Patent Publication Number: US-9901201-B2

Title: Water bottle

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The disclosure relates to water bottles, and, in particular, to a water bottle having a push button structure and a straw structure that can bounce up and be reset. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A traditional water bottle mainly comprises a bottle body and a cover. The bottle body has a container and an opening disposed on the top of the bottle body and being in communication with the container. The container is used for containing liquid, such as water or beverage. The bottle body has an external thread disposed on a periphery of the opening. The cover is used to cover the opening. The cover has an internal thread disposed on an inner side thereof that corresponds to the external thread, and can be engaged with the bottle body, such that the liquid contained in the container of the bottle body is prevented from leakage. 
     In order to facilitate the use of the water bottle, the cover generally will be further divided into two portions, including an upper cover and a lower cover. The lower cover is provided with the internal thread, and has a convex tube that is outward protruded and in communication with the container of the bottle body. The convex tube allows a user to suck the liquid in the bottle body or pour the liquid from the bottle body. The upper cover is used to cover the convex tube. The convex tube is generally designed to be a convex nozzle in the shape of a volcano. The lower cover, while in use, is normally fixed to the bottle body, and will be taken off only when more liquid needs to be filled in the bottle body. The upper cover has one end hinged on the lower cover, and the other end buckled on the lower cover through a buckle structure. A user may press the buckle structure and release the upper cover from the lower cover, so as to expose the convex tube. However, the buckle structure is likely loosened due to the vibration of the water bottle or the false touching by the user, and the liquid contained in container of the bottle body will leak therefrom, without being aware by the user. 
     Besides, the traditional water bottle generally has a straw additional installed. The straw has a bottom end at the bottom of the bottle body, and a head end extending out from the convex tube of the lower cover, for a user to suck the liquid in the water bottle. However, the straw is unlikely to be reset as a user opens the upper cover, and the head end of the straw cannot protrude from the convex tube smoothly. Accordingly, the user may need to make the straw out with his fingers, or adjust the position of the straw by unscrewing the lower cover, which may cause inconvenience to user. 
     In view of the above mentioned drawbacks, the traditional water bottle needs to be further improved. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a water bottle, which includes a first cover having a first pivot joint and a first buckle joint; a second cover having a second pivot joint pivotally connected with the first pivot joint, a second buckle joint, and a hollow convex tube connected with two surfaces of the second cover; a push button structure configured to connect the first cover with the second cover, the push button structure including: a body having a top portion, a bottom portion opposing the top portion, and an inner lateral portion disposed between the top portion and the bottom portion; a first buckle member disposed at the top portion; a second buckle member disposed at the bottom portion; and an elastic member disposed at the inner lateral portion, wherein the first buckle member is configured to buckle the first cover, the second buckle member is configured to buckle the second cover, and the elastic member is configured to bear against the second cover; a bottle body connected with the second cover; and a straw structure disposed in the bottle body and the hollow convex tube, the straw structure including: an elongate tube having opposing head end and tail end; and an elastic tube having a neck portion, a sleeve joint disposed adjacent the neck portion and having a caliber gradually increased in a direction away from the neck portion, and a bottom portion opposing the sleeve joint and having at least three grooves around an opening thereof that penetrate a tube wall of the bottom portion of the elastic tube, wherein the tail end of the elongate tube is detachably inserted into the sleeve joint and the neck portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a water bottle according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2A  is an exploded view of the water bottle according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2B  is an exploded view of a cover assembly of the water bottle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2C  is an exploded view of a cover assembly of the water bottle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a partially bottom view of a second cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4A  is a front view of a push button structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4B  is a front view of a push button structure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the push button structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6A  is a rear view of the push button structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6B  is a rear view of the push button structure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a straw structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the straw structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of an elastic tube according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the elastic tube according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view of a nozzle tube according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The following specific examples are given to illustrate the implementation of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that variations of these specific details are possible while still achieving the results of the present disclosure. For various embodiment and combinations can be provided according to the present disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2A , the water bottle  1  according to the present disclosure includes a cover assembly  110 , a straw structure  21  and a bottle body  30 . The cover assembly  110  is combined with the bottle body  30  by a thread structure. The straw structure  21  is disposed in the bottle body  30 . 
     The cover assembly  110  includes a first cover  111 , a second cover  112 , and a push button structure  113 . The first cover  111  has a first pivot joint  121  and a first buckle joint  122 . The second cover  112  has a second pivot joint  123 , a second buckle joint  124 , a convex tube  125 , and a handle  120 . The second pivot joint  123  is disposed on the handle  120  and is pivotally connected with the first pivot joint  121 . The first buckle joint  122  and the second buckle joint  124  can be separated or buckled together by the push button structure  113 . The first cover  111  can rotate relative to the second cover  112  through the first pivot joint  121  and the second pivot joint  123 . The second cover  112  is disposed on the bottle body  30  to cover the opening of the bottle body  30 . The convex tube  125  is in communication with the bottle body  30 , and the liquid contained in the bottle body  30  can flow out through the convex tube  125 , for a user to suck. When a user does not need to use the convex tube  125 , the first cover  111  can be used to cover the convex tube  125 , and the first buckle joint  122  and the second buckle joint  124  can be buckled together through the push button structure  113 , such that the convex tube  125  is sealed, so as to prevent the convex tube  125  from being exposed to contamination and to avoid the liquid from leaking from the bottle body  30  through the convex tube  125 . In an embodiment, a sealing pad  128  made of silicone is provided in the first cover  111 , and is used to seal the convex tube  125  when the first cover  111  is buckled to the second cover  112 . 
     In an embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2B  the handle  120  has a first stop portion  126 . When the pivot joint  121  of the first cover  111  rotates relative to the second pivot joint  123 , the first stop portion  126  is used for buckling the first cover  111  to the second cover  112 , thereby fixing the position of the first cover  111 , for a user to use the first cover  111  conveniently. 
     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2C , the handle  120  has a first stop portion  126  and a second stop portion  127 . When the pivot joint  121  of the first cover  111  rotates relative to the second pivot joint  121 , the first stop portion  126  is used to buckle the first cover  111  to the second cover  112 , and the second stop portion  127  is used to provide a stop portion position of the first cover  111 , thereby limiting the rotation range of the first cover  111 . The first stop portion  126  and the second stop portion  127  can fix the position of the first cover  111  for easy use. 
     The first buckle joint  122  includes a buckle plate  131  and a buckle groove  132 . The buckle plate  131  extends outward from the edge of the first cover  111 . The first buckle groove  132  is mounted through the buckle plate  131 . Refer to  FIG. 3 . The second buckle joint  124  includes two opposing limiting walls  133  and a second buckle groove  134  located below the two limiting walls  133 . The two side walls inside the second buckle groove  134  are provided with a mismatch  135 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 2A and 4-6 .  FIGS. 4-6  are the front view, the side view, and the rear view of the push button structure  113 , respectively. The push button structure  113  comprises a body  140 , a first buckle member  141 , a second buckle member  142 , and an elastic member  143 . The body  140  has a top portion  151  and a bottom portion  152  opposing the top portion  151 , an inner lateral portion  153 , and an outer lateral portion  154  opposing the inner lateral portion  153 . The inner lateral portion  153  and the outer lateral portion  154  are disposed between the top portion  151  and the bottom portion  152 . The first buckle member  141  is located at the top portion  151 . The second buckle member  142  is at the bottom portion  152 . The elastic member  143  is located on the inner lateral portion  153 . The first buckle member  141  is used to buckle the first cover  111 . The second buckle member  142  is used to buckle the second cover  112 . the elastic member  143  is used to bear against the second cover  112 . 
     The first buckle member  141  includes an elastic arm  155 , a cap  156 , and a chamfer  157 . The elastic arm  155  has one end connected to the top portion  151 , and the other end connected to the cap  156 . The cap  156  may be assembled with the elastic arm  155  to form a barbed structure. The chamfer  157  is formed between the top portion  151  and the elastic arm  155 , and can increase the intensity of the structure. The cap  156  includes an enlarged round  158 . The round  158  is formed on the side of the cap  156  back to the elastic arm  155 . The second buckle member  142  includes two opposing and symmetric feet  159 . The two feet  159  may each include an oblique hook  160 . The two oblique hooks  160  are disposed at the ends of the two feet  159  that are distal to the bottom portion  152 . The two oblique hooks  160  each have a slope  161  of increasing inclination on the outside surface of the oblique hook  160 . 
     In an embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4A , the slopes  161  of the two oblique hooks  160  slightly protrude out of the two feet  159  to form a hook shape. In another embodiment, as be seen in  FIG. 4B , the slopes  161  of the two oblique hooks  160  significantly protrude out of the two feet  159 , and the second buckle member  142 ′ buckled with the second cover  122  as shown in  FIG. 4B  is more stable than the second buckle member  142  as shown in  FIG. 4A . Therefore, the structure formed with the slopes  161  of the two oblique hooks  160 ′ is more prominent, and the more stable force can be provided by the second buckle member  142 ′ buckled with the second cover  112 . 
     The outer lateral portion  154  of the body  140  has multiple convex bars  162 . The convex bars  162  can increase the friction to enhance the feel. As shown in  FIGS. 5, 6A and 6B , the elastic member  143  includes a slant plate  163 . The slant plate  163  includes a fixed end and a free end. The fixed end is connected to the inner lateral portion  153 . The slant plate  163  extends obliquely relative to the body  140  from the fixed end to the free end. In an embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 6A , the slant plate  163  further includes a separation slot  164 . The separation slot  164  extends from the free end to the fixed end and extends to the position between the free end and the fixed end. The slant plate  163  is divided into two separate branch plates  165  by the separation slot  164 , and the width of the separation slot  164  is gradually decreased from the free end to the fixed end. In other words, the width of the two branch plates  165  is respectively gradually increased from the free end to the fixed end. The elastic member  143  further includes a fillet  166  that is formed between the slant plate  163  and the body  140 . 
     The push button structure  113  is normally assembled to the second cover  112 . During assembling, the body  140  is clamped by the two limiting walls  133 , and the two feet  159  of the second buckle member  142  are inserted into the second buckle groove  134 . When the two feet  159  are inserted into the second buckle groove, it will help to smooth the insertion because of the large angle of inclination of the slope  161 , to facilitate assembly. As seen in  FIG. 3 , when the two feet  159  are inserted into the bottom of the second buckle groove  134 , the two oblique hooks  160  will be stuck in the mismatches  135  of the two side walls in the second buckle groove  134 , and the push button structure  113  can be fixed on the second cover  112 . The elastic member  143  is used to bear against the second cover  112 , and the first buckle member  141  of the push button structure  113  and the first buckle joint  122  of the first cover  111  can be buckled together or separated. A user can buckle the first cover  111  to the second cover  112  by covering the convex tube  125  by the first cover  111 , such that the buckle plate  131  will be in contact with the first buckle member  141  of the first buckle groove  132 , and the cap  156  will penetrate the first buckle groove  132  by exerting a force under pressure. After the cap  156  penetrates the first buckle groove  132 , the elastic restoring force of the slant plate  163  and the branch plates  165  will push the body  140  outward. The barbed structure formed by the cap  156  and the elastic arm  155  is used to be buckled outwardly to the buckle plate  131  on the edge of the first buckle groove  132 . The round  158  of the cap  156  will make the cap  156  penetrate through the first buckle groove  132  more smoothly. 
     A user can open the first cover  111  by pressing the outer lateral portion  154 , such that the body  140  will move inwardly and be closer to the second cover  112 . At the same time, the cap  156  will also move inwardly, the barbed structure formed by the cap  156  and the elastic arm  155  will be unbuckled to the buckle plate  131 , and the cap  156  can be separated from the first buckle groove  132  by pulling the first cover  111  upward. The first cover  111  can be pivoted freely relative to the second cover  112 . When the first buckle member  141  and the first buckle joint  122  are buckled together, the slant plate  163  and the branch plates  165  bear against the second cover  112  constantly. Accordingly, the elastic restoring force of the slant plate  163  and the branch plates  165  will push the body  140  outward constantly, such that the cap  156  will not be separated from the first buckle groove  132  even in the case of vibration of the bottle or the false touching on the outer lateral portion  154  by a user. It is ensured that the first buckle member  141  and the first buckle joint  122  will not be separated from each other in an unexpected situation. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the slant plate  163  is further divided into two branch plates  165 , so as to reduce the elastic restoring force, and allow a user to press the outer lateral portion  154  more easily. In another embodiment, the elastic member does not include the separation slot and the branch plates. Instead of providing a whole piece of slant plate directly bear against the second cover, such the elastic member can provide a greater elastic restoring force, and the cap can thus buckle with the first buckle groove more stably, the slant plate  163  as shown in  FIG. 6B . 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the straw structure  21  is arranged in the bottle body  30  of the water bottle  1 . The straw structure  21  includes an elongate tube  210 , an elastic tube  220 , and a nozzle tube  230 . The elongate tube  210  includes a head end  211  and a tail end  212  opposing the head end  211  (referring to  FIG. 8 ). The elastic tube  220  includes a sleeve joint  221  and a bottom portion  222  opposing the sleeve joint  221 , and a neck portion  223 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The elastic tube  220  is a silicone tube which is mainly made of silicone. The whole body is flexible. The elastic tube  220  is not limited to be made of silicone. The neck portion  223  is adjacent to the sleeve joint  221 . The inner wall of the neck portion  223  is provided with at least one annular convex rib  224 . In an embodiment, the inner wall of the neck portion  223  is provided with two annular convex ribs  224  which are spaced apart from each other, but not limited thereto. The size of the caliber of the sleeve joint  221  is gradually enlarged in the direction away from the neck portion  223 . The shape of the sleeve joint  221  is similar to a horn. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the opening of the bottom portion of the elastic tube  222  is surrounded by for grooves  225 . In another embodiment, the opening is surrounded by more than three grooves, and not limited to four. The four grooves  225  are arranged in a cross structure, and penetrate radially through the tube wall of the bottom of the elastic tube  222 . Therefore, the bottom portion of the elastic tube  222  is divided into four arc-shaped columns by the grooves  225 , an inner wall of the arc-shaped column becomes thinner outwardly in the radial direction, and a mismatch  227  is formed between the inner wall of the arc-shaped column  226  and the inner wall of the elastic tube  220 . 
     The tail end of the elongate tube  212  can be separately inserted into the sleeve joint  221  and the neck portion  223 . The sleeve joint  221  has a horn shape. The size of the caliber near the opening of the sleeve joint  221  is larger than the caliber near the inside of the neck portion  223 , for the tail end of the elongate tube  212  to be inserted into the sleeve joint  221  more easily. In an embodiment, the annular convex ribs  224  of the inner wall of the neck portion  223  can be pressed against the tail end of the elongate tube  212  to increase the friction force between the elastic tube  220  and the elongate tube  210 , which effectively reduces the possibility of the tail end of the elongate tube  212  separated from the neck portion  223  and the sleeve joint  221 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 11 . The nozzle tube  230  includes a head end  231  and a tail end  232  opposing the head end  231 . The size of the caliber of the nozzle tube  230  is gradually reduced from the tail end  232  to the head end  231 . An annular flange  233  extends outwardly and radially from the tail end  232 . The inner wall of the nozzle tube  230  includes an annular step structure  234 . The head end of the elongate tube  211  is inserted into the tail end of the straw  232 . The annular step structure is helpful to the position and fastening of the head end of the elongate tube  211 . 
     In use, the straw structure  21  can be assembled in the water bottle, the elastic tube  220  is at the bottom of the bottle body  30 , the bottom of the elastic tube  222  is pressed in the bottom the bottle body  30 , and the nozzle tube  230  penetrates the convex tube  125  of the second cover  112 . The straw structure  21  is longer than the water bottle  1 , that is, the length from the opening of the convex tube  125  to the bottom of the bottle body  30 . Therefore, the head end  231  of the nozzle tube  230  will push out the opening of the convex tube  125  spontaneously, and the annular flange  233  will be pushed around the convex tube  125  under the second cover  112 , such that the head end of the straw  231  can be disposed a fixed length for sucking from the bottle body  30  through the head end of the straw  231 . When the convex tube  125  is covered with the first cover  111 , the down force of the head end of the straw  231  causes the overall structure of the straw  21  moves down, and the elastic tube  220  will bend limited by the bottom the bottle body  30 . When the first cover is opened, the elastic restoring force of the flexible elastic tube  220  causes the over structure of the straw  21  moves up, and the head end of the straw  231  will pop up to the outside of the opening of the convex tube  125  automatically, which facilitates the present disclosure very convenient to use. The cross shaped grooves and the arc-column at the bottom of the elastic tube  222  cause the arc-shaped column  226  to be easily spread out by exerting a slightly downward pressure by user, for a user to suck the liquid at the bottom of the bottle body  30  easily. 
     Therefore, the straw structure according to the present disclosure can be used in a portable water bottle. When a user opens the cover, the straw structure will automatically bounce up and be reset by the elastic restoring force of the elastic tube. Besides, the horn-shaped opening of the sleeve joint is helpful for inserting the elongate tube into the sleeve joint and the neck portion of the elastic tube. The annular convex rib of the neck portion of the elastic tube helps to fix the elongate tube. The cross-shaped grooves and the arc-shaped column at the bottom of the elastic tube can help to suck the liquid remaining at the bottom of the bottle. 
     In summary, with the first cover, the second cover, the push button structure and the straw structure according to the present disclosure, when the first buckle member is buckled with the first buckle joint, even if the vibration of the bottle or the outer lateral portion of the bottle being mistakenly contacted, the first buckle member and the first buckle joint are not likely to be separated from each other in an unexpected situation because of the design of the elastic restoring force of the elastic member. Besides, the elastic restoring force is provided by the elastic tube of the straw structure of the water bottle, causes the overall structure of the straw would move up after the first cover is opened, and the head end of the straw would pop up out of the opening of the convex tube spontaneously. The water bottle according to the present disclosure has the effects of convenient to use. 
     While the present disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.