PRESSURE EQUALIZATION APPARATUS FOR A BOTTLE AND METHODS

ASSOCIATED THEREWITH

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/991,429, filed on March 18, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure is related to devices that assist with equalizing air pressure within a liquid container with atmospheric air pressure as liquid is being poured from the container.

BACKGROUND

[0003] A person pouring liquid from a container is often faced with the liquid pouring erratically and even splashing due to “glugging” (that is, uneven flow during pouring), which in turn is caused by an imbalance between the atmospheric air pressure outside the container and the air pressure within the container.

[0004] Earlier attempts to address these and other issues with conventional bottles and other liquid containers or dispensers are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 8,602,235; 8,684,205; 8,857,639; and 9,796,506, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0134449, each of which is entitled “Pressure Equalization Apparatus for a Bottle and Methods Associated Therewith,” and each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

SUMMARY

[0005] It is to be understood that the present disclosure includes a variety of different versions or embodiments, and this Summary is not meant to be limiting or all-inclusive. This Summary provides some general descriptions of some of the embodiments, but may also include some more specific descriptions of other embodiments.

[0006] A liquid container according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a lip surrounding a container opening and a cap rotatably secured over the lip and container opening. The lip comprises a liquid outlet and an air inlet. The cap comprises an upper wall; a sidewall extending downwardly from the upper wall; a pouring aperture positioned in the sidewall; an airflow aperture positioned in the sidewall; and an air tube. The cap is rotatable between a first position in which the pouring aperture is aligned with the liquid outlet and the airflow aperture is aligned with the air inlet, and a second position in which the sidewall blocks the flow of liquid through the liquid outlet and blocks the flow of air through the air inlet.

[0007] In some embodiments, the air tube extends downwardly from the upper wall of the cap, and is positioned opposite the air inlet so that when the cap is in the first position, the airflow aperture, the air inlet, and the air tube form a continuous flow path.

[0008] In some embodiments, the air tube is open on a side facing the airflow aperture, and contacts the lip to form a closed flow path.

[0009] In some embodiments, the air tube extends past a lower edge of the sidewall.

[0010] In some embodiments, the pouring aperture has the same size and shape as the liquid outlet.

[0011] In some embodiments, the lip further comprises an outlet catch and an inlet catch, the outlet catch configured to snap into the pouring aperture when the cap is rotated to the second position, and the inlet catch configured to snap into the airflow aperture when the cap is rotated to the second position.

[0012] In some embodiments, the cap further comprises an outlet seal and an inlet seal, the outlet seal configured to snap into the liquid outlet when the cap is rotated to the second position, and the inlet seal configured to snap into the air inlet when the cap is rotated to the second position. [0013] In some embodiments, the cap further comprises an inner rim extending downwardly from the upper wall and in contact with an inner perimeter of the lip.

[0014] In some embodiments, the liquid container further comprises an undercut positioned below the lip, and the cap further comprises an inwardly extending protrusion on the sidewall that engages the undercut.

[0015] In some embodiments, the liquid container further comprises a rotation stop positioned to stop rotation of the cap at the first position or the second position.

[0016] A pressure equalizing bottle assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a bottle containing a liquid and having a bottle opening surrounding by a lip; an inner cap fixedly secured to the lip and covering the bottle opening, and a cap rotatably secured to the lip or the inner cap. The inner cap comprises a first pouring aperture; a first airflow aperture; and an air tube aligned with the first airflow aperture. The cap comprises a second pouring aperture; and a second airflow aperture. The cap is rotatable between an open position in which the second pouring aperture is aligned with the first pouring aperture and the second airflow aperture is aligned with the first airflow aperture, and a closed position in which the cap blocks the flow of liquid through the second pouring aperture and also blocks the flow of air through the first airflow aperture.

[0017] In some embodiments, the inner cap further comprises an outlet catch and an inlet catch, the outlet catch positioned to engage the second pouring aperture when the cap is rotated to the closed position, and the inlet catch positioned to engage the second airflow aperture when the cap is rotated to the closed position.

[0018] In some embodiments, the cap further comprises an outlet seal and an inlet seal, the outlet seal configured to engage the first pouring aperture when the cap is rotated to the closed position, and the inlet seal configured to engage the first airflow aperture when the cap is rotated to the closed position.

[0019] In some embodiments, the first pouring aperture comprises a screen.

[0020] In some embodiments, the second pouring aperture comprises a screen.

[0021] In some embodiments, the cap further comprises an outlet extension aligned with the second pouring aperture.

[0022] In some embodiments, the outlet extension comprises a flexible elbow, the cap further comprises a latch positioned adjacent the second airflow aperture, and the outlet extension is movable between a first, open position and a second, closed position in which the outlet extension has a 180 degree bend, covers the second airflow aperture, and engages the latch.

[0023] A pressure equalizing cap according to another embodiment of the present disclosure comprises an upper wall having a circular perimeter, the upper wall having no apertures therein; a cylindrical sidewall extending from the circular perimeter, the cylindrical sidewall comprising: a pouring aperture; an airflow aperture; and an air tube extending from the upper wall and spaced from the cylindrical sidewall, the air tube positioned near the airflow aperture and open on a side that faces the airflow aperture.

[0024] In some embodiments, the pressure equalizing cap further comprises an inner wall extending from the upper wall, the inner wall spaced from the sidewall and having a second pouring aperture aligned with the first pouring aperture.

[0025] In some embodiments, the pressure equalizing cap further comprises a spout fixedly secured to the sidewall and aligned with the pouring aperture. [0026] Various components may be referred to herein as “operably associated.” As used herein, “operably associated” refers to components that are linked together in operable fashion, and encompasses embodiments in which components are linked directly, as well as embodiments in which additional components are placed between the two linked components.

[0027] As used herein, “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together. Applicant is aware of the Federal Circuit decision in SuperGuide Corp. v. DirecTV Enters., Inc., 358 F.3d 870 (Fed. Cir. 2004), as well as subsequent cases applying that decision, see, e.g., Ex parte Jung , Appeal No. 2016-008290 (P.T.A.B. July 10, 2018). Applicant has included the foregoing paragraph to exercise Applicant’s right to be a lexicographer and thus to avoid the construction that would otherwise result by application of those decisions to construction of the claims herein.

[0028] As used herein, the term “bottle” includes a bottle, jug, carton, or any other liquid container.

[0029] Various embodiments of the present disclosures are set forth in the attached figures and in the Detailed Description as provided herein and as embodied by the claims. It should be understood, however, that this Summary does not contain all of the aspects and embodiments of the one or more present disclosures, is not meant to be limiting or restrictive in any manner, and that the disclosure(s) herein is/are understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to encompass obvious improvements and modifications thereto.

[0030] Additional advantages of the present disclosure will become readily apparent from the following discussion, particularly when taken together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more particular description is rendered by reference to specific embodiments, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope. The present disclosure is described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: [0032] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an upper bottle portion according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;

[0034] Fig. 3 is a left side elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;

[0035] Fig. 4 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;

[0036] Fig. 5 is a right side elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;

[0037] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an upper bottle portion according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0038] Fig. 7 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 6;

[0039] Fig. 8 is a left side elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 6;

[0040] Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 6;

[0041] Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 6;

[0042] Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a bottle cap according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0043] Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 11;

[0044] Fig. 13 is a left side elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 11;

[0045] Fig. 14 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 11;

[0046] Fig. 15 is a bottom cross-sectional view (taken along line B-B as shown in Fig. 13) of the embodiment of Fig. 11;

[0047] Fig. 16 is a bottom cross-sectional view (taken along line C-C as shown in Fig. 14) of the embodiment of Fig. 11;

[0048] Fig. 17 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 11;

[0049] Fig. 18 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 11;

[0050] Fig. 19 is another bottom perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 11;

[0051] Fig. 20 is a side cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A as shown in Fig. 12) of the embodiment of Fig. 11;

[0052] Fig. 21 is a top plan view of an upper bottle portion according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0053] Fig. 22 is a side cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A as shown in Fig. 21) of the embodiment of Fig. 21; [0054] Fig. 23 is a side elevation view of an upper bottle portion according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0055] Fig. 24 is a bottom cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A as shown in Fig. 23) of the embodiment of Fig. 23;

[0056] Fig. 25 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 23;

[0057] Fig. 26 is a side cross-sectional view (taken along line B-B as shown in Fig. 25) of the embodiment of Fig. 23;

[0058] Fig. 27 is a bottom perspective view of a cap according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0059] Fig. 28 is another bottom perspective view of the cap of Fig. 27;

[0060] Fig. 29 is an upper bottle portion according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0061] Fig. 30 is a side cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A as shown in Fig. 29) of the embodiment of Fig. 29;

[0062] Fig. 31 is a bottom perspective view of a cap according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0063] Fig. 32 is another bottom perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 31;

[0064] Fig. 33 is a bottom perspective view of an upper bottle portion according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0065] Fig. 34 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 33;

[0066] Fig. 34 is another front elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 33;

[0067] Fig. 36 is a bottom cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A as shown in Fig. 35) of the embodiment of Fig. 33;

[0068] Fig. 37 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 33;

[0069] Fig. 38 is a side cross-sectional view (taken along line B-B as shown in Fig. 37) of the embodiment of Fig. 33;

[0070] Fig. 39 is a bottom perspective view of an upper bottle portion according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0071] Fig. 40 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 39;

[0072] Fig. 41 is a side cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A as shown in Fig. 40) of the embodiment of Fig. 39; [0073] Fig. 42 is a front elevation view of an upper bottle portion according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0074] Fig. 43 is a bottom cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A as shown in Fig. 42) of the embodiment of Fig. 42;

[0075] Fig. 44 is a front elevation view of an upper bottle portion according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0076] Fig. 45 is a bottom cross-sectional view (taken along line B-B as shown in Fig. 44) of the embodiment of Fig. 44;

[0077] Fig. 46 is a front elevation view of an upper bottle portion according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0078] Fig. 47 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 46;

[0079] Fig. 48 is a top perspective view of an upper bottle portion according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0080] Fig. 49 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 48;

[0081] Fig. 50 is a side cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A as shown in Fig. 49) of the embodiment of Fig. 48;

[0082] Fig. 51 is an alternative side cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A as shown in Fig. 49) of the embodiment of Fig. 48;

[0083] Fig. 52 is a top perspective view of an upper bottle portion according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0084] Fig. 53 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 52;

[0085] Fig. 54 is a side cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A as shown in Fig. 53) of the embodiment of Fig. 48;

[0086] Fig. 55 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 52;

[0087] Fig. 56 is a bottom cross-sectional view (taken along line B-B as shown in Fig. 55) of the embodiment of Fig. 48;

[0088] Fig. 57 is a top perspective view of a bottle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0089] Fig. 58 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 57;

[0090] Fig. 59 is an elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 57;

[0091] Fig. 60 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 57; [0092] Fig. 61 is a side cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A as shown in Fig. 60) of the embodiment of Fig. 57;

[0093] Fig. 62 is a top plan view of a bottle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0094] Fig. 63 is a side cross-sectional view (taken along line B-B as shown in Fig. 62) of the embodiment of Fig. 62;

[0095] Fig. 64 is a top perspective view of a bottle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0096] Fig. 65 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 64;

[0097] Fig. 66 is a side cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A as shown in Fig. 65) of the embodiment of Fig. 64;

[0098] Fig. 67 is a top plan view of a bottle, cap, and inner cap assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0099] Fig. 68 is a side cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A as shown in Fig. 67) of the embodiment of Fig. 67;

[00100] Fig. 69 is a top plan view of the embodiment Fig. 67 without the cap;

[0100] Fig. 70 is a side cross-sectional view (taken along line B-B as shown in Fig. 69) of the embodiment of Fig. 67 without the cap;

[0101] Fig. 71 is a top perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 67 without the cap;

[0102] Fig. 72 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 67 without the cap;

[0103] Fig. 73 is a top perspective view of the assembled cap and inner cap of the embodiment

Fig. 67;

[0104] Fig. 74 is a bottom perspective view of the assembled cap and inner cap of the embodiment Fig. 67;

[0105] Fig. 75 is a top plan view of the assembled cap and inner cap of the embodiment Fig.

67;

[0106] Fig. 76 is a side cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A as shown in Fig. 75) of the assembled cap and inner cap of the embodiment Fig. 67;

[0107] Fig. 77 is a top perspective view of the inner cap of Fig. 67;

[0108] Fig. 78 is a bottom perspective view of the inner cap of Fig. 67;

[0109] Fig. 79 is a top plan view of the inner cap of Fig. 67; [0110] Fig. 80 is a side cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A as shown in Fig. 79) of the inner cap of Fig. 67;

[0111] Fig. 81 is a top perspective view of the cap of Fig. 67;

[0112] Fig. 82 is a bottom perspective view of the cap of Fig. 67;

[0113] Fig. 83 is a top plan view of the cap of Fig. 67;

[0114] Fig. 84 is a bottom plan view of the cap of Fig. 67;

[0115] Fig. 85 is a side elevation view of the cap of Fig. 67;

[0116] Fig. 86 is a side cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A as shown in Fig. 83) the cap of Fig. 67;

[0117] Fig. 87 is a top perspective view of a cap according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0118] Fig. 88 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 87;

[0119] Fig. 89 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 87;

[0120] Fig. 90 is a side cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A as shown in Fig. 89) of the embodiment of Fig. 87;

[0121] Fig. 91 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 87;

[0122] Fig. 92 is an exploded view of a bottle and cap assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0123] Fig. 93 is an exploded view of a bottle and cap assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0124] Fig. 94 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 93;

[0125] Fig. 95 is an exploded view of a bottle and cap assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0126] Fig. 96 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 95;

[0127] Fig. 97 is a top perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 95;

[0128] Fig. 98 is an exploded view of a bottle and cap assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0129] Fig. 99 is an exploded view of a bottle and cap assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0130] Fig. 100 is an exploded view of a bottle and cap assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; [0131] Fig. 101 is an exploded view of a bottle and cap assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, with the cap in a first configuration;

[0132] Fig. 102 is an exploded view of the bottle and cap assembly of Fig. 101, with the cap in a second configuration;

[0133] Fig. 103 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 101, with the cap in the first configuration;

[0134] Fig. 104 is a cross-sectional view (taken along line D-D in Fig. 103) of the embodiment of Fig. 101;

[0135] Fig. 105 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 101, with the cap in the second configuration;

[0136] Fig. 106 is a cross-sectional view (taken along line E-E of Fig. 105) of the embodiment of Fig. 101;

[0137] Fig. 107 is a side elevation view of a bottle and cap assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0138] Fig. 108 is a cross-sectional view (taken along line D-D of Fig. 107) of the embodiment of Fig. 107;

[0139] Fig. 109A is a front elevation view of the embodiment of Figs. 101 and 107, with the cap in the first configuration;

[0140] Fig. 109B is a cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A of Fig. 109A) of the embodiment of Figs. 101 and 107;

[0141] Fig. 110A is a front elevation view of the embodiment of Figs. 101 and 107, with the cap in the second configuration;

[0142] Fig. 110B is a cross-sectional view (taken along line B-B of Fig. 110A) of the embodiment of Figs. 101 and 107;

[0143] Fig. Ill is a bottom perspective view of a cap according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0144] Fig. 112 is another bottom perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. Ill;

[0145] Fig. 113 is a bottom perspective view of a dosing insert according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0146] Fig. 114 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 113; [0147] Fig. 115 is a cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A of Fig. 114) of the embodiment of Fig. 113;

[0148] Fig. 116 is a top perspective view of a bottle and cap assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0149] Fig. 117 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 116;

[0150] Fig. 118 is a top view of the embodiment of Fig. 116;

[0151] Fig. 119 is a cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A of Fig. 118) of the embodiment of Fig. 116;

[0152] Fig. 120 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 116;

[0153] Fig. 121 is a cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A of Fig. 121) of the embodiment of Fig. 116;

[0154] Fig. 122 is a top perspective view of a bottle and cap assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0155] Fig. 123 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 122;

[0156] Fig. 124 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 122;

[0157] Fig. 125 is a cross-sectional view (taken along line D-D of Fig. 124) of the embodiment of Fig. 122;

[0158] Fig. 126 is a back elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 122;

[0159] Fig. 127 is a cross-sectional view (taken along line D-D of Fig. 126) of the embodiment of Fig. 122;

[0160] Fig. 128A is a front elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 122 with the cap in a first configuration;

[0161] Fig. 128B is a cross-sectional view (taken along line E-E of Fig. 128A) of the embodiment of Fig. 122;

[0162] Fig. 129A is a front elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 122 with the cap in a second configuration;

[0163] Fig. 129B is a cross-sectional view (taken along line F-F of Fig. 129A) of the embodiment of Fig. 122;

[0164] Fig. 130 is an exploded perspective view of a cap and bottle assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0165] Fig. 131 is an exploded side elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 130; [0166] Fig. 132 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 130;

[0167] Fig. 133 is a cross-sectional view (taken along line C-C of Fig. 132) of the embodiment of Fig. 130;

[0168] Fig. 134 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 130;

[0169] Fig. 135 is a cross-sectional view (taken along line D-D of Fig. 134) of the embodiment of Fig. 130;

[0170] Fig. 136A is a side elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 130;

[0171] Fig. 136B is a cross-sectional view (taken along line E-E of Fig. 136A) of the embodiment of Fig. 130;

[0172] Fig. 137 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 130;

[0173] Fig. 138 is a top perspective view of a cap and bottle assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0174] Fig. 139 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 138;

[0175] Fig. 140 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 138 in a first configuration;

[0176] Fig. 141 is a cross-sectional view (taken along line A-A of Fig. 140) of the embodiment of Fig. 138;

[0177] Fig. 142 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of Fig. 138 in a second configuration;

[0178] Fig. 143 is a cross-sectional view (taken along line B-B of Fig. 142) of the embodiment of Fig. 138;

[0179] Fig. 144 is a top perspective view of the bottle of the embodiment of Fig. 138;

[0180] Fig. 145 is a bottom perspective view of the cap of the embodiment of Fig. 138;

[0181] Fig. 146 it a bottom perspective view of a cap according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0182] Fig. 147 is a cross-sectional view of the cap depicted in Fig. 146;

[0183] Fig. 148 is another bottom perspective view of the cap depicted in Fig. 146;

[0184] Fig. 149 is a top perspective view of the cap depicted in Fig. 146;

[0185] Fig. 150 is a cross-sectional view of a cap and bottle assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0186] Fig. 151 is a top perspective view of the cap and bottle assembly according to the embodiment depicted in Fig. 150. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0187] One or more embodiments of the present disclosure include a pressure equalizer cap for a bottle or other container that allows a liquid to be poured from the bottle while at the same time substantially equalizing air pressure within the bottle with atmospheric air pressure. As a result, the liquid can be poured from the bottle without the typical glugging phenomenon that generally accompanies pouring liquid from a bottle that does not possess a pressure equalizer device. One or more additional embodiments include both an inner cap and an outer cap, one of which is affixed to the bottle and the other of which is rotatably and/or removably attached to the bottle. Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described in the text below and are illustrated in the attached drawings.

[0188] Figs. 1-5 show the upper bottle portion 100 of a bottle, comprising a shoulder 104, a bottleneck 108, a collar 112, a lip 116, and a rim 120. Although many bottles comprise these or similar features, some bottles or other containers that fall within the scope of the present disclosure may have fewer than all of these features. In the embodiment of Figs. 1-5, the lip 116 of the upper bottle portion 100 is provided with a liquid outlet 124, an air inlet 128, an outlet catch 132, and an inlet catch 136. In embodiments featuring bottles that do not comprise, for example, a collar 112, or a bottleneck 108 that is distinguishable from a lip 116, the liquid outlet 124, air inlet 128, outlet catch 132, and inlet catch 136 may be provided underneath or otherwise adjacent to a rim of the bottle, or on a bottleneck of the bottle, or at another location on the bottle suitable for positioning a liquid outlet, air inlet, outlet catch, and inlet catch. In some embodiments, these features may be provided on or near the bottom of a bottle or other container.

[0189] When liquid is poured from the bottle having the upper bottle portion 100, the liquid exits the bottle via the liquid outlet 124, while air enters the bottle via the air inlet 128. In this way, the air pressure inside the bottle remains equalized with the atmospheric pressure outside the bottle. By preventing the formation of a vacuum inside the bottle (e.g., an internal air pressure that is less than the external, atmospheric air pressure), the glugging, choppy flow of liquid from bottles without pressure equalization features can be avoided, and liquid is able to flow smoothly and without interruption from the liquid outlet 124.

[0190] The liquid outlet 124 may be an aperture of any size sufficient to enable contained liquid to exit the bottle at a satisfactory flow rate. Notably, for a given size of the liquid outlet 124, a greater amount of liquid is able to flow through the liquid outlet 124 than would be possible in bottles that do not have the pressure equalization features described herein. Consequently, a smaller liquid outlet 124 may be required to achieve a desired flow rate than would be required on a bottle with no pressure equalization features.

[0191] Similarly, the air inlet 128 may be an aperture of any size sufficient to enable air to enter the bottle at the same volume flow rate at which liquid exits the bottle via the liquid outlet 124. Generally, and as is the case in the embodiment of Figs. 1-5, the air inlet 128 may be smaller than the liquid outlet 124. Additionally, while both the liquid outlet 124 and the air inlet 128 are shown in Figs. 1-5 as having a particular shape, either or both of the liquid outlet 124 and the air inlet 128 may have any other shape. For example, one or both of the liquid outlet 124 and the air inlet 128 may be circular, elliptical, rectangular, triangular, square, or any other shape that enables suitable liquid outflow and air inflow, respectively.

[0192] As shown in Figs. 1-5, the liquid outlet 124 may be positioned opposite the air inlet 128, so that when the bottle or other container is tipped to pour liquid from the liquid outlet 124, the air inlet 128 is able (or is more likely to be able) to remain open to air inflow (as opposed to being blocked by the liquid in the container). However, the air inlet 128 may be positioned elsewhere on the lip 116 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0193] The outlet catch 132 and inlet catch 136 of the upper bottle portion 100 are raised surfaces having the same size and shape (or a substantially similar size and shape) to the liquid outlet 124 and the air inlet 128, respectively. Additionally, the angular distance between the outlet catch 132 and the inlet catch 136 is the same as (or substantially the same as) the angular distance between the liquid outlet 124 and the air inlet 128. Thus, for example, if the liquid outlet 124 and air inlet 128 are offset from each other on the lip 116 by approximately 180 degrees (as illustrated in Figs. 1-5), then the outlet catch 132 and the inlet catch 136 may be offset from each other on the lip 116 by approximately 180 degrees plus or minus 2 degrees, or 4 degrees, or 6 degrees, or 8 degrees, or 10 degrees, one way or the other. However, if the liquid outlet 124 and the air inlet 128 were offset from each other by approximately 135 degrees, or by approximately 90 degrees, then the outlet catch 132 and the inlet catch 136 would also be offset from each other by approximately 135 degrees or by approximately 90 degrees, respectively. The vertical position on the lip 116 of the outlet catch 132 and the inlet catch 136 is also the same as the vertical position on the lip 116 of the liquid outlet 124 and the air inlet 128, respectively. [0194] In some embodiments, the outlet catch 132 and the inlet catch 136 are integral with the lip 116 (e.g., the outlet catch 132, the inlet catch 136, and the lip 116 are all manufactured from a single piece of material). In other embodiments, the outlet catch 132 and the inlet catch 136 are manufactured separately and affixed to the lip 116 after formation of the lip 116. In such other embodiments, the outlet catch 132 and the inlet catch 136 may be manufactured from the same material as the lip 116 or from a different material. For example, the outlet catch 132, the inlet catch 136, and the lip 116 may all be manufactured from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or the lip 116 may be manufactured from PET and the outlet catch 132 and the inlet catch 136 may be manufactured from rubber. These materials are identified by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0195] While the outlet catch 132 and the inlet catch 136 are shown as raised surfaces on the lip 116, in some embodiments the outlet catch 132 and/or the inlet catch 136 may comprise a ridge having substantially the same shape and dimensions of the liquid outlet 124 and the air inlet 128, respectively. The purpose and benefits of the outlet catch 132 and the inlet catch 136 are discussed in greater detail with respect to Figs. 6-10 below.

[0196] Some embodiments of an upper bottle portion 100 of the present disclosure, including the embodiment of Figs. 1-5, also comprise an undercut 106 and a rotation stop 110. The undercut 106 allows a cap to be retained over the lip 116, and the rotation stop 110 limits the rotational movement of such a cap. The undercut 106 and the rotation stop 110 are discussed in greater detail below.

[0197] Figs. 6-10 show the upper bottle portion 100 of Figs. 1-5, but with a cap 200 rotatably secured thereto. As shown in these figures, the cap 200 comprises an air tube 204, a pouring aperture 224, and an airflow aperture 228. The pouring aperture 224 has the same (or a substantially similar) size and shape as the liquid outlet 124, and the airflow aperture 228 has the same (or a substantially similar) size and shape as the air inlet 128. Additionally, the position of the pouring aperture 224 and the airflow aperture 228 on the cap 200 mirrors the position of the liquid outlet 124 and the air inlet 128 on the lip 116. As a result, when the cap 200 is rotated so that the liquid outlet 124 is aligned with the pouring aperture 224, the air inlet 124 is also aligned with the airflow aperture 228.

[0198] The air tube 204 of the cap 200, which extends downwardly from the bottom side of the upper wall of the cap 200, is aligned with the airflow aperture 228 of the cap 200 and extends downwardly into the bottle when the cap 200 is rotatably secured thereto. As shown in Figs. 6 and 10, the air tube 204 is not a fully enclosed tube, but rather is open on the side thereof that faces the interior wall of the cap 200. This is also the side of the air tube 204 that abuts the interior of the bottle (e.g., of the lip 116 and the bottleneck 108). As a result, when the cap 200 is placed on the lip 116, the air tube 204 provides a flow path between the air inlet 128 and the interior of the bottle. In other words, the air tube 204 channels air entering the bottle via the airflow aperture 228 and the air inlet 128 into the bottle. The fit between the cap 200 and the bottle (including in particular the lip 116 and the bottleneck 108 of the bottle) may be sufficiently close that air can only enter the air tube 204 via the air inlet 124 or the open bottom end of the air tube 204.

[0199] Figures 11-26 illustrate additional features of the cap 200 and of the upper bottle portion 100 of the bottle. The pouring aperture 224 may have a lip, rim, or other extended perimeter to prevent liquid from running down the outside of the cap due to adhesion. Additionally, the length of the air tube 204 may vary among different embodiments relative to the overall size of the cap 200. In some embodiments, the air tube 204 may be shorter than illustrated in Figs. 11-26, while in other embodiments, the air tube 204 may be longer than illustrated in these figures. As shown in the bottom cross-sectional view of Fig. 15 and in the bottom view of Fig. 18, the open side of the air tube 204 is spaced from the interior wall of the cap 200. This space receives the lip 116 of the upper bottle portion 100 of a bottle.

[0200] The cap 200 also comprises at least one protrusion 216 that extends radially inwardly from the lower edge of the cap 200. When the cap 200 is placed over a lip 116 of a bottle, the protrusion 216 snaps into the undercut 106 to rotatably secure the cap 200 to the bottle. The protrusion 216 has a relatively short circumferential length, such that the cap 200 can rotate (thus moving the protrusion 216 within the undercut 106) while remaining secured to the bottle. The rotation of the cap 200 is thus limited, however, by the rotation stop 110, which is situated to block the protrusion 216, and thus the cap 200, from rotating beyond a certain point. The rotation stop 110 may be positioned, for example, so that the protrusion 216 contacts the rotation stop 110 at the angular position of the cap 200 where the pouring aperture 224 is aligned with the liquid outlet 124, and the airflow aperture 228 is aligned with the air inlet 128. Other features may be provided in addition to or instead of the rotation stop 110, whether on the cap 200 and/or on the bottle to which the cap 200 is affixed, to assist with proper alignment of the cap 200 and the lip 116. For example, the upper edge of the undercut 206 could be provided with one or more detents (corresponding, for example, to fully open and fully closed positions of the cap 200), and the protrusion 216 could be provided with a ridge or other surface that is biased against the upper edge of the undercut 206 and thus engages the detents when the ridge or other surface is aligned therewith.

[0201] Also in some embodiments, the cap 200 and/or the upper bottle portion 100 of a bottle to which the cap 200 is affixed may include features that prevent the opening (or at least the easy opening) of the cap 200 unless specific instructions are followed. Such features are commonly utilized for containers that store medications, chemicals, or other materials that are inherently hazardous or are hazardous when used improperly, and may be used on embodiments of the present disclosure for similar reasons. For example, the cap 200 could include a compressible gasket around an upper inner perimeter thereof, which upper gasket pushes against the rim 120 of the upper bottle portion 100 and biases the cap 200 upward relative to the upper bottle portion 100. The undercut 106 of the upper bottle portion 100 may also include a rotation stop or other rotation-blocking feature that blocks passage of the protrusion 216 through the undercut 106 when the cap 200 is biased upward. When the cap 200 is pressed down, however (thus compressing the gasket in the upper inner perimeter of the cap 200), the protrusion 216 may be able to slide through the undercut 106 underneath the rotation stop or other rotation -blocking feature. In such embodiments, then, the cap 200 can only be rotated to the open position by simultaneously pressing down on and turning the cap 200.

[0202] The cap 200 of Figs. 11-26 further comprises an inner rim or gasket 212, which is positioned to abut the rim 120 and/or lip 116 of an upper bottle portion 100 of a bottle so as to prevent liquid from leaking out of the bottle between the cap 200 and the rim 120. The inner rim or gasket 212 may be formed of plastic, of rubber, or of any other suitable material.

[0203] Visible in Figs. 16-19 are outlet seal 232 and inlet seal 236. The outlet seal 232 is offset from the pouring aperture 224 by the same amount as the inlet seal 236 is offset from the airflow aperture 228. As a result, in embodiments like that depicted in Figs. 11-26 where the pouring aperture 224 and the airflow aperture 228 are offset from each other by 180 degrees, the outlet seal 232 and the inlet seal 236 are also offset from each other by 180 degrees. The purpose of the outlet seal 232 and the inlet seal 236 is to block and thus seal the liquid outlet 124 and the air inlet 128, respectively, when the cap 200 is rotated to a closed position. To accomplish this purpose, the outlet seal 232 and the inlet seal 236 are shaped and sized to abut the perimeters of the liquid outlet 124 and the air inlet 128, respectively. In some embodiments, upon rotation of the cap 200 from the open position (in which the pouring aperture 224 is aligned with the liquid outlet 124 and the airflow aperture 228 is aligned with the air inlet 128) to the closed position (in which the outlet seal 232 is aligned with the liquid outlet 124 and the inlet seal 236 is aligned with the air inlet 128), as depicted in Figs. 24 and 26, the outlet seal 232 snaps into the liquid outlet 124, and/or the inlet seal 236 snaps into the air inlet 128. In this way, the outlet seal 232 and the inlet seal 236 may be used to provide an indication to a user of the bottle that the cap 200 is in the closed position.

[0204] As also shown in Figs. 24 and 26, when the cap 200 is rotated to the closed position, the outlet catch 132 and the inlet catch 136 engage the pouring aperture 224 and the airflow aperture 232, respectively. As with the outlet seal 232 and the inlet seal 236, the outlet catch 132 and the inlet catch 136 may snap into the pouring aperture 224 and the airflow aperture 232, respectively, upon closure of the cap 200. Notably, the outlet catch 132 and the inlet catch 136 need not seal the pouring aperture 224 and the airflow aperture 228, respectively, such that the tolerances thereof may be less precise than those of the outlet seal 232 and the inlet seal 236. [0205] Beneficially, a snap fit between the outlet seal 232 and the liquid outlet 124, and/or between the inlet seal 236 and the air inlet 128, and/or between the outlet catch 132 and the pouring aperture 224, and/or between the inlet catch 136 and the airflow aperture 228 provides an audible and tactile indication to the user that the cap 200 has reached the closed position, and also reduces the likelihood of inadvertent rotation of the cap 200 out of the closed position.

[0206] As shown in Figs. 20 and 22, the cap 200 includes a seal 220 that extends downwardly from the upper inner surface of the cap 200 in between the inner rim or gasket 212 and the inner wall of the cap 200. This seal 220 engages with a central channel 120 formed in the rim 120 of the upper bottle portion 100. The combination of these features together with the inner rim or gasket 212 beneficially prevents liquid from leaking out of the bottle between the rim 120 and the cap 200.

[0207] Also illustrated in Fig. 22 is the alignment of the airflow aperture 228, the air inlet 128, and the air tube 204 when the cap 200 is in an open position. With each of these three passages aligned, air has a clear flow path by which to enter the bottle when the bottle is tipped to pour liquid out of the liquid outlet 124 and the pouring aperture 224. When the cap 200 is rotated to the closed position, however, as illustrated in Figs. 24 and 26, the lip 116 (including in particular the inlet catch 136) blocks the flow of air from the airflow aperture 228 to the air tube 204, and the cap 200 (including in particular the inlet seal 236) blocks the flow of air through the air inlet 128. Also when the cap 200 is rotated to the closed position, the lip 116 (including in particular the outlet catch 132) blocks the flow of liquid through the pouring aperture 224, and the cap 200 (including in particular the outlet seal 232) blocks the flow of liquid through the liquid outlet 134.

[0208] Figs. 27-30 illustrate a cap 200 having a shortened air tube 204. The shortened air tube 204 beneficially reduces the amount of material required to form the cap 200, but may not perform as well as longer air tubes 204 (such as the air tube 204 illustrated in Figs. 11-26) in some scenarios. For example, liquid flowing from a container through a container bottleneck is moving at a higher flow rate and generates a greater dynamic pressure. Where the exit into the container of the shorter air tube 204 is located in the bottleneck, air traveling through the shorter air tube 204 must overcome greater forces to enter the bottle than if the air tube 204 were longer and the exit into the container of the longer air tube were positioned inside the body of the container. In addition, a longer air tube 204 may create a better, more defined flow of air into the bottle than a shorter air tube 204.

[0209] Figs. 31-32 illustrate an embodiment of a cap 200 comprising an inner wall 214 instead of the inner rim or gasket 212. The inner wall 214 extends downwardly from the upper inner surface of the cap 200, and includes an inner pouring aperture 226 aligned with the pouring aperture 224. The inner wall abuts but does not cover the air tube 204, such that no additional airflow aperture is necessary. In some embodiments, the inner wall 214 may extend downwardly as far as the outer wall of the cap 200 (as illustrated in Figs. 31-32), but in other embodiments the inner wall 214 may not extend downwardly as far as the outer wall of the cap 200, or the inner wall 214 may extend downwardly farther than the outer wall of the cap 200. The air tube 204 may be coextensive in length with the inner wall 214 (as illustrated in Figs. 31-32), or may extend beyond the lower edge of the inner wall 214. The use of an inner wall 214 beneficially improves the ability of the cap 200 to seal the bottle against undesired or unintended liquid flow. In some embodiments, the inner wall 214 may be made of a flexible material that is biased against and/or will conform to the shape of the inner surface of the lip 116, to enhance the sealing effect of the inner wall 214. [0210] Figs. 33-38 illustrate an upper bottle portion 100 comprising a screen 140 instead of a liquid outlet 124. In contrast to the single large aperture of the liquid outlet 124, the screen 140 comprises a plurality of small apertures through which liquid may flow when the cap 200 is rotated to the open position. The screen 140 may beneficially be used to control the flow shape and/or flow rate of contained liquid out of the bottle. Although the screen 140 illustrated in Figs. 33-38 comprises a grid of equally sized and equally spaced apertures, the present disclosure is not limited to such a screen 140. In other embodiments, the screen 140 may comprise randomly placed apertures, more or fewer apertures, and/or differently sized apertures. Also in some embodiments, the screen 140 may be provided on the upper bottle portion 100 in addition to a liquid outlet 124. In such embodiments, the screen 140 may be positioned inside of the liquid outlet 124 or outside of the liquid outlet 124. The screen 140 may be designed and/or positioned to provide improved sealing, to modify the fluid dynamics associated with a liquid being poured, or to achieve any other purpose.

[0211] Figs. 39-41 illustrate an upper bottle portion 100 having a liquid outlet 140, to which a cap 200 is rotatably secured. The cap 200 comprises a screen 240 instead of a pouring aperture 224. In contrast to the single large aperture of the pouring aperture 224, the screen 240 comprises a plurality of small apertures through which liquid may flow when the cap 200 is rotated to the open position. The screen 240 may beneficially be used to control the flow shape and/or flow rate of liquid therethrough. Although the screen 240 of the embodiment of Figs. 30- 41 comprises a grid of equally sized and equally spaced apertures, the present disclosure is not limited to such a screen 240. In other embodiments, the screen 240 may comprise randomly placed apertures, more or fewer apertures, and/or differently sized apertures. Also in some embodiments, the screen 240 may be provided on the cap 200 in addition to a pouring aperture 224. In such embodiments, the screen 240 may be positioned inside of the pouring aperture 224 or outside of the pouring aperture 224. The screen 240 may be designed and/or positioned to provide improved sealing, to modify the fluid dynamics associated with a liquid being poured, or to achieve any other purpose.

[0212] Figs. 42-45 depict an embodiment of the upper bottle portion 100 in which the liquid outlet 124 is replaced by two outlets 144a, 144b. The outlets 144a, 144b are circular as illustrated in Figs. 42-45, but in other embodiments one or both of the outlets 144a, 144b may have non-circular shapes. Additionally, although the outlets 144a, 144b are shown as having equal sizes in Figs. 42-45, in other embodiments one of the outlets 144a, 144b may be larger than the other of the outlets 144a, 144b. The outlets 144a, 144b are positioned within the lip 116 so that, with the cap 200 in a first open position, both outlets 144a, 144b are fully open (as illustrated in Figs. 42-43); with the cap 200 in a second open position, the outlet 144a is closed and the outlet 144b is open (as illustrated in Figs. 44-45); with the cap 200 in a third open position, the outlet 144a is open and the outlet 144b is closed (not shown); and with the cap in a fourth, closed position, the outlets 144a and 144b are closed (also not shown). Notably, in the embodiment of Figs. 42-45, the air inlet 128 is open to air flow only when the cap 200 is in the first position, with both outlets 144a, 144b fully open. In some embodiments, however, the air tube 204 and the airflow aperture 228 could be widened or otherwise circumferentially extended to provide a path for air to flow through the air inlet 128 regardless of whether the cap 200 is in the first position, the second position, or the third position.

[0213] In embodiments such as that illustrated in Figs. 42-45, a cap 200 may comprise a plurality of outlet seals 232 that match the size and shape of the outlets 144a, 144b, rather than a single outlet seal 232 having the size and shape of the liquid outlet 124. Moreover, the cap 200 and one or both of the lip 116 and the collar 112 may be provided with detents, stops, or other features that generate an audible click or other sound when the cap 200 has reached one of the first, second, third, and fourth positions. Additionally or alternatively, the detents, stops, or other features may provide tactile feedback to a user that the cap 200 has reached one of the first, second, third, or fourth positions. In some embodiments, one or more outlet seals 232, the inlet seal 236, the outlet catch 132, and the inlet catch 136 may provide this audible and/or tactile feedback.

[0214] The inclusion of two outlets 144a, 144b beneficially allows the maximum flow rate of liquid from the bottle to be adjusted. If only one of the outlets 144a, 144b is open, then the maximum flow rate will be lower than if both of the outlets 144a, 144b are open. At the same time, with outlets 144a, 144b of equal size, the maximum flow rate will be the same regardless of which outlet 144a, 144b is open. For this reason, in some embodiments, the cap 200 and/or the upper bottle portion 100 may not be configured to accommodate a second or third position of the cap 200 on the upper bottle portion 100. However, in other embodiments, the outlets 144a, 144b may have different sizes, such that different maximum flow rates may be achieved by rotating the cap 200 to each of the first position (with both outlets 144a, 144b open), the second position (with only the outlet 144b open), and the third position (with only the outlet 144a open).

[0215] Figs. 46-47 illustrate an embodiment of the upper bottle portion 100 in which the lip 116 comprises a liquid outlet 124 and the cap 200 comprises a pouring aperture 224, as in the embodiment of Figs. 11-26. In this embodiment, however, the cap 200 is rotatable to partially cover the liquid outlet 124. In some embodiments, the cap 200 may be provided with a friction fit on the upper bottle portion 100, such that the cap 200 is unlikely to rotate out of a given position without the application of an external force (e.g., from a user). In other embodiments, the cap 200 and/or the upper bottle portion 100 may comprise one or more stops, detents, or other features that provide audible or tactile feedback to a user indicating that the cap 200 has been rotated to a point where the liquid outlet 124 is fully open, or 75% open, or 50% open, or 25% open, or any combination thereof. Regardless, the maximum flow rate of liquid through the liquid outlet 124 may be adjusted between an absolute minimum (with the cap 200 fully closed) and an absolute maximum (with the cap 200 fully open) by rotating the cap 200 to an intermediate position between the fully open and fully closed positions.

[0216] Figs. 48-51 illustrate another embodiment of the upper bottle portion 100 and cap 200 in which the cap 200 is provided with an outlet elbow 244 and an outlet extension 248. The outlet extension 248 facilitates the pouring of liquid from the bottle into a narrow opening, or an opening with a non-vertical axis, or an opening with restricted access. For example, the outlet extension 248 may be useful for bottles containing fuel additives to be poured directly into vehicle gas tanks (which often have an opening with a non-vertical access), and/or for bottles containing vehicle oil (because vehicle oil tank inlets are often surround by other vehicle components, and thus may be difficult to access). Although the extension 248 is shown as having a particular length in Figs. 48-51, in some embodiments the length of the extension 248 may be greater than illustrated, and in other embodiments the length of the extension 248 may be shorter than illustrated. Additionally, the elbow 244 and/or the extension 248 may be made of a rigid material that resists bending or of a flexible material that permits bending (and thus facilitates placement of the outlet end of the extension 248 into a narrow opening (e.g., of a vehicle gas tank or oil tank) when the bottle cannot be aligned, or cannot be easily aligned, with the axis of the opening. [0217] As illustrated in Figs. 50-51, the cap 200 of the embodiment of Figs. 48-51 may be provided with a short air tube 204 with a length approximately equal to the height of the cap 200, or with a longer air tube 204 with a length greater than the height of the cap 200. In the latter embodiment, the air tube may have a length that is, for example, fifty percent greater than the height of the cap 200, or twice the height of the cap 200, or three times the height of the cap 200. In some embodiments, the length of the air tube 204 is selected so that the air tube 204 extends at least through the bottleneck 108 of the upper bottle portion 100. Other lengths of the air tube 204 are also included within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0218] Turning now to Figs. 52-56, a cap 200 according to embodiments of the present disclosure may be provided with a spout 252. Such embodiments may be particularly useful, for example, with bottles containing water, juice, soda, or other drinks, as the spout 252 facilitates the drinking of the liquid directly from the bottle. The spout 252 of Figs. 52-56 comprises a channel therethrough with the same dimensions as the pouring aperture 224 and the liquid outlet 124. In other embodiments, the channel through the spout 252 may have a larger cross-sectional area or a smaller cross-sectional area than the pouring aperture 224. Additionally, the channel of the spout 252 may taper from a narrower cross-sectional area to a larger cross-sectional area or vice versa in some embodiments.

[0219] In Figs. 57-63, a bottle and cap assembly 500 comprises a bottle 504 and a cap 200.

The bottle 504 comprises a bottleneck 508, a collar 512, a lip 516, and an inlet 520. Although a particular type of bottle is illustrated in Figs. 57-63, the bottle 504 may be any shape or size suitable for storing liquid, and may have any surface design (or no surface design). The upper portion of the bottle 504 may be the same as or similar to the upper bottle portion 100. The cap 200 comprises a pouring aperture 224, an airflow aperture 228, and an air tube 204 that extends the airflow aperture downwardly into the inlet 520 of the bottle 504. Unlike the pouring aperture 224 and the airflow aperture 228 of the embodiments in Figs. 11-26, however, the pouring aperture 224 and the airflow aperture 228 of the cap 200 in Figs. 57-63 have axes parallel to an axis of the collar 512. In other words, the pouring aperture 224 and the airflow aperture 228 of the present embodiment are located in the flat upper surface of the cap 200, rather than in the curved sidewall of the cap 200. As a result, there is no need for a liquid outlet such as the liquid outlet 124 or for an air inlet such as the air inlet 128 in the lip 516 of the bottle 504 of the embodiment of Figs. 57-63. [0220] The cap 200 of Figs. 57-63 may be rotatably secured to the bottle 504. In some embodiments, the cap 200 may also be removably secured to the bottle 504, while in other embodiments, the cap 200 may be secured to the bottle 504 in a way that does not contemplate removal of the cap 200 from the bottle 504 in the ordinary course of use.

[0221] Various modifications to the pouring aperture 224, the airflow aperture 228, and the air tube 204 may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the pouring aperture 224 is shown as having a circular cross-section in Figs. 57-63 but may alternatively be provided with a non-circular cross section. Additionally, the size of the pouring aperture 224 may be larger or smaller than the size of the pouring aperture 224 as illustrated in Figs. 57-63. Similarly, the airflow aperture 228 is shown as having a circular cross-section in Figs. 57-63, but may alternatively be provided with a non-circular cross-section. The size of the airflow aperture 228 may also be larger or smaller than the size of the airflow aperture as illustrated in Figs. 57-63. The relative size, shape, and location on the cap 200 of the pouring aperture 224 and the airflow aperture 228 may also be different than illustrated in Figs. 57-63. In some embodiments, the air tube 204 of a cap 200 such as that illustrated in Figs. 57-63 may be longer than the air tube 204 shown in those figures. The length of the air tube 204 may be selected based on the height of the cap 200, the distance from the upper rim of the lip 516 to the lower end of the bottleneck 508, and/or one or more other dimensions of the bottle 504.

[0222] Turning now to Figs. 64-66, an inner cap 600, rather than a cap 200, may be secured to the lip 516 of the bottle 504. While the cap 200 of Figs. 57-63 completely covers the lip 516 and extends downwardly to the collar 512 of the bottle 504, the inner cap 600 is configured to snap onto the upper rim of the lip 516 and largely fits inside of the inlet 520, so as to result in only a minimal change to the profile of the upper portion of the bottle 504. Like the cap 200 of Figs. 57-63, however, the inner cap 600 comprises a pouring aperture 624, an airflow aperture 628, and an air tube 604. The pouring aperture 624, the airflow aperture 628, and the air tube 604 have the same purpose and function (or substantially the same purpose and function) as the pouring aperture 224, the airflow aperture 228, and the air tube 204 of the cap 200 of Figs. 57- 63. Additionally, the pouring aperture 624, the airflow aperture 628, and the air tube 604 may be modified in the same ways as described herein with respect to the pouring aperture 224, the airflow aperture 228, and the air tube 204. [0223] With reference to Figs. 67-86, a bottle 504 may be provided with both a cap 200 and an inner cap 600. In such embodiments, the cap 200 does not comprise an air tube 204, but the inner cap 600 does comprise an air tube 604. The inner cap 600 is fixedly attached to the lip 516 of the bottle 504, whether with a snap fit, a press fit, or otherwise. The cap 200 is rotatably secured to the lip 516 over the inner cap 600. As a result, the cap 200 can rotate between open and closed positions while the inner cap 600 remains fixed in position. The cap 200 may be provided with ridges to facilitate gripping of the cap 200 by a user, and thus to facilitate rotation of the cap 200 between the open and closed positions.

[0224] The inner cap 600 comprises both a pouring aperture 624 and an airflow aperture 628, but also comprises an outlet catch 632 and an inlet catch 636. The position of the pouring aperture 624 relative to the airflow aperture 628 is the same as the position of the outlet catch 632 to the inlet catch 636. Moreover, the outlet catch 632 and the inlet catch 636 each protrude upward from the planar upper surface of the cap 600, and have complementary shapes to the pouring aperture 224 and the airflow aperture 228 of the cap 200. As a result, the outlet catch 632 is positioned, sized, and shaped to fit snugly into the pouring aperture 224 of the cap 200, and the inlet catch 636 is positioned, sized, and shaped to fit snugly into the airflow aperture 228 of the cap 200.

[0225] In some embodiments, the outlet catch 632 and the inlet catch 636 are integral with the inner cap 600 (e.g., the outlet catch 632, the inlet catch 636, and the inner cap 600 are all manufactured from a single piece of material). In other embodiments, the outlet catch 632 and the inlet catch 636 are manufactured separately and affixed to the inner cap 600 after formation of the inner cap 600. In such other embodiments, the outlet catch 632 and the inlet catch 636 may be manufactured from the same material as the inner cap 600 or from a different material. For example, the outlet catch 632, the inlet catch 636, and the inner cap 600 may all be manufactured from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or the inner cap 600 may be manufactured from PET and the outlet catch 632 and the inlet catch 636 may be manufactured from rubber. These materials are identified by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0226] While the outlet catch 632 and the inlet catch 636 are shown as raised surfaces on the cap 600, in some embodiments the outlet catch 632 and/or the inlet catch 636 may comprise a ridge having substantially the same shape and dimensions of the liquid outlet 624 and the air inlet 628, respectively.

[0227] The inclusion of the outlet catch 632 and the inlet catch 636 on the inner cap 600 enables the cap 200 to be rotated between an open position (with the pouring aperture 224 aligned with the pouring aperture 624, and the airflow aperture 228 aligned with the airflow aperture 628) and a closed position (with the pouring aperture 224 aligned with the outlet catch 632, and the airflow aperture 228 aligned with the inlet catch 636). Moreover, the outlet catch 632 and the inlet catch 636 may click or snap into the pouring aperture 224 and the airflow aperture 228, respectively, when the cap 200 is rotated to the closed position, thus providing audible and tactile feedback to a user that the closed position has been reached. Further still, the outlet catch 224 and the inlet catch 228 help to prevent the cap 200 from inadvertently rotating from the closed position into an open position.

[0228] As illustrated in Figs. 86-92, the bottom surface of a cap 200 may comprise an outlet seal 232 and an inlet seal 236 that are the same as or similar to the outlet seals 232 and inlet seals 236 described elsewhere herein, except that the outlet seal 232 and inlet seal 236 of the present embodiment are positioned on the bottom upper surface of the cap 200 rather on the outer sidewall of the cap 200. Further, the outlet seal 232 and inlet seal 236 of the present embodiment may engage the pouring aperture 624 and the airflow aperture 628 in ways that are the same as or similar to those described elsewhere in this disclosure. Moreover, the outlet seal 232 and inlet seal 236 of the present embodiment may be formed in any of the same ways, and/or from any of the same materials, as the outlet seals 232 and inlet seals 236 described elsewhere herein.

[0229] In the embodiment of Figs. 86-92, the outlet seal 232 and inlet seal 236 are included instead of the outlet catch 632 and the inlet catch 636. In other embodiments, the outlet seal 232 and the inlet seal 236 may be included in addition to an outlet catch 632 and an inlet catch 636. [0230] Figs. 93-94 illustrate an assembly comprising a bottle 504, an inner cap 600, and a cap 200. In this embodiment, however, rather than having a single large pouring aperture 624, the inner cap 600 includes a screen 640 that comprises a plurality of small apertures through which liquid may flow when the cap 200 is rotated to the open position. The screen 640 may beneficially be used to control the flow shape and/or flow rate of contained liquid out of the bottle. Although the screen 640 illustrated in Figs. 93-94 comprises a circular grid of equally sized apertures, the present disclosure is not limited to such a screen 640. In other embodiments, the screen 640 may comprise randomly spaced apertures, more or fewer apertures, and/or differently sized and/or shaped apertures.

[0231] Figs. 95-97 illustrate another assembly comprising a bottle 504, an inner cap 600, and a cap 200. In this embodiment, the inner cap 600 comprises a pouring aperture 624, but the cap 200 comprises a screen 240 instead of a pouring aperture 224. In contrast to the single, relatively large pouring aperture 224, the screen 240 comprises a plurality of smaller apertures through which liquid may flow when the cap 200 is rotated to the open position. The screen 240 may beneficially be used to control the flow shape and/or flow rate of liquid therethrough. Although the screen 240 of the embodiment of Figs. 95-97 comprises a circular grid of equally sized apertures, the present disclosure is not limited to such a screen 240. In other embodiments, the screen 240 may comprise randomly placed apertures, more or fewer apertures, and/or differently sized apertures.

[0232] Fig. 98 depicts an assembly comprising a bottle 504, an inner cap 600, and a cap 200.

In this embodiment, the cap 200 comprises an outlet extension 248, which has the same or similar benefits and features as the outlet extension 248 discussed previously. Because the pouring aperture of the cap 200 is positioned on the top surface of the cap 200 rather than on the sidewall of the cap 200, this outlet extension 248 connects directly to the pouring aperture 248, without the use of an outlet elbow 244.

[0233] Fig. 99 depicts an assembly comprising a bottle 504 and an inner cap 600. In this embodiment, the inner cap 600 comprises an outlet extension 648. Due to the presence of the outlet extension 648, a cap 200 does not fit over the inner cap 600. However, the cap 600 may be provided with caps, plugs, or other closure mechanisms (not shown) loosely attached thereto that can be placed over or into the outlet extension 648 and airflow aperture 628 to close the same, and removed from the outlet extension 648 and airflow aperture 628 to open the same. Alternatively, the inner cap 600 may be selectively removable from the bottle 504, so that a user can place the inner cap 600 on the bottle 504 prior to use, and remove the inner cap 600 from the bottle 504 after use. In such embodiments, a cap without any apertures therein may be removably secured to the bottle 504 once the inner cap 600 has been removed, to ensure that any liquid remaining the bottle 504 is contained therein.

[0234] Alternatively, as depicted in Fig. 100, the outlet extension 648 may be provided with a flexible elbow 652 that allows the outlet extension to bend. To close the outlet extension 648 to the flow of liquid, the upper end of the outlet extension 648 can be bent downwardly and pressed against the upper surface of the cap 600 over the airflow aperture 628. A latch 664 or other closure mechanism may hold the outlet extension 248 in this position, wherein liquid can flow into the outlet extension 248 via the airflow aperture 228 or the pouring aperture 224, but once inside the outlet extension 248 can only flow back into the bottle 504, whether via the airflow aperture 228 or the pouring aperture 224. To open the outlet extension 248 and allow liquid to flow out of the bottle, the latch 664 or other closure mechanism can be released, allowing the outlet extension 248 to then pop back into a straight or substantially straight position (if the elbow 248 is biased) or be moved back into a straight or other desired position (if the elbow 248 is not biased) after which liquid may be poured out of the bottle 504 through the outlet extension 248.

[0235] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a cap 200, a collar 112, or other components described herein are provided with tamper evident features. For example, a cap 200 could be fixedly secured to a collar 112 or a lip 116 of an upper bottle portion 100 or other bottle 504 via a tear strip or other device with an intentionally designed weak point or other point of failure. This tear strip or other device may be separable from the cap 200 when the cap 200 is rotated. A consumer can thus determine whether a given bottle has already been opened by determining whether the cap 200 is still connected to the tear strip or other device. Any other tamper evident devices may be used in addition to or as an alternative to such a tear strip to provide consumers with a way to determine whether a bottle has been opened.

[0236] Referring now to Figs. 101 through 115, a cap and bottle assembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure may comprise a bottle such as the bottle 504, a dosing insert 800, and a cap 200. The bottle 504 comprises a bottleneck 508, a collar 512, a lip 516, a pouring aperture 524, an airflow aperture 528, and an outlet catch 532. The dosing insert 800 comprises a lip 804, a drain 808, an inlet aperture 816, a pouring aperture 824, and an airflow aperture 828. The cap 200 comprises an air tube 204, an inner rim or gasket 212, an inner wall 214, a protrusion 216, a pouring aperture 224, an inlet aperture 226, and an airflow aperture 228. Although in other embodiments described herein the cap 200 comprises an inner rim or gasket 212 or an inner wall 214, in the present embodiment the cap 200 comprises both an inner rim or gasket 212 and an inner wall 214. Except as otherwise set forth in the following description, the various features of the cap 200 have the same or substantially similar functionality as the corresponding features of the other caps 200 described herein.

[0237] Fig. 101 shows the cap 200 in a first configuration, with the pouring aperture 224 aligned with the pouring aperture 524 of the bottle 504 and with the pouring aperture 824 of the dosing insert 800. As a result, liquid can flow through the aligned pouring apertures 224, 524, and 824. Also in this configuration, the airflow apertures 228, 528, and 828 of the cap 200, the bottle 504, and the dosing insert 800, respectively, are aligned, thus permitting the flow of air therethrough. The inlet aperture 816 of the dosing insert 800 is not aligned, however, with the inlet aperture 226 of the cap 200. Thus, the inner wall 214 of the cap 200 blocks fluid flow through the inlet aperture 816 of the dosing insert when the cap 200 is in the first configuration. [0238] Fig. 102 shows the cap 200 in a second configuration, in which the cap 200 is rotated 90 degrees relative to the first configuration. As a result, the pouring aperture 224 of the cap 200 is aligned with the outlet catch 532 (which may hold the cap 200 in the second configuration by virtue of a snap or friction fit, until sufficient rotational force is exerted on the cap 200 to release the pouring aperture 224 from the outlet catch 532), and the external wall of the cap 200 blocks the pouring apertures 524 and 824 to fluid flow and the airflow apertures 528 and 828 to airflow. The inner wall 214 of the cap 200 further blocks the pouring apertures 524 and 824 and the airflow apertures 528 and 828 to fluid flow and airflow, respectively, from inside of the dosing insert 800. Additionally, the air tube 204 is not aligned with the airflow apertures 828 and 528. However, the inlet aperture 226 of the cap is aligned with the inlet aperture 816 of the dosing insert, thus allowing fluid flow therethrough.

[0239] The embodiment of Figs. 101-115 operates as follows. With the cap 200 in the second configuration, the bottle 504 is inverted, so that fluid contained within the bottle 504 flows toward the inlet apertures 226 and 816, and into the dosing insert 800. Any air contained within the dosing insert 800 will rise to the bottom of the dosing insert 800 (which, with the bottle 504 in the inverted position, is above the top of the dosing insert 800), and may then escape from the dosing insert 800 and into the bottle 504 through the drain 808. The drain 808 thus ensures that air within the dosing insert 800 does not prevent fluid from entering the dosing insert 800 through the inlet aperture 816.

[0240] After the bottle 504 has been inverted long enough for liquid or other fluid contained therein to fill the dosing insert 800, the bottle is returned to an upright position. Although some fluid that entered the dosing insert 800 while the bottle 504 was inverted may flow back into the main volume of the bottle 504 via the inlet aperture 816 or via the drain 808, most of the fluid captured within the dosing insert 800 will remain within the dosing insert 800. The cap 200 may then be rotated from the second configuration to the first configuration, such that the airflow apertures 228, 528, and 828 are aligned with each other and with the airflow tube 204, and further such that the pouring apertures 224, 524, and 824 are also aligned. With the cap 200 in the first configuration, the contents of the dosing insert 800 may be poured from the bottle 504, while the remaining liquid within the bottle 504 remains within the bottle 504.

[0241] As may be appreciated in light of the foregoing disclosure, the dosing insert 800 enables the quick and easy dispensing of correct doses of a liquid from the bottle 504. For example, if the bottle 504 contains a liquid medicine, the dosing insert 800 can be sized appropriately for one dose of the medicine, thus negating the need for the medicine to be poured from the bottle 504 into a measuring device to measure the correct dose. If the proper dose of the medicine depends on some factor such as the age or weight of the recipient of the medicine, the dosing insert 800 may be sized as a divisor of each of the possible doses. Thus, if the doses for a given medicine are 10 ml, 15 ml, or 20 ml depending on some characteristic of the recipient, the dosing insert may be sized to contain 5 ml of the medicine, so that the desired amount of medicine may be dispensed by repeating the process described above twice for the 10 ml dose, three times for the 15 ml dose, and four times for the 20 ml dose.

[0242] As another example, many concentrated cleaning solutions, pesticides, or other chemicals are intended to be mixed with water before use. Instructions accompanying a given chemical may instruct a user, for example, to use a specific volume of the chemical per gallon of water. The embodiment of Figs. 101-115 may be used in connection with such a chemical to facilitate accurate measurement of the specific volume of the chemical for mixing.

[0243] The drain 808 may be sized to facilitate the flow of air therethrough but to limit the flow of liquid therethrough. For dosing inserts 800 that are intended for use with viscous or thick liquids, the drain 808 may have a larger diameter than for dosing inserts 800 that are intended for use with watery or thin liquids. In some embodiments, such as that shown in Fig. 108, the dosing insert 800 may not include a drain 808.

[0244] Figs. 116-121 show a cap and bottle assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The cap and bottle assembly of this embodiment comprises a container 1000 having a cap 200 and a dosing insert 900. The container 1000 may be used to contain any liquid, such as laundry detergent, and comprises a collar 1012 and a lip 1016, which lip 1016 comprises a pouring aperture 1024 and an airflow aperture 1028. The cap 200, like the cap 200 of Figs. 101-115, includes an air tube 204, an inner wall 214, a pouring aperture 224, and an airflow aperture 228. The dosing insert 900 is substantially similar to the dosing insert 800, and includes an inlet aperture 916, a pouring aperture 924, an airflow aperture 928, and a drain 908. The cap 200 is rotatable between a second configuration and a first configuration. In the second configuration, the internal wall 214 of the cap 200 blocks the pouring aperture 924 and the airflow aperture 928 of the dosing insert 900 from inside the dosing insert 900, while the external walls of the cap 200 block the pouring apertures 924 and 1024 and the airflow apertures 928 and 1028. In this configuration, the inlet aperture 916 is not blocked, such that liquid within the container 1000 may flow through the inlet aperture 916 and into the dosing insert 1000, while air within the dosing insert 900 exits the interior of the dosing insert 900 through the drain 908. [0245] In the first configuration, the pouring aperture 224 of the cap 200 is aligned with the pouring apertures 924 and 1024, and the airflow aperture 228 and air tube 204 of the cap 200 are aligned with the pouring apertures 928 and 1028. The internal wall 214 of the cap 200 blocks the inlet aperture 916 in this configuration. As a result, no (or very little) liquid from the container is able to pass through the inlet aperture 916 into the dosing container 900, and no (or very little) liquid from the dosing container 900 is able to pass through the inlet aperture 916 into the container 1000. In the first configuration, the liquid contents of the dosing insert 900 flow out of the dosing insert 900 through the pouring apertures 924, 1024, and 224, while air flows into the dosing insert 900 through the airflow apertures 228, 1028, and 928, and the air tube 204. Only the liquid within the dosing insert 900 is able to exit through the pouring apertures 924, 1024, and 224. Given the configuration of the container 1000 and the pouring apertures 924, 1024, and 224, gravity will cause liquid to flow from the dosing insert as soon as the cap 200 is rotated to the first configuration.

[0246] When the cap 200 is rotated from the first configuration to the second configuration, the inlet aperture 916 is again opened to liquid flow, and as long as the level of liquid within the bottle is above the level of the inlet aperture 916, the liquid will flow into the dosing insert 900. When the level of liquid within the container 900 drops below the level of the inlet aperture 916, a user may tilt the container 1000 so that liquid pools by and flows through the inlet aperture 916 into the dosing insert 900.

[0247] The cap and bottle assembly of Figs. 116-121 beneficially enables a specific dose of liquid within the container 1000 to be dispensed each time the cap 200 is rotated to the first configuration after having been in the second configuration. This cap and bottle assembly may be particularly useful, by way of example only, for liquid laundry detergent. Rather than measure a specific amount of laundry detergent into a measuring cup, and then transferring the detergent from the cup and into a washing machine, the dosing container may be filled by rotating the cap 200 to the second configuration, and then the proper dose of laundry detergent may be poured directly into the washing machine by rotating the cap 200 to the first configuration. The dosing container may be sized appropriately depending on whether the laundry detergent is high efficient laundry detergent, normally concentrated laundry detergent, or sub-normally-concentrated laundry detergent.

[0248] As explained above with respect to the drain 808 of the dosing insert 800, the drain 908 of the dosing insert 900 may be sized to facilitate the flow of air therethrough but limit the flow of liquid therethrough. For dosing inserts 900 that are intended for use with viscous or thick liquids, the drain 908 may have a larger diameter than for dosing inserts 900 that are intended for use with watery or thin liquids. In some embodiments, the dosing insert 900 may not include a drain 908.

[0249] Figs. 122-129B show another cap and bottle assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Here, the cap 200 comprises an air tube 204, a pouring aperture 224, an airflow aperture 228, and a guide 256. The guide 256 is configured such that the pouring aperture 224 faces upward when the cap 200 is in a horizontal position. As a result, the cap 200 comprising the guide 256 is well-suited for (although not limited to) use with liquid containers from which a person may directly drink, such as a water bottle, a soda bottle, a juice bottle, an energy drink bottle, and other such bottles.

[0250] The cap 200 of Figs. 122-129B is rotatably secured to a container 1100 that comprises a bottleneck 1108, a collar 1112, a lip 1116, a pouring aperture 1124, and an airflow aperture 1128. The cap 200 may be rotated between a second configuration, in which the cap 200 blocks the pouring aperture 1124 and the airflow aperture 1128, and a first position, in which the pouring aperture 224 is aligned with the pouring aperture 1124, and the airflow aperture 228 and air tube 204 are aligned with the airflow aperture 1128. Thus, when the cap 200 is in the second configuration, the container 1100 is sealed or substantially sealed, and when the cap 200 is in the first configuration, the liquid or other contents of the container 1100 may be poured therefrom. [0251] Turning now to Figs. 130-137, another cap and bottle assembly that is well-suited for (although not limited to) use with a liquid intended to be drunk or otherwise consumed directly from the bottle is shown, in accordance with further embodiments of the present disclosure. The cap and bottle assembly of Figs. 130-137 includes a bottle 1200 with a bottleneck 1208, a collar 1212, and a lip 1216. The cap and bottle assembly further comprises an insert 600 with an air tube 604, a pouring aperture 624, an airflow aperture 628, two outlet catches 632, and two inlet catches 636. The outlet catches 636 and the inlet catches 632 are oppositely disposed on the upper surface of the insert 600, such that one outlet catch 632 is directly across (or substantially directly across) the insert 600 from one inlet catch 636, and the other outlet catch 632 is directly across (or substantially directly across) the insert 600 from the other inlet catch 636. Moreover, the outlet catches 636 are positioned on opposite sides of the pouring aperture 624. The outlet catches 636 and the inlet catches 624 comprise protrusions or raised surfaces that have an external diameter equal or substantially similar to the internal diameter of the pouring aperture 224 and the airflow aperture 228, respectively. The outlet catches 632 and inlet catches 636 may have the same or similar features and functionality as other outlet and inlet catches described elsewhere herein, including the outlet catch 132 and inlet catch 136, respectively.

[0252] The cap and bottle assembly of Figs. 130-137 further comprises a cap 200 comprising a pouring aperture 224 and an airflow aperture 228. The cap 200 of Figs. 130-137 may be the same as or similar to the cap 200 of Figs. 81-86, and/or of Figs. 87-91.

[0253] In use, the cap 200 of the cap and bottle assembly of Figs. 130-137 may be rotated from a first configuration, in which the pouring aperture 224 is aligned with the pouring aperture 624 and the airflow aperture 228 is aligned with the airflow aperture 628 and the air tube 604, and either of two second configurations, in which the pouring aperture 224 is aligned with one of the two outlet catches 632 and the airflow aperture 228 is aligned with the opposite inlet catch 636. The pouring aperture 224 receives the raised or protruding outlet catch 632, and the airflow aperture 228 receives the inlet catch 636. In some embodiments, the cap 200 may snap into position when it is rotated from the first configuration to one of the two second configurations, as the pouring aperture 224 reaches alignment with an outlet catch 632 and the airflow aperture 228 reaches alignment with an inlet catch 636.

[0254] With the cap 200 in the second configuration, the pouring aperture 224 and the airflow aperture 228 are blocked to liquid flow. As a result, the outlet catch 632 and the inlet catch 636 beneficially secure the cap 200 against inadvertent rotation and serve to prevent liquid within the container 1200 from escaping from the container 1200. Then, when a user wishes to drink or otherwise dispense liquid from the container 1200, the user can rotate the cap 200 to the first configuration and proceed with drinking or otherwise dispensing liquid from the container 1200. [0255] The inclusion of two outlet catches 632 and two inlet catches 636 beneficially allows a user to twist or rotate the cap 200 in either direction from the first configuration and to reach the second configuration within the same number of degrees of rotation. This improves the convenience of use of the cap and bottle assembly of Figs. 130-137. Additionally, the placement of the outlet catches 632 reduces the degrees of rotation required to rotate the cap 200 from the first configuration to the second configuration. Even so, the present disclosure is not limited to placement of the outlet catches 632 in the positions shown in Figs. 130-137. In some embodiments, one or both of the outlet catches 632 may be closer to or farther away from the pouring aperture 624, provided that the outlet catches 632 are positioned to align with the pouring aperture 224 when the cap 200 is sufficiently rotated. Additionally, the position of the inlet catches 636 may vary from the positions shown in Figs. 130-137, provided that each inlet catch 636 remains directly across (or substantially directly across) the insert 600 from a corresponding outlet catch 632.

[0256] With respect to Figs. 138-144, yet another cap and bottle assembly that is well-suited for (although not limited to) use with a liquid intended to be drunk or otherwise consumed directly from the bottle is shown, in accordance with further embodiments of the present disclosure. The cap and bottle assembly of Figs. 138-144 includes a bottle 1300 with a bottleneck 1308, a collar 1312, an outer flange 1314, and a lip 1316. The bottle 1300 further comprises external threads 1320 and a single aperture 1324.

[0257] The cap and bottle assembly of Figs. 138-144 also comprises a cap 200 comprising a pouring aperture 224 and an airflow aperture 228. The cap 200 of this embodiment comprises internal threads 260, an internal seal 264, an inner rim or gasket 212, and an interior flange 268. The internal threads 260 are provided with a gap directly above and adjacent to the airflow aperture 228, and the internal seal 264 is provided with a notch 266 directly above the airflow aperture 228.

[0258] In use, the cap 200 of the cap and bottle assembly of Figs. 138-144 is movable between a first and a second position. In the first position, which is shown in Figs. 138-141, the cap 200 is fully threadably engaged with the bottle 1300, such that the interior flange 268 of the cap 200 is in contact with or adjacent to the collar 1312 of the bottle 1300. In this position, the inner rim or gasket 212 fully engages the full circumference of the lip 1316, thus sealing off the aperture 1324 and preventing the flow of any liquid or air therethrough. The pouring aperture 224 and the airflow aperture 228 are thus ineffective with the cap 200 in the first position.

[0259] The cap 200 can be moved from the first position to the second position by rotating the cap 200 to partially disengage the cap 200 from the bottle 1300, until the interior flange 268 contacts the outer flange 1314. The contact between the interior flange 268 and the outer flange 1314 prevents further disengagement of the cap 200 from the bottle 1300.

[0260] With the cap 200 in the second position, the pouring aperture 224 is positioned above the lip 1316 of the bottle 1300, such that liquid can flow from the bottle, through the aperture 1324, and through the pouring aperture 224. Further, air can flow through the airflow aperture 228, past the threads 260, into the notch 266 and into the bottle 1300, also via the aperture 1324. The air may flow directly upward from the airflow aperture 228 toward the notch 266 and into the aperture 1324, or the air may enter the airflow aperture 228, be channeled around the inner circumference of the cap 200 by the internal threads 260 of the cap 200 and the external threads 1320 of the bottle 1300, and finally pass through the notch 266 and into the aperture 1324.

[0261] The cap and bottle assembly shown in Figs. 138-145 beneficially utilizes a bottle 1300 that is substantially similar to existing bottles, but for the inclusion of the outer flange 1314.

Thus, the bottle 1300 can be made using conventional methods in existing machinery, thus reducing the cost of implementation of the present disclosure. The cap 200, on the other hand, includes all of the necessary features to enable pressure equalization within the bottle 1300 during the drinking or pouring of liquid therefrom. As a result, the cap 200 beneficially interconnects with the bottle 1300 to result in a cap and bottle assembly that is significantly improved over known cap and bottle assemblies.

[0262] The cap 200 illustrated in Figs. 146-151 provides another example of a cap 200 that can be attached to an upper bottle portion 100 of a bottle. As shown in Figs. 146-149, the cap 200 may include one or more internal cap protrusions 1464. The cap 200 is shown to include four internal cap protrusions 1464 spaced substantially equally around the inner circumference of the cap 200; however, it should be appreciated that a greater or lesser number of internal cap protrusions 1464 may be provided. Furthermore, the distribution of internal cap protrusions 1464 does not necessarily need to be equally distributed around the inner circumference of the cap 200. Rather, a number of internal cap protrusions 1464 may be provided in a concentrated area of the cap 200, perhaps to make manufacturing or molding of the cap 200 easier.

[0263] In some embodiments, the one or more internal cap protrusions 1464 may be attached to an inner surface of the cap 200 at a bottom-most portion of the inner surface. The internal cap protrusions 1464 may be provided as angled tabs that extend upward (e.g., away from the bottom -most portion of the cap 200 toward a top of the cap 200) and inward (e.g., toward a center of the cap 200). The internal cap protrusions 1464 may be configured to snap fit within track 1504 provided at an exterior of the lip 1316. The track 1504 may be provided just above the collar 1312 and may have dimensions that are large enough to allow some vertical movement of the cap 200 away from the collar 1312 when the cap 200 is partially rotated (e.g., to facilitate pouring or drinking). In some embodiments, the upward and inward extension of the internal cap protrusions 1464 may restrict the cap 200 from being removed from the bottle after the cap 200 has been fit to the bottle. In this way, the internal cap protrusions 1464 may provide a mechanism that allows the cap 200 to fit onto the bottle but makes removal of the cap 200 from the bottle somewhat difficult or impossible without damaging one or more internal cap protrusions 1464.

[0264] The shape of the track 1504 may be substantially uniform around the circumference of the lip 1316 and may or may not reside underneath a threading provided on the outer surface of the lip 1316. In some embodiments, the track 1514 may also include a rotation stop that engages the internal cap protrusions 1464 and substantially prevents the cap 200 from rotating more than a predetermined amount of rotation about the lip 1316. Thus, the track 1504 may include a single track with one or more stops provided therein or the track 1504 may correspond to a plurality of indents or notches provided on an outer surface of the lip 1316. To accommodate the internal cap protrusions 1464 the track 1504 may be at least as tall as the internal cap protrusions 1464 and, in some embodiments, may be at least 1.5 times larger than the internal cap protrusions 1464 to provide some degree of manufacturing tolerance. [0265] Any number of manufacturing methods (e.g., fully-automated, partially-automated, manual) may be employed to produce bottles and caps having the features described herein. Further, any number of materials may be used to manufacture the components described herein. For example, metal, metal alloys, non-metal alloys, ceramics, plastics, glass, and other materials used for the construction of container may be used for the pressure equalizers without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0266] Air tubes described herein preferably include solid, non-perforated tubing walls. That is, other than the gap in the wall of the air tubes 204 such as those depicted in Figs. 11-26, there are no holes along the side walls of the air tubes.

[0267] In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the air tube 204 or 604 includes a diameter or equivalent diameter (by measuring the cross-sectional area of the air tube and solving for an equivalent diameter) within a range of about 2% to 50% of the bottleneck 108 or 508 diameter DBottleneck. In addition, in some embodiments, the length LAir Tube of the air tubes 204 may be greater than or equal to the length of the bottleneck 108 or 508 LBottleneck, and less than or equal to about 25% of the bottle length BL (that is, LBottleneck < LAir Tube < 25%BL).

[0268] One, some, or all of the various pressure equalizers or containers described herein may further benefit from having air tubes that are specifically configured with a low-profile design that maximize the equalization of pressure between the interior of the container and the exterior of the container. An oval, oblong, tear-shaped, egg-shaped, or eye-shaped air tube may provide particularly good performance.

[0269] The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

[0270] The one or more present disclosures, in various embodiments, include components, methods, processes, systems and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, subcombinations, and subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use the present disclosure after understanding the present disclosure.

[0271] The present disclosure, in various embodiments, includes providing devices and processes in the absence of items not depicted and/or described herein or in various embodiments hereof, including in the absence of such items as may have been used in previous devices or processes (e.g., for improving performance, achieving ease and/or reducing cost of implementation).

[0272] The foregoing discussion of the disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the disclosure are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed disclosure requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the disclosure.

[0273] Moreover, though the description of the disclosure has included description of one or more embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variations and modifications are within the scope of the disclosure (e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure). It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.