CONTAINER FITTING

Abstract

A fitting for affixing to a mouth of a receiving container comprises a tubular body having a top end, a bottom end and a side wall extending between the top and bottom ends and having an inner surface and an outer surface. A partition is integrally formed on the inner surface between the top end and the bottom end. The partition divides the body into an open top region and an open bottom region. The inner surface of the open top region has a top threading and the inner surface of the open bottom region has a bottom threading. The partition further includes an aperture therein adapted to permit passage of a standard size, disposable straw therethrough from the open top region to the open bottom region.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to container fittings; more particularly, to container fittings capable of being releasably mounted to more than one size container opening; and most particularly, to container fittings including a leak-resistant aperture adapted to permit passage of a disposable, standard size drinking straw therethrough.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Container fittings and caps coupled to container mouth openings are known in the art. Typically, containers are closed using a dedicated fitting/cap, with one class of containers holding liquid refreshments such as water, soft drinks and sport/energy drinks. To partake of the liquid within the container, particularly when a secondary container is unavailable, a user needs to remove the fitting/cap and drink directly from the bottle mouth opening. Such direct drinking may be difficult for young children and may cause issues for adults, such as inadvertent spillage or smearing of lipstick. Direct drinking may also pose a danger by causing an unnecessary distraction while driving. Moreover, to ease drink accessibility, a user may decide not to replace the fitting/cap in between sips thereby necessitating that the container remain in an open state. Thus, any tipping or inversion of the container may result in spilling, and potentially catastrophic emptying, of the container contents.

As an attempt to alleviate the above shortcomings of conventional caps/fitting, there are a number of alternative container fittings available. However, each of these fittings suffers from one or more significant drawbacks. For instance, one example of a typical fitting includes a threaded fitting with a resealable nozzle. The threaded fitting is sized to fit a standard disposable water bottle. Its nozzle may be opened using fingers or teeth so that liquid may be poured or squirted into the mouth and then closed when not in use to prevent spilling.

Another example of a bottle fitting is a “spout adapter for water bottle” sold by i play Inc. of Asheville, N.C. A reusable/non-disposable, soft nipple is removably connected to a screw-on cap; the cap is adaptable to a fit a standard water bottle mouth of approximately 25 mm. The cap is reversible and sized to fit water bottles having the same diameter mouth but different thread sizes. The nipple sold with the cap has a diameter almost equal to the diameter of the cap and, if removed or lost, leaves the bottle completely open for spilling if tipped. Further, since the nipple is non-disposable, it may be difficult to keep the nipple clean and ready for repeated use.

To further complicate matters, not all bottles suitable for an alternative container fitting have the same mouth opening diameter. For instance, water bottles typically have a mouth opening diameter (and therefore associated fitting/cap) of approximately 25 mm. Juice and sport/energy drink bottles typically come with mouth diameters of approximately 35 mm. As a result, since the above alternative fittings are dedicated to a single container mouth diameter, the prior art alternative fittings described above cannot be interchangeably used with various commonly used bottles.

Alternative fittings have been developed to accommodate two or more differing mouth opening diameters. One such fitting is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,315. The disclosed fittings are arranged to include two serially stacked openings of varying diameters. The stacked openings are arranged such that the widest diameter opening is positioned at the bottom of the fitting, with the smaller diameter opening in direct communication above. As a result, such a fitting may fit containers having different mouth diameters. This proposed solution, however, also suffers a number of drawbacks. For instance, the fitting must be proportioned so that each diameter opening may, when needed, engage the container mouth opening. However, due to the needed threaded length, if the axial length of the bottom opening is of a length that the fitting engages the container body prior to the smaller fitting diameter engaging the container mouth, the fitting cannot be properly mounted onto the container.

Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a container fitting which addresses the above recited limitations in the art. What is needed is a container fitting that can mount onto containers having differences in mouth diameter. What is further needed is a container fitting that is usable with a standard 6 mm diameter disposable straw, is leak-resistant while also allowing the container contents to be readily available to a user in a safe, clean and accessible manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described, a fitting for affixing to a mouth of a receiving container comprises a tubular body having a top end, a bottom end and a side wall extending between the top and bottom ends and having an inner surface and an outer surface. A partition is integrally formed on the inner surface between the top end and the bottom end. The partition divides the body into an open top region and an open bottom region with the inner surface of the open top region having a top threading and the inner surface of the open bottom region having a bottom threading. The partition further includes an aperture therein adapted to permit close fitting passage of a standard size disposable straw therethrough from the open top region to the open bottom region. The top threading may have a different pitch or number of threads per inch or both than the bottom threading.

A further embodiment of a side wall that has a planar surface substantially normal to the open top and bottom ends such that the side wall defining the open top region has a thickness greater than a thickness of the side wall defining the open bottom region. As a result, the open top region has a smaller open internal diameter than an open internal diameter of the bottom region. In an alternative embodiment, the outer surface of the side wall has a stepped profile so that the thickness of the side wall defining the open top region is substantially the same thickness as the side wall defining the open bottom region.

Yet another embodiment of a fitting according to the present invention includes a partition that is rigid yet flexible and the aperture is substantially leak-resistant. Moreover, the open top end may accommodate a container mouth having an external diameter of 25 mm and the open bottom end may accommodate a container mouth having an external diameter of 35 mm. The outer surface of the body may also be knurled.

In each of the above embodiments, the fitting may be constructed of any suitable material, but in a preferred embodiment is constructed as a unitary body from a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, a copolyester and combinations thereof. The fitting may also be color coded or branded to aid in the ready identification of the fitting's opening sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features are advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and be better understood by reference to the following description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a container fitting in accordance with the invention mounted onto a container;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the container fitting shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the container fitting shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the container fitting shown in FIG. 2 taken along line 4-4;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view an alternative container fitting in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the container fitting shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the container fitting shown in FIG. 5 taken along line 7-7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in detail, and specifically to FIGS. 1 through 4, container fitting 100 is generally comprises a tubular body 102 having a top end 104, a bottom end 106 and a side wall 108 extending therebetween. Side wall 108 has an inner surface 110 and an outer surface 112. Outer surface 112 may be a smooth surface or may include knurls 114. Knurls 114 may extend along the longitudinal axis of body 102 from top end 104 to bottom end 106, or any intermediate distance therebetween, with successive knurls being in parallel spaced relation to one another.

Partition 116 may be integrally formed on inner surface 110 a spaced distance from top end 104 and bottom end 106. In this manner, partition 116 divides body 102 into an open top region 118 and an open bottom region 120. Inner surface 110a of open top region 118 may be sized as diameter D_t. while inner surface 110b of open bottom region 120 may be sized as diameter D_b, wherein D_b is greater than D_t. In one aspect of the invention, inner surfaces 110a and 110b may be smooth surfaced so as to offer a slight interference fit with the mating container mouth. In another aspect of the invention, inner surfaces 110a and 110b may include a series of flexible circular ridges formed axially along the circumferences of the surfaces so as to offer an interference fit with the mating container mouth. In yet another aspect of the invention, inner surface 110a of open top region 118 may include threading 122 while inner surface 110b of open bottom region 120 may include bottom threading 124. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, top threading 122 may have a different pitch or number of threads per inch or both than bottom threading 124. Partition 116 may further include an aperture 126 appropriately sized through which a standard size disposable straw 128 may close-fittedly pass from the environment, through partition 116 and into the interior of container 130. As for example, aperture 126 may be sized to close-fittedly receive a disposable drinking straw having a diameter of approximately 6. mm as distributed by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. of Bentonville, Ark.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, partition 116 is formed of a rigid yet flexible material such that aperture 126 is in a substantially closed position when straw 128 is absent, but also forms around the circumference of straw 128 when the straw is inserted and resides within aperture 126. In this manner, container fitting 100 may be substantially leak-resistant. That is, container fitting 100 may resist leaking of fluid within container 130 should container 130 be tipped or inverted. It should be understood that, should container 130 be tipped or inverted for too long a time period, or should sufficient back pressure be exerted upon the fluid in container 130, some small amount of fluid may leak through aperture 126. However, even in this case, the amount of fluid loss and/or the rate of fluid loss would be substantially less than should container 130 not be outfitted with container fitting 100 whereby catastrophic spillage may occur, potentially including the entire fluid volume resident within container 130.

Following removal of straw 128, partition 116 may resiliently close aperture 126 to reform the leak-resistant closure. It should be understood that a completely sealed closure is not required or, in the case of certain embodiments, expected. Rather, aperture 126 may remain partially open but have such opening be small enough so as not to disrupt the intermolecular forces within the fluid within container 130 thereby promote resistance to leaking.

By way of example, container 130 may be a bottle of water wherein aperture 126 may maintain a sufficiently small opening such that the intermolecular adhesive forces between water molecules are maintained proximate aperture 126. These intermolecular forces may enable a droplet of water to not readily pass through aperture 126. As described above, however, should the water bottle be inverted or tipped for a sufficient amount of time or sufficient pressure be applied to the bottle or water within, the intermolecular adhesion of the water droplet at the aperture may be overcome thereby resulting in leakage of the water.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 4, in accordance with an aspect of the invention, side wall 108 may have a planar surface which is substantially normal to the plane formed by top 104 and bottom 106 ends. As a result, side wall 108 may include a top side wall portion 108a such that the side wall of open top region 118 has a thickness Tt which is greater than a thickness Tb of side wall portion 108b which defines open bottom region 120. Open top region 118 has a smaller open internal diameter D_t than the open internal diameter D_b of the open bottom region 120. As described above, open top region 118 may include top threading 122 while open bottom region 120 includes bottom threading 124. In this manner, container fitting 100 may be selectively mountable onto containers 130 which have different mouth diameters.

By way of example, in reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, open top region 118 may by proportioned to accommodate a container mouth having an external diameter of approximately 25 mm while open bottom region 120 may be proportioned to accommodate a container mouth having an external diameter of approximately 35 mm. It should be noted that these mouth diameters are illustrative examples and that the container fitting of the present invention may be proportioned to receive any desired mouth diameter, as long as the top-to-bottom diameters are sized differently, with such additional diameters considered to be within the present invention. The recited diameters are simply those of commonly available water, soft drink and juice or sport/energy drink bottle mouth diameters.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 through 7, an alternative embodiment of a container fitting 150 is shown. Container fitting 150 is substantially identical to container fitting 100 described above with the exception that outer surface 162 of side wall 158 is no longer planar but is configured to have a stepped profile having a step portion 159 between top side wall portion 158a and bottom side wall portion 158b. As described above, container fitting 150 may have an open top region 168 having a smaller open internal diameter D_t than the open internal diameter D_b of open bottom region 170. Similar to open top region 118 and open bottom region 120 described above, open top region 168 may include top threading 172 while open bottom region 170 includes bottom threading 174. In this manner, container fitting 150 may be selectively mountable onto containers 130 which having different mouth diameters. A depth D of step portion 159 may be selected such that top side wall portion 158a has a thickness T_ts which is substantially similar to a thickness T_bs of bottom side wall portion 158b. In this manner, the thickness of side wall 158 is consistent between top and bottom side wall portions 158a, 158b.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, container fittings 100, 150 may be fabricated as a unitary member. While any suitable material may be used to fabricate container fittings 100, 150, examples of such materials include, but are not limited to silicone, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, a copolyester and combinations thereof. Container fittings 100, 150 may further be fabricated from colored materials. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, container fittings 100, 150 may be fabricated according to a color scheme wherein an individual fitting may be fabricated from a colored material wherein that color is indicative of the mouth diameters to be received by that fitting.

By way of example, a first fitting 100, 150 may be colored red to indicate that open top region 118, 168 may receive a 25 mm mouth diameter while open bottom regions 120, 170 may receive a 35 mm mouth diameter. A second fitting 100, 150 may then be fabricated in blue to indicate receipt of a 26 mm mouth diameter at the open top region and a 28 mm mouth diameter is receivable in the open bottom region. A user may then visually retrieve a desired fitting without careful interrogation of each individual container fitting, particularly when attempting to visually discern small differences in receivable diameters (i.e. visually discerning between 28 mm and 35 mm) or through attempting to physically mount a suspected container fitting which would require unwanted and premature opening of the container 130 as well as possibly damaging the fitting or bottle mouth opening.

While the invention has been described by reference to various specific embodiments, it should be understood that numerous changes may be made within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts described. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the described embodiments, but will have full scope defined by the language of the following claims.

Claims

1. A fitting for affixing to a mouth of a receiving container, and for receiving a standard size drinking straw, the fitting comprising:

a) a tubular body having a top end, a bottom end and a side wall extending between the top and bottom ends and having an inner surface and an outer surface; and

b) a partition integrally formed on the inner surface between the top end and the bottom end, the partition dividing the body into an open top region and an open bottom region, the inner surface of the open top region having a first diameter and the inner surface of the open bottom region having a second diameter wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter and wherein the partition further includes an aperture therein configured to permit passage of said standard size drinking straw therethrough from the open top region to the open bottom region.

2. The fitting in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said first diameter or said second diameter includes a top threading or a bottom threading, respectively.

3. The fitting in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the side wall has a planar surface substantially normal to the open top and bottom ends and wherein the side wall defining the open top region has a thickness greater than a thickness of the side wall defining the open bottom region.

4. The fitting in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the side wall has a stepped profile so that the thickness of the side wall defining the open top region is substantially the same thickness as the side wall defining the open bottom region.

5. The fitting in accordance with claim 1 wherein the partition is rigid yet flexible and the aperture is substantially leak-resistant.

6. The fitting in accordance with claim 1 wherein the open top end accommodates a container mouth having a diameter of one of approximately 25 mm or approximately 35 mm wherein the open bottom end accommodates a container mouth having an external diameter of one of approximately 25 mm or approximately 35 mm other than the one accommodated by the open top end.

7. The fitting in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer surface is knurled.

8. The fitting in accordance with claim 1 wherein the fitting is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, a copolyester and combinations thereof.

9. The fitting in accordance with claim 1 wherein the top threading has a different pitch or number of threads per inch or both than the bottom threading.

10. The fitting in accordance with claim 9 wherein the fitting is selectively colorized to identify the particular pitch or number of threads per inch of the fitting's threading.

11. The fitting in accordance with claim 1 wherein said aperture is sized to close fittedly receive said standard size drinking straw.

12. The fitting in accordance with claim 11 wherein a diameter of said standard size drinking straw is approximately 6 mm.

13. A fitting for affixing to a mouth of a receiving container, and for receiving a drinking straw, the fitting comprising:

a) a tubular body having a top end, a bottom end and a side wall extending between the top and bottom ends and having an inner surface and an outer surface; and

b) a partition integrally formed on the inner surface between the top end and the bottom end, the partition dividing the body into an open top region and an open bottom region, the inner surface of the open top region having a first threading size and the inner surface of the open bottom region having a second threading size wherein said first threading size is different than said second threading size and wherein the partition further includes an aperture therein configured to permit passage of said drinking straw therethrough from the open top region to the open bottom region.

14. The fitting in accordance with claim 13 wherein said first threading size and said second threading size is a thread pitch.

15. The fitting in accordance with claim 13 wherein said first threading size and said second threading size is a number of threads per inch.

16. The fitting in accordance with claim 13 wherein said first threading size is a thread pitch and said second threading size is a number of threads per inch.

17. The fitting in accordance with claim 13 wherein said drinking straw is a standard size drinking straw.