Vented no-spill drinking bottle, bottle cap and associated bottle and pouch system

Abstract

A vented bottle or bottle cap that typically includes two one-way valves. The first one-way valve vents the bottle while fluid exits the bottle, and the second one-way valve prevents spillage. The vented bottle or bottle cap may be configured for use with a conventional sports bottle, a conventional soft drink or water bottle, or a specially designed bottle with a vent tube near the bottom of the bottle. The vented bottle cap may also be used in conjunction with a pouch system that allows a user to fill a pouch with fluid while the pouch is securely supported within the bottle. In this manner, a user can carry pouches, such as foil or plastic pouches, with desired ingredients, such as a water purifying chemical, a flavor ingredient, electrolytes, medicines and so forth. A pump may be used to deliver water from a water supply into the pouch while the pouch is supported within the bottle.

1 . A bottle cap suitable for use with a conventional drinking bottle, comprising: 
 a cap body configured for attachment to the drinking bottle;    a drinking conduit through the cap body; and    a first one-way vent located in the cap body for allowing air to enter the drinking bottle while fluid exits the bottle.    
     
     
         2 . The bottle cap of  claim 1 , further comprising a second one-way valve located in the drinking conduit to prevent spillage of the fluid through the drinking conduit.  
     
     
         3 . The bottle cap of  claim 1 , configured as a pull-up type bottle cap.  
     
     
         4 . The bottle cap of  claim 1 , further comprising a flip-top appendage hinged to the bottle cap and movable between an open position and a closed position, the flip-top appendage configured to cover the first one-way valve when the appendage is in the closed position and to uncover the first one-way valve when the appendage is in the open position.  
     
     
         5 . The bottle cap of  claim 2 , further comprising a flip-top appendage hinged to the bottle cap and movable between an open position and a closed position, the flip-top appendage configured to cover the first and second one-way valves when the appendage is in the closed position and to uncover the first and second one-way valves when the appendage is in the open position.  
     
     
         6 . A drinking bottle comprising: 
 a bottle portion;    a lid configured for attachment to the bottle portion;    a drinking conduit through the lid; and    a first one-way valve located in the lid or bottle portion for allowing air to enter the drinking bottle while fluid exits the drinking conduit under the force of gravity at a desired fluid flow rate.    
     
     
         7 . The drinking bottle of  claim 6 , wherein the first one-way valve is adjustable to produce the desired fluid flow rate.  
     
     
         8 . The drinking bottle of  claim 6 , further comprising a second one-way valve located in the drinking conduit to prevent spillage of fluid inside the drinking bottle through the drinking conduit.  
     
     
         9 . The drinking bottle of  claim 6 , wherein the lid is configured as a funnel.  
     
     
         10 . The drinking bottle of  claim 6 , wherein the lid further comprises a flip-top appendage hinged to the bottle cap and movable between an open position and a closed position, the flip-top appendage configured to cover the first one-way valve when the appendage is in the closed position and to uncover the first one-way valve when the appendage is in the open position.  
     
     
         11 . The drinking bottle of  claim 8 , wherein the lid further comprises a flip-top appendage hinged to the bottle cap and movable between an open position and a closed position, the flip-top appendage configured to cover the first and second one-way valves when the appendage is in the closed position and to uncover the first and second one-way valves when the appendage is in the open position.  
     
     
         12 . A drinking bottle and pouch system, comprising: 
 a drinking bottle;    a bottle cap comprising a drinking conduit, the bottle cap being attachable to the drinking bottle and having a straw in communication with the drinking conduit and extending from an underside of the bottle cap;    a pouch comprising a pouch enclosure; one or more elongated wings, and a straw receptacle;    the pouch configured to be supported within the drinking bottle with the wings supported between the drinking bottle and the bottle cap and the straw extending through the straw receptacle into the pouch.    
     
     
         13 . The drinking bottle and pouch system of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the bottle cap comprises a bottle attachment member that is removably attachable to the drinking bottle and a drinking member that is removably attachable to the bottle attachment member, and    the bottle attachment member is configured, when the drinking member is removed from the bottle attachment member, to receive a supply tube for delivering a fluid into the pouch while the pouch is supported within the drinking bottle; and    the drinking member is configured to be attached to the bottle attachment member after the pouch has been filled with fluid.    
     
     
         14 . The drinking bottle and pouch system of  claim 12 , wherein the bottle cap further comprises a first one-way vent located in the cap body for allowing air to enter the drinking bottle while fluid exits the bottle.  
     
     
         15 . The drinking bottle and pouch system of  claim 14 , wherein the bottle cap further comprises second one-way valve located in the drinking conduit to prevent spillage of the fluid through the drinking conduit.  
     
     
         16 . The drinking bottle and pouch system of  claim 13 , further comprising a pump for delivering a fluid from a fluid supply into the pouch by way of the supply tube.