Container system for dispensing filtered and unfiltered liquids

A modular container system adapted for dispensing both filtered and unfiltered liquids. The system comprises a bottle having an upwardly-extending annular opening, and a cap adapted to mate with the upwardly-extending annular opening to form a sealed container. The bottle is one of a set of bottles having differing volumes and profiles; each bottle has the same upwardly-extended annular opening. The system may include a filter mechanism that adapted to be removable from an internal receiving cylinder of the cap when the bottle is used to dispense unfiltered liquids. When secured to the receiving cylinder of the cap, a filter body of the filter mechanism is contained within a profile of the cap in such a way as to allow universal use of the cap and filter construct on multiple-sized and profiled bottles that include the same upwardly-extended annular openings.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The subject matter herein relates generally to drinking containers.

2. Background of the Related Art

“Sippy” cups are well-known in the prior art. These are spill-proof drinking cups designed for toddlers. A sippy cup works by way of surface tension that prevents the liquid in the cup from being spilled even when the cup is turned upside down. The cup typically comprises a body and a sippy top that is retained securely to the body. The cup may also include an integral handle for easy grasping and retaining by the child.

A water bottle is a container, typically formed of plastic, to hold water or other beverages for consumption. It is designed for easy transport by an individual, and it may be disposable or reusable. Some water bottles include filtration systems or filter mechanisms to improve water quality, or to provide acceptable quality for the source liquid that may include water-borne contaminants or pathogens. Such filters may be supported in a removable straw-type arrangement for ease of cleaning and replacement. Typically, a filter of this type uses carbon material, such as activated charcoal, as the active filtering material. Representative bottles of this type are available commercially under the brands Camelbak® and Brita®, among others.

While filtration bottles of this type are useful, the filter system/mechanism typically extends throughout the length of the bottle housing. As a result, these types of container systems have to be used in large-size bottles, and they are not flexible enough to be adapted for use for containers that may have different use requirements or wherein it is desired to provide a container to dispense both filtered and unfiltered liquids using a same cap structure.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A container system is described for use in dispensing both filtered and unfiltered liquids. The system comprises a bottle having an upwardly-extending annular opening, and a cap adapted to mate with the upwardly-extending annular opening to form a sealed container. Preferably, the bottle is one of a set of bottles having differing volumes and profiles; each bottle has the same upwardly-extended annular opening. The system may include a filter mechanism that is adapted to be removed from an internal receiving cylinder of the cap when the bottle is used to dispense unfiltered liquids. When secured to the receiving cylinder of the cap, a filter body of the filter mechanism is contained within a profile of the cap in such a way as to allow universal use of the cap and filter construct on multiple-sized and profiled bottles that include the same upwardly-extended annular openings.

In a particular embodiment, the container system comprises a particular bottle (selected from the set of bottles) having the upwardly-extending annular opening, and the cap adapted to mate with the upwardly-extending annular opening to form the sealed container. The cap is generally conical and, in one embodiment, it has a swoped outer exterior surface. The cap also includes an outlet adjacent an upper portion of the outer surface and through which a liquid is dispensed. The cap further includes a downwardly-extending internal receiving cylinder having a support structure (e.g., a flange or threading) at its lower end. An inner wall of the cap outer surface, together with an inner opposed wall of the cap, form a chamber in an upper portion of the cap. The inner opposed wall of the cap preferably has a semi-circular notch extending into the chamber. The container system also includes a gasket snugly received and fitted in the chamber and secured therein by the notch. The gasket has a central cavity with an opening at a bottom thereof, and a non-drip valve at an upper portion thereof adjacent the outlet in the cap. The non-drip valve is adapted to permit the liquid to be dispensed through the valve and the outlet upon a suction force being applied during drinking. As noted above, the container system may include an optional filter mechanism. A filter mechanism may comprise a body having an upwardly-extending annular opening, and a end cap structure that supports a filter material therein. The body of the filter mechanism may include a retaining flange (or threading) extending laterally along an outer upper surface thereof. An upper portion of the body of the filter mechanism is adapted to be securely received and fixed in the internal receiving cylinder of the cap by the upwardly-extending annular opening of the body being received in the central cavity of the gasket and the retaining flange being received and secured against the flange of the receiving cylinder. The filter mechanism is adapted to be removed from the cap's internal receiving cylinder when the bottle is used to dispense unfiltered liquids.

In this manner, the container system is useful to dispense both filtered and unfiltered liquids. When it is desired to dispense just unfiltered liquids (e.g., juice), an individual simply separates the cap from the bottle, removes the filter mechanism, re-assembles the cap to the bottle, and drinks from the sealed container in a usual manner. The filter mechanism may be easily positioned back in the cap when it is desired to use the container system to dispense filtered liquids (e.g., water).

The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent features of the subject disclosure. These features should be construed to be merely illustrative. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed subject matter in a different manner or by modifying the subject matter as will be described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates is an elevation view of the container system of this disclosure illustrating a set of three (3) different containers that use (share) a single cap assembly structure, shown in cut-a-way. While three different containers are shown, this is not a limitation, as the system may comprise any number (e.g., 2 or more) bottles. As illustrated, the single cap assembly10is adapted to be used with any of the different bottles14a,14band14cin this example system, to form various models of the container system. Preferably, the system is available as a “kit” comprising a single cap assembly, a set of removable filters16, and the set of bottles. When it is desired to form a “sippy” cup, for example, a user attaches the cap10to the first bottle14a;that cup can then be used to dispense filtered liquid (e.g., water) when the filter16is included (as shown), or the cup can be used to dispense non-filtered liquids (e.g., juice) when the filter16is omitted. In this same manner, the single cap assembly may be attached to any one of the bottles to form a sealed container with a distinct volume and profile.

As can be seen inFIG. 1, each of the sealed container models has a distinct volume and profile. The filter is adapted to be removed from the cap when the bottle is used to dispense unfiltered liquids. A particular advantage of this system is that, when secured in the cap in a manner to be described in more detail below, a filter body of the filter is contained within a profile of the cap in such a way as to allow universal use of the cap and filter construct on the multiple-sized and profiled bottles that include the same upwardly-extended annular openings. This system provides significant advantages over the hard-walled filtration bottles of the prior art, which do not provide flexibility for multi-use scenarios.

Without meant to be limiting, the bottle and cap are formed of a plastic material, such as BPA-free polypropylene, polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate, bioplastics (e.g., PLA), and the like. Without meant to be limiting, the various models come in the following volumes such as 8, 16 and 22 ounces.

Without meant to be limiting, the various models may be formed of different colored material such that the system provides a variety or set of colored sealed containers when in use.

The outer portions of the bottles may include other indicia or graphics.

FIG. 2is an isometric view of a first model of the container system ofFIG. 1, especially adapted for use as a sippy cup. The basic elements of this model comprise the cap assembly10, an arm ring12having a pair of arms for easy grasping, and the bottle14. When used as a sippy cup, the cap assembly10advantageously is generally conical and includes an outer exterior surface22that terminates in an outlet24adjacent an upper portion of the outer surface22and through which liquid is dispensed. As noted above, in one embodiment the outer exterior surface may have a swoped contour, but this is not a limitation. The cap assembly may also include an air return hole/vent64, as will be described in more detail below. The arm ring12is optional and may be omitted, particularly when the cap assembly is used for the larger volume models.

FIG. 3is an exploded view of the first model showing the basic structure as well as several additional components. In particular, this view shows that bottle14has an upwardly-extending annular opening15. The cap assembly is designed to mate with the upwardly-extending annular opening15to form a sealed container, such as the sippy cup inFIG. 2. As will be described in more detail below, preferably the container system includes a non-drip valve18, and a one-way air return valve20. The non-drip valve18is adapted to permit liquid to be dispensed through the valve18and the outlet24upon a suction force being applied, e.g., such as when the bottle is held inverted (upside-down) and suction force is applied to outlet24. Otherwise, the non-drip valve18provides a leak-proof arrangement to retain the liquid in the sealed container. The one-way valve20acts as an air-return path when the suction force is being applied during drinking.

FIG. 4is a front view of the first model, looking towards the cap outer exterior surface.

FIG. 5is a side sectional view of the first model of the container system taken along line5-5′ inFIG. 4and illustrating the structural details and arrangements of the various parts in additional detail. In this particular embodiment, the container system comprises a particular bottle (selected from the set of bottles inFIG. 1) having the upwardly-extending annular opening15, and the cap10adapted to mate with the upwardly-extending annular opening to form the sealed container. In this embodiment, the sealed container is a sippy-type cup, although this is not a limitation. The arm ring (element12inFIG. 2) is omitted for convenience of illustration. As noted, preferably the cap10is generally conical and has the outer exterior surface22. The outer exterior surface22may be swoped, conical, flat, or any other shape that is convenient for drinking. The cap also includes the outlet24adjacent an upper portion of the outer surface22and through which the liquid is dispensed. The cap10further includes a downwardly-extending internal receiving cylinder26having a flange28(or threading) at its lower end. An inner wall30of the outer surface together with an inner opposed wall32of the cap10and the receiving cylinder26form a chamber25in an upper portion of the cap. The inner opposed wall32of the cap10preferably has a semi-circular notch profile36to secure the non-drip valve18into the chamber25.

The container system also includes the non-drip valve (or gasket)18snugly received and fitted in the chamber25and secured therein by the notch36. The gasket18has a central cavity38with an opening at a bottom thereof, and a non-drip valve42at an upper portion thereof adjacent the outlet in the cap. The non-drip valve42is adapted to permit the liquid to be dispensed through the valve18and the outlet24upon a suction force being applied. This gasket preferably is formed of a flexible material such as silicone.

As noted above, the container system may include an optional filter mechanism16. A filter mechanism may comprise a body or housing44having an upwardly-extending annular opening46, and an end cap structure48that closes the filter bottom end and supports a filter material50therein. The body of the filter mechanism may include a retaining flange (or threading)52extending laterally about an outer upper surface thereof. An upper portion54of the body of the filter mechanism is adapted to be securely received and fixed into the internal receiving cylinder26of the cap by the upwardly-extending annular opening46of the body44being received in the central cavity38of the gasket18and the retaining flange (threading)52being received and secured against the flange (threading)28of the receiving cylinder26of the cap10. As described, the filter mechanism16is adapted to be removed from the cap internal receiving cylinder26when the bottle14is used to dispense unfiltered liquids.

The filter material preferably is porous or packed in such a manner to allow liquids to pass through the filter while trapping impurities. The liquid enters the filter housing through vents or openings molded in the side wall.

In this manner, the container system is useful to dispense both filtered and unfiltered liquids. When it is desired to dispense just unfiltered liquids (e.g., juice), an individual simply separates the cap from the bottle, then removes the filter mechanism, re-assembles the cap to the bottle, and drinks from the drip-proof sealed container by applying suction force to the opening24. The filter mechanism may be easily positioned back in the cap when it is desired to use the container system to dispense filtered liquids (e.g., water).

As also seen inFIG. 5, the cap assembly10further includes a downwardly-extending internal structure56having a chamfered bottom edge58adapted to form a liquid-tight seal with respect to the upwardly-extending annular opening15in the bottle14when the cap10is secured to the bottle to form the sealed container.

As also seen inFIG. 5, the cap preferably also includes another downwardly-extending internal structure in the form of a cylinder60having an opening therein, the downwardly-extending structure60defining a second chamber62underlying a portion of the outer surface22. The outer surface22includes the hole/vent64opening into the second chamber62. The second chamber supports the one-way valve20to act as the air-return path when the suction force is being applied to opening24, as previously described.

FIG. 6illustrates a bottom sectional view of the structures shown inFIG. 4to provide additional details regarding the receiving cylinders within the cap assembly.

The filter material may be of varying types. A representative filter material50is an activated charcoal suspended in a non-woven mesh. In a variant, the filter material50is an activated charcoal suspended in an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal mesh. Other types of filter material(s) may be used.

The filter mechanism is designed to be modular and replaceable.

Having described my invention, what I now claim is as follows.