Drink containers
Drink containers with mouthpiece assemblies having a dispensing configuration and a stowed configuration. A mouthpiece assembly defines a liquid passage through which drink liquid may be dispensed when the mouthpiece assembly is in the dispensing configuration and includes means for selectively restricting the flow of drink liquid through the liquid passage when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration. In some examples, the means for selectively restricting the flow of drink liquid include a tube that at least partially defines the liquid passage and which includes a crimping region. The crimping region may be constructed of a resiliently and reversibly deformable material that is adapted to restrict the flow of drink liquid through the liquid passage when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration. In some embodiments, the mouthpiece assembly includes a means for automatically releasing the mouthpiece assembly from its stowed configuration to a dispensing configuration.
1. A drink container, comprising:
a liquid container having a neck with an opening and having an internal compartment sized to hold a volume of potable drink liquid; and
a cap assembly removably coupled to the liquid container, the cap assembly comprising:
a base removably coupled to the neck of the liquid container and including a through-passage;
a mouthpiece assembly extending at least partially through the through-passage of the base and defining a liquid passage through which drink liquid from the liquid container may selectively flow, and further defining an inlet through which drink liquid from the internal compartment may enter the liquid passage and an outlet through which drink liquid from the internal compartment of the liquid container is selectively dispensed from the liquid passage; wherein the mouthpiece assembly is configured to be selectively configured between a dispensing configuration, in which the liquid passage permits drink liquid to flow from the internal compartment at least into the liquid passage, and a stowed configuration, in which drink liquid is restricted from being dispensed from the liquid container through the liquid passage; wherein the mouthpiece assembly is biased to the dispensing configuration; and wherein the mouthpiece assembly comprises:
a tube portion that defines at least a portion of the liquid passage for drink liquid to flow from the internal compartment to the outlet of the mouthpiece assembly; wherein the tube portion includes a crimping region constructed of a resiliently deformable material and adapted to prevent the flow of drink liquid through the liquid passage when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration; wherein the crimping region includes opposing walls that are in contact with each other to seal the liquid passage within the crimping region when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration; and further wherein the crimping region at least partially biases the mouthpiece assembly to the dispensing configuration;
an anchor portion that is integrally formed with the tube portion, is constructed from the resiliently deformable material, extends from the tube portion, and has a greater exterior perimeter than the tube portion;
a rigid collar member that is pivotally coupled to a portion of the cap assembly and through which the tube portion at least partially extends; and
a sliding member that is configured to slide relative to the base of the cap assembly to selectively release the mouthpiece assembly to move from the stowed configuration to the dispensing configuration; wherein the sliding member is biased away from a position in which the sliding member releases the mouthpiece assembly to move from the stowed configuration to the dispensing configuration; wherein the sliding member includes a user engagement pad that extends through a wall of the cap assembly for selective engagement by a user to urge the sliding member to move relative to the base of the cap assembly to release the mouthpiece assembly to move via its bias from the stowed configuration to the dispensing configuration.
2. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece assembly further includes a mouthpiece portion that defines a portion of the liquid passage for drink liquid to flow from the tube portion to the outlet of the mouthpiece assembly, wherein the mouthpiece portion includes the outlet, and wherein the mouthpiece portion is constructed of the resiliently deformable material.
3. The drink container of claim 2 , wherein the mouthpiece assembly includes mouthpiece-securing structure that secures the mouthpiece portion to the rigid collar member and restricts relative movement between the mouthpiece portion and the rigid collar member.
4. The drink container of claim 2 , wherein the mouthpiece portion includes one or more of a channel and a depression; wherein the rigid collar member includes one or more of a lip, a flange, and a protrusion; and wherein the one or more of the channel and the depression defines a seat that engages and mates with the one or more of the lip, the flange, and the protrusion to restrict relative movement between the mouthpiece portion and the rigid collar member.
5. The drink container of claim 2 , wherein the mouthpiece assembly includes a self-sealing valve.
6. The drink container of claim 2 , wherein the mouthpiece portion includes a self-sealing valve in the form of a bite-actuated mouthpiece; wherein the bite-actuated mouthpiece is selectively configured between an open configuration, in which the outlet is open and permits drink liquid to flow therethrough, and a closed configuration, in which the outlet restricts drink liquid from flowing therethrough; wherein the bite-actuated mouthpiece is biased to the closed configuration; and wherein the bite-actuated mouthpiece is selectively configured from the closed configuration to the open configuration responsive to a user biting upon opposed sidewalls of the bite-actuated mouthpiece.
7. The drink container of claim 2 , wherein the mouthpiece portion and the tube portion are constructed as a unitary assembly of the resiliently deformable material.
8. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the anchor portion includes annular ribs that provide a friction-fit arrangement with the through-passage of the base of the cap assembly.
9. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the cap assembly further includes a pair of lateral guards, and wherein at least a portion of the mouthpiece assembly is received between the pair of lateral guards when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration, and further wherein the cap assembly further includes a dust cover portion that extends between the lateral guards and which extends across the outlet when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration.
10. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the rigid collar member includes a stop surface that does not engage the base of the cap assembly when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration and that engages the base of the cap assembly when the mouthpiece assembly is in the dispensing configuration to define the position of e outlet when the mouthpiece assembly is in the dispensing configuration.
11. The drink container of claim 1 , wherein the cap assembly further includes first and second catch structures that are configured to be selectively engaged with each other to retain the mouthpiece assembly in the stowed configuration; wherein responsive to a user pressing upon the user engagement pad to slide the sliding member relative to the cap assembly, the sliding member disengages the first and second catch structures to free the mouthpiece assembly to move from the stowed configuration to the dispensing configuration.
12. The drink container of claim 11 , wherein the rigid collar member includes the second catch structure.
13. A drink container, comprising:
a liquid container having a neck with an opening and having an internal compartment sized to hold a volume of potable drink liquid; and
a cap assembly removably coupled to the liquid container, the cap assembly comprising:
a base removably coupled to the neck of the liquid container and including a through-passage extending through the base;
a first catch structure coupled to the base; and
a mouthpiece assembly extending at least partially through the through-passage of the base and defining a liquid passage through which drink liquid from the liquid container may selectively flow, and further defining an inlet through which drink liquid from the internal compartment may enter the liquid passage and an outlet through which drink liquid from the internal compartment of the liquid container is selectively dispensed from the liquid passage; wherein the mouthpiece assembly is configured to be selectively positioned between a dispensing configuration, in which the liquid passage permits drink liquid to flow from the internal compartment at least into the liquid passage, and a stowed configuration, in which drink liquid is restricted from being dispensed from the liquid container through the liquid passage; wherein the mouthpiece assembly is biased to the dispensing configuration; and wherein the mouthpiece assembly comprises:
a mouthpiece portion that includes the outlet and is constructed of a resiliently deformable material; wherein the mouthpiece portion defines a seat;
a tube portion that defines at least a portion of the liquid passage for drink liquid to flow from the internal compartment to the mouthpiece portion; wherein the tube portion includes a crimping region constructed of the resiliently deformable material and adapted to prevent the flow of drink liquid through the liquid passage when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration; wherein the crimping region includes opposing walls that are in contact with each other to seal the liquid passage within the crimping region when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration; and wherein the crimping region at least partially biases the mouthpiece assembly to the dispensing configuration; and
a rigid collar member that is pivotally coupled to a portion of the cap assembly and includes a second catch structure adapted to be selectively engaged with the first catch structure to retain the mouthpiece assembly in the stowed configuration; wherein the rigid collar member extends around at least a portion of the mouthpiece portion; and wherein the rigid collar member includes at least one of a lip, a flange, or a protrusion that engages and mates with the seat to secure the mouthpiece portion to the rigid collar member and restrict relative movement between the mouthpiece portion and the rigid collar member.
14. The drink container of claim 13 , wherein the mouthpiece portion includes at least one of a channel or a depression that defines the seat.
15. The drink container of claim 13 , wherein the mouthpiece portion is integrally formed with the tube portion.
16. The drink container of claim 13 , wherein the rigid collar member further extends around at least a portion of the tube portion.
17. The drink container of claim 13 , wherein the cap assembly further includes a user release mechanism configured to automatically disengage the first and second catch structures upon actuation of the user release mechanism and thereby release the mouthpiece assembly to move via its bias from the stowed configuration to the dispensing configuration.
18. The drink container of claim 17 , wherein the user release mechanism includes a sliding member that is configured to reversibly translate along the base to selectively disengage the first and the second catch structures; wherein the user release mechanism further includes a user engagement pad that extends through a wall of the cap assembly for selective engagement by a user; and wherein the user release mechanism is biased away from a position where the sliding member disengages the first and the second catch structures.
19. The drink container of claim 13 , wherein the mouthpiece assembly further includes an anchor portion that extends from the tube portion and provides a friction-fit arrangement with the through-passage of the base of the cap assembly; wherein the anchor portion has a greater exterior perimeter than the tube portion; and wherein the tube portion and the anchor portion are constructed as a unitary assembly of the resiliently deformable material.
20. The drink container of claim 13 , wherein the cap assembly further includes a pair of lateral guards that at least partially define a stowing region that receives at least a portion of the mouthpiece assembly between the pair of lateral guards when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration; and further wherein the cap assembly further includes a dust cover portion that extends between the lateral guards and which extends across the outlet when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration.
21. The drink container of claim 13 , wherein the rigid collar member includes a stop surface that does not engage the base of the cap assembly when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration and that engages the base of the cap assembly when the mouthpiece assembly is in the dispensing configuration to define the position of the mouthpiece portion when the mouthpiece assembly is in the dispensing configuration.
22. The drink container of claim 13 , wherein the mouthpiece assembly includes a self-sealing valve.
23. The drink container of claim 22 , wherein the mouthpiece portion includes a self-sealing valve in the form of a bite-actuated mouthpiece; wherein the bite-actuated mouthpiece is selectively configured between an open configuration, in which the outlet is open and permits drink liquid to flow therethrough, and a closed configuration, in which the outlet restricts drink liquid from flowing therethrough; wherein the bite-actuated mouthpiece is biased to the closed configuration; and wherein the bite-actuated mouthpiece is selectively configured from the closed configuration to the open configuration responsive to a user biting upon opposed sidewalls of the bite-actuated mouthpiece.