The present invention generally relates to a water bottle.
In one embodiment, there is a portable, personal apparatus for transporting liquid comprising: a bottle configured to contain liquid, the bottle having a longitudinal axis; a first opening open in a direction generally parallel with the longitudinal axis in a pour position; a first cover coupled to the bottle and configured to close the first opening in a closed position; a second opening open in a direction generally orthogonal with the longitudinal axis in a fill position; and a second cover coupled to the bottle and configured to close the second opening in a storage position, the second cover remaining coupled to the bottle when the second cover is in the fill position. In one embodiment, the bottle has a closed bottom and an open top, the water bottle further comprising: a cap coupled to the open top of the bottle, the cap including the first opening and the second opening.
In a further embodiment the apparatus comprises a filter coupled to the cap and extending into the bottle. In one embodiment, the cap includes a fluid reservoir between the second opening and the filter. In one embodiment, the first opening is only in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir in the storage position through the filter. In one embodiment, the filter includes a closed bottom surface, the bottom surface being at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the first opening is spaced from the longitudinal axis in a first direction and wherein the filter is closed except for a top surface and at least one opening that faces in a second direction generally opposite the first direction. In one embodiment, the filter is configured to reduce at least one contaminant conforming to the NSF/ANSI 42 standard at a given flow rate of approximately 1.9 Lpm to approximately 2.3 Lpm while filling the bottle through the second opening. In one embodiment, an inlet of the filter is generally orthogonal to an outlet of the filter.
In one embodiment, the cap includes a sidewall and an open top, the second opening extends through the sidewall and the first cover is coupled to the open top of the cap. In one embodiment, the second cover is a collar having a window, the collar extending around the sidewall of the cap and configured to be selectively rotated with respect to the cap about the longitudinal axis, the window aligning with the second opening in the fill position. In one embodiment, the cap is threadably coupled to the bottle. In a further embodiment the apparatus comprises a third opening configured to allow ambient air into the bottle when liquid is poured from the first opening. In one embodiment, the third opening is closed when the first cover is in the closed position. In one embodiment, the first opening is spaced from the longitudinal axis and is generally diametrically opposed to the second opening with respect to the longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the second cover is a collar configured to be selectively rotated about the longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the first cover is a top cap configured to be selectively rotated about the longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the first cover remains coupled to the bottle when the first cover is in the pour position.
In another embodiment, there is a portable, personal apparatus for transporting liquid comprising: a bottle configured to contain liquid, the bottle having a closed bottom, an open top and a longitudinal axis extending between the closed bottom and open top; a cap coupled to the open top of the bottle and having a top, a bottom, a sidewall and a reservoir, the cap having a channel closed to the reservoir and open through the top and bottom of the cap and a opening extending through the sidewall of the cap and into the reservoir; a filter coupled to the bottom of the cap and extending into the bottle; a first cover coupled to the top of the cap and configured to be selectively operated to uncover the channel in a pour position and close the channel in a closed position; and a second cover coupled to the sidewall of the cap and configured to be selectively rotated about the longitudinal axis relative to the cap to uncover the opening in a fill position and close the opening in a storage position.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of embodiments of the water bottle, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings of an exemplary embodiment. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
In the drawings:
Reusable water bottles are used in daily life by people across the world to conveniently carry water. Millions of Americans carry reusable water bottles with them daily. They offer the convenience of bottled water without either the expense or the environmental damage. As more Americans become aware of the 60 million disposable water bottles that end up in landfills every single day, they increasingly look to reusable water bottles to provide an alternative. Existing reusable water bottles are poorly designed to be easily filled from existing tap water sources. For example, if you attempt to fill a bottle from a faucet with a shallow sink, you will be unable to fit the bottle under the flow of the water stream. Similarly, if you attempt to fill a bottle from a water fountain with a slow stream, the angle and bottle mouth geometry will only allow the bottle to partially fill, if at all.
As the environmental and economic cost of bottled water continues to increase and more and more people carry reusable water bottles, people are looking for an improved design to facilitate refilling from various tap water sources.
Existing reusable water bottles require a user to remove the cap and pour water directly into the mouth of the bottle in order to fill the bottle. This design does not allow for filling from shallow sinks or fountains, since the height of the bottle must clear the faucet before it can be filled. This design also requires detaching a cap and separately holding the cap or holding an attachment strap of the cap in such a way so as to avoid touching the cap with surrounding surfaces.
In some embodiments, the bottle cap of the present invention is configured to allow for filling from the side of the bottle in place of or in addition to filling from the top of the bottle. In a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, the reusable water bottle cap of the present invention comprises 1) a side-filling port sealed by a rotating collar and 2) a drink-port that allows for water to exit the bottle without detaching a cap from the bottle.
Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in
In one embodiment, apparatus 10 is a reusable water bottle used to transport drinking water. In some embodiments, apparatus 10 is configured to filter water 20 while filling apparatus 10 with potable water 22 (see
Referring to
In one embodiment, bottom 12a is closed and top 12b is configured to receive and dispense the liquid from bottle 12. In other embodiments, bottom 12a and/or top 12b is configured to receive and dispense the liquid from bottle 12. In one embodiment, top 12b is open. In one embodiment, top 12b is configured to be closed by a cap 18. In one embodiment, top 12b is configured to be closed by cap 18 and one or more covers coupled to cap 18. In one embodiment, cap 18 is configured to be removed from bottle 12 in order to clean bottle 12. In one embodiment, cap 18 is configured to be removed from bottle 12 in order to replace a filter 24 described in further detail below. In one embodiment, cap 18 is threadably coupled to top 12b by threads 12d. In other embodiments, cap 18 is attached to bottle in any preferred way such as friction fit, snap fit and fixably fit.
In one embodiment, bottle 12 is generally rigid. In other embodiments, bottle 12 is flexible to allow liquid to be squeezed from bottle 12. In one embodiment, bottle 12 is comprised of a polymer. In one embodiment, bottle 12 is comprised of Eastman's Tritan®, a copolyester. In other embodiments, bottle 12 is comprised of any suitable material such as polycarbonate, a biodegradable polylactic acid, polypropylene, polyethylene, glass or metal such as stainless steam.
In one embodiment, bottle 12 is free of Bisphenol A (BPA).
With continued reference to
In one embodiment, second loop 26b is thicker than first loop 26a. In one embodiment, once coupled to bottle 12, carrying loop 26 is configured to rotate with respect to bottle 12 about longitudinal axis A such that second loop 26b can be positioned at any desired radial position with respect to bottle 12. In other embodiments, carrying loop 26 is fixedly attached to or is integral with bottle 12 and/or cap 18. In another embodiment, carrying loop 26 is omitted.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In one embodiment, first cover 28 is removable from cap 18 in order to fill bottle 12, clean cap 18 and/or replace filter 24. In other embodiments, only a portion of first cover 28 moves relative to bottle 12 to expose and cover first opening 14 such as a hinged lid or a sliding or rotating door. In one embodiment, the bottom of first cover 28 includes one or more projections 42 proximate the periphery of first cover 28 and extending radially inwardly. In one embodiment, projections 42 are configured to be received into slots 44 of cap 18 in a removable or assembly position. In one embodiment, projections 42 are slideably received into tracks 46 of cap 18 between the pour and closed positions. In one embodiment, tracks 46 include one or two limit stops 46a to limit the amount and direction first cover 28 can be rotated relative to cap 18.
With continued reference to
In one embodiment, cap seal 38 only substantially projects from the bottom surface of first cover 28 to minimize the drag along top surface 46 of cap 18 when rotating first cover 28 open and closed relative to cap 18. In one embodiment, thinning the material on the bottom of first cover 28 improves the moldability. In some embodiments, the thicker sections of cap seal 38 require more resin, fill slower, and take longer to manufacture.
Referring to
In one embodiment, second cover 30 includes an open window 50. In one embodiment, window 50 aligns with second opening 16 in the fill position. In one embodiment, window 50 is generally square. In other embodiments, window 50 and second opening 16 are circular, ovular, square or any other preferred shape. In one embodiment, window 50 is generally the same size and shape as second opening 16. In other embodiments, window 50 and second opening are different sizes and/or shapes as each other. In one embodiment, window 50 is approximately 2 cm tall and 2.5 cm wide.
Referring to
In one embodiment, ribs 54 are configured to help a user to grip and twist second cover 30 relative to cap 18. In one embodiment, at least a portion of second cover 30 is comprised of a material having a higher coefficient of friction than the remainder of second cover 30. In one embodiment, second cover 30 is comprised of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. In other embodiments, second cover 30 is comprised of any suitable material such as copolyester, polycarbonate, or styrene-acrylonitrile.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In one embodiment, filter 24 includes activated carbon. In one embodiment, filter 24 is a fast flow filter. In one embodiment, filter 24 is configured to reduce at least one contaminant conforming to the NSF/ANSI 42 standard at a given flow rate of at least 0.5 Lpm while filing bottle 12 through second opening 16. In one embodiment, filter 24 is configured to reduce at least one contaminant conforming to the NSF/ANSI 42 standard at a given flow rate of approximately 1.9 Lpm to approximately 2.3 Lpm while filing bottle 12 through second opening 16. In one embodiment, filter 24 is configured to reduce at least one contaminant conforming to the NSF/ANSI 42 standard at a given flow rate of at least 0.5 Lpm while filing bottle 12 through the top of cap 18. In one embodiment, the filter is configured to reduce at least one contaminant conforming to the NSF/ANSI 42 standard at a given flow rate of approximately 1.9 Lpm to approximately 2.3 Lpm while filing bottle 12 through the top of cap 18. In one embodiment, filter 24 is similar to the filters disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0055862 which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
In one embodiment, filter 24 is coupled to cap 18 and extends into bottle 12. In one embodiment, filter 24 is removably coupled to cap 18. In one embodiment, filter 24 is keyed to cap 18 so that filter 24 may only be coupled to cap 18 in one configuration. In one embodiment, filter 24 includes one or more projections 74 configured to engage with one or more indents 76 in cap 18. In one embodiment, a top 24b is configured to be opened or removed from the remainder of filter 24 in order to replace the filter media. In one embodiment, top 24b includes tabs 78 used to release top 24b. In one embodiment, tabs 78, similar to or in place of projections 74, are keyed with corresponding indents 76 in cap 18.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Apparatus 10 may have additional configurations to achieve similar functions as the embodiments above. For example, second opening 16 may be positioned proximate bottom 12a of bottle 12 while first opening 14 is positioned proximate top 12b of bottle 12. In such an example, bottom 12a of bottle 12 may be opened similar to top 12b of bottle 12. In another embodiment, reservoir 84 and filter 24 may be contained within a cartridge proximate bottom 12a and opened via a locking sliding window. In another embodiment, second cover 30 may slid in the axial direction to open and close second opening 16.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the exemplary embodiments shown and described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown and described, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. For example, specific features of the exemplary embodiments may or may not be part of the claimed invention and features of the disclosed embodiments may be combined. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a”, “an” and “the” are not limited to one element but instead should be read as meaning “at least one”.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/537,575 filed Sep. 21, 2011 entitled “Side-fill Bottle Cap”, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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PCT/US2012/056642 | 9/21/2012 | WO | 00 |
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WO2013/044079 | 3/28/2013 | WO | A |
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