Patent Publication Number: US-2022212843-A1

Title: Drink Bottle

Description:
PRIORITY CROSS-REFERENCE 
     The present application claims priority from Australian Patent Application No. 2019203320 filed 13 May 2019 the contents of which is to be considered to be incorporated into this specification by this reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a drink bottle that has a drink container portion and a lid that removably connects to an open end of the container portion. The present invention is particularly concerned with drink bottles that employ a flexible drinking spout or straw that extends through the lid and into the container portion to facilitate drinking from the drink bottle. The present invention also relates to a removable lid for a drink bottle. 
     The present invention has particular application to drink bottle lids that are formed in two parts which have a first portion or inner lid that is connectable to the open end of a container portion and a second portion or outer lid that is hingedly connected to the first portion. In these forms of drink bottle lids, the outer lid can be hinged between an open position in which the drinking spout or straw is exposed for use, and a closed position in which the outer lid closes over the inner lid so that the drinking spout or straw becomes inaccessible and flow through the spout or straw is prevented. It will be convenient to describe the background to the invention in relation to this form of drink bottle. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The discussion of the background to the invention that follows is intended to facilitate an understanding of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any aspect of the discussion was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,622,229 in the name of Thermos LLC discloses a drink bottle with a removable lid that has inner and outer lids that are hinged to each other. A flexible drinking spout extends through the inner lid and also through an opening in a slide within the inner lid. The slide can be shifted between a first position in which a leading end of the slide cooperates with the outer lid to maintain the outer lid in a closed position relative to inner lid, and a second position in which the slide is retracted to release the leading end from cooperation with the outer lid so that the outer lid can pivot relative to the inner lid to an open positon, thereby providing access to the drinking spout. 
     A surface of the opening in the slide through which the drinking spout extends bears against a side surface of the drinking spout. That bearing engagement resists movement of the slide away from the first position and that resistance thus maintains the slide in the first position (absent a load overcoming the resistance) to maintain the cooperation between the leading end of the slide and the outer lid so as to maintain the outer lid in the closed position. 
     Retracting movement of the slide is resisted by resilient deformation of the flexible drinking spout. That resistance tends to return the slide from the second position to the first position when the load retracting the slide to the second position is released. Upon the load retracting the slide being released, the slide will return to the first position under resilient recovery of the drinking spout. In that position, the outer lid can be manually rotated to the closed position and the outer lid and the leading end of the slide will re-connect to retain the outer lid in the closed position. 
     The trailing end of the slide opposite the leading end is connected to a hinged button such that manual rotation of the button about the hinge in one direction retracts the slide from the first position against the resistance provided by resilient deformation of the drinking spout. Release of the button allows the button to rotate about the hinge in the opposite direction and to allow the slide to return under the influence of the drinking spout, to the first position. 
     The arrangement of U.S. Pat. No. 8,622,229 allows for quick release of the outer lid from the closed position for access to the drinking spout by pushing on the button to retract the slide. The arrangement of U.S. Pat. No. 8,622,229 further allows for automatic return of the slide from the retracted position so that when the outer lid is returned to the closed position, the leading end of the slide is in position for re-engaging the outer lid. 
     However, the arrangement of U.S. Pat. No. 8,622,229 is relatively complex, requiring a separate slide and button, and the button requiring separate connections to both the slide and the inner lid. The separate and hinged connection between the slide and the button is crucial to the operation of the drink bottle, as the hinge connection transfers the rotational force applied by a user to a lower portion of the button, to a linear force exerted onto the slide, to shift the slide in a direction to release the leading end of the slide from cooperation with the outer lid, thus releasing the outer lid to an open condition. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,550,269 in the name of Thermos LLC discloses an alternative drink bottle with a removable lid, in which the lid has an inner lid and an outer lid hinged to the inner lid. The inner lid has a button that extends through it and the button has a catch that cooperates with the outer lid to maintain the outer lid in a closed position relative to inner lid. The button can be shifted inwardly relative to the inner lid against the bias of a spring to release the catch and to allow the outer lid to pivot relative to the inner lid to an open positon, to thereby provide access to the drinking spout. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,550,269 is also relatively complex, requiring the inclusion of a resilient tube to bias the button. 
     The present applicant has endeavoured to develop a drink bottle having a removable lid that has inner and outer lids, in which the complexity of the lid is reduced without affecting the operation of the lid. In doing so, the present applicant has developed a drink bottle having a mechanism that can perform as required for drink bottles having an inner and outer lid construction as described above, but which can also have alternative uses as will become evident from the discussion that follows. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     According to the present invention there is provided a drink bottle comprising;
         a. a container for containing a liquid and a removable lid,   b. the container having an open end and the lid being removably connected to the open end,   c. a resiliently flexible drinking spout or straw assembly being mounted in the lid for extraction of liquid from within the container through the spout or straw assembly,   d. an actuator for actuating a function of the drink bottle, the actuator being slidably mounted to the lid for sliding movement between a home position and an actuation position, the actuator having a push face accessible from outside the lid for receiving finger pressure for displacing the actuator from the home position toward the actuation position for performing a function of the drink bottle,   e. the actuator having a bearing surface in bearing engagement with the spout or straw assembly such that movement of the actuator from the home position towards the actuation position resiliently deforms the spout or straw assembly and by the resilient deformation the actuator is biased towards the home position.       

     A drink bottle according to the invention can provide different functions depending on the use for which the actuator is put. In some forms of the invention, the drink bottle can include a removable lid that comprises an inner lid and an outer lid, with the outer lid being connected to the inner lid, such as being hingedly connected to the inner lid, to shift between closed and open positions or conditions. In these forms of the invention, the actuator can cooperate with the outer lid in the closed position of the outer lid to retain the outer lid in the closed position and movement of the actuator from the home position to the actuation position can release that cooperation so that the outer lid is released to shift to the open position. For this function, each of the actuator and the outer lid can, in some forms of the invention, include a catch so that the respective catches engage and cooperate when the outer lid is in the closed position to prevent movement of the outer lid to the open position. That is, the actuator and the outer lid each include catch components which engage and cooperate when the outer lid is in the closed position to prevent movement of the outer lid to the open position. 
     A drink bottle according to the above form of the invention in which the removable lid that comprises an inner lid and an outer lid, is relatively simple, at least compared to the prior art discussed above. The actuator can provide actuation as a single part, in contrast to the multi-part construction of the slider and button of U.S. Pat. No. 8,622,229, while there is no requirement for a resilient tube as disclosed in Australian Patent 2014202551. With this latter prior art, applicant notes that standards around the world have requirements in relation to the use of small parts that could present choking hazards. The use of a small resilient tube in a drinking bottle could give rise to a breach of standards and present as a safety hazard. 
     Advantageously, the natural resilience of the spout or straw assembly can be employed for biasing the actuator towards or into the home position, so that an alternative bias arrangement (such as a coil spring or a resilient tube) is not required. 
     The simplicity of a drink bottle according to the above form of the invention allows for simplified manufacture and a reduction in parts, both of which contribute to a reduction in cost, although the operation of the drink bottle is still simple and effective. 
     However, development of the present invention has revealed that a slidable actuator that has a bearing surface in bearing engagement with the spout or straw assembly to bias the actuator towards the home position, can have other uses or functions in a drink bottle. For example, the slidable actuator can be used to prevent removal of the lid of a drink bottle by the actuator cooperating with the container of the drink bottle when the actuator is in the home position to lock the lid against disconnection from the container. In one example of this form of the invention, a portion of the actuator could extend into an opening in the container in the home position and by that cooperation between the actuator and the container, removal of the lid would be prevented. Where the lid connects to the container by screw thread, cooperation between the actuator and the container would be such as to prevent unthreading of the lid from the container. This could be a safety feature of a drink bottle according to the invention. 
     Alternatively, cooperation between the actuator and the container could be arranged to secure the lid to the container. That is, the lid could be applied to the container with the actuator in the actuation position and once the lid is in place on the container, the actuator could be released to the home position to move to a position of cooperation with the container and thus to secure the lid to the container. Removal of the lid from the container can be achieved by pushing the actuator from the home position to the actuation position to release the cooperation between the lid and the container. In this form of the invention, other forms of connection between the lid and the container, such as threaded connection, might not be required. 
     Still further, actuation of the actuator could be used to engage a vent to equalise the internal container pressure at any time, such as during drinking from the drink bottle, or in flight. In this form of the invention, a portion of the actuator could be in bearing contact with a vent flap, or could overlie a vent opening, such that movement of the actuator from the home position to the actuation position shifts the vent flap to an open or venting position, or exposes the vent opening to the interior of the container. 
     The actuator could alternatively provide a fidget for children that benefit from tactile interactions, such as neuro divergent children. The fidget could simply be the action of biased movement between the home and actuation positions. 
     Still further, the lid of a drink bottle according to the invention might itself define a container for storage of snacks, cutlery, or other items. The lid could thus include an inner lid and an outer lid similar to that described above whereby a containment area or volume is created between the inner and outer lids in the closed position of the outer lid relative to the inner lid for storage purposes. In this form of the invention, the actuator can lock the outer lid closed relative to the inner lid in the home position and can release the outer lid to an open positon in the actuation position. 
     It will thus be evident that the aspect of the invention that is common to all of the embodiments discussed above, is the provision of a slidable actuator that is slidable between home and actuation positions and which is biased towards the home position by bearing engagement with the resiliently flexible drinking spout or straw assembly. It is to be noted that the reference herein to spout or straw assembly or later herein just to spout is intended to cover an assembly that has any form of flexible conduit through which liquid can be extracted for drinking from the bottle and includes other conduits such as teats. The expression also covers other components that might be associated with a drinking spout or straw assembly, such as a gasket and a vent for example. Such an assembly might also include a flexible projection that is engaged by the bearing surface of the actuator rather than the actual conduit of the assembly through which liquid flows during drinking. 
     Further discussion will be given in relation to forms of the invention that include a removable lid that comprises an inner lid and an outer lid, with the outer lid being connected to the inner lid, for movement between closed and open positions or conditions. 
     In these forms of the invention, the actuator can be slidably mounted to the lid in any suitable manner. In some forms of the invention, the actuator can be mounted or accommodated within an opening in the inner lid and the push face presents at or through a side wall of the inner lid. That is, the opening is open at or opens through a side wall of the inner lid so that the push face is accessible at the side wall of the inner lid for finger pressure. A portion of the actuator comprising the bearing surface can extend out of the opening for bearing engagement with the spout or straw assembly. 
     The actuator can for example have a relatively linear or straight form, so that the actuator has the push face at one end and the bearing surface at an opposite end and whereby the actuator has a lengthwise axis between the push face and the bearing surface is mounted in the inner lid for linear movement along the lengthwise axis. 
     For mounting the actuator in the inner lid, the opening in the lid can be a close or snug fit about the actuator so that the actuator is guided within the opening between the home and actuation positions. Thus, there can be sliding contact between the actuator and facing internal surfaces of the opening as the actuator moves between the home and actuation positions. The biasing load applied to the actuator by the drinking spout or straw assembly must be sufficient to overcome the frictional load generated by this sliding contact. 
     The actuator can be arranged to cooperate with the opening to prevent rotation of the actuator within the opening. In some forms of the invention, the actuator can include rails, arms or bars for receipt within grooves, slots or channels formed in the internal surfaces of the opening, or the actuator can include grooves, slots or channels for receipt of rails, arms or bars formed as part of the opening. Alternatively, the actuator can be formed in an irregular shape or in a non-circular shape with the opening, or a portion of the opening formed to have the same irregular or non-circular shape to prevent rotation of the actuator within the opening. 
     As discussed above, where the removable lid of the drink bottle comprises an inner lid and an outer lid, the actuator can be arranged to cooperate with the outer lid to retain the outer lid in the closed position. Any suitable arrangement of cooperation between the actuator and the outer lid can be employed such as the catch arrangement discussed above. 
     The catch arrangement can be operable so that, with the actuator in the home position and being biased into that position by engagement with the drinking spout or straw assembly and with the outer lid in the open position, or at least not in the closed position, movement of the outer lid to the closed position will cause the catch of the outer lid to drive the actuator to shift towards the actuation position to allow the respective catches to move to an engagement position and thereafter, the actuator can return to the home position for engagement between the respective catches. At that point, the outer lid is retained in the closed position. 
     The catch arrangement can include an upstanding catch (relative to an upright standing condition of the drink bottle) that is formed as part of the actuator. The upstanding catch can be upstanding from an upper surface of the actuator. The upstanding catch can include a lateral catch member which interacts or cooperates with a corresponding catch receiver of the outer lid in the closed position of the outer lid. A catch receiver would comprise an opening or detent for receiving the catch member. One or each of the catch member and the catch receiver can have an inclined or sloping surface so that the respective members can ride past each other prior to the catch member being received within the catch receiver. 
     The catch arrangement could take many other different forms. 
     The actuator can further include one or more abutments for terminating travel of the actuator within the lid. The abutments are arranged or positioned for engagement with abutment surfaces of the lid so that when the actuator reaches the home position, further travel of the actuator is terminated. Likewise, further abutments can be arranged or positioned so that when the actuator reaches the actuation position, further is terminated. The provision of abutments to terminate travel of the actuator at each of the home position and the actuation position, confines the extent to which the actuator can travel, or confines the allowable stroke of travel, and allows the bearing surface of the actuator to remain in permanent or constant contact with the drinking spout or straw assembly for permanent or constant biasing of the actuator towards the home position. 
     While the preference is for the bearing surface of the actuator to remain in permanent or constant contact with the drinking spout or straw assembly in the home position, it is to be appreciated that the actuator might lose contact with the spout or straw assembly in the home position, say due to manufacturing tolerances, or just over time as the drink bottle components wear. Thus, what is important is that the actuator be biased by the spout or straw assembly as the actuator moves from the home position to the actuation position so that upon release of the force displacing the actuator towards the actuation position, the spout or straw assembly biases the actuator back to the home position. 
     In some forms of the invention, the actuator is provided with a pair of abutments which extend in different directions, preferably opposite directions, for engagement with different abutment surfaces of the lid. This arrangement is most relevant to the abutments that terminate travel of the actuator at the home position, as it has the advantage that if the drink bottle is dropped for example, or suffers a sudden impact, if one of the abutments of the actuator dislodges from the abutting surface, the other of the abutments will retain abutting engagement with the other abutment surface and so the actuator will retain its position in the home position. In this example, if only one abutment were provided and that abutment became dislodged from the abutting surface, the actuator may become completely free from the lid and perhaps become lost or damaged. 
     The actuator can have an abutment at our adjacent the push face. That abutment can take any suitable form and can for example be or include a lip that engages a facing surface of the lid when the actuator is in the actuation position. Where the actuator has an upstanding catch as described earlier, the upstanding catch can engage with a surface of the lid when the actuator is in the actuation position. This can be in addition to a lip that is provided adjacent the push face. 
     The applicant has developed actuators that have particular constructions that provides advantages in operation. In one form of actuator, the actuator has a push face as required and a depending body that has the bearing surface formed at a portion of the body remote from the push face. In another form of actuator, the actuator has a push face as required and has two depending components comprising a pair of legs that are spaced apart. The legs extend generally in the same direction and away from the push face. One or each of the legs can include a bearing surface for bearing engagement with the drinking spout or straw assembly. The bearing surface can be formed at an end of one of the legs or at the ends of each leg remote from the push face. The bearing surface formed by one of the legs or by each leg can be slightly curved convexly for increased surface engagement with the surface of the drinking spout or straw assembly. Where the bearing surface is formed at the ends of each leg, the bearing surface can be formed in two parts that are separated by a gap whereby the gap is formed by a spacing between the pair of legs. The legs can be symmetrical about a centre line between them. The legs can include abutments for abutting abutment surfaces of the lid when the actuator is in the home position to locate the actuator in the home position. 
     The actuator can alternatively have a push face as required and three depending components comprising a pair of side legs and an intermediate body. The body and the side legs extend generally in the same direction and away from the push face. The side legs can be symmetrical about the body, so that the body is central between the side legs, although that is not essential. 
     In the above form of actuator, the body can include the bearing surface for bearing engagement with the drinking spout or straw assembly. The bearing surface can be formed at an end of the body remote from the push face. The bearing surface can be slightly curved convexly for increased surface engagement with the surface of the drinking spout or straw assembly. The side legs can be spaced from the body and the side legs can include abutments for abutting abutment surfaces of the lid when the actuator is in the home position to locate the actuator in the home position. 
     In each of the above arrangements, the legs can be arranged for flexing movement so that when the actuator is inserted into the lid, the legs flex inwardly from a relaxed or resting position to allow insertion and once inserted, the legs return to the relaxed or resting position with the abutments of the legs in abutting engagement with the abutment surfaces of the lid and the bearing surface of the legs or the body in bearing engagement with the spout or straw assembly. The spout or straw assembly thus biases the actuator towards the home position and thus biases the abutments of the legs into abutting engagement with the abutment surfaces of the lid. This form of actuator can include a catch arrangement of the kinds discussed above. 
     In the above forms of actuator, the legs can be captured at least partially in grooves, slots or channels formed in the internal surfaces of the lid, such as in an opening formed in the lid to receive the actuator, to guide the actuator during sliding travel between the home and actuation positions. 
     The drinking spout or straw assembly can have a drinking portion that extends from the inner lid and from which a person can drink, and which is captured between the inner and outer lids when the outer lid is in the closed position. That drinking portion of the spout or straw assembly can be collapsed in the closed position of the outer lid and upon release of the outer lid the resilient flexibility of the drinking portion can be operable to drive or shift the outer lid to the open position once it is released from the closed position by actuation of the actuator. The outer lid can spring to the open position as a result of resilient recovery of the drinking portion from the collapsed condition. 
     The above discussion illustrates the use of an actuator that has a bearing surface in bearing engagement with the spout or straw assembly of a drink bottle and the manner in which that arrangement can be employed in the opening and closing of a drink bottle lid that has both an inner lid and an outer lid. It is to be appreciated however that the invention can have other applications such as described above in relation to securing the lid (of any form) to the container of a drink bottle, venting a drink bottle, acting as a fidget, and forming part of a closure mechanism for a container that is formed as part of the drink bottle lid. 
     It should also be appreciated that the reference to liquid in this specification is intended to include low and high viscosity drinkable liquids that can be sucked through a straw or spout. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, some embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a drink bottle according to one embodiment of the invention with the lid of the drink bottle in a closed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the drink bottle of  FIG. 1  with the lid of the drink bottle in an open position. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the drink bottle of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the lid of the earlier figures, and showing the actuator in the home position. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the lid of the earlier figures, with the actuator shown in the actuation position. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the lid of the earlier figures, with the outer lid having shifted from the closed position of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , to a partly open position. 
         FIGS. 7 a  and 7 b    are perspective views of an actuator for use in a drink bottle according to the invention, taken from above and below. 
         FIG. 7 c    is a plan bottom view of the actuator of  FIGS. 7 a    and  7   b.    
         FIGS. 7 d  and 7 e    are plan top views showing the actuator of  FIGS. 7 a  and 7 b    in use between the home and actuation positions. 
         FIGS. 8 a  and 8 b    are perspective views of an actuator for use in a drink bottle according to the invention, taken from above and below. 
         FIG. 8 c    is a plan bottom view of the actuator of  FIGS. 8 a    and  8   b.    
         FIGS. 8 d  and 8 e    are plan top views showing the actuator of  FIGS. 8 a  and 8 b    in use between the home and actuation positions. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a further form of lid for use in the invention, with the outer lid in an open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate perspective view of a drink bottle  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The drink bottle  10  is shown in  FIG. 1  with the lid  11  of the bottle  10  in a closed condition and in  FIG. 2  with the lid  11  in an open condition.  FIG. 3  illustrates the drink bottle  10  in exploded view. 
     The drink bottle  10  includes a container  12  that in use will contain a quantity of fluid for drinking purposes. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the container  12  has an open end  13  and the lid  11  is removably connected to the open end  13  by a screw threaded arrangement. Inserted between the lid  11  and the open end  13  is a resiliently flexible drinking spout or straw assembly  14  (hereafter “drinking spout”) which includes a circular gasket  15 , a hollow neck  16  and a hollow drinking portion  17 . The gasket  15  is sandwiched between facing sealing surfaces of the open end  13  and the lid  11 , to provide a liquid seal between the container  12  and the lid  11  when the drink bottle  10  is assembled. This ensures that liquid that travels from the container  12  to the lid  11  passes through the neck  16  and into the drinking portion  17  without leakage. 
     The lid  11  includes an inner lid  20  and an outer lid  21 . The respective inner and outer lids  20  and  21  are connected by a hinged connection  22 . 
     The inner lid  20  includes an opening  25  for accepting and seating the neck  16  of the drinking spout  14 . The resilient flexibility of the spout  14  means that the spout  14  can be assembled to the inner lid  20  by being pushed through and into engagement within the opening  25  and this secures the spout  14  in place in relation to the inner lid  20 . Thus, the neck  16  is a tight fit within the opening  25  and the respective shapes of the opening  25  and the neck  16  are complementary. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the outer lid  21  can pivot about the hinge  22  to the open position shown in  FIG. 2  and can likewise return to the closed position shown in  FIG. 1 . As will be described later herein, the outer lid  21  can be retained in the closed position of  FIG. 1  by a suitable catch mechanism that is associated with an actuator  26  (see  FIG. 3 ). The actuator  26  is mounted within the inner lid  20  for sliding movement between a home position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and an actuation position (which will be described later herein). In the home position, the actuator  26  can secure the outer lid  21  in the closed condition relative to the inner lid  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 , while inward movement of the actuator  26  to the actuation position releases the outer lid  21  to shift to the open condition shown in  FIG. 2 . To shift between the home and actuation positions, the actuator  26  includes a push face  27  that can be pushed by finger pressure inwardly from the home position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     As will become apparent later herein, the drinking portion  17  is captured in a void between the inner and outer lids  20  and  21  when the lid  11  is in the closed position of  FIG. 1 . However, when the outer lid  21  is released from retention to the inner lid  20  (so that it is not retained in the closed position) by inward movement of the actuator  26 , the resilient flexibility of the drinking portion  17  can be used to lift or drive the outer lid  21  to rotate about the hinge  22  to the open condition shown in  FIG. 2 . The resilience of the drinking portion  17  can be such as to spring the outer lid  21  open once the actuator  26  releases the outer lid  21  so that manual pivoting of the outer lid  21  to the open position is not required. 
     When the outer lid  21  rotates in the opposite direction from the open position to the closed position, the outer lid  21  will collapse the drinking portion  17  and for this, the outer lid  21  includes an internal post  28  to engage and push on the drinking portion  17 . The free end  29  of the post  28  is curved convexly, tending to locate the drinking portion  17  centrally as it collapses and to resist the portion  17  from sliding out of engagement with the free end  29 . 
     An important aspect of the drink bottle  10 , is that the actuator  26  engages directly with a surface of the neck  16  of the drinking spout  14  in each of the open and closed conditions of the lid  11 , and by that permanent or constant contact or engagement, the actuator  26  is permanently or constantly biased towards the home position of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Moreover, inward sliding movement of the actuator  26  is resisted by that engagement and the bias applied to the actuator  26  tends to return the actuator  26  to the home position. Thus, finger pressure applied to the push face  27  can displace the actuator  26  inwardly of the inner lid  20 , but once that pressure is released, the actuator  26  will return to the original position (the home position) from which the actuator  26  was initially pushed or displaced. As discussed earlier, this arrangement is relatively simple when compared to prior art arrangements, in that there is no requirement in the drink bottle  10  for a separate spring part to act on the actuator  26 , and the actuator  26  is not formed from a pair of separate components that are connected together for pivoting movement. 
     The mechanism by which operation of the actuator  26  occurs is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 4 to 6  which illustrates the lid  11  of the drink bottle  10  and only the upper portion of the container  12  which connects to the lid  11 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  show the lid  11  in a closed condition while  FIG. 5  shows the lid  11  in an open condition.  FIGS. 4 and 5  thus show the drinking portion  17  of the drinking spout  14  collapsed and captured in a void between the inner and outer lids  20  and  21 . 
     The actuator  26  is slidably mounted within the inner lid  20  and so the actuator  26  remains with the inner lid  20  regardless of whether the outer lid  21  is in the closed or open position.  FIGS. 4 to 6  show upper and lower surfaces of the opening within which the actuator  26  is captured. Side edges of the actuator  26  are captured in grooves, slots or channels formed in the lid  11 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the actuator  26  is received within the opening  30  of the inner lid  20  and the actuator  26  is mounted for sliding movement within that opening  30 . The opening  30  is open at or through a side wall of the inner lid  21  so that the push face  27  is accessible for the application of finger pressure. 
     The end  35  of the actuator  26  forms a bearing surface for bearing engagement with a surface of the drinking spout  14 . In  FIG. 3 , the surface of the spout  14  is the front surface  36  of the neck  16 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the bearing surface  35  of the actuator  26  faces the front surface  36  of the neck  16 , but is slightly spaced from that surface. In  FIG. 5 , the actuator  26  has been shifted under finger pressure and thus has moved into contact with the surface  36 . That contact is such as to resist inward movement of the actuator  26  within the opening  30 . 
       FIG. 4  also shows that the actuator  26  includes an upstanding catch  38  that is upstanding from an upper surface of the body  41  of the actuator  26  as shown in the orientation of the drink bottle  10  and the lid  21  in the figures, and that includes a lateral catch member  39 . Likewise, the outer lid  21  includes a catch receiver  40  and as shown in  FIG. 4 , the catch member  39  and the catch receiver  40  interact in the closed position of the outer lid  21  to retain the outer lid  21  in that position. The cooperating engagement between the catch member  39  and the catch receiver  40  is facilitated by the bias or load applied to the actuator  26  by the drinking spout  14  through the engagement of the bearing surface  35  of the actuator  26  with the front surface  36  of the spout  14 . That engagement tends to retain the cooperation between the catch member  39  and the catch receiver  40 . For example, in  FIG. 4 , movement of the actuator  26  in a direction to disconnect the catch member  39  from the catch receiver  40  will cause the bearing surface  35  of the actuator  26  to engage the neck  16  of the spout  14  and to prevent disconnection. 
     In  FIG. 5 , a push force has been applied to the push face  27  of the actuator  26  to cause the actuator  26  to slide inwardly relative to the inner lid  20  and the outer lid  21 . The push force would ordinarily be applied by the thumb of a person wanting to drink from the drink bottle  10 , although of course any finger can be used to apply pressure, or alternatively, pressure could be applied by different means if finger pressure is not available. 
     In  FIG. 5 , the inward movement of the actuator  26  has shifted the catch member  39  from cooperation with the catch receiver  40 . Moreover, the inward movement of the actuator  26  has shifted the bearing surface  35  inwardly against the surface  36  of the drinking spout  14 , and that movement of the actuator  26  has caused visible deformation of the neck  16 . That resilient deformation of the drinking spout  14  is such as to increase the biasing load applied to the actuator  26  through the bearing surface  35 , tending to push the actuator  26  back to the home position. 
     As a result of the catch member  39  being displaced from the catch receiver  40 , the outer lid  21  is free to pivot about the hinge  22  to an open position as shown in  FIG. 6 . That pivoting movement can either be manually achieved by the person using the drink bottle  10  lifting the outer lid  21 , or alternatively, the resilient recovery of the drinking portion  17  of the drinking spout  14  from the collapsed condition of  FIGS. 4 and 5  will force the outer lid  21  to open in the absence of a force or load retaining the outer lid  21  in the closed position. In practice, if there is no load tending to maintain the outer lid  21  in the closed position, as soon as the lateral catch member  39  is free of the catch receiver  40 , the outer lid  21  will spring open under the resilient recovery of the drinking portion  17  and the drinking portion will present for use as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     The applicant has developed different actuators that have different constructions. A first form of actuator  26  has already been described in relation to  FIG. 3 . That actuator  26  has a push face  27 , a bearing surface formed at the end  35 , and an upstanding catch  38  upstanding from the body  41 . The body  41  is a single part component and the sides of the body  41  are at least partially captured in grooves, slots or channels formed in the internal surfaces of the lid to guide the actuator during sliding travel between the home and actuation positions. Two different forms of actuator that are different in construction to the actuator  26  are shown in  FIGS. 7 a -7 d  and 8 a    to  8   d.    
     The actuator  45  shown in  FIGS. 7 a  to 7 b    is equivalent to the actuator  26  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and includes a push face  46 , a pair of side legs  47  and a central body  48 . Remote from the push face  46 , the central body  48  includes a convexly curved free end  49  for engagement with the front surface  36  of the neck  16  of the drinking spout  14 . 
     Also remote from the push face  46 , are laterally extending abutments  50  which, as shown in  FIGS. 7 d  and 7 e    extend laterally to overlie abutment surfaces  51  of the inner lid  20 . In this respect, portions of the side legs  47  are captured within channels formed internally of the inner lid  20  to guide sliding movement of the actuator  45  between home and actuation positions. The abutments  50  are not captured within those channels and therefore bear against end surfaces (the abutment surfaces  51  of the channels) when the actuator  45  is in the home position as shown in  FIG. 7 d   . Moreover, the actuator  45  includes a lip  52  adjacent the push face  46  that faces opposite abutment surfaces  53  of the inner lid  20  and thus it will be readily evident from  FIGS. 7 d  and 7 e   , that the actuator  45  has limited travel between respective engagement between the abutment  50  and the abutment surfaces  51 , and the lip  52  and the abutment surface  53 . 
       FIGS. 7 d  and 7 e    also show the interaction or cooperation of the body  48  and the neck  16  of the drinking spout  14 . In  FIG. 7 d   , the actuator  45  is in the home position and so the lip  52  is in engagement with the abutment surfaces  53 . The abutments  50  are spaced from the abutment surfaces  51 . The neck  16  is cylindrical and relatively undeformed by any pressing contact with the bearing surface  49  of the body  48 . That is, in the home position, there is only light engagement between the bearing surface  49  and the neck  16 , and so the natural cylindrical configuration of the neck is largely undisturbed. However, in  FIG. 7 e   , the actuator  45  has been pushed inwardly, so that now, the actuator  45  is in the actuation position and so the lip  52  is spaced from the abutment surfaces  53  and the abutments  50  have engaged the abutment surfaces  51 . By that engagement, further inward travel of the actuator  45  is terminated. 
     The inward travel of the actuator  45  has also caused resilient deformation of the neck  16  so that the neck  16  is no longer cylindrical. The neck is biasing the actuator  45  towards the home position against the pushing force being applied to the actuator  45 . 
       FIGS. 7 d  and 7 e    also show that the side legs  47  need to flex inwardly so that the abutments  50  can pass through the channels the inner lid  20  in which the side legs  47  are captured for sliding movement, given that the abutments  50  extend laterally a greater distance than the side surfaces  55  side legs  47 . Thus, to insert the side legs  47  into the channels, the side legs  47  flex inwardly from a relaxed or resting position and once inserted, the side legs  47  return to the relaxed or resting position with the abutments  50  in facing relationship with the abutment surfaces  51 . By this arrangement, the actuator  47  is captured in place in the lid  20  for limited sliding movement. 
       FIGS. 8 a  to 8 e    show an alternative actuator  55  which includes a push face  56  and a pair of legs  57 . The free ends  58  and  59  of the legs  57  form a bearing surface for bearing against the front surface  36  of the neck  16  of the drinking spout  14  of the earlier figures. Abutments  60  are formed at the free ends of each of the legs  57  and a catch  62  is provided, having the same shape as the catch  38 . 
     It will be evident from  FIGS. 8 a  to 8 c   , that the actuator  55  has a different shape to the actuator  45  of  FIGS. 7 a  to 7 c   . Despite this, the actuator  55  operates effectively in the same manner to the actuator  45 . In  FIG. 8 d   , the actuator  55  is in the home position, in which the abutments  60  bear against the abutment surfaces  61  of the inner lid  20 . Like the side legs  47  of the actuator  45 , the legs  57  are captured within channels formed internally of the lid  20  to guide sliding movement of the actuator between the home and actuation positions. 
     The actuator  55  is biased to the home position by bearing engagement with the neck  16  of the drinking spout  14 . This occurs through bearing engagement between the bearing surfaces  58  and  59  of the legs  57  and a facing surface of the neck  16 . 
     The actuator  55  can be pushed inwardly as shown in  FIG. 8 e    by finger pressure applied to the push face  56  to displace the abutments  60  from the abutment surfaces  61 . This inward movement deforms the neck  16  as shown in  FIG. 8 e    and increases the biasing influence of the neck  16  on the actuator  55 . 
     The actuator  55  operates substantially the same as the actuator  45 , except that the actuator  55  does not include a lip  52  for engagement with an abutment face  53  as shown in  FIGS. 7 d  and 7 e   . In contrast, inward movement of the actuator  55  is limited by abutting engagement between upstanding abutment  63  and an internal abutment of the inner lid  20 . 
     A further alternative form of drink bottle is illustrated in  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9  shows an arrangement in which a lid  65  is attached to the container  12  and includes an inner lid  66  and an outer lid  67 . The inner lid  66  accommodates the same drinking spout  14  as previously described. The main difference between the inner lid  66  and the inner lid  20  previously described is that the inner lid  66  does not include an opening for accommodating the actuator  68 . In  FIG. 9 , it can be seen that the inner lid  66  includes a bottom surface  69  on which the actuator  68  slides, but does not include an upper surface over the top of the actuator  68  in accordance with the opening  30  of the inner lid  20 . Sides of the actuator  68  would still be at least partially captured in grooves, slots or channels formed in the internal surfaces of the lid to guide the actuator during sliding travel between the home and actuation positions. 
     The drink bottles illustrated in the figures all incorporate an actuator for actuating a function of a drink bottle, in which the specific function of the figures is to retain an outer lid connected to an inner lid in the closed condition, or to release the outer lid from the inner lid in the open condition. Critical to that function is that the actuator has a bearing surface in bearing engagement with the spout or straw assembly of the drink bottle, such that movement of the actuator from the home position towards the actuation position resiliently deforms the spout or straw assembly and by the resilient deformation the actuator is biased towards the home position. This critical feature of the drink bottle of the figures is common to all forms of the present invention. This feature is considered to provide advantages in relation to reductions in the complexity of drink bottles. 
     Where any or all of the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprised” or “comprising” are used in this specification (including the claims) they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components, but not precluding the presence of one or more other features, integers, steps or components. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.