WO2013128166A1

WO2013128166A1 - Wrist container for drinks

Info

Publication number: WO2013128166A1
Application number: PCT/GB2013/050422
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rodney Julian Parker; Mark Saunders
Original assignee: Wrist-Drink Limited
Priority date: 2012-03-01
Filing date: 2013-02-21
Publication date: 2013-09-06
Also published as: GB2499862A; GB201203603D0; GB201214604D0

Abstract

A wrist container (10, 30) for liquids includes a nozzle (11, 31) to permit drinking on the move. The container is a pre-formed blow moulding and is retained on the wrist by inherent resilience thereof.

Description

Wrist Container for Drinks

This invention relates to a wrist container for flowable materials, in particular liquid drinks.

Drinking whilst exercising can be somewhat problematic. If a person is using equipment such as a bicycle or exercise machine, a container for drinks may be mounted on the equipment and be readily available when required.

However in the absence of equipment, for example when jogging or running, a drinks container must generally be carried by hand. This solution is not ideal because the container has an unbalancing effect and tends to restrict free motion of arms; it can also be tiring to carry a container throughout a period of exercise. Nevertheless, it is recommended that drinks be consumed during exercise in order to avoid dehydration.

The present invention provides a solution to the problem of carrying a drink whilst exercising.

According to the invention there is provided a flexible, pre-formed container for a flowable material, said container being substantially horseshoe shaped, being adapted to fit closely around a human wrist and having a mouthpiece whereby the flowable material can be dispensed on demand by a wearer thereof.

The flowable material is typically a liquid drink, but may in some embodiments be a gel or flowable paste.

A container according to the invention is pre-formed, and thus able to hold its shape in use. The horseshoe shape defines a mouth of slightly smaller diameter than the wrist to which it is intended to be fitted in use.

Such a container can be worn whilst on the move, and the mouthpiece can be raised to the mouth when a drink is required. Wrist mounting allows free movement of the arms, and if required a container according to the invention can be mounted to both wrists in order to achieve balance. The container is itself substantially balanced on the wrist by virtue of wrapping substantially around the wrist and distributing the mass of the contents. A full container may be used as a weight training aid. When empty the wrist container of the invention can remain in place until the period of exercise is finished, thus overcoming the problem of disposal of the container during the course of exercise.

In an embodiment of the invention, the container comprises a plastics moulding which substantially surrounds the wrist in use, and has an arcuate inner surface for comfort. The container may be a blow moulding having a substantially 'C shape. The container may have a substantially constant section along the portion containing the flowable material, which may be approximately circular or oval. Alternatively the section may increase to a maximum on the side opposite the opening to the through space. Typically the material containing section, which may be substantially all of the container, extends more than 300° around a wrist in use, and preferably more than 330°. Preferably the container has a smoothly curving outer surface so as to avoid sharp edges and seams. Any suitable plastics material may be employed, such as HDPE (high density polyethylene).

The container is typically light when empty, so as to be no more distracting than a wrist mounted sweat band.

In one embodiment the container of the invention is disposable, but alternatively it may be reusable. In the latter case the container may be adapted for filling through the mouthpiece, or via a separate opening.

The mouthpiece may be of any suitable kind including for example a spout, a nozzle or a tube. The mouthpiece may incorporate a closure, such as a snap or screw cap, which is released prior to first use. The mouthpiece may include a valve to prevent escape of material therein, other than by sucking; any suitable valve, in particular a one-way valve may be provided, with provision for allowing the container to collapse or to admit air. The mouthpiece is preferably re-closable on demand. The mouthpiece may be attachable to the container, and removable therefrom. Such an arrangement may allow better cleaning and/or replacement between fillings of liquid. A removable mouthpiece may also provide a filling opening of larger diameter. A mouthpiece may be attached in any suitable manner, for example by snap or screw fitting, and may include a plug seal for the opening therein.

In the alternative, the mouthpiece may be integrally formed with the container, for example as a one-piece plastics moulding, or as an insert around which a container is moulded.

In an embodiment of the invention the mouthpiece is arranged on the container at the inner side of the wrist in use, so as to be readily presented to the mouth of the user. However other or alternative positions are possible, including the outer side of the wrist. The mouthpiece of the invention may be recessed within the container, and extended when required, by for example everting.

In one embodiment the mouthpiece is opposite the horseshoe opening of the container. In one embodiment the through aperture of the centre of the container (the centre of the horseshoe) is oval, and the long axis of oval passes through the horseshoe opening. The long axis may also pass through the mouthpiece.

The mouthpiece may include a tamper resistant or tamper evident cover, which is removed prior to use.

The container of the invention may be moulded of a plastics material which is sufficiently resilient to snap around a user's wrist, and be retained by the inherent resilience thereof. The container is thus in the form of an incomplete ring or torus of substantially horseshoe shape, having a circumferential opening slightly smaller than the wrist of a potential user. Such containers may be provided in several sizes, to suit wrists and lower arms of different thickness. Alternatively the container of the invention may include a strap to link opposite sides of a circumferential opening, and thus permit the container to be closed around a wrist. In one embodiment the strap is adjustable to allow a user to achieve a desired degree of comfort, and for this purpose a conventional hook and loop fastener may be provided. Such a fastener may also allow circumferential positioning of the container for comfort.

This embodiment thus permits one container to be adapted to a range of different wrist sizes.

It is envisaged that a range of container volumes may be provided, to suit the needs of the user. Container volume may for example be in the range 100-400 ml in 50 ml steps. It will be appreciated that the outer surface of the container of the invention may have a secondary use, such as holding advertising or branding. The outer surface may also incorporate a material suitable as a mouth wipe or sweat band.

Furthermore the container of the invention is not limited to colour, and may further include a reflective material or coating so as to be visible at night.

The container of the invention may be supplied pre-filled, with suitable branding, and may or may not be suitable for re-filling. The container may contain a concentrate, in for example liquid or powder form, which is reconstituted by adding a liquid such as water.

It is envisaged that any suitable drink may be provided, including juice, water, milk, chocolate etc., and that a liquid may be semi-solid, typically in the form of a gel. Typically a food grade of plastic will be selected for a plastics moulding. The grade of plastic can be both recyclable and re-usable. A funnel may be supplied to aid refilling. In another aspect, the invention comprises a sock for a container according to the invention, the sock comprising a stretchable material having an open end into which the container may be inserted, and an aperture to permit the mouthpiece to protrude. In one embodiment the sock encases the container so as to provide a comfortable relatively soft surface to the skin. The material of the sock may be adapted to the intended use of the container, for example a towelling material may act as a sweatband, or a resilient material such as neoprene, may provide for additional grip and stability, or a reflective material may be provided as a safety aid at night.

The sock of this aspect may be customized by colour and/or printing, and thus permit a very wide range of external appearance. Furthermore a user may readily change the external appearance of the container if required. The sock may have one closed end, and the open end may be closable by for example a hook/loop fastener after fitting to the container.

In one embodiment the sock may include a small pocket adapted to receive personal items, such as a locker key or a credit card, for which there may be no other storage location available in the wearer's clothing.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of several preferred embodiments described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of the invention with drinking nozzle extended;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation corresponding to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the container and spout of Fig. 1, in the stowed condition; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of the invention in a small size:

Fig. 5 corresponds to Fig. 4 and shows a large size; Fig. 6 is a side elevation corresponding to Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section through one arm of the embodiment of Figs. 4-6;

Fig. 8 illustrates a sock for the container of Figs. 4-6;

Fig. 9 illustrates in plan a pocket in the wall of the sock of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 illustrates a sleeve for the embodiment of Figs. 4-6, and incorporating an electronic device.

The embodiment of Figs. 1-3 comprise a blow moulded plastics container 10 shaped to fit around a human wrist and having a substantially 'C shaped or horseshoe configuration. The shape may be described as an incomplete doughnut. The entire volume of the blow moulding is available for a liquid, and a single inlet/outlet 11 is provided in the form of a spout, neck or nozzle.

The plastics material of the container 10 is selected to be self supporting yet be flexible and resilient to permit the circumferential opening 12 to be closed by means of an adjustable strap 13. The strap consists of a fixed length loop 14 attached to one side of the opening 12, for example by adhesive, and a length of hook and loop fastener 15 attached to the other side and which passes through the loop 14 to be secured against itself.

In use the user's hand is passed through the central opening 16, and the strap tightened to a degree which the user finds comfortable, typically just tight enough to prevent arcuate movement of the container around the wrist. The blow moulding of container 10 has a substantially constant wall thickness, but as illustrated, the radial extent of the container is greater opposite the fastener so as to give an asymmetric appearance. Any suitable nozzle may be provided. One convenient arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 3, whereby an integrally moulded projection 17 of the radially inner wall 18 is engageable within a flexible nozzle 19 which is pushed inwardly below the envelope of the container. The nozzle 19 may be of a more resilient material to the body of the container. An adhesive seal 20 is fixed over the nozzle 19, and is removed by pulling a tab 21.

The projection 17 seals the nozzle 19 against leakage of liquid.

In use the seal 20 is removed and the nozzle is pulled out to the position of Fig. 1, typically by the user's teeth or lips. The seal 20 may alternatively be bonded to the nozzle 19 in order to evert it prior to peeling away for disposal.

Once opened the nozzle allows liquid to be drawn from the interior of the container on demand.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 4-6 and comprises a semi-rigid container 30, typically a blow moulding of plastics, such as FIDPE, adapted to be snap-fitted about a wrist. As with the first embodiment, the central opening is somewhat oval to suit a typical cross-section of a wrist, and accordingly the container of Figs. 4-6 will tend to remain in a relatively fixed orientation with only slight gripping contact with the wrist.

A screw or push/pull spout 31 is provided, although any suitable spout or nozzle will suffice. A screw spout may for example move between open and closed conditions upon a half-turn. The spout 31 may include tamper evident or tamper resistant features of a conventional kind. The container 30 may be characterized as having two arms 36 extending from the region of the spout 31. Typically dimensions for the container of Figs. 4-6 are overall width 32 in the range 91-103 mm; overall length 33 in the range 106-123 mm; and overall thickness 34 in the range 62-74 mm. Such dimensions give approximate capacities in the range 250- 400 ml.

Internal size of an oval opening 35 may have minimum dimensions of 38 and 44 mm and maximum dimensions of 52 and 71 mm. The mouth opening may lie in the range 12-15 mm.

The dimensions given above are typical for a range from child to adult, but will of course be selected by the skilled man according to the likely end user. Likewise, the volumetric capacity of each size will be determined by the end use. Fig. 7 illustrates a cross-section through one arm 36 of the container of Figs. 4-6 showing the internal cavity 37 for liquid or other flowable substance.

Although this invention has been described in relation to drinks, the wrist container is suitable for any kind of liquid, including medicines, which may or may not be intended for internal use. For example a container according to the invention may contain a skin lotion or a food product.

The invention is primarily intended to be used whilst on the move, but could nevertheless be used by a sedentary or infirm person who is incapable or unwilling to use a conventional drinking vessel. If used on the move, the container of the invention may be used as a wrist weight and training/strength aid.

In a variant of the invention, the container may include an attachment, for example in the form of a sleeve 41, to display or record performance of the wearer. Such an attachment may for example comprise an electronic device 42 to receive an input of heart rate and/or blood pressure from a suitable monitor, and display the current rate to the user via a display 43. The attachment may be programmable and monitor danger levels and/or target zones. The display may include a clock, pedometer, time and date. The sleeve 41 is typically of a stretchy material so as to fit over an arm 36 of the container 30.

The device may include an alarm, which may comprise a reminder to take a drink from the container after a time period has elapsed, or a distance has been covered.

The sleeve may comprise or be part of a sock 50 intended to substantially encase the container 30. The sock is of stretchable material and shaped for pulling over the container from one side of the wrist opening thereof. An aperture 51 is provided for the spout or mouthpiece 31. One end of the sock may be permanently closed, and the open end may be closable after fitting thereof. As illustrated two open ends 52 are shown. The sock may include an external pocket 53 in the wall thereof for small items, such as a locker key or credit card, insertable through a slit opening 54.

Claims

1. A flexible pre-formed container for flowable materials, said container being substantially horseshoe shaped, being adapted to fit closely around a human wrist and having a mouthpiece whereby flowable material can be dispensed on demand by a wearer thereof.

2. A container according to claim 1 having the form of an incomplete torus.

3. A container according to claim 2, and having a circumferential extent greater than 300°.

4. A container according to any of claims 1-3, and having an adjustable length strap between the free ends thereof to draw said ends closer together on demand.

5. A container according to any of claims 2-4, and having a substantially constant cross-sectional area.

6. A container according to any preceding claim, and comprising a plastics blow moulding.

7. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the wrist opening is opposite said mouthpiece.

8. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein said mouthpiece comprises a mouth operable release valve.

9. A container according to claim 8, wherein said mouthpiece is attached to said container by one of snap-fitting, screw threading and adhesive.

10. A container according to claim 9, and further including a removable seal to cover said mouthpiece in the closed condition, said seal being peripherally attached to said container.

11. A container according to any preceding claim, and having a capacity in the range 100-400 ml.

12. A container according to any preceding claim, and further including an electronic condition monitor having an input for a physiological signal and a display associated with said signal.

13. A container according to any preceding claim, and further including a sock for said container.

14. A container according to claim 13, wherein said sock includes a pocket.

15. A pre-filled container according to any preceding claim, the pre-filling comprising a liquid drink.