CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a Patent Cooperation Treaty Application which claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 15/908,031 , filed February 28, 2018, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to a bottle closure, and more particularly, to a bottle closure having a drink spout biased toward an open position by a straw biasing portion.

SUMMARY

[0003] One aspect of the disclosure relates to a bottle closure. The bottle closure includes a body having an upper portion and a lower portion. The body lower portion has a bottle finish adapted and configured to be releasably connectable with a bottle. The body upper portion is formed with a cavity, and a drink spout is disposed in the cavity. The drink spout has a distal opening adapted and configured to allow a user to drink from the drink spout, and the drink spout distal opening is in fluid

communication with a straw. The straw has a biasing portion extending from the drink spout and through a first hole in the body. The straw also has an extension portion in fluid communication with the biasing portion. The extension portion is of a length sufficient to be insertable in a hollow interior of a bottle with which the bottle closure is releasably connected. The drink spout is moveable between an open position in which the drink spout extends out of the cavity with the drink spout distal opening spaced from the body and a closed position in which the drink spout is contained in the cavity. The body also has a drink spout cover movable relative to the body between a closed position in which the drink spout cover extends over the cavity and an open position in which the drink spout cover enables access to the cavity. The body still further includes a latch movable between a latch position in which the latch secures the drink spout cover in the closed position and a release position in which the latch releases the drink spout cover. The straw biasing portion is adapted and configured to bias the drink spout and the drink spout cover toward the respective open position.

[0004] Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a bottle closure for releasable attachment to a bottle having a bottle finish and including a pump mechanism. The bottle closure includes a body having an upper portion and a lower portion. The body lower portion has a bottle finish adapted and configured to be releasably connectable with a bottle. The body upper portion is formed with a cavity, and the body has a drink spout disposed in the cavity. The drink spout has a distal opening adapted and configured to allow a user to drink from the drink spout, and the drink spout distal opening is in fluid communication with a straw. The straw has a biasing portion extending from the drink spout and through a first hole in the body, and the straw has an extension portion in fluid communication with the biasing portion. The extension portion has a length sufficient to be insertable in a hollow interior of a bottle with which the bottle closure is releasably connected. The drink spout is moveable between an open position in which the drink spout extends out of the cavity with the drink spout distal opening spaced from the body and a closed position in which the drink spout is contained in the cavity. The body also has a drink spout cover movable relative to the body between a closed position in which the drink spout cover extends over the cavity and an open position in which the drink spout cover enables access to the cavity. The body still further has a latch movable between a latch position in which the latch secures the drink spout cover in the closed position and a release position in which the latch releases the drink spout cover. The body portion also houses the pump mechanism. The pump mechanism is configured to be in fluid communication with the bottle to enable a liquid to be pumped and discharged through the body portion by a nozzle. A trigger mechanism is operatively connected to the pump mechanism and the body portion, and the trigger mechanism is moveable between a first trigger position and a second trigger position. The trigger mechanism is configured to actuate the pump mechanism to pump a liquid as the trigger mechanism is moved between the first trigger position and the second trigger position.

[0005] Further features and advantages of the present disclosure, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present disclosure, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. In the drawings:

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first bottle and a bottle closure with a drink spout in an open position

[0008] Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a second bottle for use with the bottle closure shown in Figure 1.

[0009] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a third bottle and the bottle closure shown in Figure 1 with the drink spout in a closed position. [0010] Figure 4 is a further perspective view of the bottle closure shown in Figure 1 with the drink spout in the open position.

[0011] Figure 5 is side view of the bottle closure shown in Figure 3 with the drink spout in the closed position.

[0012] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bottle closure and bottle shown in Figure 5.

[0013] Figure 7 is a side view of the bottle closure shown in Figure 1 with the drink spout in the open position.

[0014] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the bottle closure and bottle shown in Figure 5.

[0015] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the bottle closure shown in Figure 1 with the drink spout in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Figures 1 through 9 depict a bottle closure 40 usable with any of the exemplary bottles shown in Figures 1 , 2, and 3 (bottle 10,20,30 respectively). The bottles shown herein are examples, and the disclosures is not limited to the bottle shown and may be any suitable bottle. The bottle 10, 20, 30 includes a bottle finish 22 with which the bottle closure 40 engages to releasably secure the bottle closure 40 to the bottle. For example, and without limitation, the bottle finish 22 is threaded to engage with corresponding threads of the bottle closure 40. The bottle 30, as depicted in Figures 6 and 8, may be of double walled construction. Alternatively, the bottle 10, as depicted in Figure 1 , is of single wall construction. In a still further alternative embodiment, the bottle 20 includes a second threaded portion 24 configured to engage with threads 26 of a container 28. The container 28 may be used to store foodstuffs or other items when threaded onto the bottle 20. The container 28 can be removed from the bottle 20 to access the items therein.

[0017] The bottle closure 40 includes an upper body portion 42 and a lower body portion 44. The lower portion may be formed with the bottle finish so as to allow the closure to be releasably connectable with a bottle such that liquid may be contained within the bottle and accessed by a user. For example, and without limitation, the lower body portion 44 includes a threaded portion 46 configured to engage with the bottle finish 22.

[0018] The upper body portion 42 of the bottle closure 40 is formed with a cavity 48 and includes a drink spout 50 disposed within the cavity. The drink spout 50 has a distal opening 52 and a proximate opening 54. The distal opening 52 is adapted and configured to allow a user to drink from the drink spout. The drink spout 50 may be pivotally coupled to the upper body portion and may be moveable between an open position (e.g., as shown in Figure 1 ) and a closed position (e.g., as shown in Figure 3). For example, and without limitation, the drink spout 50 may have a yoke-like structure with an axle 56 that cooperates with sidewalls of the cavity to allow rotation of the drink spout within the cavity of the body of the bottle closure 40. In the closed position, the drink spout 50 may be contained in the cavity 48. In the open position, the drink spout 50 may extend out of the cavity 48 with the distal opening 52 spaced from the body of the bottle closure 40 to facilitate the user drinking from the distal end of the drink spout.

[0019] The distal opening 52 of the drink spout 50 is in fluid communication with a straw 58. For example, and without limitation, the straw 58 extends into the drink spout through the proximate opening 54. The straw 58 has a biasing portion 60 and an extension portion 62. The biasing portion 60 extends from the drink spout 50 and through a first hole 64 in the body. The biasing portion 60 may also extend through a second hole 66 in the body. The second hole 66 may be radially offset from the first hole 64 such that the straw biasing portion 60 extends from the first hole 64 to the second hole 66 at a non-zero, acute angle relative to a center axis of the bottle closure 40. The straw biasing portion 60 is constructed of a resiliently flexible material such as a polymer that allows the straw biasing portion to plastically deform and return to its original shape.

[0020] The angled extension of the biasing portion of the straw (for instance, the amount of radial offset between the first and second holes in the body and the axial width of the body), as well as the material used to form the biasing portion of the straw, may facilitate generating the bias created by the straw biasing portion, as explained below. The offset position of the first and second holes and/or the material construction of the straw cause the drink spout 50 to be biased toward the open position. For example, and without limitation, the straw biasing portion is normally straight and extends through the first and second hole such that the straw biasing portion is at an angle relative to the center axis of the bottle closure when no force is applied. This normal position corresponds to the open position of the drink spout. When the drink spout is in the closed position, the straw biasing portion is

flexed/bent (i.e. , plastically deformed) and is urged toward its normal position such that absent any force the biasing portion will return to a position in which it is straight.

[0021] The extension portion 62 of the straw 58 may extend outward (e.g.

downward in the drawings) from the biasing portion 60 such that it is in fluid communication with an interior of a bottle when the closure 40 is coupled to the bottle. In some embodiments, the straw 58 may be of unitary construction including both the biasing portion 60 and the extension portion 62. In alternative embodiments, and as depicted in the drawings, the straw 58 includes a separate biasing portion 60 and a separate extension portion 62 coupled to one another by a fitting 68, which may be formed in the lower body portion 44 of the closure 40.

Alternatively, the fitting 68 may be coupled to the lower body portion.

[0022] The bottle closure 40 further includes a drink spout cover 70. The drink spout cover 70 is movable relative to the body between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position (e.g., as shown in Figures 3, 5, and 6), the drink spout cover extends over the cavity 48 of the body in which the drink spout 50 is positionable. In the open position (e.g., as shown in Figures 4, 7, and 8), the drink spout cover 70 enables access to the cavity. For example, and without limitation, the drink spout cover 70 is coupled to the body by an axle 71 such that the drink spout cover is rotateable between the open and closed positions. The drink spout cover 70 may further include a catch 72 that is engageable with a latch to maintain the drink spout cover in the closed position. The drink spout cover may also include a detent 73 that is engageable with the upper body portion 42 of the closure to maintain the drink spout cover in the open position. For example, and without limitation, the detent 73 may be a protrusion that releasably engages with a recess 75 in the upper body portion. In some embodiments, the upper body portion 42 may also include a channel 77 that receives but does not engage with the detent 73 when the drink spout cover is in the closed position.

[0023] The bottle closure 40 may further include a latch 74. The latch 74 is engageable with the catch 72 and is movable between a latch position and a release position. In the latch position, the latch 74 secures the drink spout cover 70 in the closed position by engaging with the catch 72. In the release position, the latch is disengaged from the catch and the latch releases the drink spout cover so that the drink spout cover may move into the open position. For example, and without limitation, the latch 74 includes a body portion 76 and a latch portion 78. The body portion 76 is made of a flexible material such that the latch is biased toward the latch position and returns to that position in the absence of a force. The latch portion 78 is configured to engage with the catch 72.

[0024] In operation, the above described features allow for the biasing portion 60 of the straw 58 to automatically move the drink spout cover 70 and the drink spout 50 to their respective open positions when the latch 74 is moved from the closed position to the release position. This is a result of the straw biasing portion 60 biasing the drink spout and the drink spout cover toward the respective open positions (e.g., the drink spout and the drink spout cover are biased toward their respective open positions). When the latch 74 is moved to the release position, the straw biasing portion causes the drink spout 50 to rotate into the open position. The drink spout 50, in rotating into the open position, may impart a force to the drink spout cover 70 causing it to rotate into the open position and the detents 73 to engage with the recesses 75 such that the drink spout cover is maintained in the open position. In the open position, the drink spout may be parallel to an axis of the straw biasing portion 60 when un-flexed. When the drink spout is in the closed position, the straw biasing portion 60 is pinched closed to prevent liquid from exiting the bottle closure through he drink spout (e.g., as shown in Figure 6). For example, and without limitation, the drink spout may be at an inclusive angle of less than 180 degrees relative to the axis of the straw biasing portion 60 when un-flexed.

Preferably, the inclusive angle between the drink spout and the axis, when the drink spout is in the closed position, is between 30 and 60 degrees, inclusive, and is more preferably 45 degrees. [0025] Advantageously, the above described operation allows for a user to access the drink spout 50 without directly touching the drink spout and avoid transferring dirt or other material to the drink spout. Additionally, this operation allows a user to access the drink spout one handed (e.g., holding the bottle and depressing the latch 74 with a thumb or finger of the hand grasping the bottle).

[0026] In some embodiments, the bottle closure 40 includes further features such as a spray pump 80 for discharging a mist through a nozzle 82. The pump 80 is adapted and configured draw a suction from the bottle with which the bottle closure is releasably connected and discharge a fluid in the bottle through the nozzle 82 disposed on the upper portion of the body. For example, and without limitation, the pump is a reciprocating pump with ball bearing check valves or other suitable pump. The pump 80 is driven by a trigger 82. For example, and without limitation, the trigger 82 may be actuated by a user such that the trigger rotates about a connection to the body and drives a plunger of the pump 80 vertically. The nozzle may be located on the upper portion of the body, and may be radially offset from the cavity and the drinking spout, when the spout is in the open position. The pump may have a suction inlet extending from a second fitting formed in the lower body portion. The second fitting may be radially offset from the fitting coupling the straw biasing portion with the straw extension portion. The pump suction inlet may include a second straw extending into the same portion of the interior of the bottle as the straw extension portion. Alternatively, the pump suction inlet may include a second straw extending into the different portion of the interior of the bottle or a chamber in the bottle isolated from the interior of the bottle so that the liquid drawn by the pump and sprayed from the nozzle is different from that accessed by the user from the drink spout. [0027] In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the several advantages of the disclosure are achieved and attained.

[0028] The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[0029] As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.