WO2016077647A1

WO2016077647A1 - Bottle and method of using

Info

Publication number: WO2016077647A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/060480
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert H. J. Miros; Brittany V. Ballard
Original assignee: Planetbox LLC
Current assignee: Planetbox LLC
Priority date: 2014-11-11
Filing date: 2015-11-12
Publication date: 2016-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 2017-05-11
Also published as: US20190337686A1; CA2967361A1; CN207595611U; AU2015346214A1; US20170225849A1

Abstract

A bottle having a reclosable and resealable lid is disclosed. The bottle can have a removable pedestal base. The base can elevate the remainder of the bottle off of the surface upon which the bottle is resting. The lid can have a seal for a drinking mouthpiece outlet and a pressure equalization port. The lid can have a concave indentation or seat aligned with a hinge connecting a top of the lid to a base or rim of the lid. When opened, the seat can rest against the lid rim, opening the lid to more than a 180 lid opening angle.

Description

TITLE OF INVENTION

BOTTLE AND METHOD OF USING

Robert H.J. Miros

Brittany V. Ballard CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[00011 Hie present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/078,408, filed November 1 1 , 2014, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. BACKGROUND

1 . Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a bottle, and more particularly to a reclosable and resealable bottle for carrying drinking fluids. 2. Description of the Related Art

{0003] Insulated bottles with remo vable covers are available in various embodiments. Consumer concern regarding leeching of toxic chemicals into liquid contents of bottles has grown as scientific understanding of health effects from typical bottle materials, such as BPA, has improved.

[0004] Accordingly, a sturdy, reusable bottle capable of keeping contents free from contact with particular materials, such as plastics, is desired. Furthermore, a bottle with a strong seal and sturdy construction to resist leakage and endure physical abuse is also desired, SUMMARY

[0005] A bottle having a bottle longitudinal axis is disclosed. The bottle can have a cap or lid a cap or lid indentation. The bottle can have a spout. The spout can have a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece can have an axis for part or all of the mouthpiece at an angle offset from the bottle longitudinal axis. The bottle can have a base. The base can have at least three feet. The feet can extend in a longitudinal direction beyond the longitudinal extent of the remainder of the bottle. The feet can extend radiallv outward from the remainder of the base. The feet can extend up from the remainder of the base. (0006] Furthermore, a bottle is disclosed that can have a lid having a lid top and a lid base. The lid base can have lid base radi us of curva ture. The bottle can have a hinge rotatably attaching the lid top to the lid base. The Sid top can have a lid top indentation. The lid top indentation can be concave and have a lid top indentation radi us of curvature. The iid top indentation radius of curvature can be greater than the lid base radius of curvature.

[0007] Addi tionally, reusable bottle is disclosed that, is capable of keeping contents free from contact with particular materials, such as plastics in the lid. The bottle can have a strong seal and sturdy construction to resist leakage and endure physical abuse with minimal damage and accidental opening of the lid.

[0008] A bottle is disclosed that can have body having reservoir, a lid having a lid top and a lid base, and a spout fixedly attached to the lid base. The lid top can be rotatably opened with respect to the lid base. The spout can be made from an elastomer. The spout can be attached to the lid base at least in pari by compressi e elastomeric forces. The spout can be in sealed contact with the body. The lid top comprises an elastomeric element. The elastomeric element is in sealed contact with the spout.

[0009] The spout can be in compressive contact with a top edge of the bottle body and sealed with the elastomeric element to seal the contents of the bottle in a water tight fashion. The bottle can be configured such that the sealing of the bottle prevents contents of the reservoir from coming into contact with the lid top or the lid base, other than the elastomeric element.

[0010] The elastomeric element can have a mouthpiece seal The compressive elastomeric forces can be at least in part compressive elastomeric forces of the spout.

[0011 ] The spout can have a mouthpiece port and a pressure equalization hole. The spout can have a mouthpiece axis at a angle offset from a bottle longitudinal axis.

[0012] The bottle can have a base. The base can have three or more feet. The feet can extend in a longitudinal direction beyond the longitudinal extent of the remainder of the bottle. The feet can extend radially outward from the remainder of the base. The feet can extend up f om the remainder of the base.

[0013] The bottle can have a hinge rotatably attaching the lid top to the lid base. The lid top can have a lid lop indentation. The lid top indentation can be concave and can have a lid top indentation radius of curvature. The lid top indentation radius of curvature can be greater than the lid base radius of curvature. (0014] Further disclosed is a bottle that can have a body having a reservoir, a lid assembly rotatably attachable and detachable from the body, a spout comprising art elastomer, and a spout sea! comprising an elastomer. The lid assembiy can have opened and closed configurations. The spout can be attached to the lid assembly. The spout can form a fluid-tight seal with the body when the lid assembly is attached to the body. Tthe spout can have a mouthpiece terminating in a mouthpiece lip. The spout, seal can be attached to the lid assembly. The spout seal can form a fluid-tight. seal with the spout at least at the moivthpiece lip when the lid assembly is in the closed configuration.

[00.15] The fluid-tight seal between the spout and the spout seal can be a seal between elastomer of the spout and elastomer of the spou seal The fluid-tight seal between the spout and the body can be a seal between elastomer of the spout and metal of the body.

[0016] The spout can have a mouthpiece port and a pressure equalization hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figures I a through 1 e are top .front perspective, front, right, rear, and left views, respectively, of a variation of the bottle in a closed configuration.

[0018] Figure if is a variation of cross-sectional view A-A of Figure le.

[0019) Figure 2 is a left side view with the lid latch in an unlocked configuration.

[0020] Figure 3 is a variation of cross-sectional view A-A with the lid release button in a released configuration.

[0021] Figure 4 is an exploded view of a variation of the bottle in an opened configuration.

[0022] Figure 5a is a top front perspective view of a variation of the bottle in an opened configuration.

[0023] Figure 5b is a variation of cross-sectional view B~B of Figure 5a. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Figures l a through 1 f illustrate that a bottle can have a body, lid, and base. The body can be attached and detached from the lip and the base. The lip can be openable and closable. The lid can be lockable. The body can dispense liquid contents through the lid. The bottle can have a bottle longitudinal axis. (0025] The bottle can have a bottle height from about 4 in, to about 1.2 in., for example about 7.7 in. The bottle can have a bott!e width at the maximum width of the bottle from about 1.5 in. to about 5 in., for example about 2.8 in. The bottle can have an empty weight from about 4 oz. to about 24 ox., for example about 8 oz.

|0026] The body can have a body exterior wali and a body interior wall The body exterior and interior wails can be made from a plastic and/or metal for example stainless steel, aluminum, or combinations thereof. An insulation chamber can be between the body interior wall and the body exterior wall The insulation chamber can be hollow (e.g., filled with a gas such as air, or a vacuum), or filled partially or completely with a liquid (e.g., water, anti-microhiai solution such as an alcohol, saline solution, or combinations thereof), a gel, a solid (e.g., the material of the interior or exterior wall, and/or a closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam (e.g., Styrofoam from Dow Chemical Co.)), or combinations thereof.

|^'0027] The reservoir can be closed on the sides and bottom. The top of the reservoir can have a reservoir port. The reservoir can be for example from about 100 ml to about 1 L, more narrowly from about 200 ml to about 500 ml, for example about 330 ml.

(0028] The body outer wall can have one, two. three, or more finger grooves or grip rings extending around all or part of the circumference of the bottle. Each finger groove can have a finger groove radius of curvature. The finger groove radius of curvature can be from about 0.5 in. to about 3 in., for example about 1 in, or about 0.75 in.

[0029] The terminal bottom exterior surface of the body can ha ve a body seat. The body seat can be flat. The terminal bottom interior surface of the body (i.e., the terminal bottom surface of the reservoir) can have a reservoir seat. The reservoir seat can have a flat perimeter and an upwardly spherically-curved reservoir dimple.

(0030] The body can radially example outward up from the body seat and can radially example outward clown from the body neck. The maximivm bottle width can be above the top-most finger groove or between two of th finger grooves.

[0031] The terminal top of the body can radially taper to a body neck. The body neck can have neck thread. The body neck can have constant inner and outer diameters other than the neck thread.

100321 The side of the body exterior wall near the bottom of the reservoir can have a base groove. The base groove can be configured to removably attach to the base. 1 f 0033] The lid can have a iid rim or lid base and a lid top, cover, or cap. The iid top

2 can be rotatably and lockably attached to the lid rim. The iid top can have a rounded

3 or domed configuration. The lid rim can have a skirted or radially tapered

4 configuration, for example expanding in radius as the lid rim extends downward. The

5 diameter of the top of the i i d rim and the diameter of the bottom of the lid top can be

6 substantially equal.

7 [0034] Hie lid rim can have rim threads configured to screw and attac to the neck

8 thread to form a fluid-tight seal. The lid rim can be rotatably attached and detached

9 from the neck, as well as the rest of the lid from the rest of the body.

10 |ΌΘ35] The lid rim can have a button frame extending radially outward from the

1 1 rema inder of the i id ri m and around some or all of the circumference of a lid release

12 button.

13 [0036] The lid rim can have a lid latch extending out from the sides of the button

14 frame. The lid latch can be a wireframe rotatably attached to the button frame. The i 5 lid latch can have two or four L-turns.

16 [0037] The lid release button can have a button logo on tire face of the button. For

17 example, the button logo can be embossed or relief, for example, to increase the

18 friction of the Hd release button surface. The lid release button ca be rotatably

!9 attached to the remainder of the lid rim. For example, the lid release button can have 0 a Hd release button hinge.

1 [0 38j The lid release button can have a lid release tab extending radially inward 2 from the top of the lid release button.

3 }0039] The lid top can have a lid release catch. The lid top can have a lid release 4 catch frame. The lid release catch can extend downward from the Hd release catch 5 frame. The lid release catch can be held b the lid release tab (e.g., by an interference 6 fit) when the lid top is in a closed configuration.

7 |0040] The lid release catch frame can extend radially beyond the surrounding lid top. 8 The lid latch can be in tension when rotated onto the lid release catch frame in a 9 locked configuration. The lid latch can compressively secure the lid top to the lid rim. 0 [0041 ] The lid rim can have a lid rim port on the reservoir port. The lid rim port can 1 be on a lid rim port plane. The lid rim port can have a spout. The spout ca be 2 attached to the lid rim at the lid rim port. The spout can have spout grornmet, a 3 mouthpiece and a pressure equalization port. The spout can be made from a soft 4 polymer or rubber, such as food-grade silicone rubber. f 0042] The spout grommet can attach to and form a fluid-tight sea! around the inner perimeter of the l id rim port.

[0043] The mouthpiece can be fiddly open and configured to deliver liquid from the reservoir to a user. The mouthpiece can have a mouthpiece front axis and a mouthpiece rear axis. The mouthpiece front axis can be at a mouthpiece front axis angle to the ltd rim port plane. The rim port plane can be perpendicular to the body longitudinal axis. The mouthpiece rear axis can be at a mouthpiece rear axis angle to the lid rim port plane. Either mouthpiece axis angle can be from about 45° to about 135°, more narrowly from about 60° to about 120°, yet more narrowly from about 75° to about 90°, for example about 70°, about 75°, about 80°, or about 90*. The mouthpiece axis angles can be equal, the mouthpiece front axis angle can be greater than the mouthpiece rear axis angle, or the mouthpiece trout axis angle can be less than the mouthpiece rear axis angle. For example, the mouthpiece front axis angle can be about 90° and the rear axis atxale can be about 75°.

[0044] The pressure equalization port can be in fluid communication with the reservoir and the surrounding environment. When the bottle is rotated with respect to gravity (e.g., from a vertical position to a declined position with the mouthpiece port pointing at least, downward from the horizontal), liquid in the reservoir can flow from the mouthpiece while gas (e.g.. air) from the environment can enter the reservoir through the pressure equalization port, balancing the gas pressure m the reservoir with the gas pressure of the surrounding environment.

[0045] The lid top can have or be removably attached to a spout seal. The spout seal can have a pressure seal and a mouthpiece seal The spout seal, including for example the spout seal and/or the pressure seal, can be made from the same material as the spout.

[0046] The pressure seal can be configured to press onto and seal the pressure equalization hole when the lid top is in a closed con iguration. The mouthpiece seal can be configured to press onto and seal the mouthpiece port when the lid top is in a closed configuration.

[0047] The lid top can have a mouthpiece seal frame. The mouthpiece seal frame can securely attach to the mouthpiece seal The lid top can have a pressure seal frame. The pressure seal frame can securely attach to the pressure seai. The pressure seal and/or the mouthpiece seal can be detached from and attached to the pressure seal frame and/or mouthpiece seal frame, respectively, for example for cleaning or replacement,

{0048] The spout can be detached from and attached to the hd rim, for example fo cleaning or replacement.

J0049] The lid can have a Hd hinge rotatabiy attaching the iid top to the lid rim. The lid hinge can have a piano hinge. For example, the lid hinge can have two knuckles attached to and extending from the lid top and a knuckle attached to and extending from the lid rim. The lid hinge can have a hinge pin extending through the knuckles. 10050] The lid hinge can have a lid spring catch extending from the hd top adjacent to the knuckle extending from the Hd rim,

J 0051 J The lid hinge can have a lid spring that can he in a closed loop. The iid spring can he made from a resilient elastic material such as a soft polymer or rubber, such as food-grade silicone rubber. The lid spring can extend in (or below) the iid spring catch, radially outside and bet ween two of th knuckles, along the radial inside of the bottom of the hinge, and radially outside and between the opposite knuckle and the central knuckle (where is continues to extend in a closed loop in or below the lid spring catch). The lid spring can be in tension when the lid top is in a closed configuration. The lid spring can pull o the lid top with respect to the lid rim to open the lid top when the lid top is not latched or held to the lid rim, for example by the lid release tab and lid release latch, or by the lid latch.

[00521 The lid latch, Sid release button, and lid release catch can be diametrically opposite from the lid hinge.

|^'0053] The lid top can have a hd seat. The lid seat can be a concave indentation on a side of the lid top. The angular center of the lid seat can he aligned with the center of the lid hinge. The lid seat can extend from the bottom of the lid top to the vertex of the lid top.

|00541 The lid seat can have a iid seat radius of curvature. The lid seat radius of curvature can be from about 1 in. to about 12 in., for example about 3 in, or about 6 in.

[0055] The base can ha ve a base seat on the bottom radially central portion of the base, a base rim around the circumference of the base and base feet, ins, or pedestals extending radially outward and downward from the base rim. The base feet can extend downward past the base seat by a foot extension height. The foot extension height can be from about 0 to about ( 75 in, more narrowly from about 0.25 in, to about 0,5 in., for example about .375 in.

{0056] The base feet can each have a base foot prong extending upward from the base rim. The base foot prong can be radially external to the body. For example, when the body is inserted into and rotated with respect to the base, the body ca be pressed into (e.g., bump into or interference fit) the base foot prongs to center the body with respect to the base. When the body and the base are attached, the body can contact. the top of the base rim. the top of the base seat, and the inside of the base foot prongs. }ΘΘ57] The base can have erne or more base catches, tabs, or nubs extending radially inward from the inside of the base rim. The base catches can be configured to slide into the base grooves on the body. The base catches can be configured to insert into the base grooves to longitudinally secure the base to the body.

{0058] The spout can be in direct contact with the body interior wall. Contents (e.g., liquid, such as water) stored in the reservoir may be in contact with only the body interior wall, spout, and spout seal (for example on the mouthpiece sea!) during storage, before the lid is opened and the contents of the reservoir are dispensed through the open spout and into the outside environment (e.g., a user's mouth),

Contents of the reservoir may be in contact with only the materials of the body interior wall, spout, and spout seal, for example stainless steel and a soft polymer or rubber, such as food-grade silicone rubber, during storage of the contents.

10059] For example, the contents may be kept out of contact with the lid other than the mouthpiece seal - for example, being kept out of contact with plastic - during storage in the closed bottle. While the lid is closed, the contents may not exit from the reservoir through the pressure equalization hole because of the pressure seal and/or vacuum pressure in the otherwise sealed (e.g.. at the spout and mouthpiece seal) reservoir.

[0660] Figure 2 illustrates that the lid latch can be rotated downward, as shown by arrow, into an unlocked position. The lip latch can be no longer holding the Hd release catch frame to the ltd rim,

[0061] Figure 3 illustrates that the lid release button can be depressed, as shown by arrows, for example rotating the button around the button hinge, as shown by arrows, into a position releasing the lid top from the lid rim. The depressed lid release button can rotate the lid release tab radially outward from the lid release catch. The lid release catch can then disengage and detach from the lid release tab. if the lid release latch is also in an unlocked configuration, the lid top can then be rotated open

manually and/or pulled open automatically by torque applied form the tension of the lid spring onto the Hd spring catch. The lid top can rotate away from the lid rim, pulling away the raouthpeace seal and pressure seal and exposing the open

mouthpiece port and pressure equalization hole.

[0962] The lid release button can be spring-loaded to bias the lid release button to a closed configuration. After the lid release button is depressed and released, the lid release button can return to an undepressed configuration. When the lid top is rotated closed, the lid release catch can press the Hd release tab out of the way and then reengage and re-attach to the lid release catch, reclosing the Hd top and sealing the mouthpiece and pressure equalization hole. The lid latch can then be rotated back into a 1 ocked con figurati on .

[0063] Figures 4 illustrates that the lid release catch can h ve a U-shape. The Hd release catch can have a wireframe extending from the bottom of the lid top. The lid release catch can be attached at both terminal ends to the lid top. The lid release catch can have two right-angle tarns (i.e., L-turns).

[0064] The base groove can have a vertical length and an angular length around part of the circumference of the body . The base grooves can be L -shaped. All of the base grooves can be angularly spaced from each other at the same angular spacing as the base catches. For example, the body can have two base grooves offset from each other by 180°, and the base can have two base catches offset from each other by 180°.

[0065] The lid port can have a lid port tab. The Hd port tab can extend into the otherwise circular lid port. The spout grommet can seal around the lid port tab, as well as the remainder of the circumference of the Hd port.

[0066] The circumference of the bottom layer of the spout grommet can extend upward.

[0067] Figures 5a and 5b illustrate that the lid top can have a lid top port plane. The intersection of the Hd top port plane and the lid rim port plane can form a lid opening angle. When the lid top is closed, the lid opening angle can be about 0°,

[0068] When the lid top is rotated open, the lid seat can rest against the exterior of the lid rim. The lid seat radius of curvature can be greater than or equal to the radius of curvature (e.g., the radius) of the lid r im. The lid seat can be concave, allowing the lid seat to open to a Hd opening angle of greater than about 180°. For example, the lid opening angle can be from about 180° to about 225°, more narrowly from about 185° to about 200°, for example about 190°

{0069] The top terminal end of the mouthpiece can have an open mouthpiece port. When the lid top is closed, the mouthpiece seal can seal the mouthpiece port with a fluid-tight seal

|OO70 j The variations above are for illustrative purposes and it will be apparent to those skilled in this art. that, various equivalent modifications or changes according to the idea of and without departing from the disclosing and teaching herein shall also fall within technical scope of the appended claims. For example, any of the materials disclosed herein can be used to make any of the elements.

[0071 } Any elements described herein as singular can be pluralized (i.e., anything described as "one" can be more than one), and plural elements can be used

individually. Any species element of a genus element can have the characteristics or elements of any other species element of that genus. The term "comprising" is not meant to be limiting. The above-described configurations, elements or complete assemblies and methods and their elements for carrying out the invention., and variations of aspects of the invention can be combined and modified with each other in any combination.

Claims

We claim;

L A bottle comprising:

a body having a reservoir;

a lid having a iid top and a lid base, wherein the lid top is rotatably opened with respect to the lid base;

a spoilt fixedly attached to the Hd base, wherein the spout comprises an elastomer, and wherein the spout is attached to the lid base at least in part by compressive elastomeric forces, and wherein the spout is in sealed contact with the body, and wherein the iid top comprises an elastomeric element, and wherein the elastomeric element is in sealed contact with the spout. 2. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the spout is in compressive contact with a top edge of the bottle body and sealed with the elastomeric element to seal the contents of the bottle in a water tight fashion. 3. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the bottle is configured such that the sealing of the bottle prevents contents of the reservoir from coming into contact, wi th the lid top or the lid base, other than the elastomeric element. 4. The bottle of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric element comprises a mouthpiece seal 5. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the compressive elastomeric forces are at least m part compressive elastomeric forces of the spout.

6. The bottle of claim 1 , wherein the spout has a mou thpiece port and a pressure equalization hole.

7. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the spout has a mouthpiece axis at an angle offset from a bottle longitudinal axis.

8. The bottle of claim 1 , further comprising a base comprising three or more feet. wherein the feet extend in a longitudinal direction beyond the longitudinal extent of the remainder of the bottle. 9. The bottle of claim 8, the feet extend radially outward from the remainder of the base, 10. The bottle of claim 8, wherein the feet extend up from the remainder of the base. 1 1. The bottle of claim 1 , further comprising a hinge rotatahly attaching the lid top to the lid base. 12. The bottle of claim 11, wherein the lid top has a lid top indentation, wherein the lid top indentation is concave and a has a lid top indentation radius of curvature, and wherein the l id top inden tation radius of curvature is greater than the lid base radius of curvature. 13. A bottle comprising:

a body having a reservoir;

a lid assembly rotatably attachable and detachable from the body, the ltd assembly having opened and closed configurations;

a spout comprising an elastomer, wherein the spout is attached to the lid assembly, and wherein the spout forms a fluid-tight seal with the body when the lid assembly is attached to the body, and wherein the spout has a mouthpiece terminating in a mouthpiece lip;

a spout seal comprising an elastomer, wherein the spout seal is attached to the lid assembly, and wherein the spout seal forms a fluid-tight seal with th spout at least at the mouthpiece lip when the lid assembly is in the closed configuration. 14. The bottle of claim 13, wherein the fluid-tight seal between the spout and the spout seal comprises a seal be tween elastomer of the spout and elas tomer of the spout seal.

1 15. The bottle of claim 13. wherein the fluid-tiuht seal between the spout and the

2 body comprises a seal between elastomer of the spout and metal of the body.

4 16. The bottle of claim 13, wherein the spout has a mouthpiece port and a pressure

5 equalization hole.

6

7 17. A method of sealing a bottle comprising a body having a reservoir, a lid assembly

8 rotatably attachable and detachable from the body and having open and closed

9 configurations, a spout comprising an elastomer and having a mouthpiece Hp, and a 10 spout sea! comprising an elastomer, the method comprising:

i 1 delivering liquid to the reservoir;

12 rotatably attaching the lid assembly to the body, wherein rotatably attaching

13 the lid assembly comprises forming a fluid-tight seal between the spout and the body;

14 rotatably closing the lid assembly onto itself into the closed configuration, i 5 wherein rotatably closing the lid assembly comprises forming a fluid-tight seal

1 between the mouthpiece lip and the spout seal;

17 rotatably opening the lid assembly into the open configuration, wherein

18 rotatably opening the lid assembly comprises releasing the fluid-tight sea! betwee the

1 mouthpiece lip and spout seal.

0

1 18. The method of claim 17„ wherein the fluid-tight seal between the mouthpiece lip 2 and spout seal comprises a seal between elastomer of the mouthpiece lip and

3 elastomer of the spout seal

4

5 19. The method of claim 1 7. wherein the fluid-tight seal between the spout and the 6 body comprises a seal between elastomer of the spout and metal of the body.

7

8 20. The method of c laim 1 , wherein the spout has a mouthpiece port and a pressure 9 equalization hole.

0

1