DE29702824U1 - Water bottle - Google Patents

Description

Applicant:

Felix Bürkle

To Upper Height 12

72414 Rangendingen

0734 005 F/we/eg 19.02.1997

WP97/2

Title: Drinking bottle

Description

The present invention relates to a drinking bottle according to the preamble of claim 1.

In a drinking bottle known from DE 93 11 815 Ul, the mouthpiece is integrated into the closure cap that can be attached to the bottle neck, whereby a drinking spout containing the drinking hole can be moved axially into a sealing position and into a drinking position.

In a drinking bottle of this type, this combined component is relatively complex and complicated to manufacture and therefore expensive.

The object of the present invention is to create a drinking bottle of the type mentioned above, which is simpler in construction and therefore more cost-effective to produce.

To achieve this object, the features specified in claim 1 are provided for a drinking bottle of the type mentioned.

The measures according to the invention ensure that both the mouthpiece and the closure cap are very easy to design and manufacture components, which can all be used together or separately with the bottle body. Depending on the type of use of the drinking bottle, it can be equipped with just the closure cap or with the mouthpiece and closure cap. The tools used to manufacture the mouthpiece and/or closure cap are simple in design, which also results in lower manufacturing costs for the mouthpiece and closure cap. This also results in sealing agents that are easier to design.

Although the first sealing means can generally be sufficient, in variants of the present drinking bottle the features according to claim 2 and/or 3 are provided for further sealing. The second sealing means on the closure cap can serve both to seal against the mouthpiece and against the pouring opening on the bottle neck.

Advantageous embodiments of the first sealing means result from the features of one or more of claims 4 to 6, while an advantageous embodiment of the second and/or third sealing means results from the features of claim 7.

The features according to claim 8 ensure that one or more ventilation openings provided in the mouthpiece can be easily sealed by applying the closure cap.

An advantageous embodiment of the mouthpiece results from the features according to claim 9.

An application-related conversion of the drinking bottle into a type of feeding bottle occurs when the features according to claim 10 and/or 11 are provided.

In order to prevent liquid from escaping from the bottle body through the vent openings when drinking, the features according to claim 12 are provided. As a result, the drinking bottle is automatically held when drinking so that the two diametrically opposed vent openings are in a horizontal plane.

The mouthpiece can be equipped with existing ventilation holes. However, it is also

possible, according to the feature of claim 13, to provide them in such a way that they are produced by piercing the base plate when the user needs them.

According to a further variant, as provided by the features of claim 14, the ventilation openings can be closed automatically by internal pressure.

Further advantageous embodiments of ventilation paths result from the features according to one of claims 15, 16 or 17.

Further advantageous variants are provided with the features of claim 18 and/or 19 and/or 20.

Further details of the invention can be found in the following description, in which the invention is described and explained in more detail using the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. They show:

Figure 1 shows an exploded, longitudinally sectioned view of a drinking bottle according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 2 shows the drinking bottle according to Figure 1 in assembled and closed state,

Figure 3 shows an exploded longitudinal section of a drinking bottle according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 4 shows an enlarged, partially broken-off view of the drinking bottle according to Figure 3 in assembled and closed state,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the mouthpiece of the drinking bottle according to Figure 3 or 4,

Figure 6 is a representation corresponding to Figure 4, but according to a third embodiment of the present invention,

Figures ■

7A and 7B show a partially sectioned side view and a partially broken-off bottom view of a mouthpiece for the drinking bottle according to Figure 6, but according to a first variant, and

Figure 8 is a view corresponding to Figure 7A, but according to a second variant of the mouthpiece.

The drinking bottle 10 or 110 or 210 shown in the drawing according to various embodiments consists essentially of a bottle body 11, 111, 211, a

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Connecting sleeve 12, 112, 212, a mouthpiece 13, 113, 213 and a closure cap 14, 114, 214.

The cylindrical bottle body 11, 111, 211, which is preferably made of aluminum, has at its upper end a smaller-diameter bottle neck 16, 116, 216 with a tapering transition area 17, 117, 217 and at its lower end an inwardly curved base 18, 118, 218. The bottle neck 16, 116, 216, which is concentric with the main part of the bottle body 11, 111, 211, has a cylindrical section 21, 121, 221 facing the mouth 19, 119, 219 of the drinking bottle 10, 110 and forming it, and an adjoining combined conical-cylindrical section 22, 122, 222. The cylindrical section 21, 121, 221 is followed by a relatively flat cone of the combined conical-cylindrical section 22, 122, which widens towards the main part of the bottle body 11, 111, .211 and merges into the cylinder part which is larger in diameter than the cylindrical section 21, 121, 221. In the combined conical-cylindrical section 22, 122, 222 of the bottle neck 16, 116, 216, a toothing 23, 123 is provided in the form of recesses 24, 124, 224 and elevations 25, 125, 225 which alternate in a wave-like manner over the outer circumference and extend in the axial direction and are of approximately the same width in the circumferential direction.

In the two embodiments shown, the connecting sleeve 12, 112, 212 has the shape of a

External thread sleeve, which is stepped on the outer circumference. The end of the connecting sleeve 12, 112, 212 facing the main part of the bottle body 11 is designed as an apron 27, 127, to which a smaller-diameter external thread section 28, 128, 228 is connected. In the area of the external thread section 28, 128, 228, the inner circumference of the connecting sleeve 12, 112, 212 is provided with a toothing 29, 129, 229, which, like the toothing 23, 123, 223 of the bottle neck 16, 116, 216, is provided with wave-shaped, alternating and merging, axially extending depressions and elevations 31, 131, 231 and 32, 132, 232, respectively. The connecting sleeve 12, 112, 212, including its toothing 29, 129, 229, is made in one piece from plastic, preferably injection-molded; however, it can also be made from metal.

The production of the drinking bottle 10, 110, 210 described so far from the bottle body 11, 111, 211 and connecting sleeve 12, 112, 212 takes place as follows: a bottle blank with the base 18, 118, 218 is produced from an aluminum disk by cold extrusion, from which the transition area 17, 117, 217 and the bottle neck 16, 116, 216 are then formed by deformation steps (conification). The bottle neck 16, 116 is then provided with the toothing 23, 123, 223 and the connecting sleeve 12, 112, 212 is placed on the bottle neck 16, 116, 216 from the axial opening side of the bottle neck.

pushed on, whereby the internal teeth 29, 129, 229 of the connecting sleeve 12, 112, 212 engage with the external teeth 23, 123, 223 of the bottle neck 16, 116, 216. As a result, the connecting sleeve 12, 112, 212 cannot rotate relative to the bottle neck 16, 116, 216. Since after the connecting sleeve 12, 112, 212 has been fitted onto the bottle neck 16, 116, 216, an end region of the bottle neck 16, 116, 216 surrounding the bottle mouth 19, 119, 219 protrudes from the connecting sleeve 12, 112, 212, this end region is deformed with a flanging tool in such a way that the resulting flange 20, 120, 220 (Figures 2 and 4) presses onto the annular face of the connecting sleeve 12, 112, 212 and covers it. The flange 20, 120, 220 thus serves for axial '. Securing the connecting sleeve 12, 112, 212 on the bottle neck 16, 116, 216 and at the same time as a ring sealing surface for the mouthpiece 13, 113, 213 or the closure cap 14, 114, 214.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1" and 2, the mouthpiece 13 has a hollow cylindrical drinking nozzle 42 provided with a drinking bore 43, the upper end of which has an annular bead 44 and the lower end of which conically merges into a ring-shaped base plate 41. An axial plug ring 46 protrudes from the underside of the base plate 41 facing away from the drinking nozzle 42, the outer peripheral surface 47 of which is spherical. A ring seal 48, for example in the form of

: i

an O-ring is inserted or embedded. The spherical outer peripheral surface 47 of the plug-in ring 46 is such that the mouthpiece 13 can be inserted into the bottle neck 16 of the bottle body 11 in a sealing manner. The ring seal 48 lies tightly on the flange 20. Preferably, the inner peripheral surface of the bottle neck 16 is adapted to the spherical outer peripheral surface 47 in such a way that the mouthpiece is pulled slightly inwards when inserted into the bottle neck 16.

The closure cap 14, which is stepped on the inner circumference, has a lower region 51 provided with an internal thread 52, which merges into a smaller-diameter middle region 53, which is covered by a hood-shaped upper region 54. A ring seal 56, for example in the form of an O-ring, is inserted into the ring surface between the lower and middle regions 51, 53. The inside of the hood-shaped upper region 54 is provided with two inwardly projecting concentric ring projections 57, 58, which form a ^conical ring receptacle 59 between them.

According to Figure 2, the closure cap 14 is screwed onto the connecting sleeve 12 with the mouthpiece 13 attached. In this screwed-on state, the ring seal 56 rests on the top of the base plate 41 of the mouthpiece 13 on the ring edge side and the ring bead

of the mouthpiece 13 is accommodated in a liquid-tight manner in the conical ring receptacle 59 of the closure cap 14. As can be seen from Figure 2, the lower edge of the closure cap 14 extends over the lower edge of the connecting sleeve 12 and is at such a distance from the transition area 17 of the bottle body that the closure cap 14 can also be screwed onto the connecting sleeve 12 in a liquid-tight manner without inserting the mouthpiece 13 in between, the tightness being achieved by the ring seal 56 resting on the flange 20.

In the embodiment of Figures 3 to 5, the following modifications arise in comparison to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2.

The connecting sleeve 112 has two diametrically arranged and radially projecting nipples 133 on its skirt 127, which serve for attaching a carrying strap or the like.

The mouthpiece 113 has a flat, disc-shaped base plate 141, from the top of which the drinking spout 142 protrudes and from the bottom of which the plug-in ring 146 protrudes. Concentrically to the plug-in ring 146, a hollow plug-in receiving part 145 or 145' protrudes axially from the bottom, the axial inner bore of which is essentially flush with the drinking bore 143, thus continuing it. Figures 3 to 5 show both variants of the plug-in receiving part 145 and 145' as a half-section. While the

II

The inner peripheral surface of the plug-in part 145 on the left in the drawing is radially set back from the inner peripheral surface of the drinking nozzle 142, and the two inner peripheral surfaces of the plug-in part 145' on the right in the drawing and the drinking nozzle 142 are aligned. In an area between the plug-in ring 146 and the plug-in part 145 or 145', preferably close to the plug-in ring 146, two diametrically opposed vent openings 140 are provided, which serve to ventilate the interior of the bottle body 111 when drinking from the drinking bottle 110. As indicated in Figures 3 and 4, the vent openings 140 can be fitted on the inside with a membrane 139 which essentially fills the cross section of the vent opening 140 and which is preferably hinged in one piece to the inner wall of the vent opening 140 in a narrow circumferential area, but is free in the remaining much larger circumferential area. This still provides ventilation of the interior of the bottle body 111, but prevents liquid from escaping due to internal pressure, for example from a carbonic acid-containing element. In this exemplary embodiment, the bead 144 is not ring-shaped, but rather shaped like an oval, i.e. provided with radial extensions 149 which are diametrically opposed to one another and point towards the vent openings 140 (Figure 5). This means that the drinking bottle 110 is automatically held when drinking from the mouthpiece 113 so that the ventilation openings 140 are in

a horizontal plane, so that with such vent openings 140 that do not have a membrane 139, liquid does not leak out of the drinking bottle 110 when drinking.

According to a variant not shown, the ventilation openings 140 in the mouthpiece 113 are not present from the outset, but are formed at the relevant locations as areas that weaken the thickness of the base plate 141. The ventilation openings can thus be provided or not, depending on the user's wishes. If the user wishes to use ventilation openings 140, he can pierce the weakened areas using a pointed object.

The plug-in receiving part 145 or 145' on the mouthpiece 113 serves to receive a tube 136 or 136', which is either pushed into the plug-in receiving part 145 or over the plug-in receiving part 145'. The tube 136, 136' preferably extends into the area of the base 118 of the bottle body 111, so that the contents of the drinking bottle can be sucked out in the vertical position of the drinking bottle, like a bottle equipped with a straw. The other elements of the mouthpiece 113 correspond to those of the mouthpiece 13, so that they are not described further, but are simply provided with the relevant reference number.

The closure cap 114 is constructed accordingly on the outside with regard to its areas 151, 153 and 154, whereby the internal thread 153 is also provided. The ring seal 156 between the two areas 151 and 153 is designed as a flat ring seal and has a width such that, when screwed on, as shown in Figure 4, the vent openings 140 of the mouthpiece 113 are also covered or sealed. The sealing of the drinking hole 143 of the drinking nozzle 142 by means of the closure cap 114 takes place according to two variants. In one case, a stepped and, at the lower end, conical pin 161 projects axially inwards from the inside of the hood-shaped area 154, which is supported on a step 162 in the mouth of the drinking hole 143 and rests against the inner wall of the drinking hole 143. In the other case, a disk-shaped seal made of plastic, rubber, etc. is inserted into the inside of the hood-shaped area 154, which seals against the curved front of the oval bead 144 when closed.

The drinking bottle 210 shown in Figure 6 has a closure cap 214 corresponding to the closure cap 114 of the drinking bottle 110, but differs from the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 in the design of the mouthpiece 213.

The mouthpiece 213 has a drinking spout 242, which, apart from the oval outer shape of the upper end, has a

Design like the drinking spout 142 of the drinking bottle 110 and is sealed by the closure cap 214 by means of a conical pin 261 or disk-shaped seal 264. Just like the mouthpiece 113, the mouthpiece 213 has a plug-in part 245 or 245' for a tube (not shown).

However, the mouthpiece 213 has, on the one hand, a base plate 241 modified on the edge and, on the other hand, a modified plug ring 246. The plug ring 246 has an external thread 266, the external diameter of which is such that it fits fluid-tight on the circumference into the smooth inner circumference of the bottle neck 216. The base plate 241 is formed on the outer edge in such a way that its outer edge rests flat on the inwardly curved part of the flange 220 of the bottle neck 216. In the area of the end or outlet of the external thread 266 facing the base plate 241, the base plate 241 has an axial groove 267. Despite the liquid-tightness, this creates a vent connection between the interior of the bottle body 211 and the environment when the closure cap 214 is removed via the external thread 266 and the axial groove 267. When the closure cap 214 is attached or screwed on, its ring seal 256 lies sealingly on both the top of the base plate 241 of the mouthpiece 213 and on the rounded upper edge of the flange 220 of the bottle body 211.

Figures 7A and 7B show a variant of the mouthpiece 213, designated 213', the difference of which according to Figure 6 is that the plug ring 246' is provided with ring lips 268 that protrude on the outer circumference and are arranged at an axial distance, which seal against the inner wall of the bottle neck 216. Each ring lip 268 has an axial groove 269, whereby the axial grooves 269 of two adjacent ring lips 268 are distributed over the circumference, for example arranged diametrically to one another. The same applies to the position of the axial groove 267' on the outer circumference of the base plate 241'. In this way, a labyrinth is created for the ventilation path (axial groove 269 - groove between two ring lips 268 - axial groove 269 - etc. - up to the axial groove 267') from the interior of the bottle body 211 to the outside with the closure cap 214 removed. The liquid-tightness is nevertheless guaranteed.

According to a further variant 213'' of the mouthpiece 213, the plug-in ring 246'' is provided with a U-shaped elastic ring seal 271, above which the plug-in ring 246'' has an axial groove 267'' at least one point on its circumference. Since the open ring side of the seal 271 faces inwards, it can seal against the inner wall of the bottle body in the event of excess pressure in the bottle body, while in the event of negative pressure, air can flow into the bottle body.

16

In a manner not shown, the removed closure cap can be held captive on the rest of the drinking bottle 10, 110 or 210 in such a way that a strap &ogr;.the like runs between the connecting sleeve and the closure cap.

Claims (20)

• · • · Protection claims 1. Drinking bottle (10, 110, 210) with a pouring opening (13, 113, 213) on the bottle neck (16, 116, 216) of a bottle body (11, 111, 211) with a mouthpiece (13, 113, 213) having a drinking hole (43, 143), with a closure cap (14, 114, 214) that can be fastened to the bottle neck (16, 116, 216) and with sealing means, characterized in that the closure cap (14, 114, 214) and the mouthpiece (13, 113, 213) are formed by separate components, that the mouthpiece (13, 113, 213) can be inserted sealingly into the bottle neck (16, 116, 216) provided with a smooth inner surface, that a connecting sleeve (12, 112, 212) to which the closure cap (14, 114, 214) can be connected is held in axial and circumferential directions on the outer circumference of the bottle neck (16, 116, 216) and the first sealing means (57, 58; 161, 164, 261, 264) is between the inside of the closure cap (14, 114, 214) and the outlet end of the drinking hole (43, 143, 243). 2. Drinking bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that a second annular sealing means (56, 156, 256) is provided on an axially directed inner edge of the closure cap (14, 114, 214) facing the bottle body (11, 111, 211). •&iacgr;&Ggr;. .1. * * ·■' 3. Drinking bottle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a third sealing means (48, 148) is provided on an axially directed outer edge of the mouthpiece (13, 113) facing the bottle body (11, 111). 4. Drinking bottle according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first sealing means is formed by a sealing disk (164, 264) inserted into the inner surface of the closure cap (114, 214), which can be placed in a sealing manner against the free annular end of a drinking spout (142, 242) containing the drinking bore. 5. Drinking bottle according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first sealing means is formed by at least one pin (57, 58; 161, 261) projecting vertically from the inside of the closure cap (14, 114, 214) which can be placed or inserted in a sealing manner over or into a drinking spout (42, 142, 242) containing the drinking bore (43, 143, 243). 6. Drinking bottle according to claim 5, characterized in that an annular pin (57, 58) provided with a conical receptacle (59) engages over an annular bead (44) formed on the drinking spout (42). »J II · * 7. Drinking bottle according to claim 5, characterized in that the pin (161, 261) and the inner surface of the drinking spout (142, 242) are axially stepped. 8. Drinking bottle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second and/or third sealing means are formed by sealing rings (48, 148; 56, 156, 256) embedded in the relevant end face. 9. Drinking bottle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mouthpiece (113, 213) is provided with at least one vent opening (140, 267, 269) and that the vent opening (140, 267, 269) can be sealingly covered by the third sealing means (156, 256). 10. Drinking bottle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mouthpiece (13, 113, 213) has an approximately ring-shaped base plate (41, 141, 241), from the top of which the drinking spout (42, 142) protrudes and from the bottom of which a plug ring (46, 146, 246) protrudes, and that an axially hollow connecting part (145, 145', 245, 245') is provided concentrically to the plug ring (46, 146, 246) and in alignment with the drinking spout (42, 142, 242). 11. Drinking bottle according to claim 10, characterized in that a suction tube (136, 136') extending into the bottle body (111, 211), preferably up to its bottom (118), can be inserted over or into the hollow connecting part (145, 145', 245, 245'). 12. Drinking bottle according to at least one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that two diametrically opposed ventilation openings (140) are provided in the base plate (141) and that the drinking spout (142) is designed at its free end in the manner of an oval such that its longitudinal extension lies in the direction of the ventilation openings (140). 13. Drinking bottle according to at least one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the base plate (41, 141) is provided with a circular pierceable weakened area. 14. Drinking bottle according to at least one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the ventilation opening (140) is provided on the inside with a membrane (139) which fills the cross section and is hinged and molded onto a peripheral region of the opening wall. 15. Drinking bottle according to at least one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the plug ring (246, 246') is provided with a thread (266) on the outer circumference and that the base plate (241) of the mouthpiece (213, 213') rests on the inside against the flange (220) of the bottle neck (216) and is provided with an axial groove (267) offset on the circumference. 16. Drinking bottle according to at least one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the plug ring (246, 246') is provided on the outer circumference with axially spaced annular lips (268), each of which is penetrated by at least one axial groove (269'), which grooves (269') are offset from one another on the circumference, and that the base plate (241) of the mouthpiece (213, 213') rests on the inside against the flange (220) of the bottle neck (216) and is provided with a further axial groove (267) which is preferably offset on the circumference relative to the axial groove (269') of the adjacent annular lip (268). 17. Drinking bottle according to at least one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the plug ring (246'') is covered with an elastic peripheral seal (271) and the base plate (241'') of the mouthpiece (213'') is provided with an axial groove (267). 18. Drinking bottle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure cap (14, 114, 214) is an internally threaded screw cap and the connecting sleeve (12, 112, 212) is provided with an external thread. 19. Drinking bottle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting sleeve (112) is provided with radially projecting nipples (133) on two diametrically opposite outer regions. 20. Drinking bottle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure cap (14, 114, 214) is held captive on the connecting sleeve (12, 112, 212).