Novelty bottle cap

Abstract

There is disclosed a composite novelty cap for enclosing a fluid container, the cap having a body constructed to mount within the interior portion of the cap to divide the container chamber into an upper and lower chamber, the body having a wall depending from and spaced from the interior portion of the cap. Depending wall is provided with a plurality of apertures to allow fluid communication between the upper and lower chambers. The body further includes an electronic capsule formed therein which contains an electronic body including a circuit board, switch means for activating the circuit, power source and lights. The electronic body is secured within the fluid tight electronic capsule. The assembly permits the user of the device to drink fluid from the container while simultaneously activating the electronics in order to light up both the upper and lower chambers of the container.

Description

I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novelty caps for sealing the opening of bottles, such as drinking bottles, which contain a liquid and is intended to permit the user to drink therefrom. The novelty resides in a lighted cap apparatus that provides entertainment by lighting the liquid and the bottle containing the liquid in an improved system.

II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The novelty cap relates to lighted clear plastic bottles which contain drinking fluids generally utilized by athletes, runners, or the general population for drinking purposes. Such drinking bottles are well known in the art, and in most cases, include a liquid container such as a bottle to contain the liquid such as water, and a cap which usually contains a drinking spout. The drinking spout is usually formed by a slide valve which allows the user to pull the valve upwardly in order to open the valve to drink fluid from the bottle. In most instances, the bottle is provided with a removable cap which seals the opening to the bottle. Typically, the cap is a screw-threaded cap which screws the cap of a bottle containing liquid and a bottle containing mating threads to permit the cap to be screwed-threaded to the bottle. The novelty resides in providing a lighting apparatus for lighting the contents of the bottle as well as the bottle itself. Clearly, in instances where the bottle is made of a clear plastic, or least an opaque plastic, the lighting effect may be achieved.

The means for lighting bottles usually resides in providing a cap arrangement having electronic circuitry provided in the cap, or the bottle being provided with side wall lighted devices, or a bottom wall with a lighted device which would cause a light to flow upwardly and light up the contents of the bottle

The prior art demonstrates a variety of lighted caps and/or lighted bottles to provide the novelty entertainment aspect of such devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,740,368 is directed to a cap with a light emitting diode for illuminating a beverage container. The invention relates to providing a cap which includes a composite arrangement consisting of a cap which has a top cover in which is installed a control button switch. Immediately beneath the tap cover is the battery, the control circuit, containing the LED light which projects downwardly. The above items are all installed into the cap which contains a lens having a concavity therein such that once installed, the cap contains a lighted assembly installed in the upper portion of the cap which is operated by the control button. The LED light extends downwardly into the lens such that when the control button is depressed, the light will be activated and light up the contents of the container. Another variation of such devices is the luminous water bottle described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,771,073. In this instance, the lighted device is located at the bottom of the bottle assembly and includes a light generating device installed at the bottom of the bottle, and has a light emitting surface which extends upwardly from the light emitting device such that once it is activated, the light generating device at the bottom of the bottle generates a light through the light emitting surface which extends upwardly into the interior portion of the bottle.

Another variation is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,976,177 which shows a lighting chamber which is externally mounted on the side of a bottle. In this instance, the side chamber contains a lighting circuit which is intended to light up the bottle through the side walls of the bottle. Circuitry contained within the side chamber maybe activated by bottom switches which are located at the bottom of the bottle.

Another variation as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,450 wherein there is provided a jar which has a cap containing an illuminating device located in the bottom portion of the cap. The illumination system is located in the upper dome lens which fits under the cap. As shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the device is generally assembled by having a lens into which the bulb and the circuitry is inserted, covered by a top cap which will activate the light when the screw-threaded top cap is screw-threaded downwardly. Once again, as demonstrated in the other prior art patents described above, the lighting assembly is isolated from the liquid in the bottle by means of a lens, or by having the lighting device located at the bottom of the bottle or on the side panel of the bottle.

Similar comments are applicable with respect to U.S. Pat. No. 7,534,006 wherein there is disclosed a disposable flashlight. In this instance, the light is contained within an upper module which is screw-threadedly mounted to the top of the bottle. Once again, the electronics from the lighting device system is separated from the fluid contained in the bottle by the cap, or other means. The fluid is not allowed to flow around or through the area containing the electronics. Similar comments are applicable with respect to US patent applicable publication 2006/0,250,795. This device is directed to a means for providing automatically activated illumination of novelty containers such as perfume bottles. Once again, the lighting circuit may be located in the top of bottom compartments of the bottle, but in each instance, the lighted components, are separated from the bottle fluid. This again is shown in US patent application publication 2007/0,206,372 which shows a container having a convex recess extending into the interior of the container at the bottom end thereof and an illumination source disposed in the convex recess. Once again, the electronics in the lighting circuitry is always separated from the fluid in the container such that fluid cannot flow around the chamber containing the lighted device.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 8,011,816 is again directed to a lighted bottle cap apparatus. Once again, the bottle which has a threaded neck, is separated from the lighting device by means of an adapter which accommodates the screw-threaded mounting of the base which houses the lighting device to the adapter, and the adapter in turn is screw-threaded to the bottle. Fluid does not flow around the chamber in which the lighted device is located. Various other prior art patents disclosed are variations of lighted bottles and/or caps containing light systems, but in each instance, fluid does not flow around the chamber in which the electronic light system is located.

The present invention is intended to provide an interesting novelty cap apparatus intended to be designed for water bottles, especially those of the type having drink spouts located in the cap, such that the user employs the bottle as a drinking bottle to drink fluid therefrom. The novelty resides in the fact that once the lighting mechanism is activated in the present invention, the bottle contents are lighted at both the top and bottom portions thereof, and allows fluid contained within the bottle to flow around a chamber containing electronics forming the basis of the lighting system.

III. OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

It is therefore the principle object of the present invention to provide a novelty cap for enclosing a container containing a fluid especially intended to be consumed by the user thereof, wherein the illumination illuminates both the top portion and bottom portions of the bottle and allows fluid to flow around the illumination containing chamber.

In connection with the above object described, the novelty cap of the present invention is formed by a container cap for enclosing the container having an interior portion, with the cap having a drink spout formed therein to allow fluid to exit the container therefrom. The container contains a body constructed to mount within the interior portion of the cap which divides the container chamber into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The body includes a wall which depends from and is spaced from the interior portion of the cap, the wall of the body having apertures formed therein to allow fluid communication between the upper and lower chambers. The body includes a fluid tight electronic capsule formed therein, which contains the electronic body which includes a circuit board, switch means for activating the circuit, a power source and lights. The electronic body is secured within the fluid tight electronic capsule whereby activation of the switch means activates the circuit to power the lights and cause the light to flow through the upper and lower chambers of the container while allowing fluid to flow from the container through the drink spout.

In conjunction with the foregoing object, a further object of the present invention is to provide a cap assembly of the type described, wherein the body which is positioned within the interior portion of the cap extends downwardly from the cap in a manner which divides the container chamber into an upper chamber and lower chamber, and accommodates the insertion of the electronic circuitry within a fluid tight electronic capsule which depends into the chamber of the container. Fluid flows around the electronic chamber via the body which is constructed through the apertures such that fluid can flow from the lower chamber of the container through an upper chamber of the container and out of the drink spout while the circuitry is activated to light the container contents and the bottom.

IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In summary, the present invention provides a novelty cap for lighting the contents of a bottle generally of the type utilized as a drinking bottle by the users thereof. The novelty resides in the fact that the lighting device is constructed under the cap in a manner such that once activated, the illumination system will light both the upper chamber of the bottle as well as the lower chamber while simultaneously allowing the user to drink fluid from the bottle. The fluid in the bottle is able to pass around the chamber containing the lighting system.

In summary, the novelty feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the cap assembly is provided by means of a cap having an interior portion, and a body which is constructed to mount within the interior portion of the cap in order to divide the container chamber into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The body includes a wall which depends from and is spaced from the interior portion of the cap with the wall having apertures formed therein to allow fluid communication between the upper and lower chambers of the container chamber. The body includes a fluid tight electronic capsule formed therein, which contains an electronic body which includes the electronic circuit board, switch means for activating the circuit, a power source for lights. The electronic body is secured within the fluid tight electronic capsule. Activation of the switch means activates the circuit to power the lights, and causes light to flow through the upper and lower chambers of the container while simultaneously allowing fluid to flow from the container through the body and into the upper chamber of the container and out through the drink spout.

The body which is mounted to the interior portion of the cap is formed by a continuous rim wall having an outer edge and an inner edge, a skirt wall depending from the inner edge of the rim wall for a distance, the skirt wall having a continuous inner edge and a bounding wall mounted on the inner edge of the skirt wall, the bounding wall adapted to separate the container chamber into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The bounding wall includes at least one aperture to allow fluid communication between the upper and lower chambers, and includes a fluid tight electronic capsule formed in the bounding wall, the electronic capsule adapted to contain an electronic body which includes the electronic circuit, switch means, power source and lights. Once activated, the device allows light to flow through the electronic capsule and lights the container chamber in both the upper and lower portions thereof. In accordance with the present invention, the electronic capsule which contains the electronic body with the lighting circuitry is therefore suspended within the container chamber, and includes means for dividing the container chamber into an upper and lower chamber, and the lighting system is therefore designed, once activated, to light both portions of the container chamber including the upper chamber and the lower chamber while simultaneously allowing fluid to flow around the electronic capsule.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following specification and drawings as follows.

V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the bottle container having a cap inserted thereon, partly in cross section, showing the details of the lighted cap assembly;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cap assembly in its assembled state, showing the cap having the electronic light capsule contained therein with the body having the electronic light capsule formed therein and inserted within the interior portion of the cap;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the cap assembly showing the cap with the drinking spout extending upwardly from the top portion of the cap, and the electronic capsule containing the electronic body therein extending downwardly from the cap;

FIG. 4 is cross sectional view taken along the lines A-A of FIG. 3, showing the construction of the cap assembly including the cap, and the body mounted in the interior portion of the cap having the electronic light containing capsule formed therein;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the construction of the cap assembly and the various elements thereof;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the body which is mounted within the interior portion of the cap, forming the basis of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines of B-B of FIG. 6, showing the detailed construction of the body which is inserted within the interior portion of the cap of the bottle container.

FIG. 8 is a front cross sectional view showing an alternative embodiment of the novelty cap assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view showing the construction of the alternative embodiment as exemplified in FIG. 8 of the present invention.

VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

With reference to the drawings, the completed bottle assembly 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1. The bottle assembly 10 is formed by a fluid chamber 12, and terminates at the top end in a threaded neck portion 14. In the illustration depicted in FIG. 1, a typical water bottle is illustrated of the type which permits the user to drink therefrom. In this instance, the top of the bottle container 10 is provided with a cap 20 which screw-threads onto the threaded neck portion 14. In typical fashion, the cap 20 is provided with interior threaded grooves 21 which, as is well known, thread onto the treaded neck 14 to affix the cap 20 to the bottle 10. The top of the cap 20 is provided with a slide valve or drink spout 22 which functions to allow the user to pull the drink spout 22 upwardly in order to open the valve and drink a liquid from the bottle chamber 12.

The cap assembly of the present invention as generally illustrated in FIGS. 2-5 of the drawings. With specific reference to FIG. 5, an exploded view of the cap assembly 20 is shown. As described, the cap 20 is formed by a peripheral wall 23 which has the threaded grooves 21 located on the interior portion thereof. The upper portion of the cap is provided with an upper interior wall 24 which is fitted with the centrally located drink spout 22.

The assembly is shown to further include an electronic enclosure body 25. The body 25 is formed by an upper rim wall 27 which, as shown in FIG. 7, is circular in configuration and continuous. The rim wall 27 has a depending skirt wall 28 depending therefrom for a distance. The depending skirt wall 28 has an inner edge 29 which is continuous, which is mounted to a bounding wall 30. The bounding wall 30 is shown to include a plurality of apertures 32 positioned around the bounding wall 30. As shown in FIG. 1, the bounding wall 30 divides the bottle chamber 12 into a lower chamber 16 and an upper chamber 18. It will be appreciated that the apertures 32 and the bounding wall 30 provide a means of fluid communication between the lower chamber 16 and the upper chamber 18 so that fluid contained within the bottle chamber 12 may pass though the bounding wall 30 in order to exit through the drink spout 22. The electronic enclosure body 25 is shown to seat within the interior portion of the cap 20 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The seatment of the body 25 into the cap 20 is facilitated by providing the body with engagement flanges 34 which will seat and position the body 30 into the cap 20 by engaging the interior side wall of the cap 20. In the preferred embodiment, once the body 30 is positioned within the cap 20, a welding process will be used in order to form weld seal around the periphery of the rim 27 to weld the rim to the interior of the cap 20. In this manner, the entire body assembly is fixedly secured to the cap 20.

The body 30 further includes a lower electronic enclosure cup 36 which, ideally, is formed integrally with the electronic enclosure body 25.

Again as illustrated in FIG. 5, the electronics pertaining to the novelty features of the present invention is illustrated. The electronics consist of an electronic circuit board 40 which carries the circuitry (not shown), as well as the power source consisting of batteries 42 and the lights 44. The circuitry may be of any type commonly known, and may include switch means, (not shown) which may be activated by any number of known mechanisms. For example, the switch may be activated by jarring the assembly thereby opening the switch in order to energize the circuit via the power source and activate the lights 44. This type of circuitry as well as the switch means for activating the same are well known in the art. The electronic circuit board 40 along with the batteries 42 and lights 44 is seated into an upper electronic enclosure cup 45 which, in the preferred embodiment, includes a plurality of supporting lets 46 which are adapted to hold the electronic circuit board in position. As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the upper electronic enclosure cup 45 with the electronic circuit board 40 positioned thereon is joined to the electronic enclosure body 25 and sealed thereto in fluid tight engagement. This may also be accomplished by a welding process in a manner well known in the art. The completed assembly therefore provides a completed electronic enclosure capsule 47 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawings.

As further illustrated in FIG. 5, the circuit board 40 may be provided with lights 44 both on the upper as well as the lower surfaces thereof. It will therefore be appreciated that when activated by the switch means, the lights will provide light that will flow upwardly through the upper electronic enclosure cup 45 as well as the lower electronic enclosure cup 36 in order to provide light into the upper chamber 18 as well as the lower chamber 16. Further, it will be appreciated that fluid contained within the bottle chamber 12 may flow through the body 25 via the apertures 32 provided in the bounding wall 30. Hence, the user may drink fluid from the bottle chamber by sliding the drink spout upwardly, while simultaneously, the electronic circuitry is activated to light the bottle. Hence, the fluid in the bottle chamber 12 is free to flow around the electronic enclosure capsule 47 while the bottle container 10 is being utilized by the user. In this manner, the novelty effect of the device is greatly enhanced.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the novelty cap of the present invention. The embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 8 incorporates the same features, but demonstrates a slightly different mechanical means for accomplishing an alternative method of construction for the novelty cap. For ease of reference, similar reference numerals will be utilized for the various parts of elements exemplified in FIGS. 8 and 9.

Again as shown in FIG. 8, the cap 20 is shown to include the threaded grooves 21, and a drink spout 22 extending upwardly from the top wall thereof in the usual manner. The cap includes a peripheral wall 23, which includes an upper interior wall 24. The electronic enclosure body 25 is shown to include an upper rim wall 27, and depending skirt wall 28 which, in this embodiment, shows the skirt wall 28 to have depending legs 49 which, at the lower end terminate in a capsule enclosure ring 51. The assembly is completed by a gasket 53 which aids in providing a fluid tight seal as between the electronic enclosure body 25 and the cap 20.

As demonstrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the electronic enclosure capsule 47 is retained in the capsule ring 51 by any suitable manufacturing means. Such means may include welding, adhesive, or other means of securing the capsule 47 into the ring 51. It will be appreciated from this description that the apertures 32 are also provided such that fluid is able to flow from the lower chamber 16 of the container into the upper chamber 18 in order to exit through the drink spout 22. As was indicated with the prior embodiment, the electronic capsule 47 is adapted to contain the electronic circuit board 40, batteries 42, and lights 44.

It is also contemplated that other mechanical structures may similarly be constructed so long as the electronic body 25 suspends the electronic enclosure capsule 47 into the container and permits fluid from the container to flow around the capsule and exit through the electronic body into the drink spout 22.

It will therefore be appreciated that the present invention provides a cap assembly intended for use on a typical fluid container such as a water bottle, which permits the user to drink therefrom, while simultaneously engaging the electronics contained within the upper cap portion of the bottle to light up both the upper and lower portions of the bottle, allowing fluid to flow around the electronic enclosure capsule in order to permit both functions to occur simultaneously. From the above description, it will be appreciated that while there has been described what is considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications may be made therein all of which are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

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10 bottle container
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14 threaded neck
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20 cap
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27 upper rim wall
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30 bounding wall
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32 apertures
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34 engagement flanges
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36 lower electronic enclosure cup
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40 electronic circuit board
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42 batteries
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44 lights
45 upper electronic enclosure cap
46 supporting legs
47 electronic enclosure capsule
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49 depending legs
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51 capsule ring
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Claims

1. A composite novelty cap enclosing a container forming a chamber to contain a liquid therein comprising,

a container cap for enclosing the container and having an interior portion and said cap having a drink spout formed therein to allow fluid to exit the container therefrom,

a body constructed to mount within the interior portion of said cap to divide the container chamber into an upper chamber and lower chamber,

said body having a wall depending from and spaced from said interior portion of said cap, said wall having apertures formed therein to allow fluid communication between said upper chamber and said lower chamber,

said body further including a fluid tight electronic capsule formed therein,

an electronic body including a circuit board, switch means for activating said circuit, a power source and lights,

and said electronic body being secured within said fluid type electronic capsule,

whereby activation of said switch means activates the circuit to power the lights, and cause light to flow through said upper and lower chambers of said container while allowing fluid to flow from said container through said drink spout.

2. The novelty cap as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said fluid tight electronic capsule is formed from a material which allows light to flow therethrough whereby activation of said switch means activates the circuit to power the lights and allow light to flow through said capsule to light the upper and lower chambers of said container.

3. The novelty cap as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said body is formed by a continuous rim wall having an outer edge and an inner edge, a skirt wall depending from said inner edge of said rim wall for a distance, said skirt wall having a continuous inner edge, a bounding wall mounted on said inner edge of said skirt wall and adapted to separate said container chamber into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said bounding wall including at least one aperture to allow fluid communication between said lower and upper chambers, and a fluid tight electronic capsule formed in said bounding wall, said electronic capsule adapted to contain said electronic body wherein, which when activated, allows light to flow through said electronic capsule and light the container chamber.

4. The novelty cap as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said body is mounted to said interior portion of said container cap by a welding process whereby said body is integrally secured to said container cap.

5. The novelty cap as set forth in claim 3 above, wherein said fluid tight electronic capsule is formed by a lower cup formed from and mounted to said bounding wall, and an upper electronic enclosure cup adapted to carry said electronic body therein, said upper electronic enclosure cup being secured to said lower cup in fluid tight sealed engagement thereby to form said electronic capsule.

6. The novelty cap as set forth in claim 5 above, wherein said upper electronic enclosure cup is secured to said lower cup by a welding process thereby to form a fluid tight electronic capsule.

7. A cap assembly of the type adapted to enclose a liquid container and having a drink spout formed therein to allow the user to drink a fluid contained within the fluid container, comprising,

a container cap having a top wall with a drink spout contained therein and a surrounding cap skirt having an interior portion bounded by said top wall and said surrounding skirt wall,

a body constructed to mount within the interior portion of said container cap, said body formed by a continuous rim wall having an outer edge and an inner edge, a skirt wall depending from said inner edge of said rim wall for a distance, said skirt wall having a continuous inner edge, a bounding wall mounted on said inner edge of said skirt wall and adapted to separate said container chamber into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said bounding wall including at least one aperture formed therein to allow fluid communication between said lower and upper chambers and a fluid tight electronic capsule formed in said bounding wall,

an electronic body including a circuit board, switch means for activating said circuit, a power source and lights, said electronic body being carried within said electronic capsule,

whereby activation of said switch means, activates said circuit to power the lights and light the fluid container in both the lower and upper chambers thereof, while simultaneously permitting the user to drink fluid therefrom which flows from the lower chamber to the upper chamber through the apertured bounding wall to achieve a lighted novelty effect.

8. The cap assembly as set forth in claim 7 above, wherein said electronic capsule is formed by a lower cup formed from and mounted on said bounding wall, and an upper electronic enclosure cup adapted to carry said electronic body therein, said upper electronic enclosure cup being secured to said lower cup in fluid tight sealing engagement to form said electronic capsule.

9. The cap assembly as set forth in claim 7 above, wherein said electronic capsule is formed of a material which allows light to pass therethrough.

10. The cap assembly as set forth in claim 7 above, wherein said body is mounted in the interior portion of said container cap by a welding process.

11. The cap assembly as set forth in claim 8 above, wherein said upper electronic enclosure cup is mounted to said lower cup by a welding process.

12. The cap assembly as set forth in claim 8 above, wherein said upper electronic enclosure cup includes a series of supporting legs extending outwardly therefrom, said supporting legs adapted to carry and support said electronic body thereon in spaced relation therein such that lights carried on said circuit board may cause light to flow freely in all directions through said electronic capsule.