Drinking tube for remote liquid reservoir having a cap which fits bottles of different sizes

Abstract

A remote drinking apparatus includes a cap assembly having at least two concentric bottle caps molded, preferably, as a single unit, a connector tube, which passes concentrically-through the cap assembly, and which is preferably molded unitary with the concentric bottle caps, a drinking tube, which connects to the upper end of the connector tube, and can be routed to the mouth of an athlete or patient, an extender tube, which slideably connects to the lower end of the connector tube, and an aperture or valve, which prevents liquid within a container from spilling, yet allows air to enter a bottle to which the remote drinking apparatus is secured by one of said bottle caps as fluid is withdrawn from the bottle.

1 . A remote drinking apparatus comprising: 
 a cap assembly having at least two generally concentric bottle caps, the top of the innermost cap being part of the top of the other caps;    a connector tube having upper and lower ends, which passes concentrically through the cap assembly;    a drinking tube coupled to the upper end of the connector tube, said drinking tube being routable to the mouth of a consumer;    an extender tube slideably coupled to the lower end of the connector tube; and    a pressure-relief aperture in the cap assembly that permits the entry of air into a bottle to which the remote drinking apparatus is secured by one of said caps as fluid is withdrawn from the bottle.    
   
   
       2 . The remote drinking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two generally concentric bottle caps are molded as a single unit.  
   
   
       3 . The remote drinking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two generally concentric bottle caps and said connector tube are molded as a single unit.  
   
   
       4 . The remote drinking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said extender tube can be raised or lowered to accommodate the depth of a particular bottle to which the remote drinking apparatus is secured by one of its bottle caps, so that the bottle may be completely drained.  
   
   
       5 . The remote drinking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein pressure relief aperture is equipped with a normally-closed, one-way valve, which prevents liquid within the attached bottle from spilling.  
   
   
       6 . The remote drinking apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the one-way valve is biased closed with a spring.  
   
   
       7 . The remote drinking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drinking tube and extender tube are both made of flexible polymeric plastic material.  
   
   
       8 . A remote drinking apparatus comprising: 
 a cap assembly having at least two generally concentric screw-on-type bottle caps, the top of the innermost cap being part of the top of the other caps, each cap sized to fit the opening of a particular size bottle;    a connector tube having upper and lower ends, which passes concentrically through the cap assembly;    a drinking tube coupled to the upper end of the connector tube, said drinking tube being routable to the mouth of a consumer;    an extender tube slideably coupled to the lower end of the connector tube; and    a pressure-relief aperture in the cap assembly that permits the entry of air into a bottle to which the remote drinking apparatus is secured by one of said caps as fluid is withdrawn from the bottle.    
   
   
       9 . The remote drinking apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said at least two generally concentric bottle caps are molded as a single unit.  
   
   
       10 . The remote drinking apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said at least two generally concentric bottle caps and said connector tube are molded as a single unit.  
   
   
       11 . The remote drinking apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said extender tube can be raised or lowered to accommodate the depth of a particular bottle to which the remote drinking apparatus is secured by one of its bottle caps, so that the bottle may be completely drained.  
   
   
       12 . The remote drinking apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein pressure relief aperture is equipped with a normally-closed, one-way valve, which prevents liquid within the attached bottle from spilling.  
   
   
       13 . The remote drinking apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the one-way valve is biased closed with a spring.  
   
   
       14 . The remote drinking apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the drinking tube and extender tube are both made of flexible polymeric plastic material.  
   
   
       15 . A remote drinking apparatus comprising: 
 a cap assembly molded as a single piece, said cap assembly including 
 at least two generally concentric screw-on-type bottle caps, the top of the innermost cap being part of the top of the other caps, each cap sized to fit the opening of a particular size bottle; and  
 a connector tube having upper and lower ends, which passes concentrically through the cap assembly;  
   a drinking tube coupled to the upper end of the connector tube, said drinking tube being routable to the mouth of a consumer;    an extender tube slideably coupled to the lower end of the connector tube; and    a pressure-relief aperture in the cap assembly that permits the entry of air into a bottle to which the remote drinking apparatus is secured by one of said caps as fluid is withdrawn from the bottle.    
   
   
       16 . The remote drinking apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said extender tube can be raised or lowered to accommodate the depth of a particular bottle to which the remote drinking apparatus is secured by one of its bottle caps, so that the bottle may be completely drained.  
   
   
       17 . The remote drinking apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein pressure relief aperture is equipped with a normally-closed, one-way valve, which prevents liquid within the attached bottle from spilling.  
   
   
       18 . The remote drinking apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the one-way valve is biased closed with a spring.  
   
   
       19 . The remote drinking apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the drinking tube and extender tube are both made of flexible polymeric plastic material.  
   
   
       20 . The remote drinking appartus of  claim 15 , wherein the cap assembly is molded from semi-rigid polymeric plastic material.