Abstract
A drink bottle comprises a container and a lid. The lid is removably connected to an open end of the container. A resiliently flexible drinking spout or straw assembly is mounted in the lid. An actuator for actuating a function of the drink bottle is slidably mounted to the lid for sliding movement between a home position and an actuation position. The actuator has a push face accessible from outside the lid for receiving finger pressure for displacing the actuator from the home position toward the actuation position for performing a function of the drink bottle. The actuator has a bearing surface in bearing engagement with the spout or straw assembly such that movement of the actuator from the home position towards the actuation position resiliently deforms the spout or straw assembly and by the resilient deformation the actuator is biased towards the home position.
Claims
1. A drink bottle comprising: a container for containing a liquid and a removable lid, the container having an open end and the lid being removably connected to the open end; a resiliently flexible drinking spout or straw assembly being mounted in the lid for extraction of liquid from within the container through the spout or straw assembly; and an actuator for actuating a function of the drink bottle, the actuator being slidably mounted to the lid for sliding movement between a home position and an actuation position, the actuator having a push face accessible from outside the lid for receiving finger pressure for displacing the actuator from the home position toward the actuation position for performing a function of the drink bottle, the actuator having a bearing surface in bearing engagement with the spout or straw assembly such that movement of the actuator from the home position towards the actuation position resiliently deforms the spout or straw assembly and by the resilient deformation the actuator is biased towards the home position.
2. The drink bottle according to claim 1, wherein the removable lid comprises an inner lid and an outer lid, with the outer lid being shiftable relative to the inner lid between closed and open positions and the actuator cooperating with the outer lid in the closed position of the outer lid to retain the outer lid in the closed position and movement of the actuator from the home position to the actuation position releasing that cooperation so that the outer lid is released to shift to the open position.
3. The drink bottle according to claim 2, wherein the outer lid is connected to the inner lid.
4. The drink bottle according to claim 2, wherein the outer lid is connected to the inner lid by a hinge.
5. The drink bottle according to claim 2, wherein the actuator is mounted or accommodated by the inner lid and the push face presents at or through a side wall of the inner lid.
6. The drink bottle according to claim 2, wherein the actuator is mounted or accommodated within an opening in the inner lid and the push face presents at or through a side wall of the inner lid.
7. The drink bottle according to claim 6, wherein the opening in the lid is a close or snug fit about the actuator so that the actuator is guided within the opening between the home and actuation positions.
8. The drink bottle according to claim 2, wherein the actuator has the push face at one end and the bearing surface at an opposite end.
9. The drink bottle according to claim 8, wherein the actuator has a lengthwise axis between the push face and the bearing surface and being mounted in the inner lid for linear movement along the lengthwise axis.
10. The drink bottle according to claim 2, further comprising a catch arrangement in which the actuator and the outer lid each include catch components which engage and cooperate when the outer lid is in the closed position to prevent movement of the outer lid to the open position.
11. The drink bottle according to claim 10, wherein the catch arrangement includes a catch that is formed as part of the actuator and a catch receiver that is formed as part of the outer lid, the catch and the catch receiver cooperating when the outer lid in the closed position to retain the outer lid in the closed position.
12. The drink bottle according to claim 11, wherein the catch is upstanding from a surface of the actuator and including a lateral catch member and the catch receiver comprising an opening or detent for receiving the catch member
13. The drink bottle according to claim 11, wherein one or each of the catch member and the catch receiver has an inclined or sloping surface so that the respective members can ride past each other prior to the catch member being received within the catch receiver.
14. The drink bottle according to claim 2, wherein the actuator includes one or more abutments for terminating travel of the actuator at the home position.
15. The drink bottle according to claim 14, wherein the actuator includes a pair of abutments which extend in different directions for engagement with different abutment surfaces of the inner lid, to terminate travel of the actuator at the home position.
16. The drink bottle according to claim 15, wherein a pair of abutments extends in opposite directions.
17. The drink bottle according to claim 15, wherein the pair of abutments is provided remote from the push face.
18. The drink bottle according to claim 1, wherein the actuator has a depending body that has the bearing surface formed at a portion of the body remote from the push face.
19. The drink bottle according to c1aim 1, wherein the actuator has a pair of legs that are spaced apart, the legs extending generally in the same direction and away from the push face.
20. The drink bottle according to claim 19, wherein one or each of the legs includes a bearing surface for bearing engagement with the drinking spout or straw assembly.
21. The drink bottle according to claim 1, wherein the actuator has a pair of side legs and an intermediate body between the side legs, the side legs and the body extending generally in the same direction and away from the push face.
22. The drink bottle according to claim 21, wherein the body is central between the side legs.
23. The drink bottle according to claim 18, wherein the bearing surface is slightly curved convexly.
24. The drink bottle according to claim 19, wherein the legs are arranged for resilient flexing movement for flexing inwardly from a relaxed or resting position.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0051] In order that the invention may be more fully understood, some embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures in which:
[0052] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drink bottle according to one embodiment of the invention with the lid of the drink bottle in a closed position.
[0053] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the drink bottle of FIG. 1 with the lid of the drink bottle in an open position.
[0054] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the drink bottle of FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0055] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lid of the earlier figures, and showing the actuator in the home position.
[0056] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lid of the earlier figures, with the actuator shown in the actuation position.
[0057] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the lid of the earlier figures, with the outer lid having shifted from the closed position of FIGS. 4 and 5, to a partly open position.
[0058] FIGS. 7a and 7b are perspective views of an actuator for use in a drink bottle according to the invention, taken from above and below.
[0059] FIG. 7c is a plan bottom view of the actuator of FIGS. 7a and 7b.
[0060] FIGS. 7d and 7e are plan top views showing the actuator of FIGS. 7a and 7b in use between the home and actuation positions.
[0061] FIGS. 8a and 8b are perspective views of an actuator for use in a drink bottle according to the invention, taken from above and below.
[0062] FIG. 8c is a plan bottom view of the actuator of FIGS. 8a and 8b.
[0063] FIGS. 8d and 8e are plan top views showing the actuator of FIGS. 8a and 8b in use between the home and actuation positions.
[0064] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a further form of lid for use in the invention, with the outer lid in an open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0065] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate perspective view of a drink bottle 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The drink bottle 10 is shown in FIG. 1 with the lid 11 of the bottle 10 in a closed condition and in FIG. 2 with the lid 11 in an open condition. FIG. 3 illustrates the drink bottle 10 in exploded view.
[0066] The drink bottle 10 includes a container 12 that in use will contain a quantity of fluid for drinking purposes. As shown in FIG. 3, the container 12 has an open end 13 and the lid 11 is removably connected to the open end 13 by a screw threaded arrangement. Inserted between the lid 11 and the open end 13 is a resiliently flexible drinking spout or straw assembly 14 (hereafter “drinking spout”) which includes a circular gasket 15, a hollow neck 16 and a hollow drinking portion 17. The gasket 15 is sandwiched between facing sealing surfaces of the open end 13 and the lid 11, to provide a liquid seal between the container 12 and the lid 11 when the drink bottle 10 is assembled. This ensures that liquid that travels from the container 12 to the lid 11 passes through the neck 16 and into the drinking portion 17 without leakage.
[0067] The lid 11 includes an inner lid 20 and an outer lid 21. The respective inner and outer lids 20 and 21 are connected by a hinged connection 22.
[0068] The inner lid 20 includes an opening 25 for accepting and seating the neck 16 of the drinking spout 14. The resilient flexibility of the spout 14 means that the spout 14 can be assembled to the inner lid 20 by being pushed through and into engagement within the opening 25 and this secures the spout 14 in place in relation to the inner lid 20. Thus, the neck 16 is a tight fit within the opening 25 and the respective shapes of the opening 25 and the neck 16 are complementary.
[0069] As shown in FIG. 2, the outer lid 21 can pivot about the hinge 22 to the open position shown in FIG. 2 and can likewise return to the closed position shown in FIG. 1. As will be described later herein, the outer lid 21 can be retained in the closed position of FIG. 1 by a suitable catch mechanism that is associated with an actuator 26 (see FIG. 3). The actuator 26 is mounted within the inner lid 20 for sliding movement between a home position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and an actuation position (which will be described later herein). In the home position, the actuator 26 can secure the outer lid 21 in the closed condition relative to the inner lid 20 as shown in FIG. 1, while inward movement of the actuator 26 to the actuation position releases the outer lid 21 to shift to the open condition shown in FIG. 2. To shift between the home and actuation positions, the actuator 26 includes a push face 27 that can be pushed by finger pressure inwardly from the home position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0070] As will become apparent later herein, the drinking portion 17 is captured in a void between the inner and outer lids 20 and 21 when the lid 11 is in the closed position of FIG. 1. However, when the outer lid 21 is released from retention to the inner lid 20 (so that it is not retained in the closed position) by inward movement of the actuator 26, the resilient flexibility of the drinking portion 17 can be used to lift or drive the outer lid 21 to rotate about the hinge 22 to the open condition shown in FIG. 2. The resilience of the drinking portion 17 can be such as to spring the outer lid 21 open once the actuator 26 releases the outer lid 21 so that manual pivoting of the outer lid 21 to the open position is not required.
[0071] When the outer lid 21 rotates in the opposite direction from the open position to the closed position, the outer lid 21 will collapse the drinking portion 17 and for this, the outer lid 21 includes an internal post 28 to engage and push on the drinking portion 17. The free end 29 of the post 28 is curved convexly, tending to locate the drinking portion 17 centrally as it collapses and to resist the portion 17 from sliding out of engagement with the free end 29.
[0072] An important aspect of the drink bottle 10, is that the actuator 26 engages directly with a surface of the neck 16 of the drinking spout 14 in each of the open and closed conditions of the lid 11, and by that permanent or constant contact or engagement, the actuator 26 is permanently or constantly biased towards the home position of FIGS. 1 and 2. Moreover, inward sliding movement of the actuator 26 is resisted by that engagement and the bias applied to the actuator 26 tends to return the actuator 26 to the home position. Thus, finger pressure applied to the push face 27 can displace the actuator 26 inwardly of the inner lid 20, but once that pressure is released, the actuator 26 will return to the original position (the home position) from which the actuator 26 was initially pushed or displaced. As discussed earlier, this arrangement is relatively simple when compared to prior art arrangements, in that there is no requirement in the drink bottle 10 for a separate spring part to act on the actuator 26, and the actuator 26 is not formed from a pair of separate components that are connected together for pivoting movement.
[0073] The mechanism by which operation of the actuator 26 occurs is shown in more detail in FIGS. 4 to 6 which illustrates the lid 11 of the drink bottle 10 and only the upper portion of the container 12 which connects to the lid 11. FIGS. 4 and 5 show the lid 11 in a closed condition while FIG. 5 shows the lid 11 in an open condition. FIGS. 4 and 5 thus show the drinking portion 17 of the drinking spout 14 collapsed and captured in a void between the inner and outer lids 20 and 21.
[0074] The actuator 26 is slidably mounted within the inner lid 20 and so the actuator 26 remains with the inner lid 20 regardless of whether the outer lid 21 is in the closed or open position. FIGS. 4 to 6 show upper and lower surfaces of the opening within which the actuator 26 is captured. Side edges of the actuator 26 are captured in grooves, slots or channels formed in the lid 11. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, the actuator 26 is received within the opening 30 of the inner lid 20 and the actuator 26 is mounted for sliding movement within that opening 30. The opening 30 is open at or through a side wall of the inner lid 21 so that the push face 27 is accessible for the application of finger pressure.
[0075] The end 35 of the actuator 26 forms a bearing surface for bearing engagement with a surface of the drinking spout 14. In FIG. 3, the surface of the spout 14 is the front surface 36 of the neck 16. As shown in FIG. 4, the bearing surface 35 of the actuator 26 faces the front surface 36 of the neck 16, but is slightly spaced from that surface. In FIG. 5, the actuator 26 has been shifted under finger pressure and thus has moved into contact with the surface 36. That contact is such as to resist inward movement of the actuator 26 within the opening 30.
[0076] FIG. 4 also shows that the actuator 26 includes an upstanding catch 38 that is upstanding from an upper surface of the body 41 of the actuator 26 as shown in the orientation of the drink bottle 10 and the lid 21 in the figures, and that includes a lateral catch member 39. Likewise, the outer lid 21 includes a catch receiver 40 and as shown in FIG. 4, the catch member 39 and the catch receiver 40 interact in the closed position of the outer lid 21 to retain the outer lid 21 in that position. The cooperating engagement between the catch member 39 and the catch receiver 40 is facilitated by the bias or load applied to the actuator 26 by the drinking spout 14 through the engagement of the bearing surface 35 of the actuator 26 with the front surface 36 of the spout 14. That engagement tends to retain the cooperation between the catch member 39 and the catch receiver 40. For example, in FIG. 4, movement of the actuator 26 in a direction to disconnect the catch member 39 from the catch receiver 40 will cause the bearing surface 35 of the actuator 26 to engage the neck 16 of the spout 14 and to prevent disconnection.
[0077] In FIG. 5, a push force has been applied to the push face 27 of the actuator 26 to cause the actuator 26 to slide inwardly relative to the inner lid 20 and the outer lid 21. The push force would ordinarily be applied by the thumb of a person wanting to drink from the drink bottle 10, although of course any finger can be used to apply pressure, or alternatively, pressure could be applied by different means if finger pressure is not available.
[0078] In FIG. 5, the inward movement of the actuator 26 has shifted the catch member 39 from cooperation with the catch receiver 40. Moreover, the inward movement of the actuator 26 has shifted the bearing surface 35 inwardly against the surface 36 of the drinking spout 14, and that movement of the actuator 26 has caused visible deformation of the neck 16. That resilient deformation of the drinking spout 14 is such as to increase the biasing load applied to the actuator 26 through the bearing surface 35, tending to push the actuator 26 back to the home position.
[0079] As a result of the catch member 39 being displaced from the catch receiver 40, the outer lid 21 is free to pivot about the hinge 22 to an open position as shown in FIG. 6. That pivoting movement can either be manually achieved by the person using the drink bottle 10 lifting the outer lid 21, or alternatively, the resilient recovery of the drinking portion 17 of the drinking spout 14 from the collapsed condition of FIGS. 4 and 5 will force the outer lid 21 to open in the absence of a force or load retaining the outer lid 21 in the closed position. In practice, if there is no load tending to maintain the outer lid 21 in the closed position, as soon as the lateral catch member 39 is free of the catch receiver 40, the outer lid 21 will spring open under the resilient recovery of the drinking portion 17 and the drinking portion will present for use as shown in FIG. 6.
[0080] The applicant has developed different actuators that have different constructions. A first form of actuator 26 has already been described in relation to FIG. 3. That actuator 26 has a push face 27, a bearing surface formed at the end 35, and an upstanding catch 38 upstanding from the body 41. The body 41 is a single part component and the sides of the body 41 are at least partially captured in grooves, slots or channels formed in the internal surfaces of the lid to guide the actuator during sliding travel between the home and actuation positions. Two different forms of actuator that are different in construction to the actuator 26 are shown in FIGS. 7a-7d and 8a to 8d.
[0081] The actuator 45 shown in FIGS. 7a to 7b is equivalent to the actuator 26 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and includes a push face 46, a pair of side legs 47 and a central body 48. Remote from the push face 46, the central body 48 includes a convexly curved free end 49 for engagement with the front surface 36 of the neck 16 of the drinking spout 14.
[0082] Also remote from the push face 46, are laterally extending abutments 50 which, as shown in FIGS. 7d and 7e extend laterally to overlie abutment surfaces 51 of the inner lid 20. In this respect, portions of the side legs 47 are captured within channels formed internally of the inner lid 20 to guide sliding movement of the actuator 45 between home and actuation positions. The abutments 50 are not captured within those channels and therefore bear against end surfaces (the abutment surfaces 51 of the channels) when the actuator 45 is in the home position as shown in FIG. 7d. Moreover, the actuator 45 includes a lip 52 adjacent the push face 46 that faces opposite abutment surfaces 53 of the inner lid 20 and thus it will be readily evident from FIGS. 7d and 7e, that the actuator 45 has limited travel between respective engagement between the abutment 50 and the abutment surfaces 51, and the lip 52 and the abutment surface 53.
[0083] FIGS. 7d and 7e also show the interaction or cooperation of the body 48 and the neck 16 of the drinking spout 14. In FIG. 7d, the actuator 45 is in the home position and so the lip 52 is in engagement with the abutment surfaces 53. The abutments 50 are spaced from the abutment surfaces 51. The neck 16 is cylindrical and relatively undeformed by any pressing contact with the bearing surface 49 of the body 48. That is, in the home position, there is only light engagement between the bearing surface 49 and the neck 16, and so the natural cylindrical configuration of the neck is largely undisturbed. However, in FIG. 7e, the actuator 45 has been pushed inwardly, so that now, the actuator 45 is in the actuation position and so the lip 52 is spaced from the abutment surfaces 53 and the abutments 50 have engaged the abutment surfaces 51. By that engagement, further inward travel of the actuator 45 is terminated.
[0084] The inward travel of the actuator 45 has also caused resilient deformation of the neck 16 so that the neck 16 is no longer cylindrical. The neck is biasing the actuator 45 towards the home position against the pushing force being applied to the actuator 45.
[0085] FIGS. 7d and 7e also show that the side legs 47 need to flex inwardly so that the abutments 50 can pass through the channels the inner lid 20 in which the side legs 47 are captured for sliding movement, given that the abutments 50 extend laterally a greater distance than the side surfaces 55 side legs 47. Thus, to insert the side legs 47 into the channels, the side legs 47 flex inwardly from a relaxed or resting position and once inserted, the side legs 47 return to the relaxed or resting position with the abutments 50 in facing relationship with the abutment surfaces 51. By this arrangement, the actuator 47 is captured in place in the lid 20 for limited sliding movement.
[0086] FIGS. 8a to 8e show an alternative actuator 55 which includes a push face 56 and a pair of legs 57. The free ends 58 and 59 of the legs 57 form a bearing surface for bearing against the front surface 36 of the neck 16 of the drinking spout 14 of the earlier figures. Abutments 60 are formed at the free ends of each of the legs 57 and a catch 62 is provided, having the same shape as the catch 38.
[0087] It will be evident from FIGS. 8a to 8c, that the actuator 55 has a different shape to the actuator 45 of FIGS. 7a to 7c. Despite this, the actuator 55 operates effectively in the same manner to the actuator 45. In FIG. 8d, the actuator 55 is in the home position, in which the abutments 60 bear against the abutment surfaces 61 of the inner lid 20. Like the side legs 47 of the actuator 45, the legs 57 are captured within channels formed internally of the lid 20 to guide sliding movement of the actuator between the home and actuation positions.
[0088] The actuator 55 is biased to the home position by bearing engagement with the neck 16 of the drinking spout 14. This occurs through bearing engagement between the bearing surfaces 58 and 59 of the legs 57 and a facing surface of the neck 16.
[0089] The actuator 55 can be pushed inwardly as shown in FIG. 8e by finger pressure applied to the push face 56 to displace the abutments 60 from the abutment surfaces 61. This inward movement deforms the neck 16 as shown in FIG. 8e and increases the biasing influence of the neck 16 on the actuator 55.
[0090] The actuator 55 operates substantially the same as the actuator 45, except that the actuator 55 does not include a lip 52 for engagement with an abutment face 53 as shown in FIGS. 7d and 7e. In contrast, inward movement of the actuator 55 is limited by abutting engagement between upstanding abutment 63 and an internal abutment of the inner lid 20.
[0091] A further alternative form of drink bottle is illustrated in FIG. 9. FIG. 9 shows an arrangement in which a lid 65 is attached to the container 12 and includes an inner lid 66 and an outer lid 67. The inner lid 66 accommodates the same drinking spout 14 as previously described. The main difference between the inner lid 66 and the inner lid 20 previously described is that the inner lid 66 does not include an opening for accommodating the actuator 68. In FIG. 9, it can be seen that the inner lid 66 includes a bottom surface 69 on which the actuator 68 slides, but does not include an upper surface over the top of the actuator 68 in accordance with the opening 30 of the inner lid 20. Sides of the actuator 68 would still be at least partially captured in grooves, slots or channels formed in the internal surfaces of the lid to guide the actuator during sliding travel between the home and actuation positions.
[0092] The drink bottles illustrated in the figures all incorporate an actuator for actuating a function of a drink bottle, in which the specific function of the figures is to retain an outer lid connected to an inner lid in the closed condition, or to release the outer lid from the inner lid in the open condition. Critical to that function is that the actuator has a bearing surface in bearing engagement with the spout or straw assembly of the drink bottle, such that movement of the actuator from the home position towards the actuation position resiliently deforms the spout or straw assembly and by the resilient deformation the actuator is biased towards the home position. This critical feature of the drink bottle of the figures is common to all forms of the present invention. This feature is considered to provide advantages in relation to reductions in the complexity of drink bottles.
[0093] Where any or all of the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprised” or “comprising” are used in this specification (including the claims) they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components, but not precluding the presence of one or more other features, integers, steps or components.
[0094] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
