CA2043865A1 - Closure for bottles and the like - Google Patents
Closure for bottles and the likeInfo
- Publication number
- CA2043865A1 CA2043865A1 CA002043865A CA2043865A CA2043865A1 CA 2043865 A1 CA2043865 A1 CA 2043865A1 CA 002043865 A CA002043865 A CA 002043865A CA 2043865 A CA2043865 A CA 2043865A CA 2043865 A1 CA2043865 A1 CA 2043865A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- mouthpiece
- closure
- cap
- passage
- air
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
- B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
- B65D47/32—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with means for venting
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
- B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
- B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
- B65D47/24—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with poppet valves or lift valves, i.e. valves opening or closing a passageway by a relative motion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the seat
- B65D47/245—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with poppet valves or lift valves, i.e. valves opening or closing a passageway by a relative motion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the seat the valve being opened or closed by actuating a stopper-type element
- B65D47/247—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with poppet valves or lift valves, i.e. valves opening or closing a passageway by a relative motion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the seat the valve being opened or closed by actuating a stopper-type element moving linearly, i.e. without rotational motion
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2205/00—Venting means
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
Abstract
CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A closure for the neck of a beverage-containing bottle which can be separably affixed to the frame of a bicycle has a cap which can be threadedly connected to the neck of a bottle and has an axial passage. The passage receives a mouthpiece which has an axial hole communicating with the passage in an extended position but being sealed from the passage (and hence from the contents of the bottle) in a depressed position. The mouthpiece can be moved by the teeth of a cyclist while the bottle is held upside down, The cap has one or more axially parallel channels which admit air into the bottle in the extended position of the mouthpiece but are sealed by at least partially conical plugs which are provided on the mouthpiece and assume sealing positions in the depressed position of the mouthpiece. The latter is movable to one or more intermediate positions is which the hole is still sealed from the passage but the channel or channels permit an equalization of pressure within and outside of the bottle.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A closure for the neck of a beverage-containing bottle which can be separably affixed to the frame of a bicycle has a cap which can be threadedly connected to the neck of a bottle and has an axial passage. The passage receives a mouthpiece which has an axial hole communicating with the passage in an extended position but being sealed from the passage (and hence from the contents of the bottle) in a depressed position. The mouthpiece can be moved by the teeth of a cyclist while the bottle is held upside down, The cap has one or more axially parallel channels which admit air into the bottle in the extended position of the mouthpiece but are sealed by at least partially conical plugs which are provided on the mouthpiece and assume sealing positions in the depressed position of the mouthpiece. The latter is movable to one or more intermediate positions is which the hole is still sealed from the passage but the channel or channels permit an equalization of pressure within and outside of the bottle.
Description
2 ~
1 BACKGROUND OF TH~ INVENTION
The invention relates to closures for bottles or other types of vessels for the s~orage of liquids or other flowable materials (hereinafter liquids~. More S particularly, the inven~ion relates to improvements in closures of the type wherein a first component is connectable to the outlet of a vessel and a second component is movable between a liquid flow permitting position and a liquid flow preventing position.
The vessel and the closure of the present invention can be used with advantage by cyclists but can be used with equal or similar advantage by other persons, e.g., by joggers, motorcyclists, hikers, snow skiers or water skiers. The closures of such vessels must be designed to prevent contamination o the contents of the vessel as well as to reduce the likelihood of spillage while the user or potential user of the vessel i5 in motion, e.g., by riding a bicycle.
Published German patent application No.
35 14 261 of Campagnolo discloses a bottle which is intended for use by cyclists. The closure for the outlet of the bottle has a cap which is affixed to the bottle and a mouthpiece which can be moved between a depressed (sealing) and an extended (liquid outflow permitting) position. The bottle is made of a readily deformable plastic material, and the mouthpiece can be moved between a partly open position in which it pe~mits the outflow of one or more fine sprays of liquid (e.g., water) 50 that ; the user can direct the sprays against a selected portion of her body or his body, and a fully open position in which the mouthpiece permits the outflow of a larger liquid stream. A drawback of the closure of Campagnolo is that it is not possible to equalize the pressure between the interior and the exterior of the bottle, e.g., when the pressure in the bottle rises because the .
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20~386~
I liquid contents are heated by the sun while the bottle i5 affixed to the frame of a bicycle. Furthermore, the outflow of a relatively large quantity of liquid from the bottle is possible only by deforming the bottle in actual use because the closure does not establish a separate path for the inflow of air during evacuation of the liquid contents.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,294,294 to Amburgey discloses a dispensing closure wherein a stopper is provided on an internally threaded cap to reliably seal the inner end of the passage in the mouthpiece when the latter is moved to the depressed (sealing position). No provision is made for admission of adequate quantities of air along a discrete path during outflow of liquid by way of the passage in the mou~hpiece. Therefore, the patented closure can be used only with deformable bottles, the same as the aforediscussed closure of Campagnolo. On the other hand, it is often desirable to employ a rigid bottle, e.g., a bottle which is made of a metallic material, and to ensure that the user can dispense the contents of the bottle for any desired period of time without being compelled to squeeze (i.e., to reduce the effective volume of) the bottle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,781 to Shurnick et al.
discloses a bottle which can be used by joggers, walkers and other sportsmen. The bottle is designed to be mounted at the back of the runner, and the closure is traversed by an elongated hose which can be placed into the mouth while the runner is in motion. The closure is further provided with an aerating passage which is open at all times. A drawback of the closure of Shurnick et al. is that the liquid evacuating passage as well as the air admitting passage remains open at all times.
Moreover, the liquid-receiving end of the hose extends all the way to the botkom of the bottle so that such :
1 BACKGROUND OF TH~ INVENTION
The invention relates to closures for bottles or other types of vessels for the s~orage of liquids or other flowable materials (hereinafter liquids~. More S particularly, the inven~ion relates to improvements in closures of the type wherein a first component is connectable to the outlet of a vessel and a second component is movable between a liquid flow permitting position and a liquid flow preventing position.
The vessel and the closure of the present invention can be used with advantage by cyclists but can be used with equal or similar advantage by other persons, e.g., by joggers, motorcyclists, hikers, snow skiers or water skiers. The closures of such vessels must be designed to prevent contamination o the contents of the vessel as well as to reduce the likelihood of spillage while the user or potential user of the vessel i5 in motion, e.g., by riding a bicycle.
Published German patent application No.
35 14 261 of Campagnolo discloses a bottle which is intended for use by cyclists. The closure for the outlet of the bottle has a cap which is affixed to the bottle and a mouthpiece which can be moved between a depressed (sealing) and an extended (liquid outflow permitting) position. The bottle is made of a readily deformable plastic material, and the mouthpiece can be moved between a partly open position in which it pe~mits the outflow of one or more fine sprays of liquid (e.g., water) 50 that ; the user can direct the sprays against a selected portion of her body or his body, and a fully open position in which the mouthpiece permits the outflow of a larger liquid stream. A drawback of the closure of Campagnolo is that it is not possible to equalize the pressure between the interior and the exterior of the bottle, e.g., when the pressure in the bottle rises because the .
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20~386~
I liquid contents are heated by the sun while the bottle i5 affixed to the frame of a bicycle. Furthermore, the outflow of a relatively large quantity of liquid from the bottle is possible only by deforming the bottle in actual use because the closure does not establish a separate path for the inflow of air during evacuation of the liquid contents.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,294,294 to Amburgey discloses a dispensing closure wherein a stopper is provided on an internally threaded cap to reliably seal the inner end of the passage in the mouthpiece when the latter is moved to the depressed (sealing position). No provision is made for admission of adequate quantities of air along a discrete path during outflow of liquid by way of the passage in the mou~hpiece. Therefore, the patented closure can be used only with deformable bottles, the same as the aforediscussed closure of Campagnolo. On the other hand, it is often desirable to employ a rigid bottle, e.g., a bottle which is made of a metallic material, and to ensure that the user can dispense the contents of the bottle for any desired period of time without being compelled to squeeze (i.e., to reduce the effective volume of) the bottle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,781 to Shurnick et al.
discloses a bottle which can be used by joggers, walkers and other sportsmen. The bottle is designed to be mounted at the back of the runner, and the closure is traversed by an elongated hose which can be placed into the mouth while the runner is in motion. The closure is further provided with an aerating passage which is open at all times. A drawback of the closure of Shurnick et al. is that the liquid evacuating passage as well as the air admitting passage remains open at all times.
Moreover, the liquid-receiving end of the hose extends all the way to the botkom of the bottle so that such :
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2~38~
1 bottle cannot be used by a cyclist who is in the process of driving the bicycle because a cyclist is accustomed to drinking while the bottle is held in the inverted position.
' 2~38~5 l OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a closure which renders it possible to dispense the contents of a bottle or another liquid-containing vessel without any spillage of liquid and while the person holding the vessel is riding a bicycle or another ` conveyance or an animal in such position or condition that both hands are normally not available for manipulation of the vessel and/or of the closure.
Another object of the invention is to provide a closure which is constructed, assembled and mounted in such a way that it can be caused to permit the outflow of a liquid stream only when the stream is constrained to flow into the mouth of the person holding the Yessel.
A further object of the invention i9 to provide a closure which permits automatic inflow of adequate quantities of air into the vessel during outflow of liquid from the vessel.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a closure which can be utilized with egual advantage on deformable or rigid bottles or other ' containers or vessels for flowable substances.
I
Still another object of the invention is to provide a closure which is constructed and assembled in such a way that it can be set or adjusted to permit automatic equalization of pressures in and outside of the vessel while preventing, or at least strongly impeding, uncontrolled escape of the confined liquid.
A further object of the invention is to provide a closure which can be prepared for dispensing of confined liquid or for sealing exclusively by the teeth and/or lips of the user and which can be used with particular advantage by cyclists or by other sportsmen riding animals or inanimate conveyances.
Another obiect of the invention is to provide a - :
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, ~3865 1 simple, compact and inexpensive closure which can be designed for attachment to existing bottles or other types of vessels.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a closure which can be reliably but releasably maintained in a state of readiness for evacuation of the confined liquid, in a state in which the liquid is sealingly confined in the vessel, or in a state in which ~ the pressure in the vessel can rise or drop to match - 10 atmospheric pressure without permitting any escape, or without permitting the escape of appreciable quantities, of confined liquid.
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The invention resides in the provision of a composite closure for an outlet (such as a neck) of a liquid-containing vessel (such as a plastic bottle of the type connectable to the frame of a bicycle and containing water or any other refreshing beverage~. The clos~re comprises a preferably cup-shaped cap which is connectable to the outlet of a vessel and has a liquid-dispensing passage with a liquid-receiving inner end in communication with the interior of the vessel and an outer end. The cap is further provided with at least one channel having an air-admitting outer end and an air-discharging inner end, and the closure further comprises a mouthpiece having a hole with a liquid-receiving confined or inner end and a liquid-discharging exposed or outer end. The mouthpiece is movable in and relative to the passage of the cap (e.g., by the teeth of a cyclist who is in the process of driving a bicycle) between a depressed position in which the mouthpiece seals the two outer ends to prevent the escape of liquid from the vessel by way of the passage and/or by way of the at least one channel, and an extended position in which the at least one channel is free to admit air into the vessel by way of its inner end and the hole communicates with the passage to permit a stream of liquid to flow from the inner end of the passage into the exposed end of the hole.
In accordance with an advantageous feature of the invention, the closure further comprises a plug which extends into the at least one channel (at least in the depressed position o the mouthpiece) to seal the air-admitting outer end of the channel in the depressed position of the mouthpiece and to unseal the air-admitting outer end of the at least one channel in the extended position of the mouthpiece. The plug can be - ' 2 0 ~
rigid, preferably integral, with the mouth~iece. For example, the mouthpiece can be an extruded or injection molded plastic part, and the plug can constitute an integral Pxtension of such plastic part.
The mouthpiece is or can be coaxial with the cap, and at least a portion of the passage is or can be coaxial with the hole of the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece of such closure can include a portion which is reciprocable in the passage, and the at least one channel is or can be substantially or exactly parallel to the hold in the reciprocable mouth-piece.
At least a portion of the plug can constitute a short or an elongated cone which tapers in a direction toward the air-dischar~ing inner end of the at least one channel.
The conical portion of the plug can be provided with one or more elongated at least substantially straight elongated ribs and/or with at least one substantially annular external lip which sealingly engages the cap in the depressed position as well in at least one intermediate position of the mouthpiece.
The outer end of the passage in the cap can include or constitute a socket which is at least substantially filled by the mouthpiece when the latter is moved to the depressed position. To this end, the mouthpiece can be provide~
~with a flange which at least substantially fills (and can be a reasonably tight fit in) the socket to cover the air-admitting end of the at least one channel from the atmosphere and impurities in the depressed position of the mouthpiece. The socket preferably communicates with the air-admitting end or ends of the channel or channels in the cap.
The air-admitting end of the at least one channel has a first cross-sectional area, and the air-dischargin~ end of such at least one channel has a second cross-sectional area which is preferably smaller than the first cross-sectional area. Thus, if each channel is a substantially straight cylindrical channel, the diameter of the air discharging end of such channel is smaller than the diameter of the air-admitting end.
The air-admitting end of the at least one channel is spaced apart from the exposed end of the hole in the mouthpiece, at least in the extended position of the mouthpiece, when the cap is connected to the outlet of a vessel, This ensures that there develop~ a static pressure differential between the air-admitting end of the exposed end when the closure is located at a level below the vessel and the mouthpiece assumes the extended position so that the liquid cannot block the flow of air into the vessel by way of the at least one channel.
The mouthpiece can be installed in such a way that it is further movable in the passage to at least one intermediate lS position in which the plug can be said to constitute a flow restrictor which permits limited flow of air through the at least one channel to permit the establishment of atmospheric pressure in the vessel which is connected with the cap.
This ensures that carbon dioxide gas can escape from the vessel when the vessel is affixed to the frame of a bicycle and is heated while the bicycle is in actual use.
The cap and the mouthpiece can be provided with complementary detents which cooperate to releasably hold the mouthpiece in the extended position, in the depressed position and/or in the at least one intermediate position and to establish a seal between the cap and the mouthpiece in the depressed and extended positions of the mouthpiece.
The cap can be provided with a stopper at the inner end of its passage, and such stopper extends into or otherwise seals the confined inner end of the hole in the intermediate and/or depressed position of the mouthpiece.
The means for releasably (separably) connecting the closure to the vessel can comprise at least one (internal or external) thread on or in the cap and a complementary thread which is provided on or in the outlet of the vessel 20~3~
and can be moved into mesh with the at least one thread of the cap to thereby connect the cap to the outlet.
The mouthpiece can be provided with at least one ventilating passage to establish a path for the flow of air S between the interior and the exterior of the vessel in at least one intermediate position of the mouthpiece.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved closure itself, however, both as to its construction and the mode of making and using the same, together with additlonal features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain presently preferred specific embodiments ~ith reference to the accompanying drawing.
2~
BRIEP DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a closure which embodies one form of the invention, the cap being connected to the neck of a bottle and the mouthpiece being shown in the extended position;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged axial sectional view of the closure, with the mouthpiece shown in the depressed position;
FIG. 3 shows the structure of FIG. 2 but with the mouthpiece shown in the extended position;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged end elevational view of the plug as seen in the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a modified plug;
FIG. 6 is a partly elevational and partly central ~ 15 sectional view of a modified closure; and : FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially as seen in the direction of arrows from the line VII-VII in FIG. 6.
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FIG. 1 shows a liquid-receiving or liquid-containing vessel in the form of an elongated metallic or plastic bottle 1 having an outlet 3 here shown as a neck with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the main por~ion of the bottle. The neck 3 has a thread (not specifically shown) which can be caused to mesh with the thread 9 o~ a cup-shaped member 5 (hereinafter called cap for short) which forms part of the improved closure for the neck 3, The closure further comprises a novel and improved mouthpiece 7 which is coaxial with and is reciprocable relative to the cap 5. The dimensions and configuration of the bottle 1 are or can be such that the bottle can be readily secured to and readily detached from the forwardly and upwardly sloping member of the frame of a bicycle. This places the bottle within reach o~ either hand of the cyclist while the bicycle is in motion. To this end, the frame of the bicycle normally carries one or more elastic clamps which can hold the bottle 1 in a selected positio~ behind the aforementioned forwardly and upwardly sloping frame member.
The cap 5 can be made of a metallic or plastic material and (in the illustrated embodiment) is designed in such a way that it not only surrounds but is also surrounded by the neck 3 when the improved closure 5+7 is properly connected to the bottle 1. To this end, the cap 5 comprises a skirt 11 which surrounds the neck 3 and a collar which is coaxial with the skirt 11 and is provided with the aforementioned thread 9 movable into mesh with the internal thread of the neck 3. It is equally possible to provide the skirt 11 with an internal thread to mate with the external thread of the neck 3. All that counts is to establish a reliable but separable sealing connection between the cap 5 and the neck 3.
; 35 The cap 5 is formed with an axial liquid-.
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dispensing passage 13 having a liquid-receiving inner end 17, a cylindrical median portion 15, and an outer end in the form of a socket 23 with a diameter greatly exceeding the diameter of the cylindrical portion 15. The mouthplece 7 is reciprocable in the passage 13 between a depressed position or inner end position which is shown in FIG. 2 and an extended or outer end position which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The inner portion 31 of the mouthpiece 7 is an elongated cylinder surrounding the larger-diameter portion of an axial passage 29 (hereinafter called hole to distinguish from the passage 131 with a liquid receiving confined (inner) end in the cap 5 and a liquid-discharging exposed (outer) end which can discharge a stream of liquid (e.g., milk, water, orange juice or any other carbonated or non-carbonated beverage) directly into the mouth of a cyclist while the bicycle is in motion, The diameter of the exposed end is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the major portion of the hole 29. The reference character A denotes the common axis of the cap 5 and passage 13 on the one hand, and the mouthpiece 7 and hole 29 on the other hand.
The confined inner end of the hole 29 can be sealed by a cylindrical or conical stopper 19 which is coaxial with the mouthpiece 7 and is provided on a web-like extension or ; 25 bridge 14 of the cap 5. The arrangement is such that the confined inner end of the hole 29 receives and is sealed by the stopper 19 in the depressed position and in an intermediate position of the mouthpiece 7 but that the laterally offset inner end 17 of the passage 13 is free to communicate with the confined inner end of the hole 29 when the mouthpiece 7 is moved to the extended position of FIGS. 1 and 3. At such time, a stream of liquid can flow from the interior of the ~then normally inverted or at least partly inverted) bottle 1, through the inner end 17 of the passage 13 and into the hole 29 to enter ~he :;
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1 cyclist's mouth. The inner end 17 of the passage 13 extends all the way to the inner side or face 18 of the cap 5. The passage 13 can have several laterally of~set inner ends or portions 17 which can be separated from S each other by suitable reinforcing partitions, not shown.
The stopper 19 can be provided with a slightly conical peripheral surface which tapers toward the exposed outer end of the hole 29; this ensures that the cylindrical portion 31 of the mouthpiece 7 can receive the stopper 19 with a certain amount of friction in response to movement of the mouthpiece to its depressed position so tha~ the co~fined inner end of the hole 29 is reliably sealed in automatic response to depression of the mouthpiece. The average diameter d of the peripheral surface of the sto~per 19 can equal or can be even smaller than the diameter D of the major portion of the cylindrical hole 29.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the cap S is provided with an elongated channel 21 having an air-admitting outer end which communicates with the socket 23 and a smaller-diameter inner end 22 which extends all the way to the inner side 18 of the cap and serves to discharge air into the interior of the bottle 1 when the bottle is in actual use, i.e., when d stream of liquid is caused to flow from the interior of the bottle, through the inner portion 17 of the passage 13 and into the hol~ 29 of the mouthpiece 7 (which is then maintained in the extended position of FIG. 3). The channel 21 can be bounded by a cylindrical or by a conical internal surface of the cap 5 and is or can be substantially parallel to the passage 13 and hole 29. The illustrated channel 21 has a cylindrical major portion including the air-admitting outer end, and a .
cylindrical inner end 22.
The socket 23 is a short cylindrical recess in .
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' .' ~ ~: .: ' , 1 the outer side of the cap S and is filled (and hence at least substantially sealed) by a flange 25 of the mouthpiece 7 when the latter is held in the depressed position of FIG. 2. At such time, the flange 25 also seals the air-admitting outer end of the channel ~1. The arrangement may be such that the flange 25 is a reasonably tight fit in the socket 23 when the mouthpiece 7 is moved to the depressed position; this ensures that the mouthpiece is less likely or highly unlikely to leave the depressed position except if the user's teeth engage an exposed collar 27 which is outwardly adjacent the flange 25 and surrounds the exposed end of the hole 29.
The annular constriction between the collar 27 and the flange 25 of the mouthpiece 7 provides room for at least one tooth in the upper jaw and at least one tooth in the lower jaw of the cyclist who desires to extract the flange 25 from the socket 23 in order to permit a stream of liquid to flow from the inner end 17 of the passage 13 ; into the hole 29 while at the same time permitting atmospheric air to flow from the socket 23, through the ; channel 21 and into the bottle 1. The collar 27 is preferably provided with a round surface to reduce the likelihood of injury to the mouth and/or teeth of the user. The mouthpiece 7 can be made of metal but is preferably made of a plastic material.
The surface which surrounds the cylindrical central portion 15 of the passage 13 in the cap 5 is provided with one or more female detents in the form of grooves 34 serving to receive one or more male detents 33 at the psriphery of the cylindrical portion 31 of the mouthpiece 7. This ensures that the mouthpiece 7 can be releasably held in the depressed position of FIG~ 2, in the extended position of FIGS. 1 or 3 and, if necessary, in one or more intermediate positions in which the stopper 19 continues to at least partially seal the . , ~
, f~38~5 l confined inner end of the hole 29 but the channel 21 permits an equaliæation of pressures between the interior and the exterior of the bottle 1. This is advisable and advantageous when the pressure in the bottle 1 tends to rise in response to heating of the bottle by the sun (it being assumed that the bottle is attached to the frame of a bicycle), especially if the bottle contains a carbonated beverage. Each detent 33 can constitute a circumferentially complete or an interrupted rib which can snap into the adjacent groove 34 in response to minute deformation of the mouthpiece 7 and/or cap 5 while the mouthpiece is being pushed or pulled toward the one or the other end positionO The provision of cooperating male and female detents on the mouthpiece 7 and cap 5 (the positions of the male and female detents can be reversed without departing from the spirit of the invention) is desirable and advantageous because the detents enable the user to rapidly locate the mouthpiece in an intermediate position in which the channel 21 is not completely sealed. As a rule, it suffices to distribute the male and female detents 33, 34 in such a way that the mouthpiece 7 can be releasably held in the depressed position of FIG. 2, in the extended position of FIG. l or 3, and in one intermediate position.
2S The air-admitting outer end of the channel 21 ; in the cap 5 is located at the bottom surace 26 in the socket 23. Such outer end can be completely sealed by an elongated preferably conical plug 30 which is or can be an integral part of the mouthpiece 7 (namely of the flange 25) and tapers toward the smaller diameter air-discharging end 22 of the channel 21. As can be best seen in FIG. 4, the conical major portion of the plug 30 can be provided with one or more elongated substan~ially straight ribs 32 which define elongated narrow paths for the flow of air between the socket 23 and the interior of - l6 -20~38~
the bottle 1 in the extended or intermediate position of the mouthpiece 7. As mentioned above, the rate of air flow between the surrounding atmosphere and the interior of the bottle 1 in the intermediate position of the mouthpiece 7 - 5 is preferably selected with a view to ensure that the pressure in the interior of the bottle will match the atmospheric pressure. At the same time, the plug 30 preve~ts the flow of liquid from the interior of the bottle 1, through the channel 21 and thence into the socket 23 and the surrounding area.
At the very least, the plug 30 then acts as an effective flow restrictor which reduces the rate of outflow of liquid via channel 21 to a minimum, e.g., to a flow in the form of individual droplets rather than in the form of a continuous stream.
lS ` The straight external ri~s 132 on the conical portion of the plug 130 can be surrounded by one or more annular washer-like members 132a which are shown in FIG. 5.
The positions of the members 132a ~each of which can be said to constitute a sealing lip) are selected in such a way that they extend into the elongated channel 21 in the depressed position as well as in the intermediate position or positions of the mouthpiece 7 to thus prevent the establishment of communication between the interior of the bottle 1 and the surrounding atmosphere. However, the sealing members or lips 132 are located externally of the channel 21 when the mouth-piece 7 is moved to the fully extended position so that atmospheric air can flow into the bottla 1 while thè user of the bottle is in the process of drinking If a cyclist wishes to use the bottle 1, one h~nd engages the main portion of the bottle and dPtaches it from the frame of the bicycle. The collar 27 is then ~ulled away from the cap 5, either by hand or by the lips or teeth, so that the mouthpiece 7 is moved from the depressed (FIG. 2) or intermediate position to the extended position of FIG. 3. In ; 35 many instances, the cyclist will preer to maintain the . . .
2~8~
mouthpiece 7 in the intermediate position while the main portion of the bottle 1 is affixed to the frame of the bicycle. This ensures that heating of the bottle 1 by the sun is not likely to raise the pressure in the bottle above the atmospheric pressure because the rnouthpiece 7 preferably permits some flow of gas between the interior of the bottle and the surrounding at~,osphere (i.e., the outflow of aïr or another gas, ~uch as CO2, from the bottle if the pressure in the bottle tends to rise or is higher than the pressure in the surrounding atmosphere as a result of heating of its contents or because the cyclist is ascending on a mountain road). The stopper 19 continues to seal the confined inner end of the hole 29 in the intermediate position of the mouthpiece 7. However, once the mouthpiece 7 has been moved to the position of FIG. 3, the cylindrical portion 31 of the mouthpiece is spaced apart from (i.e., out of contact with) the stopper 19 so that a stream of liquid can flow from the inner end 17 of the passage 13 into the hole 29 and thence into the mouth of the cyclist. At such time, the path for the flow of air from the atmosphere, through the channel 21 and into the bottle 1 is sufficiently large (it has been enlarged to a maximum value) so that the liquid can leave the bottle at a rate which is determined by the diameter of the exposed end of the hole 29 and the bottle need not be deformed in order to reduce its volume.
The user thereupon depresses the mouthpiece 7 to the position of FIG. 2 or to the intermediate position, either with the teeth, with the lips, with the tongue or by hand, to prevent uncontrolled escape of liquid from the bottle 1 during reattachment of the bottle to the frame of the bicycle. In fact, the sealing action of the plug 30 or 130 and stopper 19 in the depressed or intermediate position of the mouthpiece 7 should suffice to prevent escape of liquid even if the cyclist is involved in a spill or the bottle hits the ground and remains in a horizontal position or in any other orientation for shorter or longer intervals of time.
:
2~38~
FIGS. 6 and 7 show a closure with a cap 205 and a mouthpiece 207. The mouthpiece 207 has two circumferentially extending ribs 233 which are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction of the cylindrical inner portion 231, and substantially axially parallel longitudinally extending ribs 235 which are disposed between the ribs 233 and define ventilating paths to permit an equalization of pressures between the interior and the exterior of the bottle when the mouthpiece 207 is moved to the intermediate position. This is desirable and advantageous when the pressure in the surrounding atmosphere changes, e.g., when a cyclist is in the process of climbing a hill or a mountain or descending from a higher level to a lower level. The positions of the ribs 233 are selected in such a way that these ribs are not disposed within the portion 205a of the cap 205 in the intermediate position of the mouthpiece 207, that the lower rib 233 ~ealingly engages the portion 205a in the extended position, and that the upper rib 233 sealingly engages the portion 205a in depressed position of the mouthpiece~ The upper rib 233 centers the cylindrical portion 231 in the depressed position and the lower rib 233 centers the portion 231 in the extended position of the mouthpiece 207. The axially extending ribs 235 center the portion 231 in the portion 205a in each position of the mouthpiece 207.
The improved closure exhibits numerous impo~tant advantages. Thus, the bottle 1 may but need not be made of a deformable plastic material because the provision of one or more sealable channels 21 ensures the inflow of adequate quantities of air into the bottle while a stream of liquid flows from the bottle and into the mouth of the user. In addition, the contents of the bottle 1 are highly unliXely ~i to be spilled, even by a rather clumsy user, because the bottle can be tilted upside down or otherwise inclined relative to the upright position of FIG. 1 without any liquid discharge or without any appreciable liquid discharge until and unless -- lg --;~, .~
` 2~38~
the mouthpiece 7 or 207 is extracted to the extended position of FIG. 3. This can be effected by the teeth of the user after the collar 27 is already received in the mouth 50 that the liquid can flow only into the mouth. Of course, the situation is different if the cyclist wishes to refresh herself or himself by pouring a stream of liquid (such as water) over her or his head and/or over another part of her or his body. The bottle 1 is then used not unlike a shower which di~charges a stream of liquid in the desired direction.
Still further, the user of the bottle 1 is not likely to be startled by an abrupt outflow of pressuriæed liquid when the mouthpiece 7 or 207 is pulled to assume its extended position. This can be readily averted by the simple expedient of maintaining the mouthpiece 7 or 207 in the intermediate position at the time the bottle l is attached to the bicycle frame so that an equalization of pressures between the interior and the exterior of the bottle can take place before the cylindrical portion (231) of the mouthpiece (207) is disengaged from the stopper 19.
The contents of the bottle 1 cannot spill onto the user, if such spillage is not desired, by the simple expedient of returning the mouthpiece 7 or 207 to the depressed position of FIG. 2 ~with the lips, with the tongue, with the teeth or by hand) before the bottle is reattached to the bicycle frame.
As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the confined inner end 22 of the channel 21 extends inwardly (toward the interior of the bottle l) beyond the inner end of the hole 29.
Such static difference between the levels of the confined inner end 21 and the inner end of the hole 27 ensures that the liquid cannot escape by way of the channel 21 while the user is in the process of drinking or while the user has temporarily withdrawn the collar 29 from her or his mouth for the purpose of inhaling or exhaling, At the very most, a few droplets will escape by way of the channel 21 during a ~38~
prolonged interruption of drinking while the bottle 1 is maintained in the inverted position.
The configuration of the bottle 1, the nature of the connection between the cap 5 or 205 and the neck 3, and S the exact configuration of the exterior of the cap 5 or 205 and/or mouthpiece 7 or 207 can be altered in a number of ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. Further-more, the cap 5 or 205 can be provided with two or more channels 21 each of which can be controlled by a discrete plug 30 or 130 or by another plug which can act as a flow restrictor in the intermediate position(s) of the mouthpiece.
When the user decides to drink and the ~ottle 1 is kept at a level above the cap 5 or 205 and the extended mouthpiece 7 or 207, the exposed liquid discharging end of the hole 29 is located at a level below the air-admitting end of the channel 21-22. The difference can be in the range of a few millimeters; however, such difference in the liquid head suffices to establish a pressure differential which ensures that the liquid which is confined in the bottle cannot prevent penetration of air into the bottle by way of the channel 21-22, .
- 2~a -, .
~3~
1 Without further analysis, the foregoing will so : fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledye, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting eatures S that, rom the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute ; essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the appended claims.
.
~ 21 -, . , .
2~38~
1 bottle cannot be used by a cyclist who is in the process of driving the bicycle because a cyclist is accustomed to drinking while the bottle is held in the inverted position.
' 2~38~5 l OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a closure which renders it possible to dispense the contents of a bottle or another liquid-containing vessel without any spillage of liquid and while the person holding the vessel is riding a bicycle or another ` conveyance or an animal in such position or condition that both hands are normally not available for manipulation of the vessel and/or of the closure.
Another object of the invention is to provide a closure which is constructed, assembled and mounted in such a way that it can be caused to permit the outflow of a liquid stream only when the stream is constrained to flow into the mouth of the person holding the Yessel.
A further object of the invention i9 to provide a closure which permits automatic inflow of adequate quantities of air into the vessel during outflow of liquid from the vessel.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a closure which can be utilized with egual advantage on deformable or rigid bottles or other ' containers or vessels for flowable substances.
I
Still another object of the invention is to provide a closure which is constructed and assembled in such a way that it can be set or adjusted to permit automatic equalization of pressures in and outside of the vessel while preventing, or at least strongly impeding, uncontrolled escape of the confined liquid.
A further object of the invention is to provide a closure which can be prepared for dispensing of confined liquid or for sealing exclusively by the teeth and/or lips of the user and which can be used with particular advantage by cyclists or by other sportsmen riding animals or inanimate conveyances.
Another obiect of the invention is to provide a - :
~`
.
, ~3865 1 simple, compact and inexpensive closure which can be designed for attachment to existing bottles or other types of vessels.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a closure which can be reliably but releasably maintained in a state of readiness for evacuation of the confined liquid, in a state in which the liquid is sealingly confined in the vessel, or in a state in which ~ the pressure in the vessel can rise or drop to match - 10 atmospheric pressure without permitting any escape, or without permitting the escape of appreciable quantities, of confined liquid.
.. , .,, ~. .
' .: ~' ' ' 2 ~
The invention resides in the provision of a composite closure for an outlet (such as a neck) of a liquid-containing vessel (such as a plastic bottle of the type connectable to the frame of a bicycle and containing water or any other refreshing beverage~. The clos~re comprises a preferably cup-shaped cap which is connectable to the outlet of a vessel and has a liquid-dispensing passage with a liquid-receiving inner end in communication with the interior of the vessel and an outer end. The cap is further provided with at least one channel having an air-admitting outer end and an air-discharging inner end, and the closure further comprises a mouthpiece having a hole with a liquid-receiving confined or inner end and a liquid-discharging exposed or outer end. The mouthpiece is movable in and relative to the passage of the cap (e.g., by the teeth of a cyclist who is in the process of driving a bicycle) between a depressed position in which the mouthpiece seals the two outer ends to prevent the escape of liquid from the vessel by way of the passage and/or by way of the at least one channel, and an extended position in which the at least one channel is free to admit air into the vessel by way of its inner end and the hole communicates with the passage to permit a stream of liquid to flow from the inner end of the passage into the exposed end of the hole.
In accordance with an advantageous feature of the invention, the closure further comprises a plug which extends into the at least one channel (at least in the depressed position o the mouthpiece) to seal the air-admitting outer end of the channel in the depressed position of the mouthpiece and to unseal the air-admitting outer end of the at least one channel in the extended position of the mouthpiece. The plug can be - ' 2 0 ~
rigid, preferably integral, with the mouth~iece. For example, the mouthpiece can be an extruded or injection molded plastic part, and the plug can constitute an integral Pxtension of such plastic part.
The mouthpiece is or can be coaxial with the cap, and at least a portion of the passage is or can be coaxial with the hole of the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece of such closure can include a portion which is reciprocable in the passage, and the at least one channel is or can be substantially or exactly parallel to the hold in the reciprocable mouth-piece.
At least a portion of the plug can constitute a short or an elongated cone which tapers in a direction toward the air-dischar~ing inner end of the at least one channel.
The conical portion of the plug can be provided with one or more elongated at least substantially straight elongated ribs and/or with at least one substantially annular external lip which sealingly engages the cap in the depressed position as well in at least one intermediate position of the mouthpiece.
The outer end of the passage in the cap can include or constitute a socket which is at least substantially filled by the mouthpiece when the latter is moved to the depressed position. To this end, the mouthpiece can be provide~
~with a flange which at least substantially fills (and can be a reasonably tight fit in) the socket to cover the air-admitting end of the at least one channel from the atmosphere and impurities in the depressed position of the mouthpiece. The socket preferably communicates with the air-admitting end or ends of the channel or channels in the cap.
The air-admitting end of the at least one channel has a first cross-sectional area, and the air-dischargin~ end of such at least one channel has a second cross-sectional area which is preferably smaller than the first cross-sectional area. Thus, if each channel is a substantially straight cylindrical channel, the diameter of the air discharging end of such channel is smaller than the diameter of the air-admitting end.
The air-admitting end of the at least one channel is spaced apart from the exposed end of the hole in the mouthpiece, at least in the extended position of the mouthpiece, when the cap is connected to the outlet of a vessel, This ensures that there develop~ a static pressure differential between the air-admitting end of the exposed end when the closure is located at a level below the vessel and the mouthpiece assumes the extended position so that the liquid cannot block the flow of air into the vessel by way of the at least one channel.
The mouthpiece can be installed in such a way that it is further movable in the passage to at least one intermediate lS position in which the plug can be said to constitute a flow restrictor which permits limited flow of air through the at least one channel to permit the establishment of atmospheric pressure in the vessel which is connected with the cap.
This ensures that carbon dioxide gas can escape from the vessel when the vessel is affixed to the frame of a bicycle and is heated while the bicycle is in actual use.
The cap and the mouthpiece can be provided with complementary detents which cooperate to releasably hold the mouthpiece in the extended position, in the depressed position and/or in the at least one intermediate position and to establish a seal between the cap and the mouthpiece in the depressed and extended positions of the mouthpiece.
The cap can be provided with a stopper at the inner end of its passage, and such stopper extends into or otherwise seals the confined inner end of the hole in the intermediate and/or depressed position of the mouthpiece.
The means for releasably (separably) connecting the closure to the vessel can comprise at least one (internal or external) thread on or in the cap and a complementary thread which is provided on or in the outlet of the vessel 20~3~
and can be moved into mesh with the at least one thread of the cap to thereby connect the cap to the outlet.
The mouthpiece can be provided with at least one ventilating passage to establish a path for the flow of air S between the interior and the exterior of the vessel in at least one intermediate position of the mouthpiece.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved closure itself, however, both as to its construction and the mode of making and using the same, together with additlonal features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain presently preferred specific embodiments ~ith reference to the accompanying drawing.
2~
BRIEP DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a closure which embodies one form of the invention, the cap being connected to the neck of a bottle and the mouthpiece being shown in the extended position;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged axial sectional view of the closure, with the mouthpiece shown in the depressed position;
FIG. 3 shows the structure of FIG. 2 but with the mouthpiece shown in the extended position;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged end elevational view of the plug as seen in the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a modified plug;
FIG. 6 is a partly elevational and partly central ~ 15 sectional view of a modified closure; and : FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially as seen in the direction of arrows from the line VII-VII in FIG. 6.
~ , . . ' , ' ' .
: , .
':
~438~
FIG. 1 shows a liquid-receiving or liquid-containing vessel in the form of an elongated metallic or plastic bottle 1 having an outlet 3 here shown as a neck with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the main por~ion of the bottle. The neck 3 has a thread (not specifically shown) which can be caused to mesh with the thread 9 o~ a cup-shaped member 5 (hereinafter called cap for short) which forms part of the improved closure for the neck 3, The closure further comprises a novel and improved mouthpiece 7 which is coaxial with and is reciprocable relative to the cap 5. The dimensions and configuration of the bottle 1 are or can be such that the bottle can be readily secured to and readily detached from the forwardly and upwardly sloping member of the frame of a bicycle. This places the bottle within reach o~ either hand of the cyclist while the bicycle is in motion. To this end, the frame of the bicycle normally carries one or more elastic clamps which can hold the bottle 1 in a selected positio~ behind the aforementioned forwardly and upwardly sloping frame member.
The cap 5 can be made of a metallic or plastic material and (in the illustrated embodiment) is designed in such a way that it not only surrounds but is also surrounded by the neck 3 when the improved closure 5+7 is properly connected to the bottle 1. To this end, the cap 5 comprises a skirt 11 which surrounds the neck 3 and a collar which is coaxial with the skirt 11 and is provided with the aforementioned thread 9 movable into mesh with the internal thread of the neck 3. It is equally possible to provide the skirt 11 with an internal thread to mate with the external thread of the neck 3. All that counts is to establish a reliable but separable sealing connection between the cap 5 and the neck 3.
; 35 The cap 5 is formed with an axial liquid-.
- . . , . : . , .. ..... . .
: .
2~3~
dispensing passage 13 having a liquid-receiving inner end 17, a cylindrical median portion 15, and an outer end in the form of a socket 23 with a diameter greatly exceeding the diameter of the cylindrical portion 15. The mouthplece 7 is reciprocable in the passage 13 between a depressed position or inner end position which is shown in FIG. 2 and an extended or outer end position which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The inner portion 31 of the mouthpiece 7 is an elongated cylinder surrounding the larger-diameter portion of an axial passage 29 (hereinafter called hole to distinguish from the passage 131 with a liquid receiving confined (inner) end in the cap 5 and a liquid-discharging exposed (outer) end which can discharge a stream of liquid (e.g., milk, water, orange juice or any other carbonated or non-carbonated beverage) directly into the mouth of a cyclist while the bicycle is in motion, The diameter of the exposed end is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the major portion of the hole 29. The reference character A denotes the common axis of the cap 5 and passage 13 on the one hand, and the mouthpiece 7 and hole 29 on the other hand.
The confined inner end of the hole 29 can be sealed by a cylindrical or conical stopper 19 which is coaxial with the mouthpiece 7 and is provided on a web-like extension or ; 25 bridge 14 of the cap 5. The arrangement is such that the confined inner end of the hole 29 receives and is sealed by the stopper 19 in the depressed position and in an intermediate position of the mouthpiece 7 but that the laterally offset inner end 17 of the passage 13 is free to communicate with the confined inner end of the hole 29 when the mouthpiece 7 is moved to the extended position of FIGS. 1 and 3. At such time, a stream of liquid can flow from the interior of the ~then normally inverted or at least partly inverted) bottle 1, through the inner end 17 of the passage 13 and into the hole 29 to enter ~he :;
.
~ 13 -~38~
1 cyclist's mouth. The inner end 17 of the passage 13 extends all the way to the inner side or face 18 of the cap 5. The passage 13 can have several laterally of~set inner ends or portions 17 which can be separated from S each other by suitable reinforcing partitions, not shown.
The stopper 19 can be provided with a slightly conical peripheral surface which tapers toward the exposed outer end of the hole 29; this ensures that the cylindrical portion 31 of the mouthpiece 7 can receive the stopper 19 with a certain amount of friction in response to movement of the mouthpiece to its depressed position so tha~ the co~fined inner end of the hole 29 is reliably sealed in automatic response to depression of the mouthpiece. The average diameter d of the peripheral surface of the sto~per 19 can equal or can be even smaller than the diameter D of the major portion of the cylindrical hole 29.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the cap S is provided with an elongated channel 21 having an air-admitting outer end which communicates with the socket 23 and a smaller-diameter inner end 22 which extends all the way to the inner side 18 of the cap and serves to discharge air into the interior of the bottle 1 when the bottle is in actual use, i.e., when d stream of liquid is caused to flow from the interior of the bottle, through the inner portion 17 of the passage 13 and into the hol~ 29 of the mouthpiece 7 (which is then maintained in the extended position of FIG. 3). The channel 21 can be bounded by a cylindrical or by a conical internal surface of the cap 5 and is or can be substantially parallel to the passage 13 and hole 29. The illustrated channel 21 has a cylindrical major portion including the air-admitting outer end, and a .
cylindrical inner end 22.
The socket 23 is a short cylindrical recess in .
: .
' .' ~ ~: .: ' , 1 the outer side of the cap S and is filled (and hence at least substantially sealed) by a flange 25 of the mouthpiece 7 when the latter is held in the depressed position of FIG. 2. At such time, the flange 25 also seals the air-admitting outer end of the channel ~1. The arrangement may be such that the flange 25 is a reasonably tight fit in the socket 23 when the mouthpiece 7 is moved to the depressed position; this ensures that the mouthpiece is less likely or highly unlikely to leave the depressed position except if the user's teeth engage an exposed collar 27 which is outwardly adjacent the flange 25 and surrounds the exposed end of the hole 29.
The annular constriction between the collar 27 and the flange 25 of the mouthpiece 7 provides room for at least one tooth in the upper jaw and at least one tooth in the lower jaw of the cyclist who desires to extract the flange 25 from the socket 23 in order to permit a stream of liquid to flow from the inner end 17 of the passage 13 ; into the hole 29 while at the same time permitting atmospheric air to flow from the socket 23, through the ; channel 21 and into the bottle 1. The collar 27 is preferably provided with a round surface to reduce the likelihood of injury to the mouth and/or teeth of the user. The mouthpiece 7 can be made of metal but is preferably made of a plastic material.
The surface which surrounds the cylindrical central portion 15 of the passage 13 in the cap 5 is provided with one or more female detents in the form of grooves 34 serving to receive one or more male detents 33 at the psriphery of the cylindrical portion 31 of the mouthpiece 7. This ensures that the mouthpiece 7 can be releasably held in the depressed position of FIG~ 2, in the extended position of FIGS. 1 or 3 and, if necessary, in one or more intermediate positions in which the stopper 19 continues to at least partially seal the . , ~
, f~38~5 l confined inner end of the hole 29 but the channel 21 permits an equaliæation of pressures between the interior and the exterior of the bottle 1. This is advisable and advantageous when the pressure in the bottle 1 tends to rise in response to heating of the bottle by the sun (it being assumed that the bottle is attached to the frame of a bicycle), especially if the bottle contains a carbonated beverage. Each detent 33 can constitute a circumferentially complete or an interrupted rib which can snap into the adjacent groove 34 in response to minute deformation of the mouthpiece 7 and/or cap 5 while the mouthpiece is being pushed or pulled toward the one or the other end positionO The provision of cooperating male and female detents on the mouthpiece 7 and cap 5 (the positions of the male and female detents can be reversed without departing from the spirit of the invention) is desirable and advantageous because the detents enable the user to rapidly locate the mouthpiece in an intermediate position in which the channel 21 is not completely sealed. As a rule, it suffices to distribute the male and female detents 33, 34 in such a way that the mouthpiece 7 can be releasably held in the depressed position of FIG. 2, in the extended position of FIG. l or 3, and in one intermediate position.
2S The air-admitting outer end of the channel 21 ; in the cap 5 is located at the bottom surace 26 in the socket 23. Such outer end can be completely sealed by an elongated preferably conical plug 30 which is or can be an integral part of the mouthpiece 7 (namely of the flange 25) and tapers toward the smaller diameter air-discharging end 22 of the channel 21. As can be best seen in FIG. 4, the conical major portion of the plug 30 can be provided with one or more elongated substan~ially straight ribs 32 which define elongated narrow paths for the flow of air between the socket 23 and the interior of - l6 -20~38~
the bottle 1 in the extended or intermediate position of the mouthpiece 7. As mentioned above, the rate of air flow between the surrounding atmosphere and the interior of the bottle 1 in the intermediate position of the mouthpiece 7 - 5 is preferably selected with a view to ensure that the pressure in the interior of the bottle will match the atmospheric pressure. At the same time, the plug 30 preve~ts the flow of liquid from the interior of the bottle 1, through the channel 21 and thence into the socket 23 and the surrounding area.
At the very least, the plug 30 then acts as an effective flow restrictor which reduces the rate of outflow of liquid via channel 21 to a minimum, e.g., to a flow in the form of individual droplets rather than in the form of a continuous stream.
lS ` The straight external ri~s 132 on the conical portion of the plug 130 can be surrounded by one or more annular washer-like members 132a which are shown in FIG. 5.
The positions of the members 132a ~each of which can be said to constitute a sealing lip) are selected in such a way that they extend into the elongated channel 21 in the depressed position as well as in the intermediate position or positions of the mouthpiece 7 to thus prevent the establishment of communication between the interior of the bottle 1 and the surrounding atmosphere. However, the sealing members or lips 132 are located externally of the channel 21 when the mouth-piece 7 is moved to the fully extended position so that atmospheric air can flow into the bottla 1 while thè user of the bottle is in the process of drinking If a cyclist wishes to use the bottle 1, one h~nd engages the main portion of the bottle and dPtaches it from the frame of the bicycle. The collar 27 is then ~ulled away from the cap 5, either by hand or by the lips or teeth, so that the mouthpiece 7 is moved from the depressed (FIG. 2) or intermediate position to the extended position of FIG. 3. In ; 35 many instances, the cyclist will preer to maintain the . . .
2~8~
mouthpiece 7 in the intermediate position while the main portion of the bottle 1 is affixed to the frame of the bicycle. This ensures that heating of the bottle 1 by the sun is not likely to raise the pressure in the bottle above the atmospheric pressure because the rnouthpiece 7 preferably permits some flow of gas between the interior of the bottle and the surrounding at~,osphere (i.e., the outflow of aïr or another gas, ~uch as CO2, from the bottle if the pressure in the bottle tends to rise or is higher than the pressure in the surrounding atmosphere as a result of heating of its contents or because the cyclist is ascending on a mountain road). The stopper 19 continues to seal the confined inner end of the hole 29 in the intermediate position of the mouthpiece 7. However, once the mouthpiece 7 has been moved to the position of FIG. 3, the cylindrical portion 31 of the mouthpiece is spaced apart from (i.e., out of contact with) the stopper 19 so that a stream of liquid can flow from the inner end 17 of the passage 13 into the hole 29 and thence into the mouth of the cyclist. At such time, the path for the flow of air from the atmosphere, through the channel 21 and into the bottle 1 is sufficiently large (it has been enlarged to a maximum value) so that the liquid can leave the bottle at a rate which is determined by the diameter of the exposed end of the hole 29 and the bottle need not be deformed in order to reduce its volume.
The user thereupon depresses the mouthpiece 7 to the position of FIG. 2 or to the intermediate position, either with the teeth, with the lips, with the tongue or by hand, to prevent uncontrolled escape of liquid from the bottle 1 during reattachment of the bottle to the frame of the bicycle. In fact, the sealing action of the plug 30 or 130 and stopper 19 in the depressed or intermediate position of the mouthpiece 7 should suffice to prevent escape of liquid even if the cyclist is involved in a spill or the bottle hits the ground and remains in a horizontal position or in any other orientation for shorter or longer intervals of time.
:
2~38~
FIGS. 6 and 7 show a closure with a cap 205 and a mouthpiece 207. The mouthpiece 207 has two circumferentially extending ribs 233 which are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction of the cylindrical inner portion 231, and substantially axially parallel longitudinally extending ribs 235 which are disposed between the ribs 233 and define ventilating paths to permit an equalization of pressures between the interior and the exterior of the bottle when the mouthpiece 207 is moved to the intermediate position. This is desirable and advantageous when the pressure in the surrounding atmosphere changes, e.g., when a cyclist is in the process of climbing a hill or a mountain or descending from a higher level to a lower level. The positions of the ribs 233 are selected in such a way that these ribs are not disposed within the portion 205a of the cap 205 in the intermediate position of the mouthpiece 207, that the lower rib 233 ~ealingly engages the portion 205a in the extended position, and that the upper rib 233 sealingly engages the portion 205a in depressed position of the mouthpiece~ The upper rib 233 centers the cylindrical portion 231 in the depressed position and the lower rib 233 centers the portion 231 in the extended position of the mouthpiece 207. The axially extending ribs 235 center the portion 231 in the portion 205a in each position of the mouthpiece 207.
The improved closure exhibits numerous impo~tant advantages. Thus, the bottle 1 may but need not be made of a deformable plastic material because the provision of one or more sealable channels 21 ensures the inflow of adequate quantities of air into the bottle while a stream of liquid flows from the bottle and into the mouth of the user. In addition, the contents of the bottle 1 are highly unliXely ~i to be spilled, even by a rather clumsy user, because the bottle can be tilted upside down or otherwise inclined relative to the upright position of FIG. 1 without any liquid discharge or without any appreciable liquid discharge until and unless -- lg --;~, .~
` 2~38~
the mouthpiece 7 or 207 is extracted to the extended position of FIG. 3. This can be effected by the teeth of the user after the collar 27 is already received in the mouth 50 that the liquid can flow only into the mouth. Of course, the situation is different if the cyclist wishes to refresh herself or himself by pouring a stream of liquid (such as water) over her or his head and/or over another part of her or his body. The bottle 1 is then used not unlike a shower which di~charges a stream of liquid in the desired direction.
Still further, the user of the bottle 1 is not likely to be startled by an abrupt outflow of pressuriæed liquid when the mouthpiece 7 or 207 is pulled to assume its extended position. This can be readily averted by the simple expedient of maintaining the mouthpiece 7 or 207 in the intermediate position at the time the bottle l is attached to the bicycle frame so that an equalization of pressures between the interior and the exterior of the bottle can take place before the cylindrical portion (231) of the mouthpiece (207) is disengaged from the stopper 19.
The contents of the bottle 1 cannot spill onto the user, if such spillage is not desired, by the simple expedient of returning the mouthpiece 7 or 207 to the depressed position of FIG. 2 ~with the lips, with the tongue, with the teeth or by hand) before the bottle is reattached to the bicycle frame.
As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the confined inner end 22 of the channel 21 extends inwardly (toward the interior of the bottle l) beyond the inner end of the hole 29.
Such static difference between the levels of the confined inner end 21 and the inner end of the hole 27 ensures that the liquid cannot escape by way of the channel 21 while the user is in the process of drinking or while the user has temporarily withdrawn the collar 29 from her or his mouth for the purpose of inhaling or exhaling, At the very most, a few droplets will escape by way of the channel 21 during a ~38~
prolonged interruption of drinking while the bottle 1 is maintained in the inverted position.
The configuration of the bottle 1, the nature of the connection between the cap 5 or 205 and the neck 3, and S the exact configuration of the exterior of the cap 5 or 205 and/or mouthpiece 7 or 207 can be altered in a number of ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. Further-more, the cap 5 or 205 can be provided with two or more channels 21 each of which can be controlled by a discrete plug 30 or 130 or by another plug which can act as a flow restrictor in the intermediate position(s) of the mouthpiece.
When the user decides to drink and the ~ottle 1 is kept at a level above the cap 5 or 205 and the extended mouthpiece 7 or 207, the exposed liquid discharging end of the hole 29 is located at a level below the air-admitting end of the channel 21-22. The difference can be in the range of a few millimeters; however, such difference in the liquid head suffices to establish a pressure differential which ensures that the liquid which is confined in the bottle cannot prevent penetration of air into the bottle by way of the channel 21-22, .
- 2~a -, .
~3~
1 Without further analysis, the foregoing will so : fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledye, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting eatures S that, rom the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute ; essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the appended claims.
.
~ 21 -, . , .
Claims (19)
1. A closure for an outlet of a liquid-containing vessel, comprising a cap connectable to the outlet and having a liquid-dispensing passage with a liquid-receiving inner end and an outer end, said cap further having at least one channel with an air-admitting outer end and an air-discharging inner end; and a mouthpiece having a hole with a liquid-receiving confined end and a liquid-discharging exposed end, said mouthpiece being movable in said passage between a depressed position in which the mouthpiece seals said outer ends and an extended position in which said at least one channel is free to admit air into the vessel by way of said inner end thereof and said hole communicates with said passage to permit the flow of liquid from the inner end of said passage into the exposed end of said hole.
2. The closure of claim 1, further comprising a plug which extends into said at least one channel, at least in the depressed position of said mouthpiece, to seal said air-admitting outer end in the depressed position and to unseal said air-admitting outer end in the extended position of the mouthpiece.
3. The closure of claim 2, wherein said plug is rigid with said mouthpiece.
4. The closure of claim 3, wherein said mouthpiece consists of a plastic material and said plug is an integral part of said mouthpiece.
5. The closure of claim 2, wherein said mouthpiece is coaxial with said cap and at least a portion of said passage is coaxial with said hole, said mouthpiece including a portion which is reciprocable in said passage and said at least one channel being substantially or exactly parallel with said hole.
6. The closure of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of said plug is conical and tapers toward the air-discharging inner end of said channel.
7. The closure of claim 6, wherein said conical portion has at least one elongated at least substantially straight external rib.
8. The closure of claim 6, wherein said mouthpiece is further movable to at least one intermediate position and said conical portion has at least one substantially annular sealing lip which sealingly engages said cap in the depressed and intermediate positions of said mouthpiece.
9. The closure of claim 2, wherein said outer end of said passage is a socket which is provided in said cap and said mouthpiece at least substantially fills said socket in the depressed position thereof.
10. The closure of claim 9, wherein said mouthpiece has a flange which at least substantially fills said socket and seals said air-admitting end from the atmosphere in the depressed position of said mouthpiece.
11. The closure of claim 9, wherein said socket communicates with the air-admitting end of said at least one channel.
12. The closure of claim 2, wherein said air-admitting end has a first cross-sectional area and said air-discharging end has a smaller second cross-sectional area.
13. The closure of claim 12, wherein said at least one channel is a substantially straight cylindrical channel.
14. The closure of claim 2, wherein said air-admitting end is spaced apart from the exposed end of said hole, at least in the extended position of said mouthpiece, when said cap is connected to the outlet of the vessel, to establish a static pressure differential between said air-admitting end and said exposed end when the closure is located at a level below the vessel and the mouthpiece assumes the extended position thereof whereby the liquid is prevented from blocking the flow of air into the vessel by way of said at least one channel,
15. The closure of claim 2, wherein said mouthpiece is further movable in said passage to at least one intermediate position in which said plug constitutes a flow restrictor permitting limited flow of air through said at least one channel to thus permit the establishment of atmospheric pressure in the vessel which is connected with said cap.
16. The closure of claim 2, wherein said mouthpiece is further movable to at least one intermediate position, said cap and said mouthpiece being provided with complementary detents which cooperate to releasably hold the mouthpiece in at least one of said positions and to establish a seal between said cap and said mouthpiece in the depressed and extended positions of said mouthpiece.
17. The closure of claim 2, wherein said cap comprises a stopper at the inner end of said passage, said stopper extending into and sealing the confined end of said hole in the depressed position of said mouthpiece.
18. The closure of claim 2, wherein said cap has at least one thread which is movable into and out of mesh with a complementary thread on the outlet of a vessel to thereby connect the cap to the outlet.
19. The closure of claim 2, wherein said mouthpiece has at least one ventilating passage and is further movable to at least one intermediate position in which said ventilating passage establishes a path between the interior and the exterior of the vessel.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CH01936/90-3 | 1990-06-08 | ||
| CH1936/90A CH681075A5 (en) | 1990-06-08 | 1990-06-08 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2043865A1 true CA2043865A1 (en) | 1991-12-09 |
Family
ID=4222069
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002043865A Abandoned CA2043865A1 (en) | 1990-06-08 | 1991-06-04 | Closure for bottles and the like |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0461065B1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE106344T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2043865A1 (en) |
| CH (1) | CH681075A5 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE59101765D1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2013171351A1 (en) * | 2012-05-18 | 2013-11-21 | Desarrollos Tamarit Plaza Sl | Cap with stopper for drinks container |
| USD743742S1 (en) | 2012-01-02 | 2015-11-24 | Brita Gmbh | Drinking bottle |
Families Citing this family (17)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT405736B (en) * | 1992-02-26 | 1999-11-25 | Girlinger & Co Gmbh | SPOUT FOR BOTTLES |
| KR100249110B1 (en) * | 1992-05-06 | 2000-04-01 | 다니엘 엘. 캐시앙 | Nucleic acid sequence amplification method, composition and kit |
| CH687074A5 (en) * | 1993-07-20 | 1996-09-13 | Sigg Haushaltgeraete | Bottles, particularly Bidon-closure device. |
| DE4339889C1 (en) * | 1993-11-23 | 1995-04-20 | Henkel Kgaa | Closure for a liquid container, in particular for a bottle |
| DE19630579C1 (en) * | 1996-07-30 | 1997-09-18 | Vaude Sport Albrecht Von Dewit | Drinks flask with screw on cap |
| US5927565A (en) * | 1997-05-16 | 1999-07-27 | Paczonay; Joseph R. | Vented valve assembly for liquid containers |
| KR20000018342A (en) * | 1998-09-01 | 2000-04-06 | 박주웅 | Cap of water bottle for bicycle |
| DE19937754A1 (en) * | 1999-08-10 | 2001-02-15 | Fischer Uwe | Stopper for a drinking flask has central drinking tube which can be withdrawn with teeth, lower end of this fitting over stop when closed and pin on stopper elastically fitting over lug on flange attached to tube to lock it in place |
| DE10113109A1 (en) | 2001-03-15 | 2002-09-19 | Bmf Gmbh | Closable delivery device for container holding liquid, viscous or paste medium has sealing component formed by slide movable at right angles to passage extending between container and outlet opening |
| US7325706B2 (en) * | 2004-01-29 | 2008-02-05 | Meadwestvaco Calmar, Inc. | Flexible fluid delivery tube to rigid dip tube quick connector for liquid sprayer |
| GB2413087A (en) * | 2004-04-13 | 2005-10-19 | Stephen Michael Smith | Bottle assembly with a vent device |
| DE102005029746B4 (en) | 2005-06-24 | 2017-10-26 | Boehringer Ingelheim International Gmbh | atomizer |
| DE202007006080U1 (en) | 2007-04-27 | 2007-08-02 | Mapa Gmbh Gummi- Und Plastikwerke | Sealing system e.g. for child drinking bottle or child drinking cup, has ring which has mounting part extending outside to seal with edge of container |
| GB2457921A (en) * | 2008-02-28 | 2009-09-02 | Tullman Design Ltd | A spout and closure assembly for a container |
| DE202010015464U1 (en) | 2010-10-30 | 2011-02-10 | Silag Handel Ag | Adjustable bottle cap with drinking straw function |
| DE202010015802U1 (en) | 2010-11-25 | 2011-02-10 | Hidde, Axel R., Dr. Ing. | Bottle cap with reset function |
| AU2021217146B2 (en) | 2020-02-07 | 2024-05-02 | Bivo, LLC | Sport water bottle with high flow rate |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US1525032A (en) * | 1923-03-07 | 1925-02-03 | William J Grady | Closure for containers |
| US3295294A (en) | 1963-08-29 | 1967-01-03 | Fmc Corp | Carton handling machine |
| FR2496598A3 (en) * | 1980-12-18 | 1982-06-25 | Molina Raymond | Plastics beverage can for cyclist - has stopper or spout opened and closed by sliding tubular part inside it |
| IT1176106B (en) | 1984-04-20 | 1987-08-12 | S F V Soc Finanziaria Vicenza | BOTTLE FOR CYCLISTS WITH MANEUVERABLE CLOSING DEVICE FOR TWO TYPES OF DISPENSING THE LIQUID CONTAINED IN THE BOTTLE |
| US4852781A (en) | 1987-11-17 | 1989-08-01 | Shurnick Carl W | Runner's portable fluid supply container |
-
1990
- 1990-06-08 CH CH1936/90A patent/CH681075A5/de not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1991
- 1991-02-04 EP EP91810075A patent/EP0461065B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-02-04 AT AT91810075T patent/ATE106344T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1991-02-04 DE DE59101765T patent/DE59101765D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-06-04 CA CA002043865A patent/CA2043865A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD743742S1 (en) | 2012-01-02 | 2015-11-24 | Brita Gmbh | Drinking bottle |
| USD744781S1 (en) | 2012-01-02 | 2015-12-08 | Brita Gmbh | Drinking bottle |
| WO2013171351A1 (en) * | 2012-05-18 | 2013-11-21 | Desarrollos Tamarit Plaza Sl | Cap with stopper for drinks container |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0461065A1 (en) | 1991-12-11 |
| ATE106344T1 (en) | 1994-06-15 |
| CH681075A5 (en) | 1993-01-15 |
| EP0461065B1 (en) | 1994-06-01 |
| DE59101765D1 (en) | 1994-07-07 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |