US20110198361A1

US20110198361A1 - Flip straw bottle cap with loop handle storage spout

Info

Publication number: US20110198361A1
Application number: US12/658,814
Authority: US
Inventors: Elisa Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-02-16
Filing date: 2010-02-16
Publication date: 2011-08-18

Abstract

A flip straw bottle cap with a pivotal spout configured to position at an obtuse angle for drinking from a bottle and stored vertically in a crevice flush against one side of the loop handle when not in use. The loop handle has a keyhole to attach a carabiner using a key chain. The cap is adaptable to fit any bottle mouth diameter.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to drinking bottle caps. More particularly, the invention relates to a flip straw bottle cap for use with a drinking bottle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Within the last several decades concerns with the quality of drinking water and water borne illnesses had spawned an industry marketing bottled water variously labeled, drinking water, spring water, glacier water and the like. However, although the water in these marketed bottles may be free of environmental contaminants, the bottles themselves are for the most part made of polycarbonate plastic which is manufactured using the chemical, bisphenol A (BPA). Studies have found that BPA leaches into the water contained in these bottles and appears in the urine of people who drink from these bottles. Studies have also shown that ingestion of BPA has adverse health effects in humans.
Concerns about health and illnesses related to drinking water and other liquids from polycarbonate bottles among the current eco-conscious generation has seen an increase in the manufacture and use of refillable stainless steel bottles that can be used for both hot and cold drinks. These reusable stainless steel bottles in addition to being BPA-free also cut down the cost of disposable plastic bottles.
Concomitant with the advent of the stainless steel and other thermally insulated BPA-free reusable bottles, a new generation of bottle caps has emerged to facilitate drinking directly from the bottle without the need to open the cap. These bottle caps fall mainly into two categories. One type of bottle cap provides an openable lid for a beverage container as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,964. The second type of cap assembly for a reusable bottle uses a straw feature to sip the liquid from the bottle. The simplest of these involves the insertion of a straw into an aperture provided on the lid. U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 2009/0065464, shows a cap device for use with a container or bottle with the dual features of a sipper spout and an opening for the insertion of a straw or for pouring liquid out of the container or bottle. Some drinking bottle caps with straw assemblies are integrated with the bottle or beverage container and are also well known in the art. Examples of these include, U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 2008/0006600, U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,324, U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,126, U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,304, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,909 to name a few.
A variety of stainless steel drinking bottles with bottle caps integrating straw attachments are popularly marketed under various brand names as for example, Nathan's, Ironman and others. They are generically referred to as flip straw bottles. The drinking spout on these bottle caps can be flipped up for the drinking mode and flipped down to lay flat horizontally on the top surface of the bottle cap when not in use.
The bottle cap of the present invention is an improvement over the flip straw bottles and other prior art mentioned thus far, and fulfills the deficiencies in the prior art for a spill proof, compact and unobtrusive flip straw bottle cap for use with a reusable stainless steel or other drinking bottle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flip straw bottle cap that can be used with a drinking bottle without the need to unscrew the cap to drink from the bottle. In a preferred embodiment the bottle cap of the present invention has concentric grooves at its base that facilitates screwing of the cap to the interior of the bottle as compared to the prior art bottle caps that require attachment of the cap through the outside grooves of a drinking bottle.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drinking flip straw spout configured and integrated into the base of the bottle cap is capable of movement between an obtuse and vertical angle. When positioned vertically for storage, the flip straw spout nestles flush into an anatomically matching crevice configured on one side of the loop handle of the cap structure. In the vertical stored position the flip straw spout is leak proof when the bottle is held upside down.
In this preferred embodiment of the invention, when preparing to drink from the bottle, the flip straw spout can be extracted with one finger from the storage crevice on the side of the loop handle and positioned at an obtuse angle for sipping liquid from the bottle.
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a single drinking straw starting at the tip of the flip straw spout traverses the length of the interior of the drinking bottle and facilitates flow of liquid through the straw in response to a sucking motion at the flip straw spout end. In a related embodiment, the drinking straw starting at the tip of the flip straw spout ends at the base of the bottle cap and is connected to a longer piece of straw traversing the length of the drinking bottle to provide the same convenience of sipping liquid from the bottle through the flip straw spout on the cap.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, a keyhole at the top end of the loop handle diagonally across from the flip straw spout end provides for the use of a carabiner through a keychain link. The bottle can thus be hooked to a pair of jeans or other clothing or a backpack or hung from the bicycle bar, gym equipment and the like.
The features thus described in these embodiments and additional features and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to one skilled in the art when viewed in conjunction with the ensuing description of the drawings, detailed description of the invention, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention showing a perspective view of the flip straw bottle cap assembly with the section of the bottle cap straw emerging from the base of the cap assembly and attached to the longer drinking straw section that traverses the drinking bottle.

FIG. 2 shows another perspective view of the flip straw bottle cap of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the flip straw bottle cap of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded side view of the flip straw bottle cap of the present invention showing the crevice space that stores the flip straw spout when not in use with the flip straw spout detached at an obtuse angle to the space.

FIG. 5 illustrates the flip straw bottle cap of the present invention screwed to the top of a drinking bottle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a spill proof, compact and unobtrusive flip straw drinking spout cap assembly for use with a reusable portable drinking bottle made of stainless steel or other eco friendly material. The extension of the flip straw spout at an obtuse angle from its vertical stored position inside the loop handle crevice, allows the user to drink from the bottle through the spout without unscrewing the cap assembly or tilting the bottle resulting in spillage as happens with other cap assemblies. An additional feature of convenience is that the drinking spout can be dislodged from its storage space and inserted back with the use of just one finger.
Referring now to the drawings, more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention 10. The flip straw spout 12 is presented in the open, obtuse angle, drinking position relative to the vertical loop handle 14. In this embodiment of the invention, the straw assembly is in two sections. The flip straw starting at the tip of the drinking spout 12 emerges through the base of the cap assembly and is connected at 18 to another longer section of drinking straw 20 that traverses the length of the drinking bottle. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the drinking straw starting at the tip of the drinking spout is a one piece straw that emerges through the base of the cap assembly and traverses the length of the drinking bottle. The concentric spiral screw threads 16 are configured for anatomical attachment to the inside of the drinking bottle when the cap is in use. The loop handle 14 of the cap assembly has a keyhole 22 through which a key ring holding a carabiner can be inserted.
FIG. 2 shows another perspective view of the flip straw cap assembly 10 of the present invention. This view also shows a gasket 24 above the concentric spiral screw thread section 16 that acts as a seal between the base of the cap assembly and the bottle mouth.
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of the cap assembly of the present invention, 10 with the flip straw spout 12 in the open obtuse position and a view of the spout orifice and its intersection with the bottom cap assembly.
FIG. 4 shows an exploded side view of the cap assembly 10 with a frontal view of the crevice space 26 on the side of the loop handle 14 used for the storage of the flip straw drinking spout 12 when not in use.
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the flip straw bottle cap 10 of the present invention screwed to the mouth of a bottle 28 as conceptualized for its use with a drinking bottle.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flip straw cap assembly is constructed of BPA—free and food grade plastic or other suitable material.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the diameter of the base of the cap assembly can be constructed to fit bottle mouths of various diameters.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the straw traversing the drinking cap assembly and the drinking bottle can be detached for cleaning and reused.
The foregoing description of the invention through its figures and preferred embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention. It should be understood and obvious to one skilled in the art that the embodiments of the invention thus described may be further modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A drinking cap assembly for a drinking bottle comprising:

a loop handle member configured to attach anatomically to the mouth of a drinking bottle member through a gasket member and concentric spiral screw thread members at the base of the said loop handle member;

said loop handle member adapted to receive a flip straw spout member positioned on one side of the said loop handle member;

said flip straw spout member capable of movement between a vertical and obtuse angle about the base of the said loop handle member;

said flip straw member stored vertically in a crevice on one side of the said loop handle member; and

a straw member traversing from the tip of the said flip straw spout member through the inside of said drinking bottle member.

2. The drinking cap assembly for a drinking bottle as in claim 1 wherein the concentric spiral screw members at the base of the said loop handle member are configured to anatomically screw into the inside lining of the mouth of the said drinking bottle member.

3. The drinking cap assembly for a drinking bottle as in claim 1 wherein the concentric spiral screw members at the base of the said loop handle member are configured to anatomically screw into the inside lining of the mouth of the said drinking bottle member of any diameter.

4. The drinking cap assembly for a drinking bottle as in claim 1 wherein the said straw member traversing from the tip of the said flip straw spout member through the inside of the said drinking bottle member is constructed of one piece.

5. The drinking cap assembly for a drinking bottle as in claim 1 wherein the said straw member traversing from the tip of the said flip straw spout member ends at the base of the said loop handle member and is connected to another longer straw member that traverses through the said drinking bottle member.

6. The drinking cap assembly for a drinking bottle as in claim 1 further comprising a keyhole on the top handle portion of said loop handle member.

7. The drinking cap assembly for a drinking bottle as in claim 6 wherein the said keyhole on the said loop handle member may receive a key chain member holding a carabiner.

8. The drinking cap assembly for a drinking bottle as in claim 1 wherein the said drinking bottle member is made of stainless steel or other suitable material.