Abstract:
A container movable between inverted and non-inverted configurations includes a dispenser body having an upper opening and a hollow interior. The container further includes an automatically opening and closing mechanism for controlling fluid flow disposed between the upper opening and the hollow interior, permitting fluid flow from the interior through the upper opening in the inverted configuration and preventing fluid flow from the interior through the upper opening in the non-inverted configuration. This fluid flow mechanism permits a user to drink while preventing backflow of fluid into the container.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention generally relates to drinking containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to drinking containers with one way valves.  
         [0002]     Drinking bottles are generally known in the art and typically comprise a cap adapted for mounting onto a bottle containing a water, a selected beverage or other product in liquid form. The cap includes an aperture through which the liquid passes from within the bottle. Bottles of this standard type are held in an inverted or substantially inverted position during use, to ensure fluid flow communication of the bottle contents to the aperture. It is generally known that the aperture may be part of a valve that allows a user to prevent liquid from evaporating or otherwise escaping the bottle.  
         [0003]     Valves in drinking bottles are generally known in the art to prevent backwash of the liquid during use. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,073 discloses a valve for use with a baby bottle. However, this valve requires suction from the user to open the valve. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,621 discloses a cup for young children with a cap valved for fluid control. However, the disclosed valve fails to prevent air and excess fluid from flowing back into the cup.  
         [0004]     Accordingly, there is a need for a simple drinking container construction that permits a user to drink without having to open or close the container. There is a further need for a drinking container which permits a user to drink while preventing backflow of liquid into the container. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention resides in a container construction that permits a user to drink without having to open or close the container. The present invention further permits a user to drink while preventing backflow of liquid into the container.  
         [0006]     The present invention discloses a container movable between inverted and non-inverted configurations includes a dispenser body having an upper opening and a hollow interior. The container further includes an automatically opening and closing mechanism for controlling fluid flow disposed between the upper opening and the hollow interior, permitting fluid flow from the interior through the upper opening in the inverted configuration and preventing fluid flow from the interior through the upper opening in the non-inverted configuration. This fluid flow mechanism permits a user to drink while preventing backflow of fluid into the container.  
         [0000]     container of claim  1 , wherein the fluid flow means comprises a valve having a first end disposed adjacent to the upper opening of the dispenser body.  
         [0007]     The container includes an upper end of the dispenser body having a neck with the fluid flow mechanism disposed therein.  
         [0008]     In one embodiment of the present invention, the fluid flow mechanism comprises a stopper adjacent the upper opening. The fluid passes around the stopper when the container is in the inverted configuration. The container also includes a plurality of grooves located on an interior of the dispenser adjacent the stopper. The fluid passes through the grooves in the inverted configuration.  
         [0009]     In another embodiment of the present invention, the fluid flow mechanism comprises a membrane disposed between the interior of the dispenser and the upper opening. The membrane includes two sections flexible in only one direction.  
         [0010]     The dispenser body includes a mouthpiece in fluid flow communication with fluid contained within the interior.  
         [0011]     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which, by way of example, illustrate the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an orthogonal view of a drinking bottle embodying the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the bottle of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the top of the bottle of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional side elevational view of the bottle of  FIG. 3  in an inverted position;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is an orthogonal view of another drinking bottle embodying the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the bottle of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the top of the bottle of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional side elevational view of the bottle of  FIG. 7  in an inverted position;  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is an orthogonal view of yet another drinking bottle embodying the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the bottle of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional orthogonal view of the top of the bottle of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 12  is an orthogonal view of an additional drinking bottle embodying the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the bottle of  FIG. 12 ; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional orthogonal view of the top of the bottle of  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]     The present invention is a useful drinking container with a one-way valve that permits a user to drink without having to open or close the container. The present invention further provides a drinking container which permits a user to drink while preventing backflow of liquid into the container. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.  
         [0028]     As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention is concerned with several embodiments of drinking containers  20 ,  50 ,  70 ,  90  with one-way valves  22 ,  52 ,  72 ,  92 , as seen in  FIGS. 1-14 . Depending on the particular embodiment of the present invention, the valves  22 ,  52 ,  72 ,  92  may be formed integrally as a unitary piece with the containers  20 ,  50 ,  70 ,  90  or the valves  22 ,  52 ,  72 ,  92  may be separated formed and connected to the containers  20 ,  50 ,  70 ,  90  using conventional methods.  
         [0029]     As seen in  FIGS. 1-4 , the drinking container  20  includes, generally, a body  24  that has an upper body opening  26  to permit passage of a fluid to be consumed therethrough. The one-way valve  22  is located across the upper body opening  26 . Fluid may be introduced into the body  24  via the upper opening  26 . The body  24  has a hollow interior, a generally flat lower surface portion  28  for resting upon a surface, and an upper end  30  that includes a cylindrical neck  32 .  
         [0030]     The one-way valve  22  is located within the neck  32 . The neck  32  includes an inner annular lip  34  with a plurality of grooves  36  located on the lower portion of the ring  34 . The valve  22  includes a stopper  38  which, in conjunction with the grooves  36 , regulates the amount and direction of fluid passing through the opening  26 . A annular recess  40  around the circumference of the neck  32  is located immediately below the lip  34 . A thickened portion  42  of the neck  32  is located immediately below the recess  40  when lower portion  28  of the container  20  is resting on a surface. The stopper  38  is sized and shaped to fit the contours of the recess  40  and thickened portion  42  of the neck  28 . When the lower portion  28  is resting on a surface, gravity pulls the stopper  38  towards the lower portion  28  but the stopper  38  seals the container  20  as the stopper  38  is kept from falling towards the lower portion  28  of the body  24  by the contours of the recess  40  and thickened portion  42  of the neck  28 . When the container  20  is inverted for drinking, the stopper  38  abuts against the lip  34 , preventing the stopper  38  from passing out of the container  20 , but the grooves  36  permit fluid to pass through the opening  26 .  
         [0031]     Another embodiment of the present invention, as seen in the drinking container  50  of  FIGS. 5-8 , includes, generally, a body  54  that has an upper body opening  56  to permit passage of a fluid to be consumed therethrough. The one-way valve  52  is located across the upper body opening  56 . Fluid may be introduced into the body  54  via the upper opening  56 . The body  54  has a hollow interior, a generally flat lower surface portion  58  for resting upon a surface, and an upper end  60  that includes a cylindrical neck  62 .  
         [0032]     The one-way valve  52  is located within the neck  62 . The neck  62  includes a generally convex-shaped inner wall  64  that forms a first annular lip  66  towards the upper portion of the neck  62  and a second annular lip  68  towards the lower portion of the neck  62 . The valve  52  includes a stopper  70  which, in conjunction with the inner wall  64  and lips  66 ,  68 , regulates the amount and direction of fluid passing through the opening  56 . The stopper  69  is generally spherical, being sized and shaped to fit the contours of the inner wall  64 . When the lower portion  58  is resting on a surface, gravity pulls the stopper  70  towards the lower portion  58  but the stopper  69  seals the container  50  as the stopper  69  is kept from falling towards the lower portion  58  of the body  54  by the contours of the second annular lip  68 ; a portion of the stopper  69  effectively sealing the container  50 . When the container  50  is inverted for drinking, the stopper  69  abuts against the first annular lip  66 , preventing the stopper  69  from passing out of the container  50 , but the shape of the wall  64  and diameter of the lip  66  permit fluid to pass through the opening  56 .  
         [0033]      FIGS. 9-11  illustrate another embodiment of the container  70  which includes, generally, a body  74  that has an upper body opening  76  to permit passage of a fluid to be consumed therethrough. The one-way valve  72  is located across the upper body opening  76 . Fluid may be introduced into the body  74  via the upper opening  76 . The body  74  has a hollow interior, a generally flat lower surface portion  78  for resting upon a surface, and an upper end  80  that includes a cylindrical neck  82  of generally constant inner diameter.  
         [0034]     The one-way valve  72 , located within the neck  82  includes a membrane  84  having a three slits  86  through which fluid passes to the user. The slits  86  effectively divide the membrane  84  into three fingers, pedals or sections  88  that are flexible in only one direction (i.e., outwardly from the container) such that when the lower portion  78  is resting on a surface, the sections  88  are generally horizontal, sealing the container  70 . When the container  70  is inverted for drinking, the sections  88  open outwardly to permit fluid to pass through the opening  76 . The valve sections  88  cooperate to selectively allow fluid to flow out of the opening  76  and prevent air and excess fluid from flowing back into the container  70 .  
         [0035]     As seen in  FIGS. 12-14 , another embodiment of the container  90  which includes, generally, a body  94  that has an upper body opening  96  to permit passage of a fluid to be consumed therethrough. The one-way valve  92  is located across the upper body opening  96 . Fluid may be introduced into the body  94  via the upper opening  96 . The body  94  has a hollow interior, a generally flat lower surface portion  98  for resting upon a surface, and an upper end  100  that includes a cylindrical neck  102  of generally constant inner diameter.  
         [0036]     The one-way valve  92 , located within the neck  102  includes a membrane  104  having a single slit  106  through which fluid passes to the user. The slit  106  effectively divides the membrane  104  into two fingers, pedals or sections  108  that are flexible in only one direction (i.e., outwardly from the container) such that when the lower portion  98  is resting on a surface, the sections  108  are generally horizontal, sealing the container  90 . When the container  90  is inverted for drinking, the sections  108  open outwardly to permit fluid to pass through the opening  96 . The valve sections  108  cooperate to selectively allow fluid to flow out of the opening  96  and prevent air and excess fluid from flowing back into the container  90 .  
         [0037]     A mouthpiece  110  is provided in fluid-flow communication with fluid contained within the container  20 . The mouthpiece  110  is only shown in conjunction with the container  20  of  FIG. 1  (for purposes of clarity) but the mouthpiece  110  is also used in conjunction with the other containers  50 ,  70 ,  90 . In use, the mouthpiece  110  comes in various forms including, without limitation, a shaped-spout cap, bottle cap having a spout or opening, drinking nipple or the like. Depending on the particular embodiment of the present invention, the mouthpiece  110  may be formed integrally as a unitary piece with the containers  20 ,  50 ,  70 ,  90  or the mouthpiece  110  may be separated formed and connected to the containers  20 ,  50 ,  70 ,  90  using conventional methods including, without limitation, snap-on engagement, press-fit engagement, threaded (i.e., screw-on) engagement or the like. Depending on the embodiment, the mouthpiece may be removed from the container  20 ,  50 ,  70 ,  90  to expose the body opening  26 ,  56 ,  76 ,  96 . Fluid to be consumed is poured into the  20 ,  50 ,  70 ,  90  through the body opening  26 ,  56 ,  76 ,  96 . When the desired amount of fluid to be consumed has been placed into the container  20 ,  50 ,  70 ,  90 , the mouthpiece  110  is replaced atop the container  20 ,  50 ,  70 ,  90 .  
         [0038]     The containers may be made by any means known in the art, such as blow molding, injection molding, extrusion molding or glass forming. The containers and valves may be made of various materials including, but not limited to, rubber, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene napthalate, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, ethylene vinyl alcohol, glass, aluminum and various alloys thereof.  
         [0039]     The above-described embodiments of the present invention are illustrative only and not limiting. It will thus be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects.