Patent Publication Number: US-2018050850-A1

Title: Closure with detachable flip straw

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/376,975, filed on Aug. 19, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The disclosure generally relates to caps for bottles and canteens, and in particular, the disclosure is directed to a closure with a detachable flip straw. 
     Conventional containers may hold a variety of different types of liquids and fluids. For example, known containers can hold various drinks and beverages such as water, flavored waters, juices, energy drinks, protein-enhanced drinks, shakes, foodstuffs, and liquid meal replacements. 
     These types of known containers may be used in a wide variety of environments such as at a home, office, gym, or health club, and while traveling. Known beverage containers may also be used during or after activities such as exercising or riding in an automobile, bus, train, or airplane. Traditional beverage containers, such as a coffee mug, are generally unsuitable for drinking beverages while exercising or traveling because they can easily spill their contents, are often heavy, not readily portable, and are prone to breaking if dropped. Traditional beverage containers are also generally unsuitable for use outside of a limited area because they may be relatively inconvenient to carry or transport, and may allow the contents to spill. 
     Some known beverage containers may include a small cover over the drinking aperture to prevent the contents from spilling. The small cover is typically manually opened by the user&#39;s hand when the user desires to take a drink. For example, the user may slide the cover into an open position, rotate the cover or a spout between an open and closed position, or depress a button or lever. Many of these known containers include a watertight or airtight seal between the cover and the drinking aperture to prevent the beverage from spilling. These known containers often require substantial effort to open and close the cover because the watertight or airtight seal must be formed or broken each time the cover is opened or closed. Some of these containers, especially when the container is full, may undesirably allow some of the beverage to spill when the cover is opened. In addition, because the cover may be suddenly and abruptly opened, this may cause some of the contents to spill. Further, a user may not want to touch a rotating spout with his or her fingers if their hands are dirty or unwashed. 
     Additionally, conventional beverage containers may also be difficult to clean or reuse because of the shape, number of parts, and complex configuration of one or more components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show aspects of one or more embodiments of the invention. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a closure with a detachable flip straw according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the closure shown in  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a cap portion of the closure according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a bottom of the cap portion of the closure according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the detached components of the closure according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a straw portion according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6B  is a further perspective view of a straw portion according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the top of the closure in the open position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A closure with a detachable flip straw (hereinafter, the “closure”) according to embodiments of the present invention facilitates easy opening and closing of the closure when mounted on a canister or bottle, transport of the canister or bottle including the closure, and cleaning the closure. The closure as discussed herein allows for accessing the liquids within a canister or bottle without having to touch a portion of the closure that would enter the user&#39;s mouth thereby avoiding contamination and germs. A closure according to the present disclosure is separable into a straw portion and a cap portion when the straw portion is in the substantially open or “drink” position, but is not separable when in the substantially closed position. The closure is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 7 . 
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary closure  100 , placed in the closed position, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Closure  100  is sized and configured to mate with the top of a canister or bottle that contains liquids, such as, but not limited to, a sports bottle, a canteen, and a water bottle. Closure  100  is also configured to move from a closed position (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) to an open position (as shown in  FIG. 7 ). Closure  100  includes a cap portion  104  and a straw portion  108 . The straw portion  108  is adapted and configured to rotatably and detachably engage with cap portion  104 . 
       FIGS. 2 through 4  show the cap portion  104 . Cap portion  104  has an engagement portion  112  that is sized and configured to mate with the top of a canister or bottle containing liquids (hereinafter all such possible containers will be referred to as “container”). Engagement portion  112  includes, in an exemplary embodiment, an outer surface  116  and an inner surface  120 . Inner surface  120  includes threads  124  adapted and configured to mate with corresponding threads on a container (not shown). In another exemplary embodiment, outer surface  116  includes threads or other suitable features to couple cap portion  104  with the container. Inner surface  120  may, in some embodiments, have a smooth surface. 
     Cap portion  104  also includes a reception area  128  for receiving the straw portion  108 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the reception area  128  can include a straw area  132 , a channel  136 , and a closing area  140 . The straw area  132  is, as shown, generally spherical with an aperture  144 , which extends through the cap portion  104  so as to allow for liquid to travel from the container to the straw portion  108 . In this embodiment, the generally spherical shape of the straw area  132  allows for the rotation of the straw portion  108  from a closed position to an open position, when straw portion  108  and cap portion  104  are coupled together. The channel  136  is sized and configured to receive a corresponding rod  148  (seen in  FIG. 5 ) of the straw portion  108  (discussed in more detail below). The channel  136  may be substantially circular in cross section with an upper opening  137 . The upper opening  137  is sized to accommodate the rod  148  of unsymmetrical cross section such that the rod  148  is only insertable or removable in a specific orientation relative to the channel  136  and the upper opening  137  (e.g., the assembly position described in greater detail later herein). For example, and without limitation, the width of the upper opening  137  is less than the greatest width of the channel  136  (e.g., the radius of the channel  136 ). The closing area  140  is sized and configured to receive an upper portion of the straw portion  108  when the straw portion is in the closed position. In an exemplary embodiment, the closing area  140  has a depth sufficient to allow the upper portion of the straw portion  108  to fully rest below an upper surface  152  of the cap portion  104 . This configuration assists in preventing contaminants from entering the straw portion  108  when in the closed position. 
       FIG. 4  shows the underside of the cap portion  104 . The cap portion  104  includes an internal straw receiver  154  that is sized and configured to accept and hold a removable straw (not shown) that can extend into the container to facilitate drinking of the fluids therein. The internal straw receiver  154  is adapted and configured to place the removable straw in fluid communication with the aperture  144  of the cap portion  104 . 
       FIGS. 5 through 7  depict the straw portion  108  in greater detail. The straw portion  108  is sized and configured to mate with the cap portion  104  and to provide for access to the contents of the container by the user without taking the closure  100  off the container. The straw portion  108  is shown to include a handle  156 , a ball coupling  160 , the rod  148 , and a sipper  164 . In some embodiments, the straw portion  108 , including the handle  156 , the ball coupling  160 , the rod  148 , and the sipper  164 , is of unitary construction. The handle  156  is coupled to the rod  148  at each end of the rod. The rod  148  is coupled to the ball coupling  160 . In this embodiment, the rod  148  is depicted as a single structure, although in other embodiments the rod may connect handle  156  to opposing sides of the ball coupling  160 . 
     The rod  148  is not perfectly circular. Rather, the rod  148  is generally oval in cross section with a major axis and a minor axis. The rod  148  has a greater length along the major axis than along the minor axis. In some embodiments, the rod  148  may be oval or circular in cross section but may also include squared off sides  149  running substantially parallel with the major axis. The squared off sides are positioned closer to the major axis than the ends of the minor axis if the rod were a complete oval in cross section. The oval features of the rod  148  facilitate the insertion of the rod  148  into the channel  136  and removal of the rod  148  from the channel  136  while also limiting unintended removal as described in greater detail later herein. 
     The sipper  164  is coupled to the ball coupling  160  and each has an aperture  168  that is fluidly connected to the aperture  144  of the cap portion  104  when straw portion  108  is in the open position. In the open position, the straw portion  108  is rotated such that the aperture  168  in the ball coupling  160  is aligned with the aperture  144  in the cap portion. The sipper  164  includes an internal region and the ball portion includes an internal region. The combination of apertures and internal regions allows fluid to flow from the bottle out of the sipper  164  when the straw portion  108  is in the open position. In some embodiments, the internal regions of the sipper  164  and the ball coupling  160  extend away from the center of the ball coupling  160  at different angles. This may facilitate placement of the sipper  164  relative to the cap portion  104  when the straw portion  108  is in different positions. 
     The straw portion  108  can also include a stop  172  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). In some embodiments, the stop  172  is an integrated portion of the straw portion  108 . The stop  172  may rest between the sipper  164  and the closing area  140  when the straw portion is in the closed portion. In the closed position, the stop  172  engages with and seals a vent aperture  184  in the cap portion  104  (used to provide return air flow as a user is drinking). For example, and without limitation, the stop  172  may be a frustoconical portion extending from a bottom side of the sipper  168  and forming a portion of the unitary straw portion  108 . The stop  172  engages with the vent aperture  184  which may include a gasket to seal the vent aperture  184  when the sipper  168  is lowered into the closing area  140 . The stop  172  may ensure that the sipper  164  does not descend too far into closing area  140 . 
     As shown in at least  FIG. 7 , when cap portion  104  and straw portion  108  are coupled together and the straw portion  108  is in an open position, the aperture  168  and the aperture  144  form a passageway that allows fluid to exit the container. A user may apply suction to the sipper  164  such that fluid is drawn from the bottle via the removable straw, through the aperture  144  of the cap portion  104 , through the aperture  168  of the ball coupling  160 , through the sipper  164 , and out through the aperture  168  of the sipper  164 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 through 3 , the closure  100  can include other components such as a gasket  176  and a gasket  180 , each of which serve to prevent liquid from inadvertently leaving the container other than by the sipper  164 . In this embodiment, the gasket  176  is disposed on the underside of the upper surface  152  thereby providing a seal between the cap portion  104  and the container. The gasket  180  sets in straw area  132  so as to provide a seal between the ball coupling  160  and the lower portion of the straw area  132  where the aperture  144  is disposed. For example, and without limitation, the gasket  180  may be an o-ring or similar gasket disposed about the aperture  144 . The gasket  180  is secured between the cap portion  104  and the straw portion  108  by the ball coupling  160  which exerts a force on the gasket  180  causing the gasket  180  to maintain a seated position in the straw area  132 . The force results from the straw portion  108  being secured in the channel  136 . In some embodiments, the straw area  136  may include a recess about the aperture  144  which partially receives the gasket  180  such that the gasket remains seated when the ball coupling  160  moves relative to the cap portion  104  and the gasket  180 . The gasket  180  maintains a substantially watertight seal between the aperture  144  of the cap portion  104  and the ball coupling  160 . As a result, the ball coupling seals the aperture  144  when the straw portion  108  is in the closed position. In the closed position, the aperture  144  and the aperture  168  of the ball coupling  160  are in misalignment and a seal is formed between the gasket  180  and the ball coupling  160 . 
     In use, a user secures the closure  100  to a container, optionally coupling an internal removable straw to internal straw receiver  154  prior to securing the closure to the container. With the straw portion  108  in a closed position, no liquid should escape the container via closure  100 . In the closed position, the stop  172  of the straw portion  108  seals the vent aperture  184  of the cap portion  104 , and the ball coupling  160 , in combination with the gasket  180 , seals the aperture  144  of the cap portion  104 . When the user is ready for a drink, the user presses handle  156  so as to rotate the handle from a substantially upright position ( FIG. 1 ) to a substantially downward position ( FIG. 7 ). The movement of handle  156  causes the sipper  164  to rise away from the closing area  140  until the aperture  168  is substantially aligned with the aperture  144 . As the sipper  164  rises, the vent aperture  184  is also unsealed as the stop  172  is drawn away from the vent aperture  184 . At this point, the user can take a drink from sipper  164 . When the user is finished, the user moves handle  156  from the substantially downward position to the substantially upward position, thereby misaligning the apertures  168 , 144  and thus closing off a fluid pathway for liquid to exit the container. 
     When the user desires to clean the closure  100 , the handle  156  is rotated as if the user wanted to take a drink as described above to an assembly position. In the assembly position, the handle is rotated such that the smaller width of the rod  148  (e.g., the width parallel with the minor axis of rod  148 ) is aligned with the upper opening  137  of the channel  136 . Once handle  156  has rotated, for example, 60 percent, 50 percent, 40 percent, or a value there between of the way from the substantially downward position to the substantially upright position thus placing the straw portion  108  in the assembly position, the user can pull the handle and/or other portion of the straw portion  108  and thereby disconnect straw portion  108  from cap portion  104 . In some embodiments, the fit between the rod  148  and the channel  136 , including the upper opening  137 , is an interference fit such that the user must exert a force to remove the straw portion  108  from the cap portion  104 . The rod  148  exits the channel  136  as the smaller width of the rod  148  is aligned with the upper opening  137 . It should be noted that straw portion  108  and cap portion  104  are not decoupleable at all times, as that may lead to inadvertent detachment. By not having straw portion  108  be removable from cap portion  104  when handle  156  is in a substantially upright position or other non-assembly position, the user does not have to be concerned about undesired detachment of the straw portion from cap portion  104 . The straw portion  108  is not decoupleable from the cap portion in positions other than the assembly position as a result of the shape of the rod  148  and the size of the upper opening  137 . In non-assembly positions (e.g., when the straw portion  108  is in the downward or upright positions) the wider portions of the rod  148  (e.g., the portions extending along the major axis) are aligned with the upper opening  137  and these portion os the rod  148  are larger than the upper opening  137 . Thus, the rod  148  is prevented from exiting the channel  136 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, handle  156  moves about  10  percent of the way or more from the substantially upright position to the substantially downward position before straw portion  108  can be decoupled from cap portion  104 . The removal of straw portion  108  facilitates cleaning of both the straw portion and cap portion  104 . Once the user has cleaned the straw portion  108 , the user couples the straw portion  108  to the cap portion  104  by inserting the rod  148  into the channel  136  with the handle  156  partially between the upright position and downward position, e.g., in the assembly position. The smaller width portion of the rod  148  is aligned with the upper opening  137  of the channel  136  such that the rod  148  is insertable through the upper opening  137  and into the channel  136 . The same assembly and disassembly procedures may be used in the manufacturing of or assembly of the closure  100 . 
     Exemplary embodiments have been disclosed above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions and additions may be made to that which is specifically disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.