Drink containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10165879-B2
Application number	US-201715817013-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2017
Priority date	Jan 21, 2009
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

Drink containers with mouthpiece assemblies having a dispensing configuration and a stowed configuration. A mouthpiece assembly defines a liquid passage through which drink liquid may be dispensed when the mouthpiece assembly is in the dispensing configuration and includes means for selectively restricting the flow of drink liquid through the liquid passage when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration. In some examples, the means for selectively restricting the flow of drink liquid include a tube that at least partially defines the liquid passage and which includes a crimping region. The crimping region may be constructed of a resiliently and reversibly deformable material that is adapted to restrict the flow of drink liquid through the liquid passage when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration. In some embodiments, the mouthpiece assembly includes a means for automatically releasing the mouthpiece assembly from its stowed configuration to a dispensing configuration.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drink container, comprising:
a liquid container having a neck with an opening and having an internal compartment sized to hold a volume of potable drink liquid; and
a cap assembly removably coupled to the liquid container, the cap assembly comprising:
a base removably coupled to the neck of the liquid container and including a through-passage;
a first catch structure coupled to the base;
a mouthpiece assembly extending through the through-passage of the base and defining a liquid passage through which drink liquid from the liquid container may selectively flow, and further defining an inlet through which drink liquid in the internal compartment may enter the liquid passage and an outlet through which drink liquid from the internal compartment of the liquid container is selectively dispensed; wherein the mouthpiece assembly is configured to be selectively configured between a dispensing configuration, in which the liquid passage permits drink liquid to flow from the internal compartment at least into the liquid passage, and a stowed configuration, in which drink liquid is restricted from being dispensed from the liquid container through the liquid passage; wherein the mouthpiece assembly is biased to the dispensing configuration; and wherein the mouthpiece assembly comprises:
a tube portion that defines at least a portion of the liquid passage for drink liquid to flow from the internal compartment to the outlet of the mouthpiece assembly; wherein the tube portion includes a crimping region constructed of a resiliently deformable material and adapted to prevent the flow of drink liquid through the liquid passage when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration; wherein the crimping region includes opposing walls that are in contact with each other to seal the liquid passage within the crimping region when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration;
a rigid collar member that is pivotally coupled to a portion of the cap assembly and through which the tube portion at least partially extends; and
a second catch structure adapted to be selectively engaged with the first catch structure to retain the mouthpiece assembly in the stowed configuration; and

a user release mechanism adapted to automatically disengage the first and second catch structures upon actuation of the user release mechanism and thereby release the mouthpiece assembly to move via its bias from the stowed configuration to the dispensing configuration;

wherein the cap assembly defines a stowing region sized to receive at least a portion of the mouthpiece assembly when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration; wherein the user release mechanism includes a sliding member with a user engagement pad; wherein the user release mechanism is biased to urge the sliding member away from a position where the sliding member disengages the first and second catch structures; and wherein the sliding member is configured to slide relative to the base of the cap assembly to selectively disengage the first and the second catch structures.

2. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the user engagement pad extends through a wall of the cap assembly for selective engagement by a user.

3. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the sliding member is configured to slide relative to the base of the cap assembly within the stowing region to selectively disengage the first and the second catch structures.

4. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the rigid collar member includes the second catch structure.

5. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the tube portion includes structure for securing the tube portion to the rigid collar member and restricting relative movement between the tube portion and the rigid collar member.

6. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece assembly further includes a mouthpiece portion that includes the outlet and is constructed of the resiliently deformable material.

7. The drink container of claim 6 , wherein the mouthpiece assembly includes mouthpiece-securing structure that secures the mouthpiece portion to the rigid collar member and restricts relative movement between the mouthpiece portion and the rigid collar member.

8. The drink container of claim 7 , wherein one of the mouthpiece portion and the tube portion includes the mouthpiece-securing structure; wherein the mouthpiece-securing structure includes one or more of a channel and a depression; wherein the rigid collar member includes one or more of a lip, a flange, and a protrusion; and wherein the one or more of the channel and the depression defines a seat that engages and mates with the one or more of the lip, the flange, and the protrusion.

9. The drink container of claim 6 , wherein the mouthpiece portion includes a bite-actuated mouthpiece; wherein the bite-actuated mouthpiece is selectively configured between an open configuration, in which the outlet is open and permits drink liquid to flow therethrough, and a closed configuration, in which the outlet restricts drink liquid from flowing therethrough; wherein the bite-actuated mouthpiece is biased to the closed configuration; and wherein the bite-actuated mouthpiece is selectively configured from the closed configuration to the open configuration responsive to a user biting upon opposed sidewalls of the bite-actuated mouthpiece.

10. The drink container of claim 6 , wherein the mouthpiece portion and the tube portion are constructed as a unitary assembly of the resiliently deformable material.

11. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece assembly further includes an anchor portion that extends from the tube portion.

12. The drink container of claim 11 , wherein the anchor portion has a greater exterior perimeter than the tube portion.

13. The drink container of claim 11 , wherein the anchor portion and tube portion are constructed as a unitary assembly of the resiliently deformable material.

14. The drink container of claim 11 , wherein the anchor portion defines a recess that is sized and shaped to engage and mate with corresponding structure of the base of the cap assembly.

15. The drink container of claim 11 , wherein the anchor portion includes a projecting flange that provides a friction-fit arrangement with the through-passage of the base.

16. The drink container of claim 11 , wherein the anchor portion is sized to restrict passage of the anchor portion through the through-passage and thus restrict removal of the mouthpiece assembly via a top side of the cap assembly.

17. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the crimping region at least partially biases the mouthpiece assembly to the dispensing configuration.

18. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the cap assembly further includes a pair of lateral guards that at least partially define the stowing region, and wherein at least a portion of the mouthpiece assembly is received between the pair of lateral guards when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration.

19. The drink container of claim 18 , wherein the cap assembly further includes a dust cover portion that extends between the lateral guards and which extends across the outlet when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration.

20. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the rigid collar member includes a stop surface that does not engage the base of the cap assembly when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration and that engages the base of the cap assembly when the mouthpiece assembly i

Assignees

• Camelbak Products Llc

Inventors

• Davies Jeff
• Sullivan Derek Gavin

Classifications

• A47G19/2272 Primary

  from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers · CPC title

• B65D51/242

  provided with means for facilitating lifting or suspending of the container · CPC title

• B65D47/065

  with hinged, foldable or pivotable spouts · CPC title

• A47G21/18

  Drinking straws or the like ({as integral parts of drinking containers A47G19/2266;} for therapeutic purposes A61J15/00 {; adapted to emerge from drinking containers when opened B65D77/283}) · CPC title

• A47G19/2266 Primary

  Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids · CPC title