No-Spill Water Bottle

Abstract

The present invention is a no-spill water bottle apparatus having a body and lid that are connected by a screw-on interface. The water bottle having a circular shaped top handle that functions as both an opening and closing element and a handle for carrying the water bottle. The circular shaped handle permitting a spout to be placed in a recessed opening in the top of the lid when the water bottle is closed, and extending from the top of the lid when the water bottle is in use. The exterior surface of the lid also having semi-circular eye type elements that are mechanically connected to the top handle such that the eyes are open when the water bottle is in use and closed when the water bottle is locked.

Claims

1. A no-spill water bottle apparatus comprising: a body having a cylindrical shape with a sealed bottom and open upper portion; an upper lid having the same diameter as the open upper portion of said body, where the upper lid connects to the upper portion of said body to form a liquid tight seal; the upper lid having a recessed portion and a circular-shaped ring portion extending upward when the water bottle is in a vertical orientation; a spout portion that is disposed to fit entirely within the recessed portion of the upper lid and that is extendable from the recessed portion; the circular-shaped ring portion connected to the upper lid such that pulling on the circular-shaped ring portion causes the upper lid to rotate and move to a position at the back portion of the upper lid; the upper lid rotation pulling the spout up out of the recess in the upper lid to present an open liquid access pathway for use in transferring liquid out of the body of the water bottle; when said circular-shaped ring portion changes position through the action of a user, the spout is pulled from the recessed portion of the lid or moved back into said recessed portion, said action opening or closing a channel for flow of liquid from the body of the no-spill water bottle through the spout.

2. The no-spill water bottle apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a spinning ring formed within the interior of the circular handle to function as a spinning toy device.

3. The no-spill water bottle apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the exterior of the water bottle lid having semi-circular coverings that may be moved to open and close positions mechanically through the action of opening the top of the water bottle to indicate that the water bottle spout is available or not available to use.

4. The no-spill cup apparatus of claim 3, where the semi-circular coverings are mechanically connected to the lid of the water bottle such that the semi-circular coverings are raised when the water bottle lid is open for use and lowered when the water bottle lid is closed.

5. The no-spill water bottle apparatus of claim 1, where the circular shaped handle has a spinning ring device formed within the interior of the circular handle to function as a spinning toy device.

6. The no-spill cup apparatus of claim 5, where the spinning ring device may be accessed by a user inserting a digit into the circular handle to place the digit in contact with the toy spinning device and permitting a rotation action of the spinning device within the circular handle.

7. The no-spill water bottle apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a screw-on interface connecting the lid portion to the body portion of the no-spill water bottle through tightening or loosening of the screw-on interface.

8. The no-spill water bottle apparatus of claim 1, where said upper lid and said body of the apparatus are separable to permit ease of cleaning.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Certain illustrative embodiments illustrating organization and method of operation, together with objects and advantages may be best understood by reference to the detailed description that follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a no-spill cup apparatus suitable for use by both children and adults in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a side view of the no-spill cup apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of the no-spill cup apparatus internal closure mechanism in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 4A is a sideview of the open position of the no-spill cup apparatus permitting an individual to access any liquid within the body of the apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

[0009] FIG. 4B is a sideview of an internal view of the circular handle with the interior spin element shown consistent with the principles of the present disclosure

[0010] FIG. 5A is a top view of the components of the auto-close mechanism of the no-spill cup apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 5B is a top view of a front view of the no spill water bottle in a closed position with the eye indicators closed consistent with the principles of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 6A is a view of the liquid flow pathway when the no-spill cup apparatus is in an open position in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 6B is a view of a front view of the no spill water bottle in an open, ready-to-use position with the eye indicators open consistent with the principles of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings.

[0015] The terms a or an, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

[0016] Reference throughout this document to one embodiment, certain embodiments, an embodiment or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.

[0017] The preferred embodiment of the instant invention provides for a no-spill drinking apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. Alternate embodiments are also disclosed. Reference is made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, which are illustrated in the accompanying figures.

[0018] In an embodiment, the no-spill water bottle provides a handle having a circular cross-section that is formed as a ring-shaped portion of the upper lid of the water bottle. The circular-shaped ring portion is connected to the upper lid such that pulling on the circular-shaped ring portion causes the upper lid to rotate and move to a position at the back portion of the upper lid. The handle may be used to carry the water bottle or when pulled toward the back of the upper lid of the water bottle permits the top of the water bottle to rotate on a hinge and reveal a drinking spout. The rotation of the upper lid caused by the pulling of the ring portion causes the drinking spout to extend vertically out of the lid recess to provide user access to the spout. Once open, pressing a lock button releases the lock and permits a user to rotate the top of the water bottle forward on the hinge to hide the drinking spout and seal the top to prevent liquid leaking out of the body of the water bottle.

[0019] Additionally, the circular handle has a spinning ring formed within the interior of the circular handle to function as a spinning toy device. The toy spinning device may be accessed by a user inserting a digit into the circular handle to place the digit in contact with the toy spinning device and permitting a rotation action of the spinning device within the circular handle.

[0020] The top of the water bottle may also have features on the exterior of the water bottle lid that are modeled after human eyes having lid coverings that may be moved to open and close positions mechanically through the action of opening the top of the water bottle to expose or hide the drinking spout. The exterior of the water bottle lid having semi-circular coverings that may be moved to open and close positions mechanically through the action of opening the top of the water bottle to indicate that the water bottle spout is available or not available to use. The lid semi-circular coverings are mechanically connected to a portion of the top of the water bottle such that when the top of the water bottle is moved to a position to expose the drinking spout, the eye lid coverings move to a position that uncovers the eye features. When the tope of the water bottle is moved to a position to hide the drinking spout, the eye lid coverings move to a position the covers the eye features. The positioning of the eye lids may give a user the impression that the water bottle is awake when the eye lids have been moved to a position uncovering the eye features, and provide the impression that the water bottle is asleep when the eye lids have been moved to a position covering the eye features.

[0021] Turning now to FIG. 1, this figures presents a perspective view of the no-spill water bottle in a closed, no-spill configuration consistent with the principles of the present disclosure. The water bottle has a body 100 attached to a bottle lid 102. The bottle lid 102 has a circular-shaped handle 104 having a spinning ring 106 formed within the inner perimeter of the circular-shaped handle 104. The spout 108 is recessed into the top of the bottle lid 102 when the water bottle is not in use or the circular-shaped handle 104 is in the closed position. The exterior of the body 100 has two semi-circular elements 110 that are positioned such that they may be fancifully thought of as eyes where the semi-circular eyes (not shown) provide an indication of when the water bottle is in use. When the spout 108 is pulled into an upright position when a user pulls the circular-shaped handle 104 is pulled up and away from the body 100 by a user, the semi-circular lids 110 present an open indication, and when the spout 108 is restored to the recessed position in the lid 102, the semi-circular eyes 110 present a closed indication.

[0022] Turning to FIG. 2, this figure presents a side view of the no-spill water bottle in an open, drink ready configuration consistent with the principles of the present disclosure. In this view, the lid 102 of the water bottle has been placed in the open position through the action of pulling the circular-shaped handle 104 up and away from the water bottle. The spout 108, which presents the user with an ability to access the liquid retained in the body of the water bottle 100 is pulled up from its recessed position in the lid 102 and presented in a user accessible manner to permit a user to drink from the water bottle.

[0023] Turning to FIG. 3, this figure presents a back view of the no-spill water bottle in an open, drink ready configuration consistent with the principles of the present disclosure. The back portion of the lid 102 of the water bottle has been placed in the open position through the action of pulling the circular-shaped handle 104 up and away from the water bottle 100.

[0024] Turning to FIG. 4A, this figure presents cutaway side view of the no-spill water bottle apparatus closure mechanism in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The lid portion 102 is connected to the body portion 100 of the no-spill water bottle through a screw-on interface 114. The circular-shaped handle 104 is pulled toward the back portion of the water bottle body 100 to pull the spout 108 up and out of a recessed portion 105 of the lid portion 102.

[0025] Turning to FIG. 4B, this figure presents an internal view of the circular handle with the interior spin element shown consistent with the principles of the present disclosure. The circular shaped handle 104 has an internal spinning portion 106 that permits a user to spin the spinning portion 106 as a method of relieving anxiety or as a game.

[0026] Turning to FIG. 5A, this figure presents a side cutaway view of the no spill water bottle in a closed position consistent with the principles of the present disclosure. The lid portion 102 of the no-spill water bottle has two operational semi-circular elements 110 that may be placed in a closed position or an open position through action of the operation of the circular-shaped handle 104. A movement linkage 112 is placed within the lid portion 102 and is connected at a distal end to the bottom portion of the circular-shaped handle 104 and connected at the proximal end to the semi-circular elements 110. When the circular-shaped handle 104 is moved to the closed position the movement linkage 112 moves to a compressed position that closes the semi-circular elements 110 such that the semi-circular elements 110 are covered and indicates that the no spill water bottle is closed, the spout is retained in a recessed portion of the lid 102, and that there is no access to the liquid retained within the body of the water bottle.

[0027] Turning to FIG. 5B, this figure presents a front view of the no spill water bottle in a closed position with the eye indicators closed consistent with the principles of the present disclosure. The semi-circular elements 110 are in a down position that indicates that the water bottle is in a non-spill state and the spout (not shown) is in a recessed position and the liquid within the no-spill water bottle is not accessible.

[0028] Turning now to FIG. 6A, this figure presents a side cutaway view of the no spill water bottle in an open, ready-to-use position consistent with the principles of the present disclosure. The lid portion 102 of the no-spill water bottle has two operational semi-circular elements 110 that may be placed in a closed position or an open position through action of the operation of the circular-shaped handle 104. A movement linkage 112 is placed within the lid portion 102 and is connected at a distal end to the bottom portion of the circular-shaped handle 104 and connected at the proximal end to the semi-circular elements 110. When the circular-shaped handle 104 is moved to the open position the movement linkage 112 moves to a compressed position that moves the semi-circular elements 110 upward into an open position such that the eye elements 111 are uncovered and indicates that the no spill water bottle is open, the spout is moved up out of a recessed portion of the lid 102, and that the liquid retained within the body of the water bottle is freely accessible.

[0029] Turning now to FIG. 6B, this figure presents a front view of the no spill water bottle in an open, ready-to-use position with the eye indicators open consistent with the principles of the present disclosure. The semi-circular elements 110 are in an up position with the eye elements 111 fully visible that indicates that the water bottle is in an open state and the spout 108 is in an extended position and the liquid within the no-spill water bottle is freely accessible.

[0030] While certain illustrative embodiments have been described, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, permutations and variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description.