FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to dispensers, such as bottles, and more particularly but not exclusively to bottles that dispense sports drinks.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Gels and supplements, such as sports drinks, are now used in all levels of sport and training. The gels are needed to improve glycogen levels in the body during continued exercise or exertion. They are difficult to store and use when on a bike or ski etc. The gels can also be messy to use. They often leave the user feeling sick or worst with a stomach upset, due to the excessive quantity taken at one time. This occurs as it is difficult to control the quantity delivered. Large volumes of water also need to be taken with the gel, which can also leave the user feeling sick or bloated.

[0003] Accordingly, previous methods of delivering gels and supplements, including sports drinks, have suffered from a number of disadvantages including delivery excess quantity and/or volume of the liquid to be deli vered, and making the user feel unwell .

OBJECT

[0004] It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0005] There is disclosed herein A dispenser for a liquid, the dispenser including:

a hollow body having an interior providing a reservoir to receive the liquid;

a nozzle assembly communicating with the reservoir to provide an outlet for the liquid, the nozzle assembly including:

a base providing a first passage, the first passage being in communication with the reservoir so as to receive the liquid therefrom, a second passage, the second passage also being in communication with the interior; and a movable valve member mounted in the base and movable relative thereto between a first position at which the valve provides for the liquid to be delivered from the reservoir via the first passage to the outlet, a second position at which the valve member provides communication with the interior via the second passage to the outlet, and a third position preventing the flow of liquid from the reservoir to the outlet.

[0006] Preferably, the dispenser includes a container located in the interior to receive a flowable substance, with the container being connected to the movable valve element via the second passage, so that the flowable substance can be delivered to the outlet.

[0007] Preferably, the container communicates with said reservoir so that liquid passes through the container taking with it the flowable substance, with the valve member providing for the delivery of liquid through the container to the outlet.

[0008] Preferably, the container is closed apart from communication with said second passage.

[0009] Preferably, the container is a satchel.

[0010] Preferably, the container is attached to the nozzle assembly.

[001 1 ] Preferably, the dispenser includes a cap, with the nozzle assembly part of the cap and wherein the hollow body has a threaded neck that is closed by threaded engagement of the cap on the neck.

[0012] Preferably, the base providing a socket, with the movable valve element mounted in the socket for angular movement about an axis between the first and second positions.

[0013] Preferably, the movable valve element has a third position prevented flow to the outlet.

[0014] Preferably, the movable valve element has a longitudinal passage communicating with the outlet, and a side opening communicating with the passage, that is selectively aligned with the first and second passages to provide for flow of the liquid. [0015] There is further disclosed herein a dispenser to dispense a liquid, the dispenser including: a hollow body providing a reservoir to receive a liquid;

a nozzle assembly via which the liquid is dispensed from the dispenser, the nozzle assembly including an outlet and a movable valve member, the movable valve member being movable between an open position for dispensing the liquid, and a closed position for retaining liquid in the reservoir; and

a container to receive a fiowable substance, the container being in liquid communication with the reservoir and the nozzle assembly so that liquid passes from the reservoir to the nozzle assembly passes through the container so that the liquid leaving the nozzle has with it the fiowable substance.

[0016] Preferably, the container is mounted in the reservoir.

[0017] Preferably, the body includes a threaded neck, and the dispenser includes a cap, with the nozzle assembly being part of the cap, with the cap threadably engaged with the neck to close the neck.

[0018] Preferably, the cap includes a base providing a socket, with the movable valve element mounted in the socket for angular movement between the open and closed positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic elevation of a bottle to dispense a sports drink;

[0021 ] Figure 2 is a schematic parts exploded elevation of the bottle of Figure 1 ;

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic sectioned elevation of the bottle of Figure 1 ;

[0023] Figure 4 is a schematic isometric view of the bottle of Figure 1 secured to a mounting;

[0024] Figure 5 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of the bottle and mounting of Figure 4; [0025] Figure 6 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of a nozzle assembly of the bottle of Figure 1 ;

[0026] Figure 7 is a further schematic sectioned side elevation of the nozzle assembly of Figure

6;

[0027] Figure 8 is a schematic isometric view of the nozzle assembly and a capsule attached to the nozzle assembly;

[0028] Figure 9 is a schematic elevation of the nozzle assembly and capsule of Figure 8;

[0029] Figure 10 is a further schematic isometric view of the nozzle assembly and capsule of Figure 9;

[0030] Figure 1 1 is a schematic isometric view of portion of the capsule of Figure 8;

[0031] Figure 12 is a schematic bottom plan view of the capsule portion of Figure 1 1 ;

[0032] Figure 13 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of a modification of the bottle of Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0033] In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a bottle (dispenser) 10. As an example, the bottle 10 may dispense a sports drink and/or water, together with a flowable substance such as a gel.

[0034] The bottle 10 includes a hollow body 1 1 enclosing an interior 60, within which there is a reservoir 12 that receives a liquid such as water.

[0035] The body 1 1 has a threaded neck 13 surrounding an opening 14 via which the liquid would be delivered to the reservoir 12.

[0036] Threadably mounted on the neck 13 is a cap 15. The cap 15 includes a concave base 16 having an annular skirt 17 threadably engaged with the neck 13. [0037] Mounted in the cap 15 is a nozzle assembly 18 that includes a movable valve member 19.

[0038] The base 16 includes a socket 20 that extends inwardly towards the reservoir 12, and that receives the valve member 19. The socket 20 terminates at its most inward extremity with a cylindrical portion 21 into which the end extremity 22 of the valve member 19 projects, with the end extremity 22 having an annular barb that snap engages past the cylindrical portion 21 so that the movable valve member 19 is captively located in the socket 20. The movable valve member 19 has a longitudinally extending passage 24 closed at its end extremity by a closure member 25. The closure member 25 includes a valve 26 that is urged closed, but opens when pressure is applied thereto to provide for the dispensing of the liquid through the end passage 27 (outlet) of the nozzle assembly 18.

[0039] The movable valve member 19 also includes a side aperture 28.

[0040] As best seen in Figures 6 and 7, the socket 20 has the two apertures 29 and 30 that are spaced angularly about the axis 23.

[0041 ] By angular movement of the movable valve member 29 about the axis 23, the aperture 28 is selectively aligned with one of the apertures 29 or 30, or a non-aligned position.

[0042] The socket 20 has a further cylindrical portion 31 that provides a socket to engage a container (cartridge) 32 located in the interior 60. Also provided by the base 16 is a cylindrical wall 33 surrounding a passage 34. The container 32 has a tube 35 that slidably engages within the passage 34 to connect the interior 36 of the container 32 with the passage 34. The passage 34 communicates with the aperture 29.

[0043] The base 16 also has a cavity 37 that communicates with the aperture 30.

[0044] The container 32 also has a bayonet coupling member 38 that is slidably received within the cylindrical portion 31 to secure the container 32 to the nozzle assembly 18. Preferably, the member 38 has one or more barbs 39 that are snap engaged within corresponding recesses 40 in the wall portion 31 to securely mount the container 32 in the nozzle assembly 18. [0045] The container 32 has an end wall 41 providing a socket 42 that slidably receives a tube 43. The tube 43 provides a passage 44 communicating with the reservoir 12, with the passage 34 communicating with the interior 36 by means of a valve 45. The valve 45 provides for the flow of the liquid from the reservoir 12 to the interior 36 when a pressure differential across the valve 45 exceeds a predetermined magnitude.

[0046] Liquid passing through the interior 36 is delivered to the passage 34 via the tube 35 and valve 46. The valve 46 permits flow to the passage 43 when there is a pressure differential across the valve 46 beyond a predetermined magnitude.

[0047] Preferably the container 32 has an end wall 47 with flanges 48 that project into the interior 46. The flanges 48 aid in causing the liquid to swirl and engage the flowable substance (gel).

[0048] The cap 15 is provided by a vent opening or valve 55 to allow air to enter the interior when liquid is taken from the bottle 10.

[0049] In the embodiment of Figure 13, the container 32 is replaced with a flexible satchel 61. The satchel 61 contains a flowable substance and is attached is the same manner as the container 32 with respect to the cylindrical portion 31. The satchel 61 does not communicate with the reservoir 12 and does not receive liquid (water) therefrom. The satchel 61 collapses as the flowable substance is taken from the statchel 61 by a user sucking on the (outlet) end passage 27.

[0050] In operation of the bottle 10 described with reference to Figures 1 to 12, as an example, the reservoir 12 may contain water. The interior 36 would receive a flowable substance such as a gel or powder.

[0051 ] A user of the bottle 10 can select to recei ve water, or a mixture of the water and the flowable substance in the interior 36. The mixture may be a suspension of the flowable substance in the interior 36 with the water or alternatively the flowable substance in the interior 36 may be dissolved by the water.

[0052] To provide for the flow of water through the interior 36 the aperture 29 is aligned with the aperture 28. The body 1 1 may be squeezed to cause the water to flow, or alternatively water may be caused to flow by the user sucking on the closure member 25. [0053] If the user of the bottle required water only, then the movable valve member 19 is moved angularly about the axis 23 to a position at which the aperture 28 was aligned with the aperture 30. Water enters the cavity 37 to pass through the apertures 30 and 28 to be delivered to the passage 24 and therefore the passage 27.

[0054] If the user of the bottle wished to close the bottle 10, then the movable valve member 19 would be moved angularly about the axis 23 so that the aperture 28 is not aligned with either of the apertures 29 and 30. The bottle 10 can be used with a mounting 49 intended for a bicycle. The mounting 49 includes a mounting portion 50 with flanges 51 through which fasteners pass to secure the mounting 49 to the bicycle. The mounting 49 also includes a socket portion 52 from which there extend a tube 53, with the tube 53 communicating with the passage 27.

Accordingly, upon a user sucking on the tube 53, liquid is caused to pass from the bottle 10 to exit via the tube 53.

[0055] In use of the bottle 10 described with reference to Figure 13, a user engages the movable valve member 29 so as to receive water only, or the fiowable substance contained in the satchel 61.