Closure for drink bottle

Abstract

A drink bottle includes a receptacle and a receptacle closure. The receptacle closure can move from a closed position to block flow from the receptacle and an opened position to allow flow from the receptacle

Description

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to drink bottles. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to closures for drink bottles.

Drink bottles are used to store a variety of liquids. Closures are often used on drink bottles to retain the contents of the drink bottle inside the bottle and to facilitate ease of access to the liquid contents.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, a drink bottle includes a receptacle and a receptacle closure. The receptacle closure includes a lid and a lid cap. The lid is coupled to the receptacle for removal therefrom and is formed to include an aperture. The lid cap includes a cover and a plug and is arranged for movement relative to the lid between a closed position and an opened position. In the closed position, the cover covers the lid, a plug body of the plug is positioned in the aperture to establish a seal between the plug body and the lid to block flow from the receptacle, and a retainer of the plug is arranged to engage the lid to retain the lid cap in the closed position. In the opened position, the cover uncovers the lid and the plug body is withdrawn from the aperture to allow flow from the receptacle.

The plug body is configured as a plug sleeve and the retainer is configured as an annular retainer bead. The plug sleeve is coupled to an inner surface of the cover and an annular retainer bead coupled to an outer surface of the plug sleeve. The bead is arranged to engage a lip that is included in the lid and formed to include the aperture to retain the lid cap in the closed position. A plurality of support ribs extend radially from the sleeve outer surface to the cover inner surface to reinforce the plug sleeve and to engage the lip to limit insertion of the plug sleeve into the aperture.

A cap mount is coupled to the lid cap and the receptacle for movement of the lid cap between the closed and opened positions. The cap mount includes a tether coupled to the lid cap and a mount ring formed to surround a neck-down portion included in the receptacle. A release tab is coupled to the lid cap and arranged to release the lid cap from the lid so that the lid cap can be moved from the closed position to the opened position.

Additional features of the apparatus will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description exemplifying the best mode of the disclosure as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drink bottle that includes a receptacle and a receptacle closure including a lid coupled to the receptacle and formed to include an aperture, a lid cap positioned in an opened position so that a plug included in the lid cap is withdrawn from the aperture to allow liquid to be dispensed from the receptacle through the aperture, a mount ring coupled to the receptacle, a tether coupled to the lid cap and the mount ring, and a utility ring coupled to the mount ring;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the lid cap in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is an exploded side elevation view of the receptacle closure;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the lid cap showing the plug surrounded by a cover and a plurality of support ribs extending radially between the plug and the cover;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 2 showing the lid cap in the closed position in which a plug sleeve extends into an aperture formed in an annular lip included in the lid and an annular retainer bead coupled to the plug sleeve is arranged to engage the lip to retain the lid cap in the closed position; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the drink bottle showing the thumb of a user pressing the release tab upwardly to move the lid cap upwardly away from the lid to open the drink bottle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A drink bottle 10 includes a receptacle 12 and a receptacle closure 14, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 2. Receptacle closure 12 includes a lid 16 coupled to receptacle 12 for removal therefrom, a lid cap 18, and a cap mount 28 coupled to lid cap 18 and receptacle 12 for movement of lid cap 18 relative to lid 16 between a closed position to block flow of liquid from receptacle 12 and an opened position to allow flow of liquid from receptacle 12.

The illustrated lid 16 includes a connector 50 coupled to a neck-down portion 64 that is formed above a base portion 78 of receptacle 12, an annular lip 46 formed to include an aperture 36, and a generally frustoconical wall 48 coupled to connector 50 and lip 46, as shown best in FIG. 5. Lip 46 extends radially inwardly from frustoconical wall 48. Illustratively, connector 50 is an annular side wall that includes a thread 66 that mates with a thread 74 formed in neck-down portion 64 to couple lid 16 to receptacle 12 for removal therefrom. It is within the scope of this disclosure for connector 50 to be configured, for example, as a snap connector to couple to receptacle 12 by a snap connection or as an interference fit connector to couple to receptacle 12 by an interference fit.

Lid cap 18 includes a cover 20, a plug 22, and a plurality of support ribs 44, as shown best in FIG. 1. Lid cap 18 is arranged for movement relative to lid 16 between a closed position in which cover 20 covers lid 16 and plug 22 is positioned in aperture 36 to establish a seal between plug 22 and lip 46 of lid 16 to block flow from receptacle 12 and an opened position in which cover 20 uncovers lid 16 and plug 22 is withdrawn from aperture 36 to allow flow from receptacle 12. Illustratively, cover 20 is dome-shaped and surrounds plug 22.

Plug 22 includes a plug body 24 and a retainer 56, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 4. In the closed position, plug body 24 is positioned in aperture 36 to establish a seal between plug body 24 and lip 46 and retainer 56 is arranged to engage lip 46 to retain lid cap 18 in the closed position. Retainer 56 thus provides retainer means for engaging lid 16 to retain lid cap 18 in the closed position. In the opened position, plug body 24 is withdrawn from aperture 36 so that plug body 24 and retainer 56 disengage lip 46.

Illustratively, plug body 24 is a plug sleeve and retainer 56 is an annular retainer bead coupled thereto, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 4. Plug sleeve 24 includes a proximal end portion 38 coupled to a cover inner surface 60 of cover 20 and a distal end portion 40 spaced apart from cover inner surface 60. Bead 56 is coupled to a sleeve outer surface 58 of plug sleeve 24 at distal end portion 40. Illustratively, bead 56 has a generally semi-circular shape in cross-section.

Lid cap 18 includes a plurality of support ribs 44, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 4. Support ribs 44 extend radially outwardly from sleeve outer surface 58 to cover inner surface 60. Support ribs 44 cooperate to support plug sleeve 24 and thus provide a plug reinforcement device that reinforces plug 22. Support ribs 44 further cooperate to form an insertion limiter in that support ribs 44 are arranged to engage lip 46 to limit insertion of plug 22 into aperture 36 upon movement of lid cap 18 to the closed position. Lip 46 is positioned between and in engagement with support ribs 44 and bead 56 when lid cap 18 is positioned in the closed position.

Cap mount 28 includes a tether 30 and an annular mount ring 32, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 3. Tether 30 includes a first end portion 68 coupled to a flange 26 extending outwardly from cover 20 and a second end portion 70 coupled to mount ring 32 for movement of lid cap 18 relative to lid 16 between the opened position and the closed position. Tether 30 thus provides an example of a hinge for movement of lid cap 18 between the opened and closed positions.

Mount ring 32 is arranged to surround neck-down portion 64, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5. Mount ring 32, lid 16, cover 20, and plug 22 are coaxial relative to a common axis 72 when lid cap 18 is positioned in the closed position.

Mount ring 32 is held in place relative to receptacle 12 by a mount retainer 54, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 6. Illustratively, retainer 54 is a ring that is coupled to and surrounds neck-down portion 64 and is positioned between mount ring 32 and lid 16.

Receptacle closure 12 includes a utility ring 34, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 2. Illustratively, utility ring 34 is coupled to an outer edge 80 of mount ring 32. Utility ring 34 provides a user with an attachment point for keys or other attachable accessories.

Receptacle closure 12 includes a release tab 52, as shown, for example, in FIG. 6. Release tab 52 is coupled to cover 20 and is arranged to move lid cap 18 from the closed position toward the opened position upon application of an opening force 82 to release tab 52.

Drink bottle 10 may be fabricated from a variety of materials. Illustratively, receptacle 12 is made of a generally inflexible material. Use of such an inflexible material promotes durability and puncture-resistance of receptacle 12. An example of such an inflexible material is polycarbonate which further promotes stain- and odor-resistance. Because receptacle 12 is generally inflexible, aperture 36 is made large enough (e.g., diameter of about 1 inch or about 25 mm) to allow simultaneous inflow of air and outflow of liquid during use of drink bottle 10, thereby promoting a rapid release of fluid contents from receptacle 12. It is within the scope of this disclosure for receptacle 12 to be made of a flexible material.

Illustratively, all the components of receptacle closure 14 are made of plastics material (e.g., polyolefin resin) by injection molding. Illustratively, lid cap 18, cap mount 28, and utility ring 34 cooperate to form a monolithic unit.

Claims

1. A drink bottle comprising

a receptacle and

a receptacle closure including a lid and a lid cap, the lid being coupled to the receptacle for removal therefrom and formed to include an aperture, the lid cap including a cover and a plug including a plug body coupled to the cover, the lid cap being arranged for movement relative to the lid between an opened position in which the cover uncovers the lid and the plug body is withdrawn from the aperture and a closed position in which the cover covers the lid and the plug body is positioned in the aperture to establish a seal between the plug body and the lid, the plug including retainer means for engaging the lid to retain the lid cap in the closed position.

2. The drink bottle of claim 1, wherein the plug body includes a plug sleeve coupled to the cover, and the retainer means includes a bead coupled to the plug sleeve.

3. The drink bottle of claim 1, wherein the retainer means includes a bead arranged to engage the lid when the lid cap is positioned in the closed position.

4. The drink bottle of claim 1, wherein the lid cap includes a support rib positioned between the cover and the plug body.

5. The drink bottle of claim 1, wherein the lid includes a connector coupled to the receptacle for removal from the receptacle, an annular lip formed to include the aperture, and a generally frustoconical wall coupled to the connector and the lip, the plug body and the lip cooperate to establish a seal therebetween when the lid cap is positioned in the closed position and the retainer means includes an annular retainer bead coupled to the plug body and arranged to engage the lip when the lid cap is positioned in the closed position.

6. The drink bottle of claim 1, wherein the plug body is a plug sleeve including a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a sleeve outer surface extending therebetween, the proximal end portion is coupled to a cover inner surface included in the cover, the retainer means includes a retainer bead that is coupled to the sleeve outer surface at the distal end portion and surrounds the plug sleeve, the plug sleeve is positioned in the aperture and the retainer bead is arranged to engage the lid when the lid cap is positioned in the closed position, and the plug sleeve and the retainer bead are positioned outside the aperture when the lid cap is positioned in the opened position.

7. The drink bottle of claim 6, wherein the cover is dome-shaped and surrounds the plug sleeve.

8. The drink bottle of claim 6, wherein the lid cap includes a plurality of support ribs extending radially from the sleeve outer surface to the cover inner surface which surrounds the plug sleeve.

9. The drink bottle of claim 6, wherein the retainer bead has a generally semi-circular shape in cross-section.

10. The drink bottle of claim 1, wherein the receptacle includes a base portion and a neck-down portion coupled thereto, the receptacle closure includes a mount ring and a tether, the mount ring surrounds the neck-down portion, the lid is coupled to the neck-down portion, and the tether is coupled to the mount ring and the cover.

11. The drink bottle of claim 10, wherein the receptacle closure includes a utility ring coupled to the mount ring.

12. The drink bottle of claim 10, wherein the receptacle includes a mount retainer coupled to the neck-down portion and positioned between the lid and the mount ring to retain the mount ring on the receptacle.

13. The drink bottle of claim 10, wherein the lid cap, the tether, and the mount ring cooperate to form a monolithic unit.

14. A drink bottle comprising

a receptacle and

a receptacle closure including a lid and a lid cap, the lid being coupled to the receptacle and formed to include an aperture, the lid cap including a cover and a plug coupled to the cover, the plug including a plug body and a retainer, the lid cap being arranged for movement relative to the lid between an opened position in which the cover uncovers the lid and the plug body is withdrawn from the aperture and a closed position in which the cover covers the lid, the plug body is positioned in the aperture to establish a seal between the plug body and the lid, and the retainer is arranged for engagement with the lid to retain the plug body in the aperture.

15. The drink bottle of claim 14, wherein the plug body is a plug sleeve coupled to the cover, the retainer is a retainer bead coupled to a sleeve outer surface included in the plug sleeve, and the retainer bead is arranged to engage a lip that is included in the lid and formed to include the aperture.

16. The drink bottle of claim 15, wherein the cover includes a cover inner surface, the plug sleeve includes a proximal end portion coupled to the cover inner surface and a distal end portion spaced apart from the cover inner surface, and the retainer bead is coupled to the distal end portion.

17. The drink bottle of claim 15, wherein the lid cap is formed to include a plurality of support ribs extending radially outwardly from the plug sleeve to the cover, the plurality of support ribs are arranged to engage the lip to limit insertion of the plug body into the aperture upon movement of the lid cap to the closed position, and the lip is positioned between the support ribs and the retainer bead when the lid cap is positioned in the closed position.

18. The drink bottle of claim 14, wherein the receptacle closure includes a cap mount coupled to the cover and the receptacle to support the lid cap for movement between the closed and opened positions.

19. The drink bottle of claim 18, wherein the cap mount includes a mount ring surrounding the receptacle.

20. The drink bottle of claim 19, wherein the cap mount includes a tether coupled to the cover and the mount ring.

21. The drink bottle of claim 19, wherein the receptacle includes a retainer ring to retain the mount ring on the receptacle.

22. The drink bottle of claim 19, wherein the receptacle closure includes a utility ring coupled to the mount ring.

23. The drink bottle of claim 14, wherein the lid includes a connector coupled to the receptacle for removal of the lid from the receptacle.

24. A drink bottle comprising

a receptacle made of polycarbonate material and

a receptacle closure including a lid, a lid cap, and a cap mount, the lid being coupled to the receptacle for removal therefrom and formed to include an aperture, the lid cap including a cover, a plug sleeve coupled to the cover, and an annular retainer bead coupled to the plug sleeve, the cap mount being coupled to the lid cap and the receptacle for movement of the lid cap relative to the lid between an opened position in which the cover uncovers the lid and the plug sleeve is withdrawn from the aperture and a closed position in which the cover covers the lid, the plug sleeve is positioned in the aperture to establish a seal between the plug sleeve and the lid, and the retainer bead is arranged for engagement with the lid to retain the plug sleeve in the aperture.

25. The drink bottle of claim 24, wherein the cap mount includes a mount ring surrounding the receptacle, a flange coupled to the cover, and a hinge coupled to the mount ring and the flange.

26. The drink bottle of claim 24, wherein the cover includes a cover outer surface and a cover inner surface, the receptacle closure includes a release tab coupled to the cover outer surface and arranged to move the lid cap from the closed position toward the opened position upon application of an opening force to the release tab, and the plug sleeve is coupled to the cover inner surface.

27. The drink bottle of claim 26, wherein the plug sleeve includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion is coupled to the cover inner surface, and the bead is coupled to the distal end portion.

28. The drink bottle of claim 24, wherein the bead has a generally semi-circular shape in cross-section.

29. The drink bottle of claim 24, wherein the lid cap includes a plurality of support ribs extending radially outwardly from the plug sleeve to the cover which is dome-shaped and surrounds the support ribs and the plug sleeve.

30. The drink bottle of claim 29, wherein the lid includes an annular side wall coupled to the receptacle, an annular lip formed to include the aperture, and a generally frustoconical wall coupled to the side wall and the lip, the lip extends radially inwardly from the frustoconical wall between the support ribs and the bead for engagement with the support ribs, the bead, and the plug sleeve when the lid cap is positioned in the closed position.

31. The drink bottle of claim 24, wherein the lid cap includes an insertion limiter positioned outwardly from the plug sleeve and arranged to engage the lid to limit insertion of the plug sleeve into the aperture.

32. The drink bottle of claim 24, wherein the lid cap includes a plug reinforcement device coupled to the plug sleeve and the cover to reinforce the plug sleeve.