GB2409448A - Safety drinking aid spout and contaminant guard - Google Patents

Abstract

A drinking aid (1) for attachment to a beverage bottle comprising a tubular body (20) having at one end an engagement region (40) and at the other end a lip region (30) having substantially the same size and profile as the lip of the beverage bottle. In use, the engagement region (40) engages with the neck of the bottle and the lip region (30) is axially spaced from the engagement region (40), such that when the aid is engaged with the neck of the bottle, the lip region (30) is axially spaced therefrom. The drinking aid may be provided with a screen mesh (51) across the tubular body 20 or a ball valve (7). The drinking aid may be inserted into the neck of the bottle by a stopper or hollow bung portion (90, fig 13).

Description

A Drinking Aid The present invention relates to a device for attachment to

crown top or screw top bottle for increasing the safety with which beverages may be consumed from such bottles.

A significant proportion of beverages, and in particular alcoholic beverages, are sold in glass bottles having crown top fittings. It is common for beverages to be drunk from such bottles directly.

This type of glass bottle is susceptible to damage on opening. Contact between the rim of the bottle and an opener may cause the rim to shatter. If a person drinks directly from this bottle this may result in the lips of the person being cut.

These bottles are typically stored in warehouses and cellars. Often there may be rodents in these locations and there is a risk that bottles may be contaminated with diseases carried by these rodents. As bottles are generally not cleaned prior to sale, there is a risk that any contamination present on a bottle may be passed on to a person when they drink from it.

There are a number of prior art devices that have

attempted to overcome these problems. However, all of these devices have associated disadvantages which prevent them from being of practical use.

One such device is disclosed in GB 2,368,833 A. This application describes a mouthpiece which encases the lip and part of the neck of a bottle. The disadvantage of this 2 - device is that, as the mouthpiece locates over the lip of the bottle, the effective external diameter of the bottle is increased, providing an uncomfortable drinking experience.

Hence, there is a requirement for a device which will help to reduce the risk of injury or infection to a person drinking from a beverage bottle whilst still providing a comfortable drinking experience for that person.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a drinking aid for attachment to a beverage bottle comprising, a tubular body having at one end an engagement region and at the other end a lip region, whereby in use, the engagement region engages with the neck of the bottle and the lip region is axially spaced from the engagement region, such that when the aid is engaged with the neck of the bottle the lip region is axially spaced therefrom.

As the lip region is axially spaced from the engagement region, the lip region does not need to encase the lip of the bottle. It can therefore be configured to have any profile to provide a comfortable drinking experience.

In a first embodiment, the engagement region is configured to engage with the outside of the neck of the beverage bottle.

Preferably, the engagement region has an internal profile complementary to the outside lip of the beverage bottle.

In an alternative embodiment, the engagement region engages with the inside of the neck of the beverage bottle.

In this embodiment it is preferable that the engagement region has an external profile complementary to the inside of the neck of a beverage bottle.

Advantageously, the external profile comprises at least one annular flange with a 'V' shaped cross-section.

For all embodiment it is preferable that the lip region has substantially the same profile as the lip of the beverage bottle.

To prevent the ingress of foreign bodies into a drink the drinking aid further comprises an ingress screen across the tubular body.

Alternatively, the drinking aid further comprises a ball valve within the tubular body.

Advantageously, the engagement region is made from a resiliently deformable material.

Preferably, the drinking aid is stackable.

A number of embodiments of a drinking aid in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - 4 Figure 1 shows a side view of a drinking aid in the form of a bottle extension piece according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line Z-Z of Figure 1 of the bottle extension piece according to the first embodiment; Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view of the bottle extension piece of the first embodiment fitted to the lip of a crown top bottle; Figure 4 shows a side view of a bottle extension piece according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 shows a crosssectional view taken along line Y-Y of Figure 4 of the bottle extension piece according to the second embodiment; Figure 6 shows a crosssectional view of the bottle extension piece according to the second embodiment fitted to the lip of a crown top bottle; Figure 7 shows a side view of a bottle extension piece according to a third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X of Figure 7 of the bottle extension piece according to the third embodiment; Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a bottle extension piece according to the third embodiment of the fitted to the lip of a crown top bottle; Figure 10 shows a side view of two bottle extension pieces, according to any of the first, second and third embodiments, stacked together; Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line W-W of Figure 10 of two stacked bottle extension pieces according to the first and second embodiments of the invention; Figure 12 shows a side view of a bottle extension piece according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of Figure 12 of the bottle extension piece according to the fourth embodiment; Figure 14 shows a cross-sectional view of the bottle extension piece according to the fourth embodiment fitted to the inside of the neck of a typical screw top bottle; Figure 15 shows a side view of a bottle extension piece according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 16 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line U-U of Figure 15 of the bottle extension piece according to the fifth embodiment; - 6 Figure 17 shows a cross-sectional view of the bottle extension piece of the fifth embodiment fitted to the inside of the neck of a typical screw top bottle; Figure 18 shows a side view of a bottle extension piece according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 19 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line T-T of Figure 18 of the bottle extension piece according to the sixth embodiment; Figure 20 shows a cross-sectional view of the bottle extension piece of the sixth embodiment fitted to the inside of the neck of a typical screw top bottle; Figure 21 shows a side view of two bottle extension pieces, according to any of the fourth, fifth or sixth embodiments, stacked together; and Figure 22 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line S-S of Figure 21 of two stacked bottle extension pieces according to the fourth and fifth embodiments of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the bottle extension piece is shown in Figure 1. In use, the bottle extension piece is fitted to the lip of a crown top bottle. The bottle extension piece locates and seals around the outside of the lip of the bottle. When a person drinks from the bottle their lips contact the bottle extension piece and do not touch the bottle itself. - 7

The bottle extension piece is tubular in construction, having a wall section with an external surface generally parallel to an internal surface. Provided adjacent to a lower edge of the bottle extension piece is an engagement region having an internal profiled section. The profile of this section is complementary to the external profile of the lip of a crown top bottle. This enables the bottle extension piece to be fitted over a crown top bottle and to seal with it. Provided adjacent to the upper edge of the bottle extension piece is a lip region having an external profiled section that is substantially the same as the external profile of the lip of a crown top bottle. This provides the bottle extension piece with the same shape lip as a conventional bottle and hence a person is able to drink comfortably from the bottle extension piece. In addition, this enables bottle extension pieces to be stacked together.

Figure 1 shows a side view of a bottle extension piece 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section along line Z-Z of Figure 1, where the bottle extension piece 1 is formed from a thick-walled tubular body 20. At one end, the tubular body is provided with an external lip region 30. In cross section, lip region 30 and tubular body 20 form a 'P' shaped profile. The internal surface of the tubular body 20 is continuous with the internal face of the 'P' section lip region 30 and the two are connected by a convex radius 31.

The top outer edge of the 'P' section lip region 30 is formed by two convex radii 32,33 which connect with the lower external surface of the 'P' section lip region 30which - 8 is formed by a convex radius 34 and a concave radius 35 and is continuous with the external surface of the tubular body 20.

At the other end, the tubular body 20 is provided with a 'C' section circular flange 40. The external surface of the circular flange 40 is continuous with the external surface of the tubular body 20.

A positive stop 50 is formed by a horizontal circular surface that connects the internal surface of the tubular body 20 to the internal surface of the circular flange 40.

The upper internal surface of the circular flange 40 is formed by two concave radii 43 and 44 and is connected to the lower internal face of the circular flange 40, which is formed by a concave radius 45 and a convex radius 46. The convex radius 46 connects with one edge of an internal conical chamfer 42.

The lower external surface of the circular flange 40 is formed by a convex radius 41 which is continuous with the external surface of the tubular body 20 and is connected to the other edge of the internal conical chamfer 42.

The internal surface of the tubular body 20 has a conical form widening towards the positive stop 50. It is envisaged that the internal surface may have other forms, for example it may be straight sided or have a conical form widening towards the lip region 30.

Figure 3 shows the bottle extension piece 1 of the first embodiment in use, attached to the lip of a bottleneck - 9 6. Preferably, the bottle extension piece 1 is made from a flexible plastic material and is designed in such a way that it can be easily fitted over the lip 80 of the bottleneck 6 with a simple pushing action.

The internal conical chamfer 42 is used to guide the bottle extension piece 1 over the top outer edge 60 of the bottle lip 80. The walls of the circular flange 40 expand until they have passed the widest part 61 of the bottle lip 80 and then the walls of the circular flange 40 contract and follow the profile of the lower external face 62 of the bottle lip 80.

The bottle extension piece 1 is pushed fully into position so that the positive stop 50 sits flush with the top 63 of the bottle lip 80. The bottle extension piece 1 is held in position by the concave radius 45 and the convex radius 46 of the circular flange 40. The internal profile of the circular flange 40 is designed to be an interference fit with the external profile of the bottle lip 80, thus providing a seal.

The removal of the bottle extension piece 1 from the bottleneck 6 is the reverse of the above procedure.

Figure 4 shows a side view of a bottle extension piece 2, according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 shows a cross-section along line Y - Y of Figure 4, where the bottle extension piece 2 has the same external profile as the bottle extension piece 1, but is in addition provided with an ingress screen 51. The lower surface of ingress screen 51 is formed by a wall running parallel to - 10 the surface forming the positive stop 50. The upper surface of the ingress screen 51 runs parallel to the lower surface and connects to the internal surface of the tubular body 20.

The ingress screen 51 has a number of orifices 52 which prevent foreign bodies from entering the bottle but allow beverages to leave the bottle.

Figure 6 shows the bottle extension piece 2 of Figure 5 in use, attached to the lip of a bottleneck 6. Preferably, the drinking aid 2 is made from a flexible plastic material and is designed in such a way that it can be easily fitted over the lip 80 of the bottleneck 6 with a simple pushing action.

15The internal conical chamfer 42 is used to guide the drinking aid 2 over the top outer edge 60 of the bottle lip 80. The walls of the circular flange 40 expand until they have passed the widest part 61 of the bottle lip 80 and then the walls of the circular flange 40 contracts and follow the profile of the lower external face 62 of the bottle lip 80.

The drinking aid 2 is pushed fully into position so that the positive stop 50 sits flush with the top 63 of the bottle lip 80. The drinking aid 2 is held in position by the concave radius 45 and the convex radius 46 of the circular flange 40. The internal profile of the circular flange 40 is designed to be an interference fit with the external profile of the bottle lip 80, thus providing a seal.

The removal of the drinking aid 2 from the bottleneck 6 is the reverse of the above procedure.

Figure 7 shows a side view of a bottle extension piece 3, according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 shows a cross-section along line X - X of Figure 7where the bottle extension piece 3 has the same external profile as the bottle extension piece 2 but is alternatively provided with a ball valve. To provide a seat for the the ball of the valve the internal surface of the tubular body 20 is formed from a curved face 36 which is connected at one end to the internal face of the 'P' section lip region 30 by a conical chamfer 37 and a convex radius 31.

The top outer edge of the 'P' section lip region 30 is formed by two convex radii 32,33 and is connected with the lower external face of the 'P' section lip region 30, which is formed by a convex radius 34 and a concave radius 35, and is continuous with the external surface of the tubular body 20.

A positive stop 50 is formed by a horizontal circular surface, which connects the inner surface of the circular flange 40 to the other end of the curved internal face 36, to form a seat for an ingress ball 70. The ingress ball 70 is spherical and hollow and made from a plastic material. It is dimensioned in such a way that it is contained between both ends of the curved face 36. The ingress ball 70, provides a barrier to objects entering the bottle. When the bottle is moved to a drinking position the ingress ball 70 will float into a chamber 71 (as shown in Figure 9), created by the curved face 36, allowing the contents of the bottle to flow out. - 12

Although the ingress ball valve 70 is shown spherical, it could be any suitable shape, e.g. elliptical.

Figure 9 shows the bottle extension piece 3 of Figure 8 in use, attached to the lip of a bottleneck 6. Preferably, the drinking aid 3 is made from a flexible plastic material and is designed in such a way that it can be easily fitted over the lip 80 of the bottleneck 6 with a simple pushing action.

The internal conical chamfer 42 is used to guide the drinking aid 3 over the top outer edge 60 of the bottle lip 80. The walls of the circular flange 40 expand until they have passed the widest part 61 of the bottle lip 80 and then the walls of the circular flange 40 contracts and follow the profile of the lower external face 62 of the bottle lip 80.

The drinking aid 3 is pushed fully into position so that the positive stop 50 sits flush with the top 63 of the bottle lip 80. The drinking aid 3 is held in position by the concave radius 45 and the convex radius 46 of the circular flange 40. The internal profile of the circular flange 40 is designed to be an interference fit with the external profile of the bottle lip 80, thus providing a seal.

The removal of the drinking aid 3 from the bottleneck 6 is the reverse of the above procedure.

Figure 10 shows a side view of a bottle extension piece 1, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, fitted to a bottle extension piece 2,3 according to the second or third embodiment of the present invention. - 13

Figure 11 shows a cross-section along line W - W of Figure lOwhere a bottle extension piece 2,3 shown in Figure and Figure 8 is fitted in a stacked position to the bottle extension piece 1. The bottle extension pieces 1,2,3 are preferably made from a flexible plastic material and are designed in such a way that they can be easily fitted to each other by a simple pushing action.

The internal conical chamfer 42 provided on the bottle extension piece 2, 3 is used to guide the bottle extension piece 2,3 over the top outer edge of the lip region 30 of the bottle extension piece 1. The walls of the circular flange 40 expand until they have passed the widest part 81 of the lip region 30 of the bottle extension piece 1 and then the walls of the circular flange 40 contract following the profile of the lower external face 82 of the lip region of the bottle extension piece 1.

The bottle extension piece 2,3 is pushed fully into position until the positive stop 50 sits flush with the top 83 of the lip region 30 of the bottle extension piece 1. The bottle extension piece 2,3 is held in position by the concave radius 45 and the convex radius 46 of the circular flange 40. The internal surface of the flange 40 is designed to be an interference fit with the widest part 81 of the lip of the bottle extension piece 1, thus providing a seal.

Alternatively, bottle extension pieces 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, can be stacked to one another, or the bottle extension pieces 2,3, according to the second or third embodiments of the present invention can be stacked to one another. - 14

The removal of the bottle extension pieces 1, 2, 3 from each other is the reverse of the attachment procedure.

Figure 12 shows a side view of a bottle extension piece 4, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 13 shows a cross-section along line V - V of Figure 12where the bottle extension piece 4 is formed from a tubular body 20. At one end, the tubular body 20 is provided with an external lip region 30. In crosssection, lip region 30 and tubular body 20 form a 'P' shaped profile. The internal surface of the tubular body 20 is continuous with the internal face of the 'P' section lip region 30 and the two are connected by a convex radius 31.

The top outer edge of the 'P' section lip region 30 is formed by two convex radii 32,33 which are continuous with the lower external face of the 'P' section lip region 30, which is formed by a convex radius 34 and a concave radius 35, continuous with the external surface of the tubular body 20.

At the other end, the tubular body 20 is provided with a cylindrical flange 90. The internal surface of the cylindrical flange 90 is connected to the internal surface of the tubular body 20 by a horizontal circular surface 91.

The cylindrical flange 90 has a number of annular flanges 'V' shaped cross-section 92 axially spaced along its external surface. -

A positive stop 93 is formed by a horizontal circular surface that connects the external surface of the tubular body 20 to one end of the external surface of the cylindrical flange 90, via a convex radius 94.

Figure 14 shows the bottle extension piece 4 of Figure 13 in use, fitted inside a bottleneck 7. The bottle extension piece 4 is preferably made from a flexible plastic material and is designed in such a way that it can be easily fitted to the inside of the neck of a bottle 100 by a simple pushing action.

The bottle extension piece 4 is pushed fully into position until a horizontal circular positive stop 93 sits flush with the top 103 of the bottle. The bottle extension piece 4 is held in position by a number of flanges of 'V' shaped cross-section 92. The annular 'V' profiles 92 are used to guide the bottle extension piece 4 into the top inner edge of the bottle lip 101, and contract along with the wall of the cylindrical flange 90, following the internal profile of the bottle neck 100. The flanges of 'V' shaped cross-section 92 are designed to be an interference fit with the inside of the bottle neck 100, thus providing a seal.

The removal of the bottle extension piece 4 from the bottleneck 7 is the reverse of the above procedure.

Figure 15 shows a side view of a bottle extension piece 5 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 16 shows a cross-section along line U - U of Figure 15where the bottle extension piece 5 has the same external profile as the bottle extension pieces 4, but is in addition provided with an ingress screen 111. The lower surface of ingress screen 111 is formed by a wall running parallel to the surface forming the positive stop. On the other side the ingress screen 111 runs parallel to the lower surface and connects to the internal surface of the tubular body 20. The ingress screen 111 has a number of orifices 112 which prevent foreign bodies from entering the bottle but allow beverages to leave the bottle.

Figure 17 shows the bottle extension piece 5 of Figure 16 in use, fitted inside a bottleneck 7. The drinking aid 5 is preferably made from a flexible plastic material and is designed in such a way that it can be easily fitted to the inside of the neck of a bottle 100 by a simple pushing action.

The drinking aid 5 is pushed fully into position until a horizontal circular positive stop 93 sits flush with the top 103 of the bottle. The drinking aid 5 is held in position by a number of flanges of iV' shaped cross-section 92. The annular 'V' profiles 92 are used to guide the drinking aid 5 into the top inner edge of the bottle lip 101, and contract along with the wall of the cylindrical flange 90, following the internal profile of the bottle neck 100. The flanges of 'V' shaped cross-section 92 are designed to be an interference fit with the inside of the bottleneck 100, thus providing a seal. - 17

Figure 18 shows a side view of a bottle extension piece 6 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 19 shows a cross-section along line T - T of Figure 18where the bottle extension piece 6 has the same external profile as the bottle extension pieces 5, but is alternatively provided with a ball value. To provide a seat for the ball of the valve the internal surface of the tubular body 20 is formed from a curved face 38 which is connected at one end to the internal face of the 'P' section lip region 30 by a conical chamfer 37 and a convex radius 31.

The top outer edge of the 'P' section lip region 30 is formed by two external radii 32,33 and is connected with the lower external face of the 'P' section lip region 30, which is formed by an convex radius 34 and an concave radius 35, and is continuous with the external surface of the tubular body 20.

At the other end of the tubular body 20 is formed a cylindrical flange 90. The inner surface of the cylindrical flange 90 is connected to a horizontal circular surface 95 which connects to one end of the curved face 38 to form a seat for an ingress ball 70. The ingress ball 70 is spherical and hollow and is made from flexible plastic material. It is dimensioned in such a way that it is contained between both ends of the curved face 38.

The ingress ball 70, provides a barrier to objects entering the bottle. When the bottle is moved to a drinking position the ingress ball 70 will float into a chamber 71 - 18 (as shown in Figure 20), created by the curved face 36, allowing the contents of the bottle to flow out.

The cylindrical flange 90 has a number of annular flanges 'V' shaped cross-section 92 axially spaced along its external surface.

A positive stop 93 is formed by a horizontal circular surface that connects the external surface of the tubular body 20 to one end of the external surface of the cylindrical flange 90, via a convex radius 36.

Again, the ingress ball valve could be any suitable shape, e.g. elliptical.

Figure 20 shows the bottle extension piece 6 Figure 19 in use, fitted inside a bottleneck 7. The drinking aid 6 is preferably made from a flexible plastic material and is designed in such a way that it can be easily fitted to the inside of the neck of a bottle 100 by a simple pushing action.

The drinking aid 6 is pushed fully into position until a horizontal circular positive stop 93 sits flush with the top 103 of the bottle. The drinking aid 6 is held in position by a number of flanges of 'V' shaped cross-section 92. The annular 'V' profiles 92 are used to guide the drinking aid 6 into the top inner edge of the bottle lip lol, and contract along with the wall of the cylindrical flange 90, following the internal profile of the bottleneck loo. The flanges of v' shaped cross-section 92 are designed - 19 to be an interference fit with the inside of the bottleneck 100, thus providing a seal.

The removal of the drinking aid 6 from the bottleneck 7 is the reverse of the above procedure.

Figure 21 shows a side view of the bottle extension piece 4, in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention, fitted to a bottle extension piece 5, in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention.

Figure 22 shows a cross-section along line S - S of Figure 21 where the bottle extension piece 5, shown in Figure 16, is fitted in a stacked position to the bottle extension piece 4. The bottle extension pieces 4,5 are made from a flexible plastic material and are designed in such a way that they can be easily fitted to each other by a simple pushing action.

The bottle extension piece 5 is pushed fully into position until it sits flush with the top of the lip 113 of the bottle extension piece 4 by a horizontal circular positive stop 93. The bottle extension piece 5 is held in position by a number of annular flanges of 'V' shaped cross section 92. The annular flanges of 'V' shaped cross-section 92 are used to guide the bottle extension piece 5 into the top inner edge of the lip 114 of the bottle extension piece, and contract along with the walls of the cylindrical flange following the internal profile of the bottle extension piece. The annular flanges of 'V' shaped cross-section 92 are designed to be an interference fit to the inside of the bottle extension piece 4 thus providing a seal.

Alternatively bottle extension pieces 4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention can be stacked to one anotheror the bottle extension pieces 5 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention can be stacked to one another.

The removal of the bottle extension pieces 4,5 from each other is the reverse of the above procedure.

In addition to providing a safer means for drinking from crown or screw top bottles, bottle extension pieces according to the present invention may be used as advertising devices.

The extension pieces are designed so that there is sufficient surface area between the lip region 30 and the circular or cylindrical flange 40, 90 to enable text and graphics pertaining to manufacturers' products to be located thereon.

To supplement the taste of a beverage being consumed through a bottle extension piece, the bottle extension piece may be impregnated with a taste additive during or after manufacture.

In addition, to supplement the experience of a beverage being consumed the drinking aid may be impregnated with an aromatic additive during or after manufacture.

The skilled reader will realise that a number of modifications or variations to the precise details described - 21 herein may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. - 22

Claims (12)

1. A drinking aid for attachment to a beverage bottle comprising, a tubular body having at one end an engagement region and at the other end a lip region, whereby in use, the engagement region engages with the neck of the bottle and the lip region is axially spaced from the engagement region, such that when the aid is engaged with the neck of the bottle the lip region is axially spaced therefrom.

2. A drinking aid according to claim 1, wherein the engagement region is configured to engage with the outside of the neck of the beverage bottle.

3. A drinking aid according to claim 2, wherein the engagement region has an internal profile complementary to the outside lip of the beverage bottle.

4. A drinking aid according to claim 1, wherein the engagement region engages with the inside of the neck of the beverage bottle.

5. A drinking aid according to claim 4, wherein the engagement region has an external profile complementary to the inside of the neck of a beverage bottle.

6. A drinking aid according to claim 5, wherein the external profile comprises at least one annular flange with a 'V' shaped cross-section. 23

7. A drinking aid according to any preceding claim, wherein the lip region has substantially the same profile as the lip of the beverage bottle.

8. A drinking aid according to any preceding claim, further comprising an ingress screen across the tubular body.

9. A drinking aid according to any preceding claim, further comprising a ball valve within the tubular body.

10. A drinking aid according to any preceding claim, wherein the engagement region is made from a resiliently deformable material.

11. A drinking aid according to any preceding claim which is stackable.

12. A drinking aid substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A drinking aid according to any preceding claim, impregnated with a taste additive.

13. A drinking aid according to any preceding claim, impregnated with an aromatic additive.

14. A drinking aid substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 de .e - . Amendments to the claims have been fled as follows 1. A drinking aid for attachment to a beverage bottle comprising, a tubular body having at one end an engagement region and at the other end a lip region having substantially the same size and profile as the lip of the beverage bottle, whereby in use, the engagement region engages with the neck of the bottle and the lip region is axially spaced from the engagement region, such that when the aid is engaged with the neck of the bottle the lip region is axially spaced therefrom.

2. A drinking aid according to claim 1, wherein the engagement region is configured to engage with the outside of the neck of the beverage bottle.

3. A drinking aid according to claim 2, wherein the engagement region has an internal profile complementary to the outside lip of the beverage bottle.

4. A drinking aid according to claim 1, wherein the engagement region engages with the inside of the neck of the beverage bottle.

5. A drinking aid according to claim 4, wherein the engagement region has an external profile complementary to the inside of the neck of a beverage bottle.

6. A drinking aid according to claim 5, wherein the external profile comprises at least one annular flange with a 'V' shaped cross-section. 8 8 1

8 8 8 8 8 r t 8 t 8 e 8 1 e 18 8 1 1118 8 C e 8 8 _ t25 7. A drinking aid according to any preceding claim, wherein the lip region has substantially the same profile as the lip of the beverage bottle.

8. A drinking aid according to any preceding claim, further comprising an ingress screen across the tubular body.

9. A drinking aid according to any preceding claim, further comprising a ball valve within the tubular body.

10. A drinking aid according to any preceding claim, wherein the engagement region is made from a resiliently deformable material.

11. A drinking aid according to any preceding claim which is stackable.