Abstract:
A bottle cap assembly for pressurizing a water bottle is described herein. The bottle cap assembly comprises a cap, a teeter valve coupled to the top of the cap, a pressurizing plunger, a hollow pump shaft receiving the plunger, a hollow uptake adapter, a relief tube extension and a flexible conduit.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of fluid containers, in which the bottle must be squeezed or tilted to release the flow of fluid to allow for ease of drinking, washing, and/or cleaning and is particularly applicable to sports bottles, or the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent years, the number of health-conscious individuals has grown tremendously. In addition, research into the importance of clean water for hydration and other uses during health-improving activities: walking, hiking, biking, camping, and other outdoor activities has led to an increased need for fluid delivery devices that can provide fluids through a secure and hygienic means. Conventional fluid delivery devices, such as water bottles, are useful for various purposes in activities such as athletic, outdoor, recreational, or other uses. Typically, such devices are designed for a user to carry water, electrolytic fluid replacement drinks, or any type of liquid or, in some cases, powders or other materials. In many cases, these devices are used to enable active people: walkers, hikers, riders, and campers to drink or replenish fluid loss without stopping their particular activity. Additionally such devices may be used by these individuals as a source of water to clean themselves, their utensils and tools. 
     Depending on the type of fluid dispensing system, constant or frequent use of fluid containing devices and bottles can lead to damage to, for example, the pull-valve, or loss of a screw-type cap or pop-on/pop-off lid. Furthermore, for squeeze-type containers, the frequent deformation of the container can lead to structural failure of the walls of the container. Additionally, the ability to control water flow to clean or wash can be difficult as the fluid dispensing device must be tilted at a particular angle and/or squeezed to initiate the flow of water. 
     Additionally, transmission of germs and the inclusion of foreign material into the fluid becomes an increased risk from the constant and repetitive touching of the mouth to the pull-valve or rim and/or the repetitive opening of the container, exposing the contents to the environment. 
     Furthermore, the mechanical stress of repetitive opening and, in some cases, squeezing the bottle, may result in damaged or lost parts and a shortened product life span. 
     As a result of the above-stated problems and desires, there is a need for a fluid container, without the limitations of conventional fluid containers. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a pressurizable fluid container which may be further comprised of a body, a cap, a means for pressurizing the contents of the body and a dispensing mechanism, such as a spray nozzle. 
     In one or more embodiments, the pressurizable fluid container comprises a fluid containing body. The body may have chamfered or straight edges and may have a threaded portion to connect to a cap or lid. The threads may be interior or exterior to the body. The cap or lid may also have a threaded surface to screw on to the body. The threads may be interior or exterior to the cap. 
     In one or more embodiments, a plunger mechanism may be used to pressurize the contents of the body. The pressurization may be accomplished through a number of ways, for example, a plunger mechanism may consist of a handle, a shaft and a stopper. The plunger mechanism may be a vertical push-pull plunger. The plunger mechanism may be a horizontal push-pull plunger. The stopper may also be activated by a hinged or “squeeze-type” mechanism. In one or more embodiments, the contents may be pressurized by an external pump or a compressed gas canister. 
     In one embodiment, a vertical push-pull plunger is pushed repeatedly into and pulled repeatedly out of the body in order to pressurize the contents. Once pressurized, the contents may be released by activating a valve which allows the contents to travel up a relief tube and out the spray nozzle of the device. 
     In one or more embodiments, the valve may be used to open a fluid pathway to allow fluid in the body to escape. The valve may be a teeter valve which pivots on a transverse axis. When one side of the teeter valve is depressed, the fluid pathway to the nozzle is open. When the teeter valve is released, the fluid pathway is closed. 
     When the fluid pathway is open, the fluid may be directed to a nozzle. The nozzle may allow for adjustment of the release amount or other characteristics. In one embodiment, the nozzle may be a spray nozzle. The spray nozzle may be adjustable to allow for a fine mist, a stream of fluid, or a dispersed pattern to be released from the device. 
     The fluid pathway may be simply on-off or it may be controllable, as a variable flow. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the device may be used for hydration. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the device may be used for cleaning and washing. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the device may be used for applying a fluid or fluid-like substance to a surface or substrate. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, an uptake adapter may be inserted between the relief tube and the relief tube extension to improve the outflow of liquid and increase the structural integrity of the relief tube extension. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. 
     Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 
     Other objectives, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings wherein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the top front of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the left side of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the right side of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the underside of the lid assembly of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the interior of the lid of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the underside of the lid assembly of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the uptake adapter assembly of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9 a    is a perspective view of the underside of the lid assembly of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9 b    is a close-up perspective view of the positioning of the uptake adapter assembly of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Various embodiments or examples may be implemented in numerous ways, including as a system, a process, or an apparatus. A detailed description of one or more examples is provided below along with the accompanying figures. The detailed description is provided in connection with such examples, but is not limited to any particular example. The scope is limited only by the claims and numerous alternatives, modifications, and equivalents are encompassed. Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding. These details are provided for the purpose of example and the described techniques may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the examples has not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , bottle assembly  100  includes body  102 , it may include a top radius  104 , a bottom radius  106 , a thread lip  108 , a cap body (“cap”)  110 , a pressurizing plunger (“plunger”)  112 , a teeter valve pivot  114 , a nozzle base  116 , an adjustable spray screw cap  118 , and spray nozzle  120 . 
     In one or more embodiments, body  102  may have a threaded portion (not pictured here) upon which the cap  110  may be screwed onto. Plunger  112  is disposed through the cap  110  and is used to pressurize the body  102 . Adjustable spray screw cap  118  is threaded onto nozzle base  116 . By turning the adjustable spray screw cap  118 , the position of spray nozzle  120  is modified within nozzle base  116  thus changing the characteristics of the spray. The spray is activated by depressing a teeter valve (not pictured here) which pivots on an axis transverse through the diameter of the cap  110  located at the teeter valve pivot  114 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts the assembled bottle assembly  100  and further depicts a cut-away portion  202  of the cap  110 . The teeter valve  204  is shown located between the cap  110  and the plunger  112 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3  which shows a exploded perspective view of the left side of the bottle assembly  100 . Plunger shaft  302  has a top end which is connected to the plunger  112  and a bottom end which is connected to the stopper  304 . The stopper  304  may contain at least one of a multiple of flanges to produce pressure within the body  102 . 
     The plunger shaft is disposed through an opening  306  in the teeter valve  204 . The teeter valve  204  pivots on an axis through the cap  110  and located at the teeter valve pivot  114 . This pivot is accomplished by a teeter valve flange  308  projecting down on the underside of the teeter valve  204 . A pivot tab  310  is located at the lower tip of the teeter valve flange  308 . This pivot tab  310  extends partially into the teeter valve pivot  114  in the cap  110 . 
     In one embodiment, the cap  110  is removably connected to the body  102  by a threaded portion  320  of the body and a mirror threaded portion (not pictured here) on the interior of the cap  110 . To further seal this connection, a washer  312  is disposed between the body  102  and the cap  110 . 
     The stopper  304  is disposed within the pump shaft  316 . The pump shaft  316  has two ends, an upper end which has a threaded portion  318  and a lower end (not pictured here). The threaded portion  318  of the pump shaft  316  is rotatably attached to the underside of the cap  110 . 
     A relief tube  314  has both a first (“upper”) end and a second (“lower”) end. Relief tube  314  allows the pressurized fluid to escape the body  102 . In one embodiment, the upper end of relief tube  314  may be press-fit into the underside of the cap  110  utilizing an o-ring (not pictured) to form a seal. 
     A flexible conduit  322  has both a first (“upper”) end and a second (“lower”) end. The lower end of flexible conduit  322  is connected to the relief tube  314 . Pressurized fluid which rises through the relief tube  314 , passes through the cap  110  and then, in one or more embodiments, the upper end of relief tube  314  may be barbed to connect to the flexible conduit  322 . The upper end of the flexible conduit  322  passes through nozzle base  116  and is attached to the spray nozzle  120 . In one or more embodiments, the spray nozzle may  120  may be barbed, and flexible conduit  322  is press-fit over the barbs to form a connection. The pressurized fluid, having entered the nozzle base  116 , then attains the desired spray characteristics determined by the positioning of the adjustable spray screw cap  118  and the spray nozzle  120 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a return spring  402 , is disposed between the teeter valve  204  and the cap  110 . When the teeter valve  204  is pressed to activate a spray discharge, return spring  402  is compressed and the teeter valve pivots on the pivot tab  310 , located at the tip of the pivot flange  308 . Return spring  402  is located on extrusion  404 , on the interior top surface of cap  110 . 
     The plunger shaft  302  is disposed within a shaft guide  406  and when depressed and air is conducted through the pump shaft  316  and into the body  102  through a pump valve  410 , creates a pressure is created within body  102 . A relief tube extension  408  is connected to relief tube  314 , which in turn is connected to the underside of the cap  110 . In one embodiment, the relief tube extension  408  may be press-fit into the relief tube  314 . A through hole  606  (not pictured here) in the cap  110  then connects the flexible conduit  322  to the relief tube  314 . This relief extension  408 , relief tube  314  and flexible conduit  322  then conduct the pressurized fluid to the nozzle base  116 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts the underside of the assembled pump and valve mechanism of one or more of the preferred embodiments. The interior threaded portion  502  of underside of the cap  110  is used to connect to and disconnect from the body  102  (not pictured here). 
     Housing  504  contains the through hole  606  (not pictured here) for the relief tube  314  and is disposed on the underside of the cap  110 , as is the threaded connector  506  for the pump shaft  316 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , cap  110  is viewed from the top with teeter valve  204  and plunger  112  removed for clarity. Detents  602  and  604  allow clearance and free movement for pivot flanges  308  on interior surface of cap  110 . 
     A through hole  606  provides a connection point for the lower end of flexible conduit  322 . Flexible conduit  322  is then routed across the upper interior surface of cap  110  by guides  608  and  610 . The upper end of flexible conduit  322  is then connected to the barbed nozzle base  116  (not pictured here). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the cap insert assembly  700  comprises the interior threaded portion  502  of underside of the cap  110  which is used to connect to and disconnect from the body  102  (not pictured here). Housing  504  contains the through hole  606  (not pictured here) for the relief tube  314  and is disposed on the underside of the cap  110 , as is the threaded connector  506  for the pump shaft  316 . Filter assembly  702  is removably attached to the relief tube extension  408 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , uptake adapter assembly  800  is comprised of a first end and a second end. Upper flanges  802  are disposed at the first end of the uptake adapter  800  and inserted into relief tube  314  (not pictured). A first hose seat  804  and a second hose seat  806  are positioned adjacent to each other. An intake indention  808  is positioned adjacent to the second hose seat  806 . An intake hole  810  is centered within the intake indention  808 . Lower flange  812  is disposed at the second end of the uptake adapter  800  and inserted into relief tube extension  408  (not pictured). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 a   , cap insert assembly  700  is shown as an isometric view with a detailed inset. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 b   , the detailed inset of  FIG. 9 a    illustrates the positioning of the uptake adapter assembly  800  between the relief tube  314  and the relief tube extension  408 .