Flexible bottle mouth insert

Abstract

An insert for placing in a bottle mouth for providing an improved interface for a person drinking a liquid from the bottle. According to one aspect, the insert has a flexible and resilient outer perimeter dimensioned so that the insert is an interference fit with the mouth of the bottle. The resilient and flexible characteristics allow a user to force the insert into the bottle mouth, thereby accommodating a range of bottle mouth sizes. A preferred insert material has a durometer in the range of 60-80. The insert is configured so that when installed in the bottle mouth, a first opening is provided for drinking that is smaller than the bottle mouth. The insert also provides for air intake into the bottle by way of either a second opening or an extension of the first opening.

1 . An insert for a bottle comprising: 
 an insert for installing in a mouth of a bottle, wherein said insert includes material that is resilient and flexible, and said insert is configured so as to seal a substantial portion of said mouth upon installation in said mouth, said insert providing upon installation in a bottle mouth at least one first opening for passage of liquid from said bottle.    
     
     
         2 . An insert as recited in  claim 1  wherein said insert is configured to provide upon installation at least one second opening for air to flow into said bottle while a person is drinking from said bottle having said insert installed.  
     
     
         3 . An insert as recited in  claim 2  further including a wall defining a perimeter of said insert, wherein a portion of said wall is configured for an interference fit with said mouth of said bottle, requiring a user to push said insert into said mouth to facilitate said installation.  
     
     
         4 . An insert as recited in  claim 3  further including a base, and wherein said wall extends from said base.  
     
     
         5 . An insert as recited in  claim 4  wherein said wall extends from said base at an oblique angle.  
     
     
         6 . An insert as recited in  claim 4  wherein said wall includes a first inwardly bending portion, and said first opening is a space between said first inwardly bending portion and a rim of said mouth when said insert is installed in a bottle.  
     
     
         7 . An insert as recited in  claim 4  wherein said second opening is a hole having a first portion extending into a portion of said wall and a second portion into said base.  
     
     
         8 . An insert as recited in  claim 4  wherein said base slopes from a more upper portion of said wall to a lower portion of said wall.  
     
     
         9 . An insert as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first opening is a hole in said insert that substantially extends from a perimeter of said insert substantially toward a center of said insert, thereby providing for air passage into said bottle at a portion of said opening near said center of said insert.  
     
     
         10 . An insert as recited in  claim 6  wherein said wall includes a second inwardly bending portion and said second opening is a space between said second inwardly bending portion and a rim of said mouth when said insert is installed in a bottle.  
     
     
         11 . An insert as recited in  claim 6  wherein said second opening is a hole having a portion in said base and a portion in said wall.  
     
     
         12 . An insert as recited in  claim 1  further including a first wall defining a perimeter of said insert, wherein a portion of said first wall is configured for an interference fit with said mouth of said bottle, requiring a user to push said insert into said mouth to facilitate said installing.  
     
     
         13 . An insert as recited in  claim 12  further including a base wherein said first wall extends from said base.  
     
     
         14 . An insert as recited in  claim 13  wherein said wall extends from said base at an oblique angle.  
     
     
         15 . An insert as recited in  claim 13  wherein said wall includes a first inwardly bending portion, and said first opening is a space between said first inwardly bending portion and a rim of said mouth when said insert is installed in a bottle.  
     
     
         16 . An insert as recited in  claim 13  wherein said insert is configured to provide upon installation at least one second opening for air to flow into said bottle while a person is drinking from said bottle having said insert installed.  
     
     
         17 . An insert as recited in  claim 13  wherein said wall includes a first inwardly bending portion, and said first opening is a space between said first inwardly bending portion and a rim of said mouth when said insert is installed in a bottle.  
     
     
         18 . An insert as recited in  claim 17  wherein said wall includes a second inwardly bending portion and said second opening is a space between said second inwardly bending portion and a rim of said mouth when said insert is installed in a bottle.  
     
     
         19 . An insert as recited in  claim 13  wherein said base slopes from a more upper portion of said wall to a lower portion of said wall.  
     
     
         20 . An insert as recited in  claim 16  wherein said second opening is a hole having a first portion extending into a portion of said wall and a second portion into said base.  
     
     
         21 . An insert as recited in  claim 13  wherein a perimeter of said first opening is surrounded in part by a portion of said first wall, and in part by a second wall extending from said base.  
     
     
         22 . An insert as recited in  claim 1  wherein said material has a durometer in the range of 60 to 80.  
     
     
         23 . An insert as recited in  claim 1  wherein said insert includes a tab for facilitating removal of said insert from a bottle mouth.  
     
     
         24 . A drinking apparatus comprising: 
 a) a bottle with a mouth    b) a removable insert for installing in said mouth of said bottle, wherein said insert includes material that is resilient and flexible, and said insert is configured so as to seal a substantial portion of said mouth upon installation in said mouth, said insert providing upon installation in a bottle mouth at least one first opening for passage of liquid from said bottle.    
     
     
         25 . A drinking apparatus as recited in  claim 24 , wherein a value of said resiliency and flexibility is selected so that said insert will be insertable with an interference fit in a first bottle mouth, and also a second bottle mouth that has an opening diameter about  96 % of said first bottle mouth.  
     
     
         26 . An insert as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a value of said resiliency and flexibility is selected so that said insert will be insertable with an interference fit in a first bottle mouth, and also a second bottle mouth that has an opening diameter about 96% of said first bottle mouth.  
     
     
         27 . A drinking apparatus as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said value corresponds-to a durometer (Shore A scale) of between 60 and 80.  
     
     
         28 . An insert as recited in  claim 26 , wherein said value corresponds to a durometer (Shore A scale) of between 60 and 80.  
     
     
         29 . A drinking apparatus as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said value corresponds to a durometer (Shore A scale) of between 30 and 100.  
     
     
         30 . An insert as recited in  claim 26 , wherein said value corresponds to a durometer (Shore A scale) of between 30 and 100.