Abstract:
A bottle having a reclosable and resealable lid is disclosed. The bottle can have a removable pedestal base. The base can elevate the remainder of the bottle off of the surface upon which the bottle is resting. The lid can have a seal for a drinking mouthpiece outlet and a pressure equalization port. The lid can have a concave indentation or seat aligned with a hinge connecting a top of the lid to a base or rim of the lid. When opened, the seat can rest against the lid rim, opening the lid to more than a 180° lid opening angle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present invention is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2015/060480, filed Nov. 12, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/078,408, filed Nov. 11, 2014, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a bottle, and more particularly to a reclosable and resealable bottle for carrying drinking fluids. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Insulated bottles with removable covers are available in various embodiments. Consumer concern regarding leeching of toxic chemicals into liquid contents of bottles has grown as scientific understanding of health effects from typical bottle materials, such as BPA, has improved. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, a sturdy, reusable bottle capable of keeping contents free from contact with particular materials, such as plastics, is desired. Furthermore, a bottle with a strong seal and sturdy construction to resist leakage and endure physical abuse is also desired. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A bottle having a bottle longitudinal axis is disclosed. The bottle can have a cap or lid a cap or lid indentation. The bottle can have a spout. The spout can have a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece can have an axis for part or all of the mouthpiece at an angle offset from the bottle longitudinal axis. The bottle can have a base. The base can have at least three feet. The feet can extend in a longitudinal direction beyond the longitudinal extent of the remainder of the bottle. The feet can extend radially outward from the remainder of the base. The feet can extend up from the remainder of the base. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, a bottle is disclosed that can have a lid having a lid top and a lid base. The lid base can have a lid base radius of curvature. The bottle can have a hinge rotatably attaching the lid top to the lid base. The lid top can have a lid top indentation. The lid top indentation can be concave and have a lid top indentation radius of curvature. The lid top indentation radius of curvature can be greater than the lid base radius of curvature. 
         [0009]    Additionally, reusable bottle is disclosed that is capable of keeping contents free from contact with particular materials, such as plastics in the lid. The bottle can have a strong seal and sturdy construction to resist leakage and endure physical abuse with minimal damage and accidental opening of the lid. 
         [0010]    A bottle is disclosed that can have a body having a reservoir, a lid having a lid top and a lid base, and a spout fixedly attached to the lid base. The lid top can be rotatably opened with respect to the lid base. The spout can be made from an elastomer. The spout can be attached to the lid base at least in part by compressive elastomeric forces. The spout can be in sealed contact with the body. The lid top comprises an elastomeric element. The elastomeric element is in sealed contact with the spout. 
         [0011]    The spout can be in compressive contact with a top edge of the bottle body and sealed with the elastomeric element to seal the contents of the bottle in a water tight fashion. The bottle can be configured such that the sealing of the bottle prevents contents of the reservoir from coming into contact with the lid top or the lid base, other than the elastomeric element. 
         [0012]    The elastomeric element can have a mouthpiece seal. The compressive elastomeric forces can be at least in part compressive elastomeric forces of the spout. 
         [0013]    The spout can have a mouthpiece port and a pressure equalization hole. The spout can have a mouthpiece axis at an angle offset from a bottle longitudinal axis. 
         [0014]    The bottle can have a base. The base can have three or more feet. The feet can extend in a longitudinal direction beyond the longitudinal extent of the remainder of the bottle. The feet can extend radially outward from the remainder of the base. The feet can extend up from the remainder of the base. 
         [0015]    The bottle can have a hinge rotatably attaching the lid top to the lid base. The lid top can have a lid top indentation. The lid top indentation can be concave and can have a lid top indentation radius of curvature. The lid top indentation radius of curvature can be greater than the lid base radius of curvature. 
         [0016]    Further disclosed is a bottle that can have a body having a reservoir, a lid assembly rotatably attachable and detachable from the body, a spout comprising an elastomer, and a spout seal comprising an elastomer. The lid assembly can have opened and closed configurations. The spout can be attached to the lid assembly. The spout can form a fluid-tight seal with the body when the lid assembly is attached to the body. The spout can have a mouthpiece terminating in a mouthpiece lip. The spout seal can be attached to the lid assembly. The spout seal can form a fluid-tight seal with the spout at least at the mouthpiece lip when the lid assembly is in the closed configuration. 
         [0017]    The fluid-tight seal between the spout and the spout seal can be a seal between elastomer of the spout and elastomer of the spout seal. The fluid-tight seal between the spout and the body can be a seal between elastomer of the spout and metal of the body. 
         [0018]    The spout can have a mouthpiece port and a pressure equalization hole. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIGS. 1 a  through 1 e    are top front perspective, front, right, rear, and left views, respectively, of a variation of the bottle in a closed configuration. 
           [0020]      FIG. 1 f    is a variation of cross-sectional view A-A of  FIG. 1   e.    
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a left side view with the lid latch in an unlocked configuration. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a variation of cross-sectional view A-A with the lid release button in a released configuration. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a variation of the bottle in an opened configuration. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5 a    is a top front perspective view of a variation of the bottle in an opened configuration. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5 b    is a variation of cross-sectional view B-B of  FIG. 5   a.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]      FIGS. 1 a  through 1 f    illustrate that a bottle  34  can have a body  18 , lid  32 , and base  16 . The body  18  can be attached and detached from the lip and the base  16 . The lip can be openable and closable. The lid  32  can be lockable. The body  18  can dispense liquid contents through the lid  32 . The bottle  34  can have a bottle longitudinal axis. 
         [0027]    The bottle  34  can have a bottle height  46  from about 4 in. to about 12 in., for example about 7.7 in. The bottle  34  can have a bottle width  48  at the maximum width of the bottle  34  from about 1.5 in. to about 5 in., for example about 2.8 in. The bottle  34  can have an empty weight from about 4 oz. to about 24 oz., for example about 8 oz. 
         [0028]    The body  18  can have a body exterior wall  90  and a body interior wall  86 . The body exterior and interior walls can be made from a plastic and/or metal, for example stainless steel, aluminum, or combinations thereof. An insulation chamber  88  can be between the body interior wall  86  and the body exterior wall  90 . The insulation chamber  88  can be hollow (e.g., filled with a gas such as air, or a vacuum), or filled partially or completely with a liquid (e.g., water, anti-microbial solution such as an alcohol, saline solution, or combinations thereof), a gel, a solid (e.g., the material of the interior or exterior wall, and/or a closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam (e.g., Styrofoam from Dow Chemical Co.)), or combinations thereof. 
         [0029]    The reservoir  74  can be closed on the sides and bottom. The top of the reservoir  74  can have a reservoir port  72 . The reservoir  74  can be for example from about 100 ml to about 1 L, more narrowly from about 200 ml to about 500 ml, for example about 330 ml. 
         [0030]    The body outer wall can have one, two, three, or more finger grooves  20  or grip rings extending around all or part of the circumference of the bottle  34 . Each finger groove  20  can have a finger groove radius of curvature  38 . The finger groove radius of curvature  38  can be from about 0.5 in. to about 3 in., for example about 1 in. or about 0.75 in. 
         [0031]    The terminal bottom exterior surface of the body  18  can have a body seat  84 . The body seat  84  can be flat. The terminal bottom interior surface of the body (i.e., the terminal bottom surface of the reservoir) can have a reservoir seat  78 . The reservoir seat  78  can have a flat perimeter and an upwardly spherically-curved reservoir dimple  76 . 
         [0032]    The body  18  can radially example outward up from the body seat  84  and can radially example outward down from the body neck  70 . The maximum bottle width  48  can be above the top-most finger groove or between two of the finger grooves. 
         [0033]    The terminal top of the body  18  can radially taper to a body neck  70 . The body neck  70  can have neck thread  68 . The body neck  70  can have constant inner and outer diameters other than the neck thread  68 . 
         [0034]    The side of the body exterior wall  90  near the bottom of the reservoir  74  can have a base groove  80 . The base groove  80  can be configured to removably attach to the base  16 . 
         [0035]    The lid  32  can have a lid rim  8  or lid base and a lid top  30 , cover, or cap. The lid top  30  can be rotatably and lockably attached to the lid rim  8 . The lid top  30  can have a rounded or domed configuration. The lid rim  8  can have a skirted or radially tapered configuration, for example expanding in radius as the lid rim  8  extends downward. The diameter of the top of the lid rim  8  and the diameter of the bottom of the lid top  30  can be substantially equal. 
         [0036]    The lid rim  8  can have rim threads  66  configured to screw and attach to the neck thread  68  to form a fluid-tight seal. The lid rim  8  can be rotatably attached and detached from the neck  122 , as well as the rest of the lid  32  from the rest of the body  18 . 
         [0037]    The lid rim  8  can have a button frame  36  extending radially outward from the remainder of the lid rim  8  and around some or all of the circumference of a lid release button  24 . 
         [0038]    The lid rim  8  can have a lid latch  28  extending out from the sides of the button frame  36 . The lid latch  28  can be a wireframe rotatably attached to the button frame  36 . The lid latch  28  can have two or four L-turns. 
         [0039]    The lid release button  24  can have a button logo  22  on the face of the button. For example, the button logo  22  can be embossed or relief, for example, to increase the friction of the lid release button surface. The lid release button  24  can be rotatably attached to the remainder of the lid rim  8 . For example, the lid release button  24  can have a lid release button hinge  94 . 
         [0040]    The lid release button  24  can have a lid release tab  98  extending radially inward from the top of the lid release button  24 . 
         [0041]    The lid top  30  can have a lid release catch  96 . The lid top  30  can have a lid release catch frame  26 . The lid release catch  96  can extend downward from the lid release catch frame  26 . The lid release catch  96  can be held by the lid release tab  98  (e.g., by an interference fit) when the lid top  30  is in a closed configuration. 
         [0042]    The lid release catch frame  26  can extend radially beyond the surrounding lid top  30 . The lid latch  28  can be in tension when rotated onto the lid release catch frame  26  in a locked configuration. The lid latch  28  can compressively secure the lid top  30  to the lid rim  8 . 
         [0043]    The lid rim  8  can have a lid rim port on the reservoir port  72 . The lid rim port can be on a lid rim port plane  92 . The lid rim port can have a spout  104 . The spout  104  can be attached to the lid rim  8  at the lid rim port. The spout  104  can have spout grommet  102 , a mouthpiece  116  and a pressure equalization port. The spout  104  can be made from a soft polymer or rubber, such as food-grade silicone rubber. 
         [0044]    The spout grommet  102  can attach to and form a fluid-tight seal around the inner perimeter of the lid rim port. 
         [0045]    The mouthpiece  116  can be fluidly open and configured to deliver liquid from the reservoir  74  to a user. The mouthpiece  116  can have a mouthpiece front axis  110  and a mouthpiece rear axis  114 . The mouthpiece front axis  110  can be at a mouthpiece front axis angle  100  to the lid rim port plane  92 . The rim port plane can be perpendicular to the body longitudinal axis  10 . The mouthpiece rear axis  114  can be at a mouthpiece rear axis angle  58  to the lid rim port plane  92 . Either mouthpiece axis angle can be from about 45° to about 135°, more narrowly from about 60° to about 120°, yet more narrowly from about 75° to about 90°, for example about 70°, about 75°, about 80°, or about 90°. The mouthpiece axis angles can be equal, the mouthpiece front axis angle  100  can be greater than the mouthpiece rear axis angle  58 , or the mouthpiece front axis angle  100  can be less than the mouthpiece rear axis angle  58 . For example, the mouthpiece front axis angle  100  can be about 90° and the rear axis angle can be about 75°. 
         [0046]    The pressure equalization port can be in fluid communication with the reservoir  74  and the surrounding environment. When the bottle  34  is rotated with respect to gravity (e.g., from a vertical position to a declined position with the mouthpiece port  128  pointing at least downward from the horizontal), liquid in the reservoir  74  can flow from the mouthpiece  116  while gas (e.g., air) from the environment can enter the reservoir  74  through the pressure equalization port, balancing the gas pressure in the reservoir  74  with the gas pressure of the surrounding environment. 
         [0047]    The lid top  30  can have or be removably attached to a spout seal  108 . The spout seal  108  can have a pressure seal  60  and a mouthpiece seal  106 . The spout seal  108 , including for example the spout seal  108  and/or the pressure seal  60 , can be made from the same material as the spout  104 . 
         [0048]    The pressure seal  60  can be configured to press onto and seal the pressure equalization hole  64  when the lid top  30  is in a closed configuration. The mouthpiece seal  106  can be configured to press onto and seal the mouthpiece port  128  when the lid top  30  is in a closed configuration. 
         [0049]    The lid top  30  can have a mouthpiece seal frame  112 . The mouthpiece seal frame  112  can securely attach to the mouthpiece seal  106 . The lid top  30  can have a pressure seal frame  56 . The pressure seal frame  56  can securely attach to the pressure seal  60 . The pressure seal  60  and/or the mouthpiece seal  106  can be detached from and attached to the pressure seal frame  56  and/or mouthpiece seal frame  112 , respectively, for example for cleaning or replacement. 
         [0050]    The spout  104  can be detached from and attached to the lid rim  8 , for example for cleaning or replacement. 
         [0051]    The lid  32  can have a lid hinge  6  rotatably attaching the lid top  30  to the lid rim  8 . The lid hinge  6  can have a piano hinge. For example, the lid hinge  6  can have two knuckles  54  attached to and extending from the lid top  30  and a knuckle  54  attached to and extending from the lid rim  8 . The lid hinge  6  can have a hinge pin  50  extending through the knuckles  54 . 
         [0052]    The lid hinge  6  can have a lid spring catch  62  extending from the lid top  30  adjacent to the knuckle  54  extending from the lid rim  8 . 
         [0053]    The lid hinge  6  can have a lid spring  52  that can be in a closed loop. The lid spring  52  can be made from a resilient elastic material, such as a soft polymer or rubber, such as food-grade silicone rubber. The lid spring  52  can extend in (or below) the lid spring catch  62 , radially outside and between two of the knuckles  54 , along the radial inside of the bottom of the hinge, and radially outside and between the opposite knuckle and the central knuckle (where is continues to extend in a closed loop in or below the lid spring catch  62 ). The lid spring  52  can be in tension when the lid top  30  is in a closed configuration. The lid spring  52  can pull on the lid top  30  with respect to the lid rim  8  to open the lid top  30  when the lid top  30  is not latched or held to the lid rim  8 , for example by the lid release tab  98  and lid release latch, or by the lid latch  28 . 
         [0054]    The lid latch  28 , lid release button  24 , and lid release catch  96  can be diametrically opposite from the lid hinge  6 . 
         [0055]    The lid top  30  can have a lid seat  2 . The lid seat  2  can be a concave indentation on a side of the lid top  30 . The angular center of the lid seat  2  can be aligned with the center of the lid hinge  6 . The lid seat  2  can extend from the bottom of the lid top  30  to the vertex of the lid top  30 . 
         [0056]    The lid seat  2  can have a lid seat radius of curvature  4 . The lid seat radius of curvature  4  can be from about 1 in. to about 12 in., for example about 3 in. or about 6 in. 
         [0057]    The base  16  can have a base seat  40  on the bottom radially central portion of the base, a base rim  12  around the circumference of the base  16  and base feet  14 , fins, or pedastals extending radially outward and downward from the base rim  12 . The base feet  14  can extend downward past the base seat  40  by a foot extension height  42 . The foot extension height  42  can be from about 0 to about 0.75 in, more narrowly from about 0.25 in. to about 0.5 in., for example about 0.375 in. 
         [0058]    The base feet  14  can each have a base foot prong  44  extending upward from the base rim  12 . The base foot prong  44  can be radially external to the body  18 . For example, when the body  18  is inserted into and rotated with respect to the base  16 , the body  18  can be pressed into (e.g., bump into or interference fit) the base foot prongs  44  to center the body  18  with respect to the base  16 . When the body  18  and the base  16  are attached, the body  18  can contact the top of the base rim  12 , the top of the base seat  40 , and the inside of the base foot prongs  44 . 
         [0059]    The base  16  can have one or more base catches  82 , tabs, or nubs extending radially inward from the inside of the base rim  12 . The base catches  82  can be configured to slide into the base grooves  80  on the body  18 . The base catches  82  can be configured to insert into the base grooves  80  to longitudinally secure the base  16  to the body  18 . 
         [0060]    The spout  104  can be in direct contact with the body interior wall  86 . Contents (e.g., liquid, such as water) stored in the reservoir  74  may be in contact with only the body interior wall  86 , spout  104 , and spout seal  108  (for example on the mouthpiece seal) during storage, before the lid  32  is opened and the contents of the reservoir  74  are dispensed through the open spout  104  and into the outside environment (e.g., a user&#39;s mouth). Contents of the reservoir  74  may be in contact with only the materials of the body interior wall  86 , spout  104 , and spout seal  108 , for example stainless steel and a soft polymer or rubber, such as food-grade silicone rubber, during storage of the contents. 
         [0061]    For example, the contents may be kept out of contact with the lid  32  other than the mouthpiece seal  106 —for example, being kept out of contact with plastic—during storage in the closed bottle. While the lid  32  is closed, the contents may not exit from the reservoir  74  through the pressure equalization hole  64  because of the pressure seal  60  and/or vacuum pressure in the otherwise sealed (e.g., at the spout and mouthpiece seal) reservoir  74 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 2  illustrates that the lid latch  28  can be rotated downward, as shown by arrow, into an unlocked position. The lip latch can be no longer holding the lid release catch frame  26  to the lid rim  8 . 
         [0063]      FIG. 3  illustrates that the lid release button  24  can be depressed, as shown by arrows  118 , for example rotating the button around the button hinge, as shown by arrows  120 , into a position releasing the lid top  30  from the lid rim  8 . The depressed lid release button can rotate the lid release tab  98  radially outward from the lid release catch  96 . The lid release catch  96  can then disengage and detach from the lid release tab  98 . If the lid release latch is also in an unlocked configuration, the lid top  30  can then be rotated open manually and/or pulled open automatically by torque applied form the tension of the lid spring  52  onto the lid spring catch  62 . The lid top  30  can rotate away from the lid rim  8 , pulling away the mouthpeace seal and pressure seal  60  and exposing the open mouthpiece port  128  and pressure equalization hole  64 . 
         [0064]    The lid release button  24  can be spring-loaded to bias the lid release button  24  to a closed configuration. After the lid release button  24  is depressed and released, the lid release button  24  can return to an undepressed configuration. When the lid top  30  is rotated closed, the lid release catch  96  can press the lid release tab  98  out of the way and then reengage and re-attach to the lid release catch  96 , reclosing the lid top  30  and sealing the mouthpiece  116  and pressure equalization hole  64 . The lid latch  28  can then be rotated back into a locked configuration. 
         [0065]      FIGS. 4  illustrates that the lid release catch  96  can have a U-shape. The lid release catch  96  can have a wireframe extending from the bottom of the lid top  30 . The lid release catch  96  can be attached at both terminal ends to the lid top  30 . The lid release catch  96  can have two right-angle turns (i.e., L-turns). 
         [0066]    The base groove  80  can have a vertical length and an angular length around part of the circumference of the body  18 . The base grooves  80  can be L-shaped. All of the base grooves  80  can be angularly spaced from each other at the same angular spacing as the base catches  82 . For example, the body  18  can have two base grooves offset from each other by 180°, and the base  16  can have two base catches offset from each other by 180°. 
         [0067]    The lid port  126  can have a lid port tab  124 . The lid port tab  124  can extend into the otherwise circular lid port  126 . The spout grommet  102  can seal around the lid port tab  124 , as well as the remainder of the circumference of the lid port  126 . 
         [0068]    The circumference of the bottom layer of the spout grommet  102  can extend upward. 
         [0069]      FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b    illustrate that the lid top  30  can have a lid top port plane  132 . The intersection of the lid top port plane  132  and the lid rim port plane  92  can form a lid opening angle  130 . When the lid top  30  is closed, the lid opening angle  130  can be about 0°. 
         [0070]    When the lid top  30  is rotated open, the lid seat  2  can rest against the exterior of the lid rim  8 . The lid seat radius of curvature  4  can be greater than or equal to the radius of curvature (e.g., the radius) of the lid rim  8 . The lid seat  2  can be concave, allowing the lid seat  2  to open to a lid opening angle  130  of greater than about 180°. For example, the lid opening angle  130  can be from about 180° to about 225°, more narrowly from about 185° to about 200°, for example about 190° 
         [0071]    The top terminal end of the mouthpiece  116  can have an open mouthpiece port  128 . When the lid top  30  is closed, the mouthpiece seal  106  can seal the mouthpiece port  128  with a fluid-tight seal. 
         [0072]    The variations above are for illustrative purposes and it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various equivalent modifications or changes according to the idea of and without departing from the disclosing and teaching herein shall also fall within technical scope of the appended claims. For example, any of the materials disclosed herein can be used to make any of the elements. 
         [0073]    Any elements described herein as singular can be pluralized (i.e., anything described as “one” can be more than one), and plural elements can be used individually. Any species element of a genus element can have the characteristics or elements of any other species element of that genus. The term “comprising” is not meant to be limiting. The above-described configurations, elements or complete assemblies and methods and their elements for carrying out the invention, and variations of aspects of the invention can be combined and modified with each other in any combination.