JP2020531370A - Sports bottle cap - Google Patents

Abstract

The sports bottle cap (100) for the sports bottle (1) is: -at least one injection opening (21) in the base plate (11) surrounded by a raised edge (15) and-a flexible beverage tube ( 23), the beverage tube (23) comprising a flexible beverage tube, comprising an internal flow channel (24) that can be locked by bending the flexible beverage tube (23), is a base element (10). ) Are held in a guide element (30) pivotally mounted on top. If the beverage tube (23) is bent, it can be easily stored in a receiving space (14) surrounded by an edge (15). An releaseable lock is provided that holds the guide element (30) in the locking position against the restoring force of the bent beverage tube (23).

Description

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

Such a sports bottle cap is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The spout is designed as a flexible plastic tube that can be bent to close the internal flow channel. The bending position of the tube, which by itself guarantees the tightness of the sports bottle cap, is secured by a cap that can be locked to the bottom of the sports bottle cap by a click-in connection. When the cap is released and bent back, the spout can return to its original shape by elastic restoring force and the internal flow channel is released again. Such sports bottle caps are specifically intended for use during sporting activities that are intended to be drunk directly from the bottle through the spout, also called drinking snorkel. For this purpose, the operation should be as simple as possible and should be possible with one hand. A drawback of known sports bottle caps is that the pivot cap, which also acts as a lock, is an obstacle. When drinking through the spout, this must be held down with one finger.

European Patent No. 2532601

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sports bottle cap with a spout that bends and holds it in a bent position and thus does not require an additional cap to create a sealed closure.

According to the present invention, this object is provided by a sports bottle cap with the features of claim 1, in particular within a guide element in which the spout is pivotally and / or shiftably mounted on the base element. Achieved by being held and by being able to store the bent spout in a receiving space surrounded by edges.

In contrast to the prior art in which the receiving space for the spout is formed in the cavity below the cap, the receiving space is formed directly on the base portion according to the present invention. The spout is fixed in the bent position via a guide element located in the locking position at the top of the receiving space. According to the present invention, the spout is not only projected from the base element, but also held inside the guide element by its defined lateral bearing points. Therefore, a defined bend point of the elastic spout is provided.

The guide element, in contrast to the spout, is characterized in that it is rigid and thus forces the flexible spout into a locking position and holds it in place. The guide element is preferably U-shaped in cross section and accommodates the end region of the spout within the open profile.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide element is further arranged in relation to the position of the exit opening in the base element so that double bends occur. This creates an S-shaped swell configuration of the spout when viewed from the side, whereby the inner beverage channel is equally blocked at two points and a fixed seal is achieved.

The interaction between the position of the guide element and the elasticity of the spout is also essential to the present invention. The guide element is pushed down, for example by the thumb, and tilts forward, thereby catching the spout. The restoring force resulting from the previous deformation of the depressed spout is used in all preferred embodiments of the invention to lock the locking position after being set by the user.

In some embodiments of the invention, the hinge points of the guide elements are intended to reach a horizontal position when shifted. This is achieved by guiding the sliding elements to the rails, which allows for linear retreat. This means that the user can easily pull back the guide element, i.e., pull it outward in the radial direction after pushing down on the spout, where the guide element is blocked by the unlock button and therefore. Hold the bent spout down. The locking position of the guide element is held by the fact that it is tilted and the spring force of the deformed spout presses the guide element firmly against the release button.

To re-drink from the bottle, the user only needs to push the guide element slightly forward, which disengages the release button. The slight pressure with which the lock is released also pushes the guide protrusion on the guide carriage back into the sliding element, which causes the guide element to straighten as a result of the resilience reset of the spout. Can be done. The user then pushes the guide element forward again, thereby bending the spout and returning the guide element to its locking position.

To provide greater protection against unintentional opening and unintentional leakage of beverages, a safety slide is preferably provided in all embodiments, the safety slide can be moved to a position above the receiving space. Here, it additionally locks the bent spout and / or secures the guide element, for example by forming a click-in connection with the guide carriage.

Since the locking slide can only move in translation, the guide element cannot tilt as long as it is engaged with the locking slide. Instead, to release it, the user first allows the locking slide to be returned to the outer position to move the guide element and spout, and then the escape of the guide element already described above. You have to exercise.

Another advantage of the sports bottle cap according to the invention is the combination of the pivotal movement of the guide element, which brings the guide element to a horizontal position where the spout is disengaged from the clamp, and the subsequent linear deformation for fixation. This combination ensures a self-locking transport position, which can be released simply by shifting.

In some embodiments, the shift action can be performed by the user himself, by retreat. However, it is preferably designed so that when the user moves the guide element downward, the guide element is pivoted on the guide block by the escape edge or escape surface. This forced guidance is achieved when the guide element is pushed slightly below the transport position. The guide element is then extruded outward in an inclined position with its outer posterior edge slightly raised until the support edge is located above the support surface. This has the advantage that the user only has to push down on the guide element to ensure the locking action. When the user releases it, the surfaces lean against each other and the transport position is fixed.

To avoid having to make two different movements when closing, a preferred embodiment provides at least one additional spring element that acts on a bearing journal outside the guide element. The user only has to lower the guide element along with the spout. The backward motion required to create the lock is achieved via a spring element that 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 the spout is pushed into the receiving space, the guide element is extruded forward toward the center, thereby on each bearing journal. The radial locking pin engages the recess in the bearing recess in the base element to secure the position of the guide element. To open it, the guide element must be extruded slightly radially outward to disengage this engagement again. This embodiment does not require an unlock button.

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to subsequent figures.

It is sectional drawing of the sports bottle cap according to 1st Embodiment of this invention which has a position of a drinking spout. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a sports bottle cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which has a different position of a spout. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a sports bottle cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which has a different position of a spout. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a sports bottle cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which has a different position of a spout. It is a perspective view of the sports bottle cap in a fixed transport position. Another perspective view of a sports bottle cap in a fixed transport position. It is a perspective view of a sports bottle cap in an unfixed transport position. Another perspective view of a sports bottle cap in an unfixed transport position. It is a perspective view of the sports bottle cap in the unlocked position. Another perspective view of the sports bottle cap in the unlocked position. It is a perspective view of the sports bottle cap in the drinking position. It is sectional drawing of the sports bottle cap just before establishing a transport position. It is sectional drawing of the sports bottle cap immediately after the transportation position was established. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sports bottle cap according to a second embodiment in a fixed transport position. It is a perspective view of the sports bottle cap according to the 2nd Embodiment in the unlocked position. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sports bottle cap according to a third embodiment in a fixed transport position. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a sports bottle cap according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention in a drinking position. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a sports bottle cap according to FIG. 13 between a drinking position and a carrying position. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a sports bottle cap according to FIG. 13 immediately before establishing a transportation position. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sports bottle cap according to a fourth embodiment in a fixed transport position.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a sports bottle cap 100 with the following essential components:
− Hard plastic base element 10,
− Soft plastic or rubber insert element 20,
− Guidance element 30,
-Safety slide 40, and-Unlock button 50.

The base element 10 has an outer, generally cylindrical body that extends from the lower edge where the thread begins to the upper edge 15. Threads can be used to create a sealing connection with the neck of a sports bottle or beverage bottle, especially an insulated bottle.

The interior of the base element 10 is divided by a base plate 11 having several openings 12, 19. The first is the injection opening 19. There are also some small ventilation openings 12 within the base plate.

The insert element 20 is fitted to the base 11 in the base element 10 from the lower surface and is connected to the base 11 in a seal manner. The injection opening 19 covered by the insert element 20 is attached to a spout 23 having an internal flow channel 24 starting from the inlet opening 21.

Around the ventilation opening 12, the insert element 20 is provided with a small dome extending over a spacer 13 projecting downward from the base plate 11.

FIG. 1 shows a closed transport position of the beverage bottle closure tool 100. The spout 23 is bent twice, once radially outward from the outlet opening 21 and from here it is redirected within the bend 22 and proceeds in the other direction. First, the double fold allows the spout 23 to be longer and still kept inside the edge 15, and second, the double closure of the inner flow channel 24 allows liquid leakage. Greater protection against. The portion of the spout 23 behind the bend 22 is completely located within the receiving space 14, which is surrounded by the edge 15 and restricted by the base 11 at the rear. First, the position of the bent spout 23 is fixed by the guide element 30 at the locking position in FIG. The guide element 30 has one bearing journal 31 on each side for pivotal mounting within the base element 10.

Second, in FIG. 1, the safety slide 40 is brought to a locking position where the guide element 30 is located above the receiving space 14. The safety slide 40 is guided within the rail 16. This fixes the guide element 30 and thus prevents the spout 23 from unintentionally rising and thus releasing the inner flow channel. The rails 16 are formed on both sides of the inner side surface of the U-shaped brace 17, and the U-shaped brace extends radially outwardly beyond the edge 15 of the base element 10. The brace 17 can also be used to carry the flask when the cap is in the closed position.

FIG. 2 shows the beginning of the opening process in another cross section. The safety slide 40 has already been pushed into its end position on the outside of the edge 15 within the brace 17, thereby allowing unobstructed movement of the guide element 30. The safety slide 40 is held in this position by the click-in protrusion 41.

Despite being released by the safety slide, the guide element 30 cannot stand up automatically because it is still snugly attached to the housing 10 over a short distance, thereby causing it to rise radially. It can be displaced to, but it cannot yet rotate around its bearing journal. To overcome this intermediate position, the guide element 30 is extruded forward radially and in the center direction by slightly pressing the release button 50. It then becomes free at the trailing edge as shown in FIG. At this time, the guide element 30 is no longer fixed to the twist with respect to the base element 10, and can be raised again by the restoring force of the bent elastic spout 23.

FIG. 4 shows a drinking position. The spout 23 is fully widened so that the internal flow channel 24 between the outlet opening 21 and the end of the spout 23 is open. The spout 23 is held within the guide carriage 30, whereby both components are positioned at the same angle.

In each of FIGS. 5A and 5B, the closed position is shown in a perspective view, as in FIG. Both the guide element 30 and the safety slide 40 are located approximately horizontally above the inner receiving space 14 and completely cover the opening of the receiving space 14. A protrusion is formed on the upper part of the guide element 30 and the safety slide 40, and the protrusion forms a recessed grip to allow the component to escape, facilitating the operation of the sports bottle cap 100.

The guide element 30 is, on the one hand, fixed by a bearing journal 31 in the bearing recess 18 of the base element 10, which is partially visible in cross section in FIG. 5B. On the other hand, the guide element 30 is located with the trailing edge 32 on a ledge within the base element 10, the leading edge of which is held by the safety slide 40. As can also be seen in FIG. 5B, the bearing recess 18 is designed as a double bearing recess or as an elliptical hole. This makes it possible to move the bearing journal 31 in the transverse direction before it can rotate.

In FIG. 6A, the safety slide 40 has already been transferred to its outer end position within the brace 17, whereby the anchorage of the guide element 30 is already released on one side. However, the guide element 30 still has its trailing edge 32 resting on the support surface 10.1 (see FIG. 6B) on the base element 10, and this position is held by the spring force of the elastic spout 23. To. The bearing journal 31 is located laterally posterior within the bearing recess 18.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the guide element 30 can be slightly advanced by simply pressing the release button 50. The bearing journal 31 in the bearing recess 18 moves to the inner position of the front. At the same time, the trailing edge 32 is released from engagement with the support surface 10.1, and the guide element 30 is free to pivot around the axis of the bearing journal 31.

Due to the restoring force of the elastic spout 23, it completely straightens itself and the guide element 30 connected to it until it takes the swallowing position corresponding to the position in the cross-sectional view of FIG. ..

Whereas previous examples have primarily referred to the opening process, FIGS. 9 and 10 show the transition from the drinking position according to FIGS. 4 and 8 to the fixed transport position according to FIGS. 1, 5A, or 5B.

Starting from the operating position or drinking position of FIG. 8, the user presses the guide element 30 from above and pushes it downward. This also deforms the spout 23. When the user holds down the guide element 30 and lowers it slightly further into the receiving space 14 until it is below the upper side of the housing, this is because the lower protruding edge 33 at its front is in the base element 10. It reaches the curved concave surface of the guide block 13.

FIG. 9 shows the first contact between the escape edge 33 and the guide block 13. The guide element 30 is thereby tilted slightly inward and downward. The rear side of the guide element 30 is slightly raised at the same time. The trailing edge 32 is located above the support surface 10.1 on the base element 10. On the one hand, there is contact on the guide block 30, but on the other hand, the bearing journal 31 is held in the bearing recess 18 (see FIGS. 6B and 7B), so that the force applied by the user is exerted by the bearing journal 31. , These are redirected to be radially shifted until they are in subsequent positions within the bearing recess 18. When the user releases the guide element 30 again, it is pushed upward by the elastic force of the spout 23, whereby the trailing edge 32 places itself on the supporting surface 10.1 to ensure the carrying position. .. Further safety can be achieved by the safety slide 40 which prevents the guide element 30 from coming off the locking position by accidental slight pressure.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view showing the sports bottle cap 100'according to the second embodiment at a fixed transport position. The guide element 30, the safety slide 40, and the base element 10 are substantially unchanged as compared to the first embodiment.

As a difference, a pressure spring element 25'arranged between the bearing journal 31 and the base housing is provided. In the illustrated embodiment, it is part of an insert element and is therefore formed from an elastomeric material integrally with the spout 23'. The pressure spring element 25'is a compressible body that holds the guide slide 30 in a fixed position via the bearing journal 31 and holds it there.

In order to raise the spout 23', the user must move the guide element 30 to the position shown in FIG. 11B against the force of the pressure spring element 25'. Thereby, the elastomer pressure spring element 25'is compressed. This position corresponds to the figure of the first embodiment of FIG. 7B. Therefore, the drinking position where the drinking spout 23'is raised is exactly the same even in the case of the sports bottle cap 100' as shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the sports bottle cap 100 ”, which is also in the unlocked position, according to the third embodiment. The guide element 30, the safety slide 40, and the base element 10 are similarly the first The insert element having a spout 23 "has a metal pressure spring element 50" in the same position and function rather than a molded elastomer spring element. The pressure spring element 50 ”extrudes the support journal 31 of the elliptical hole-shaped support recess 18 in the base element 10 outwards as soon as the user no longer exerts pressure on the guide slide 30 and thus guides. The slide 30 is automatically returned to the locking position.

The pressure spring element 25'in the case of the sports bottle cap 100', or the pressure spring element 50'in the sports bottle cap 100', on the one hand, the user only needs to push down the guide element 30 together with the drinking spout 23. It is not necessary to actively pull the spring back into the locking position, facilitating the closure process. On the other hand, this slows the speed at which the guide element 30 rises with the spout 23, because this over a longer distance of the guide element 30 while the user moves it against the force of the pressure spring element 50. This is because you need to keep your finger on top. As a result, the user automatically suppresses the uplift of the guide element 30.

In the second embodiment of the sports bottle cap 100', the friction between the bearing journal 31 and the elastomer pressure spring element 25' additionally brakes this movement.

FIG. 13 shows yet another embodiment of the sports bottle cap 200 placed on the beverage bottle 1. The base element 210 is formed as in the embodiments described so far and also has a raised edge 215 above the base plate 211 defining the receiving space 214. The base plate 211 has a ventilation opening 212 and an injection opening 221. A portion of the elastomeric insert element 220 is located below the base plate 211, covering the injection opening 221 and the ventilation opening 212. The insert element 220 also includes a spout 223 having an internal flow channel 224 that flows into the region of the inlet opening 221.

The spout 223 is held in a guide element 230 movably mounted in the base element 210. FIG. 13 shows a drinking position in which the spout 223 and the guide element 230 are upright so that the tubular pin 222 between the spout 223 and the inlet opening 221 is open. The guide element 230 is arranged with the trailing edge 233 placed in the recess 213 of the insert element 220, thereby preventing the insert element from excessively extending outward beyond the illustrated drinking position.

Further, a safety slide 240 located at a drinking position outside the receiving space 214 is shown in FIG. Bracket 217 is attached to base element 210. The safety slide 240 is guided within rail 216. Due to the shape of the rail 216, the safety slide 240 must once dive below the end of the rail 216 while being moved to the closed position shown in FIG. 16, so that it is securely secured to prevent unintentional shifts. Rail.

FIG. 14 shows a sports bottle cap 200 at an intermediate position where the drinking spout 223 is moved from the drinking position to the locking and transporting position.

The molding of the bearing journal 231 is essential. This connects the sides of the guide element 230 and the associated bearing recess 218 within the base element 210. The bearing journal 231 is not only molded as a cylindrical shaft stub, but also has an additional locking pin 232 that extends outward in the radial direction. The bearing recess 218 is formed so that the bearing journal 231 with the locking pin 232 has sufficient space for the required movement while the guide element 230 is being depressed.

FIG. 15 shows the position of the guide element 230 immediately before the final locking position. The guide element 230 is already positioned flat down so that its surface is largely coplanar with its perimeter at the base element 210. The spout 223 has already descended into the receiving space 214. The safety slide 240 is still outside the receiving space 214. The locking pin 232 on the bearing journal 231 is then approximately horizontal and is positioned directly in front of pocket 219 in the bearing recess 218. When the guide element 230 is now slightly pushed forward, i.e. towards the bracket 217 or the receiving space 214, the locking pin 232 engages the pocket 219. The locking pin 232 is pressed against the wall of pocket 219 when the restoring force is exerted on the guide element 230 by the elasticity of the kinked spout 223. The locking position of the guide element 230 is therefore automatically held by the locking pin 232 and pocket 219 even if the user no longer touches the guide element 230.

To further secure the guide element 230, the locking slide 240 is pushed along the rail 216 until it is located above the receiving space 214 and is snugly secured to the leading edge 234 of the guide element 230. Therefore, the drinking spout 223 cannot stand up immediately even if the locking pin 232 comes off from the pocket 219 in the bearing recess.

FIG. 16 shows the final locking and transport position where the locking slide 240 is positioned near the guide element 230.

Claims (14)

A sports bottle cap (100; 100'; 100 "; 200) for the sports bottle (1), at least:
A base element (10; 210) having at least one injection opening (21; 221) within a base plate (11; 211) surrounded by a raised edge (15; 215).
Flexible beverage tubing (23; 23'; 223), comprising an inner flow channel (24; 224) that can be locked by bending the flexible beverage tubing (23; 23'; 223). Equipped with a flexible beverage tube,
The beverage tube (23; 23'; 223) is held within a guide element (30; 230) pivotally mounted on the base element (10; 210).
The bent flexible beverage tube (23; 23'; 223) can be stored in a receiving space (14; 214) surrounded by the edge (15; 215).
A sports bottle cap comprising an releaseable lock that holds the guide element (30; 230) in a locking position against the restoring force of the bent beverage tube (23; 23'; 223). .. The lock is a support edge (32) on the rear end of the guide element (30) that points away from the support surface (10.1) on the base element (10) and the beverage tube (23; 23'). The sports bottle cap (100; 100) according to claim 1, wherein the support edge (32) can be removed from the support surface (10.1) by a radial displacement of the guide element (30). '; 100 "). The sports bottle cap (100;) according to claim 2, wherein the guide element (30) is displaceable by an unlock button (50) hinged to the base element (10). 100'; 100 "). Claims 1-3, wherein the guide element (30; 230) has bearing journals (31; 231) held in bearing recesses (18; 218) in the base element (10; 210) on both sides. The sports bottle cap (100, 100', 100 ", 200) according to any one of the items. The lock is such that at least one locking pin (232) radially adjacent to the bearing pin (231) and the locking pin (232) being inserted therein at the locking position of the guide element (230). The sports bottle cap (200) according to claim 4, which is formed by the locking receiving portion (219) in the bearing receiving portion (218). At least one safety slide (40; 240), displaceably located in the rail (16; 216) above the receiving space (14; 214) and bent at the first end position. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one safety slide that holds the beverage tube (23; 23'; 223) and / or the guide element (30; 230) in a closed position is provided. Sports bottle cap (100; 100'; 100 "; 200). The safety slide (40; 240) can be displaced by a guide rail extending beyond the edge (15; 215) to a second end position located outside the receiving space (14; 214). The sports bottle cap (100; 100'; 100 "; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The beverage tube (23; 23'; 223) is hermetically coupled to the bottom side of the base plate (11; 211) and covers the injection opening (21; 221) with an elastomeric insert element (20; 220). The sports bottle cap (100; 100'; 100 "; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is an integral part of the above. The beverage tube (23; 23'; 223) descending into the receiving space (14; 214) extends in a first direction at a first bend near the injection opening (21; 221). The sport according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the beverage tube (23; 23'; 223) extends in the opposite direction at the upper second turning point (22; 222) and has an S-shaped configuration. Bottle cap (100; 100'; 100 "; 200). Claim that the guide element (30) slides on the guide element (13) by an escape surface or by an escape edge (33) during downward pivotal movement and is displaced outward in the radial direction. The sports bottle cap (100; 100'; 100 ") according to any one of 1 to 9. The sport according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the guide element (30) is supported on the base element (10; 210) via at least one spring element (25', 50 "). Bottle cap (100'; 100 "). The sports bottle cap (100;) according to claim 11, wherein the spring element (25', 50 ") is a compressible compression spring element (25') made of an elastomer that is part of the insert element (20). 100'; 100 "). A sports bottle comprising the beverage bottle (1) and the sports bottle cap (100; 100'; 100 ") according to any one of claims 1 to 12. The sports bottle according to claim 13, wherein the beverage bottle (1) and the sports bottle cap (100; 100'; 100 "; 200) are connected by a screw thread.

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