Abstract:
A closure assembly that connects to a bottle, the closure assembly comprising a cap with a top and a bottom, said cap having an opening that communicates with the top and the bottom; a straw that fits within the cap opening; a cover that removably attaches to one side of the cap top whereby the cover surrounds one end of the straw.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from the U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/026,899, filed Feb. 7, 2008. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to bottle closure assemblies, and more particularly to bottle closure assemblies with an integrated straw or drinking apparatus that provide for enhanced user experience when drinking liquids from a bottle or container. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Bottle closure assemblies of various types are well known in the art. Such devices are typically used in connection with bottles or other containers to seal the liquid within the bottle to prevent contamination of the liquid and to prevent the liquid from spilling out of the bottle when not in use. 
         [0004]    However, previous bottle closure assemblies have some inherent disadvantages. One of the disadvantages with existing closure assemblies is that they do not provide the user with a means to hold the bottle in an upright position when drinking the liquid. The present invention overcomes these and other problems inherent in existing water bottle assemblies. The present invention provides a bottle closure assembly that contains a straw or integrated drinking apparatus that provides for a user to drink the liquid from the bottle without removing the closure from the bottle. In some forms of the invention, the bottle can remain in the upright position and the user can drink the liquid without inverting or tilting the bottle. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one embodiment, a bottle may have a closure assembly that in one form includes a straw, a cover and a cap. In one form, a cap may have a female valve or opening (which can be constructed of rubber, plastic, or some other substantially flexible material), which allows the straw to move freely (or be snuggly fit) within the opening and whereby the opening acts substantially to prevent the water (or other liquid) from escaping the bottle and spilling on a person&#39;s clothing, while still allowing the person to easily drink from the bottle using the straw. In one form, a cap may screw onto the top of the bottle and be easily removable, and yet in another form, the cap may snap or otherwise permanently be affixed to the top of the bottle and not be removable. In one embodiment, the cover may fit and connect to the cap attached to the bottle whereby the straw is completely enclosed within the cover and the bottle to maintain a substantially germ free environment when the bottle is in storage. In yet other embodiments the straw may have a safety cover. This cover or other sealing device further provides to prevent liquid from leaving the straw before use. In other forms, the closure assembly may be provided without a bottle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a front partial cut away view of one embodiment of the bottle closure assembly shown attached to a container; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a partial cut away view of one embodiment of a straw used with the bottle closure assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a front partial cut away view showing multiple components of the bottle closure assembly of  FIG. 1  including a cap and a cover; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows one embodiment of a bottle closure assembly in its assembled form; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows an alternate embodiment of a bottle closure assembly including a straw sealing device; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows an alternate embodiment of a bottle closure assembly wherein the cover is attached to the cap with a hinge; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  shows an alternate embodiment of a bottle closure assembly wherein the straw is offset with regards to the cap center; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  shows an alternate embodiment of a bottle closure assembly wherein the straw is offset from the cap center and the closure assembly is designed for a wide mouth bottle; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  shows yet another alternate embodiment of a bottle closure assembly in place on a bottle; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  shows a bottle closure assembly of  FIG. 9  having a flip-open drinking device integrated into the cap; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  shows another alternate embodiment of the bottle closure assembly of  FIG. 10  wherein a straw is integrated into the cap. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    While the present invention is susceptible of embodiments in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described some exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification for the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. In this disclosure, the use of the disjunctive is intended to include the conjunctive. The use of the definite article or indefinite article is not intended to indicate cardinality. In particular, a reference to “the” object or “a” object is intended to denote also one of a possible plurality of such objects. 
         [0018]    In one form, the invention includes a bottle  10  for holding water or any other liquid, fluid or substance. The bottle  10  may be shaped substantially as shown in  FIG. 1  and whereby in one form the bottle  10  is a disposable aluminum bottle. The bottle interior is lined with, in one form, a water based polymer. In other embodiments, the bottle can be lined or coated with a variety of different substances depending on the requirements of the specific application. The bottle can be constructed of aluminum and other materials, metals or plastics, to provide for proper operation of the bottle. In one form, other type liners for the interior of the bottle may also be used. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , bottle  10  may comprise a closure assembly  14  that in one form includes a straw  16 , a cover  30  and a cap  20 . In one form, cap  20  may have a female valve, or opening  24  (which can be constructed of rubber, plastic or some other substantially flexible material), which allows the straw  16  to move freely (or be snuggly fit) within the opening  24  and whereby the opening  24  acts substantially to prevent the water (or other liquid) from escaping bottle  10  and spilling on a person&#39;s clothing, while still allowing the person to easily drink from bottle  10  using straw  16 . In one form, cap  20  may screw onto the top of the bottle  10  and be easily removable, and yet in another form, cap  20  may snap or otherwise permanently be affixed to the top of bottle  10  and not be removable. In one embodiment, cover  30  may fit and connect to cap  20  attached to the bottle substantially as shown in  FIG. 1  whereby the top of straw  16  is completely enclosed within cover  30  to maintain a substantially germ free environment when bottle  10  is in storage. In yet other embodiments the straw  16  may have a safety cover  19  as shown in  FIG. 5 . This cover or other sealing device provides further to prevent liquid from leaving the straw before use. In other forms, cover  19  can be shaped and formed in a variety of different ways to cover/seal straw  16 . Also, in one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a hole  26  or other opening may be provided in cap  20  to allow for air to enter or leave bottle  10 . The hole  26  provides for ease of removing fluid from bottle  10  and prevents pressure or vacuum build-up within the bottle  10 . 
         [0020]    In one form, straw  16 , cap  20  and/or cover  30  may be made out of a variety of different materials, such as, for example, plastic, metal, rubber, composite materials, glass or any other material that will provide for proper operation of the bottle and closure assembly  14  as herein described. It is understood that any of these materials may be used for any of the components or elements described herein. 
         [0021]    In yet other forms of the invention, the closure assembly may be provided as a stand-alone invention (or as a set with a container or bottle) that may be used in a variety of applications for removing fluids of all sorts from different containers, bottles and/or vessels. 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  shows one embodiment of a closure assembly in a stand-alone application whereby the straw  16  is in place within cap  20 . Cover  30  is shown in a closed position on cap  20 . In this embodiment, straw  16  fits within opening  24  in a substantially snug fit to prevent fluids from exiting the area where straw  16  meets with cap  20  at opening  24 . In one embodiment, opening  24  may be constructed in a variety of different ways to accomplish a substantially snug fit between straw  16  and cap  20  to prevent fluids from leaking past cap  20  into cover  30 . In one application, cap  20  at the area of contact where straw  16  meets cap  20  at opening  24 , a variety of different materials and construction may be used to provide for proper sealing at this location. For example, a rubber ring may be used, a rubber insert portion, a silicone-based insert portion, or other material which will provide for a proper sealing as disclosed herein. The sealing device may be integrated into cap  20  or it may be a separate portion that is put in place during the assembly of the closure assembly. In yet other forms of the invention, the closure assembly may be provided as a stand-alone invention (or as a set with a container or bottle) that may be used in a variety of applications for removing fluids of all sorts from different containers, bottles and/or vessels. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , in an additional embodiment, the closure assembly may further comprise a straw cover  19  whereby cover  19  is positioned in place over straw  16  to maintain straw  16  in substantially clean state for a user drinking fluid from the bottle. Not shown in the drawing, another embodiment, a protective moisture-proof seal may be placed directly over straw  16  opening that is located within cover  30  which can be peeled away or otherwise removed from the straw  16  tip and whereby the seal provides for a variety of positive results. The seal will eliminate fluid from leaking into cover  30  and allow for a sanitary straw tip that the user will use to remove liquid from the bottle. In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the straw opening  24  in cap  20  may be shaped in a variety of different ways, for example, the opening of a substantially central hole within cap  20  and allows for the straw to fit into the hole and thereby into the bottle. The hole or opening may also further have a rubber ring placed around its inner circumference in which the straw may fit snugly to minimize leakage from the cap portion into cover  30 . In yet other forms of the invention, the closure assembly may be provided as a stand-alone invention (or as a set with a container or bottle) that may be used in a variety of applications for removing fluids of all sorts from different containers, bottles and/or vessels. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , yet another embodiment of a closure assembly is shown. In one form, the closure assembly  36  may have a straw  16 , a cap  40 , a cover  42  and a hinge  38  that connects the cover  42  to the cap  40  substantially as shown in  FIG. 6 . In one application, the closure assembly  36  may also have a hole  26  positioned within cap  40  to allow for air to enter and leave the bottle or other container in which closure assembly  36  is being used. In yet other embodiments of closure assembly  36 , the hinge  38  may be comprised in a variety of different ways and using a variety of other construction to allow cover  42  to be connected to cap  40  while still allowing cover  42  to be positioned so that a user may properly drink from the bottle using straw  16 . In yet other forms of the invention, the closure assembly may be provided as a stand-alone invention (or as a set with a container or bottle) that may be used in a variety of applications for removing fluids of all sorts from different containers, bottles and/or vessels. 
         [0025]      FIG. 7  shows yet an alternate embodiment of a closure assembly  48  having a cap  50 , a straw  16 , a cover  51 . In this embodiment, cover  51  may be connected to cap  50  via a hinge as previously disclosed in other embodiments or cover  51  may be a snap-fit cover as it mates to cap  50 . A tamper-proof seal may be incorporated within the closure assembly wherein cover  51  and cap  50  meet. The straw  16  may be inserted within cap  50  substantially offset from the center of cap  50  as shown in  FIG. 7 . In yet other forms of the invention, the closure assembly may be provided as a stand-alone invention (or as a set with a container or bottle) that may be used in a variety of applications for removing fluids of all sorts from different containers, bottles and/or vessels. 
         [0026]      FIG. 8  shows yet another embodiment of a closure assembly  52  wherein closure assembly  52  is using similar elements to closure assembly  48  as shown in  FIG. 7 . However, in this application, cap  54  is designed to accommodate wide-mouth sized bottles, vessels or containers. In this application, it is understood that the cover may be sized to fit the accordingly larger cap substantially as shown in  FIG. 8 . As with other caps disclosed herein, the cap may screw on to bottle  10  or may be permanently mounted to bottle  10 . A hinge as shown in  FIG. 8  may also be supplied but it is not necessary for the functioning of closure assembly  52 . In yet other forms of the invention, the closure assembly may be provided as a stand-alone invention (or as a set with a container or bottle) that may be used in a variety of applications for removing fluids of all sorts from different containers, bottles and/or vessels. 
         [0027]    Yet another embodiment of a water bottle or bottle for holding fluid is shown in  FIG. 9 . In this embodiment, a bottle  10  is provided and may be lined with a water-based polymer. A cap  68  as shown in  FIG. 10  is provided and may be lined with a water-based polymer. A cap  68  as shown in  FIG. 10  may have a solid, flip type mouthpiece sipping device  74  built into the cap  68  substantially as shown in  FIG. 10 . In yet other forms of the invention, the closure assembly may be provided as a stand-alone invention (or as a set with a container or bottle) that may be used in a variety of applications for removing fluids of all sorts from different containers, bottles and/or vessels. 
         [0028]    Another embodiment of closure assembly  62  is shown in  FIG. 11  or in closure assembly  62  can be supplied as a stand-alone unit. As shown, in one embodiment, cap  68  has at least one flip-mouth piece  74  that can open into a position whereby a user may drink fluid from the bottle and may close to a position whereby the fluid will not leak out of the bottle. A straw  64  is supplied wherein the straw  64  attaches to cap  68 . In one embodiment, the straw  64  may be permanently attached to cap  68 , and in yet another embodiment, the straw  64  may be removably attached to cap  68 . In one form, straw  64  and cap  68  may be manufactured whereby there are one piece, and in yet another embodiment, straw  64  and cap  68  may be manufactured whereby they are two independent pieces. In yet other forms of the invention, the closure assembly may be provided as a stand-alone invention (or as a set with a container or bottle) that may be used in a variety of applications for removing fluids of all sorts from different containers, bottles and/or vessels. 
         [0029]    In one form, either of these components may be made out of a variety of different materials, such as, for example, plastic, rubber, metal, glass or any other material that will provide for proper operation of the bottle as herein described. In one form, other types of liners for the interior or exterior of the bottle may also be used. Other features of the herein described embodiment(s) may also be incorporated into bottle  10 . In any of the embodiments discussed herein, the straw and cap may be constructed as one piece or two independent components that are joined together. 
         [0030]    Specific embodiments of novel methods and apparatus for construction of a bottle and closure assembly according to the present invention have been described for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention is made and used. It should be understood that the implementation of other variations and modifications of the invention and its various aspects will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and that the invention is not limited by the specific embodiments described. Therefore, it is contemplated to cover the present invention any and all modifications, variations, or equivalents that fall within the true spirit and scope of the basic underlying principals disclosed and claimed herein.