Spout assembly for converting prepackaged beverage containers

Abstract

A spout assembly for a beverage container has a replacement cap sized and configured to replace a closure of a beverage container. The cap has a closure wall and a spout aperture through the closure wall. A spout portion has an elongate spout tube segment with a spout passage and has a cap connector configured to attach the spout portion to the cap. The spout tube segment extends from the closure wall and the spout passage is in liquid communication with the spout aperture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spout assembly for converting a prepackaged beverage container to a sports bottle, the spout assembly comprising:
 a replacement cap sized and configured to replace a closure of a selected prepackaged beverage container, the replacement cap having a closure wall and a spout aperture through the closure wall; and   a spout portion having an elongate spout tube segment defining a spout passage axially within and along the spout tube segment and having a cap connector configured to attach the spout portion to the replacement cap such that the spout tube segment extends from one side of the closure wall and the spout passage is in liquid communication with the spout aperture.   
     
     
         2 . A spout assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the replacement cap has a skirt depending from a perimeter of the closure wall and mechanical threads on a radial inner surface of the threaded skirt. 
     
     
         3 . A spout assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the spout tube segment is received through and extends from the spout aperture. 
     
     
         4 . A spout assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a straw portion connected to the spout portion and extending from a side of the closure wall opposite the one side. 
     
     
         5 . A spout assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the spout portion includes an attachment tube segment with an axial opening aligned with and open to the spout passage, the straw portion telescopically connected to the attachment tube segment. 
     
     
         6 . A spout assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cap connector includes a circumferential groove around the spout portion, and wherein the closure wall around the spout aperture seats in the groove. 
     
     
         7 . A spout assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising an anti-leak device on a part of the spout portion. 
     
     
         8 . A spout assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the anti-leak device is a valve positioned along the spout passage. 
     
     
         9 . A spout assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the valve is formed as a membrane disposed near a dispensing orifice of the spout tube segment, the membrane having a plurality of slits separating the membrane into multiple valve flaps. 
     
     
         10 . A spout assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the spout tube segment is flexible. 
     
     
         11 . A method of converting a prepackaged beverage container to a sports bottle, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a prepackaged beverage container having a bottle and a closure;   removing the closure from a neck of the bottle;   selecting a spout assembly having
 i) a replacement cap sized and configured to attach to the neck of the bottle to replace the closure, the replacement cap having a closure wall and a spout aperture through the closure wall, and 
 ii) a spout portion having an elongate spout tube segment and a cap connector attaching the spout portion to the replacement cap; and 
   installing the replacement cap on the neck of the bottle with the spout tube segment extending upward from the closure wall and from the replacement cap and bottle.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of selecting includes selecting a spout assembly with a flexible spout tube segment that has an axial spout passage in liquid communication with the spout aperture. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the step of selecting includes selecting a spout assembly with a straw portion connected to the spout portion, the straw portion having an axial liquid passage in liquid communication with the axial spout passage. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of fitting a length of the straw portion to a height of the bottle. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the step of fitting includes choosing a straw portion having a length configured to extend through an interior space of the bottle to nearly adjacent a bottom of the bottle. 
     
     
         16 . A sports bottle comprising:
 a prepackaged beverage container including a bottle with a neck forming an opening; and   a spout assembly having
 i) a replacement cap sized and configured to replace a closure removed from the neck, the replacement cap having a closure wall and a spout aperture through the closure wall, and 
 ii) a spout portion having an elongate spout tube segment and a cap connector securing the spout portion on the replacement cap. 
   
     
     
         17 . A sports bottle according to  claim 16 , wherein the spout tube segment is flexible and extends from the spout aperture. 
     
     
         18 . A sports bottle according to  claim 16 , further comprising a straw portion connected to an attachment tube segment on the spout portion, the attachment tube segment having an axial opening aligned with and open to the spout passage, the straw portion telescopically received in the axial opening and connected to the attachment tube segment. 
     
     
         19 . A sports bottle according to  claim 16 , wherein the cap connector includes a circumferential groove around the spout portion adjacent the spout tube segment, and wherein the closure wall around the spout aperture seats in the groove. 
     
     
         20 . A sports bottle according to  claim 16 , wherein the bottle is selected from an array of different prepackaged beverage containers each having a different sized bottle.