CN111031861A

CN111031861A - Sports bottle cap

Info

Publication number: CN111031861A
Application number: CN201880053144.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 克劳斯·霍斯特曼
Original assignee: EMSA GmbH
Current assignee: EMSA GmbH
Priority date: 2016-05-18
Filing date: 2018-08-21
Publication date: 2020-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2038-08-21
Also published as: DK3458376T3; CN109195875A; EP3458376A1; JP2020531370A; WO2017198263A1; PL3458376T3; DE202016102642U1; EP3458376B1; CN111031861B; CN109195875B; ES2787023T3; DE102017119160A1; DE112017002510A5; JP7150006B2

Abstract

A moving bottle cap (100) for a moving bottle (1) comprises at least: a base element (10) having at least one pouring opening (21) in a base plate (11) which is surrounded by a raised edge (15); a flexible drinking tube (23) having an internal flow passage (24) which can be locked by bending the flexible drinking tube (23). The drinking tube (23) is held in a guide element (30) which is pivotably mounted on the base element (10). If the drinking tube (23) is bent, it can be easily accommodated in the accommodation space (14) enclosed by the rim (15). A releasable lock is provided which holds the guide element (30) in the locked position against the restoring force of the bent drinking tube (23).

Description

Sports bottle cap

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a sports bottle cap for a sports bottle having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Background

Such a moving closure is disclosed in EP 2532601B 1. The mouthpiece is designed as a flexible plastic tube that can be bent to close the internal flow passage. The bent position of the tube, which solely ensures the tightness of the moving cap, is fixed by the cap, which can be locked to the lower part of the moving cap by a click-in connection. When the cap is released and folded back, the mouthpiece can return to its original shape due to the elastic restoring force, and the internal flow passage is released again. Such sports caps are particularly suitable for use during sporting activities where drinking is intended to be carried directly from the bottle via a drinking spout (also known as a drinking snorkel). For this purpose, the operation must also be as simple as possible and can be carried out with one hand. A disadvantage of the known moving bottle caps is that the pivoting cap, which also acts as a lock, is an obstacle. When drinking through the spout, the lid must be blocked with one finger.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sports bottle cap with a drinking spout which does not require an additional cap to bend the drinking spout to hold it in a bent position and thus form a tight closure.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a moving bottle cap having the features of claim 1, in particular by a drinking spout held by a guide element pivotably and/or displaceably mounted on the base element, and by a curved drinking spout which can be accommodated in an accommodation space enclosed by the rim.

In contrast to the prior art, in which a receiving space for the mouthpiece is formed in the chamber below the lid, according to the invention the receiving space is formed directly on the base. The spout is secured in the flexed position by a guide member in a locked position at the top of the receiving space. According to the invention, the mouthpiece does not simply protrude from the base element, but is held in the guide element with its lateral bearing points defined. Thereby providing a defined bending point of the resilient mouthpiece.

The guide element is characterized in that it is rigid, as opposed to the mouthpiece, so that the flexible mouthpiece can be forced into a locked position and held in place. The guide element is preferably U-shaped in cross-section and accommodates the end region of the mouthpiece in the open configuration.

In a preferred embodiment, it is further provided that the guide element is arranged in such a way, with respect to the position of the outlet opening in the base element, that two bends occur. This creates an S-wrap of the mouthpiece in side view, closing the internal drinking passage even at two points and achieving a secure seal.

The interaction between the position of the guide element and the elasticity of the mouthpiece is also essential to the invention. The guide member is depressed, e.g., by a thumb, tilted forward, and carries the mouthpiece. In all preferred embodiments of the present invention, the restoring force resulting from the previous deformation of the depressed mouthpiece is used to secure the locked position once the locked position is set by the user.

In several embodiments of the invention, the hinge point of the guide element is intended to reach a horizontal position when displaced. This is achieved due to the guidance in the sliding element to the guide rail, which allows a linear retracting movement. This means that the user can easily pull back the guide element after pressing down on the mouthpiece, i.e. radially outwards, wherein the guide element is blocked by the unlocking button and thus also keeps the bent mouthpiece down. The locking position of the guide element is maintained by: it is mounted obliquely and the spring force of the deformed mouthpiece presses the guide element firmly against the release button.

To drink from the bottle again, the user need only push the guide element slightly forward to disengage it from the release button. In the event that the lock is released via slight pressure, the guide projection on the guide frame is also pressed back into the sliding element, so that the guide element can straighten out due to the elastic return of the mouthpiece. The user then pushes the guide element forward again, thereby bending the mouthpiece and moving the guide element back to its locked position.

In order to provide more protection against accidental opening and accidental leakage of the beverage, for all embodiments it is preferred to provide a safety slide which can be moved to a position above the receiving space in which it can additionally lock the bent spout and/or the stationary guide element, for example by means of a snap-in connection with the guide frame.

Since the lock slide can only be moved in a translatory manner, the guide element does not tilt as long as it is engaged with the lock slide. Instead, the user must first return the lock slide to the outer position to be able to move even the guide element and the mouthpiece, and then make the above-mentioned guide element perform a disengaging (scraping) movement to release it.

Another advantage of the moving closure according to the invention is the combination of a pivoting movement of the guide element, which brings the guide element into a horizontal position in which the mouthpiece is clamped closed, and a subsequent linear displacement for fixing. This combination ensures a self-locking transport position which can only be released by displacement.

In various embodiments, the displacement may be performed by the user himself by a retraction movement. However, it is preferably designed such that when the user moves the guide element downwards, the guide element slides over the guide block by means of a disengagement edge or disengagement surface. Such a forced guidance can be achieved when the guide element is pressed slightly below the transport position. The guide element is then pushed outwards in an inclined position, with its outer rear support edge slightly raised until the support edge is above the support surface. This has the advantage that the user only has to push the guide element downwards to ensure locking. When the user releases the guide element, the surfaces abut against each other and the transport position is fixed.

In order to avoid that the user has to perform two different movements when closing, a preferred embodiment is provided with at least one additional spring element, which acts on a bearing journal outside the guide element. The user need only swing the guide element with the mouthpiece downwards. The retraction movement necessary to produce the locking is effected by a spring element which linearly pushes the guide element back into the locking position.

In another embodiment of the invention, the movement of the guide element is reversed: after pushing the mouthpiece down into the receiving space, the guide element is pushed forward in the central direction, whereby the radial locking pin on each bearing journal engages in a recess in the bearing recess of the base element and fixes the position of the guide element. In order to open it, the guide element must be pushed slightly radially outwards to release the engagement again. This embodiment does not require an unlock button.

Drawings

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. These figures show in detail:

fig. 1 to 4: respectively, a cross-sectional view of a moving closure with a drinking spout in different positions according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5A and 5B: respectively, a perspective view of the moving bottle cap in a fixed transport position;

fig. 6A and 6B: respectively, a perspective view of the moving bottle cap in an unsecured shipping position;

fig. 7A and 7B: respectively, a perspective view of the moving bottle cap in the unlocked position;

FIG. 8: a perspective view of the moving cap in the drinking position;

fig. 9 and 10: a cut-away perspective view of the moving closure before and shortly after establishing the shipping position;

FIG. 11A: a perspective view of a moving closure in a fixed shipping position according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 11B: a perspective view of a moving closure according to a second embodiment in an unlocked position; and

FIG. 12: a perspective view of a moving closure in a fixed shipping position according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 13: a cross-sectional perspective view of a sports cap according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention in a drinking position;

FIG. 14: a cut-away perspective view of the moving closure between a drinking position and a shipping position according to fig. 13;

FIG. 15: a cross-sectional perspective view of the moving closure according to figure 13 immediately prior to establishing the shipping position; and

FIG. 16: a perspective view of a moving closure in a fixed shipping position according to a fourth embodiment.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a moving closure 100, which includes the following essential components:

a base element 10 made of hard plastic;

an insert element 20 made of soft plastic or rubber;

-a guide frame 30;

a safety slide 40; and

an unlock button 50.

The base element 10 has an almost cylindrical outer body extending from a lower edge where the thread starts to an upper edge 15. The thread can be used to form a sealed connection with the neck of a sports or drinking bottle, in particular a thermos bottle.

The interior of the base element 10 is separated by a base plate 11 having

several openings

12, 19. The first is the pour opening 19. There are also a plurality of small ventilation openings 12 in the base plate.

The insertion element 20 is fitted onto the substrate 11 in the base element 10 from the lower side and connected thereto in a sealed manner. The pouring opening 19 covered by the insert element 20 is connected to a drinking spout 23 having an internal flow channel 24, which internal flow channel 24 starts from the inlet opening 21.

The insert element 20 is provided with a small dome around the ventilation opening 12, which spans the gasket 13 protruding downward from the base plate 11.

Fig. 1 shows the closed shipping position of the drinking cap 100. The mouthpiece 23 is bent twice, once radially outwards from the outlet opening 21 to the left, it is redirected at the bend 22 from the left and extends in the other direction. The double folding firstly allows the mouthpiece 23 to be longer and still remain within the rim 15, and secondly the double closure of the internal flow passage 24 provides more protection against liquid leakage. The portion of the mouthpiece 23 behind the bend 22 is located entirely within the receiving space 14, which receiving space 14 is surrounded by the rim 15 and is bounded at the rear by the base plate 11. First, the position of the bent mouthpiece 23 is fixed by the guide element 30, the guide element 30 being in the locked position in fig. 1. The guide element 30 has one bearing journal 31 on each side for pivotal mounting in the base element 10.

Secondly, in fig. 1, the safety slide 40 is brought into a locking position in which the guide element 30 is located above the receiving space 14. The safety slide 40 is guided in the guide rail 16. Safety slide 40 secures guide member 30, preventing accidental bounce of drinking spout 23, thereby releasing internal flow channel 24. The guide rails 16 are formed on both sides of the inner side of a U-shaped bracket 17, which U-shaped bracket 17 extends radially outwards beyond the edge 15 of the base element 10. The stand 17 may also be used to carry the bottle when the cap is in the closed position.

Fig. 2 shows the beginning of the opening process in a further sectional view. The safety slide 40 has been pushed into an end position in the bracket 17 beyond the edge 15, which allows the guide element 30 to move unimpeded. The safety slide 40 is held in this position by the snap-in projections 41.

Despite being released by the safety slide, the guide element 30 cannot spring up automatically, since it is still connected to the housing 10 over a short distance in a form-fitting manner, so that the guide element 30 can move in the radial direction but cannot rotate about its bearing journal. To overcome this transition position, the guide element 30 is pushed radially forward in the central direction by lightly pressing the release button 50. It is then released at its rear end as shown in fig. 3. The guide element 30 is now no longer secured against twisting relative to the base element 10 and can spring up again due to the restoring force of the bent resilient mouthpiece 23.

Figure 4 shows the drinking position. The mouthpiece 23 has been fully deployed, opening an internal flow passage 24 between the outlet opening 21 and the end of the mouthpiece 23. The mouthpiece 23 is held in the guide frame 30 so that the two components are positioned in the same angular position.

In each of fig. 5A, 5B, a closed position is shown similar to fig. 1 but in perspective view. Both the guide element 30 and the safety slide 40 are in a substantially horizontal position above the inner receiving space 14 and completely cover the opening of the receiving space 14. A protrusion is formed on the top of the guide element 30 and the safety slide 40, and the protrusion forms a handle recessed to facilitate manipulation of the moving bottle cap 100 by a disengaging (scraping) means.

The guide element 30 is fixed on the one hand in the bearing recess 18 of the base element 10 by means of a bearing journal 31, which is visible in the partial sectional view in fig. 5B. On the other hand, the rear edge 32 of the guide member 30 is located on the protruding wall of the base member 10, and the front edge thereof is held by the safety slider 40. As can also be seen in fig. 5B, the bearing recess 18 is designed as a double bearing recess or as an oval hole. This allows the bearing journal 31 to move laterally before being able to rotate.

In fig. 6A, the safety slide 40 has been transferred to an outer end position in the bracket 17, so that the fixing of the guide element 30 has been released on one side. However, the guide element 30 and its rear edge 32 are still supported on the support surface 10.1 (see fig. 6B) on the base element 10, and this position is maintained by the spring force of the resilient mouthpiece 23. The bearing journal 31 is in a rear position outside the bearing recess 18.

As shown in fig. 7A, the guide member 30 can be moved slightly forward by merely pressing the release button 50. The bearing journal 31 in the bearing recess 18 moves to the forward inner position. At the same time, the rear edge 32 is out of engagement with the support surface 10.1 and the guide element 30 is free to pivot about the axis of the bearing journal 31.

Due to the restoring force of the resilient mouthpiece 23, the resilient mouthpiece completely straightens itself and the guide frame 30 connected thereto until it assumes the drinking position shown in fig. 8, which corresponds to the sectional position of fig. 4.

The previous illustration relates mainly to the opening process, while fig. 9 and 10 show the transition from the drinking position according to fig. 4 and 8 back to the fixed transport position according to fig. 1, 5A or 5B.

Starting from the operating position or drinking position in fig. 8, the user presses the guide element 30 from above downwards. This also deforms the mouthpiece 23. If the user presses the guide element 30 further down into the receiving space 14 until it is located below the upper side of the housing, the lower release edge 33 of its front reaches the curved concave surface of the guide block 13 in the base element 10.

Fig. 9 shows the initial contact of the disengaging edge 33 with the guide block 13. Thereby, the guide element 30 is slightly inclined inwardly and downwardly. The rear side of the guide element 30 is at the same time slightly raised. The rear edge 32 is located above the support surface 10.1 at the base element 10. Due to the contact on the one hand on the guide block 30, but on the other hand the bearing journals 31 remain in the bearing recesses 18 (see fig. 6B, 7B), the power applied by the user is redirected such that the bearing journals 31 are radially displaced until they are in their rear position in the bearing recesses 18. If the user releases the guide element 30 again, the guide element is pressed upwards by the resilience of the mouthpiece 23, whereby the rear edge 32 places itself on the support surface 10.1 to secure the transport position. Additional safety is achieved by the safety slide 40 which prevents the guide element 30 from moving out of the locking position due to an accidental slight pressure.

Fig. 11A shows a moving closure 100' according to a second embodiment in a fixed transport position in a perspective view. Compared to the first embodiment, the guide member 30, the safety slide 40 and the base member 10 are substantially unchanged.

In distinction, a pressure spring element 25' is provided, which is arranged between the bearing journal 31 and the base housing. In the embodiment shown, it is part of the insert element and is therefore integrally formed with the mouthpiece 23' from a resilient material. The pressure spring element 25' is a compressible body which presses the guide slide 30 in a fixed position via a bearing journal 31 and holds it there.

To raise the mouthpiece 23', the user must move the guide element 30 against the force of the pressure spring element 25' to the position shown in fig. 11B. Thereby, the elastomeric pressure spring element 25' is compressed. This position corresponds to the illustration of the first embodiment in fig. 7B. Thus, even in the case of a moving closure 100 'as shown in fig. 8, the upright drinking position of spout 23' is exactly the same.

Fig. 12 shows the moving closure 100 "according to the third embodiment in a perspective view and again in an unlocked position. Here, the guide member 30, the safety slide 40 and the base member 10 are substantially unchanged from the first and second embodiments. The insert element is different in that the mouthpiece 23 "does not have a molded elastomeric spring element, but rather a metal pressure spring element 50" having the same location and function. As soon as the user no longer exerts pressure on the guide slide 30, the pressure spring element 50 ″ pushes the bearing journal 31 in the elliptical bearing recess 18 in the base element 10 to the outside and thus automatically moves the guide slide 30 back into the locking position.

The pressure spring element 25 'in the case of a moving closure 100', respectively the pressure spring element 50 "in the moving closure 100" facilitates the closing process on the one hand, since the user only has to press the guide element 30 with the drinking spout 23, but does not have to actively pull the guide element 30 back into the locking position. On the other hand, the pressure spring element slows down the bouncing of the guide element 30 with the mouthpiece 23, since the user has to stay the finger on a longer distance of the guide element 30 while moving the guide element 30 against the force of the pressure spring element 50. Thus, the user will automatically restrain the raised guide element 30.

In the second embodiment of the moving closure 100', the friction between the bearing journal 31 and the elastomeric pressure spring element 25' additionally brakes the movement.

Fig. 13 shows another embodiment of a sports cap 200 placed on a drinking bottle 1. The base element 210 is formed similarly to the previous embodiments and also has a raised edge 215 above the substrate 211 defining a receiving space 214. The base plate 211 has a vent opening 212 and a pour opening 221. A portion of the elastomeric insert element 220 is disposed below the base plate 211, covering the pour opening 221 and the vent opening 212. The insert element 220 also comprises a mouthpiece 223, the inner flow channel 224 of the mouthpiece 223 flowing into the region of the inlet opening 221.

The mouthpiece 223 is held in a guide element 230 which is movably mounted in the base element 210. Fig. 13 shows the drinking position in which the mouthpiece 223 and the guide element 230 are upright, so that the tubular pin 222 between the mouthpiece 223 and the inlet opening 221 is open. The rear edge 233 of the guide element 230 is located in the recess 213 of the insert element 220 to avoid that the insert element 220 is overextended beyond the drinking position shown to the outside.

Furthermore, in fig. 13, a drinking position is shown in which the safety slide 240 is arranged outside the receiving space 214. The bracket 217 is connected to the base member 210. The safety slide 240 is guided in the guide rail 216. Due to the shape of the guide rail 216, the safety slide 240 must descend below the nose of the guide rail 216 when moved to the closed position shown in fig. 16, and then be securely fixed against accidental displacement.

Fig. 14 shows moving bottlecap 200 in a transitional position in which spout 223 is brought from the drinking position to the locked and shipping position.

The shaping of the bearing journal 231 is important. Which connects the sides of the guide member 230 with the associated bearing recesses 218 in the base member 210. The bearing journal 231 is not only shaped as a cylindrical stub shaft, but also has an additional locking pin 232 extending radially outward. The bearing recess 218 is shaped such that the bearing journal 231 with the locking pin 232 has sufficient space for the necessary movement when pressing down the guide element 230.

Fig. 15 shows the position of the guide element 230 shortly before the final locking position. The guide element 230 has laid down so that its surface is largely flush with the surrounding components at the base element 210. Mouthpiece 223 has been lowered into receiving space 214. The safety slide 240 is still located outside the accommodating space 214. Now, locking pin 232 on bearing journal 231 is approximately horizontal and is located directly forward of pocket 219 in bearing recess 218. If the guide element 230 is now pushed slightly forward, i.e. in the direction of the holder 217 or the receiving space 217, the locking pin 232 engages the pocket 219. When a restoring force is exerted on the guide element 230 due to the elasticity of the kinked mouthpiece 223, the locking pin 232 is pressed against the wall of the cavity 219. Thus, the locked position of guide element 230 is automatically maintained by locking pin 232 and pocket 219 even when the user is no longer touching guide element 230.

To further fix the guide element 230, the lock slide 240 is pushed along the guide rail 216 until it is located above the receiving space 214 and additionally fixes the front edge 234 of the guide element 230 in a form-fitting manner. Thus, even if locking pin 232 should be removed from pocket 219 in the bearing recess, drinking spout 223 cannot pop up quickly.

Fig. 16 shows the final locked and transport position, wherein the lock slide 240 is close to the guide element 230.

Claims

1. A sports cap (100; 100'; 100 "; 200) for a sports bottle (1) comprising at least:

a base element (10; 210) having at least one pouring opening (21; 221) in a base plate (11; 211) which is surrounded by a raised edge (15; 215),

a flexible drinking tube (23; 23 '; 223) having an inner flow channel (24; 224) which can be locked by bending the flexible drinking tube (23; 23'; 223),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the drinking tube (23; 23'; 223) is held in a guide element (30; 230) which is pivotably mounted on the base element (10; 210),

a curved drinking tube (23; 23'; 223) can be accommodated in an accommodation space (14; 214) enclosed by the rim (15; 215), and

a releasable lock is provided which holds the guide element (30; 230) in the locked position against the restoring force of the bent drinking tube (23; 23'; 223).

2. Moving closure (100; 100 '; 100") according to claim 1, wherein the lock is formed by a support surface (10.1) on the base element (10) and a support rim (32) on a rear end of the guide element (30) facing away from the drinking tube (23; 23'), wherein the support rim (32) is displaceable away from the support surface (10.1) by radial displacement of the guide element (30).

3. Moving bottle cap (100; 100'; 100") according to claim 2, characterized in that the guide element (30) is displaceable by an unlocking button (50) hingedly connected to the base element (10).

4. The moving closure (100, 100', 100", 200) of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guide element (30; 230) has bearing journals (31; 231) on both sides, which are retained in bearing recesses (18; 218) in the base element (10; 210).

5. The moving closure (200) of claim 4, wherein the lock is formed by at least one locking pin (232) radially abutting a bearing pin (231) and a locking receptacle (219) in a bearing receptacle (218), into which the locking pin (232) is inserted in the locking position of the guide element (230).

6. Moving closure (100; 100 '; 100 "; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one safety slide (40; 240) is provided which is displaceably arranged in a guide rail (16; 216) above the receiving space (14; 214) and which, in a first end position, holds the curved drinking tube (23; 23'; 223) and/or the guide element (30; 230) in a closed position.

7. Moving closure (100; 100'; 100 "; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the safety slide (40; 240) is displaceable to a second end position outside the receiving space (14; 214) by means of a guide rail extending beyond the rim (15; 215).

8. Sports cap (100; 100 '; 100 "; 200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the drinking tube (23; 23'; 223) is an integral part of an elastic insert element (20; 220) which is sealingly connected to the bottom side of the base plate (11; 211) and covers the pouring opening (21; 221).

9. Sports cap (100; 100 '; 100 "; 200) according to any of the previous claims, wherein a drinking tube (23; 23 '; 223) lowered into the receiving space (14; 214) extends in a first direction at a first bending point in the vicinity of the pouring opening (21; 221) and in the opposite direction at an upper second bending point (22; 222), and wherein the drinking tube (23; 23 '; 223) exhibits an S-shaped structure.

10. Moving closure (100; 100'; 100") according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide element (30) slides on the guide element (13) during the downward pivoting movement by means of a disengagement surface or disengagement edge (33) and is displaced radially outwards.

11. Moving closure (100 '; 100") according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide element (30) is supported on the base element (10; 210) via at least one spring element (25', 50").

12. The moving closure (100; 100 '; 100") of claim 11, wherein the spring element (25', 50") is an elastically compressible compression spring element (25') as part of the insert element (20).

13. Sports bottle comprising at least a drinking bottle (1) and a sports cap (100; 100'; 100") according to any one of the preceding claims.

14. Sports bottle according to claim 13, wherein the drinking bottle (1) and the sports cap (100; 100'; 100 "; 200) are connected by a thread.