Drink containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9782028-B2
Application number	US-201213479962-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2012
Priority date	Jan 21, 2009
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

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;
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 the liquid passage restricts the flow of drink liquid through the liquid passage, wherein the mouthpiece assembly is biased to the dispensing configuration, and wherein the mouthpiece assembly comprises:
a mouthpiece portion that includes the outlet;
a tube that defines at least a portion of the liquid passage for drink liquid to flow from the internal compartment to the mouthpiece portion, wherein the tube includes a crimping region constructed of a resiliently deformable material and is adapted to restrict the flow of drink liquid through the liquid passage when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration, and wherein the mouthpiece portion and the tube are constructed as a unitary assembly of the resiliently deformable material;
an anchor portion extending from the tube distal the mouthpiece portion, wherein the anchor portion is sized to restrict passage of the anchor portion through the through-passage of the base of the cap assembly; 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.

2. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the user release mechanism is mechanically coupled to the first catch structure.

3. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the base of the cap assembly includes a sidewall and defines a recess with a pair of opposed channels; wherein the user release mechanism includes a sliding member that is configured to reversibly translate along the recess to selectively disengage the first and the second catch structures; wherein the sliding member includes a pair of opposed tabs that slide within the pair of opposed channels as the sliding member translates along the recess; wherein the user release mechanism further includes a user engagement pad that is coupled to the sliding member and which extends through the sidewall of the base of the cap assembly for selective engagement by a user; and further wherein the user release mechanism includes at least one biasing member that urges the sliding member and user engagement pad away from a position where the sliding member disengages the first and the second catch structures.

4. The drink container of claim 3 , wherein the sliding member further includes a collar engagement portion that projects from the sliding member and which is configured to force disengagement of the first and the second catch structures upon actuation of the user release mechanism.

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

6. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the cap assembly further includes a handle that projects away from the base of the cap assembly and a pair of lateral guards that at least partially define a stowing region that receives at least a portion of the mouthpiece assembly between the pair of lateral guards when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration.

7. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece portion includes a bite-actuated mouthpiece and the outlet is a sealable outlet, wherein the bite-actuated mouthpiece is selectively configured between an open configuration, in which the sealable outlet is open and permits drink liquid to flow therethrough, and a closed configuration, in which the sealable outlet restricts drink liquid from flowing therethrough, wherein the bite-actuated mouthpiece is biased to the closed configuration, and further 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.

8. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece portion permits a user to draw drink liquid from the drink container when the mouthpiece assembly is in the dispensing configuration.

9. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece portion, the tube, and the anchor portion are constructed as a unitary assembly of the resiliently deformable material.

10. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece assembly further includes a rigid collar member that is pivotally coupled to the base and which includes a crimping portion; wherein the tube of the mouthpiece assembly extends at least partially through the rigid collar member; wherein the crimping portion is adjacent the crimping region of the tube and external of the liquid passage, wherein the rigid collar member engages and crimps the crimping region to restrict the flow of drink liquid through the liquid passage when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration.

11. The drink container of claim 10 , wherein the rigid collar member includes the second catch structure, and further wherein the user release mechanism includes a collar engagement portion that is adapted to engage the rigid collar member.

12. The drink container of claim 11 , wherein when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration and upon actuation of the user release mechanism, the collar engagement portion is adapted to translate relative to the rigid collar member and cause the first catch structure to disengage the second catch structure and thus penult the rigid collar member to pivot due to the bias of the mouthpiece assembly.

13. The drink container of claim 10 , wherein the mouthpiece portion includes a seat for the rigid collar member in which the rigid collar member engages the mouthpiece portion, wherein the seat restricts relative movement between the mouthpiece portion and the rigid collar member.

14. The drink container of claim 10 , 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 is in the dispensing configuration to define a dispensing position of the mouthpiece portion.

15. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the anchor portion includes a plurality of flanges that are sized and shaped to provide a friction-fit arrangement with the through-passage.

16. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the drink container includes a straw with a first end that exte

Assignees

• Davies Jeff
• Sullivan Derek Gavin
• Camelbak Products Llc

Inventors

• Davies Jeff
• Sullivan Derek Gavin

Classifications

• 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

• A47G19/2272 Primary

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

• B65D47/2031

  the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure (B65D47/2025 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47G19/2266 Primary

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

• B65D47/065

  with hinged, foldable or pivotable spouts · CPC title