GB2609455A

GB2609455A - Reusable bottle

Info

Publication number: GB2609455A
Application number: GB2111092.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cottom Jonathan
Original assignee: Breakbottle Ltd
Current assignee: Breakbottle Ltd
Priority date: 2021-08-02
Filing date: 2021-08-02
Publication date: 2023-02-08
Also published as: GB202111092D0

Abstract

A bottle 1 for a beverage comprising a body with an opening, a cap 2 with a cap seal 9, a hinge 4 mounting the cap to the body that biases the cap to an open position, and a catch 12 on the opposite side of the hinge which releasably secures the cap. There may be an indent 5 on the body for supporting the cap, and the cap and hinge may be one component. The bottle may have a neck 3 with a neck seal 14 that may be circular. The cap may cover the entire top of the body and may have a protrusion 11 that may engage with the clasp 10 on the catch which may be released by a button 13. The hinge may be a living hinge that may be of a polymer material that may attach to the bottle body. The opening may have a drinking portion 7 such as a spout, nozzle, or valve. A lower portion 16 may be separated from the bottle that may be connected by a threaded portion 15 along with a seal 17.

Description

Reusable Bottle This invention pertains generally to the field of reusable bottles and in particular, reusable drinking bottles that facilitate ease of cleaning.

For environmental reasons, many consumers look for ways to reduce their plastic consumption. One way to reduce plastic waste is to make use of reusable drinking bottles for beverages rather than buying single use plastic bottles. But reusing a bottle may present hygiene issues if a user fails to thoroughly clean the bottle and cap between each use. Bacteria and other contaminants typically collect in hard-to-reach parts, such as a threaded neck or cap, flip top spouts, valves, buttons, other lid components or the bottle interior. If these parts are not thoroughly cleaned, it is easy for these contaminants to be ingested by the user when they drink from the bottle.

Reusable bottles are typically used to carry water for drinking, but may also be used for sugary drinks, milk-based drinks, and other beverages. These bottles may be used a number of times a day, when a user would like to have a drink, or for refilling purposes. Every time the cap is removed from the bottle, there is a risk of contamination. The user's hands may make contact with the spout or lip, or the region where their mouth will make contact to have a drink. Any contaminants on a person's hand may transfer to the bottle, close to, or in contact with, the spout.

Some of the bottles that are on the market comprise a cap or lid that does not wholly cover or protect the spout or lip engaging region. This spout may come into contact with all sorts of contaminants, and present the same hygiene issues.

As many bottles comprise a lid which is not secured to the bottle body, during storage the bottle lid is closed and fixed to the bottle body to ensure that the lid does not get misplaced. Many bottles also comprise a narrow neck and no means to access the bottle interior. These both reduce air flow to the bottle interior which increases the likelihood that the interior does not readily dry, allowing for an environment which facilitates bacterial build up which may be harmful to the user.

Some of the bottles have a lid which is secured to the bottle body, however the method of securing the lid to the bottle, for example a hinge mechanism, is hard to clean, or increases the likelihood of contaminants building up near the spout or lip engaging region. These types of bottles may also have a lid which either falls back towards the closed position when upended or is not kept sufficiently far from the drinking area, meaning the lid may come into contact with the user's face during drinking which is not desirable.

Typically, the seals used in other bottles on the market constitute a seal which is separate from the bottle body, such as in the form of a washer. This means that the seal area, including any space between any bottle and seal, can be both hard to clean and hard to dry, resulting in a potential for contaminant build up.

There is a need for a reusable bottle that is easy to clean, and does not comprise any small spaces or grooves, in and around the lip engaging region, that are difficult to reach when cleaning. There is a need for a reusable bottle that prevents the build-up of contaminants during filling, and also with each drink, and therefore when the cap is removed and replaced, whilst also providing protection when stored.

The prior art shows a number of devices which attempt to address these needs in various ways.

JP 2007 338 609 (Tiger Vacuum Bottle Co Ltd) discloses a bottle cap and flip top bottle which looks to reduce the number of components, facilitate their assembly and disassembly and facilitate the maintenance of all the components. In this manner, it achieves a lid interior and spout area that is more easily cleaned than many bottles with a mechanism of opening which reduces the likelihood that contaminants are introduced or built up. By having the lid secured to the bottle body, it is possible to store the bottle in the open configuration, allowing for effective drying of the interior. It does however have a number of grooves and hinges which may result in a build-up of contaminants in these areas.

JP 2004 115 537 (Tiger Vacuum Bottle Co Ltd) discloses a lid designed to provide direct access with a single push. A drinking mouth is formed integrally with the inner lid member and a handle provided near the hinge of the lid of the inner lid member. This reduces the contact of a user's hand with the drinking area by reducing the interaction required to open it and by providing a handle away from the drinking area for regular holding. The hinge itself does however have several hard to reach and therefore hard to clean areas, and the lid is not kept away from the user's face during use.

CN 201 921 433 040U (Zhejiang Hejia Ind & Trade Co Ltd) discloses a rotating rail pop-lid cup, comprising a bottle body, whereby a bottle cap assembly is provided on the top of the bottle body. This provides a means to remove and clean the lid separately and ensure that any harder to reach or clean areas are away from the user's face. These areas can therefore be cleaned more easily.

However, there may be some build up of matter in between the cleans or in between uses due to the areas in which moisture and other contaminants may accumulate, such as between spout and rotary lid attachment.

JP 2008 125 954 (Tiger Vacuum Bottle Co Ltd) discloses a portable vacuum double bottle which is capable of singly attaching/detaching a lid body together with a plurality of washable plug members, and capable of keeping cleanliness for a long period of time. By having a design which facilitates easy disassembly, the bottle facilitates easier and more effective cleaning of the spout area. The external release button also helps, however it does require disassembly which is unlikely to be performed between uses or as often. The underside of the lid appears to have a number of grooves which may accumulate moisture and other contaminants through normal use.

KR 2007 001 69121J discloses a portable water bottle which can be easily cleaned by means of being separated into upper and lower portions, detachable on one side, or separated from upper and lower surfaces. The invention relates to a detachable water bottle structure in which the inner surface of a water bottle is coated with a silver material for a more complete antibacterial treatment to provide a portable water bottle having a complete antibacterial treatment effect.

Whilst the prior art appears to address the issue of ease of cleaning, by minimising number of parts where possible, and reducing the number of grooves, joins or small spaces between these parts or within any mechanisms, or by allowing the bottle body to be separated, it does not wholly address this issue as there are still regions where contamination may present a problem. Whilst the prior art appears to address the issue of being able to store the bottle in an inverted position, with lid removed, to allow for the insides to completely dry between each use, removal of the lid presents its own issues with it becoming misplaced. Finally, whilst the prior art attempts to address the issue of minimising or preventing contact with any lip engaging portions, by a user's hand or otherwise, there are still mechanisms that require close contact with these regions in order to drink from the bottle.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a reusable bottle with a bottle lid that can offer an opening mechanism that minimises the exposure of the spout, or lip engaging region, to external contaminants, whilst allows for ease of cleaning in all areas in the proximity of this region, and of the bottle interior. Preferred embodiments also aim to provide a reusable bottle with little to no grooves or spaces that are hard-to-reach when cleaning, and where contaminants can easily become trapped.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bottle for a beverage, the bottle comprising: a bottle body with an opening; a cap for covering the opening, said cap being movable between an open position revealing the opening and a closed position covering the opening; a hinge for hingedly mounting the cap to the bottle body, said hinge biassing the cap in an open position; and, a catch on the opposite side of the bottle body to the hinge, said catch adapted to releasably secure the cap in a closed position; whereby the cap incorporates a cap seal adapted to seal the opening in a closed position.

Preferably, the bottle body may incorporate an indent in a side wall for supporting the cap in the open position.

Preferably, the bottle body may comprise a neck, and the neck may incorporate a neck seal adapted to abut the inside wall of the cap throughout the periphery of the neck when the cap is in a closed position.

Preferably, the clasp may comprise a catch on the side of the bottle body for releasably securing the cap in a closed position.

The cap may incorporate a protrusion for engaging with the catch. Both catch and protrusion may comprise a plastics material.

The clasp may incorporate a button for releasing the cap from the catch.

The hinge may be a living hinge.

Preferably, the hinge may comprise a thin, flexible polymer material.

The hinge may be permanently secured to the bottle body by a fastening means.

Preferably, the opening may incorporate a lip engaging portion.

The lip engaging portion may comprise one of the following: a spout, a nozzle, a valve.

The cap seal may comprise a ring shape.

The neck seal may comprise a ring shape.

The cap seal may comprise a resilient material.

Preferably, the cap may be configured to cover the entire top of the bottle body.

The bottle body may be adapted to separate into an upper portion and a lower portion.

The upper portion and the lower portion may be releasably secured to each other by a threaded portion.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows one embodiment of a bottle, showing a cap biased in an open position by a hinge; Figure 2 shows the bottle of Figure 1, showing the cap in a closed position, releasably secured to the bottle by a catch; Figure 3 shows the bottle of Figure 1 from above, showing one embodiment of catch with button release mechanism; Figure 4 shows the bottle of Figure 1 from above, showing one embodiment of a cap seal and a neck seal; Figure 5 shows the bottle of Figure 2 in section view with the cap in a closed position, with the section taken along line A-A, showing the cap seal engaging with the neck seal; Figure 6 shows the section view of Figure 5, with the cap in an open position; and, Figure 7 shows the bottle of Figure 5 with the upper and lower parts of the bottle body when split into two.

In the figures like references denote like or corresponding parts.

It is to be understood that the various features that are described in the following and/or illustrated in the drawings are preferred but not essential. Combinations of features described and/or illustrated are not considered to be the only possible combinations. Unless stated to the contrary, individual features may be omitted, varied or combined in different combinations, where practical.

Figure 1 shows a bottle 1 for containing a liquid, such as water. The bottle 1 incorporates a cap 2 for engaging with a neck 3 to cover an opening from which the bottle 1 can be filled and emptied. The cap 2 is hinged ly connected to the body of the bottle 1 such that the cap 2 is permanently secured to the bottle 1. The cap 2 can therefore not be misplaced or lost. The cap 2 is hingedly connected by a hinge 4. This hinge 4 may be a living hinge or integral hinge, made from a thin flexible material, that connects the two rigid elements of cap 2 and bottle 1 together. The hinge 4 may comprise a completely smooth surface, without any grooves or joints where dirt, bacteria or other contaminants may lodge.

The hinge 4 is configured such that it is biased in the open position, where the cap 2 is removed from the bottle 1. To support the cap 2 in this open position, the body of the bottle may incorporate an indent 5, shaped to allow the cap 2 to rest up against it. The hinge 4 is permanently secured to the body of the bottle 1 through a fastening means 6. This fastening means 6 must be sufficiently durable and secure to cope with the movement of the hinge 4 when flexing the cap 2 back onto the neck 3 of the bottle 1.

The cap 2 is configured such that when in a closed position, covering the opening of the bottle 1, the cap 2 wholly covers any lip engaging portions] of the opening of the bottle 1, protecting these from coming into contact with any foreign bodies, airborne particles, bacteria and suchlike. The cap 2, in one embodiment, may wholly cover the entire upper end of the bottle 1. The lip engaging portion 7 may comprise a spout, or alternatively it may comprise a nozzle, valve or other device through which a person engages their lips to drink from the bottle 1. The bottle 1 may incorporate a grip 8 to ensure user comfort when held in the hand. The grip 8 may comprise all or part of the indent 5, or it may be a separate groove or region, designed to help a user to grip the bottle when in use.

Figure 2 shows the cap 2 in a closed position, covering the entire spout or lip engaging portion 7 of the bottle 1. The hinge 4 is flexed to carry the cap 2 into position on the top of the bottle 1, where the cap 2 engages with the neck 3 or the shoulder of the bottle 1. The hinge 4 is biased to urge the cap 2 to return to its open position, and therefore the bottle 1 incorporates a clasp 10, as shown in Figure 3, to hold the cap 2 in a closed position covering the opening and lip engaging portion 7 of the bottle 1. The clasp 10 may comprise a catch 12 operated by a button 13. The location of the button 13 is away from the lip engaging portion 7 of the bottle 1, to reduce the likelihood that a user's hands come into contact with the lip engaging portion 7 when using the button 13. The cap 2 may comprise a corresponding ridge or protrusion 11 that is configured to engage with the catch 12. Upon closing the cap 2 over the top of the bottle 1, light pressure urges the protrusion 11 into the catch 12 where it is retained, holding the cap 2 in a closed position.

To open the bottle 1, the user depresses the button 13 to move the catch 12 and disengage the protrusion 11. The hinge 4, being biased to return the cap 2 to an open position, upon disengagement of the clasp 10, urges the cap 2 to return to the open position, where the cap 2 sits within the indent 5 in the body of the bottle 1.

Figure 4 shows the sealing means that ensures that the bottle 1 is watertight when in use. There is a cap seal 9 within the cap 2, shown as a washer or ring-shape, but may be an alternative shape. The neck 3 of the bottle 1 has a neck seal 14 about its periphery. This double seal arrangement prevents liquid leaking from the bottle 1, whilst also preventing the entry of any particulate matter or contaminants into the bottle land away from the lip engaging portion 7. The cap seal 9 is made from a suitable resilient material, and is of such a shape so as to wholly cover the opening to the bottle 1, or a rim of any spout or lip engaging I0 portion 7. The resilience of the cap seal 9 of the cap 2 distorts under pressure to form a tight seal with the lip engaging portion 7. The neck seal 14 may also be formed from suitably resilient material such that when the cap 2 is in a closed position, the neck seal 14 abuts an inside wall of the cap 2, throughout the periphery of the neck 3. The neck seal 14 therefore forms a further seal, or further wall to stop liquid escaping from the bottle 1, whilst also preventing the entry of any contaminants. This double seal arrangement is thought to provide a double barrier against leakage from the bottle 1, and against entry of any contaminants to the bottle 1.

Figure 5 shows a section view along section line A-A of Figure 3, showing the location of the cap seal 9 and the neck seal 14 when the cap 2 is in a closed configuration. Figure 6 shows the same section view, but with the cap 2 in an open configuration. The double seal arrangement provides a double barrier for entry into the bottle 1. The bottle 1 may come apart in the middle of the bottle body, forming a lower portion 16 that can be removed from the bottle 1 for cleaning purposes. The lower portion 16 of the bottle 1 may be separated from the bottle 1 by means of releasing a fastener 15 located in the middle of the bottle. This fastener 15 may be a screw thread, or other means, to allow for a bottle seal 17 between the bottle 1 and the lower portion 16 of the bottle 1 to be watertight when engaged. The fastener 15, as well as the rest of the interior of the bottle 1, is formed in such a way to allow for ease of cleaning to ensure a completely smooth surface for the entire interior of the bottle 1, without any grooves or joins where dirt, bacteria or other contaminants may lodge.

Figure 7 shows a section view along section line A-A of Figure 3 when the cap 2 is in a closed configuration, showing the lower portion 16 of the bottle 1 separated from the bottle 1.

II

The bottle 1 is typically a reusable bottle, intended for repeated reuse and refilling with water and other liquids. The hinge 4, cap 2 and cap seal 9 may be formed integrally with one another to facilitate ease of cleaning and minimise exposure to external contaminants. Further, the neck seal 14 provides an additional seal to prevent external contamination, which is also easy to access for cleaning purposes.

The hinge 4 is formed of such material, shape and thickness that it returns to its original U-shaped moulded form when in the open configuration, and due to its elasticity exerts sufficient mechanical force to prevent closing or falling due to gravity. In this way, even if the user were to upend the bottle 1, the position of the cap 2 is retained in the indent 5 within the side wall of the body of the bottle 1, preventing the cap 2 from falling away from the bottle 1, or falling onto the user when taking a drink from the bottle 1.

The hinge 4 may be composed in such material and configuration as to allow for ease of cleaning with no areas that are difficult to reach, primarily by consisting of a single band of material which itself is easily cleaned. The hinge 4 may comprise a plastics material and the hinge 4, cap 2 and cap seal 9 may be formed by injection moulding. In this case, the hinge 4, part of the cap 2 and cap seal 9 may be formed integrally with one another and through one moulding process.

The hinge 4 controls the movement of the cap 2 when being moved by a user into a closed position, and assists with alignment of the cap 2 to secure the clasp 10. The clasp 10, when retaining the cap 2 in a closed position, ensures alignment of the cap seal 9 and the neck seal 14.

The cap seal 9 prevents liquids from dispensing from the bottle interior.

The cap seal 9 is composed in such material, position and design to ensure that the inside of the cap 2 is easy to clean and does not harbour moisture or external contaminants. Likewise, the neck seal 14 is composed of such material, position and design to prevent external contaminants from reaching the lip engaging portion 7 whilst ensuring that the neck seal 14 and the overall lip engaging portion 7 is easy to clean and does not harbour moisture or external contaminants.

The lip engaging portion] is composed in material and design of elements which facilitate ease of cleaning, reducing any grooves on the inner and outer surfaces of the spout, including screw threads.

The hinge 4 may comprise a material which facilitates ease of cleaning and therefore be smooth, non-porous and heat and chemical resistant. The gap created between the hinge 4 and the bottle 1 adjacent to the fastening means 6 is sufficiently large to allow for ease of cleaning and prevent dirt, water and bacterial build up.

The bottle 1 and bottle lower portion 16 may comprise materials which facilitate ease of cleaning and therefore be smooth, non-porous and heat and chemical resistant. The bottle 1 and the bottle lower portion 16 may comprise of the same material or be made from different materials, including but not limited to plastics, metal or some combination of these two. The catch 12 and protrusion 11 may comprise a plastics material. The clasp 10 may be covered by a flexible polymer or silicone material. The hinge 4 may comprise a single polymer, a copolymer, a composite polymer or alternative material that is capable of providing the hinge 4. The lip engaging portion 7 may comprise a plastics material, or other suitable material, which may incorporate anti-microbial additives. The cap seal 9 may comprise the same, or similar, material to the hinge 4, and the cap seal 9 and hinge 4 may be formed from one piece, by injection moulding, not shown.

The cap 2 may comprise any suitable material such as plastics, stainless steel or other metals, or a combination of these. The bottle body may comprise plastic material, stainless steel, glass, or a combination of these.

In this specification, the verb "comprise" has its normal dictionary meaning, to denote non-exclusive inclusion. That is, use of the word "comprise" (or any of its derivatives) to include one feature or more, does not exclude the possibility of also including further features. The word "preferable" (or any of its derivatives) indicates one feature or more that is preferred but not essential.

All or any of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all or any of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A bottle for a beverage, the bottle comprising: - a bottle body with an opening; - a cap for covering the opening, said cap being movable between an open position revealing the opening and a closed position covering the opening; - a hinge for hingedly mounting the cap to the bottle body, said hinge biassing the cap in an open position; and, -a catch on the opposite side of the bottle body to the hinge, said catch adapted to releasably secure the cap in a closed position; whereby the cap incorporates a cap seal adapted to seal the opening in a closed position. 2 4. 5.
A bottle according to claim 1, wherein the bottle body incorporates an indent in a side wall for supporting the cap up against the bottle body in the open position.
A bottle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottle body comprises a neck, and the neck incorporates a neck seal adapted to abut the inside wall of the cap throughout the periphery of the neck when the cap is in a closed position.
A bottle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the clasp comprises a catch on the side of the bottle body for releasably securing the cap in a closed position.
A bottle according to claim 4, wherein the cap incorporates a protrusion for engaging with the catch.
6. A bottle according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the clasp incorporates a button for releasing the cap from the catch.
7. A bottle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hinge is a living hinge.
8. A bottle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hinge comprises a thin, flexible polymer material.
9. A bottle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hinge is permanently secured to the bottle body by a fastening means.
10. A bottle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the opening incorporates a lip engaging portion.
11. A bottle according to claim 10, wherein the lip engaging portion comprises one of the following: a spout, a nozzle, a valve.
12. A bottle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cap seal comprises a ring shape.
13. A bottle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the neck seal comprises a ring shape.
14. A bottle according to any of the preceding claims wherein the cap seal and the hinge are formed from one piece.
15. A bottle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cap is configured to cover the entire top end of the bottle body.
16. A bottle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottle body is adapted to separate into an upper portion and a lower portion.
17. A bottle according to claim 16, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are releasably secured to each other by a threaded portion.
18. A bottle according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the upper portion and/or the lower portion are provided with at least one seal configured to seal the joint therebetween.
19. A bottle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.