Container structure containing water, beverage or the like therein

• US 6,311,877 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2000
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Min-Te Yang
• Original Assignee: Min-Te Yang
• Inventors: Yang, Min-Te
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US09/573,669
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 222/481.5, 222/482, 222/484, 222/510, 222/530, 222/538, 137/347, 137/587, 251/264, 251/273, 251/284, 251/318, 251/333
• US Class Current: 222/510
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/20 characterised by location or arrangement of filling or discharge apertures
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/1683 by actuating a separate element in the container or closure

Abstract

A container structure includes a container body, a control device, a switch device, and a flexible drive member. The control device includes a lug connecting to the inside of the container body, and a rotary cap movably mounted on the lug. The switch device includes a spout located opposite to the lug and connecting to the inside of the container body, a nozzle connecting to the spout and having an inner wall provided with a tapered surface, a control valve movably mounted in the nozzle and detachably pressing the tapered surface of the nozzle, and a biasing member pressing between the control valve and the spout. The flexible drive member has a first end secured to the rotary cap to move therewith, and a second end secured to the control valve for moving it. In such a manner, the control valve is movable between a first position where the control valve presses the tapered surface of the nozzle to close the nozzle, and a second position where the control valve is detached from the tapered surface of the nozzle to open the nozzle so that the inside of the container body connects to the ambient environment.

Claims

1. A container structure comprising:

a hollow container body (10) having a first side and a second side opposite to said first side;

a control device (2) mounted on said first side of said container body (10) and including a lug (12) extending outward from said first side of said container body (10) and connecting to an inside of said container body (10), and a rotary cap (20) movably mounted on said lug (12);

a switch device (1) mounted on said second side of said container body (10) and including a spout (11) extending outward from said second side of said container body (10) and connecting to the inside of said container body (10), a nozzle (80) secured on and connecting to said spout (11) and having an inner wall provided with a tapered surface (83), a control valve (60) movably mounted in said nozzle (80) and detachably pressing said tapered surface (83) of said nozzle (80), and a biasing member (70) received in said nozzle (80) and having a first portion pressing a bottom portion of said control valve (60) and a second portion pressing a top portion of said spout (11); and

an elongated flexible drive member (40) movably received in said container body (10) and having a first end (41) secured to said rotary cap (20) to move therewith, and a second end (42) secured to said control valve (60) for moving said control valve (60);

wherein, said control valve (60) is movable in said nozzle (80) between a first position where said control valve (60) abuts and presses said tapered surface (83) of said nozzle (80) so as to close said nozzle (80), thereby closing a connection between the inside of said container body (10) and an ambient environment, and a second position where said control valve (60) is detached from said tapered surface (83) of said nozzle (80) so as to open said nozzle (80) so that the inside of said container body (10) connects to the ambient environment.

2. The container structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said control valve (60) has an outer periphery provided with a tapered surface (62) mating with said tapered surface (83) of said nozzle (80).

3. The container structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said spout (11) of said switch device (1) has an outer periphery provided with a plurality of teeth (111).

4. The container structure in accordance with claim 3, wherein said inner wall of said nozzle (80) is provided with a plurality of bosses (82) each engaged with each of said teeth (111) of said spout (11), thereby preventing said nozzle (80) from detaching from said spout (11).

5. The container structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said nozzle (80) has an outer wall provided with an outer thread (81), and said switch device (1) further includes an end cap (50) detachably screwed on said outer thread (81) of said nozzle (80).

6. The container structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rotary cap (20) is provided with a fastening ear (21), and said first end (41) of said flexible drive member (40) is secured to said fastening ear (21) of said rotary cap (20).

7. The container structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said control device (2) further includes a sealing ring (30) mounted between said lug (12) and said rotary cap (20).

8. The container structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lug (12) has an outer wall provided with an outer thread (121), and said rotary cap (20) has an inner wall provided with an inner thread (22) screwed on said outer thread (121) of said lug (12).

9. The container structure in accordance with claim 8, wherein said outer thread (121) of said lug (12) defines an air passage depression (123) therein.

10. The container structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said spout (11) of said switch device (1) is located diagonally opposite to said lug (12) of said control device (2).