Bottle cap

Abstract

A bottle cap 1 for closing the top of a bottle and providing either a stream of fluid through the bottle cap 1 or a spray mist, the bottle cap 1 having a cap body 2 that forms a fluid flow passage between a bottle end 3 that mates with a bottle and a dispensing end 4 through which a fluid stream can exit; an atomizer 5 mounted in the cap body 2, the atomizer 5 having an inlet passage 6 that extends towards the bottle end 3 and an outlet nozzle 7 that extends through the bottle cap 1; the cap body 2 and atomizer 5 sized and arranged so that fluid can flow from the bottle end 3 to the dispensing end 4 around the atomizer.

Claims

1. A bottle cap, comprising: a cap body having a bottle end adapted to mate with a bottle and a dispensing end, the cap body defining a single fluid flow passage between the bottle end and the dispensing end thereof; and an atomiser mounted in the cap body, the atomizer having an atomizer inlet fluidly connected to the single fluid flow passage; wherein the cap body comprises a first fluid outlet defined by the dispensing end thereof and a second fluid outlet, wherein the cap body is movable between a first configuration, in which liquid can flow from the bottle end of the cap body through the single fluid flow passage around the atomizer to the first fluid outlet, and a second configuration, in which liquid can flow through the single fluid flow passage from the bottle end of the cap body through the atomizer inlet at atomizer outlet to the second fluid outlet.

2. A bottle cap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second outlet from the cap body is remote from the dispensing end thereof.

3. A bottle cap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cap body comprises first and second relatively moveable mated sections, movement of the first section axially relative to the second section moves the cap body between the first configuration and the second configuration.

4. A bottle cap as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first section is coaxial with and at least partly nested within the second section.

5. A bottle cap as claimed in claim 3 further comprising an atomiser feed straw fluidically connected to the atomizer inlet and arranged so that when the bottle cap is mated with a bottle, the atomiser feed straw will extend into the bottle.

6. A bottle cap as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first and second sections can be relatively rotated around the axis between an unlocked position where the first and second sections are relatively axially moveable, and a locked position where the first and second sections cannot be relatively axially moved.

7. A bottle cap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottle end is internally threaded to mate with a bottle.

8. A bottle cap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottle cap further comprises a non-return valve co-located with the dispensing end of the bottle cap.

9. A bottle cap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottle cap further comprises a lid hingedly connected to the cap body that can be pivoted around the hinge connection to engage with the cap body to close the dispensing end.

10. A bottle for containing a volume of fluid, having a bottle cap for closing the bottle as claimed in claim 1.

11. A bottle cap according to claim 1, wherein the cap body is biased in the first configuration by a resilient member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1a shows a bottle cap according to an embodiment of the invention, having a cap body for connecting to a bottle, a dispensing end, a lid hingedly connected to the cap body so that it can be moved between an open and a closed position, the outer end of an outlet nozzle of an atomiser shown flush with the outer surface of the cap body.

(2) FIG. 1b shows the bottle cap of FIG. 1a with the lid closed

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective cutaway view of the bottle cap of FIGS. 1a and 1b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) An embodiment of bottle cap 1 will now be described with reference to the figures, this embodiment suitable for use on a bottle such as a sports drink bottle, a water bottle or similar.

(5) The bottle cap 1 has a cap body 2 that forms a fluid flow passage between a bottle end 3 and a dispensing end 4. The bottle end 3 of the cap body 2 has an internal screw thread so that the bottle cap 1 can be screwed onto a bottle having a matched external screw thread around the mouth of the bottle. The opposed end of the bottle cap 1 forms the dispensing end 4 through which a user can produce a stream of fluid from the contents of the connected bottle, the fluid passing out of the bottle through the bottle end 4, into the fluid flow passage formed by the cap body 2, and then through dispensing end 4.

(6) An atomiser 5 is mounted in the cap body 2. The atomiser 5 has an inlet passage 6 that extends towards the bottle end 4, and an outlet nozzle 7 that extends through the bottle cap 1. That is, in this embodiment, the outlet nozzle 7 has an outer end 9 that passes through the wall of the cap body 2 so that the outer end 9 is substantially flush with the outer surface of the cap body. The atomiser 5 is used to produce a mist spray through the outlet nozzle 7. The source material for the atomiser is the contents of the bottle. The atomiser 5 in this embodiment is a pump atomiser that is manually pumped to produce a spray of mist with each individual pump action. Activation of the atomiser 5 and the manner in which the source material is provided to the atomiser 5 will be described in detail below.

(7) The cap body 2 encloses a volume within which the atomiser 5 is located. The atomiser 5 and cap body 2 are sized and arranged so that fluid can flow through the cap body 2 from the bottle end 3 to the dispensing end 4 around the atomiser 5 without the progress of the fluid through the cap body 2 being significantly impeded by the atomiser 5the fluid flows freely around the atomiser 5. This is an effective use of the space between the cap body 2 and the atomiser 5 and allows the bottle cap 1 to function as a combined dispensing bottle cap and atomised fluid sprayer, while at the same time removing the need for the cap 1 to have a drinking straw separate from the atomiser 5.

(8) The cap body 2 is formed so that the bottle end 3 and the dispensing end 4 are substantially opposite one another. The outlet nozzle 7 is formed to extend through the cap body 2 partway along the side wall of the cap body 2. This ensures that the outer end 9 of the outlet nozzle exits the cap body 2 at a position located away from or remotely from the dispensing end 4. This is advantageous for a number of reason, including hygiene, as it allows a user to drink directly from the dispensing end 4 by placing this in their mouth, without touching the outlet nozzle 7, which helps to keep the outlet nozzle 7 clean.

(9) In this embodiment, the cap body 2 is formed from two sections 2a and 2b. These will be referred to as first or upper section 2a and second or lower section 2b (for an upright bottle with the cap 1 screwed onto the top). Each of the sections 2a and 2b is substantially cylindrical. The second or lower section 2b is coaxial with the first section 2a, and is partly nested within the first section 2a as an interference fit. The sections are mated so as to be axially movable relative to one another and also rotatably movable relative to one another. Movement of the first section 2a towards the second section 2b along the central axis through the cap body 2e.g. by a user pushing on the top of the cap body 2 to move the first section 2a towards the second section 2bcauses the a pumping action in the atomiser 5 and triggers a spray from the atomiser 5. The atomiser 5 has a return spring 10 which returns the two cap sections 2a and 2b to their original positions once a pump action is completed.

(10) The inlet passage 6 of the atomiser 5 is located and aligned with the central axis of the cap body 2. Fluid is pumped along the inlet passage as the atomiser is activated or triggered. An atomiser feed straw 11 is connected to the end of the inlet passage 6 so that when the bottle cap 1 is connected to a bottle, the atomiser feed straw 11 will extend into the bottle. Atomiser feed straws of different lengths can be used, connected and disconnected as required e.g. by friction fit so that bottles of different lengths or depths can be used with a single design of bottle cap 1. The length of the straw 11 is chosen for the bottle, but the bottle cap otherwise remains the same.

(11) As outlined above, the first and second sections can be relatively rotated around the axis. This allows the sections to be rotated between an unlocked position where the first and second sections 2a, 2b are relatively axially moveable, and a locked position where the first and second sections 2a, 2b cannot be relatively axially moved. In the locked position, the atomiser cannot be activated as with no axial movement the pump cannot function. This helps to prevent inadvertent triggering of the atomiser.

(12) The dispensing end 4 of the cap body 2 can be fitted with a non-return valve so that fluid can exit the bottle but air cannot enter. This helps to prevent water spillage when a user is not actively dispensing the contents of the bottle. The bottle cap 1 can also be fitted with a lid 12 hingedly connected to the cap body 2, the lid 12 pivoting around the hinge connection with the cap body 2 between a closed position where the lid 12 is engaged with the cap body 2 to close the dispensing end, and an open position. The lid can be used instead of or as well as the non-return valve to help prevent inadvertent contents dispensing or for increased hygiene.

(13) In use, a user can either drink directly from the bottle or pour out the contents as a stream by upending the bottle and either allowing gravity to pour out the contents or by squeezing the bottle (if it is a non-rigid bottle). A user can also pump the cap 1 to create an atomised mist which they can spray on themselves or other for cooling, cleaning or similar.

(14) In variations of the embodiment described above, the screw thread fitting of the cap 1 could be replaced by a bayonet fitting, press fitting or similar. The outlet nozzle 7 in the embodiment above is located away from the dispensing end for improved hygiene, but these could also be co-located in if an embodiment requires this. The inlet passage and straw can be formed as separate items or as a single item. The inlet or bottle end 3 and the dispensing end 4 are located opposite one another axially in the embodiment described above. However, these could be located at an angle to one another. The atomiser described above is a pump atomiser with a single spray created for each axial pump. Any other suitable form of atomiser could also be used. It should also be noted that although in the embodiment described above, the cap 1 is used with a sports or drinking bottle, the cap 1 could also be used for bottle containing disinfectant, bleach, household cleaner or similar, where the dual action of a dispensing either a stream of liquid from a bottle or a spray mist might be advantageous. The bottle cap 1 could either be sold by itself, or as part of a bottle/cap combination.