drinking vessel (2); andan operating mechanism (6) for displacing the cover member (4) from a closed position into an open position and from an open position into a closed position, wherein the operating mechanism (6) comprises an operating element (19) including an operating lever (16) or an operating weight (7),the operating mechanism (6) comprises a transmission (8), via which the operating element (19) is coupled to the cover member (4), andthe operating element (19) is configured as an operating weight (7).

15. The covering device according to claim 14, wherein: the cover member (4) is pivotably mounted about a first pivot axis (9), the operating element is pivotably mounted about a second pivot axis (10),the transmission (8) has a transmission ratio of greater than 1, causing the cover member (4) to pivot about the first pivot axis (9) by an angle of α*x, x being greater than 1, when the operating element pivots about the second pivot axis (10) by the angle α, andthe transmission ratio x is between 1.5 and 4.5.

16. The covering device according to claim 14, wherein: the cover member (4) has an opening angle of 0° relative to the attachment member (3) in the closed position andthe cover member (4) has an opening angle of between 80° to 120° relative to the attachment member (3) in the open position.

17. The covered device according to claim 16, wherein: said opening angle is 100° in the open position.

18. The covering device according to claim 14, wherein: the attachment member (3) comprises a clamp or is configured as a clamp.

19. The covering device according to claim 14, wherein: the attachment member (3) has two retaining legs (14) for enclosing the drinking vessel (2) and/or for clamping the attachment member (3) to the drinking vessel (2), andwherein a drinking space (15) is provided between the two free ends of the two retaining legs (14).

20. The covering device according to claim 14, wherein: the cover member (4) is configured as a closure lid and/or as a closure flap and forms a continuous, liquid-tight cover.

21. The covering device according to claim 14, wherein: the cover member (4) is configured as a closure lid and/or as a closure flap and forms a non-continuous cover provided with holes for the passage of air.

22. The covering device according to claim 14, further comprising: a first gear wheel section (11) coupled to the cover member, and a second gear wheel section (12) coupled to the first gear wheel section, wherein the first gear wheel section comprises an external gear wheel section and the second gear wheel section comprises an internal gear wheel section.

23. The covering device according to claim 22, wherein: the first gear member is pivotably arranged about a first pivot axis (9) and is coupled to the cover member (4) in a rotationally fixed manner, andthe second gear wheel section (12) is pivotably arranged about a second pivot axis (10), wherein the second gear wheel section (12) is coupled to the operating element in a rotationally fixed manner,the second gear wheel section (12) is in engagement with the first gear wheel section (11), and the second gear wheel section (12) has a greater effective diameter than the first gear wheel section (11), the transmission (8) thus having a ratio of greater than 1.

24. The covering device according to claim 14, wherein: the center of gravity of the operating weight (13) is arranged at a distance from the second pivot axis (10), andthe operating weight (7) is arranged in a suspended manner when used as intended, the center of gravity of the operating weight (13) being at a distance from the second pivot axis (10) and below the second pivot axis (10).

25. The covering device according to claim 14, wherein: the attachment member comprises a groove (20) provided on the attachment member (3) and centers the position of the covering device on the drinking vessel (2).

26. The covering device according to claim 25, wherein: said groove (20) is an annular groove provided on the retaining legs (14).

27. A combination of a covering device (1) according to claim 14 and a drinking vessel (2), wherein the covering device is located on the drinking vessel in the area of a drinking opening (5) of the drinking vessel (2).

28. The combination according to claim 27, wherein: in the closed position a clearance is provided between the drinking vessel (2) and the operating element in order to allow the operating element to be pivoted in the direction of the drinking vessel (2).

29. The combination according to claim 27, wherein: the attachment member (3) encloses the drinking vessel (2) only partially in the area of the drinking opening (5) and in a drinking space (15) is left free for placing a user's lips against it.

30. The combination according to claim 28, wherein: the attachment member (3) encloses the drinking vessel (2) only partially in the area of the drinking opening (5) and in a drinking space (15) is left free for placing a user's lips against it.

31. A combination of a covering device (1) according to claim 23 and a drinking vessel (2), wherein the covering device is located on the drinking vessel in the area of a drinking opening (5) of the drinking vessel (2),

32. The combination according to claim 31, wherein: in the closed position a clearance is provided between the drinking vessel (2) and the operating element in order to allow the operating element to be pivoted in the direction of the drinking vessel (2).

33. The combination according to claim 31, wherein: the attachment member (3) encloses the drinking vessel (2) only partially in the area of the drinking opening (5) and in a drinking space (15) is left free for placing a user's lips against it.