Patent Application
20150284153
The present invention relates generally to the field of bottle coverings. More particularly, the present invention relates to a re-usable bottle covering.
Beverages come in containers of all shapes, sizes, and materials. Some of the most common containers are cans, bottles, and plastic jugs. Alcoholic beverages and soda are often manufactured and sold in bottles made from glass, porcelain, ceramic, metal or plastic. Glass bottles are easy to manufacture and many consumers prefer to drink out of glass. Most glass bottles include a metal lid which is not re-sealable. Once the bottle is opened, there is no way to securely place the lid back on the bottle. This may also be the case for bottles made from other materials. Bottles without a cover are prone to spillage when they are knocked over. Similarly, there is no way to prevent foreign materials from getting into the bottle. Thus, the consumer must be diligent about watching the beverage bottle to make sure it does not get knocked over and spill, and watching the bottle to prevent water, dirt, bugs, or other foreign materials from getting into the bottle. Further, a bottle without a re-sealable cover is problematic for storage of carbonated beverages that are not consumed entirely upon first being opened. Thus, the beverage must be consumed entirely upon being opened or before the carbonation is otherwise lost.
There are several types of bottle covers for glass bottles currently in existence. For example, many small craft breweries reuse bottles and have machines that can be used to press a new cap on the bottle. However, this is problematic because the press is a relatively large and expensive piece of equipment which is not meant for individual use by consumers. Another example of a reusable bottle cover can be found in US Patent Application 2004/0079720. However, bottle covers like this are not made to fit different sized containers. Bottles come in different sizes; some have taller or wider necks such that the consumer would need several different bottle covers to fit different bottles. Further, existing bottle covers can be easily knocked off of the bottle because they rely solely on the weight of the cap to keep the cover in place. Existing bottle covers also do not properly seal to maintain the carbonation within the beverage upon the container being opened. Lastly, existing bottle covers lack a device to keep them open and are prone to accidental closure when an object bumps the lid with even a small amount of force.
Therefore, there remains a need in the industry for a cost-effective, adjustable, and re-sealable bottle cover that can fit many different size bottles and which includes features to help lock the bottle in an open and/or closed position. There is also a need in the industry for such bottle covers to be visually pleasing while maintaining their functionality.
The present invention is directed at an improved bottle cover. In some aspects, the bottle cover of the present invention can fit many different sized bottles, and includes features to help keep the bottle closed and/or open according to the user's needs.
In some aspects, the bottle cover of the present invention comprises a bottle neck engagement section and a lid operably connected by a vertical arm, such that the bottle neck engagement section operably fastens around the neck of a bottle and the lid is located proximate the mouth of a bottle. In some aspects, the vertical arm is pivotally connected along a horizontal axis to the lid, the lid capable of being pivoted between a covering position and an open position using a lid lever extending outwards from the lid.
In some aspects, the vertical arm allows the bottle neck engagement section to be provided in a first substantially horizontal plane and the lid in a second substantially horizontal plane. In some aspects, the first substantially horizontal plane of the bottle neck engagement section and the second substantially horizontal plane of the lid are substantially parallel when operably connected to a bottle in the covering position.
In some aspects, the bottle neck engagement section is semi-flexible having a generally U-shaped arcuate configuration such that it operably fastens around the neck of a bottle. In some aspects, the bottle neck engagement section is connected to a first location of a vertical adjustable arm mechanism and a lid is pivotally connected along a horizontal axis to the vertical adjustable arm at a second location. The semi-flexible bottle neck engagement section allows the bottle cover to be securely attached to the bottle, and the semi-flexible neck engagement section also allows the bottle cover to securely attach to bottles having different sized necks. Because some bottle necks are taller than others, the vertical adjustable arm allows the bottle cover to be placed on many different types of bottles without the need for multiple sized bottle covers.
In some aspects, the bottle cover may include features to keep the bottle in an open and/or closed position. In some aspects, the vertical arm may include a locking mechanism that can be used to keep the bottle cover in a closed and locked position on the bottle when the lid is in the covering position. In some aspects, the locking mechanism comprises a clip and a pin. In some aspects, the clip may be operably moved from an unlocked position to a locked position by operably engaging the clip to directly engage the pin. In some aspects, the locking mechanism may be engaged by pivotally lifting the clip to a nearly vertical position and directly engaging the clip with the pin. In some aspects, the locking mechanism may help prevent the lid from accidentally opening from the mouth of the container when the locking mechanism is in the closed and locked position.
In some aspects, the locking mechanism is located on the backside of the vertical arm, such that the user's thumb may operably engage and disengage the clip from the pin while holding the bottle in the user's hand. In some aspects, the locking mechanism is located on the backside of the vertical adjustable arm, such that the user's thumb may operably engage and disengage the clip from the pin while holding the bottle in the user's hand.
In some aspects, the clip of the locking mechanism is pivotally connected to the vertical arm. In some aspects, the clip of the locking mechanism is pivotally connected to the vertical adjustable arm. In some aspects, the clip is intermediately located on the vertical arm (or the vertical adjustable arm) between the vertical arm (or the vertical adjustable arm) connected to the lid and the vertical arm (or the vertical adjustable arm) connected to the bottle neck engagement section.
In some aspects, the pin comprises a protrusion extending outward from the backside of the bottle cover where the lid and the lid lever operably connect. In some aspects, the pin comprises a protrusion having a ball on the proximate end of the pin extending outward from the backside of the bottle cover. In some aspects, the pin comprises a protrusion having a portion of a ball on the proximate end of the pin. In some aspects, the clip comprises a contour to provide a frictional fitting with the ball portion of the pin, such that the contour directly engages the protrusion in the closed and locked position, with the ball portion preventing the clip from disengaging from the pin without undue force to disengage the clip from the pin.
In some aspects, the bottle cover may include one or more magnets for maintaining the lid in the opening position. In some aspects, the one or more magnets are located proximate the adjustable arm (or the vertical adjustable arm). When the lid is in the opening position, a magnet in the lid lever may operably connect with a magnet in the vertical arm (or vertical adjustable arm) to maintain the lid in the opening position and help prevent the lid from unintentionally closing if it is accidentally bumped or force on the lid lever is relieved.
In some aspects, the lid may include a seal, which in some aspects may comprise one or more rubber seals, to provide a liquid-tight and air-tight seal on the bottle. In some aspects, when the lid is in the closing position, the seal prevents liquid from being spilled while simultaneously preventing foreign materials from entering the bottle. In some aspects, during operational use of the bottle cover in the closing position, the seal inserts into the mouth of the container, whereby the one or more seals exerts an outward frictional force on the mouth of the container.
In some aspects, the lid may include a lid topper which can be placed on the lid base. The lid base and/or topper may include decorative or visually pleasing features. The base and topper may be combined into a single inseparable unit, or the topper may be separable from the base. In some aspects, the lid topper is separable from the base, such that the user may mix and match lid toppers to the lid base depending upon their mood or social event.
The present invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
The following detailed description should be read with reference to the drawings in which similar elements in different drawings are numbered the same. The drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict illustrative embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
Referring now generally to the figures, the bottle cover 10 of the present invention can be operably connected to a bottle 50 as illustrated.
Referring generally to
In some aspects, the bottle neck engagement section 20 is connected to a first location of arm 30 and lid 40 is pivotally connected along a horizontal axis to the arm 30 at a second location located a distance away from the first location. In some aspects, the bottle neck engagement section 20 connected to arm 30 is adjustable such that the distance between the first location where neck engagement section 20 is connected to arm 30 and the second location where the lid 40 is connected to the arm 30 can be increased or decreased, depending upon the shape and configuration of the neck of bottle 50.
In some aspects, the bottle cover 10 comprises an aluminum material. In some aspects, the bottle cover 10 comprises a zinc material. In some other aspects, the bottle cover 10 may be made out of any flexible, lightweight and strong material, such as plastic. In some aspects, the bottle cover 10 may include an alloy of metal materials, and in some aspects a combination of any of the foregoing materials.
In some aspects, arm 30 allows the bottle neck engagement section 20 to be provided in a first substantially horizontal plane and the lid 40 in a second substantially horizontal plane when the lid 40 is in a closing position. In some aspects, the first substantially horizontal plane of the bottle neck engagement section 20 and the second substantially horizontal plane of the lid 40 are substantially parallel when bottle cover 10 is operably connected to a bottle 50 in the covering position 52, such as shown in
In some aspects, bottle neck engagement section 20 is semi-flexible having a generally U-shaped arcuate configuration such that it operably fastens around the neck of a bottle 50. In some aspects, bottle neck engagement section 20 comprises engagement arms 22a, 22b. In some aspects, engagement arms 22a, 22b include outer ends 24a and 24b that operably receive the neck of bottle 50 by pushing the neck of bottle 50 between outer ends 24a, 24b and form a compression-like fitting around the neck of bottle 50 when engagement section 20 is operably engaged around the neck of bottle 50. In some aspects, engagement arms 22a, 22b form a generally U-shaped arcuate, semi-cylindrical surface. In some aspects, engagement arms 22a, 22b are separate pieces which can be fastened together. In the preferred aspect, the engagement arms 22a, 22b of bottle neck engagement section 20 are formed as a single integral piece. In some aspects, bottle neck engagement section 20 comprises a metal material such as aluminum, zinc, metal alloy, plastic, or combinations thereof.
In some aspects, the outer ends 24a, 24b of the engagement arms 22a, 22b are curved outwards to help the user grasp the bottle neck engagement section 20. The curved outer ends 24a, 24b may also facilitate easy placement of the bottle cover 10 on the bottle 50 by causing the engagement arms 22a, 22b to flex away from one another when placed on the bottle 50. In some aspects, outer ends 24a, 24b have a hook or J-type configuration. In some aspects, outer ends 24a, 24b do not have a hook or J-type configuration, but instead have an angle configuration proximate the outer ends 24a, 24b that facilitates engagement arms 22a, 22b flexing away from each other when the neck of a bottle 50 is pressed between engagement arms 22a, 22b.
The semi-flexible bottle neck engagement section 20 allows the bottle cover 10 to be securely attached to the bottle 50 by inward friction exerted upon by the bottle neck engagement section 20 against the neck of bottle 50. The semi-flexible bottle neck engagement section 20 also allows the bottle cover 10 to securely attach to bottles having different sized necks, both in circumference and length of the bottle neck.
In some aspects, arm 30 comprises a body portion 35 and a hinge 39. In other aspects, bottle neck engagement section 20 is adjustable on arm 30, such that arm 30 comprises a body portion 35, aperture 36, and hinge 39. In some aspects, the aperture 36 has a generally rectangular or oblong configuration and spans substantially the entire length of arm 30. In some aspects, arm 30 may also include magnet 38 that interacts with a magnet on lever 42 or pin 47 to facilitate keeping lid 40 in an open position.
In some aspects, connecting means 31 is adjustable within aperture 36 such that connecting means 31 operably connects the bottle neck engagement section 20 to arm 30 and allows for adjustment of bottle neck engagement section 20 the entire length of aperture 36. In some aspects, connecting means 31 operably connects the bottle neck engagement section 20 to arm 30 at a position located within aperture 36 such that lid 40 operably engages the mouth of bottle 50 in a substantially horizontal configuration. In some aspects, the length of aperture 36 is about ¼ inch to about 1 inch, in some aspects about ¼ inch to about ¾ inch, and in some aspects about ½ inch. It should be appreciated that the relative position of connecting means 31 within aperture 36 is dependent upon the size and configuration of the respective bottle 50.
In some aspects, connecting means 31 comprises a screw 32 and a nut 33, such that the head 32a of the screw 32 is located on one side of arm 30 and the nut 33 operably engages screw 32 on the other side. In some aspects, connecting means 31 may also utilize one or more washers 34.
In some aspects, connecting member 31 operably fastens arm 30 to the bottle neck engagement section 20 by inserting screw 32 through aperture 36 of arm 30, where the screw 32 is held in place by nut 33 and washer 34. As shown in
In operation, the operable connection of bottle neck engagement section 20 with arm 30 may be adjusted depending on the size of bottle 50. In operation, the operable connection of bottle neck engagement section 20 with arm 30 may be adjusted by turning nut 33 to loosen the connection with screw 32. When the nut 33 is loosened from screw 32, the bottle neck engagement section 20 may be adjusted within aperture 36 until the screw 32 reaches the top or bottom of aperture 36. After the desired vertical adjustment position is located, nut 33 is tightened to screw 32 to preclude the bottle neck engagement section 20 from moving with respect to arm 30. In some aspects, the operable connection of bottle neck engagement section 20 with arm 30 may be adjusted by turning screw 32 to loosen the connection with nut 33. When the screw 32 is loosened from nut 33, the bottle neck engagement section 20 may be adjusted within aperture 36 until the screw 32 reaches the top or bottom of aperture 36. After the desired vertical adjustment position is located, screw 32 and nut 33 are tightened so that the bottle neck engagement section 20 no longer will not move involuntarily with respect to arm 30.
In some aspects, lid 40 comprises lid mount 41, lever portion 42, and lid base 46. In some aspects, lid 40 may also comprise seal 49. In some aspects, lid mount 41 operably connects lid base 46 and lever 42, and pivotally connects lid 40 to the vertical arm 30 via hinge 39. During normal operation, lid 40 pivotally rotates on hinge 39 located in a horizontal axis. In some aspects, lid 40 has a center of gravity such that in the open position the center of gravity is located behind hinge 39 keeping lid 40 in the open position without any interacting force.
In some aspects, seal 49 may comprise one or more seal members to provide a liquid-tight and/or air-tight seal on the bottle 50. In some aspects, the one or more seal members 49 have a circular configuration that can be operably inserted within the mouth of bottle 50. In some aspects, the one or more seal members comprise an elastomeric material, such as rubber, or the like. In some aspects, seal the one or more seal members 49 may comprise a single unitary material having a core portion 49a with one or more rib sections 49b separated from each other, the core portion 49a having a smaller circumference than the one or more rib sections 49b. In some aspects, the seal member comprises two rib sections 49b, in other aspects three rib sections 49b, in still other aspects four to six rib sections 49b.
In some aspects during normal operation, the one or more rib sections 49b operably engage the inner wall of the mouth of a bottle 50, such as shown in
In some aspects, when the lid is in the closing position 52, the seal 49 prevents liquid from being spilled while simultaneously preventing foreign materials from entering the bottle 50. In some aspects, during operational use of the bottle cover 10 in the closing position 52, the seal 49 inserts into the mouth of the bottle 50, whereby the one or more seal members 49 exert an outward frictional force on the inside wall of the mouth of the bottle 50. In some aspects, the seal 49 may be adhesively attached to the bottom of lid base 46. In some aspects, the seal 49 may be fastened to the bottom of lid base 46, such as using a screw and/or washer as shown in
In some aspects, the lid 40 may have a decorative design on the outer circumference and/or top surface of the lid base 46. In some aspects, lid 40 may include a lid topper 48 which can be located on the top surface of the lid base 46. In some aspects, the lid base 46 and/or topper 48 may include decorative or visually pleasing features. The base 46 and topper 48 may be combined into a single inseparable unit, or the topper 48 may be separable from the base 46. In some aspects, the lid topper 48 is connected to the lid base 46 and can be separable from the lid base 46, such that the user may mix and match lid toppers 48 to the lid base 46 depending upon their mood or social event. In some aspects, the lid topper 48 may be adhesively adhered to lid base 46. In another aspect, lid topper 48 may have grooved edges to screw into the lid base 46. In still another aspect, as shown in
Referring generally to
In some aspects, as shown in
In some aspects, as shown in
In one aspect, lid topper 48 is an ornamental piece and may include symbols, pictures, or other decorative or visually pleasing features. In some aspects, lid topper 48 may be shaped to resemble a particular object. In other aspects, lid topper 48 may be shaped to resemble any standard geometric shape. In still other aspects, lid topper 48 is irregularly shaped. As shown in
In operation, the lid 40 may be operably moved between the closing position 52 and the open position 54. In
As shown in
As shown in
In some aspects, the locking mechanism is located on the backside of the vertical arm 30, such that the user's thumb may operably engage and disengage the clip 37 from the pin 47 while holding the bottle 50 in the user's hand. In some aspects, the clip 37 of the locking mechanism is located on the backside of the vertical adjustable arm 30, such that the user's thumb may operably engage and disengage the clip 37 from the pin 47 while holding the bottle in the user's hand.
In some aspects, the clip 37 of the locking mechanism is pivotally connected to the vertical arm 30. In some aspects, the clip 37 of the locking mechanism is pivotally connected to the arm 30. In some aspects, the clip 37 is intermediately located on arm 30 in a position between the arm 30 connected to the lid 40 and a position of the arm 30 connected to the bottle neck engagement section 20.
In some aspects, the pin 47 comprises a protrusion extending outward from the backside of the bottle cover 10 where the lid 40 and the lid lever 42 operably connect via lid mount 41. In some aspects, the pin 47 comprises a protrusion having a ball on the proximate end of the pin 47 extending outward from the backside of the bottle cover 10. In some aspects, the pin 47 comprises a protrusion having a portion of a ball on the proximate end of the pin 47. In some aspects, the clip 37 comprises a contour to provide a frictional fitting with the ball portion of the pin 47, such that the contour directly engages the protrusion in the closed and locked position 56, with the ball portion preventing the clip 37 from disengaging from the pin 47 without undue force to disengage the clip from the pin 47.
In some aspects, the bottle cover 10 may include one or more magnets 38 for maintaining the lid 40 in the opening position 54. In some aspects, the one or more magnets 38 are located proximate the arm 30, the lever 42, the pin 47, the backside of mount 41, or combinations thereof. For instance, when the lid 40 is in the opening position 54, a magnet 38 in the lid lever 42 may operably connect with a magnet 38 in the arm 30 to maintain the lid 40 in the opening position 54 and help prevent the lid 40 from unintentionally closing if it is accidentally bumped or force on the lid lever 42 is relieved.
Various modifications to the embodiments of the inventions may be apparent to one of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure. For example, persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art will recognize that the various features described for the different embodiments of the inventions can be suitably combined, un-combined, and re-combined with other features, alone, or in different combinations, within the spirit of the invention. Likewise, the various features described above should all be regarded as example embodiments, rather than limitations to the scope or spirit of the inventions. Therefore, the above is not contemplated to limit the scope of the present inventions.
Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the inventions may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the inventions may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the inventions may comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art.
Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.
