TECHN I CAL FI ELD OF THE I NVENTI ON The present invention relates to a drinking container according to the preamble of claim 1 .

The invention relates to such a drinking container of any conceivable type, which may be for instance a sport water bottle, thermos bottle, nursing bottle etc. , but a shaker bottle commonly used in fitness centers to contain supplements mixed with water may be mentioned as a typical example without restricting the invention thereto. Such a drinking container is common ly used during different activities, such as during hikings in the nature, picn ics or during sport activities. There is therefore desirable that the container is easy to carry and also that important items such as a keychain may be attached to the container, for instance when the user wears sport cloth ing without pockets.

BACKGROUN D ART

Such drin king containers that consists of a shaker bottle provided with a regular carabiner clip is already known . These bottles have a container body configured to contain liquid , which body has an opening through which the bottle may be filled or emptied . A lid is provided to close said opening . At the outer surface of the container body an element, such as a plate-element, protrudes from said body, which element has a through-hole through which a steel ring is inserted and hangs loosely from said element. A carabiner clip is attached to the steel ring and hangs loosely therein , so that they together acts like two adjacent loops of an end of a chain .

The carabiner clip of the shaker bottle may be used as a hand le, i.e. the user may grip around it and carry the bottle thereby, or as a fastener to fasten the bottle at the outside of a bag , for instance at a securing strap on a backpack. The user may also attach an item , such as a keychain , wallet or mobile phone to the carabiner clip, so as to not lose it during an activity.

There are however problems related to the use of a regular carabiner clip at such a drinking container for those purposes. Besides that it is not comfortable to hold during carrying of the container, it may also be irritating when used as a fastener due to that it is hang ing loose from the container body. Th is means that the container has a tendency to swing around when attached to a bike or a backpack which may be a source of irritation during a sport activity. There is also a risk that the element closing the opening of the carabiner clip is pushed against a part of the hiking backpack or bike during such a sport activity which may result in that the steel ring of the drinking container slips out of the carabiner clip and the user loses the drin king container, or that the strap or the like that the drin king bottle is attached to slips out of the carabiner clip and consequently that th is is dropped and lost together with the drinking container.

In an even worse scenario the user has attached a keychain or any other important item to the carabiner clip and carries the drinking container during a sport activity. The carabiner clip may in this case slip off the drin king container, due to that it dangles freely at the outside of the container body and said element for closing said opening may smash into parts of this body.

In the light of these problems, as a few examples, there is a need for such a drinking container that is designed to be more suitable for the use thereof. SUMMARY OF THE I NVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a drinking container of the type defined in the introduction being improved in at least some aspect with respect to such drinking containers already known .

This object is according to the invention obtained by providing such a drinking container with a securing member that is tube-like defining a channel therein and a holding member that is movable with respect to said securing member by being pushed therethrough , between a first position in which the holding member is at least partially fixed with respect to the container body and the opening of the loop of the hold ing member is separated from said securing member, and a second position in which the opening of the loop of the holding member covers said securing member allowing removal of the holding member from the securing member.

Provided with said members, the drinking container will not be able to dangle freely when being attached to a backpack, as an example, due to that said holding member may be at least partially fixed with respect to said container body in said first position and that said securing member is tube-like. Also, the risk that the holding member is unintentionally removed from the drinking container is considerably reduced , as the opening of the holding member is separated from said securing member when the holding member is in said first position .

According to an embodiment of the invention the hold ing member has a thick portion with a cross-section making it unable to be pushed through the channel of the securing member, said thick portion being located close to said open ing of the holding member. Said thick portion acts as a stop for said opening of the holding member, so that this may only be reached by the securing member by pushing the holding member therethrough in one direction .

According to another embodiment of the invention said first end portion of the loop comprises said thick portion . According to another embod iment of the invention the holding member is configured to have the opening thereof located close to the securing member and said th ick portion located between the opening and the securing member when the holding member is in said first position . This means that the risk that the holding member by mistake is removed from the container body is extremely small when the holding member is in said first position , as almost the complete holding member has to be pushed through the securing member before said opening reaches the latter. According to another embod iment of the invention the holding member has a first portion configured to interact with parts of an inner surface of the channel of the securing member in such a way that the holding member is at least partially fixed thereto as said first portion projects through the securing member and a second portion configured to allow easy movement thereof through the securing member. Provided with said first and second portions the holding member may both be well secured to the securing member as well as easily removed therefrom and the user may thereby operate and use the hold ing arrangement with a satisfying result.

According to another embod iment of the invention the holding member is provided with a closing element configured to close said open ing of the holding member. Th is closing element reduces the risk that the holding member is removed from the securing member by mistake.

According to another embod iment of the invention said closing element is a spring-loaded element, and a first end of said element is attached to said first end portion of the holding member and a second end of the element is spring-loadly urged against said second end portion of the holding member so as to close said opening . Such a closing element further reduces the risk that the holding member is removed from the securing member by mistake.

According to another embod iment of the invention said closing element is configured to interact with the securing member in such a way, that when the holding member is pushed through the securing member so that said second end of the closing element arrives to the securing member th is end is pressed against the securing member while separating it from the second end portion of the loop and opening said open ing so as to allow removal of the holding member from the securing member. This feature enables easy and convenient removal of the holding member from the securing member.

According to another embod iment of the invention the holding member is a carabiner clip. A carabiner clip is a suitable type of such a holding member.

According to another embod iment of the invention the holding member has a grip portion located farthest away from the securing member when the holding member is in said first position , and said grip portion is designed to be gripped around by a finger of a user of the drin king container. Said grip portion provides an easy and convenient way of carrying the drinking container.

According to another embodiment of the invention the channel of the securing member has an oval cross-section and a first portion of the holding member projecting through the securing member when the holding member is in said first position has a corresponding oval cross-section , so that said first portion and the securing member interlock when the holding member is moved in a direction away from the container body allowing it to be fixed with respect to the container body in a plurality of positions, with different angles between them. This feature enables attachment of the drinking container to an object, such as a backpack, with reduced movement of the drin king container with respect to the backpack when it is attached thereto, as the holding member through which the drin king container is attached may be fixed with respect to the body of the drinking container.

According to another embodiment of the invention a wall defining said channel of the securing member has a narrow portion configured to provide the channel with reduced length allowing said loop of the hold ing member to be guided around said narrow portion when pushed through said channel. This narrow portion allows the securing member to have a channel and still the holding member to have parts with steep curves.

According to another embodiment of the invention the securing member is arranged at the lid of the container body. According to another embodiment of the invention the securing member is arranged at a lateral surface of said lid .

According to another embodiment of the invention the drinking container is a sport bottle, preferably a shaker bottle.

Further advantages as well as advantageous features of the invention will appear from the following description of an embodiment of the invention . BRI EF DESCRI PTION OF THE DRAWI NGS

With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a specific description of an embodiment of the invention cited as an example. In the drawings: is a perspective view of a drin king container according to an embodiment of the invention , is an exploded view showing the individual components of the drin king container of Fig . 1 , is an en larged view of the area of the drin king container of Fig . 1 in which the holding arrangement is arranged , with the carabiner clip in a position in which the opening thereof is located opposite to the securing member, is a view corresponding to Fig . 3, with the carabiner clip in a position in which the opening thereof is brought towards the securing member, is a view corresponding to Fig . 3, with the carabiner clip in a position in which the opening thereof covers the securing member, is an enlarged side-view of the area of the drinking container of Fig . 1 in which the holding arrangement is arranged , with the carabiner clip in a fixed position inclined with respect to the container body, is a view corresponding to Fig . 6, with the carabiner clip in a fixed position making another angle with respect to the container body, is a view corresponding to Fig . 7, with the carabiner clip removed from the drinking container, Fig 9 is a side-view of the carabiner clip of the drinking container of Fig . 1 , with the closing element in a closed position , and Fig 10 is a view corresponding to Fig . 9, with the closing element in an open position .

DETAI LED DESCRI PTION OF AN EMBOD I MENT OF TH E I NVENTION

A drinking container 1 according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the appended Figures 1 -10 and will now be described while at the same time making reference to all these Figures. The drinking container 1 is a plastic shaker bottle to be used during different activities, commonly sport activities such as exercise at a fitness center, biking or climbing , but also during other activities such as hiking in the nature.

The drinking container 1 comprises a body 2, which has a container housing 3 with an inner room 4 configured to contain a liquid and an opening 5 through which liquid is brought into and out of said inner room (see Figs. 1 -2). The container body 2 also comprises a lid 6 configured to close said inner room when arranged at the container housing over the opening 5 thereof through a threaded connection . The lid 6 has a drinking opening 7 through which a user may drink liquid from said inner room 4 when the lid is arranged at the container housing 3, and a closing cap 8 configured to releasably close said drinking opening . Said container body further comprises three additional containers 9a-c attached to the underside of the container housing 3. The lid 6 is provided with a hold ing arrangement 1 1 that comprises a holding member in the form of a carabiner clip 12 made of a plastic material, which carabiner clip is configured to be held during carrying of the drin king container 1 , and means in the form of a securing member 13 made of a plastic material, which is configured to removably secure said carabiner clip to the container body 2. The securing member is tube-like defining a channel 14 therein and is attached to a lateral surface 15 of the lid 6, e.g . through welding or by being formed at said surface through mould ing of the lid 6.

The carabiner clip 12 has a shape of an elongated loop provided with an opening 16 defined by a first 1 7 and a second 18 end portion of the loop (see Figs. 9-10) . The carabiner clip is provided with a closing element in the form of a spring-loaded element 19 made of steel configured to close said opening 16 thereof. A first end 20 of said element is attached to said first end portion 1 7 of the carabiner clip and a second end 21 of the element is spring- loadly urged against said second end portion 18 of the carabiner clip in such a way, that the element 19 is pivotable between an open position in which the element extends away from said opening 16 into an inner space 22 of the loop of the carabiner clip 12, and a closed position in which a contact surface 23 of the element 19 facing away from said inner space abuts a contact surface 24 of said second end portion 18 of the carabiner clip facing towards said inner space 22.

Said contact surface of said second end portion of the carabiner clip is provided with means configured to at least partially interlock said second end 21 of the element 19 thereto. Said means comprises a member 32 that protrudes out of said contact surface and is configured to project through an opening 33 of said element. To open said carabiner clip 12 a user simply pushes the spring- loaded element 19 away from said opening 16 of the carabiner clip and into said inner space 22 , i .e. to said open position , and when the user releases the element it returns to said closed position through a spring-loaded force thereof. To secure the carabiner clip 12 to the container body 2 said element 19 is brought to its open position and the second end portion 18 of the carabiner clip is inserted into the channel 14 of the securing member 13 and pushed to the other side thereof so that the second end 21 of the spring-loaded closing element 19 may interact with said second end portion 18 to close said opening 16. The carabiner clip is then movable with respect to the securing member 13 by being pushed through the channel 14 thereof.

The carabiner clip has a first portion 25 configured to interact with parts of an inner surface of the channel 14 of the securing member 13 in such a way that the carabiner clip is at least partially fixed thereto as said first portion projects through the securing member, and a second portion 26 configured to allow easy movement thereof through the securing member.

The carabiner clip 12 may be pushed through the channel 14 of the securing member 13 between a first position in which said first portion 25 projects through the channel so that the carabiner clip is at least partially fixed with respect to the container body 2 and the opening 16 of the carabiner clip is separated from the securing member 13 (see Fig . 1 ) , and a second position in which the opening of the carabiner clip covers the securing member allowing removal of the carabiner clip from the securing member (see Fig . 5) .

The channel 14 of the securing member 13 has an oval cross- section (see Fig . 8) and the first portion 25 of the carabiner clip 12 has a corresponding oval cross-section . This means that said first portion and the securing member interlock when the carabiner clip is moved in a direction away from the container body 2 when the carabiner clip is in said first position , allowing it to be fixed with respect to the container body in a plurality of positions, with different angles between them (see Figs. 6-7) . The carabiner clip 12 may be fixed in a position in which it extends slightly downwards, straight out or slightly upwards from the container body with respect to the longitudinal extension of the drinking container 1 , as a few examples. This enables carrying of the drinking container at a backpack, as one example, without that it dangles freely therefrom as it may be attached through the carabiner clip 12 thereto and this may be fixed in a suitable position with respect to the container body 2.

Said first end portion 1 7 of the carabiner clip 12 has a thick portion 27 with a cross-section making it unable to be pushed through the channel 14 of the securing member 13. This means that almost the complete loop of the carabiner clip 12 has to be pushed through the securing member to be removed therefrom, when the carabiner clip is in said first position , as the opening 16 thereof is located close to the securing member 13 and said thick portion 27 is located between the opening and the securing member when the carabiner clip 12 is in said first position . The risk that the carabiner clip 12 is removed from the container body 2 by mistake is therefore extremey small, which means that the holding arrangement 1 1 provides a safe way of attaching the drinking container 1 to a backpack or a bike, as a few examples, during e.g . sport activities, as well as a safe way of attaching items such as a keychain to the drinking container for carrying them thereby.

However, the carabiner clip 12 is still easy to remove from the container body 2 when this is desired by easily pushing said second portion 26 of the carabiner clip through the securing member 13 (see Figs. 3-4) and by the fact that the spring-loaded closing element 19 is configured to interact with the securing member in such a way, that when the carabiner clip is pushed through the securing member so that said second end 21 of said element arrives to the securing member 13 this end is pressed against the securing member while separating it from the second end portion 18 of the carabiner clip 12 towards its said open position so as to allow removal of the carabiner clip from the securing member 13 (see Fig . 5) . Also, due to that a wall 28 defin ing said channel 14 of the securing member 13 has a narrow portion 29 configured to provide the channel with reduced length even a corner part 30 of the carabiner clip 12 that has a steep curve is allowed to be easily guided around said narrow portion when pushed through the channel 14.

The carabiner clip 12 has a grip portion 31 located opposite to said first portion 25, which grip portion is designed to be gripped around by a finger of a user of the drin king container 1 . This design of the carabiner clip provides an easy and convenient way for said user to carry the drin king container by hand between or during activities and when there is a desire to attach the container to an object such as a backpack, or attach an item such as a keychain to the drinking container the user easily pushes the spring-loaded closing element 19 to its open position to insert a securing strap of the backpack or a keychain into the inner space 22 of the carabiner clip through the opening 16 thereof. Said element then closes said open ing and the carabiner clip 12 so that the drin king container 1 is secured to the backpack, or the keychain is secured to the drinking container.

The invention is of course not in any way restricted to the embodiment thereof described above, but many possibilities to modifications thereof will be apparent to a person with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

That the holding member is "at least partially fixed" with respect to the container body is in th is disclosure to be interpreted as it is movable when subjected to an outer force, e.g . pushed by a user of the drinking container, but not through gravity when the drinking container is tilted .

The holding member may have a shape of a loop that is not elongated , such as a shape of a loop that is substantially square or circu lar.

That the holding member is "configured to be held" during carrying of the drinking container is in this disclosure considered to also include that the holding member is attached to an object, such as a backpack, and carried thereby.

The materials of the parts of the drinking container mentioned above is not intended to restrict the invention thereto, but the different parts of the drinking container may be made of materials that is suitable for the use thereof. The container may also be provided with special properties, such as heat insulating properties.