COVERING DEVICE FOR A DRINKING VESSEL

Abstract

A covering device (1) for a drinking vessel (2) such as a bottle, includes an attachment member (3) for attaching the covering device (1) to the drinking vessel (2), a cover member (4) for covering a drinking opening (5) of the drinking vessel (2) and an operating mechanism (6) for displacing the cover member (4) from a closed position into an open position and from an open position into a closed position. The operating mechanism (6) includes an operating element (19) such as an operating lever. The operating element (19) which may be configured as an operating weight (7) is coupled to the cover member (4) via a transmission (8).

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A covering device (1) for a drinking vessel (2) such as a bottle, comprising: an attachment member (3) for attaching the covering device (1) to the drinking vessel (2); a cover member (4) for covering a drinking opening (5) of the drinking vessel (2); and an operating mechanism (6) for displacing the cover member (4) from a closed position into an open position and from an open position into a closed position, wherein the operating mechanism (6) comprises an operating element (19) including an operating lever (16) or an operating weight (7), the operating mechanism (6) comprises a transmission (8), via which the operating element (19) is coupled to the cover member (4), and the operating element (19) is configured as an operating weight (7).

15. The covering device according to claim 14, wherein: the cover member (4) is pivotably mounted about a first pivot axis (9), the operating element is pivotably mounted about a second pivot axis (10), the transmission (8) has a transmission ratio of greater than 1, causing the cover member (4) to pivot about the first pivot axis (9) by an angle of α*x, x being greater than 1, when the operating element pivots about the second pivot axis (10) by the angle α, and the transmission ratio x is between 1.5 and 4.5.

16. The covering device according to claim 14, wherein: the cover member (4) has an opening angle of 0° relative to the attachment member (3) in the closed position and the cover member (4) has an opening angle of between 80° to 120° relative to the attachment member (3) in the open position.

17. The covered device according to claim 16, wherein: said opening angle is 100° in the open position.

18. The covering device according to claim 14, wherein: the attachment member (3) comprises a clamp or is configured as a clamp.

19. The covering device according to claim 14, wherein: the attachment member (3) has two retaining legs (14) for enclosing the drinking vessel (2) and/or for clamping the attachment member (3) to the drinking vessel (2), and wherein a drinking space (15) is provided between the two free ends of the two retaining legs (14).

20. The covering device according to claim 14, wherein: the cover member (4) is configured as a closure lid and/or as a closure flap and forms a continuous, liquid-tight cover.

21. The covering device according to claim 14, wherein: the cover member (4) is configured as a closure lid and/or as a closure flap and forms a non-continuous cover provided with holes for the passage of air.

22. The covering device according to claim 14, further comprising: a first gear wheel section (11) coupled to the cover member, and a second gear wheel section (12) coupled to the first gear wheel section, wherein the first gear wheel section comprises an external gear wheel section and the second gear wheel section comprises an internal gear wheel section.

23. The covering device according to claim 22, wherein: the first gear member is pivotably arranged about a first pivot axis (9) and is coupled to the cover member (4) in a rotationally fixed manner, and the second gear wheel section (12) is pivotably arranged about a second pivot axis (10), wherein the second gear wheel section (12) is coupled to the operating element in a rotationally fixed manner, the second gear wheel section (12) is in engagement with the first gear wheel section (11), and the second gear wheel section (12) has a greater effective diameter than the first gear wheel section (11), the transmission (8) thus having a ratio of greater than 1.

24. The covering device according to claim 14, wherein: the center of gravity of the operating weight (13) is arranged at a distance from the second pivot axis (10), and the operating weight (7) is arranged in a suspended manner when used as intended, the center of gravity of the operating weight (13) being at a distance from the second pivot axis (10) and below the second pivot axis (10).

25. The covering device according to claim 14, wherein: the attachment member comprises a groove (20) provided on the attachment member (3) and centers the position of the covering device on the drinking vessel (2).

26. The covering device according to claim 25, wherein: said groove (20) is an annular groove provided on the retaining legs (14).

27. A combination of a covering device (1) according to claim 14 and a drinking vessel (2), wherein the covering device is located on the drinking vessel in the area of a drinking opening (5) of the drinking vessel (2).

28. The combination according to claim 27, wherein: in the closed position a clearance is provided between the drinking vessel (2) and the operating element in order to allow the operating element to be pivoted in the direction of the drinking vessel (2).

29. The combination according to claim 27, wherein: the attachment member (3) encloses the drinking vessel (2) only partially in the area of the drinking opening (5) and in a drinking space (15) is left free for placing a user's lips against it.

30. The combination according to claim 28, wherein: the attachment member (3) encloses the drinking vessel (2) only partially in the area of the drinking opening (5) and in a drinking space (15) is left free for placing a user's lips against it.

31. A combination of a covering device (1) according to claim 23 and a drinking vessel (2), wherein the covering device is located on the drinking vessel in the area of a drinking opening (5) of the drinking vessel (2),

32. The combination according to claim 31, wherein: in the closed position a clearance is provided between the drinking vessel (2) and the operating element in order to allow the operating element to be pivoted in the direction of the drinking vessel (2).

33. The combination according to claim 31, wherein: the attachment member (3) encloses the drinking vessel (2) only partially in the area of the drinking opening (5) and in a drinking space (15) is left free for placing a user's lips against it.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0047] FIG. 1a is a schematic, three-dimensional view of a first exemplary embodiment of the inventive covering device in the closed position,

[0048] FIG. 1b is a schematic side view of the first exemplary embodiment of the inventive covering device in the closed position,

[0049] FIG. 2a is a schematic, three-dimensional view of the first exemplary embodiment of the inventive covering device in the open position,

[0050] FIG. 2b is a schematic side view of the first exemplary embodiment of the inventive covering device in the open position,

[0051] FIG. 3a is a schematic, three-dimensional view of a second exemplary embodiment of the inventive covering device in the closed position,

[0052] FIG. 3b is a schematic side view of the second exemplary embodiment of the inventive covering device in the closed position,

[0053] FIG. 4a is a schematic, three-dimensional view of the second exemplary embodiment of the inventive covering device in the open position,

[0054] FIG. 4b is a schematic side view of the second exemplary embodiment of the inventive covering device in the open position,

[0055] FIG. 5a is a schematic, three-dimensional view of an attachment member and an upper part of a drinking vessel, and

[0056] FIG. 5a is a schematic side view of an attachment member and an upper part of a drinking vessel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] Unless otherwise indicated, the reference numbers correspond to the following components: Covering device 1, drinking vessel 2, attachment member 3, cover member 4, drinking opening 5, operating mechanism 6, operating weight 7, transmission 8, first pivot axis 9, second pivot axis 10, first gear wheel section 11, second gear wheel section 12, centre of gravity of the operating weight 13, retaining leg 14, drinking space 15, operating lever 16, spring element 17, third gear wheel section 18, operating element 19, groove 20, collar 21, mounting direction 22.

[0058] FIGS. 1a and 1b show an inventive covering device 1 according to a first exemplary embodiment in a closed position. FIG. 1a shows the inventive covering device 1 in a three-dimensional view, while FIG. 1b shows it in a side view. The covering device 1 is attached in the area of the drinking opening 5 of a drinking vessel 2, in this case a bottle. For attaching the covering device 1, an attachment member 3 is provided, comprising two retaining legs 14 partially enclosing the drinking vessel 2 in the area of the drinking opening 5. Thus, a drinking space 15 is kept free in the area against which the lips are placed for drinking. The attachment member 3 with its retaining legs 14 has a groove 20 on its inside in order to allow the covering device 1 to be centred and attached. The groove 20 is in particular configured and/or suitable to receive a collar 21 of a bottle with a screw cap. However, the groove 20 may alternatively be configured to receive other elements of a drinking vessel such as a shoulder or a collar 21 of a bottle with a crown cap.

[0059] The cover member 4 is continuous, made of a liquid-tight material and fully covers the drinking opening 5 of the drinking vessel 2. In a further embodiment, which is not shown, the cover member 4 can be provided with multiple openings in order to allow air to circulate. A first gear wheel section 11, which is pivotably mounted about a first pivot axis 9, is coupled to the cover member 4 in a rotationally fixed manner. A second gear wheel section 12 is in engagement with the first gear wheel section 11 and forms with it parts of a transmission 8. In this first exemplary embodiment the second gear wheel section 12 is connected to the operating element 19, which is configured as an operating weight 7, in a rotationally fixed manner and can be pivoted about a second pivot axis 10. In this exemplary embodiment the centre of gravity of the operating weight 13 lies in the centre of the operating weight 7, as it is designed as a sphere. The arrangement of transmission 8 and operating element 19 forms the essential parts of the operating mechanism 6 for one embodiment of the covering device 1 according to the invention.

[0060] FIGS. 2a and 2b show the same exemplary embodiment as FIGS. 1a and 1b; however, the covering device 1 is in its open position.

[0061] By tilting the drinking vessel 2 a displacement of the centre of gravity of the operating weight 13 relative to the attachment member takes place and the opening of the covering device 1 is triggered via the transmission 8, which results in the cover member 4 being lifted from the drinking opening 5 of the drinking vessel 2. When using the device according to the invention as intended, the attachment member 3 with its two retaining legs 14 stays in a fixed position in the area of the drinking opening 5 of the drinking vessel 2. In particular in case of bottles with a collar 21, the fixing is enhanced by means of the groove 20.

[0062] By displacing the centre of gravity of the operating weight 13 in the direction of the drinking vessel 2, the second gear wheel section 12 is set in motion, causing the cover member 4 to move as a result of the engagement with the first gear wheel section 11. Since the second gear wheel section 12, which in this exemplary embodiment is designed as an internal gear wheel, has a bigger effective diameter than the first gear wheel section 11, which in this exemplary embodiment is designed as an external gear wheel, a transmission ratio of greater than 1 is achieved. According to this exemplary embodiment, this results in the cover member 4 pivoting about the first pivot axis 9 by about 100° when the operating weight 7 pivots about the second pivot axis 10 by about 45°.

[0063] In this exemplary embodiment a clearance is provided between the drinking vessel 2 and the operating weight 7 in order to allow the operating weight 7 to be pivoted in an unhindered manner.

[0064] In order to minimise the space needed for the operating weight 7 the density of the operating weight is advantageously as high as possible. Therefore, an operating weight made of tungsten carbide was used in this exemplary embodiment. Alternatively, operating weights 7 made of steel or brass can be used. However, the selection of the material is not limited to these exemplary embodiments and any material may be used as long as the mass of the operating weight 7 is big enough to trigger the operating mechanism 6.

[0065] In an exemplary embodiment, which is not shown, the operating weight 7 of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be replaced by an operating lever 16 in order to allow the covering device 1 to be manually opened and closed independently of the state of tilting.

[0066] FIGS. 3a and 3b show a second exemplary embodiment of the covering device 1 according to the present invention in the closed position. FIG. 3a is a three-dimensional view, FIG. 3b is a side view.

[0067] The covering device 1 is attached above retaining legs 14 arranged on the attachment member 3 in the area of the drinking opening 5 of the drinking vessel 2, which, also in this exemplary embodiment, is a bottle. By providing the attachment member 3 with the two retaining legs 14 a drinking space 15 in the area of the drinking opening 5 is kept free or formed to allow the user of the covering device 1 to place his lips against it in an unhindered manner. A first gear wheel section 11, which can be pivoted about a first pivot axis 9, is coupled to the covering device 4 in a rotationally fixed manner. A second gear wheel section 12, which is coupled to the operating element 19 configured as an operating lever 16 in a rotationally fixed manner and can be pivoted about a second pivot axis 10, is coupled to the first gear wheel section 11 via a third gear wheel section 18. The first gear wheel section 11, the second gear wheel section 12 and the third gear wheel section 18 are parts of the transmission 8. The operating lever 16 is kept in a fixed position corresponding to the closed position of the covering device 1 by a spring element 17. Together, the parts mentioned above make up the operating mechanism 6.

[0068] In this exemplary embodiment, the cover member 4 fully covers the drinking opening 5 of the drinking vessel 2.

[0069] FIGS. 4a and 4b show the second exemplary embodiment described in FIGS. 3a and 3b in the open position, FIG. 4a in a three-dimensional view, FIG. 4b in a side view. For lifting the cover member 4, the user pushes the operating lever 16 towards the drinking vessel 2, causing a displacement of the second gear wheel section 12, which is coupled to the operating lever 16 in a rotationally fixed manner. A transmission of force to the first gear wheel section 11, which is coupled to the cover member 4 in a rotationally fixed manner, takes place via the third gear wheel section 18. Due to the larger effective diameter of the third gear wheel section 18 in comparison to the first gear wheel section 11, a transmission ratio of greater than 1 is achieved, whereby in this exemplary embodiment a pivoting of the operating lever 16 of about 30° results in a pivoting of the cover section 4 by about 120°. When the user releases the operating lever 16, the lever is pushed back into its initial position by the spring element 17. This causes the cover member 4 to be returned to the closed position.

[0070] FIGS. 5a and 5b show enlarged views of the area of the drinking opening 5 of a drinking vessel 2, in this case in the shape of a crown cap bottle with a screw cap. FIG. 5a is a three-dimensional view, FIG. 5b is a side view. The drinking vessel 2 has a collar 21 in the area of the drinking opening 5. A groove 20, which is designed to allow the collar 21 to engage it, is provided on the inside of the cover member 4, which, for the sake of simplicity, is shown without the rest of the covering device 1, as well as in particular on the inside of the retaining legs 14. The attachment member 3 is mounted in the mounting direction 22. This allows an enhanced attachment and centring of the attachment member 3 and the covering device 1 can be prevented from moving during use. In the present embodiment, apart from the groove 20 a further contour is provided on the inside of the attachment member 3, allowing the centring of its position relative to another drinking vessel 2, for example relative to a bottle which is usually closed by means of a crown cap. Therefore, the geometry provided on the inside of the attachment member 3 comprises multiple elements suitable for connecting and centring the position of the covering device 1 relative to different drinking vessels 2.