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United States Patent Application	20090188884
Kind Code	A1
Nelson; Steven D. ;   et al.	July 30, 2009

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Claims

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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; anda 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; andthe 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.

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Description

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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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