Field of application of the invention

The present invention applies to the field of receptacles adapted to contain liquids. More precisely, the present invention relates to receptacles for liquids provided with an opening reversibly closable by a cap. The adverb “reversibly” means that the cap is applicable to the receptacle at the aforesaid opening (occluding it) and is then removable from the latter an indefinite number of times.

Among the receptacles of the aforesaid type, in particular, the present invention is directed to receptacles adapted to contain liquids swallowable (i.e., “drinkable”) by a person by placing his/her lips at the opening of the receptacle and tilting the latter so as to cause the liquid contained in the receptacle to flow towards said person’s mouth. Said mode of swallowing a liquid from a receptacle is commonly referred to as “straight from the bottle”.

Overview of the prior art

Receptacles of the type to which the present invention relates are substantially known. Said receptacles include, by way of example, disposable bottles adapted to contain water.

Although water is an essential substance for people to live, not everyone can drink water. More precisely, a lot of people can only drink liquids if they perceive a taste when swallowing them. This is a problem because instead of drinking plain water to avoid becoming dehydrated, said people swallow liquids supplemented with sugars and/or flavorings that their body could do without. In order to try to overcome the aforesaid problem, rings have been developed, which are applicable to the neck of a bottle (or of a receptacle having a similar shape) and giving off fragrances of known foodstuffs and beverages. When a person drinks water from a bottle placing his/her lips at the opening thereof (i.e., straight from the bottle), said person tends to inhale air through his/her nose when drinking. If a ring of the aforesaid type has been applied to the neck of the bottle before drinking therefrom, while the drinker is drinking the water contained in the bottle straight from the bottle, he/she inhales the fragrances given off by the ring. Since the water is tasteless and odorless, the stimuli sent by the smell receptors “trick” the brain, and the person who is drinking the water feels that he/she is drinking a liquid the taste of which corresponds to the fragrance perceived. By way of example, if the aforesaid ring gives off the fragrance of a fruit, the drinker feels that he/she is swallowing a fruit-flavored liquid instead of plain water. People who cannot drink liquids unless they perceive a flavor when swallowing them are thus able to drink plain water when tough the latter is tasteless. However, a person must always have the aforesaid ring with him/her at the time of drinking water from a bottle. In addition to this, a ring insertable onto the neck of a determined bottle could not be applicable to the neck of another bottle with different dimensions. In fact, if the neck of said other bottle has a larger diameter than that of the neck of the bottle to which the ring is applied, the latter could not be insertable onto said neck. Conversely, if the neck of said other bottle has a smaller diameter than that of the neck of the bottle to which the ring is applicable, despite being insertable onto said neck, the latter could be set too far from the opening of the bottle (and therefore from the drinker’s nose) for the fragrance given off by the cap to be inhaled when drinking straight from the bottle.

Objects of the invention

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks by indicating a water receptacle adapted to cause a person to inhale a fragrance when drinking straight from said receptacle (so that said person feels that he/she is swallowing a liquid, the taste of which corresponds, at least partially, to the fragrance perceived) while being an alternative to the above regarding the prior art.

Summary and advantages of the invention

The present invention relates to a receptacle comprising:

• a base;

• at least one preferably cylindrical side wall rising from said base and delimiting, at an edge thereof, an opening opposite to said base;

• a cavity at least partially delimited by said base and said side wall, said cavity being accessible through said opening, said receptacle being suitable for containing water at said cavity (i.e. , the latter is suitable for accommodating water);

• a cap;

• connection means for connecting said cap to said side wall, said connection means being such that said cap is movable between at least:

- a first, closing position in which said cap hermetically occludes said opening so as to prevent water possibly contained in said receptacle at said cavity from leaving the latter by exiting from said receptacle;

- a second, opening position in which said cap does not occlude said opening so as to allow water possibly contained in said receptacle at said cavity to leave the latter by exiting from said receptacle, said connection means being such that, when said cap is in said second position (said cap is at a distance from said edge so that it is oriented, with respect to said edge, so that):

- said cap is closer to said edge than to said base and at the same time

- a person, grasping said receptacle at said side wall, can place his/her lips on said edge so that said person can drink water possibly contained in said receptacle at said cavity by tilting said receptacle so as to cause the water to flow towards his/her lips, where, according to the invention, said cap gives off a food fragrance, said connection means further being such that, when said cap is in said second position and a person, grasping said receptacle at said side wall, places his/her lips on said edge, (said cap is at a distance from said edge so that it is oriented, with respect to said edge, so that) said receptacle is orientable so that said cap lies, at least partially, at a higher height than that at which said opening lies and is at least partially opposed to the nose of said person so that if said person inhales air through his/her nose while keeping his/her lips resting on said edge, he/she also inhales said fragrance given off by said cap.

In the receptacle of the invention, the cap is connected to the side wall of the receptacle, so as to remain constrained to the latter, also when the cap does not occlude the opening of the receptacle. In addition to this, advantageously, the cap of the receptacle gives off the fragrance, not a foreign body (such as the aforesaid ring of the prior art, for example).

Incidentally, in order for the cap of the receptacle of the invention to give off a fragrance, it is possible to make the cap entirely or at least partially of a scented polymer material (for example, a scented extrusion material) or it is possible to apply a scented film or scented liquid (i.e. , giving off a fragrance) to the cap surface. Both of said techniques are known and mentioned by way of example. Therefore, no further details will be provided.

Other innovative features of the present invention are disclosed in the following description and mentioned in the dependent claims.

According to an aspect of the invention, when said cap is in said first position:

• said cap occludes said opening at a first portion of the surface thereof, said first surface portion of said cap also delimiting said cavity when said cap is in said first position,

• said cap matches said side wall, or one or more elements included in said receptacle and interposed between said cap and said side wall, at a second portion of the surface thereof, and

• a third portion of the surface of said cap faces the exterior of said receptacle. According to another aspect of the invention, said cap does not give off any fragrance at said first surface portion.

Advantageously, according to this aspect of the invention, there is no risk of the water absorbing any fragrance after introducing the water into the receptacle and bringing the cap to the closing position. With reference to the two techniques mentioned above, in order to achieve this aspect of the invention, if the cap is made of a scented polymer material it is necessary to coat the aforesaid first portion of the cap surface with a waterproof and non-breathable material (e.g., a film or seal) preventing the fragrance from reaching the cavity of the receptacle. If the exhaling effect of the cap is obtained by applying a scented film or a scented liquid to the cap surface, it is not necessary to apply said film or said liquid at the aforesaid first portion.

According to another aspect of the invention, said cap does not give off any fragrance at said third surface portion.

Advantageously, according to this aspect of the invention, there is no risk of the cap unintentionally acting as a diffuser for the environment surrounding the receptacle of the invention. It is worth noting that this problem arises when using the previously mentioned fragrance ring of the prior art.

Similarly to what has been stated for the first surface portion and with reference to the two aforesaid fragrance diffusing techniques, in order to achieve this aspect of the invention, if the cap is made of a scented polymer material it is necessary to coat the aforesaid third portion of the cap surface with a waterproof and non-breathable material (e.g., a film or seal) preventing the fragrance from diffusing into the environment outside the receptacle. If the exhaling effect of the cap is obtained by applying a scented film or a scented liquid to the cap surface, it is not necessary to apply said film or said liquid at the aforesaid third portion.

According to another aspect of the invention, said cap only gives off a fragrance at said second surface portion, when said cap is in said second position and a person, grasping said receptacle at said side wall, places his/her lips on said edge,

(said cap is at a distance from said edge so that it is oriented with respect to said edge so that) said receptacle being orientable so that said cap is opposed to the nose of said person at least at at least part of said second surface portion.

Advantageously, according to this aspect of the invention, the cap does not give off a fragrance when it is in the closing position. Therefore, the cap gives off a fragrance when it is necessary to drink the water contained in the receptacle. It is worth noting that this is also an advantage as compared to the aforesaid fragrance ring of the prior art.

Similarly to what has been stated for the first and third surface portions and with reference to the two aforesaid scenting techniques, in order to achieve this aspect of the invention, if the cap is made of a scented polymer material it is necessary to coat the whole cap surface, except for the aforesaid second portion, with a waterproof and non-breathable material (e.g., a film or seal) preventing the fragrance from diffusing from the cap. If the exhaling effect of the cap is obtained by applying a scented film or a scented liquid to the cap surface, it is necessary to apply said film or said liquid exclusively at the aforesaid second portion.

According to another aspect of the invention, said connection means comprise:

• a substantially annular element at least partially inserted on said side wall so as to be connected to the latter in a position closer to said edge than to said base;

• a fold joining said cap to said substantially annular element, said fold constraining said cap to rotate, or to roto-translate, with respect to said substantially annular element between said first and second positions.

The invention also relates to an occlusion device connectable to a container comprising:

• a base;

• at least one preferably cylindrical side wall, rising from said base and delimiting, at an edge thereof, an opening opposite to said base;

• a cavity at least partially delimited by said base and said side wall, said cavity being accessible through said opening, said container being suitable for containing water at said cavity (i.e. , the latter is suitable for accommodating water), said occlusion device comprising:

• a cap;

• connection means adapted to connect said cap to said side wall, said connection means being such that, when said cap is connected to said side wall by means of said connection means, said cap is movable between at least:

- a first, closing position in which said cap hermetically occludes said opening so as to prevent water possibly contained in said container at said cavity from leaving the latter by exiting from said receptacle;

- a second, opening position in which said cap does not occlude said opening so as to allow water possibly contained in said container at said cavity to leave the latter by exiting from said container, said connection means being such that, when said cap is connected to said side wall by means of said connection means and is in said second position (said cap is at a distance from said edge so that it is oriented, with respect to said edge, so that):

- said cap is closer to said edge than to said base and at the same time

- a person, grasping said container at said side wall, can place his/her lips on said edge so that said person can drink water possibly contained in said container at said cavity by tilting said container so as to cause the water to flow towards his/her lips, where, according to the invention, said cap gives off a food fragrance, said connection means further being such that, when said cap is connected to said side wall by means of said connection means, said cap is in said second position and a person, grasping said container at said side wall, places his/her lips on said edge,

(said cap is at a distance from said edge so that is it oriented with respect to said edge, so that) said container is orientable so that said cap lies, at least partially, at a higher height than that at which said opening lies and is at least partially opposed to the nose of said person so that if said person inhales air through his/her nose while keeping his/her lips resting on said edge, he/she also inhales said fragrance given off by said cap.

According to an aspect of the occlusion device of the invention, when said cap is connected to said side wall by means of said connection means and is in said first position: • said cap occludes said opening at a first portion of the surface thereof, said first surface portion of said cap also delimiting said cavity when said cap is in said first position;

• said cap matches said side wall, or one or more elements interposed between said cap and said side wall, at a second portion of the surface thereof;

• a third portion of the surface of said cap faces the exterior of said container. According to another aspect of the occlusion device of the invention:

• said cap does not give off any fragrance at said first surface portion and/or said third surface portion or

• said cap only gives off a fragrance at said second surface portion, when said cap is connected to said side wall by means of said connection means and is in said second position and a person, grasping said container at said side wall, places his/her lips on said edge,

(said cap is at a distance from said edge so that it is oriented with respect to said edge, so that) said container being orientable so that said cap is opposed to the nose of said person at least at at least part of said second surface portion.

According to another aspect of the occlusion device of the invention, said connection means comprise:

• a substantially annular element at least partially insertable on said side wall so as to be connected to said container at said side wall in a position closer to said edge than to said base;

• a fold joining said cap to said substantially annular element, said fold constraining said cap to rotate, or to roto-translate, with respect to said substantially annular element between said first and second positions.

Brief description of the drawings

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof and from the accompanying drawings, merely given by way of non-limiting explanation, in which:

- figure 1 shows a front plane view of a receptacle according to the present in- vention with the cap in the closing position;

- figure 2 shows a straight diagrammatic sectional view of a detail of the receptacle in figure 1 ;

- figure 3 shows a straight diagrammatic sectional view of the detail in figure 2 with the cap in the opening position.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

In the present description, for convenience of presentation, reference will be made only to a preferred embodiment of the invention in which the receptacle comprises a bottle provided with a cap. However, the described invention is not limited to the aforesaid example. It can be implemented with a receptacle of any type from which a person can drink a liquid by placing his/her lips at the opening of the receptacle.

Hereinafter in the present description, a figure may also be illustrated with reference to elements not expressly indicated in that figure but indicated in other figures. The scale and proportions of the various depicted elements do not necessarily correspond to the real ones.

Figure 1 shows a receptacle 1 of the invention preferably comprising a bottle 2 placeable on a plane at a preferably circular base 3 thereof. The bottle 2 comprises a preferably cylindrical side wall 4 which, preferably rising orthogonally from the base 3, converges to form a neck 5 ending in an opening 6 (visible in figure 2 and 3) opposite to the base 3 and closed by an occlusion device 7. The wall 4 delimits the opening 6 at a preferably circular edge 8 thereof (also visible in figure 2 and 3).

The base 3 and the wall 4 at least partially delimit a cavity (inside the bottle 2) accessible through the opening 6 and suitable for accommodating water. Therefore, the bottle 2 and generally the receptacle 1 are suitable for containing water at the aforesaid cavity. Incidentally, water can be introduced and taken from the bottle 2 exactly at the opening 6.

The occlusion device 7, also the subject of the invention, comprises a cap 9 and a component 10 by means of which the cap 9 is connected to the wall 4 of the bottle 2. As will be disclosed with reference to the next figures, after being connected to the bottle 2, the component 10 allows the cap 9 to be movable be- tween at least a first, closing position shown in figures 1 and 2 and at which the cap 9 hermetically occludes the opening 6 (preferably by means of the component 10, as disclosed below) so as to prevent the water possibly contained in the bottle 2 (and thus in the receptacle 1 ) at the aforesaid cavity from leaving the latter by exiting from the bottle 2, and a second, opening position shown in figure 3 and at which the cap 9 does not occlude the opening 6 so as to allow the water possibly contained in the bottle 2 at the aforesaid cavity to leave the latter by exiting from the bottle 2.

With reference to figure 2 it is possible to note that the neck 5, at one end section 11 thereof, adjacent to the opening 6, is preferably cylindrical and externally threaded. The component 10 is preferably substantially annular and is partially inserted on the neck 5 at the end section 11 of the latter. More precisely, the component 10 preferably comprises a substantially cylindrical wall 12 internally threaded and screwed to the end section 11 of the neck 5 (externally threaded). Therefore, the end section 11 of the neck 5 and the wall 12 of the component 10 are coaxial. In addition to this, the coupling between the (external) thread of the end section 11 of the neck 5 and the (internal) thread of the wall 12 of the component 10 connects the latter to the bottle 2. At the delimitation edge 8 of the opening 6, the wall 12 of the component 10 preferably converges transversely so as to cover the edge 8 and then extends again longitudinally over a short section 13 away from the opening 6. Said short section 13 is preferably coaxial to the end section 11 (substantially cylindrical) of the neck 5 and preferably has the same inner diameter as the latter. In the light of the above, the component 10, at the aforesaid short section 13, extending longitudinally away from the neck 5, delimits a substantially cylindrical short channel 14 communicating with the aforesaid cavity of the bottle 2 through the opening 6. Therefore, the latter is interposed between the channel 14 and the aforesaid cavity portion (of the bottle 2) delimited by the end section 11 of neck 5. The wall 12 of the component 10 converges transversely to cover the edge 8 and then extends again longitudinally, preferably without varying the thickness thereof. This means that, about the channel 14, there is an annular seat 15 coaxial thereto. In the light of the above, the component 10 is closer to the edge 8 than to the base 3 of the bottle 2.

Incidentally, by converging and then forming the aforesaid section 13, the wall 12 covers the edge 8 so that a liquid cannot pass between the bottle 2 and the component 10. In other words, the component 10 is connected to the bottle 2 so that water possibly contained in the bottle 2 can only exit from the latter by crossing the opening 6 and traveling in the channel 14. That is, the water cannot pass between the edge 8 of the bottle 2 and the wall 12 of the component 10.

The cap 9 is substantially discoidal in shape and when in the closing position (as shown in figures 1 and 2), it is preferably arranged orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the end section 11 (substantially cylindrical) of the neck 5, to the longitudinal axis of the wall section 12 (substantially cylindrical) internally threaded and screwed to the end section 11 of the neck 5, and to the longitudinal axis of the channel 13 (also substantially cylindrical). Moreover, the diameter of the cap 9 preferably coincides with the outer diameter of the component 10 at the section of the internally threaded wall 12. The cap 9, at a circular face 16 thereof, has a raised edge 17 protruding longitudinally from said face 16. When the cap 9 is in the closing position, the cap 9 faces the opening 6 at the face 16 thereof. More precisely, the cap 9, at the face 16, is opposed to the component 10 and is in contact with the latter. The edge 17 is preferably accommodated in the seat 15 and more preferably matches the latter. An annular portion 18 of the face 16 adjacent to the edge 17 inside the latter also matches the edge of the component 10 delimiting the mouth 19 of the short channel 14 opposite to the opening 6 (and therefore not coinciding with the latter). By virtue of the edge 17 matching the seat 15 and the portion 18 matching the aforesaid edge of the mouth 19, the cap 9 hermetically occludes the channel 14 and therefore also the opening 6. More precisely, when the cap 9 is in the closing position (as shown in figures 1 and 2), the cap 9 hermetically occludes the channel 14 and, by means of the latter, the opening 6 at a circular portion 20 of the face 16 enclosed by the portion 18. When the cap 9 is in the closing position, the portion 20 (previously identified as the “first portion of the cap surface”) delimits the cavity of the bottle 2 together with the base 3, the side wall 4 of the latter, and the section 13 of the wall 12 of component 10.

In the light of the above, when the cap 9 is in the closing position, it hermetically occludes the opening 6 by means of the component 10. In particular, as specified above, when the cap 9 is in the closing position, the edge 17 and the portion 18 of the face 16 (previously identified, as a whole, as the “second portion of the cap surface”), match a portion of the component 10 corresponding to the seat 15 and the edge of the mouth 19. Alternatively, if the component 10 were inserted on the neck 5 in an intermediate position between the base 3 and the edge 8 (i.e. , below the latter when the bottle 2 rests on a plane at the base 3), when the cap 9 is in the closing position, it would directly match, at a portion of the surface thereof (i.e., the aforesaid second portion), a portion of the side wall 4 and preferably at least the edge 8 (since it delimits the opening 6). In this case, when the cap 9 is in the closing position, it hermetically occludes the opening 6 directly rather than by means of the component 10. In summary, when the cap 9 is in the closing position, it matches, at a portion of the surface thereof previously described as “second portion”, the side wall 4 of the bottle 2 or one or more elements (belonging to the receptacle 1 ) interposed between the cap 9 and said wall 4 (such as for example and as shown in the figures, with part of the component 10).

When the cap 9 is in the closing position, a (preferably remaining) portion of the cap surface 9 faces the exterior of the receptacle 1 . Said portion was previously identified as the “third portion of the cap surface” and comprises both the circular face 21 of the cap 9 opposite to the face 16 and the cylindrical side face 22 of the cap 9. Incidentally, the edge 17 is included in the face 16. That is, “edge 17” means the portion of the face 16 matching the seat 15 when the cap 9 is in the closing position.

The cap 9 is preferably connected to the component 10 by means of a fold 23, i.e., preferably by means of an easily deformable element preferably polymeric and folded on itself preferably in the shape of a “U” and connected, at the two arms of the “U”, to cap 9 and component 10, respectively. More precisely, the fold 23 has the concavity facing the assembly consisting of the cap 9 and the component 10 when the cap 9 is in the closing position, and is connected to the cap 9 at the face 22 and to the component 10 at the wall section 12 (substantially cylindrical) internally threaded and screwed to the end section 11 of the neck 5. The fold 23 constrains the cap 9 to the component 10 so as to rotate or roto-translate, with respect to the latter, between the aforesaid opening and closing positions.

Incidentally, the component 10 and the fold 23 act as connection means for connecting the cap 9 to the bottle 2, and in particular to the side wall 4 of the latter.

When the cap 9 is in the closing position, the cap 9 is preferably connected to the component 10 by interlocking the edge 17 of the cap 9 in the seat 15 of the component 10 (as well as by means of the fold 23). Therefore, in order to bring the cap from the closing position to the opening position, it is necessary to unlock the edge 17 from the seat 15 where it is accommodated.

Figure 3 shows the cap 9 in the opening position, i.e. , with respect to figures 1 and 2, once the cap 9 has been brought from the closing position to the opening position, performing a rotation or a roto-translation by means of the fold 23. As it can be seen in this figure, when the cap is in the opening position, the cap 9 is not in contact with the component 10 other than by means of the fold 23. Moreover, the component 10 and the cap 9, when the latter is in the opening position, preferably lie on opposite sides with respect to the fold 23. More precisely, the cap 9 is preferably arranged so as not to intercept a projection of the component 10 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the channel 13 ( and therefore also of the longitudinal axis of the substantially cylindrical end section 11 of the neck 5 and of the longitudinal axis of the substantially cylindrical wall section 12 internally threaded and screwed to the end section 11 of the neck 5). When the cap 9 is in the opening position, it lies at a distance from the edge 8 so that it is oriented, with respect to said edge 8, so that the cap 9 is closer to the edge 8 than to the base 3 of the bottle 2 and at the same time a person, grasping the receptacle 1 at the side wall 4, can place his/her lips on the edge 8 so that said person can drink water possibly contained in the receptacle 1 at the previously mentioned cavity of the bottle 2 by tilting the receptacle 1 so as to cause the water to flow towards his/her lips. The receptacle 1 , as well as the occlusion device 7 (comprising the cap 9, the component 10, and the fold 23 for the reciprocal connection thereof), differ from the corresponding receptacles and occlusion devices of the prior art in that the cap 9 gives off a food fragrance. When the cap 9 is in the opening position and a person, grasping the receptacle 1 at the side wall 4 of the bottle 2, places his/her lips on the edge 8, the cap 9 is at a distance from the edge 8 so that it is oriented with respect to said edge 8, so that the receptacle 1 is orientable so that the cap 9 lies, at least partially, at a higher height than that at which the opening 6 lies (i.e., it is at least partially higher up than the latter), and is opposed, at least partially and preferably, at least at at least part of the edge 17 and/or of the portion 18 of the face 16, to the nose of said person so that if said person inhales air through his/her nose while keeping his/her lips resting on the edge 8, he/she also inhales the fragrance given off by the cap 9.

Preferably, the cap 9 does not give off any fragrance at the circular portion 20 of the face 16 (occluding the channel 14 and, by means of the latter, the opening 6 when the cap 9 is in the closing position) and/or at the edge 17 and the portion 18 of the face 16 (matching a portion of the component 10 corresponding to the seat 15 and the edge of the mouth 19 when the cap 9 is in the closing position). More preferably, the cap 9 gives off a fragrance exclusively at the circular face 21 thereof and the cylindrical side face 22 thereof.

As previously mentioned, the invention also relates to the occlusion device 7 connectable to the bottle 2, and more precisely, to the side wall 4 of the latter, preferably by screwing the internally threaded wall section 12 of the component 10 to the end section 11 (adjacent to the opening 6) of the externally threaded neck 5.

Based on the description provided for a preferred embodiment, it is apparent that some changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.