BACKGROUND
Some conventional drink bottles that house water or other beverages include a cap. The cap has a mechanism for coupling and removing the cap to or from a container, which forms the bottle, to selectively control when fluid can enter and/or exit the container. The cap may include a pivotable sipper, such as a spout, nozzle, or opening, that allows a person to consume or drink liquids contained within the bottle without removing the cap from the container. Generally, to access the fluid within the bottle, the sipper must be moved relative to the cap of the bottle, which is conventionally performed by a person's hand, so that a fluid path into the container can be accessed. However, constantly touching the sipper can be unsanitary, since after touching the sipper, the sipper often comes into contact with a person's mouth. Accordingly, solutions for providing improved caps are needed.
Also, these caps, once removed from the container, are difficult to clean due to complex internal structures. These caps are fabricated as a unitary piece that has a sipper coupled to it. Oftentimes, there are several places on and within the cap that are difficult to access and clean. Accordingly, solutions for providing improved caps are needed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other features and aspects of the invention are best understood with reference to the following description of certain exemplary embodiments, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale.
FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a hydration bottle that includes a container cap in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the hydration bottle of FIG. 1A in accordance with the exemplary embodiment.
FIGS. 2A-2C show various perspective and cross-sectional views of the container cap of FIG. 1A having a sipper in an open position in accordance with the exemplary embodiment.
FIGS. 3A-3C show various perspective and cross-sectional views of the container cap of FIG. 1A having a sipper in a closed position in accordance with the exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the cap of FIG. 1A in accordance with the exemplary embodiment.
FIGS. 5A-5E show various perspective and side views illustrating the steps for assembling the container cap of FIG. 1A in accordance with the exemplary embodiment.
FIGS. 6A-6C show various perspective views illustrating a spring being assembled in the lid top of the container cap of FIG. 1A in accordance with the exemplary embodiment.
FIGS. 7A-1 to 7A-6 show various cross-sectional views illustrating the steps for operating the sipper of the container cap of FIG. 1A using a handle of FIG. 2A in accordance with the exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 8A shows a perspective view of a lid top of FIG. 2A coupled to a lid bottom of FIG. 2A in accordance with the exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 8B shows a cross-sectional view of the lid top of FIG. 8A coupled to the lid bottom of FIG. 8A in accordance with the exemplary embodiment.
FIGS. 9A-1 to 9A-3 show various cross-sectional views illustrating the process for decoupling the lid top of FIG. 8A from the lid bottom of FIG. 8A in accordance with the exemplary embodiment.
FIGS. 9B-1 to 9B-3 show various cross-sectional views illustrating the process for coupling the lid top of FIG. 8A to the lid bottom of FIG. 8A in accordance with the exemplary embodiment.
The drawings illustrate only an exemplary embodiment of the hand operated hydration sipper lid, or container cap, and is therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, as the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The exemplary embodiment discussed herein is directed to various aspects (e.g., methods, systems, devices) of container caps and hydration bottles that include such container caps, and more particularly, to container caps and hydration bottles that include a sipper that is operable hands-free using a handle. In certain exemplary embodiments, the cap may be coupled to the container in any number of ways, such as by use of a screw on cap or a flip top cap. Further, the container cap may be of a different size or shape than described herein. Also, although the sipper of the container cap can be actuated using a handle thereby controlling the position of the sipper, other embodiments of the invention may provide a different feature of the cap to actuate the sipper so that such actuation of the sipper may not be performed by a person's hand making contact with the sipper portion that goes into a person's mouth. Further, the container of the bottle may be in one or more of a number of different sizes with various widths, heights, geometrical and non-geometrical shapes and/or capacities. Further, in certain exemplary embodiments, the hydration bottle and/or container cap may be fabricated using different colors, accents, and/or different personalizations, such as by laser etching or silk screening across one or more of its surfaces. Further, in certain exemplary embodiments, the hydration bottle and/or the container cap may be fabricated in various different materials, such as rubber, plastics, stainless steel, other polymers, and other metals in one or more fabricated parts of the hydration bottle. Further, the container cap can be split into a lid top and a lid bottom that allows the consumer to separate the aforementioned parts from one another for cleaning purposes. This multi-piece construction of the body of the container cap can allow the consumer to easily access surfaces and cavities that they would otherwise be unable to clean. Further, the hydration bottle and/or container cap may include other known features.
Exemplary embodiments of the container cap and the hydration bottle will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an exemplary embodiment of the container cap and the hydration bottle are shown. The container cap and the hydration bottle may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this exemplary embodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the container cap and the hydration bottle to those of ordinary skill in the art. Like, but not necessarily the same, elements in the various figures are denoted by like reference numerals for consistency.
FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a hydration bottle 100 that includes a container cap 110 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the hydration bottle 100 of FIG. 1A in accordance with the exemplary embodiment.
Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the hydration bottle includes a container cap 110 coupled to a container 190. The container 190 can include a base 192 and a sidewall 194 extending upward from the perimeter of the base 192 to define a container cavity 196 therein and an opening 198 at the distal ends of the sidewall 194. The container 190 can be transparent, translucent, or non-translucent according to one or more embodiments. The container 190 is configured to house water or some other beverage. The container cap 110, which is described in further detail below, can be coupleable to the distal ends of the sidewall 194 to enclose the container cavity 196 and the opening 198. The container cap 110 can be screwed onto the distal end of the sidewall 194 according to the exemplary embodiment but may be coupled in other manners, such as snap-on or friction-fit, in other embodiments. According to certain exemplary embodiments, a lip 195 can be formed along the upper portion of the sidewall 194 prior to the distal end of the sidewall 194 such that when the container cap 110 is coupled to the container 190, the outer perimeter of the container cap 110 and the outer perimeter of the majority of the sidewall 194 is about the same, or is the same.
FIGS. 2A-2C show various perspective and cross-sectional views of the container cap 110 of FIG. 1A having a sipper 460 in an open position 205 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. FIGS. 3A-3C show various perspective and cross-sectional views of the container cap 110 of FIG. 1A having a sipper 460 in a closed position 305 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the container cap 110 of FIG. 1A in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 2A-4, the container cap 110 can include a lid gasket 410, a lid bottom 420, a combination sipper gasket-vent valve 430, a handle 440, a connecting bar 450, a sipper 460, a lid top 470, a sipper cover 480, and a spring 610 (FIG. 6A), which is described in conjunction with FIGS. 6A-6C below.
The lid gasket 410 can be a rubber or silicone material or some other suitable material that can be in the shape of an o-ring. The lid gasket 410 can be configured to be positioned within the underside of the lid bottom 420 such that the lid gasket 410 is compressed once the lid bottom 420 is coupled to the container 190 (FIG. 1A). The lid gasket 410 can provide a seal between the lid bottom 420 and the container 190 (FIG. 1A) once the lid bottom 420 is coupled to the container 190 (FIG. 1A) and prevent fluid leakage therebetween. In other exemplary embodiments, the lid gasket 410 may be formed in a different shape depending on the shape of the coupling shape between the lid bottom 420 and the container 190 (FIG. 1A), for example, if the coupling shape is rectangular when the shape of both the lid bottom 420 and the container 190 (FIG. 1A) are rectangular and they couple to one another by snap-on or friction-fit.
The lid bottom 420 can be fabricated from a polymer, such as a plastic, but may be fabricated using other suitable materials. The lid bottom 420 can include an upper surface 421 and a sidewall 422 extending downwardly from the upper surface 421. The sidewall 422 can define a cut-out 423 along a portion of a lower end of the sidewall 422. The interior of the sidewall 422 can include threads 522 (FIG. 5B) for threadedly coupling to the container 190 (FIG. 1A). The upper surface 421 can include a recessed cradle 424 formed adjacently above the cut-out 423 and a cavity 425 formed within the upper surface 421 adjacent the recessed cradle 424 and extending away from the cut-out 423 towards the opposite end of the upper surface 421 in a rectangular shape. The upper surface 421 can form a shelf 426 along the upper surface 421 at the opposite end from where the cut-out 423 is formed. The shelf 426 can extend beyond the sidewall 422 according to some exemplary embodiments. A pair of detents 427 can be formed along opposite sides of the recessed cradle 424 and extend upwardly away from the upper surface 421. Each detent 427 can extend longitudinally from the edge of the cavity 425 towards the edge of the upper surface 421 where the upper surface 421 meets the sidewall 422. Each detent 427 can form a notch 428 along a portion of its upper edges, which extends downwardly towards the upper surface 421. As will be described in greater detail below, the lid bottom 420 can include a fluid channel 524 (FIG. 5B) that extends from the upper surface 421 within the recessed cradle 424 downwardly through the lid bottom 420 such that the fluid channel 524 (FIG. 5B) is fluidly coupled to the fluid (not shown) within the container 190 (FIG. 1A). Also as will be described in greater detail below, the lid bottom 420 can include a vent channel 526 (FIG. 5B) that extends from the upper surface 421 within the cavity 425 downwardly through the lid bottom 420 such that the vent channel 526 (FIG. 5B) is fluidly coupled to the interior of the container 190 (FIG. 1A). In some examples, the vent channel 526 (FIG. 5B) can be smaller in size than the fluid channel 524 (FIG. 5B).
The combination sipper gasket-vent valve 430 can be fabricated using rubber or silicone or some other suitable material. The combination sipper gasket-vent valve 430 can include a sipper gasket portion 431 which can be an o-ring shape, a vent valve portion 433 which can be conical shaped and can include a pin-hole (not shown) therein, and a connector 435 which can be rectangular shaped and connect the gasket portion 431 to the vent valve portion 433. Although the sipper gasket-vent valve 430 can be a single-piece component according to the exemplary embodiment, the sipper gasket-vent valve 430 may be formed in multiple components in other embodiments.
The handle 440 can be fabricated using a polymer or plastic material but may be fabricated using other suitable materials in other embodiments. The handle 440 can be U-shaped and include a hand bar 441 and a pair of longitudinal bars 442 extending away from both ends of the hand bar 441 in the same direction. Each longitudinal bar 442 can include a terminating end 443 located distally away from the hand bar 441. Each terminating end 443 can include a pivot recess 444 such that one pivot recess 444 faces the other pivot recess 444. According to some exemplary embodiments, one or more of the pivot recesses 444 can extend horizontally through the respective terminating end 443. Further, each terminating end 443 can define an aperture 445 at its distal end, which interact with the detents 427 formed in the lid bottom 420 when the handle 440 is pushed into the container cap 110, which is described in further detail below in conjunction with the operation of the handle 440. The handle 440 can be formed as a single component but may be formed in multiple components in other embodiments.
The connecting bar 450 can be fabricated using a polymer or plastic or some other suitable material. The connecting bar 450 can be substantially U-shaped and include a crossbar 451 and a pair of connection bars 452 extending away from both ends of the crossbar 451 in the same direction. Each connection bar 452 can include a proximal end 453 located at the ends of the crossbar 451 and a distal end 455 located distally away from the proximal end 453. Each distal end 455 can include a pivot post 456 such that one pivot post 456 faces the other pivot post 456. Further, each proximal end 453 can include a pivot post 454 such that one pivot post 454 faces away from the other pivot post 454 in an opposite direction. The connecting bar 450 can be formed as a single component but may be formed in multiple components in other embodiments.
The sipper 460 can be fabricated using a polymer or plastic or some other suitable material. The sipper 460 can include a cylindrical portion 461 having a first side surface 462, a second side surface 463, and a body portion 464 extending from the first side surface 462 to the second side surface 463 and a sipping portion 467 extending from along the length of a tangential part of the body portion 464 away from the body portion 464. Each of the first and second side surfaces 462, 463 can include a pivot post 465 located at the center of each of the first and second side surfaces 462, 463 such that one pivot post 465 can face away from the other pivot post 465 in an opposite direction. Each of the first and second side surfaces 462, 463 can include a pivot recess 466 located immediately below the area where the sipping portion 467 can be coupled to the cylindrical portion 461. As previously mentioned, the sipper 460 can include the sipper channel 262 which can extend linearly from a surface of the body portion 464, through the cylindrical portion 461, and through the sipping portion 467. The sipping portion 467 can define a cut-out 468 along a portion of the top surface of the sipping portion 467 that extends tangentially from the length of the body portion 464. The sipper 460 can be formed as a single component but may be formed in multiple components in other embodiments.
The lid top 470 can be fabricated using a polymer or plastic or some other suitable material. The lid top 470 can include an upper surface 471 and a sidewall 472 extending downwardly from the upper surface 471. The lid top 470 can define a through-cut 473 extending centrally along the entire diameter of the upper surface 471 and extending downwardly along the sidewall 472 towards the bottom edge of the sidewall 472. The through-cut 473 can allow for the sipper 460 to rotate from the open position 205 (FIG. 2A) to the closed position 305 (FIG. 3A) and back once the container cap 110 is assembled. The lid top 470 can include a clip 474 at one end of the sidewall 472, which can be in part defined partially by the through-cut 473. The lid top 470 can include a hook 475 located at the opposite side of the sidewall 472 to where the clip 474 is located. The hook 475 can extend downwardly below the sidewall 472 and the clip 474 also can extend downwardly below the sidewall 472. The lid top 470 can define a pair of pivot recesses 476 formed along the through-cut 473 at opposite sides adjacent to where the hook 475 and the upper surface 471 meet. The pair of pivot recesses 476 can face one another. The lid top 470 can be formed as a single component but may be formed in multiple components in other embodiments. The lid top 470 can be removably coupled to the lid bottom 420. The lid top 470 being removably coupled to the lid bottom 420 can define a pair of openings for the pair of longitudinal bars 442 of the handle 440 to extend therethrough. In some examples, the lid top 470 being removably coupled to the lid bottom 420 comprises the hook 475 of the lid top 470 being removably coupled to the shelf 426 of the lid bottom 420. The lid top 470 being removably coupled to the lid bottom 420 can comprise the clip 474 of the lid top 470 being removably coupled to the cut-out 423 defined by the sidewall 472 of the lid bottom 420.
The sipper cover 480 can be fabricated using a polymer or plastic or some other suitable material. The sipper cover 480 can be substantially J-shaped and include a cover portion 481 and a curved portion 482 extending from an end of the cover portion 481. The sipper cover 480 can include an interior surface 483 and an exterior surface 484 opposite the interior surface 483. The curved portion 482 can include a pair of pivot posts 485 formed at the distal end of the curved portion 482 such that each pivot post 485 can extend away from the other in opposite directions. The interior surface 483 can include a contact point 486 that extends outwardly therefrom. The sipper cover 480 can be formed as a single component but may be formed in multiple components in other embodiments. The sipper cover 480 can be coupled to the lid top lid top 470.
Referring back to FIGS. 2A-2C, the handle 440 can receive at least one force, such as a force applied by a hand of a user. The handle 440 can mechanically transmit the at least one force to the connecting bar 450. In some examples, the handle 440 is translatable relative to the lid bottom 420 about at least one axis. The at least one axis can be substantially perpendicular to a lid bottom channel 222. The connecting bar 450 can be configured to rotate the sipper 460 to the open position 205 or the closed position 305 when the handle 440 mechanically transmits the at least one force. In some examples, the connecting bar 450 being configured to rotate the sipper 460 to the open position 205 comprises the connecting bar 450 being configured to rotate the sipper channel 262 into alignment with the lid bottom channel 222. The open position 205 can be associated with an interaction of at least one aperture 445 of the handle 440 with at least one detent 427 formed in the lid bottom 420. The distal ends 455 of the connection bars 452 of the connecting bar 450 can be coupled to the sipper 460.
The container cap 110 can have the sipper 460 and the sipper cover 480 both in the open position 205. In the open position 205, the liquid contents within the hydration bottle 100 (FIG. 1A) can be consumed without removing the container cap 110 from the container 190 (FIG. 1A). In order to position the sipper 460 and the sipper cover 480 in the open position 205, the handle 440 can be pushed inwardly towards the sipper 460 such that at least a portion of the handle 440 is slid inwardly between the lid bottom 420 and the lid top 470. As seen in FIG. 2C, the sipper 460 can include a sipper channel 262 and the lid bottom 420 can include the lid bottom channel 222. When the sipper 460 is in the open position 205, the sipper channel 262 can be aligned with the lid bottom channel 222, thereby fluidly coupling the sipper channel 262 to the lid bottom channel 222.
Referring back to FIGS. 3A-3C, the container cap 110 has the sipper 460 and the sipper cover 480 both in the closed position 305. In the closed position 305, spillage or leakage of the liquid contents within the hydration bottle 100 (FIG. 1A) through the sipper 460 can be prevented. The closed position 305 is the position of the sipper 460 and the sipper cover 480 when a person is not wanting to consume the contents within the hydration bottle 100 (FIG. 1A) and wants to prevent spillage through the sipper 460. In order to position the sipper 460 and the sipper cover 480 in the closed position 305, the handle 440 can be pushed outwardly away from the sipper 460 such that at least a portion of the handle 440 is slid outwardly away from between the lid bottom 420 and the lid top 470, and is now visibly exposed. As seen in FIG. 3C, when the sipper 460 is in the closed position 305, the sipper channel 262 can be no longer aligned with the lid bottom channel 222. Hence, the sipper channel 262 is no longer fluidly coupled to the lid bottom channel 222. The sipper cover 480 can be configured to receive a closing force applied by the sipper 460 that causes the sipper cover 480 to rotate to cover at least the sipping portion 467 of the sipper 460 when the sipper 460 is in the closed position 305.
FIGS. 5A-5E show various perspective and side views illustrating the steps for assembling the container cap 110 of FIG. 1A in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 4 and FIGS. 5A-5E, the steps for assembling the container cap 110 of FIG. 1A is described below. According to FIG. 5A, the combination sipper gasket-vent valve 430 can be coupled to the lid bottom 420. The combination sipper gasket-vent valve 430 can be inserted around the fluid channel 524 and within the vent channel 526 of the lid bottom 420, such that the sipper gasket portion 431 is inserted around the fluid channel 524 and the vent valve portion 433 is inserted into the vent channel 526. Each of the sipper gasket portion 431 and the vent valve portion 433 can be pressed down to ensure that the combination sipper gasket-vent valve 430 is properly seated.
According to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5B, the lid bottom 420 can be coupled to the container 190 at the distal end of the sidewall 194 of the container 190 and the handle 440 can be coupled to the sipper 460 via the connecting bar 450. Upon coupling the lid gasket 410 to the underside of the lid bottom 420, the lid bottom 420 can be threadedly coupled to the container 190 by the threads 522 of the lid bottom 420 and rotating the lid bottom 420 once aligned with the distal end of the sidewall 194 of the container 190. To install the handle 440 to the sipper 460, the terminating ends 443 of each of the longitudinal bars 442 of the handle 440 can be flexed outwardly so that each of the pivot recesses 444 of the handle 440 can be positioned over the pivot posts 454 of the proximal ends 453 of the connecting bar 450. The longitudinal bars 442 of the handle 440 can then be released so that each of the pivot posts 454 can engage into the respective pivot recesses 444 of the handle 440, which thereby allow the handle 440 to rotate freely from the connecting bar 450. The connecting bar 450 can then be connected to the sipper 460 by flexing the distal ends 455 of the connecting bar 450 outwardly so that each of the pivot posts 456 of the distal ends 455 can be positioned over the pivot recesses 466 of the first and second side surfaces 462, 463 of the sipper 460. The distal ends 455 of the connecting bar 450 can be released so that each of the pivot posts 456 of the distal ends 455 engage into the respective pivot recesses 466 of the sipper 460, which thereby can allow the connecting bar 450 to rotate freely from the sipper 460. Hence, the handle 440 can be coupled to the sipper 460 via the connecting bar 450.
According to FIG. 5C, the sipper 460 that is coupled to the handle 440 via the connecting bar 450 can be coupled to the lid bottom 420 and the sipper cover 480 can be coupled to the lid top 470. To install the sipper 460 that is coupled to the handle 440 via the connecting bar 450, the pivot posts 465 of the sipper 460 can be positioned above the notches 428 formed in the detent 427 of the lid bottom 420 and lowered such that the pivot posts 465 of the sipper 460 rest on, or snap into, the respective notches 428. The sipper 460 can be rotatable with respect to the lid bottom 420 around where the pivot posts 465 of the sipper 460 couple to within the notches 428 formed in the detent 427 of the lid bottom 420. The sipper 460 that is coupled to the lid bottom 420 can be oriented in a manner such that the connecting bar 450 can be rotatably moveable to be positioned within the cavity 425 of the lid bottom 420. The coupling of the sipper cover 480 to the lid top 470, although shown in FIG. 5C, will be described in detail with respect to FIGS. 6A-6C below.
According to FIGS. 5D and 5E, at least a portion of the handle 440 can be positioned within the cavity 425 of the lid bottom 420 and can be oriented in a horizontal manner so that the handle 440 can be substantially parallel to the upper surface 421 of the lid bottom 420. In FIG. 5D, the handle 440 has been lowered into the cavity 425 and pushed forward towards the sipper 460, thereby causing the sipper 460 to be in the open position 205. When the sipper 460 is in the open position 205, the apertures 445 (FIG. 4) formed within each of the terminating ends 443 of the handle 440 can interact with the detents 427 formed in the lid bottom 420 such that a portion of each detent 427 can act as a stop guide so that the handle 440 can no longer be pushed forward. According to some embodiments a portion of each of the detents 427 may partially enter the apertures 445 (FIG. 4) formed within each of the terminating ends 443 of the handle 440 to implement this stop mechanism. In FIG. 5E, the handle 440 has been pulled back away from the sipper 460, thereby causing the sipper 460 to be in the closed position 305. The closed position 305 can be associated with an interaction of the terminating ends 443 of the handle 440 with an edge of the cavity 425 defined by the lid bottom 420. When the sipper 460 is in the closed position 305, the opposing edge of the cavity 425 of the lid bottom 420 can interact with each of the terminating ends 443 such that the opposing edge of the cavity 425 can act as a stop guide so that the handle 440 can no longer be pulled away from the sipper 460. The rotational pivoting movement of the connecting bar 450 can allow the movement of the handle 440 to dictate whether the sipper 460 is in the open position 205 or the closed position 305. The lid top 470 can be coupled to the lid bottom 420 in accordance with FIGS. 9B-1 to 9B-3, such as in an instance when the spring 610 (FIG. 6A) is coupled to the lid top 470 or to otherwise perform the assembly of the container cap 110.
FIGS. 6A-6C show various perspective views illustrating a spring 610 being assembled in the lid top 470 of the container cap 110 of FIG. lA in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 6A-6C, the spring 610 can be a single-piece component that includes a first portion 612, a second portion 616, and a wound portion 614 disposed between the first portion 612 and the second portion 616. The angle formed between the first portion 612 and the second portion 616 can be an obtuse angle which in some exemplary embodiments is slightly greater than ninety degrees. In some examples, this angle may be a right angle or an acute angle. The first portion 612 of the spring 610 can be inserted downwardly into one of the pivot recesses 476 which can allow the second portion 616 of the spring 610 to extend substantially horizontally towards the clip 474 of the lid top 470 when the sipper 460 and the sipper cover 480 are in the closed position 305. Once the first portion 612 of the spring 610 can be inserted into the pivot recess 476, the pivot posts 485 can be inserted into the respective pivot recesses 476 of the lid top 470 where one of the pivot posts 485 can be first inserted through the wound portion 614 of the spring 610. As shown in FIG. 6C, the interaction of the sipper 460 and the sipper cover 480 is shown in a cross-sectional manner when the sipper 460 and the sipper cover 480 are in the closed position 305. In the closed position 305, a portion of the sipping portion 467 of the sipper 460 can make contact with the contact point 486 of the sipper cover 480 causing the sipper cover 480 to remain in the closed position 305 even though the second portion 616 of the spring 610, which can be horizontally parallel and in contact with the interior surface 483 of the cover portion 481 of the sipper 460, is biased with a force to push the sipper cover 480 into the open position 205 (FIG. 5D). Hence, the sipper 460 can hold the sipper cover 480 in the closed position 305. In some examples, the spring 670 can be coupled to the lid top 470 and the sipper cover 480 and bias the sipper cover 480 to rotate to uncover the at least the sipping portion 467 of the sipper 460. According to some exemplary embodiments, the spring 610 is optional, and the sipper cover 480 can be manually rotated to cover and uncover the sipper 460. At least a portion of the sipping portion 467 of the sipper 460 can be adapted to contact the contact point 486 of the sipper cover 480 to resist the spring 670 that biases the sipper cover 480 to rotate to uncover the at least the sipping portion 467 when the sipper 460 is in the closed position 305.
FIGS. 7A-1 to 7A-6 show various cross-sectional views illustrating the steps for operating the sipper 460 of the container cap 110 of FIG. 1A using a handle 440 of FIG. 2A in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. FIG. 7A-1 illustrates the handle 440 being pushed all the way into the container cap 110 causing the sipper 460 and the sipper cover 480 to be in the open position 205. FIGS. 7A-2 to 7A-5 illustrate the handle 440 being pulled outwardly away from the container cap 110 in incremental steps causing the sipper 460 to incrementally move towards the closed position 305 (FIG. 7A-6). FIG. 7A-6 illustrates the handle 440 being pulled all the way out from the container cap 110 causing the sipper 460 and the sipper cover 480 to be in the closed position 305. Thus, when viewing FIGS. 7A-1 to 7A-6 in that order, the figures show the steps for moving the sipper 460 and sipper cover 480 from the open position 205 to the closed position 305. Conversely, when viewing FIGS. 7A-1 to 7A-6 in the reverse order, the figures show the steps for moving the sipper 460 and sipper cover 480 from the closed position 305 to the open position 205.
As shown in FIG. 7A-1 where the handle 440 is pushed all the way into the container cap 110 and both the sipper 460 and the sipper cover 480 are in the open position 205, the sipper channel 262 can be aligned with the fluid channel 524 of the lid bottom 420 allowing a user to consume the fluid contents from within the container 190 (FIG. 1A). As previously mentioned, the apertures 445 (FIG. 4) formed within each of the terminating ends 443 of the handle 440 can interact with the detents 427 formed in the lid bottom 420 such that a portion of each detent 427 can act as a stop guide so that the handle 440 can no longer be pushed forward. According to some embodiments a portion of each of the detents 427 may partially enter the apertures 445 (FIG. 4) formed within each of the terminating ends 443 of the handle 440 to implement this stop mechanism. Further, the spring 610 (FIG. 6A) can bias the sipper cover 480 into the open position 205 since the sipper 460 also is in the open position 205 and is no longer in contact with the contact point 486 of the sipper cover 480. As a user consumes the fluid contents from within the container 190 (FIG. 1A), fluid content can be removed from within the container 190 (FIG. 1A) and additional empty space can be created within the container 190 (FIG. 1A), which could cause a vacuum to be created therein. The vent valve portion 433 of the combination sipper gasket-vent valve 430 can allow ambient air to enter into the container 190 (FIG. 1A) therethrough allowing the pressure within the container 190 (FIG. 1A) to come to equilibrium with the ambient air and prevent a vacuum to form within the container 190 (FIG. 1A).
As seen in FIGS. 7A-2 to 7A-5, in that order, the handle 440 can be incrementally pulled outwardly from the container cap 110, which can cause the sipper 460 and the sipper cover 480 to incrementally move towards the closed position 305 (FIG. 7A-6). As seen in FIG. 7A-4, the sipper 460 can make initial contact with the contact point 486 of the sipper cover 480. As the handle 440 continues to be pulled outwardly from the container cap 110, the sipper 460 can continue to move downwardly towards the closed position 305 (FIG. 7A-6) and also force the sipper cover 480 to commence rotating and then continue rotating towards the closed position 305 (FIG. 7A-6). The sipper cover 480 can rotate after the sipper 460 makes initial contact with the contact point 486 of the sipper cover 480. In some examples, the sipper cover 480 does not rotate until after the sipper 460 makes initial contact with the contact point 486 of the sipper cover 480. During each of these incremental steps, the sipper channel 262 is not fluidly coupled to the fluid channel 524 of the lid bottom 420 and therefore the fluid contents from within the container 190 (FIG. 1A) cannot move through the sipper channel 262. When viewing FIGS. 7A-2 to 7A-5, in the reverse order, the handle 440 can be incrementally pushed forward into the container cap 110, which can cause the sipper 460 and the sipper cover 480 to incrementally move towards the open position 205 (FIG. 7A-1). As seen in FIG. 7A-4, the sipper 460 can make contact with the contact point 486 of the sipper cover 480. As the handle 440 continues to be pushed forward into the container cap 110, the sipper 460 can continue to move upwardly to the open position 205 (FIG. 7A-1) and also no longer make contact with the contact point 486 of the sipper cover 480 causing the sipper cover 480 to immediately move to the open position 205 due to the biasing force provided from the spring 610 (FIG. 6A).
As shown in FIG. 7A-6 where the handle 440 is pulled all the way from the container cap 110 and both the sipper 460 and the sipper cover 480 are in the closed position 305, the sipper channel 262 of the sipper 460 is not fluidly coupled to the fluid channel 524 of the lid bottom 420 and the fluid contents from within the container 190 (FIG. 1A) are no longer consumable through the sipper 460. As previously mentioned, the edge of the cavity 425 formed within the lid bottom 420 can act as a stop guide so that the handle 440 can no longer be pulled further. Further, the sipper 460 is making contact with the contact point 486 of the sipper cover 480 to ensure that the sipper cover 480 remains in a closed position 305 and to prevent the sipper cover 480 from flipping into the open position 205 (FIG. 7A-1).
FIG. 8A shows a perspective view of a lid top 470 of FIG. 2A coupled to a lid bottom 420 of FIG. 2A in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. FIG. 8B shows a cross-sectional view of the lid top 470 of FIG. 8A coupled to the lid bottom 420 of FIG. 8A in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the shelf 426 of the lid bottom 420 can be coupled to the hook 475 of the lid top 470 wherein a portion of the hook 475 is positioned along the outer surface of the sidewall 422 of the lid bottom 420. Further, the clip 474 of the lid top 470 can be coupled to the lid bottom 420 at the cut-out 423 of the sidewall 422. The combination of the coupling of the hook 475 of the lid top 470 to the shelf 426 of the lid bottom 420, and of the clip 474 of the lid top 470 to the cut-out 423 of the lid bottom 420 can ensure that the lid top 470 remains coupled to the lid bottom 420.
FIGS. 9A-1 to 9A-3 show various cross-sectional views illustrating the process for decoupling the lid top 470 of FIG. 8A from the lid bottom 420 of FIG. 8A in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 9A-1, the container cap 110 can be initially decoupled from the container 190 (FIG. 1A) by unscrewing the container cap 110. The clip 474 can be pushed outwardly away and upward from its resting position within the cut-out 423 by pushing from the interior of the container cap 110. This pushing partially can release the lid top 470 from the lid bottom 420. Referring to FIG. 9A-2, once the clip 474 is released from the cut-out 423, the lid top 470 can be rotated upwardly about the coupling of the hook 475 and the shelf 426. Referring to FIG. 9A-3, once the lid top 470 has sufficiently rotated upwardly about the coupling of the hook 475 and the shelf 426, the hook 475 can release itself from the shelf 426, thereby decoupling the lid top 470 from the lid bottom 420. The removability of the lid top 470 from the lid bottom 420 can allow for accessibility and removal of all the internal components, such as the lid gasket 410 (FIG. 4), the combination sipper gasket-vent valve 430 (FIG. 4), the handle 440 (FIG. 4), the connecting bar 450 (FIG. 4), and the sipper 460 (FIG. 4), for washing purposes or any other purpose.
FIGS. 9B-1 to 9B-3 show various cross-sectional views illustrating the process for coupling the lid top 470 of FIG. 8A to the lid bottom 420 of FIG. 8A in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 9B-1, the hook 475 can be positioned below the shelf 426 such that the shelf 426 is inserted through the hook 475. Referring to FIG. 9B-2, while the hook 475 is coupled to the shelf 426, the lid top 470 can be rotated downwardly about the coupling of the hook 475 and the shelf 426. FIG. 9B-2 shows the lid top 470 being rotated about the coupling of the hook 475 and the shelf 426 until just immediately before the clip 474 reaches the cut-out 423. Referring to FIG. 9B-3, the lid top 470 continues to rotate downwardly until the clip 474 snaps into the cut-out 423, thereby coupling the lid top 470 to the lid bottom 420.
Accordingly, many modifications and other embodiments set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which container caps and hydration bottles pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that these container caps and hydration bottles are not to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of this application. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Patent Application
20220033148
