Sports Bottle and Fluid Dispensing system, device, and method.

Abstract

A sports bottle having a conventional open top with fitting lid, generally vertical sidewalls forming a cylinder with a bottom includes a valve mechanism for filling the bottle from a position other than the open top. The bottle further includes means for identifying the bottle to a dispensing machine. The dispensing machine interfaces with the valve mechanism to enable fluid to flow into the bottle to a pre-determined level. The valve mechanism further includes means for enabling the escapement of air or other gases during the fluid filling operation. The dispensing machine begins a pressurized flow of filtered water or other desired fluid when the bottle is positioned on the machine.

1 . A system for dispensing a user-selected fluid to a bottle, the system comprising:
 a bottle;   a dispensing machine;   a means for identifying the bottle with user-specific information; and   a means for the dispensing machine to use the user-specific information;   and the bottle comprises at least one vertical side wall coupled to a bottom wall to form a container for encapsulating a fluid, the at least one vertical side wall further defining an open top, the bottle further comprising a selectively opening lid for selectively sealing the open top, the bottle further comprising a check valve disposed on either the at least one side wall or the bottom;   and the dispensing machine includes a means for dispensing the fluid to the bottle by forming a fluid conduit with the bottle at the check valve.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the means for identifying the bottle with user-specific information comprises encoding a user-specific code to at least one of an RFID tag, a bar code or a magnetic stripe coupled to a portion of the bottle. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the means for the dispensing machine to use the user-specific information comprises at least one RFID sensor, bar code scanner or magnetic stripe reader coupled to the dispensing machine and in data communication with a dispensing machine processor having associated memory and data storage. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a kiosk having a user input interface and an output device in data communication with a kiosk processor having an associated memory and data storage; 
 at least one RFID encoder, bar code generator, or magnetic encoder in data communication with the processor. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein:
 the dispensing machine further comprises the kiosk. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a remote server comprising a processor in communication with a database, the database comprising customer specific information for at least one customer; 
 a means for enabling at least one user to provide a payment method for services and products dispensed by the dispensing machine; 
 a means for communicating data to and from the remote server from a remote location. 
 
     
     
         7 . A method for filling a bottle with a user-selected fluid the method comprising:
 providing a sports bottle comprising at least one vertical side wall coupled to a bottom wall to form a container for encapsulating a fluid, the at least one vertical side wall further defining an open top, the bottle further comprising a selectively opening lid for selectively sealing the open top, the bottle further comprising a check valve disposed on either the at least one side wall or the bottom;   providing a dispensing machine comprising a means for filling the sports bottle with a fluid by means of the check valve;   providing a means for encoding user-specific information on the sports bottle;   providing a means for the dispensing machine to read the user-specific information on the sports bottle; and   providing a means for enable the user to provide payment.   
     
     
         8 . A sports bottle comprising:
 at least one vertical side wall coupled to a bottom wall to form a container for encapsulating a fluid, the at least one vertical side wall further defining an open top, the bottle further comprising a selectively opening lid for selectively sealing the open top, the bottle further comprising a check valve disposed on either the at least one side wall or the bottom.