The present invention relates to hydration systems. More specifically the present invention relates to a squeezable bottle.
The US is the largest consumer market for plastic bottled water in the world, followed by Mexico, China, and Brazil. In 2008, U.S. plastic bottled water sales topped 8.6 billion gallons for 28.9% of the U.S. liquid refreshment beverage market, exceeding sales of all other beverages except carbonated soft drinks, followed by fruit juices and sports drinks.
As recycling rates remain dismally low, making bottles requires virgin materials. It takes significant amount of oil and water just to manufacture a one-liter bottle. Extrapolating this for the developed world where more then 2 million tones of plastic are used to bottle water each year leads to the realization that the drinking bottle industry is undoubtedly a big oil consuming and greenhouse gas emitting industry for what are essentially single-use plastic bottles.
A reusable drink bottle was disclosed in US Patent application 2008/0237233 (Choi et al). The drink bottle has a cap assembly that includes a drinking spout and a bite actuated mouthpiece.
A flexible reusable container for storing and dispensing liquids is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,619 (Gill et. Al). The flexible reusable container is designed for extreme outdoor activities such as jogging, cycling, mountaineering and camping. The flexible container has a liquid dispensing means that allows drinking liquids from a flexible container without having to use one's hands.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel design for a squeezable bottle that may be used in daily activities out of home.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a squeezable bottle with a retractable mouthpiece which is easily used single-handed.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a squeezable bottle which may be reusable.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a squeezable bottle which may be conveniently filled through a large opening.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a reusable, light weight, easy to fill, easy to clean, squeezable bottle made of a tasteless, safe health-wise, recyclable thermoplastic elastomers squeezable bottle.
According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a squeezable bottle which includes a pliable bottle skin, an outlet and a spinal assembly within the pliable skin, for providing longitudinal rigidity along an elongated axis of the bottle.
Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, the outlet includes a mouthpiece.
Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, the mouthpiece is a retractable mouthpiece.
Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, the retractable mouthpiece has a retracted position in which liquid cannot be dispensed from the bottle through the mouthpiece. The retractable also has a pulled-out position in which liquid may be dispensed through the mouthpiece.
Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, the pliable bottle skin includes a top dome.
Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, the spinal assembly includes a pipe coupled to the mouthpiece.
Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, the spinal assembly includes a base member and a dome support.
Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, a space is provided between a top portion of the skin and dome support, allowing pressing of the top portion of the skin to expose the outlet.
Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, the squeezable bottle includes a bottom sealable opening.
Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, a sealer cap is provided for removably sealing the bottom sealable opening.
Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, a rim and matching groove are provided to interlock the spinal support with the skin.
Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, the squeezable bottle includes a tightening ring for fixing edge of the skin to the spinal assembly.
Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, the spinal assembly is provided with a base member, with one or more gaps allowing refilling the bottle through said one or more gaps.
Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, the squeezable bottle skin is made of a thermoplastic elastomer.
Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, the spinal assembly removable from the bottle.
The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:
According to embodiments of the present invention a squeezable bottle is provided.
A squeezable bottle, according to embodiments of the present invention, includes a pliable skin which is easily and conveniently squeezed, and which is provided with a spinal assembly that provides the squeezable bottle with a sturdy spine, allowing convenient lateral squeezing of the bottle, and at the same time providing longitudinal rigidity, along an elongated axis of the bottle.
The squeezable bottle may be equipped with an outlet, such as, for example, in the form of a retractable mouthpiece, which in a retractable state is hidden inside the skin of the bottle, its top flush with respect to the outside surface of the skin, and which may be pulled out conveniently by pressing one's lips against the skin and pulling the mouthpiece using the teeth.
In order to fill the bottle a broad opening is provided at the bottom of the bottle. The bottom opening may be sealable by a sealer cap.
Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention the squeezable bottle skin may be made of high quality thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), aiming at providing a light weight, easy to fill, easy to clean, tasteless, safe health-wise, recyclable squeezable bottle.
Reference is now made to the accompanying figures.
According to embodiments of the present invention the flexible TPE bottle skin may be manufactured, for example, by injection molding where the TPE material is fed into a heated barrel, mixed, and forced into a mold cavity where it cools and hardens to the attain the form of the mold cavity. Injection molding is ideal for producing high volumes of the same object. Some advantages of injection molding are high production rates, repeatable high tolerances, the ability to use a wide range of materials, low labor cost, minimal scrap losses, and little need for finishing parts after molding.
TPE, sometimes referred to as thermoplastic rubber, is a class of copolymers or physical mixes of polymers (usually plastic and rubber) which includes materials with both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties. TPE's are used where conventional elastomers cannot provide the range of physical properties needed in the product. TPE's are widely used in the automotive industry and in household appliances.
Base member 260 has a internal screw thread which matches the external thread of bottom sealer cap 130, facilitating covering and uncovering of the opening at the bottom of bottle 100 for convenient refilling of the bottle.
In some embodiments of the present invention the squeezable bottle spine assembly may be designed to be removably installed in the squeezable bottle skin 210 in regular daily use by customers, allowing removing or replacing the spinal assembly from the bottle.
A squeezable bottle, according to embodiments of the present invention may be made in various sizes, with the ease of use in mind.
A squeezable bottle, according to embodiments of the present invention may be designed with a fixed mouthpiece, with or without a closure mechanism. For example, the mouthpiece may include a bite valve or other valve mechanism to prevent dispensing of the liquid inside the bottle through the mouthpiece, when not in use.
A squeezable bottle, according to embodiments of the present invention may be provided in various colors.
A squeezable bottle, according to embodiments of the present invention may be suitable for outdoor use, or for home and office use.
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