Collapsible Bottle Apparatus

Abstract

A collapsible bottle apparatus includes a body member having a flexible liquid reservoir, a base, and a primary thread adapter. The primary thread adapter defines an open interior space in communication with the reservoir. The body member is movable between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration in which the reservoir is disposed in the interior space of the primary thread adapter. A retaining ring includes a top wall defining an aperture and a continuous side wall selectively coupled to the primary thread adapter. A primary dispensing member is selectively coupled to the retaining ring and includes a nipple extending upwardly through the aperture when the primary mounting section is coupled to the retaining ring. An auxiliary thread adapter enables an auxiliary dispensing member that includes a spout to be selectively coupled to either a water bottle or juice bottle having different neck diameters.

1 . A collapsible bottle apparatus, comprising:
 a body member having a flexible reservoir and a base coupled to a lower end of said reservoir and having a primary thread adapter coupled to an upper end of said reservoir, said reservoir defining an interior area configured to selectively contain a liquid;   wherein said primary thread adapter includes a continuous side wall having a threaded outer surface, said primary thread adapter defining an open interior space in communication with said reservoir interior area;   wherein said body member is movable between an extended configuration in which said base is displaced from said primary thread adapter and said reservoir is expanded and a collapsed configuration in which said base is adjacent a lower edge of said primary thread adapter and said reservoir is disposed in said interior space of said primary thread adapter;   a retaining ring that includes a top wall that defines an aperture and includes a continuous side wall having a threaded inner surface that is complementary to said threaded outer surface of said side wall of said primary thread adapter such that said retaining ring is selectively coupled to said primary thread adapter; and   a primary dispensing member having a primary mounting section selectively coupled to said retaining ring inwardly adjacent said top wall and having a nipple extending upwardly from said primary mounting section, said nipple extending upwardly through said aperture when said primary mounting section is coupled to said retaining ring.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 1 , comprising:
 a cap having a continuous cap side wall and a closed top, said cap side wall defining an open bottom and an interior cavity;   wherein said cap side wall includes a diameter slightly larger than a diameter of said retaining ring, said retaining ring configured to selectively receive said cap side wall in a friction fit arrangement.   
     
     
         3 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said primary thread adapter includes a generally annular configuration defining an open top, an open bottom in communication with said reservoir, and a bore extending between said open top and said open bottom;   said primary dispensing member is in operative communication with said reservoir when said retaining ring is threadably coupled to said primary thread adapter; and   said nipple includes an outlet configured to dispense a liquid from said reservoir.   
     
     
         4 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said reservoir is constructed of a transparent or translucent material; and   said reservoir includes graduated indicia indicative of a quantity of liquid in said reservoir.   
     
     
         5 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 4 , wherein said reservoir is constructed of thermopolymer elastomeric (“TPE”) material. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein said reservoir includes a plurality of reservoir segments, each reservoir segment being separated from an adjacent reservoir segment by a line of weakness, said reservoir configured to fold along respective lines of weakness when said reservoir interior area is empty and said body member is moved to said collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said reservoir includes a plurality of reservoir segments, each reservoir segment being separated from an adjacent reservoir segment by a line of weakness, said reservoir configured to fold along respective lines of weakness when said reservoir interior area is empty and said body member is moved to said collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 1 , comprising an auxiliary dispensing member having an auxiliary mounting section selectively coupled to said retaining ring inwardly adjacent said top wall and having a rigid spout extending upwardly from said auxiliary mounting section, said spout extending upwardly through said aperture when said auxiliary mounting section is coupled to said retaining ring and defining an outlet through which liquid is selectively dispensed. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 8 , comprising:
 an auxiliary thread adapter having a continuous side wall having a threaded outer surface, said threaded inner surface of said retaining ring being complementary to said threaded outer surface of said side wall of said auxiliary thread adapter such that said retaining ring is selectively coupled to said auxiliary adapter;   wherein:
 said auxiliary thread adapter includes a closed bottom wall defining an opening and defines an open top and interior cavity between said bottom wall and said open top; and 
 said auxiliary thread adapter includes a first boss situated in said interior cavity and extending downwardly through said bottom wall opening that defines a through bore in communication with said bottom wall opening and with said interior cavity of said auxiliary thread adapter, said first boss having a threaded interior surface that is complementary to a threaded neck of a water bottle. 
   
     
     
         10 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 9 , further comprising a second boss outwardly concentrically adjacent said first boss and defining a bore in communication with said bottom wall opening, said second boss having a threaded interior surface configured to selectively mate with a threaded neck of a beverage bottle. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 10 , wherein said second boss includes a diameter larger than a diameter of said first boss. 
     
     
         12 . A collapsible bottle apparatus, comprising:
 a body member comprising:
 a reservoir constructed of a flexible material and defining an interior space to selectively contain a liquid, said reservoir having a lower end and an upper end; 
 a base coupled to said lower end of said reservoir, said reservoir having a continuous side wall extending upwardly from said base; 
 a primary thread adapter coupled to said upper end of said reservoir, said reservoir having a ring-shaped configuration defining an interior space in communication with said reservoir interior area; 
   wherein said body member is movable between an extended configuration in which said base is displaced from said primary thread adapter and said reservoir is expanded and a collapsed configuration in which said base is adjacent a lower edge of said primary thread adapter and said reservoir is completely contained in said interior space of said primary thread adapter;   a retaining ring that includes a top wall that defines an aperture and includes a continuous side wall having a threaded inner surface that is complementary to said threaded outer surface of said side wall of said primary thread adapter;   a primary dispensing member having a mounting section selectively coupled to said retaining ring inwardly adjacent said top wall and having a nipple extending upwardly from said mounting section, said nipple extending upwardly through said aperture when said mounting section is coupled to said retaining ring;   an auxiliary dispensing member having an auxiliary mounting section selectively coupled to said retaining ring inwardly adjacent said top wall and having a rigid spout extending upwardly from said auxiliary mounting section, said spout extending upwardly through said aperture when said auxiliary mounting section is coupled to said retaining ring and defining an outlet through which liquid is selectively dispensed.   
     
     
         13 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 12 , comprising:
 an auxiliary thread adapter having a continuous side wall having a threaded outer surface, said threaded inner surface of said retaining ring being complementary to said threaded outer surface of said side wall of said auxiliary thread adapter such that said retaining ring is selectively coupled to said auxiliary adapter;   wherein:
 said auxiliary thread adapter includes a closed bottom wall defining an opening and defines an open top and interior cavity between said bottom wall and said open top; and 
 said auxiliary thread adapter includes a first boss situated in said interior cavity and extending downwardly through said bottom wall opening that defines a through bore in communication with said bottom wall opening and with said interior cavity of said auxiliary thread adapter, said first boss having a threaded interior surface that is complementary to a threaded neck of a water bottle. 
   
     
     
         14 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 13 , comprising a second boss outwardly concentrically adjacent said first boss and defining a bore in communication with said bottom wall opening, said second boss having a threaded interior surface configured to selectively mate with a threaded neck of a beverage bottle. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 14 , wherein said second boss includes a diameter larger than a diameter of said first boss. 
     
     
         16 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 12 , comprising:
 a cap having a continuous cap side wall and a closed top, said cap side wall defining an open bottom and an interior cavity;   wherein said cap side wall includes a diameter slightly larger than a diameter of said retaining ring, said retaining ring configured to selectively receive said cap side wall in a friction fit arrangement.   
     
     
         17 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said primary thread adapter includes a generally annular configuration defining an open top, an open bottom in communication with said reservoir, and a bore extending between said open top and said open bottom;   said primary dispensing member is in operative communication with said reservoir when said retaining ring is threadably coupled to said primary thread adapter; and   said nipple includes an outlet configured to dispense a liquid from said reservoir.   
     
     
         18 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said reservoir is constructed of a transparent or translucent material; and   said reservoir includes graduated indicia indicative of a quantity of liquid in said reservoir.   
     
     
         19 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 16 , wherein said reservoir is constructed of thermopolymer elastomeric (“TPE”) material. 
     
     
         20 . The collapsible bottle apparatus as in  claim 17 , wherein said reservoir includes a plurality of reservoir segments, each reservoir segment being separated from an adjacent reservoir segment by a line of weakness, said reservoir configured to fold along respective lines of weakness when said reservoir interior area is empty and said body