U.S. patent application number 12/185621 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-30 for combination concentrate drinking bottle and storage compartment.
Invention is credited to Leona I. Nelson, Steven D. Nelson.
Application Number | 20090188884 12/185621 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40898157 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090188884 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nelson; Steven D. ; et
al. |
July 30, 2009 |
COMBINATION CONCENTRATE DRINKING BOTTLE AND STORAGE COMPARTMENT
Abstract
A sports bottle with concentrate cup removably coupled thereto
by a female coupling ring.
Inventors: |
Nelson; Steven D.; (Buena
Park, CA) ; Nelson; Leona I.; (Buena Park,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FULWIDER PATTON LLP
HOWARD HUGHES CENTER, 6060 CENTER DRIVE, TENTH FLOOR
LOS ANGELES
CA
90045
US
|
Family ID: |
40898157 |
Appl. No.: |
12/185621 |
Filed: |
August 4, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11800016 |
May 3, 2007 |
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12185621 |
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60880001 |
Jan 11, 2007 |
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60898630 |
Feb 1, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
215/6 ;
215/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/20 20130101; B65D
81/3205 20130101; A61J 9/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/6 ;
215/329 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/04 20060101
B65D001/04; B65D 41/04 20060101 B65D041/04 |
Claims
1. A combination bottle and concentrate container apparatus
comprising: an elongated bottle formed on one end with a beverage
outlet and on the opposite extremity with an first screw threads; a
concentrate cup, open at one end to form a mouth and formed
adjacent the one end with second screw threads; a connector ring
interposed between the bottle and cup and formed on one extremity
with third screw threads to engage the first screw threads and
formed on the other extremity with fourth screw threads to connect
with the second screw threads; and a lid on the open lid of the cup
to sealingly engage the mouth.
2. The combination bottle and concentrate container apparatus of
claim 1 wherein: the first screw threads includes a plurality of
laterally outwardly projecting peripheral ribs having respective
camming surfaces facing away from the connector ring and the ring
includes laterally projecting teeth to engage the respective
camming surfaces.
3. The combination beverage bottle and concentrate container
apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the ring includes a band interposed
between the bottle and cup.
4. The combination beverage bottle and concentrate container
apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the cup is formed adjacent its open
extremity with a peripheral, laterally inwardly directed closure
flange; and the lid includes a laterally out turned lip to engage
the closure flange.
5. The combination beverage bottle and concentrate container
apparatus of claim 4 that includes: a closure lid on the open end
of the cup and wherein; the bottle is formed on its bottom
extremity with boss constructed to, when the first and third and
second and forth screw threads are connected together, engage the
lid to apply an axial pressure thereto to press the lip against the
mouth.
6. The combination beverage bottle and concentrate container
apparatus of claim 5 wherein: the ring includes a web configured on
one side with a piston for engaging the lid and on the side
opposite the one side with a nest for receiving the boss.
7. The combination beverage bottle and concentrate container
apparatus of claim 6 wherein: the lid is formed with a well to
complementally receive the piston in close fit relationship.
8. The combination beverage bottle and concentrate container
apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the first and third threads are
constructed to unscrew in one direction and the second and fourth
threads are constructed to unscrew in the direction opposite the
one direction.
9. The combination beverage bottle and concentrate container
apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the first and third threads are
configured as bayonet threads.
10. The combination beverage bottle and concentrate container
apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the second and fourth threads are
configured as bayonet threads.
11. The combination beverage bottle and concentrate container
apparatus as set forth in claim 1 that includes: a latch for
releasably latching the first and third threads connected to one
another.
12. A combination bottle and concentrate apparatus comprising: an
elongated bottle formed on one end with a beverage outlet and on
its opposite end with a first connector; a cup opened at one end to
form a mouth and further formed adjacent the one end with a second
connector; a connector ring interposed between the bottle and cup
and formed on one extremity with a third connector to engage the
first connector and further formed on the extremity opposite the
one extremity with a fourth coupler to connect with the second
connector; a lid constructed to cover the mouth of the cup; the
bottom of the bottle and mouth being so construed as to, when the
first and third and third and fourth connectors are operative to
connect the bottle and cup together, the bottle is operative, press
the lid into sealing engagement with the mouth.
13. The combination beverage bottle and concentrate container
apparatus as set forth in claim 12 that includes: a latch for
releasably latching the first and third connectors connected to one
another.
14. A combination bottle and concentrate container apparatus
comprising: an elongated upstanding cylindrical bottle formed with
a predetermined horizontal cross section and configured in its
lower extremity with a reduced diametrical cross section defining a
boss configured about its periphery with a first bayonet coupling
element; a cup formed with a reduced in cross section neck opening
into a mouth and configured with an enlarged in horizontal cross
section body, the neck being formed at is periphery with second
bayonet coupling element; a cup shaped lid formed with a upwardly
opening well and configured about its upper periphery with a
laterally outwardly projecting sealing lip to nest on the top edge
of the neck; a coupling ring configured with a peripheral hoop wall
to, having an upper extremity to project over the boss and lower
extremity to project over the neck, the coupling ring further
including a web configured with a downwardly projecting piston to
be slidably received in the well, the coupling ring further
including in its upper extremity a third bayonet coupling element
for coupling with the first bayonet coupling element upon rotation
of the bottle in one direction relative to the coupling ring, the
coupling ring further including in its lower extremity a fourth
bayonet coupling element for coupling with the second coupling
element upon rotation of the cup in a direction opposite the one
direction relative to the coupling ring; the bottle ring, lid and
cup being so shaped and configured that, when the first and third,
and second and fourth coupling elements are coupled together, the
piston is operative to drive the received in the well and drive the
piston downwardly into the neck to sealingly engage the peripheral
lip with the mouth.
15. A combination beverage bottle and concentrate container
comprising: an elongated cylindrical bottle formed on one end with
a reduced-in-cross section threaded neck; a closure element
threadably received on the neck; the bottle formed on its end
opposite the one end with a reduced-in-cross section boss formed
about its periphery with an outwardly opening snap groove; a cup
for connection to the bottle and being formed with an open end
constructed with peripheral connector ribs and configured with
axially opening access slots; a lid removably mounted in sealing
engagement on the cup; a coupling ring interposed between the
bottle and cup and formed on one extremity to be received
complementally over the boss and having an inturned container lip
constructed to be snap fit in the snap groove, the ring being
formed on its opposite end with a plurality of laterally inturned
teeth constructed to pass axially through the respective access
slots to be received in retaining engagement with the respective
ribs when the cup is rotated in one direction relative to the
bottle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a non-provisional application claiming priority to
Provisional Application No. 60/880,001, entitled Re-Fresh Sports
Bottle, filed on Jan. 11, 2007, and Provisional Application No.
60/898,630, entitled Re-Fresh II, filed on Feb. 1, 2007, and
Non-provisional application Ser. No. 11/800,016, filed May 3, 2007
which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates combination beverage bottles
and storage compartments.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] With the advent of a health conscious society, sports
bottles have become particularly popular for carrying hydration
beverages such as electrolyte rich fluid for flavored or high
energy drinks. These bottles are often constructed of plastic
material and are typically single fill bottles such that once the
contents have been consumed, the bottles themselves are frequently
disposed of and find their way to landfills or the like thus
contributing significantly to the bulk of discard in the landfills.
Traditionally such bottles are used in athletic events where the
user is often in athletic attire, sometimes tight fitting and
frequently without pockets for such necessities as car keys, house
keys, credit cards, identification and the like. This then has been
a longstanding need for sports bottles that can be conveniently
re-filled to mix water with a concentrate and which includes a
convenient and readily accessible storage compartment.
[0006] Efforts have been made in various areas to provide a
convenient dispensing bottle with a container of liquid attached
thereto. Such devices typically incorporate some type of
communication valve or the like which is manually operable to open
communication from the water reservoir to the baby formula bottle
for introduction of water to be consumed by the newly fed baby.
Such devices have been proposed with a male connector plug
externally threaded on opposite ends for threadable connection
between the baby bottle and a reservoir and incorporating the
manually operable valve. A device of this type is shown in U.S.
Patent Application No. 2007/0017890, filed Jun. 25, 2005. Such
devices, while having utility for direct communication between a
water reservoir and interior of a baby bottle, suffer the
shortcoming that they are relatively expensive to manufacture, are
cumbersome and, with reuse, sometimes encounter sanitation
challenges.
[0007] Participants and spectators alike at various sporting events
and gathering places often times carry beverage bottles with them.
Frequently, the beverage bottles are carried in backpacks or
sometimes mounted to the frame of a bicycle or the like. Thin wall
molded water bottles have been proposed with an external screw
thread on the lower bottom to connect directly with an interior
screw thread of a storage cup for storage of car keys and the like.
A water bottle of this type is available from Hangzhou Everich
Houseware Co., Ltd., http.//everich.en.alibaba.com. While providing
for convenient storage of car keys and the like, the screw thread
connection of the cup is relatively expensive to manufacture and
affords a relatively flimsy connection and does not provide a water
tight seal for carrying liquid or fine powder concentrate in the
cup for repeated unthreading thereof for access for replacement to
refill with a concentrate from the cup.
[0008] In my pending patent application Ser. No. 11/800,016, filed
May 3, 2006, I disclosed a mixing and drinking bottle to mount to a
concentrate cup via coupling ring. While satisfactory as a reusable
bottle, this device suffered the shortcoming that the ring, in some
embodiments, included a snap connector for connecting to the bottle
in a manner that, in some instances, left the connection somewhat
lacking in integrity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] A combination bottle and storage container disposed in
stacked relationship with a connector ring interposed therebetween.
First and second screw connectors are formed between the top side
of the ring and bottom of the bottle and between the bottom side of
the ring and the container and are configured to upon rotation of
the ring in one direction relative to the bottle, to couple the
ring to the bottle and upon rotation of the ring in the opposite
direction relative to the cup, couple the ring to the cup.
[0010] Other features and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way
of example, the features of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination beverage
bottle and concentrate cup embodying the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the combination
bottle concentrate cup shown in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a top view of the combination shown in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, in enlarged scale,
taken along the lines, line 4-4 of FIG. 2;
[0015] FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are transverse sectional views taken
along the respective lines 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, and 8-8 of FIG. 4;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a partial side view, in enlarged scale, of the
upper portion of the cup shown in FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view, in enlarged scale,
taken along the line of 10-10 of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of
FIG. 10;
[0019] FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale,
taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 13 is a broken vertical sectional view similar to FIG.
12 but depicting a modified cup lid;
[0021] FIG. 13A is a vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale,
taken along the line 13A-13A in FIG. 13;
[0022] FIG. 13B is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line
13B-13B in FIG. 13A;
[0023] FIG. 14 is a broken side view of a cup lid incorporated in
the combination bottle and concentrate cup shown in FIG. 12;
[0024] FIG. 15 is a side view of a lid incorporated in the
combination bottle and concentrate cup shown in FIG. 13;
[0025] FIG. 16 is a detail vertical sectional view, in enlarged
scale, taken from the ellipse designated FIG. 16 in FIG. 12;
[0026] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a combination baby bottle
and concentrate cup embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a combination drinking
bottle and concentrate container of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 19 is a perspective exposed view thereof,
[0029] FIG. 20 is a vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale, of
the combination bottle and container shown in FIG. 19;
[0030] FIGS. 21-24 are horizontal sectional view taken along the
respective lines 21-24 of FIG. 20;
[0031] FIG. 25 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines
25 of FIG. 22;
[0032] FIGS. 26 and 27 are vertical sectional views, in enlarged
scale, taken from the respective ellipses shown in FIG. 25; and
[0033] FIGS. 28 and 29 are side elevational views of a modification
of the combination bottle and container shown in FIG. 18.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 16, the combination drinking
bottle and concentrate container of the present invention includes,
generally, a drinking bottle 21, an open top container cup 23 for
receiving a recharge of concentrate and a coupling ring 25
interposed therebetween. The bottle 21 may be formed in its lower
extremity with a coupling element in the form of a radially
outwardly opening snap groove 31 and the coupling ring 25 may
include laterally inwardly turned coupling ring 33 (FIG. 16). The
ring may include in its lower extremity a plurality of radially
inturned coupling teeth 35 received behind respective coupling ribs
37 in the container cup.
[0035] Sports bottles have become popular with all segments of the
public interested in a healthy life style and particularly those
dedicated to fitness and training. Such sports bottles are often
utilized to carry a beverage which may be an energy drink or other
type of fluids for adding electrolytes or other liquids for
hydration. Such sports bottles are typically single use thus
resulting in discard when they become empty thereby contributing
significantly to the bulk added to landfills each year. Thus, it is
desirable to provide an economical and convenient combination
bottle and concentrate container so that once the beverage is
consumed from the bottle, the cap may be decoupled so a measure of
that concentrate may be poured from the container cup into the
bottle to be mixed with water or the like to thereby provide a
refill thus continuing utilization of the same bottle.
[0036] The bottle 21 of the present invention may be constructed of
any one of a various types of plastics and preferably of high
density polyethylene. It will be sized for the particular
application and will preferably have a volume of about 18 ounces to
provide a convenient volume for mixing and to establish a
reasonable supply of drinking beverage.
[0037] In one preferred embodiment, the combination of the present
invention is of molded construction and the wall of the bottle and
container cup may be relatively thin, on the order of 1/32 of an
inch thick and certainly less than 1/16 of an inch thick and may be
contoured to a generally cylindrical configuration. The bottle 21
is molded at its upper extremity with an annular, upwardly facing
shoulder 41 surrounding an upstanding threaded neck for receipt of
a cap 43 having a conventional valved drinking nozzle 45 mounted
centrally thereon.
[0038] The bottle 21 is configured intermediately along its length
with a radially inwardly indented groove defining a waist 47. The
bottle is configured at its bottom extremity with an undercut to
define a reduced-in-diameter cylindrical boss 51 (FIG. 4) formed at
its upper extremity with the further undercut snap groove 31. It
will be appreciated that the snap groove 31 may be in the form of
one or more discontinuous grooves, a continuous peripheral groove
or, in some instances, a screw thread. The boss 51 is formed with
three axially projecting open ended indexing slots 53 spaced
equidistance thereabout.
[0039] The coupling ring 25 is configured with a cylindrical
peripheral wall 55 of a diameter to be slip fit in female
relationship over the boss 51 and is formed at its upper extremity
with a radially inturned segments defining locking lip 57 received
in snap fit relationship in the groove 31.
[0040] The ring 25 is formed medially with a radially inwardly
projecting, horizontal flat annular band 61, configured to be
nested against the bottom wall of the boss 51 when the lip segments
of the ring 57 are received in snap fit relationship within the
groove 31. Formed on the inside of the peripheral wall 55 annular
are a plurality of axially extending index strips 63 spaced
thereabout and sized for their upper extremities to be slip fit
into the index slots 53 to lock the ring against rotation relative
to the boss 51.
[0041] The peripheral wall 55 of the ring is formed in its lower
extremity with a plurality of radially inturned teeth 35 to
facilitate coupling to the other half of a bayonet coupling found
in the cup 23.
[0042] The cup 23 is of generally cylindrical configuration and is
formed in its upper extremity with the circumferential coupling
ribs 37 about 1/8 to 1/4 inches wide in the axial direction of the
cup. Such coupling ribs are molded in the thin wall of the cup with
a longitudinal cross section in the shape of a reverse "S" to be
turned radially inwardly to form a horizontal flange 65 (FIG. 16)
which then turns upwardly to form a reduced-in-diameter neck 67
defining a radially outwardly opening groove 69 at least 1/8-inch
high and preferably a little over 1/4-inch high and formed to
receive with the respective teeth 35. In this regard, the wall of
the cup projects upwardly and turns radially outwardly at the top
of the neck to form a radial extent defining a downwardly facing
radial surface 71. The wall of the cup then turns upwardly to form
a vertical extent 73 and then turns radially inwardly to form a
relatively rigid closure flange 75 terminating at an annular inner
edge 77 of a predetermined diameter. As will be recognized by those
skilled in the art, for this embodiment with the thin wall it is
only important that the rib 37 have sufficient size and structural
integrity to carry the load applied by the coupling teeth to
establish a secure and tight coupling.
[0043] Referring to FIGS. 9 to 11, to form the bayonet character on
the coupling, the ribs 37 are formed throughout the majority of
their circumferential length with the respective downwardly facing
radial surfaces 71 but then taper upwardly toward their respective
free ends a distance of about 1/4-inch in the axial direction to
form respective inclined cams 109 and terminate at respective
circumferential ends 121 of the respective grooves to cooperate in
forming vertically upwardly opening access notches 123 for
selective receipt of the respective teeth 35 to be engaged
underneath the ramps 109 as the cup is rotated relative to the
bottle. As the cup is rotated, the respective teeth 35 will be
operative to draw the cup upwardly about a quarter of an inch into
pressing relationship by a little less than 1/4 of a revolution,
respective axial strips 113 will register with the respective slots
111 to releasably lock rotational position relative to the bottle
to maintain it locked there against.
[0044] With continued reference to FIGS. 4 and 16, a circular lid,
generally designated 91 is configured with axially extending barrel
93 of a selected outside diameter to be received in telescopical
relationship within the opening defined by the annular edge 77 of
the flange 75 and is formed at its top extremity with a radially
outwardly projecting flange 95 nested over the top of the flange
75. The barrel 93 is formed in its outside diameter with a flexible
fastener bead 97 spaced from the flange 95 a distance corresponding
with the thickness of the flange 75 to thereby cooperate in holding
the lid in snap fit sealing relationship on the cup 23.
[0045] Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, and 12, the lid 91 is conveniently
formed in the wall formed by the barrel with an upwardly projecting
dispenser spout offset eccentrically to one side thereof and a
downwardly projecting breather spout 103 disposed eccentrically to
the opposite side thereof and projecting downwardly into the cup.
The lid is formed at one side with a radially outwardly projecting
pull tab 102.
[0046] A tubular cap 85 is received in friction fit sealing
relation over the top end of the spout 103 and a friction fit plug
86 is formed with a male nipple 88 received in friction fit in the
top end of the tube 103.
[0047] In operation, the bottle 21, cup 23, ring 25 and lid may be
molded from flexible plastic such as polyethylene. The combination
may then be assembled together by grasping the coupling ring 25 and
pressing it upwardly on the boss 51 shown in FIG. 4 to compress the
wall of the boss slightly radially inwardly to allow lips 57 to
register in the coupling groove 31, it being appreciated that the
lug 63 will be registered with the slots 53.
[0048] A charge of concentrate, baby formula, water or the like may
be inserted in the cup 23 and the lid 91 placed there over by
inserting the barrel 93 downwardly into the top of the cup and
pressing downwardly to flex the latching bead 97 and wall of the
barrel radially inwardly so such bead can pass axially downwardly
past the annular edge 77 of the flange to clear such flange
allowing the flange to nest in sealing relation in the annular
groove formed between the bead and the underside of the flange 95
(FIG. 16). This will then serve to capture any liquid or powder
concentrate sealed in the cup. The cup 23 may be slid upwardly into
the lower end of the ring 25 and rotated to engage the respective
slots 123 (FIG. 9) in axial alignment with the respective teeth 35
for entry thereof into horizontal alignment with the grooves formed
on the underside of the respective cam surfaces 109 (FIG. 9). The
cup may then be quickly and easily rotated counterclockwise as
viewed in FIG. 10 to orbit the ribs 37 within the interior of the
ring to engage the cams 109 (FIG. 9) with the respective teeth to,
as such rotation continues, draw the top edge of the cup toward the
bottle (FIG. 16). Rotation of the cup will be continued until such
time as the respective strips 113 register with the respective
slots 111 to thus give a tactile indication that the cup is locked
onto the bottle.
[0049] The bottle 21 may then be used in a conventional manner.
When the athlete desires hydration or re-energization he or she may
access the valved nozzle 45 for a reconstituted beverage. When the
bottle 21 is emptied, it would be appreciated that the athlete may
quickly and easily disconnect the cup 23 by rotating it clockwise
as shown in FIG. 10 relative to the bottle to disengage the
respective strips 113 from the slots 111 and register the
respective teeth 35 in axial alignment with the respective access
slots 123 for disengagement thereof. The athlete may then remove
the cover 43 of the bottle and the cap 85 from the pouring spout
101 and the plug 86 from the breather tube. The pouring spout 101
will then be aligned over the inlet to the bottle to pour the
desired quantity of concentrate from the cup into the bottle. The
cap 85 and plug 86 can then easily be fitted in place and the cup
threaded back unto the ring 25 to maintain it in its coupled
position. Access may then be had to water from a water fountain or
the like which may be available in any park or rest area to fill
the bottle and provide the desired degree of reconstitution.
[0050] This process may then be repeated until such time as the
concentrate has been depleted from the cup 23. Then with the cup
decoupled from the ring 25 and the athlete may grasp the tab 102
(FIG. 2) to seal the lid upwardly to disengage it from the cup so
that a new supply of concentrate may be added to the cup. In some
embodiments, the concentrate or supplement may be conveniently
packaged in cups like the cup 23 and the entire cup may be replaced
with a preloaded cup to render the new s of concentrate
available.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 15, it will be appreciated that the lid,
generally designated 201, shown therein is substantially the same
as that shown in FIG. 14 except that there is no breather tube or
discharge spout thus leaving the athlete to remove the lid each
time access is to be had to the concentrate.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 17, the baby bottle shown therein is
substantially the same as the construction for the bottle shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, being recognized that the cup 223 may contain water
or the like to be poured into the bottle 221 upon depletion of the
formula or the like.
[0053] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the
bottle cap 43 may take many different forms, such as a squirt or
pour spout or, in some embodiments, a spray nozzle.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 18 and 19, a third embodiment of the
combination bottle and cup of the present invention includes,
generally, a bottle 251 which may be closed on its upper end by a
screw thread cap 253 having a nipple valve 255 and is formed on its
lower extremity with a reduced-in-diameter boss 257 configured
about its periphery with a first bayonet fitting, generally
designated 259, for coupling with a coupling ring 261 which also
connects with a container defining a cup 263 to sealingly compress
a lid 265 into sealing engagement therewith.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 20, the boss 257, constructed of thin wall
plastic, is formed with a segments of the radially outwardly
projecting, circumferentially extending wedge shaped screw ribs 37
to form there above circumferential grooves 271 and configured with
upwardly facing cam surfaces 109 which slope upwardly in the
counterclockwise direction to terminate in an upwardly facing,
radially extending, circumferential lock surface 71. Formed at the
narrow and of the wedge shaped screw ribs 37 are respective
downwardly opening access notches 123
[0056] The cup 263 is formed at its upper extremity with a
reduced-in-diameter neck 275 configured at its top edge with an
annular in-turned flange 276. Referring to FIG. 26 the neck is
shaped to form circumferential wedge shaped ribs 37 configured with
respective downwardly facing, sloped, cam surfaces 109 opening into
radial grooves 271 which lead to upwardly opening release notches
123.
[0057] With continued reference to FIG. 20, the coupling ring 261
is configured with a cylindrical band defining a hoop wall 281
formed in its interior at the upper and lower extremities with
respective radially inwardly projecting teeth 283 disposed in
spaced relationship thereabout for selective receipt upwardly into
the respective access notches 123 to form the other half of the
bayonet coupling. Thus, upon the bottle being rotated
counterclockwise relative to the ring 261, the respective teeth
will be driven up along the cam surfaces 109 to ride onto and
circumferentially along the respective latching surfaces 71 until
the respective registration strips 113 engage the respective slots
111 (FIGS. 20 and 27) to releasably latch the coupling ring 261 in
position.
[0058] In a similar fashion the coupling ring 261 is formed in its
lower extremity with respective radially inwardly projecting teeth
35 disposed thereabout for registration with the respective access
notches 123 in the neck 275 and formed integrally with the
respective strips 113 for receipt in the respective 111 as
described above.
[0059] Referring to FIGS. 25 and 26, the coupling ring 261 is
further formed centrally with a thin walled piston, generally
designated 291, which is somewhat cup shaped and formed by an
annular ring 294 disposed intermediate the length of the wall 281
and turning downwardly to form the conically shaped, upwardly
opening hollow piston 291.
[0060] With continued reference to FIG. 20 and FIGS. 25 to 27, the
combination further includes a cup shaped lid 265 configured to
within an upwardly opening well 267 to complementally secure the
piston 291 downwardly therein. The lid 265 is formed about its
upper periphery with a laterally outwardly projecting, annular lip
297 configured and positioned as to, nest on the top edge of the
neck 275. The piston 291 is of sufficient axial length to, when the
bottle and cup are coupled together, engage its bottom end against
the top of the bottom wall of the well 267 to drive the lid
downwardly to sealingly engage the lip 297 against the top side of
the neck flange 276.
[0061] As will appreciated by those skilled in the art, the
respective bayonet coupling ribs, slots and teeth may be configured
and disposed spaced equidistance about the periphery of the bottle
and cup, typically spaced, for instance, 180.degree., 220.degree.,
or 90.degree. apart.
[0062] In the preferred embodiment, the bayonet couplings are so
configured that by rotation of the coupling ring 261 in one
direction relative to the bottle 251 the bayonet coupling will be
latched and by rotation of the cup 263 and the opposite direction
relative to the coupling ring 261 the cup will be latched.
[0063] In operation, it will be appreciated that the combination
shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, can conveniently be marketed to be
purchased by a consumer, along with a supply of concentrate. The
bottle 251 may, of course, be utilized repeatedly in conventional
matter with premixed liquids or water. It will be appreciated,
however, that when the bottle is to be used with a concentrate, the
coupling ring 261 may be coupled to the bottom of the bottle 251 by
inserting the ring axially upwardly with the respective teeth 35
received in the slots 123 and the bottle rotated clockwise relative
to the ring to thus secure the ring in position on the bottle.
[0064] Bulk concentrate may be inserted in the cup 263 and the lid
265 placed thereon to dispose the sealing lip 297 over the top
flange of the neck 276 (FIG. 27). The neck 275 may then be inserted
up into the annular space inside the hoop wall of the coupling ring
261 with the respective teeth 35 received in the access slots 123
to register with the respective circumferential slots 271 to allow
the cup 263 to be rotated counterclockwise relative to the ring 261
to tighten the cup into place. This will cause the piston 291, as
the respective teeth 35 slide along the respective cam surfaces
109, draw the cup securely into place as the piston 291 is driven
downwardly to against the bottom wall of the well 291 to drive lip
297 into sealing engagement with the top of the neck flange 276. In
this manner, the powdered or liquid concentrate will be contained
in the cup 263 to be carried along with the bottle and available
for ready access for a recharge of the bottle.
[0065] When the contents of the bottle have been consumed, the user
may easily decouple the cup 263 and remove the lid 265 to pour a
selected measure of concentrate into the bottle for recharging
thereof with water or the like for dilution.
[0066] Referring to FIGS. 28 and 29, it will be appreciated that
the bottle of the type shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 may take many
different forms, including an upstanding conical shape with an
outwardly flared skirt 301 which may be formed interiorly with
bayonet couplers for coupling with mating bayonet couplings in the
upper extremity of the enlarged in horizontal cross section cup
305. The cup 305 may be conveniently be used for many different
purposes, such as a containment of concentrate and/or paraphernalia
such as car keys, driver's license, residential keys, credit cards,
cash and the like to be carried with the user.
[0067] For the bottle, generally designated 309, in FIG. 29, the
cap of the bottle may be conveniently be in the form of a baby
nipple and the cup 305 may be conveniently utilized for baby
formula and the like.
[0068] The bayonet thread coupling device is intended to include a
sloped, course thread element having a wedge shaped rib having an
inclined camming surface to be engaged by a complementally coupling
element as exemplified in one preferred embodiment by the teeth but
which may take many different forms. Such a bayonet connection
provides the advantage that the coupling function may be achieve
rapidly and efficiently and with the rather robust rib construction
provides a high integrity connection.
[0069] From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the combination
beverage bottle and concentrate of the present invention provides
an economical and effective means for making and assembling a
concentrate cup for convenient coupling to a beverage bottle and
which is convenient to use and provides for a sanitary and orderly
containment of concentrate ready for addition to the beverage
bottle.
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