Abstract:
A device in the form of a container is disclosed which obscures and/or misdirects another person from recognizing the device contains potable fluid. The device is generally constructed with the appearance of a cosmetics-style tube and, in the illustrated form, a sunscreen lotion tube. The device includes a neck and a removable cap that are matingly threaded as to be sealingly engaged to prevent leakage, and the device is finable by a loading device styled as a funnel.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/807,366, filed Apr. 2, 2013, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a device or apparatus for holding potable fluids and for disguising the nature of the fluid and, in particular, to flask-like apparatus for containing and transporting potable fluid while giving the appearance of containing or being something other than a flask. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Currently, many containers are known for storing, transporting, and permitting dispensing of fluids. The range of such containers includes large water coolers, sport bottles, flasks, and original containers such as liquor or soda bottles. The common denominator for many of these containers is that it is immediately apparent to another person that such either hold or likely hold potable liquid. 
         [0004]    Of course, in most instances people are not concerned with others being aware that a possessed container indeed suggests possession of a liquid. As an example, a person working out in a gym would almost be expected to possess a sport bottle, and few would expect that bottle to contain anything other than water or a sport drink. 
         [0005]    It is known to have a re-usable container for possessing and transporting a relatively small amount of liquid. That is, it is known to have so-called travel-sized mouthwash containers, and it is known to have a flask for liquor poured from a larger bottle so that a person may carry just the flask. However, these devices typically clearly display that they are in fact devices for carrying potable fluid. 
         [0006]    In some instances, it is undesirable for others to know that potable liquid is possessed. For instance, a person prone to low blood sugar may carry a candy bar, but may also like to carry a sugary drink: such person may rather not have to explain to an inquiring person why they are carrying a flask and what the contents are. Another person may be taking regular doses of oral liquid medicine and may not want others being aware that they require such. In another example, a person may want to imbibe alcoholic beverages in a place in which such is permitted, yet not want others to know they are doing so: for instance, people may be wary of setting a poor example for children by bringing along a flask or liquor bottle to a picnic and thus would rather others not recognize that alcoholic beverages are possessed. The difficulty in such cases is that most devices for containing and possessing potable fluids are identifiable as being exactly that. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, there has been a need for an improved device for containing, storing, transporting, and dispensing of potable fluids. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a device for containing, storing, transporting, and dispensing of potable fluids, wherein said device disguises the contents thereof. In the present form, the device presents itself as a cosmetics tube and, specifically, as a cosmetics tube of sunscreen lotion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0009]    In the Figures,  FIG. 1  is a top plan image of a form of the present invention serving a container for potable fluid, the Fig. depicting a cosmetic-style device as a tube having a closed end and an openable end with a threaded neck for sealingly engaging with a cap, the device including external artwork disguising the contents of the container and misdirecting an observer to believe the container is a tube of sunscreen lotion; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the openable end of the device of  FIG. 1  showing an opening for receiving and dispensing fluid, the opening in communication with an internal volume defined by the neck and the tube body; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1  with a cap secured to the openable end; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the cap; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the cap showing a wall with internal threads for mating with threads of the neck and an internal wall for engaging with an end wall of the neck; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the cap; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a funnel for loading fluid into the device of the preceding Figs.; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of the artwork. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Referring to the Figs., a device  10  for containing, storing, transporting, and dispensing of potable fluids, wherein said device  10  disguises the contents thereof, is illustrated. In the present form, the device  10  has an external appearance that is generally that of a cosmetic products tube. That is, people are familiar with tubes for face cream or lotion, and sanitizer, etc. The present form of the device  10  is produced as a sunscreen lotion tube. As such, the device  10  has a body  12  including a tube portion  14  having a closed end  16  and an openable end  18 . The device  10  is generally thermoplastic such that the closed end  16  may be heat-sealed. As is recognized by those familiar with cosmetics tubes, the body  12  is formed of a soft, elastically deformable plastic. The openable end  18  includes a dispensing portion  24  and a cap  26  for sealingly closing the device  10 . 
         [0018]    In the present form, the openable end  18  includes an end wall  30  from which a neck  32  having external threads  34  protrudes. The neck  32  terminates distally from the end wall  30  while defining an internal passage  36  therethrough. The passage  36  is in fluid communication with an internal reservoir  40  generally defined by an interior of the tube portion  14  and the end wall  30 , as well as the neck  32 , such that fluid is freely passable between each. The neck  32  further includes an annular wall  42  generally extending inwardly from the general perimeter threaded portion of the neck  32 . The annular wall  42  defines an opening  44  through which fluid may be dispensed from or loaded into the device  10 . 
         [0019]    The body  12  is closed at the openable end  18  by the cap  26 . That is, the cap  26  is constructed with a relatively common appearance while having an inner annular wall  50  with internal threads  52 . The cap annular wall  50  terminates at an interior surface  54  formed on the cap  26 . To seal the device  10 , the cap threads  52  mate with the neck threads  34  to receive the neck  32  within the annular wall  50 , preferably to a depth such that the neck annular wall  42  is pressed against the cap interior surface  54 . 
         [0020]    It should be noted that ordinary cosmetic tubes have a different construction. For instance, such tubes often have a flip cap with a post that is snappingly engaged within a hole for closing the tube, the hole otherwise permitting dispensing of cosmetic product. Ordinary cosmetic tubes generally contain thick, high viscosity, low volatility fluids such as creams. These fluids are dispensed judiciously in small amounts by applying pressure to the body of the tube. The present device  10  is constructed as to sealingly retain fluids which may be water-based or be liquor having an alcohol content where ordinary cosmetic tubes would permit leakage. Generally speaking, retaining such fluids is promoted by the present device by the threads  34 ,  52  having a smaller thread pitch angle and a deep thread depth, by the abutting of the walls  42 ,  50 , and by such other details as would be known in the art. Additionally, the present device is designed to allow pouring of liquids, contrary to cosmetic tubes known in the art. Generally speaking, cosmetic products contained in tubes are frequently plastic fluids that require pressure to overcome a yield value, whereas pourable fluids do not. Therefore, the opening  44  is sized to permit pourable liquids such as water or alcohol-based products including liquor to pass without applying pressure to the body  12 . Such pourable fluids may have a viscosity of 100 centipoise or less and preferably at 20 centipoise or less, at ambient temperatures such as approximately 50-80 degrees F. For instance, the opening  44  is approximately ¼″ in size or larger and, preferably, ½″ to 1,″ diametrally. 
         [0021]    It should also be noted that cosmetic tubes generally are not for food or beverage. That is, it is known that plastics have a wide range of materials. Chemicals that are unhealthy or even carcinogenic leach out of plastics, particularly when in contact with other active fluids such as alcohol. Therefore, the present device  10  is entirely constructed of food-safe, food grade plastics. Again, the body  12  is preferably constructed of soft, elastically deformable thermoplastic. 
         [0022]    The present device  10  further includes a loading device such as a funnel  60 . In the present form, a funnel  60  is generally constructed with a first portion  62  that serves as a male portion receivable within the tube opening  44 , and a second, conical portion  64  for receiving fluid for loading into the device  10 . 
         [0023]    As can be seen in the Figs., the device  10  is packaged like a tube of sunscreen lotion, exemplary printed artwork  70  being shown in  FIG. 8 . As described, the opening  44  is sized to permit rinsing and cleaning of the device  10 . Therefore, a person is able to re-usably fill and dispense fluid from the device  10 , and is able to carry the device and its contents in public with a significantly reduced concern with other people recognizing or suspecting that the device contains potable liquid. Moreover, with the disguised packaging, another person would be misdirected from believing the device contains potable fluid. Again, ordinary cosmetics tubes have openings sized to allow for ease of rinsing and washing of the interior of the tube in a manner that is food safe. 
         [0024]    While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.