Patent Grant
9456710
The present disclosure relates to drink containers, and more particularly to portable drink containers and cap assemblies for portable drink containers.
Beverage containers come in a variety of configurations and are used to carry a variety of beverages for consumption by a user. Some beverage containers have an open top, and a user simply engages the lip or neck of the beverage container to consume a beverage from the container. Other beverage containers have a lid that is separate from, but removably coupled to, a vessel, with the lid including some form of drink spout through which a beverage is dispensed for consumption by a user. Such beverage containers may be in the form of sports bottles, water bottles, travel mugs, vacuum bottles, and the like. Some such beverage containers have a cap with a drink spout that may be selectively opened and closed to permit a user to selectively seal and unseal the drink spout, and some drink containers and/or caps further include a manual actuator and closure for selectively opening and closing the drink spout. When such beverage containers are used with beverages other than water, such as that include sugar or other suspended particulates that may stick to or otherwise foul components associated with drink spouts, actuators, or other internal components of the cap, it may be difficult to clean these portions of the cap and/or drink container.
Drink containers and corresponding cap assemblies are disclosed herein. Cap assemblies according to the present disclosure include a body that defines a drink outlet for dispensing drink liquid to a user, and an operational assembly that is operatively coupled to the body. The operational assembly has at least an open configuration and a closed configuration. The operational assembly includes an outlet closure that is configured to restrict drink liquid from exiting the liquid container via the drink outlet when the operational assembly is in the closed configuration and to permit drink liquid to exit the liquid container via the drink outlet when the operational assembly is in the open configuration. The operational assembly also includes an actuator that is configured to be selectively engaged by a user to selectively reconfigure the operational assembly from the closed configuration to the open configuration for consumption of drink liquid from the liquid container.
In some embodiments, the operational assembly also includes an optional cleaning configuration, in which the outlet closure is spaced away from the body of the cap assembly for ease of cleaning the components of the cap assembly. In some such embodiments, the operational assembly is restricted from being configured to the cleaning configuration while the cap assembly is operatively coupled to the liquid container.
In some embodiments, the body of the cap assembly defines a drink spout that is sized and positioned to expose drink liquid to ambient air when drink liquid is dispensed from the drink outlet to a user.
In some embodiments, the outlet closure includes at least one member that extends from proximate the actuator to a distal tip of the outlet closure and along an upper side of the body of the cap assembly. In some such embodiments, a pair of members is utilized and define a space between the members that is sized to receive at least a portion of a user's nose when the user is drinking from the drink container.
Drink containers 10 and cap assemblies 14 with external actuators and outlet closures according to the present disclosure are schematically illustrated in
As discussed in more detail herein, cap assembly 14 includes a body 15 and an operational assembly 18 that is operatively coupled to the body 15. The body defines a drink outlet 16, through which drink liquid may be selectively dispensed to a user, and the operational assembly 18 provides a mechanism that enables a user to selectively unseal and reseal the drink outlet for selective dispensing of drink liquid from the liquid container through the drink outlet. In some embodiments of cap assemblies 14, the operational assembly is predominantly, or even entirely, positioned external of the body of the cap assembly and external of the liquid container. Accordingly, in such embodiments, the operational assembly may be secured to the exterior of the body of the cap assembly and/or may be configured to selectively seal the drink outlet from external the cap assembly's body, as opposed to sealing from the underside or interior portion of the cap assembly. Such operational assemblies additionally or alternatively may be described as being secured, mounted, and/or otherwise positioned generally on the outside of the cap assembly, and/or on the outside/exterior of the drink container, when the cap assembly is operatively coupled to a liquid container.
Liquid containers 12 according to the present disclosure are adapted to receive and hold or otherwise contain up to a predetermined volume of drink liquid 24 for selective consumption by a user. Liquid containers 12 may include an open neck 20, through which drink liquid may be selectively poured, or otherwise dispensed, into an internal compartment 22 of the liquid container, and from which the drink liquid may be selectively dispensed from the internal compartment to a user, such as when the cap assembly is not secured to the neck. It is within the scope of the present disclosure that neck 20 may (but is not required in all embodiments to) define the only opening through which drink liquid may be added to or removed from the liquid container. As discussed in more detail herein, when cap assembly 14 is operatively coupled to the liquid container, this selective dispensing of the drink liquid may be only through the drink outlet 16 of the cap assembly.
Liquid containers 12 may have any suitable shape and may be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials to hold up to a predetermined volume of drink liquid. Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of suitable sizes, or capacities, of liquid containers 12 (i.e., volume of drink liquid 24 able to be received into a liquid container at one time) include 4 oz., 6 oz., 8 oz., 10 oz., 12 oz., 16 oz., 20 oz., 24 oz., 32 oz., 36 oz., 4-11 oz., 6-15 oz., 10-19 oz., 12-25 oz., 12-36 oz., 15-30 oz., 25-36 oz., and 10-70 oz. (with these illustrative, non-exclusive examples referring to liquid (fluid) ounces of drink liquid that may be received at one time into an empty liquid container). This volume of drink liquid additionally or alternatively may be referred to as the capacity or maximum volume of the empty liquid container. It is within the scope of the present disclosure that liquid containers having different sizes, including sizes that are smaller than, larger than, or within the illustrative sizes and/or ranges presented above, may be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
An illustrative, non-exclusive example of a material that may be used to construct liquid containers 12 according to the present disclosure includes the TRITAN™ copolyester polymer developed by Eastman Chemical Company. Other illustrative, non-exclusive examples of materials that may be suitable for construction of liquid containers, and/or portions thereof, according to the present disclosure include polycarbonate, glass, plastic, and/or metal, such as aluminum or stainless steel. Further illustrative, non-exclusive examples of materials are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,783, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Liquid containers 12 may be (but are not required to be) rigid or at least semi-rigid and may include a bottom surface 26 such that a liquid container may be generally self-supporting, or free-standing when placed on a horizontal surface. Liquid containers also may be (but are not required to be) thermally-insulated. In
While cap assemblies 14 are configured to be used with liquid containers 12, and/or sold and/or used as a portion of a drink container 10, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that a cap assembly may be provided without an associated liquid container and/or designed for use with a variety of different liquid containers. For example, a cap assembly 14 may be provided as a replacement and/or alternative cap assembly for a liquid container. Additionally or alternatively, a cap assembly may be configured to be used with a generic liquid container that is not necessarily specifically configured, sold, and/or intended to be used with a cap assembly 14 according to the present disclosure.
Cap assemblies 14 according to the present disclosure are configured to be removably coupled to a liquid container 12 to cover, or otherwise enclose, the neck 20 thereof. When so coupled to a liquid container, a cap assembly 14 restricts drink liquid within the liquid container's internal compartment 22 from being dispensed from the drink container other than through drink outlet 16. When the drink outlet is obstructed or otherwise closed or sealed by operational assembly 18, the cap assembly prevents drink liquid from being dispensed from the liquid container through the drink outlet. Accordingly, any drink liquid in the internal compartment of the liquid container is prevented from being dispensed to a user or otherwise removed from the liquid container until either the cap assembly is uncoupled from the liquid container or until the operational assembly 18 is configured, such as to an open or dispensing configuration thereof, to permit dispensing of drink liquid through drink outlet 16.
Although not required in all embodiments, cap assembly 14 typically is removably coupled to liquid container 12, such as to neck 20 thereof, to permit selective and non-destructive removal and replacement (i.e., repeated uncoupling and recoupling) of the cap assembly relative to the liquid container. For example, cap assembly 14 may be uncoupled from the liquid container to permit the liquid container to receive a volume of drink liquid, after which the cap assembly may be recoupled to the liquid container. Accordingly, drink containers 10 according to the present disclosure may include a coupling assembly 28 that is configured to removably couple the cap assembly and the liquid container together. Coupling assembly 28 includes coupling structures 30 and 32, with liquid container 12 including coupling structure 30, and with cap assembly 14 including coupling structure 32, which is configured to selectively mate with coupling structure 30. In such an embodiment, neck 20 of the liquid container may include coupling structure 30. Coupling assembly 28 may provide a liquid-tight connection between the cap assembly and the liquid container. When such a connection is established between the cap assembly and the liquid container, the cap assembly may restrict liquid from being dispensed from the drink container other than through drink outlet 16. Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of coupling assembly 28 that may be incorporated into drink containers according to the present disclosure include (but are not limited to) threads, snap-fit arrangements, friction-fit arrangements, clasp arrangements, etc.
Drink outlet 16 may take any suitable form and may be described as being defined by a passage, or conduit, 34 through which drink liquid from the internal compartment of the liquid container may be selectively dispensed from an inlet 36 to drink outlet 16. Passage 34 additionally or alternatively may be referred to as a drink passage, a liquid passage, an outlet conduit, and/or a dispensing passage 34. As used herein, the inlet of the passage refers to the portion of the passage that is closest to the internal compartment of the drink container and into which drink liquid first passes from the internal compartment of the drink container as the drink liquid is dispensed through the passage. Similarly, the drink outlet refers to the portion of the passage that is farthest away from the internal compartment of the drink container and/or from which the drink liquid last passes from the internal compartment of the drink container as the drink liquid is dispensed from the passage to a user.
The distance between inlet 36 and drink outlet 16 may vary without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, this distance (which also may be described as the length of the drink passage) may be relatively short, such as being equal to the thickness of the top layer of material of the cap assembly proximate outlet 16. In other embodiments, this distance may be greater, such as at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 or more times the above-discussed thickness. Further illustrative, non-exclusive examples include distances of at least 2 mm, at least 3 mm, at least 4 mm, at least 5 mm, at least 10 mm, at least 20 mm, at least 30 mm, or at least 40 mm, distances that are less than 50 mm, less than 40 mm, less than 30 mm, less than 20 mm, less than 15 mm, less than 10 mm, or less than 5 mm, and/or distances that are bounded by any of the preceding examples.
As discussed, cap assemblies 14 according to the present disclosure include a body 15 and an operational assembly 18 that is operatively coupled to the body of the cap assembly. In some embodiments, the operational assembly is operatively coupled generally to the outside, outer/exterior surface, of the body. In other words, when the cap assembly is coupled to a liquid container, the operational assembly is generally accessible and visible, as discussed in more detail herein. Although not required to all embodiments, in such a position, most, if not all, of the operational assembly may not be contacted by the drink liquid as the drink liquid is dispensed from the cap assembly through the drink outlet (i.e., when the operational assembly and/or cap assembly is/are in an open configuration). Furthermore (and again, although not required to all embodiments), when the drink outlet is sealed by the operational assembly (i.e., when the operational assembly and/or cap assembly is/are in a closed configuration), at most only the outlet closure and/or vent closure thereof may be contacted by drink liquid in the drink container.
The body of the cap assembly defines the drink outlet 16, through which drink liquid may be selectively dispensed to a user. In some embodiments (although not required to all embodiments), the body also defines a vent 40, through which gas may enter and exit the internal compartment 22 of the liquid container 12. For example, a vent may be used in embodiments of drink containers that are configured to hold hot and/or cold beverages, with the vent providing a mechanism for heat exchange between the drink liquid and the environment external the drink container. As a further example, the vent may permit steam and/or other hot gases to exit the internal compartment of the liquid container through the vent when the liquid is a hot liquid. Additionally or alternatively, a vent may be used in embodiments of drink containers that utilize liquid containers with a rigid construction, so that air may enter the internal compartment of the liquid container when a user is consuming drink liquid via the drink outlet. However, embodiments of cap assemblies without a vent that is separate and apart from the drink outlet are within the scope of the present disclosure.
The body 15 of cap assembly 14 may take any suitable form and may be defined by a monolithic structure or by an assembly of more than one structure. Typically, the body will be constructed of plastic and/or metal and will define a drink spout 38 associated with the drink outlet 16. When present, the drink spout may define a conduit or a surface that is configured and shaped to be engaged by a user's mouth to receive drink liquid from the drink container as it is dispensed through the drink outlet, for example by a user tilting the drink container in a typical drinking motion associated with consumption of drink liquids from a container.
Operational assembly 18 has at least a closed configuration 42, which is schematically illustrated in solid lines in
The outlet closure is configured to restrict drink liquid from exiting the liquid container via the drink outlet 16 when the operational assembly is in the closed configuration, and to permit drink liquid to exit the liquid container via the drink outlet when the operational assembly is in the open configuration. In some embodiments, the outlet closure may be described as plugging, obstructing, and/or otherwise sealing the drink outlet when the operational assembly is in the closed configuration, and as unplugging, unsealing, and/or otherwise not completely obstructing liquid flow through the drink outlet when the operational assembly is in the open configuration. This is schematically represented in
In some embodiments, the outlet closure may be configured to translate linearly, or generally linearly, when the operational assembly reconfigures between the closed configuration and the open configuration, such as schematically represented in
As schematically illustrated in
As used herein, relational terms such as upper, lower, above, below, top, bottom, up, down, etc. are in reference to the drink container and/or the cap assembly in a generally upright position, such as with the drink container positioned generally on a flat horizontal surface and with the cap assembly 14 operatively coupled to the liquid container 12, such as schematically represented in
In some embodiments, outlet closure 46 may be positioned completely, or at least predominantly, on upper side 58 of body 15 of the cap assembly. Additionally or alternatively, the outlet closure may be positioned completely, or at least predominantly, on and/or adjacent to an external surface of the body of the cap assembly. Additionally or alternatively, the outlet closure may be positioned external of the drink container, or on the outside of the drink container, when the cap assembly is operatively coupled to the liquid container. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the outlet closure may be described as operatively closing, or sealing, the drink spout from an upper side of the cap assembly, from an upper side of the base of the cap assembly, from an external surface of the body of the cap assembly, from adjacent an external surface of the body of the cap assembly, and/or from external of the drink container. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, operational assembly 18 may be described as being positioned, or at least predominantly positioned, external of the drink container, or on the outside of the drink container, when the cap assembly is operatively coupled to the liquid container. Such optional configurations of outlet closures and operational assemblies may be particularly well suited for drink containers that are configured or intended to be used with beverages other than water, such as that include sugar, fermentable components, or other suspended particulates that may stick to, and/or otherwise foul, components of typical drink containers. For example, drink containers that are used for hot beverages, such as coffee or tea, sweetened or fruit-based beverages such as juice, soda, or sports drinks, and/or dairy-based beverages such as milk and smoothies, may benefit from having components of the operational assembly positioned completely, or at least predominantly, external of the drink container. By having the operational assembly predominantly, if not completely, on the outside of the drink container, the component parts of the operational assembly will be less prone to becoming sticky, dirty, or otherwise soiled, and will be less prone to creating an environment for the growth of microorganisms. Moreover, such a configuration may facilitate ease of cleaning a cap assembly according to the present disclosure. By “predominantly,” it is meant that most, or nearly all, of the operational assembly is outside of, or external to, the remainder of the body of the cap assembly. In percentage terms, this may be expressed as at least 75%, and optionally at least 85%, at least 90%, or even at least 95% of the operational assembly. Notwithstanding the preceding statements, drink containers 10 and/or cap assemblies 14 thereof also are well suited for use with water as the, or the primary, drink liquid.
As mentioned, cap assemblies 14 optionally may include a vent 40 and corresponding vent closure 48. When present, the vent closure is configured to restrict gas from entering and exiting the liquid container via the vent 40 when the operational assembly is in the closed configuration 42, such as illustrated schematically in solid lines in
In some embodiments, such as schematically illustrated in
In some embodiments, although not required to all embodiments, the vent closure 48 may be positioned on the upper side 58 of the base of the cap assembly. Additionally or alternatively, the vent closure may be positioned completely, or at least predominantly, on and/or adjacent to an external surface of the body of the cap assembly. Additionally or alternatively, the vent closure may be positioned external, or at least predominantly external, to the drink container when the cap assembly is coupled to the liquid container. Additionally or alternatively, the vent closure may be positioned external of the drink container, or on the outside of the drink container, when the cap assembly is coupled to the liquid container. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the vent closure may be described as operatively closing, obstructing, or otherwise sealing, the vent from an upper side of the cap assembly, from an upper side of the base of the cap assembly, and/or from external of the drink container.
As mentioned, actuator 50 is configured to be selectively engaged by a user to selectively reconfigure the operational assembly from the closed configuration to the open configuration. In some embodiments, the actuator may be biased, such as spring biased, such that the operational assembly is biased toward the closed configuration. In some embodiments, although not required to all embodiments, the actuator may be configured to be selectively pivoted relative to the body of the cap assembly to reconfigure the operational assembly from the closed configuration to the open configuration. In
In
In some embodiments, such as schematically illustrated in
In embodiments of cap assemblies 14 that include both an outlet closure and a vent closure, the operational assembly 18 may be configured such that selective actuation of the actuator to reconfigure the operational assembly from the closed configuration to the open configuration results in the outlet closure permitting drink liquid to exit the liquid container via the drink outlet simultaneously, or in some embodiments at least nearly simultaneously, with the vent closure permitting gas to enter and exit the liquid container via the vent. In other embodiments, the operational assembly may be configured such that selective actuation of the actuator to reconfigure the operational assembly from the closed configuration to the open configuration results in the vent closure permitting gas to enter and exit the liquid container via the vent at least a moment in time prior to the outlet closure permitting drink liquid to exit the liquid container via the drink outlet. In embodiments in which the vent closure is configured to unseal the vent prior to the outlet closure unsealing the drink outlet (when the actuator is engaged and actuated at a reasonable operative rate by a user), such a moment in time may be in the range of 0.05-0.5, 0.05-0.25, or 0.05-0.1 second, or may be less than or greater than 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, or 0.50 second, with these times being illustrative and non-exclusive and with times outside of or within these ranges being within the scope of the present disclosure.
As an illustrative, non-exclusive example of structure that may facilitate such a configuration in which the vent is unsealed prior to the drink outlet unsealing, the outlet closure may include a slot, within which a pin is positioned that is operatively coupled to the actuator. When the actuator is initially pivoted, the pin slides along the slot until it engages the end of the slot, at which point the outlet closure is caused to move as the actuator is further pivoted. In contrast, the vent closure may be directly coupled to the actuator so that it begins to move prior to the pin engaging the end of the slot.
Alternatively, it also is within the scope of the present disclosure that the operational assembly may be configured such that selective actuation of the actuator to reconfigure the operational assembly from the closed configuration to the open configuration results in the unsealing of the drink outlet at least a moment in time prior to the unsealing of the vent, with illustrative, non-exclusive examples of the duration of such moments in time including those identified above.
In some embodiments of drink containers 10 according to the present disclosure, the operational assembly 18 may be configured to be selectively and temporarily retained in the open configuration 44 (that is, without requiring a user to maintain continued actuation of the actuator). Stated differently, in some embodiments, the operational assembly may include a lock-open feature that is configured to facilitate selective and temporary retention of the operational assembly in the open configuration after a user has released the actuator. This lock-open feature additionally or alternatively may be referred to as a lock-open mechanism and/or a lock-open assembly. Such embodiments may be utilized, for example, in embodiments of drink containers 10 that are specially configured for use with hot beverages. For example, thermally-insulated drink containers 10 may be configured such that a hot beverage is introduced and/or maintained at a high temperature longer than desired by a user of the drink container. Accordingly, a user may selectively choose to temporarily lock (or otherwise retain without requiring constant manual force to be applied by the user) the operational assembly in its open configuration so that air and/or steam may circulate to and from the internal compartment via the drink outlet and/or the vent, so as to permit heat to escape from the internal compartment, and thus to permit the hot beverage to cool faster than if the operational assembly were maintained in its closed configuration 42. Additionally or alternatively, such a locked-open configuration may be desirable for a user to maintain the drink outlet in an unsealed position, so that the user is not required to engage and depress the actuator in connection with every instance of grasping and tilting the drink container for consumption of drink liquid via the drink outlet. Accordingly, the lock-open mechanism, when present and utilized, may retain the operational assembly in an open configuration, which may be referred to as a locked-open configuration, and to thereby permit the operational assembly to be retained in this configuration without requiring maintained (i.e., continuous actuation) of the actuation assembly by a user.
Such an optional lock-open feature, when present, may be implemented in any suitable manner. In examples of the operational assemblies in which the actuator 50 is biased (and thus the operational assembly is biased) toward the closed configuration, the operational assembly may include a locking mechanism 68 that is configured to be selectively engaged by a user to selectively and temporarily retain the operational assembly in the open configuration, with this optional locking mechanism 68 being schematically illustrated in
In some embodiments, as optionally and schematically illustrated in
The locking mechanism (when present) may be integral to, and/or may cooperate with, outlet closure 46. Additionally or alternatively, the locking mechanism may be separate from the outlet closure. As an illustrative, non-exclusive example, the locking mechanism may be separately pivotal relative to the actuator, about the same pivotal axis about which the outlet closure is pivotally coupled to the actuator. Other configurations also are within the scope of the present disclosure.
In some embodiments, the cap assembly may further include an optional status indicator 74 that is configured to visually indicate to a user when the operational assembly is in the open configuration, when the operational assembly is optionally locked in the open configuration (in embodiments that include an optional locking mechanism 68), and/or when the operational assembly is in the closed configuration. Although not required, the optional status indicator may be associated with locking mechanism 68. For example, with reference to
In some embodiments, the actuator may be described as being configured to be selectively pivoted relative to the body of the cap assembly among a range, or full range, of pivotal positions when the cap assembly is not coupled to the liquid container 12, with the actuator being restricted to only a subset of the range, or to less than the full range, of pivotal positions when the cap assembly is coupled to the liquid container. Such a configuration is schematically represented in
In some embodiments, in addition to a closed configuration 42 and an open configuration 44, the operational assembly 18 may be described as having a cleaning configuration 78 and/or as being operatively configurable to a cleaning configuration, as schematically represented in
In some embodiments in which the operational assembly has an optional cleaning configuration, the outlet closure 46 may be configured to be selectively pivoted away from the drink outlet 16 and relative to the body of the cap assembly when the operational assembly is in the cleaning configuration, such as schematically illustrated in dash-dot-dot lines in
Turning now to
The example drink container illustrated in
With reference first to the detailed views of cap assembly 104 in
As perhaps best seen in
The outlet closure 46 of operational assembly 108 includes a body 118, a distal end region 52 that includes a tip 120, and an O-ring 122 positioned around the distal end region adjacent to the tip 120 and that is configured to seal the outlet 16 when the operational assembly is in the closed configuration 42, In this illustrative, non-exclusive configuration, tip 120 may define an optional recess, channel, passage, or other conduit through which drink fluid from the drink container may flow as the outlet closure is moved away from the closed configuration. As best seen in the exploded view of
As illustrated, body 118 of the outlet closure of operational assembly 108 includes a pair of members 121 that extends from, or proximate, actuator 50 generally toward distal end region 52 and defines an optional recess, channel, or space 119 between the members 121. Members 121 additionally or alternatively may be referred to as elongate members, spanning members, exterior members, and/or linkages. While not required to all embodiments, such a space may provide for additional clearance for a user's nose while the user is drinking from drink container 100. Body 118 optionally may include only a single member that extends generally between the actuator and distal end region 52 and/or may include more than a pair of spaced-apart members.
The cap assembly 104 further includes a U-shaped member 131 that generally extends around the actuator 50 and that provides an ergonomic feel for the actuator and the drink container as a whole when being held by a user. The U-shaped member is fixed relative to the body of the cap assembly with a pair of screws 133, and the actuator pivots relative to the U-shaped member. U-shaped member 131 additionally or alternatively may be described as a guard, or housing, for the actuator, as the member 131 restricts objects from lodging under the actuator (such as which may prevent use of the actuator) and/or to restrict unintentional actuation of the actuator, such as if the drink container tips over and the actuator contacts a hard surface.
Turning now to the exploded view of
The O-ring 122 seats against and seals the drink outlet 16 when the operational assembly is in the closed configuration, as illustrated in
The body 118 of the outlet closure 46 of operational assembly 108 is rotationally coupled to the actuator 50, via a pin, or axle, 124, as seen in the exploded view of
As mentioned, operational assembly 108 is an example of an operational assembly 18 that includes an optional vent closure 48. More specifically, as best seen with reference to the exploded view of
Cap assembly 104 also is an example of a cap assembly 14 that includes an optional locking mechanism 68. The locking mechanism 68 of cap assembly 104 includes a housing 132 that is pivotally coupled relative to the actuator via the pin 124, as best seen with reference to the exploded view of
Housing 132 is positioned generally above and over the body 126 of the vent closure 48 of operational assembly 108. Accordingly, housing 132 may be described as serving more than one purpose. That is, the housing 132 serves as a locking mechanism 68, and it also serves to generally protect the vent closure when the operational assembly is in the open and closed configurations. While the housing may shield the vent closure from some physical contact, the housing optionally may be described as and/or referred to as a frame, or cage, as the housing may include openings, or vents, that permit (relatively) unobstructed flow through the upper surface of the housing of gas that is exhausted through the vent. Additionally or alternatively, the housing may be described as hollow and/or as defining a hollow volume. Because the housing 132 is pivotally attached to the actuator about pin 124, the housing may be pivoted away from the vent closure when the operational assembly is in the cleaning configuration, to permit cleaning around the vent and the vent closure, as illustrated in
Housing 132 is an example of a locking mechanism 68 that may be actuated in two ways to retain the operational assembly in the open configuration. First, a user may configure the operational assembly to the open configuration by exerting an external pivotal force on the actuator 50, and then the housing 132 may be pressed downward so that the surface 134 is positioned behind the ramped projections 72. Upon release of the actuator, the bias of the spring 116 will cause the surface 134 to engage the ramped projections, thereby restricting further translation of the housing, and thus further pivotal movement of the actuator back toward the closed configuration. Alternatively, a user may engage the housing 132 directly and exert a force directed generally toward the actuator 50 and the handle 110 of the cap assembly (i.e., away from the drink outlet), causing the housing to slide along/across the upper surface of the body and over the ramped projections until the surface 134 is operatively retained behind the ramped projections.
The housing 132 also optionally includes two laterally extending tabs 136 that engage corresponding ledges 138 defined by the outlet closure, as perhaps best seen with reference to
The locking mechanism 68 of cap assembly 104 also is an example of a locking mechanism that includes a spring 69 that is configured to engage the body of the cap assembly and facilitate the selective disengagement of the housing 132 from the ramped projections 72 in response to a user further actuating the actuator when the operational assembly is in the locked-open configuration. As perhaps best seen in the exploded view of
Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of drink containers and cap assemblies according to the present disclosure are described in the following enumerated paragraphs:
A. A drink container, comprising:
a liquid container having a neck with an opening and having an internal compartment sized to hold a volume of potable drink liquid; and
a cap assembly removably coupled to the liquid container, the cap assembly comprising:
A1. The drink container of paragraph A, wherein the body of the cap assembly further defines a vent through which gas may be selectively released from the internal compartment of the liquid container, and wherein the operational assembly further includes:
a vent closure configured to restrict gas from entering and exiting the liquid container via the vent when the operational assembly is in the closed configuration and to permit gas to enter and exit the liquid container via the vent when the operational assembly is in the open configuration.
A1.1. The drink container of paragraph A1, wherein the vent closure is configured to pivot when the operational assembly reconfigures between the closed configuration and the open configuration.
A1.2. The drink container of any of paragraphs A1-A1.1, wherein the operational assembly is configured such that selective actuation of the actuator to reconfigure the operational assembly from the closed configuration to the open configuration results in the outlet closure permitting drink liquid to exit the liquid container via the drink outlet simultaneously (or optionally nearly simultaneously) with the vent closure permitting gas to enter and exit the liquid container via the vent.
A1.3. The drink container of any of paragraphs A1-A1.1, wherein the operational assembly is configured such that selective actuation of the actuator to reconfigure the operational assembly from the closed configuration to the open configuration results in the vent closure permitting gas to enter and exit the liquid container via the vent at a moment in time prior to the outlet closure permitting drink liquid to exit the liquid container via the drink outlet.
A2. The drink container of any of paragraphs A-A1.3, wherein the operational assembly is biased toward the closed configuration.
A3. The drink container of any of paragraphs A-A2, wherein the body of the cap assembly has a lower side that generally faces the internal compartment of the liquid container when the cap assembly is coupled to the liquid container and an upper side that generally faces away from the internal compartment of the liquid container when the cap assembly is coupled to the liquid container.
A3.1. The drink container of paragraph A3, wherein the outlet closure is positioned on the upper side of the body.
A3.2. The drink container of any of paragraphs A3-A3.1 when depending from paragraph A1, wherein the vent closure is positioned on the upper side of the body.
A4. The drink container of any of paragraphs A-A3.2, wherein the outlet closure is positioned at least predominantly on an external surface of the body of the cap assembly.
A5. The drink container of any of paragraphs A-A4, wherein the operational assembly is predominantly positioned external of the body of the cap assembly when the cap assembly is coupled to the liquid container.
A6. The drink container of any of paragraphs A-A5, wherein the outlet closure is configured to translate generally linearly (and optionally linearly) when the operational assembly reconfigures between the closed configuration and the open configuration.
A7. The drink container of any of paragraphs A-A6, wherein the actuator is configured to be selectively pivoted relative to the body of the cap assembly to reconfigure the operational assembly from the closed configuration to the open configuration.
A7.1. The drink container of paragraph A7, wherein the actuator is configured to be selectively pivoted relative to the body of the cap assembly among a range of pivotal positions when the cap assembly is not coupled to the liquid container, and wherein the actuator is restricted to a subset of the range of pivotal positions when the cap assembly is coupled to the liquid container.
A8. The drink container of any of paragraphs A-A7.1, wherein the operational assembly is configured to be selectively and temporarily retained in the open configuration without requiring maintained actuation of the actuator by a user.
A9. The drink container of any of paragraphs A-A8, wherein the operational assembly further includes a lock-open feature configured to facilitate selective and temporary retention of the operational assembly in the open configuration.
A10. The drink container of any of paragraphs A-A9, wherein the operational assembly further includes:
a locking mechanism (optionally a button) configured to be selectively engaged by a user to selectively and temporarily retain the operational assembly in the open configuration.
A10.1. The drink container of paragraph A10, wherein the body includes structure configured to cooperate with the locking mechanism to selectively and temporarily retain the operational assembly in the open configuration.
A10.1.1. The drink container of paragraph A10.1, wherein the locking mechanism includes a housing, and wherein the structure configured to cooperate with the locking mechanism to selectively and temporarily retain the operational assembly in the open configuration includes one or more ramped projections, and wherein the housing is configured to be selectively retained against the ramped projections when the operational assembly is locked in the open configuration.
A10.1.1.1. The drink container of paragraph A10.1.1, wherein the housing defines a spring that engages the body of the cap assembly and that is configured to bias the housing away from the body of the cap assembly when a user selectively releases the locking mechanism so that the operational assembly returns to the closed configuration.
A10.2. The drink container of any of paragraphs A10-A10.1.1.1, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to permit the operational assembly to return to the closed configuration upon a user selectively actuating the actuator.
A11. The drink container of any of paragraphs A-A10.2, wherein the cap assembly further includes a status indicator configured to visually indicate to a user when the operational assembly is in the open configuration.
A12. The drink container of any of paragraphs A-A11, wherein the operational assembly further has a cleaning configuration, and wherein the actuator is further configured to be selectively engaged by a user to selectively reconfigure the operational assembly to the cleaning configuration.
A12.1. The drink container of paragraph A12, wherein in the cleaning configuration, the outlet closure is configured to be selectively pivoted away from the drink outlet.
A12.2. The drink container of any of paragraphs A12-A12.1, wherein the operational assembly is restricted from being reconfigured to the cleaning configuration when the cap assembly is coupled to the liquid container.
A12.3. The drink container of any of paragraphs A12-A12.2, when depending from paragraph A10, wherein when the operational assembly is in the cleaning configuration, the locking mechanism is configured to be selectively pivoted relative to the body of the cap assembly.
A13. The drink container of any of paragraphs A-A12.3, wherein the outlet closure includes a pair of members that extends from proximate the actuator to a distal tip of the outlet closure and along an upper side of the body when the operational assembly is in the closed configuration and when the operational assembly is in the open configuration.
A13.1. The drink container of paragraph A13, wherein the pair of members defines a space between the members that is sized to receive at least a portion of a user's nose when the user is drinking from the drink container.
A14. The drink container of any of paragraphs A-A13.1, wherein the body of the cap assembly has an upper side that is generally bowl-shaped.
A14.1. The drink container of paragraph A14, wherein the upper side defines a drink spout from the drink outlet to a lip engagement region of the body, wherein the drink spout is positioned and sized to expose drink liquid to ambient air when drink liquid is dispensed from the drink outlet to a user's lips that are engaged with the lip engagement region.
B. A drink container, comprising:
a liquid container having a neck with an opening and having an internal compartment sized to hold a volume of potable drink liquid; and
a cap assembly removably coupled to the liquid container, the cap assembly comprising:
B1. The drink container of paragraph B, wherein the operational assembly is restricted from being reconfigured to the cleaning configuration when the cap assembly is coupled to the liquid container.
B1.1. The drink container of paragraph B1, wherein the actuator is configured to be selectively pivoted relative to the body of the cap assembly among a range of pivotal positions, wherein the actuator is restricted to a subset of the range of pivotal positions when the cap assembly is coupled to the liquid container, and wherein the operational assembly is restricted from being reconfigured to the cleaning configuration when the actuator is positioned within the subset of the range of pivotal positions.
B2. The drink container of any of paragraphs B-B1.1, wherein the outlet closure is positioned generally on an upper side of the body of the cap assembly when the operational assembly is in the closed configuration and when the operational assembly is in the open configuration, wherein the outlet closure includes a distal end region that extends into and plugs the drink outlet when the operational assembly is in the closed configuration and is retracted at least partially from the drink outlet when the operational assembly is in the open configuration.
B3. The drink container of any of paragraphs B-B2, wherein the body of the cap assembly defines a generally bowl-shaped upper surface and a lip engagement region, wherein the upper surface defines a drink spout from the drink outlet to the lip engagement region, and wherein the drink spout is positioned and sized to expose drink liquid to ambient air when drink liquid is dispensed from the drink outlet to a user's lips that are engaged with the lip engagement region.
B4. The drink container of any of paragraphs B-B3, wherein the outlet closure includes a pair of members that extends from proximate the actuator to a distal tip of the outlet closure and along an upper side of the body of the cap assembly when the operational assembly is in the closed configuration and when the operational assembly is in the open configuration, and wherein the pair of members defines a space between the members that is sized to receive at least a portion of a user's nose when the user is drinking from the drink container.
B5. The drink container of any of paragraphs B-B4, wherein the body of the cap assembly further defines a vent through which gas may be selectively released from the internal compartment of the liquid container, and wherein the operational assembly further includes:
a vent closure configured to restrict gas from entering and exiting the liquid container via the vent when the operational assembly is in the closed configuration and to permit gas to enter and exit the liquid container via the vent when the operational assembly is in the open configuration, wherein the vent closure is configured to pivot when the operational assembly reconfigures between the closed configuration and the open configuration.
B5.1. The drink container of paragraph B5, wherein the operational assembly is configured such that selective actuation of the actuator to reconfigure the operational assembly from the closed configuration to the open configuration results in the outlet closure permitting drink liquid to exit the liquid container via the drink outlet simultaneously with the vent closure permitting gas to enter and exit the liquid container via the vent.
B6. The drink container of any of paragraphs B-B5.1, wherein the operational assembly is biased toward the closed configuration from the open configuration.
B7. The drink container of any of paragraphs B-B6, wherein the operational assembly is configured to be selectively and temporarily retained in the open configuration without requiring maintained actuation of the actuator by a user.
B8. The drink container of any of paragraphs B-B7,
wherein the operational assembly further includes a locking mechanism that includes a housing configured to be selectively engaged by a user to selectively and temporarily retain the operational assembly in the open configuration; and
wherein the body includes one or more ramped projections configured to cooperate with the locking mechanism to selectively and temporarily retain the operational assembly in the open configuration, and wherein the housing is configured to be selectively retained against the one or more ramped projections when the operational assembly is locked in the open configuration.
B8.1. The drink container of paragraph B8, wherein the housing defines a spring that engages the body of the cap assembly and that is configured to bias the housing away from the body of the cap assembly when a user selectively releases the locking mechanism so that the operational assembly returns to the closed configuration.
B8.2. The drink container of any of paragraphs B8-B8.1, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to permit the operational assembly to return to the closed configuration upon a user selectively actuating the actuator.
B8.3. The drink container of any of paragraphs B8-B8.2,
wherein the body of the cap assembly further defines a vent through which gas may be selectively released from the internal compartment of the liquid container; and
wherein the housing of the locking mechanism extends over the vent.
B8.3.1. The drink container of paragraph B8.3, wherein the operational assembly further includes:
a vent closure configured to restrict gas from entering and exiting the liquid container via the vent when the operational assembly is in the closed configuration and to permit gas to enter and exit the liquid container via the vent when the operational assembly is in the open configuration, wherein the vent closure is configured to pivot when the operational assembly reconfigures between the closed configuration and the open configuration; and
wherein the housing of the locking mechanism extends over the vent closure.
C. A drink container, comprising:
a liquid container having a neck with an opening and having an internal compartment sized to hold a volume of potable drink liquid; and
a cap assembly removably coupled to the liquid container, the cap assembly comprising:
C1. The drink container of paragraph C, wherein the pair of members defines a space between the members that is sized to receive at least a portion of a user's nose when the user is drinking from the drink container.
C2. The drink container of any of paragraphs C-C1, wherein the body of the cap assembly defines a generally bowl-shaped upper surface and a lip engagement region, wherein the upper surface defines a drink spout from the drink outlet to the lip engagement region, and wherein the drink spout is positioned and sized to expose drink liquid to ambient air when drink liquid is dispensed from the drink outlet to a user's lips that are engaged with the lip engagement region.
C3. The drink container of any of paragraphs C-C2, wherein the operational assembly is configured to be selectively and temporarily retained in the open configuration without requiring maintained actuation of the actuator by a user.
D. A drink container, comprising:
a liquid container having a neck with an opening and having an internal compartment sized to hold a volume of potable drink liquid; and
a cap assembly removably coupled to the liquid container, the cap assembly comprising:
E. A drink container, comprising:
a liquid container having a neck with an opening and having an internal compartment sized to hold a volume of potable drink liquid; and
a cap assembly removably coupled to the liquid container, the cap assembly comprising:
F. A cap assembly, comprising the cap assembly as described in any of paragraphs A-E, separate from a liquid container, wherein the cap assembly is configured to be removably coupled to a liquid container.
G. The use of the drink container and/or the cap assembly of any of paragraphs A-F.
As used herein, the term “and/or” placed between a first entity and a second entity means one of (1) the first entity, (2) the second entity, and (3) the first entity and the second entity. Multiple entities listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same manner, i.e., “one or more” of the entities so conjoined. Other entities may optionally be present other than the entities specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those entities specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B,” when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” may refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including entities other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including entities other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other entities). These entities may refer to elements, actions, structures, steps, operations, values, and the like.
As used herein, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more entities should be understood to mean at least one entity selected from any one or more of the entity in the list of entities, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every entity specifically listed within the list of entities and not excluding any combinations of entities in the list of entities. This definition also allows that entities may optionally be present other than the entities specifically identified within the list of entities to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those entities specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) may refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including entities other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including entities other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other entities). In other words, the phrases “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” may mean A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, A, B and C together, and optionally any of the above in combination with at least one other entity.
As used herein the terms “adapted” and “configured” mean that the element, component, or other subject matter is designed and/or intended to perform a given function. Thus, the use of the terms “adapted” and “configured” should not be construed to mean that a given element, component, or other subject matter is simply “capable of” performing a given function but that the element, component, and/or other subject matter is specifically selected, created, implemented, utilized, programmed, and/or designed for the purpose of performing the function. It also is within the scope of the present disclosure that elements, components, and/or other recited subject matter that is recited as being adapted to perform a particular function may additionally or alternatively be described as being configured to perform that function, and vice versa.
As used herein, “selective” and “selectively,” when modifying an action, movement, configuration, or other activity of one or more components or characteristics of a drink container according to the present disclosure, means that the specified action, movement, configuration, or other activity is a direct or indirect result of user manipulation of an aspect of, or one or more components of, the drink container.
In the event that any patents, patent applications, or other references are incorporated by reference herein and (1) define a term in a manner that is inconsistent with and/or (2) are otherwise inconsistent with, either the non-incorporated portion of the present disclosure or any of the other incorporated references, the non-incorporated portion of the present disclosure shall control, and the term or incorporated disclosure therein shall only control with respect to the reference in which the term is defined and/or the incorporated disclosure was present originally.
It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Similarly, where the claims recite “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
It is believed that the following claims particularly point out certain combinations and subcombinations that are directed to one of the disclosed inventions and are novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to a different invention or directed to the same invention, whether different, broader, narrower, or equal in scope to the original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of the present disclosure.
This application is a continuation of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/203,303, which was filed on Mar. 10, 2014 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,113,698 on Aug. 25, 2015, and which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/859,695, which is entitled “DRINK CONTAINERS AND CAP ASSEMBLIES WITH EXTERNAL ACTUATORS AND OUTLET CLOSURES” and was filed on Jul. 29, 2013, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/788,811, which is entitled “DRINK CONTAINERS AND CAP ASSEMBLIES WITH EXTERNAL ACTUATORS AND OUTLET CLOSURES” and was filed on Mar. 15, 2013. The complete disclosures of the above-identified patent and patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150351568 A1 | Dec 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| 61788811 | Mar 2013 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14203303 | Mar 2014 | US |
| Child | 14831421 | US |
