Patent Description:
People often drink when exercising to keep hydrated. Many different types of sports bottles or bladders are available for this purpose. The drink is often water, including water with an additive such as a flavour, an electrolyte and/or a stimulant such as caffeine.

In addition, people sometimes take energy supplements when exercising to provide energy boosts. For example, energy gels are a convenient way to provide fast-acting carbohydrates. Energy gels are usually provided in sealed packs that are usually carried in a pocket or in a backpack. The packs typically hold <NUM> or <NUM> of gel.

<CIT> describes a container having an outer chamber adapted to hold an amount of a first liquid; an inner chamber displaced within the outer chamber, the inner chamber adapted to hold an amount of a second liquid; and a cap having a mouthpiece adapted to allow the first liquid and second liquid to flow therethrough.

<CIT> describes a sports bottle having a larger outer container that holds water, and a smaller inner container that holds a liquid supplement shot, for example a nutritional supplement. The bottle's mouthpiece may be pushed and pulled, or rotated clockwise and anticlockwise, to select the first chamber only, the second chamber only or neither chamber, thereby allowing access to both liquids.

<CIT> describes another sports bottle having two chambers which may hold different liquids. An outer container holds water, and an inner container holds an energy or flavour supplement. When the supplement is dispensed, it is dispensed at the same time as the water. A piston forces the supplement from the inner container to join the flow of water from the outer container. A mechanism is provided to allow delivery of the water only or delivery of the water with supplement. This mechanism requires two different movements to access the water only and then to access both the water and the energy or flavour supplement.

<CIT> discloses a further example of a bottle that contains two kinds of beverages in an inner container and an outer container, thereby allowing a user to selectively drink the beverages according to the preference of the user.

Against this background, the present invention, which is defined by the features of the appended independent claim <NUM>, resides in a bottle comprising an open-topped outer container having a resilient body for holding a liquid
beverage such as water (including water with additives such as flavouring, stimulants or hydration supplements). The bottle also comprises an inner container comprising a flexible pouch for holding a gel, such as an energy gel. The bottle includes a closure adapted to fix to the top of the outer container thereby forming an enclosure for containing the liquid beverage. The closure may be a screw-top lid. The bottle also comprises a fixing configured to allow the inner container to be suspended from the closure.

The bottle comprises an outlet in fluid communication with both the outer container and the inner container, thereby allowing the outlet to dispense the liquid beverage and the gel. A switch mechanism is provided that includes a switch moveable to select between placing the outlet in fluid communication with the outer container and placing the outlet in fluid communication with the inner container. Hence, the switch may allow a user to select between consuming the liquid beverage or the gel.

The bottle also comprises an air inlet and a one-way valve configured to allow air to flow into the outer container.

Such a bottle allows a user to drink liquid beverage in the outer container by setting the switch to the corresponding position and squeezing the resilient body of the bottle to force the liquid beverage out of the outlet. Also, the user may consume gel in the flexible pouch by setting the switch to the corresponding position and also squeezing the resilient body of the bottle. The flexible pouch is suspended from the closure and hence resides within the outer container. Squeezing the resilient body applies pressure to the contents of the outer container, including the flexible pouch and the gel it may contain. Hence, squeezing the bottle forces the gel out of the outlet. The air inlet and one-way valve allow air to enter the outer container to replace the gel that has been forced from the outlet. Thus, the pressure in the outer container does not drop below ambient pressure and maintains a compressive force on the partially-emptied flexible pouch to stop the flexible pouch filling with air. Hence, at each successive use of the bottle to consume gel, squeezing the bottle delivers gel to the outlet without any delay that would otherwise be caused by air first being expelled from the flexible pouch.

The one-way valve is also beneficial in that it stops the liquid beverage leaking from the bottle. Optionally, the one-way valve is an umbrella valve. The closure may comprise the air inlet. For example, the air inlet may extend through a wall of the closure to connect directly the internal volume of the outer container to the ambient environment outside the bottle. Where an umbrella valve is used, this may be seated on the underside of the closure, within the outer container.

The switch may be rotatable to allow selection between placing the outlet in fluid communication with the outer container and placing the outlet in fluid communication with the inner container. Optionally, the switch mechanism further comprises a core piece, and the switch is part of the core piece that is fixed to a central part of the closure to allow the switch to rotate about a central longitudinal axis of the bottle. The outlet may comprise a mouthpiece slidably mounted to a post of the core piece. The mouthpiece may slide between a closed position where the post fills an exit aperture of the mouthpiece and an open position where the exit aperture is displaced from the post. In the closed position, neither the liquid beverage nor the gel may flow from the outlet. In the open position, either the liquid beverage or the gel may flow from the outlet.

Optionally, the core piece is received within a recess formed in the top of the closure by a downwardly extending stub.

The stub may comprise at least a portion of the fixing that is configured to allow the inner container to be suspended from the closure. For example, the stub may comprise a screw thread and the inner container may comprise a complementary screw thread. Hence, the inner container may be screwed onto the stub to secure the inner container in place. Use of screw threads allows easy disassembly to allow the inner container to be removed for cleaning and refilling. The screw thread on the inner container may be formed around an aperture provided in a top part of the inner container, for example the flexible pouch may include a relatively rigid top part to allow it to be connected to the rest of the bottle. The aperture may be large to allow easy filling with gel. For example, the aperture may occupy <NUM>% or more of the cross-sectional area of the top of the inner container.

Optionally, the core piece comprises a collar that extends over the recess and resilient members that extend through a central aperture in the base wall of the stub such that the closure is sandwiched between the collar and resilient members. This arrangement retains the core piece on the closure. The resilient members may be arranged diametrically opposite each other across the central aperture. For example, a pair or a ring of resilient members may be provided that extend through the central aperture around the edge of the central aperture. The resilient members may be prongs provided with enlarged distal ends having a tapering side and backward-facing shoulder. The tapering sides are arranged to ease deflection of the prongs as they are pushed through the central aperture until the enlarged distal ends clear the central aperture, at which time the prongs snap back such that the backward-facing shoulders engage with the underside of the stub around the central aperture.

The bottle may further comprise a disassembly tool that bends the resilient members so that they may pass back through the central aperture of the stub. For example, the tool may attach to the stub in the same way as the inner container. Where the core piece comprises the prongs described above, the tool may contain a sloping surface or sloping surfaces that act(s) on the tapering sides of the prongs to force the prongs to deflect until the shoulders are clear of the central aperture. The core piece may then be removed from the bottle for cleaning.

Optionally, the core piece is provided with a first hole and a second hole, and the stub is provided with a first hole and a second hole. The switch may be rotatable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the first holes are aligned such that the outlet is in fluid communication with the outer container. In the second position, the outlet in which the second holes are aligned such that the outlet is in fluid communication with the inner container. The first holes may be provided in a side wall of the stub and a side wall of the core piece. The second holes may be provided in a base wall of the stub and a base wall of the core piece.

The switch mechanism may further comprise a cup member located in the recess between the stub and the core piece. The cup member may have a side wall provided with a first hole aligned with the first hole of the core piece and a base wall provided with a second hole aligned with the second hole of the core piece. The core piece and cup member may have indexing means to ensure the cup member rotates with the core piece thereby keeping the first and second holes of the cup member and the core piece in alignment. The indexing means may comprise complementary splines provided in the core piece and the cup member.

Optionally, the switch is located within a notch provided in the closure. The notch may comprise end walls defining the limits of movement of the switch such that the limits of movement correspond to the first and second positions of the switch. This provides ease of operation: in use, the switch need only be moved to a limit of movement to set the bottle to provide the liquid beverage or the gel. Further tactile feedback may be provided to confirm that the switch has been set to a correct position. For example, the switch may be provided with an indentation and the closure may be provided with a protrusion such that the protrusion is received within the indentation when the switch is in the first and/or second position. The locations of the indentation and protrusion may be reversed such that the protrusion is provided on the switch and the indentation is provided on the closure.

The bottle can be provided with a switch mechanism that is adapted for easy disassembly.

The switch mechanism may comprise a core piece, and the switch may be part of the core piece that is fixed to a central part of the closure to allow the switch to rotate about a central longitudinal axis of the bottle. The outlet may comprise a mouthpiece removably mounted to the core piece. The mouthpiece may comprise a pair of opposed shoulders that engage with apertures provided in the corepiece. The shoulders may be forced inwardly to release the mouthpiece and allow it to be removed from the core piece. The mouthpiece may be slidably mounted to a post of the core piece. The mouthpiece may slide between a closed position where the post fills an exit aperture of the mouthpiece and an open position where the exit aperture is displaced from the post. In the closed position, neither the liquid beverage nor the gel may flow from the outlet. In the open position, either the liquid beverage or the gel may flow from the outlet.

The core piece may be received within a recess formed in the top of the closure by a downwardly extending stub. The core piece may comprise a collar that extends over the recess and resilient members that extend through a central aperture in the base wall of the stub such that the closure is sandwiched between the collar and resilient members. This arrangement retains the switch mechanism comprising the core piece and mouthpiece on the closure. Moreover, the resilient members may be pushed inwardly so that they may pass back through the central aperture in the base wall of the stub such that the switch mechanism comprising core piece and mouthpiece may be removed from the closure.

The resilient members may be arranged diametrically opposite each other across the central aperture. For example, a pair or a ring of resilient members may be provided that extend through the central aperture around the edge of the central aperture. The resilient members may be prongs provided with enlarged distal ends having a tapering side and backward-facing shoulder. The tapering sides are arranged to ease deflection of the prongs as they are pushed through the central aperture until the enlarged distal ends clear the central aperture, at which time the prongs snap back such that the backward-facing shoulders engage with the underside of the stub around the central aperture.

The inner container may be supported by the stub of the closure. For example, the stub may comprise at least a portion of the fixing that is configured to allow the inner container to be suspended from the closure. The stub may comprise a screw thread and the inner container may comprise a complementary screw thread. Hence, the inner container may be screwed onto the stub to secure the inner container in place. Use of screw threads allows easy disassembly to allow the inner container to be removed for cleaning and refilling. The screw thread on the inner container may be formed around an aperture provided in a top part of the inner container, for example the flexible pouch may include a relatively rigid top part to allow it to be connected to the rest of the bottle. The bottle may further comprise a disassembly tool that bends the resilient members inwardly so that they may pass back through the central aperture of the stub. Conventiently, the tool may attach to the stub in the same way as the inner container. Where the core piece comprises the prongs described above, the tool may contain a sloping surface or sloping surfaces that act(s) on the tapering sides of the prongs. As the tool is screwed onto the stub, the sloping surface(s) acts as ramp that deflects the prongs inwardly until the shoulders are clear of the central aperture. The switch mechanism comprising the core piece and mouthpiece may then be removed from the bottle for cleaning.

The switch mechanism may further comprise a cup member located in the recess between the stub and the core piece. The cup member may also be held in place when the switch mechanism is attached to the closure as it too is sandwiched in place between the collar of the core piece and the base of the recess. If the core piece and mouthpiece are removed from the closure, the cup member may be simply lifted from the recess for cleaning. The cup member may have seals extending around it sides that seal against the sides of the recess in the closure.

The bottle according to the second aspect of the invention may further comprise any of the optional features described with respect to the bottle according to the first aspect of the invention.

The present invention also extends to any of the bottles above when containing a liquid beverage in the outer container and a gel in the inner container. The liquid beverage may be water (including water with additives such as flavouring, stimulants or hydration supplements). The gel may be an energy gel.

Further optional features will become evident to the person skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the invention.

In order that the invention can be more readily understood, reference will now be made by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:.

A sports bottle <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in the accompanying figures. <FIG> show most clearly that the bottle <NUM> has a largely conventional appearance with a body <NUM> and a screw-top closure or lid <NUM>. The lid <NUM> is provided with a mouthpiece <NUM>. The body <NUM> is transparent or translucent, which allows a flexible pouch <NUM> located within the body <NUM> to be seen. The pouch <NUM> is suspended from and supported by the lid <NUM>. The pouch <NUM> is also transparent or translucent, which allows a user to see how much of the contents of both the body <NUM> and the pouch <NUM> remain. The top of the lid <NUM> comprises the mouthpiece <NUM> and a rotatable tab <NUM> that allows the user to set the sports bottle <NUM> to access the contents of the pouch <NUM>.

The body <NUM> of the bottle <NUM> forms an outer container <NUM> that holds a liquid beverage such as water <NUM>, as well as containing the pouch <NUM>. The water <NUM> may be flavoured, for example using a squash or cordial. The water <NUM> may contain a supplement, for example a hydration supplement that may provide electrolytes, and also a stimulant like caffeine and/or flavour. For the sake of brevity, the outer container <NUM> is assumed to hold water <NUM> in the following.

The pouch <NUM> provides an inner container <NUM> in which a gel <NUM> such as an energy gel or similar may be stored. For the sake of brevity, the inner container <NUM> is assumed to hold an energy gel <NUM> in the following.

A user may consume either the water <NUM> or the energy gel <NUM> through the mouthpiece <NUM>, and the tab <NUM> functions as a switch that allows the user to switch between delivery of the water <NUM> and the energy gel <NUM>.

<FIG> show most clearly that the pouch <NUM> is connected to the underside of the lid <NUM>. The pouch <NUM> is transparent or translucent, like the body <NUM>, to allow a visual indication of the amount of gel <NUM> remaining in the sports bottle <NUM>. <FIG> shows that the top of the flexible pouch <NUM> comprises a plastic fitting <NUM> provided with a central threaded aperture <NUM>. The threaded aperture <NUM> cooperates with threads <NUM> provided on a stub <NUM> projecting from the underside of the lid <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, thereby forming a fixing that allows the pouch <NUM> to be attached to the lid <NUM>.

The lid <NUM> has a multipart construction, and includes a cap <NUM> with a threaded rim <NUM> that allows the cap <NUM> to be screwed into place on the body <NUM> of the bottle <NUM>, via a cooperating thread <NUM> provided around the top of the body <NUM>. The cap <NUM> also comprises the stub <NUM> to which the pouch <NUM> attaches. The stub <NUM> extends downwardly from the cap <NUM> and has a hollow interior which forms a recess <NUM> in the top of the cap <NUM>. The recess <NUM> receives a switch assembly <NUM> that provides delivery of the water <NUM> and gel <NUM>. The switch assembly <NUM> comprises the mouthpiece <NUM>, a core piece <NUM>, and a valve piece <NUM>. The lid <NUM> also includes an air inlet <NUM> provided with an umbrella valve <NUM>, as can best be seen in the exploded views of <FIG>. <FIG> show most clearly how the parts of the lid <NUM> assemble.

The cup-shaped valve piece <NUM> is seated in the recess <NUM>, the core piece <NUM> extends through the valve piece <NUM>, and the mouthpiece <NUM> pushes down onto the core piece <NUM> from above. The core piece <NUM> fixes the switch assembly <NUM> to the lid <NUM>, as will now be explained.

The core piece <NUM> comprises a barrel-shaped body <NUM> that is open-topped and provided with a base, a post <NUM> extends upwardly from the base of the barrel <NUM>, a collar <NUM> that extends from the body <NUM> over and around the top of the recess <NUM>, and a pair of opposed resilient prongs <NUM> that extend downwardly from base of the core piece <NUM>. The mouthpiece <NUM> is seated on the post <NUM>. The core piece <NUM> is fixed to the cap <NUM> by sandwiching the stub <NUM> between the collar <NUM> and the ends of the prongs <NUM>. The core piece <NUM> is pushed into the recess <NUM> so that the prongs <NUM> extend through aligned central apertures 51a,b provided in the bases of the valve piece <NUM> and recess <NUM>. Each prong <NUM> has an enlarged distal end with a tapering side <NUM> and a backward-facing shoulder <NUM>. The tapering sides <NUM> push against the edges of the central apertures 51a,b as the core piece <NUM> is pushed into the recess <NUM> which causes the prongs <NUM> to deflect inwardly. Then, the prongs <NUM> snap back as the shoulders <NUM> clear the bottom of the stub <NUM>. The shoulders <NUM> then abut against the bottom of the stub <NUM>. In this position, the collar <NUM> is level with the top of the cap <NUM>, thereby attaching the core piece <NUM> to the cap <NUM> and preventing the core piece <NUM> from being pulled back out of the recess <NUM>. However, the core piece <NUM> may be rotated about its vertical axis, and the tab <NUM> is provided to allow a user to cause such rotation.

The valve piece <NUM> is also held in the recess <NUM>, between the bottom of the recess <NUM> and the collar <NUM> of the cap <NUM>, and the valve piece <NUM> may also rotate about a vertical axis. Rotation of the valve piece <NUM> is driven by rotation of the core piece <NUM> with the tab <NUM> via upwardly extending splines 74a,b provided on the inside of the valve piece <NUM> and the outside of the barrel <NUM> of the core piece <NUM>.

Rotation of the valve piece <NUM> opens and shuts a pair of passages <NUM> from the outer container <NUM> to the mouthpiece <NUM>. The passages <NUM> are formed by two sets of three aligned water holes 76a,b,c provided in the stub <NUM> of the cap <NUM>, the valve piece <NUM> and the barrel <NUM> of the core piece <NUM>. The water holes 76a,b of the barrel <NUM> and the valve piece <NUM> rotate together and are always aligned in their pairs by virtue of the splines 74a,b. The water hole 76c of the stub <NUM> does not rotate. The tab <NUM> is used to rotate the water holes 76a,b of the valve piece <NUM> and the barrel <NUM> into and out of alignment with the water hole 76c of the stub <NUM>. When all the waterholes 76a,b,c are aligned, water <NUM> may flow from the outer container <NUM> into the centre of the core piece <NUM> and then to the mouthpiece <NUM>.

The core piece <NUM> is provided with the post <NUM> that is upstanding from the base of the barrel <NUM>, thereby creating an annular space between the post <NUM> and the outer wall of the barrel <NUM>. The mouthpiece <NUM> is of a conventional design and is generally mushroom-shaped with an enlarged head <NUM> and a hollow stem <NUM>. A channel <NUM> extends through the mouthpiece <NUM> from top to bottom. The mouthpiece <NUM> pushes onto the post <NUM> of the core piece <NUM> such that the post <NUM> is received within the channel <NUM>. The bottom of the stem <NUM> is provided with a pair of opposed shoulders <NUM> that locate within the water hole 76a provided in the barrel <NUM> of the core piece <NUM> and a second, matching hole <NUM> provided in the barrel <NUM>. The mouthpiece <NUM> may slide up and down on the post <NUM> as guided by the outer wall of the barrel <NUM>. The shoulders <NUM> fouling on an upper edge of the holes 76a and <NUM> prevents the mouthpiece <NUM> from being pulled off the core piece <NUM> (see <FIG>), although the mouthpiece <NUM> may be removed for cleaning as will be described below. In addition, two seals <NUM> are provided on the mouthpiece <NUM> that form a seal with the core piece <NUM> to prevent leakage. The seals <NUM> also provide a friction force that holds the mouthpiece <NUM> in its current position on the post <NUM>.

The mouthpiece <NUM> is slid up and down the post <NUM> to open up and shut off flow of water <NUM> or gel <NUM>. <FIG> show the mouthpiece <NUM> in a closed position such that neither water <NUM> nor gel <NUM> may flow from the bottle <NUM>. In this position, the mouthpiece <NUM> is pushed down on the post <NUM> such that the top of the post <NUM> sits flush with the top of the head <NUM> of the mouthpiece <NUM> to form a continuous surface. The top of the post <NUM> fills a narrowed exit orifice <NUM> of the channel <NUM> that extends through the mouthpiece <NUM>. The channel <NUM> widens immediately below the exit orifice <NUM> to leave a gap <NUM> between the post <NUM> and the stem <NUM> that forms a conduit for the water <NUM> and gel <NUM> to flow through to reach the exit orifice <NUM>. The gap <NUM> extends to the bottom of the stem <NUM> of the mouthpiece <NUM> to meet the volume within the core piece <NUM> and valve piece <NUM> adjacent the water holes 76a,b,c. Hence water <NUM> may flow into this volume and through the gap <NUM>. However, in <FIG>, the water <NUM> is prevented from flowing from the mouthpiece <NUM> because the end of the post <NUM> fills the exit orifice <NUM> of the channel <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the mouthpiece <NUM> moved up to the open position in which the shoulders <NUM> of the mouthpiece <NUM> are stopped by the upper edges of the water holes 76a provided in the core piece <NUM>. In this open position, the exit orifice <NUM> of the channel <NUM> is raised clear of the post <NUM> such that water <NUM> may flow out of the mouthpiece <NUM>. <FIG> also show the water holes 76a,b,c in the barrel of the core piece <NUM>, the valve piece <NUM> and the stub <NUM> aligned such that the water <NUM> has a continuous flow path from the outer container <NUM> of the bottle <NUM> to the exit orifice <NUM> at the mouthpiece <NUM>.

To switch to delivery of the gel <NUM> from the pouch <NUM>, the user rotates the tab <NUM>. This rotates the core piece <NUM> and the valve piece <NUM> that are joined by the splines 74a,b. This sees the water holes 76a,b of the core piece <NUM> and the valve piece <NUM> move out of alignment from the water holes 76c of the stub <NUM> of the cap <NUM>. Thus, water <NUM> can no longer flow from the outer container <NUM> to the exit orifice <NUM> at the mouthpiece <NUM>.

In addition to moving the water holes 76a,b,c out of alignment, rotation of the tab <NUM> brings two sets of three gel holes 84a,b,c into alignment, as shown in <FIG>. A pair of gel holes 84a are provided in the base of the barrel <NUM>, to either side of the prongs <NUM>. A corresponding pair of gel holes 84b are provided in the base of the valve piece <NUM>, to either side of the central aperture 51b. The splines 74a,b keep the holes 84a,b in the core piece <NUM> and valve piece <NUM> aligned at all times. A pair of gel holes 84c are provided in the bottom of the stub <NUM>. When the tab <NUM> is rotated into the position shown in <FIG>, the two sets of gel holes 84a,b,c align to form a pair of passages <NUM> linking the pouch <NUM> to the interior of the core piece <NUM>. Hence, the gel <NUM> may pass from the pouch <NUM>, through the gel holes 84a,b,c into the core piece <NUM>, and then up through the gap <NUM> between the post <NUM> and the stem of the mouthpiece <NUM>. If the mouthpiece <NUM> is set to the open position, as shown in <FIG>, the gel <NUM> may flow from the exit orifice <NUM> of the mouthpiece <NUM>. Alternatively, as shown in <FIG>, the mouthpiece <NUM> may be pushed down such that the top of the post <NUM> blocks the exit orifice <NUM> of the mouthpiece <NUM>.

When not in use, the mouthpiece <NUM> will be kept in the closed position shown in <FIG>. This prevents water <NUM> or gel <NUM> leaking from the bottle <NUM>. When the user wants to drink water <NUM>, the user first ensures that the tab <NUM> is set to the correct position. To aid this, the top of the cap <NUM> may be provided with indicia <NUM> to indicate the required positions of the tab <NUM> for water and gel delivery. In addition, the positions may be at the ends of a range of rotation of the tab <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the tab <NUM> sits within a notch <NUM> provided in the top of the cap <NUM>. At its two extreme positions, the tab <NUM> abuts against the end walls of the notch <NUM>, and these two extreme positions correspond to the positions for water delivery (<FIG>) and gel delivery (<FIG>). Further or alternative features may be provided to indicate the correct positions for water and gel delivery. For example, the tab <NUM> may provided with a slot that aligns with a ridge provided on the rim of the cap <NUM> within the notch <NUM> to guide the rotation of the tab <NUM>. Also, edges of the slot <NUM> may catch on a protrusion provided on the ridge as the tab <NUM> is rotated, thereby providing tactile feedback to the user to confirm that the position for water delivery has been correctly engaged.

With the tab <NUM> set to the water delivery position of <FIG>, the user may pull up on the mouthpiece <NUM>, for example using their teeth. This moves the mouthpiece <NUM> up into the open position shown in <FIG>. Water <NUM> may now flow freely from the bottle <NUM>, when the user squeezes the body <NUM> of the bottle <NUM> to force the water <NUM> out and/or when the user sucks on the mouthpiece <NUM>.

Air is admitted into the outer container <NUM> through the air inlet <NUM> via the umbrella valve <NUM>. As the user sucks on the mouthpiece <NUM>, a volume of water <NUM> flows from the outer container <NUM> creating a pressure drop in the outer container <NUM>. The pressure drop causes the umbrella valve <NUM> to open and air rushes into the outer container <NUM> to replace the volume of water <NUM> lost from the outer container <NUM>. This maintains the shape of the bottle <NUM>. Alternatively, if the user squeezes the bottle <NUM> to force water <NUM> out of the mouthpiece <NUM>, the bottle <NUM> will return to its undeformed shape when the user releases his or her grip on the bottle <NUM>. Once the grip on the bottle <NUM> is released, air may rush back into the outer container <NUM> through the air inlet <NUM>. When not in use, the outer container <NUM> is at ambient pressure such that the umbrella valve <NUM> seals around the air inlet <NUM>. This prevents water <NUM> leaking from the air inlet <NUM>.

When the user wants to consume gel <NUM>, the user sets the tab <NUM> to the gel delivery position shown in <FIG>, and moves the mouthpiece <NUM> to the open position shown in <FIG>. Most energy gels <NUM> have a viscosity that means they will not readily flow out of the bottle <NUM>. To consume the gel <NUM>, the user squeezes the body <NUM> of the bottle <NUM>. The water <NUM> cannot flow from the outer container <NUM> as the water valves 76a,b,c are not aligned (see <FIG>) and the umbrella valve <NUM> is closed. Hence, the force applied by the user to the body <NUM> of the bottle <NUM> is transmitted to the pouch <NUM>. As the pouch <NUM> is squeezed, gel <NUM> is forced out of the pouch <NUM> through the aligned gel holes 84a,b,c (see <FIG>) and to the mouthpiece <NUM>. The gel <NUM> is then expelled from the exit orifice <NUM>.

To ensure quick delivery of gel <NUM> to the user, the pouch <NUM> should be empty of air. Otherwise, the initial squeezing effort merely forces air out of the pouch <NUM>. This is achieved by the air inlet <NUM> and the umbrella valve <NUM>. When the user stops squeezing the bottle <NUM> to force gel <NUM> from the mouthpiece <NUM>, the bottle <NUM> returns to its undeformed shape due to the resilient body <NUM>. This causes a pressure drop in the outer container <NUM> which activates the umbrella valve <NUM> to allow air to rush back into the outer container <NUM> through the air inlet <NUM> to equalize the pressure in the outer container <NUM> with ambient pressure. Consequently, a constant pressure is maintained in the outer container <NUM> that is exerted on the pouch <NUM> thereby preventing the pouch <NUM> from filling with air.

Pouches <NUM> of different sizes may be provided. The pouch shown in <FIG> is big enough to hold the contents of two or three regularly-sized energy gel packs (<NUM> x <NUM> or <NUM> x <NUM>). The pouch <NUM> may be filled by removing the lid <NUM> from the body <NUM>, and unscrewing the pouch <NUM> from the lid <NUM>. The threaded aperture <NUM> provided in the pouch <NUM> is large to make filling with gel easier.

When the pouch <NUM> is partially filled, it is better for the user to remove air from the pouch <NUM>. This may be done by squeezing the pouch <NUM> as it is reattached to the lid <NUM>, and by sucking out any remaining air through the mouthpiece <NUM> before the lid <NUM> is screwed back onto the body <NUM>.

The body <NUM> may be provided with marks to indicate how much water <NUM> should be added to the body <NUM> depending on the amount of gel <NUM> in the pouch <NUM>. This assists in not overfilling water <NUM> such that water <NUM> is displaced from the bottle <NUM> when the lid <NUM> is placed back onto the body <NUM> and the pouch <NUM> enters the water <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a tool <NUM> that allows the lid <NUM> and switch assembly <NUM> to be taken apart for cleaning. The tool <NUM> is cup-shaped and provided with an internal thread <NUM> that corresponds to the thread provided on the pouch <NUM>. This allows the tool <NUM> to be tightened on the threads <NUM> of the stub <NUM> provided on the underside of the cap <NUM>. The tool <NUM> is provided with an external fin <NUM> that may be grasped and used to screw the tool <NUM> onto the stub <NUM>.

The tool <NUM> is also provided with a sloping ring <NUM> that faces upwardly as the tool <NUM> is screwed onto the stub <NUM>. As the tool <NUM> moves closer to the core piece <NUM>, the ring <NUM> contacts the tapering sides <NUM> of the prongs <NUM> of the core piece <NUM>. The sloping surface of the ring <NUM> deflects the prongs <NUM> inwardly such that the shoulders <NUM> of the prongs <NUM> disengage from the underside of the central aperture 51a provided in the bottom of the stub <NUM>. This allows the core piece <NUM> and mouthpiece <NUM> to be lifted from the bottle <NUM> by grasping the mouthpiece <NUM>. The mouthpiece <NUM> and core piece <NUM> lift off the cap <NUM> together as the prongs <NUM> pass through the apertures in the cap <NUM> and valve piece <NUM>. The mouthpiece <NUM> may be freed from the core piece <NUM> by the user pressing the shoulders <NUM> at the base of the stem <NUM> of the mouthpiece <NUM> inwardly through the holes 76a and <NUM> provided in the core piece <NUM>. Once the shoulders <NUM> are clear of the holes 76a and <NUM>, the mouthpiece <NUM> may be slid off the post <NUM> of the core piece <NUM>. The valve piece <NUM> may be lifted out of the recess <NUM> in the cap <NUM>.

The disassembled parts of the lid <NUM> may be cleaned thoroughly. To reassemble the lid <NUM>, the tool <NUM> is removed from the cap <NUM>, the valve piece <NUM> is returned to the recess <NUM> in the cap <NUM>, the mouthpiece <NUM> is slid back down the post <NUM> of the core piece <NUM>, and the mouthpiece <NUM> and core piece <NUM> are pushed back into the valve piece <NUM> with the splines 74a,b aligned and such that the prongs <NUM> pass through the central apertures 51a,b in the cap <NUM> and valve piece <NUM>, and snap open to hold the core piece <NUM> in place. The splines 74a,b have a non-symmetric arrangement such that the core piece <NUM> fits into the valve piece <NUM> in a unique orientation that aligns the water holes 76a,b.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the above embodiments may be varied in many different respects without departing from the scope of the present invention that is defined by the appended claims.

For example, the body <NUM> may have one of a number of different sizes to accommodate different amounts of water <NUM> or other liquid beverage. For example, the body <NUM> may form an outer container <NUM> that holds <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of <NUM> of water. Also, the pouch <NUM> may be of different sizes to accommodate different amounts of gel <NUM>. The bottle <NUM> may be supplied with pouches of different sizes, but having a common size of threaded aperture <NUM> to allow them all to be attached to the stub <NUM>.

The bottle <NUM> need not be used with water <NUM> and/or gel <NUM>. Any liquid beverage may be used in the outer container <NUM>, and any gel <NUM>, liquid or flowable substance may be used in the inner container <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A bottle (<NUM>) comprising:
an open-topped outer container (<NUM>) comprising a resilient body (<NUM>) for holding a liquid beverage (<NUM>);
an inner container (<NUM>) comprising a flexible pouch (<NUM>) for holding a gel (<NUM>);
a closure (<NUM>) adapted to fix to the top of the outer container thereby forming an enclosure for containing the liquid beverage;
a fixing (<NUM>) configured to allow the inner container to be suspended from the closure;
an outlet that is in fluid communication with both the outer container and the inner container thereby allowing the outlet to dispense the liquid and the gel;
a switch mechanism including a switch (<NUM>) moveable to select between placing the outlet in fluid communication with the outer container and placing the outlet in fluid communication with the inner container, whereby, in use, when the outlet is in fluid communication with the inner container squeezing the bottle forces the gel contained in the flexible pouch out of the outlet; and characterised by
an air inlet (<NUM>) and a one-way valve configured to allow air to flow into the outer container to replace the gel that has been forced from the outlet when the bottle has been squeezed to force the gel out of the outlet.