Dual Threaded Adapter

Abstract

A dual-threaded adapter comprises a cylindrically-shaped body. The body includes an externally-threaded male connector and an internally-threaded female receptor, the male connector and female receptor mutually joined forming the body. The body also includes a channel formed internally within the body by the male connector and the female connector, the channel providing fluid communication therethrough.

Description

II. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application discloses and describes a dual-threaded adapter for the neck of a beverage bottle.

III. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The various beverage bottlers utilize a variety of neck-styles and cap arrangements. For example, cola bottles have caps that will not fit most water bottles, and vice versa. Moreover, many beverage companies utilize bottles having relatively short necks with few threads and a similarly formed cap. The shorter necks and thinner caps reduce manufacturing costs. However, the shorter necks and thinner caps introduce barriers for adaptation of the beverage bottle for other uses. Thus, developing a universal cap for each of the differently dimensioned bottle necks is not practical.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved beverage bottle adapter for the neck.

IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a dual-threaded adapter comprises a cylindrically-shaped body, the body having an externally-threaded male connector and an internally-threaded female receptor, the male connector and female receptor mutually joined forming the body, the male connector adapted to receive an internally-threaded cap, and the female receptor adapted to receive an externally-threaded beverage bottle neck, and, a channel formed internally within the body by the male connector and the female connector, the tubular channel providing fluid communication therethrough.

In such an embodiment, the male connector comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, the internal annulus defining the perimeter of the channel.

In such an embodiment, the female receptor comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, the external annulus and internal annulus forming an annular cavity therebetween. It is further envisioned that the annular cavity comprises internal threads that align and mate with external threads formed on the neck of a beverage bottle.

It is envisioned that the male connector comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus and the female receptor comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, wherein the internal annulus of the male connector and the internal annulus of the female receptor define the perimeter of the channel.

In another embodiment, a dual-threaded adapter comprises a cylindrically-shaped body, the body having an externally-threaded male connector and an internally-threaded female receptor, the male connector and female receptor mutually joined forming the body at a juncture having an angled surface, the male connector adapted to receive an internally-threaded cap, and the female receptor adapted to receive an externally-threaded beverage bottle neck, and, a channel formed internally within the body by the male connector and the female connector, the channel providing fluid communication therethrough.

In this embodiment, the male connector comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, the internal annulus defining the perimeter of the channel.

In this embodiment, the female receptor comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, the external annulus and internal annulus forming an annular cavity therebetween. It is further envisioned that the annular cavity comprises internal threads that align and mate with external threads formed on the neck of a beverage bottle.

It is envisioned that the male connector comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus and the female receptor comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, wherein the internal annulus of the male connector and the internal annulus of the female receptor define the perimeter of the channel.

In another embodiment, a dual-threaded adapter comprises a cylindrically-shaped body, the body having an externally-threaded male connector and an internally-threaded female receptor, the male connector and female receptor mutually joined forming the body at a juncture having an angled surface, the male connector adapted to receive an internally-threaded cap, and the female receptor having an annular cavity formed therein to receive an externally-threaded beverage bottle neck, and, a channel formed internally within the body by the male connector and the female connector, the channel providing fluid communication therethrough.

In this embodiment, the male connector comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, the internal annulus defining the perimeter of the channel.

In this embodiment, the female receptor comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, the external annulus and internal annulus forming an annular cavity therebetween. It is further envisioned that the annular cavity comprises internal threads that align and mate with external threads formed on the neck of a beverage bottle.

It is envisioned that the male connector comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus and the female receptor comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, wherein the internal annulus of the male connector and the internal annulus of the female receptor define the perimeter of the channel.

For all embodiments, it is envisioned that the male connector and the female receptor have substantially equivalent diameters, wherein the external wall of the female receptor is coextensive with the widest margin of the external threads formed on the surface of the male connector.

V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the dual-threaded adapter;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the adapter of FIG. 1 threadably coupled to a beverage bottle neck;

FIG. 3a is an exploded perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 1 and threadably coupled as in FIG. 2, additionally depicted a cap threadably coupled to the adapter, and FIG. 3b is a front view with the adapter threadably coupled to the neck with a cap threaded thereon;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the adapter;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the adapter;

FIG. 6 is another top perspective view of the adapter;

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the adapter; and

FIG. 8 is a top view of the adapter.

VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of pet article, as represented in the attached figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention.

The features, structures, or characteristics of the invention described throughout this specification may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. For example, the usage of the phrases “example embodiments”, “some embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout this specification refers to the fact that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “example embodiments”, “in some embodiments”, “in other embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same group of embodiments, and the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

In accordance with the drawings illustrating at least one embodiment of a coupling adapter, as depicted in FIG. 1 through FIG. 7, a dual-threaded adapter 100 is described and generally comprises a cylindrically-shaped body 105. The body 105 includes an externally-threaded male connector 110 and an internally-threaded female receptor 120. The male connector 110 and female receptor 120 are mutually joined, forming and defining the body 105. The body 105 includes a channel 130 (as depicted in FIGS. 5-7) formed internally within the body 105 by the mutually joining of the male connector 110 and the female connector 120. The channel 130 provides fluid communication therethrough for the ingress or egress of air or gas, liquid, solid, and/or a combination thereof.

The male connector 110 is adapted to receive an internally-threaded cap (C) (similar to that depicted in FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b). In one envisioned embodiment, the male connector 110 may include an external annulus 111 and an internal annulus 113, wherein the internal annulus 113 defines the perimeter of the channel 130 in coextensive relationship with the internal annulus 123 of the female receptor 120 and generally forming a continuous tubular-shaped channel. The external annulus 113 includes external threads 115 for threadable mating with internal threads of a cap. In another envisioned embodiment, consistent with FIG. 8, the perimeter of the channel 130 is such that the perimeter (p-m) of the internal annulus of the male connector 110 is of greater diameter than the perimeter (p-f) of the internal annulus of the female receptor 120, wherein the form is discontinuous and forms a step-down from the larger diameter portion of the channel 130 (within the male connector 110) and the smaller diameter portion of the channel (within the female receptor 120).

The female receptor 120 is adapted to receive an externally-threaded beverage bottle (B) neck (N). In one embodiment envisioned, the female receptor 120 may include an external annulus 121 and an internal annulus 123, and an annular cavity 122 formed therebetween. The annular cavity 122 receives and houses the neck (N) of a beverage bottle (B). The annular cavity 122 includes internal threads 125 that align and mate with the external threads formed on the neck of a beverage bottle.

As best understood from FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b, the adapter 100 is threadably coupled to the neck (N) of a beverage bottle (B), with the internal threads 125 of the female receptor 120 receiving the external threads formed on the neck (N) of the beverage bottle (B). Once secured, an internally-threaded cap (C) may be threadably coupled to the male connector 110, whereby the internal threads of the cap (C) align with the external threads 115 of the male connector 110.

In one specific embodiment, the cap (C) may comprise an inflation valve inserted through the center thereof, such as that utilized in the BIG BLAST™ caps. As depicted in FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b, such a cap (with an inflation valve) allows for coupling to a pump via an inflation needle, thereby allowing the pump to distribute air/gas into the internal volume of the beverage bottle (B). Once pressurized, the bottle (B) may be utilized for target shooting games or competitions.

It is to be understood that the embodiments and claims are not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of the components set forth in the description and illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the description and the drawings provide examples of the embodiments envisioned, but the claims are limited to the specific embodiments. The embodiments and claims disclosed herein are further capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting the claims.

Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which the application and claims are based may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the embodiments and claims presented in this application. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions.

Furthermore, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially including the practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent and legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the claims of the application, nor is it intended to be limiting to the scope of the claims in any way. It is intended that the application is defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A dual-threaded adapter comprising: a cylindrically-shaped body, the body having,an externally-threaded male connector and an internally-threaded female receptor, the male connector and female receptor mutually joined forming the body, the male connector adapted to receive an internally-threaded cap, and the female receptor adapted to receive an externally-threaded beverage bottle neck; and,a channel formed internally within the body by the male connector and the female connector, the channel providing fluid communication therethrough.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the male connector comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, the internal annulus defining the perimeter of the channel.

3. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the female receptor comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, the external annulus and internal annulus forming an annular cavity therebetween.

4. The adapter of claim 3, wherein the annular cavity comprises internal threads that align and mate with external threads formed on the neck of a beverage bottle.

5. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the male connector comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus and the female receptor comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, wherein the internal annulus of the male connector and the internal annulus of the female receptor define the perimeter of the channel.

6. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the channel has a wider diameter within the male connector and a narrower diameter within the female receptor.

7. A dual-threaded adapter comprising: a cylindrically-shaped body, the body having,an externally-threaded male connector and an internally-threaded female receptor, the male connector and female receptor mutually joined forming the body at a juncture having an angled surface, the male connector adapted to receive an internally-threaded cap, and the female receptor adapted to receive an externally-threaded beverage bottle neck; and,a channel formed internally within the body by the male connector and the female connector, the tubular channel providing fluid communication therethrough.

8. The adapter of claim 7, wherein the male connector and the female receptor have substantially equivalent diameters, wherein the external wall of the female receptor is coextensive with the widest margin of the external threads formed on the surface of the male connector.

9. The adapter of claim 7, wherein the male connector comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, the internal annulus defining the perimeter of the channel.

10. The adapter of claim 7, wherein the female receptor comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, the external annulus and internal annulus forming an annular cavity therebetween.

11. The adapter of claim 10, wherein the annular cavity comprises internal threads that align and mate with external threads formed on the neck of a beverage bottle.

12. The adapter of claim 11, wherein the male connector comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus and the female receptor comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, wherein the internal annulus of the male connector and the internal annulus of the female receptor define the perimeter of the channel.

13. A dual-threaded adapter comprising: a cylindrically-shaped body, the body having,an externally-threaded male connector and an internally-threaded female receptor, the male connector and female receptor mutually joined forming the body at a juncture having an angled surface, the male connector adapted to receive an internally-threaded cap, and the female receptor having an annular cavity formed therein to receive an externally-threaded beverage bottle neck; and,a channel formed internally within the body by the male connector and the female connector, the tubular channel providing fluid communication therethrough.

14. The adapter of claim 13, wherein the male connector and the female receptor have substantially equivalent diameters, wherein the external wall of the female receptor is coextensive with the widest margin of the external threads formed on the surface of the male connector.

15. The adapter of claim 13, wherein the male connector comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, the internal annulus defining the perimeter of the channel.

16. The adapter of claim 13, wherein the female receptor comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, the external annulus and internal annulus forming the annular cavity therebetween.

17. The adapter of claim 16, wherein the annular cavity comprises internal threads that align and mate with external threads formed on the neck of a beverage bottle.

18. The adapter of claim 13, wherein the male connector comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus and the female receptor comprises an external annulus and an internal annulus, wherein the internal annulus of the male connector and the internal annulus of the female receptor define the perimeter of the channel.