Automatic valved bottle cap for use with liquid containers

• US 6,523,711 B1
• Filed: 04/13/2000
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Douglass E. Hughes
• Inventors: Hughes, Douglass E., Bryan, Raymond G.
• Primary Examiner(s): HYLTON, ROBIN ANNETTE
• Application Number:
  US09/548,553
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 239/33, 210/282, 210/473, 210/477, 210/482, 210/502.1, 222/189.06, 222/189.1, 222/464.2, 222/481.5, 222/484, 222/528, 222/529, 222/530, 222/494, 222/212, 215/388, 215/308, 215/309, 215/311, 215/235, 220/705, 220/707, 220/708, 220/709, 220/711, 220/714, 220/716, 220/717, 220/252, 220/263, 220/367.1, 220/371
• US Class Current: 220/709
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2266 Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/047 characterised by the outlet or venting means B05B11/041 and B05B11/042 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1097 with means for sucking back the liquid or other fluent material in the nozzle after a dispensing stroke

Abstract

A sports bottle cap having a pressure differential valve is provided which allows water to flow out through the bottle cap only when the bottle is inverted and squeezed or alternatively a straw may be threaded through the pressure differential valve, thereby deactivating it, and attached to the bottle cap allowing the user to draw liquid from the bottle through the straw. In operation the bottle cap of the present invention allows the user to dispense fluid from within the bottle in two different ways. The first manner of use allows liquid to be dispensed only when the bottle containing the liquid is inverted and squeezed. Squeezing causes the pressure to increase on the inside of the bottle thereby causing the pressure differential valve to open and liquid to exit; however, when the bottle is not squeezed the pressure differential valve remains in the closed position sealing bottle. The second manner of use allows the user to convert bottle cap for use as a sports mug having a straw-like tube to draw the liquid out of bottle. This configuration is accomplished simply by threading a straw through pressure differential valve thereby disengaging the pressure differential valve, and attaching the first end of the straw to a straw receptor located within the bottle cap. The bottle cap is then attached to the bottle and the user can suck liquid out of the bottle.

Claims

1. A bottle cap for liquid-holding containers comprising:

a main body having a bottom part for closing a container opening and a top part having, a first bore hole for receiving a straw housing, a second closable, air admitting bore hole, a sleeve bore in axial alignment with said first bore hole, said sleeve bore receiving said straw housing, and a two-way valve in fluid communication with said straw housing, wherein said straw housing has a first end, a second end and an axial bore wherein said first end has an outer diameter which is equal to or less than the diameter of said first bore hole and which is less than the outer diameter of said second end, wherein said first end extends through said first bore hole and said second end is received by said sleeve bore.

2. The bottle cap of claim 1, wherein said sleeve bore receives said two-way valve.

3. The bottle cap of claim 1, wherein said second end of said straw housing receives a straw receptor having a first end and a second end and an axial bore wherein said first end has a sleeve having a top end and a bottom end protruding downward which further shares said axial bore.

4. The bottle cap of claim 3, wherein said sleeve has an outer sidewall and an inner sidewall wherein said top end is connected to said first end of said straw housing and the outer sidewall from the top end to said bottom end tapers inward toward the axis of said axial bore.

5. The bottle cap of claim 4, wherein said inner sidewall of said sleeve from said top end to said bottom end gradually tapers away from the axis of said axial bore.

6. The bottle cap of claim 5, wherein positioned adjacent to said second end of said straw receptor is said two-way valve.

7. The bottle cap of claim 6, wherein said two-way valve is positioned within said second end of said straw receptor.

8. The bottle cap of claim 7, wherein a straw having a first and second end is threaded through said two-way valve and said first end is attached to said sleeve.

9. The bottle cap of claim 8, wherein said second end of said straw is attached to a filter.

10. The bottle cap of claim 7, wherein a filter is attached directly to said straw receptor.

11. The bottle cap of claim 10, wherein said filter is attached to said sleeve.

12. The bottle cap of claim 7, wherein a filter is threaded through said two-way valve and is attached to and seals said sleeve.

13. A drinking closure device for liquid-holding containers comprising

(1) a main body having

(i) a bottom part for closing a container opening and

(ii) a top part defining a first and second bore hole wherein said first bore hole is in axial alignment with a sleeve;

(2) a straw housing wherein said straw housing has a first and second end and a counter bore in axial alignment with said first bore hole and said first end has an outside diameter equal to or less than the diameter of said first bore hole and said second end of said straw housing has an outside diameter that is greater than the diameter of said first bore hole wherein said sleeve receives and secures said straw housing; and

(3) a straw receptor having a top and bottom end and a bore there through wherein said straw receptor is positioned within said second end of said straw housing so that said bore is in axial alignment with said counter bore of said straw housing and said top end comprises a sleeve protruding toward said bottom end and said bottom end receives a two way valve and contacts said sleeve of said main body.