U.S. patent application number 14/246058 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-04 for valved cap for beverage containers.
This patent application is currently assigned to Headwind Ceramic Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Michael Hung. Invention is credited to Michael Hung.
Application Number | 20140353275 14/246058 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51983939 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140353275 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hung; Michael |
December 4, 2014 |
VALVED CAP FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINERS
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'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.
Inventors: |
Hung; Michael; (Hong Kong,
HK) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hung; Michael |
Hong Kong |
|
HK |
|
|
Assignee: |
Headwind Ceramic Ltd.
Hong Kong
HK
|
Family ID: |
51983939 |
Appl. No.: |
14/246058 |
Filed: |
April 5, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
29456393 |
May 30, 2013 |
D702079 |
|
|
14246058 |
|
|
|
|
61829164 |
May 30, 2013 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
215/311 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/16 20130101; B65D
47/305 20130101; A47G 19/2272 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/311 |
International
Class: |
B65D 47/20 20060101
B65D047/20 |
Claims
1. A valved cap for a beverage container, comprising: a
substantially cylindrical hollow body with a substantially closed
top, and an open bottom; said substantially closed top having a
hemispherical central depression with a body fluid port and two
oppositely disposed pivot shaft recesses; a pivoting spherical
valve comprising a substantially spherical body comprising a
substantially solid interior with a central fluid passage, and a
surface with two oppositely disposed pivot shafts, an upper and a
lower valve fluid port connecting to said central fluid passage, a
protruding mouth bib disposed within 10 degrees of said upper valve
fluid port and at least one detent disposed within 30 degrees of
said upper valve fluid port; said pivoting spherical valve mounted
within the hemispherical central depression with the two oppositely
disposed pivot shafts snapped into place into said two oppositely
disposed pivot shaft recesses so that said pivoting spherical valve
may pivot around its pivot shafts, yet remain trapped in said
hollow body by mechanical force exerted by said two oppositely
disposed pivot shaft recesses; wherein at a drinking pivot angle,
said pivoting spherical valve is positioned so that fluid may pass
from said body fluid port, through said lower valve fluid port,
through said central fluid passage, and out said upper valve fluid
port and into the mouth of a user; said protruding mouth bib being
configured to help guide the passage of fluid into the mouth of a
user; wherein at said drinking pivot angle, said at least one
detent prevents further pivoting of said pivoting spherical valve
in one direction; wherein at a plurality of non-drinking pivot
angles, said pivoting spherical valve is positioned so that the
passage of fluid from said body fluid port is blocked by the
surface of the substantially spherical body of said pivoting
spherical valve, thus preventing fluid from passing from said body
fluid port (118), through said lower valve fluid port, and through
said central fluid passage.
2. The valved cap of claim 1, wherein the interior of said
substantially cylindrical hollow body has a screw thread configured
to allow said valved cap to be securely screwed onto the screw
threaded neck of a beverage container.
3. The valved cap of claim 1, wherein said substantially
cylindrical hollow body further comprises an exterior loop
configured to allow a user, when said valved cap is attached to a
beverage container, to hold said combination valved cap and
beverage container, or to attach said combination valved cap and
beverage container to a hook.
4. The valved cap of claim 1, wherein said pivot shaft recesses are
at least partially disposed within the hemispherical central
depression, at least one pivot shaft recess and/or being configured
with a passage outside the hemispherical central depression, and a
pivot shaft recess constriction, so that said after said pivoting
spherical valve is snapped into place by said pivot shafts, said at
least one pivot shaft recess constriction traps said pivoting
spherical valve (200) in said hemispherical central depression in
said hollow body.
5. The valved cap of claim 1, wherein said hemispherical central
depression additionally has a recess or tab to act to block detent
from rotating further into said hemispherical central depression.
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'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'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'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'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'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'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'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'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.
* * * * *