Adaptable Drinking Nozzle for a Bottle

Abstract

An adaptable drinking nozzle may convert any bottle into a nozzled drinking vessel and may feature a conical elastomeric skirt with parallel fitting rings on an inside of the skirt. The apex of the cone may have a valve to selectively contain the bottle contents. By folding the elastomeric skirt, the drinking nozzle may fit either over or inside the neck of the bottle and seal it against the fitting rings.

Claims

1. An adaptable drinking nozzle comprising: a conical, elastomeric body, further comprising: a foldable skirt defining an interior and an exterior; a plurality of parallel fitting rings along the interior of the skirt; and a valve located at an apex of the conical body.

2. The adaptable drinking nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a rim about the valve.

3. The adaptable drinking nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a thicker shoulder between the foldable skirt and the apex of the conical body.

4. The adaptable drinking nozzle of claim 1, the elastomeric body being manufactured of silicone.

5. The adaptable drinking nozzle of claim 1, the fitting rings being a plurality of parallel ridges manufactured inside the interior of the foldable skirt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an adaptable drinking nozzle.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the adaptable drinking nozzle of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the adaptable drinking nozzle of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a transparent front elevation of the adaptable drinking nozzle of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a transparent side elevation of the adaptable drinking nozzle of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the adaptable drinking nozzle of FIG. 1 being installed upon a bottle.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the adaptable drinking nozzle, after installation on a bottle.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the adaptable drinking nozzle of FIG. 7.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the adaptable drinking nozzle of FIG. 7.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the adaptable drinking nozzle of FIG. 1 being installed upon an alternate bottle.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a side elevation of the adaptable drinking nozzle, after installation on a bottle.

[0023] FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the adaptable drinking nozzle of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] With reference now to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the adaptable drinking nozzle is herein described. It should be noted that the articles a, an, and the, as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0025] With reference to FIGS. 1-5, a drinking nozzle 10 may be a simple conical elastomeric construction with a skirt 12 and nozzle 16 at the conical apex. A valve slit 18 resides at the tip of the nozzle 16 for access to a contained beverage. Within the body of the skirt 12 are a plurality of parallel fitting rings 14 to aid in the gripping of a bottle neck. The fitting rings 14 may be of any shape and size to allow for the adequate interaction with the bottle opening.

[0026] The nozzle 10 may be used in one of two manners. In the first (FIGS. 6-9), the skirt 12 is folded upwards towards the nozzle 16 and positioned on a bottle rim 20. At least one fitting ring 14 would then abut the rim 20. Skirt 12 is then folded over the rim 20. The nozzle 16 is then positioned over the bottle opening and may be used for drinking. In the second manner (FIGS. 10-12), the folded skirt 12 may fit inside the rim 22 of the bottle, and then folded over.

[0027] The drinking nozzle may be made of any suitable elastomeric material which will also be non-toxic and suitable for use with foods and beverages, such as silicone. It may also be made through a simple molding process. The drinking nozzle 10 is adaptable to various bottle necks due to the foldable nature of the skirt 12, which may be folded over once, twice, or as needed to fit both the neck of the bottle and to leave the top nozzle 16 exposed for access.

[0028] Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.