Abstract:
Cap for a threaded neck beverage container. The cap is based on a rotating ball design and functions as a valve. The ball is embedded in a cylindrical hollow body configured to screw onto the neck of the beverage bottle. The top part of the hollow body will have a hemispherical central depression configured to hold the rotating ball in place, while allowing the ball to rotate about its axis (here two oppositely disposed pivot shafts). In one ball pivot angle, the ball&#39;s central fluid passage will be disposed above a body fluid so that fluids from the beverage container may travel through the body fluid port, up through the central opening, and often into the mouth of a user. At other ball pivot angles, the surface of the ball passes over the body fluid port, thus substantially preventing fluids from the beverage container from exiting the container.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional patent application 61/829,164 “VALVED CAP FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINERS”, inventor Michael Hung, filed May 30, 2013; this application is also a continuation in part of US design patent application Ser. No. 29/456,393 “VALVED CAP FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINERS”, inventor Michael Hung, filed May 30, 2013; the contents of both applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention is in the field of screw cap closures for bottles, particularly beverage bottles designed to hold beverages for athletic or recreational use. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Various caps for beverage containers are known. In particular, for containers such as water bottles intended for use outside the home, such as by athletes, campers, hikers, and the like, it is desirable to provide a cap for the container that in one mode acts to prevent the beverage from accidentally spilling, while in another mode allows the user to drink directly from the container. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Here, a cap for a beverage container with a threaded neck, such as a water bottle, is provided that uses a unique rotating ball design to function as a valve. The ball, which may be a substantially solid ball, often made of plastic, often between about 0.5″ to 2″ in diameter, with a central fluid passage, will usually be embedded in a substantially cylindrical hollow body (also often made of plastic) with inner screw threads, configured to screw onto the neck of a beverage bottle. The top part of the hollow body will have a hemispherical central depression configured to hold the rotating ball in place, while allowing the ball to rotate about its axis (here two oppositely disposed pivot shafts). In one ball pivot angle, the ball&#39;s central fluid passage will be disposed above a body fluid so that fluids from the beverage container may travel through the body fluid port, up through the central opening, and often into the mouth of a user. At other ball pivot angles, the surface of the ball passes over the body fluid port, thus substantially preventing fluids from the beverage container from exiting the container. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows the cap in its normal operating configuration attached to a hand held beverage container. In some embodiments, the cap may have a loop configured to attach to hooks or the user&#39;s fingers. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a top perspective view of the cap showing the rotating ball attached to the body. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of the cap showing the rotating ball attached to the body. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows a cutaway perspective view of the cap showing a cross section of both the ball and the body. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  top shows a side cutaway view of the cap showing a cross section of both the ball and the body.  FIG. 5  bottom shows a cutaway top perspective view of the cap showing a cross section of both the ball and the body. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  top shows a different cutaway view of the cap, here showing a cross section of the central fluid passage as it passes through the substantially solid portion of the ball&#39;s body.  FIG. 6  bottom shows a bottom oriented perspective cutaway view of the cap, here showing the cross section view from a bottom oriented perspective. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows a bottom oriented view of the cap, here almost entirely showing the details of the hollow body, the screw thread, and the body fluid port. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  top shows a side cutaway view of the body portion of the cap without the ball (pivoting spherical ball), thus better showing the hemispherical central depression, one of the two pivot shaft recesses, the body fluid port, and the screw thread.  FIG. 8  lower left shows different perspective side cutaway view of the body portion of the cap, showing the body fluid port in more detail.  FIG. 8  lower right shows a detail of the pivot shaft recess, showing the pivot shaft recess constriction. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  top shows a top perspective view of the body portion of the cap without the ball.  FIG. 9  bottom shows a top perspective view of the body portion of the cap without the ball from a different angle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Please refer to  FIGS. 1-9  for details: 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the invention may comprise a valved cap ( 100 ) for a beverage container ( 102 ). This valved cap will generally comprise a substantially cylindrical hollow body ( 110 ), often made of plastic, with a substantially closed top ( 112 ), and an open bottom ( 114 ). 
         [0018]    This body will often have a substantially closed top with a roughly hemispherical central depression ( 116 ) (configured to relatively snugly receive the rotating spherical valve ( 200 ) described below. This depression will often have with a body fluid port ( 118 ) and two oppositely disposed pivot shaft recesses ( 120 ), ( 122 ). 
         [0019]    The cap will also comprise a pivoting spherical valve ( 200 ) (often referred to informally as a “ball), comprising a substantially spherical body comprising a substantially solid interior ( 202 ). This ball will often be made of plastic as well. The pivoting spherical valve will usually have a hollow or open central fluid passage ( 204 ), as well as a surface with two oppositely disposed pivot shafts ( 206 ), ( 208 ). The pivoting spherical valve will also generally have an upper ( 210 ) and a lower ( 212 ) valve fluid port connecting to the central fluid passage ( 204 ), as well as protruding mouth bib ( 214 ) disposed within 10 degrees of the upper valve fluid port ( 210 ), and at least one detent ( 216 ) disposed within 30 degrees of the upper valve fluid port ( 210 ). Here degrees are measured from the center of the “ball”. 
         [0020]    As previously discussed, this pivoting spherical valve ( 200 ) will mounted within the hemispherical central depression ( 116 ), usually using the two oppositely disposed pivot shafts ( 206 ), ( 208 ), snapped the “ball” into place in the body via two oppositely disposed pivot shaft recesses ( 120 ), ( 122 ). As a result, the pivoting spherical valve ( 200 ) may pivot around its pivot shafts ( 206 ), ( 208 ), yet remain trapped in the hollow body ( 110 ) by mechanical force exerted by the two oppositely disposed pivot shaft recesses ( 206 ), ( 208 ). 
         [0021]    In use, and when attached to a beverage container ( 102 ), when the pivoting spherical valve ( 200 ) is at a drinking pivot angle ( 218 ) (all figures show this angle), the pivoting spherical valve ( 200 ) will be positioned so that fluid may pass from the container, through the body fluid port ( 118 ), through the lower valve fluid port ( 212 ), through the central fluid passage ( 204 ), and out the upper valve fluid port ( 212 ). The fluid may flow into various receptacles, including a cup or often even directly into the user&#39;s mouth. 
         [0022]    To facilitate drinking directly by mouth, the “ball” portion of the cap will often optionally have a protruding mouth bib ( 214 ) configured to help guide the passage of fluid into the mouth of a user. This bib can also be used to help open and shut the valve as well. 
         [0023]    To help keep the valve in an open (beverage flow permitting) position when this is desired, the “ball” may be configured so that at a drinking pivot angle ( 218 ), at least one detent ( 216 ) prevents further pivoting of the pivoting spherical valve ( 200 ) in one direction. 
         [0024]    The valve also has a plurality of “shut” positions as well. Here at a plurality of non-drinking pivot angles ( 222 ), the pivoting spherical valve ( 200 ) will be positioned so that the passage of fluid from said body fluid port ( 118 ) is blocked by the surface of the substantially spherical body of said pivoting spherical valve ( 200 ). This prevents fluid from passing from the body fluid port ( 118 ), through the lower valve fluid port ( 212 ), and through said central fluid passage ( 204 ). 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  shows the cap ( 100 ) in its normal operating configuration attached to a hand held beverage container ( 102 ). In some embodiments, the cap may have a loop ( 126 ) configured to attach to hooks ( 104 ) or the user&#39;s fingers. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows a top perspective view of the cap showing the rotating ball (pivoting spherical valve ( 200 )) attached to the body ( 110 ). 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of the cap showing the rotating ball (pivoting spherical valve ( 200 )) attached to the body. Note that it is possible to look through the upper valve fluid port ( 210 ) and into the central fluid passage below. The details of the pivot shafts ( 206 ), ( 208 ) can also be clearly seen, as well as the optional detent ( 216 ). 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  shows a cutaway perspective view of the cap showing a cross section of both the ball (pivoting spherical valve ( 200 )) and the body. Here the pivoting spherical valve is positioned at a drinking pivot angle. Thus fluid may pass through container ( 102 ) (not shown) through the body fluid port ( 118 ), through the lower valve fluid port ( 212 ), through the central fluid passage ( 204 ) and out through the upper valve fluid port ( 210 ). A user will often drink directly from the cap, here aided by the protruding mouth bib ( 214 ). 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  top shows a side cutaway view of the cap showing a cross section of both the ball (pivoting spherical valve ( 200 )) and the body.  FIG. 5  bottom shows a cutaway top perspective view of the cap showing a cross section of both the ball and the body. 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  top shows a different cutaway view of the cap, here showing a cross section of the central fluid passage as it passes through the substantially solid portion of the ball&#39;s (pivoting spherical valve ( 200 )) body.  FIG. 6  bottom shows a bottom oriented perspective cutaway view of the cap, here showing the cross section view from a bottom oriented perspective. This shows the optional screw threads ( 124 ) in better detail. 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  shows a bottom oriented view of the cap, here almost entirely showing the details of the hollow body ( 110 ), the screw thread ( 124 ), and the body fluid port ( 118 ). Part of the pivoting spherical valve&#39;s lower valve fluid port ( 212 ) can also be seen. 
         [0032]      FIG. 8  top shows a side cutaway view of the body portion of the cap without the ball (pivoting spherical ball), thus better showing the hemispherical central depression ( 116 ), one of the two pivot shaft recesses ( 120 ), the body fluid port ( 118 ), and the screw thread ( 124 ).  FIG. 8  lower left shows different perspective side cutaway view of the body portion of the cap, showing the body fluid port in more detail ( 118 ).  FIG. 8  lower right shows a detail of the pivot shaft recess ( 120  or  122 ), showing the pivot shaft recess constriction ( 126 ) useful to snap the ball into place, and then keep it in place afterwards. 
         [0033]      FIG. 9  top shows a top perspective view of the body portion of the cap without the ball giving a good view of the hemispherical central depression ( 116 ), the body fluid port ( 118 ), and the two oppositely disposed pivot shaft recesses ( 120 ), ( 122 ).  FIG. 9  bottom shows a top perspective view of the body portion of the cap without the ball from a different angle, giving a good view of an optional detent recess ( 117 ) designed to better capture detent ( 216 ) at the drinking pivot angle. 
         [0034]    As previously discussed, in some embodiments, the interior of said substantially cylindrical hollow body ( 110 ) has a screw thread ( 124 ) configured to allow the cap ( 100 ) to be securely screwed onto the screw threaded neck of a beverage container ( 102 ). 
         [0035]    Further, in some embodiments, the cap&#39;s substantially cylindrical hollow body ( 110 ) may further comprises an exterior loop ( 126 ) configured to allow a user (usually when the valved cap is attached to a beverage container ( 102 )), to hold the combination valved cap and beverage container with their fingers, or to attach the combination valved cap and beverage container to a hook ( 104 ). 
         [0036]    In some embodiments, the pivot shaft recesses ( 120 ), ( 122 ) may be at least partially disposed within the hemispherical central depression ( 116 ). Here often at least one pivot shaft recess ( 120 ) and/or ( 122 ) may be configured with a passage outside the hemispherical central depression ( 124 ), and a pivot shaft recess constriction ( 126 ). As a result, after the pivoting spherical valve ( 200 ) is snapped into place by the pivot shafts ( 206 ), ( 208 ), this at least one pivot shaft recess constriction ( 126 ) can then securely trap the pivoting spherical valve ( 200 ) inside the hemispherical central depression ( 116 ) in the hollow body ( 110 ). 
         [0037]    As previously discussed, in some embodiments, the hemispherical central depression ( 116 ) of the cap body may additionally have a recess or tab ( 117 ) configured to act to block detent ( 216 ) from rotating further into the hemispherical central depression, at least at the drinking angle.