Reusable beverage container with flexible spout

Abstract

The invention is a reusable beverage container including a cap having a first top portion and an inner flange extending downwardly therefrom, a receptacle, a neck portion, and a flexible spout. The neck portion includes an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface. The spout has a through-bore therein, a first opening rim and a second opening rim formed by the through-bore, and an outer surface having a plurality of ribs annularly disposed about the outer surface. The spout includes a first portion. The neck portion is operatively arranged to receive the first portion of the spout. The second portion of the spout extends upwardly beyond the neck portion, and the plurality of ribs is sealably engaged against the inner diameter surface of the neck portion. The first opening rim is sealably engaged to the first top portion when the cap is secured to the neck portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reusable beverage container comprising:
 a cap having a first top portion and an inner flange extending downwardly therefrom;   a receptacle and a neck portion, said neck portion includes an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface; and,   a flexible spout having a through-bore therein, a first opening rim and a second opening rim formed by said through-bore, and an outer surface comprising a plurality of ribs annularly disposed about said outer surface, wherein said flexible spout comprises a first portion having a first length and a second portion having a second length, said neck portion is operatively arranged to receive said first portion of said spout, said second portion of said spout extends upwardly beyond said neck portion, a ratio between said first length and said second length ranges from about 0.8 to about 1.2, and said plurality of ribs is sealably engaged against said inner diameter surface of said neck portion,   wherein said first opening rim is sealably engaged to said first top portion when said cap is secured to said neck portion.   
     
     
         2 . The reusable beverage container recited in  claim 1 , wherein said flexible spout is made of silicone. 
     
     
         3 . The reusable beverage container recited in  claim 1 , said flexible spout comprises a frusto-conical shaped spout portion in communication with said first opening rim; and a tubular channel portion in communication with said second opening rim. 
     
     
         4 . The reusable beverage container recited in  claim 3 , wherein the diameter of said first opening rim is larger than the diameter of said second opening rim. 
     
     
         5 . The reusable beverage container recited in  claim 1 , wherein said inner flange includes threads disposed along an inner diameter surface of said inner flange, and said outer diameter surface of said neck portion includes threads disposed about said outer diameter surface. 
     
     
         6 . The reusable beverage container recited in  claim 4 , wherein said first top portion of said cap are threadingly secured to said neck portion. 
     
     
         7 . The reusable beverage container recited in  claim 1 , wherein said cap further comprises an outer flange extending downwardly from said first top portion and a second top portion including an aperture, said second top portion secured to said first top portion to form a compartment between said first top portion and said second top portion, wherein said compartment is in communication with said aperture enabling a user to hold said container by gripping through said aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The reusable beverage container recited in  claim 7 , wherein said first top portion of said cap comprises at least one drainage aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The reusable beverage container recited in  claim 1 , wherein said neck portion includes a rim and said spout extends approximately 1.905 centimeters above said rim of said neck portion. 
     
     
         10 . The reusable beverage container recited in  claim 1 , wherein the spout has a Shore A hardness of approximately 75 or less. 
     
     
         11 . The reusable beverage container recited in  claim 2 , wherein the Shore A hardness of the spout is in the range of approximately 10 to 50. 
     
     
         12 . The reusable beverage container recited in  claim 2 , wherein the Shore 00 hardness of the spout is in the range of approximately 10 to 50. 
     
     
         13 . A reusable beverage container comprising:
 a cap having a first top portion and an inner flange extending downwardly therefrom, said inner flange having threads disposed along an inner diameter surface of said inner flange;   a receptacle and a neck portion including an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface, said outer diameter surface having threads disposed about said outer diameter surface; and,   a flexible spout having a through-bore therein, said through-bore comprising a frusto-conical shaped spout portion having a first opening rim, a tubular channel portion having a second opening rim and an outer surface comprising a plurality of ribs annularly disposed about said outer surface; wherein said flexible spout comprises a first portion having a first length and a second portion having a second length, said neck portion is operatively arranged to receive said first portion of said flexible spout, said second portion of said flexible spout extends upwardly beyond said neck portion, a ratio between said first length and said second length ranges from about 0.8 to about 1.2, and said plurality of ribs is sealably engaged against said inner diameter surface of said neck portion,   wherein said first opening rim is sealably engaged with said first top portion when said cap is threadingly secured to said neck portion.   
     
     
         14 . A reusable beverage container comprising:
 a cap having a first top portion and an inner flange extending downwardly therefrom;   a receptacle and a neck portion, said neck portion includes an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface, said neck portion formed from a first material; and,   a flexible spout integral with said neck portion, said flexible spout having a through-bore therein and a first opening rim, wherein said flexible spout extends upwardly beyond said neck portion, said flexible spout formed from a second material different from said first material, and said spout and said neck portion form a single piece,   wherein said first opening rim is sealably engaged to said first top portion when said cap is secured to said neck portion.