Removable neoprene sleeve for a water cooler bottle

Abstract

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a neoprene sleeve is provided that is sized to fit a water bottle used with a water cooler so that the sleeve extends between the bottom end of the bottle and the dispensing portion of the bottle. The neoprene sleeve is resilient and covers the outer finish of the bottle, thereby protecting the bottle by inhibiting (e.g., preventing) dents and scratches to the outer surface of the bottle while covering up any existing dents and scratches so that they are not noticeable to the user.

1 . In combination, a water bottle for use with a water cooler for dispensing water and a removable sleeve having a layer of neoprene material jointed at a seam and configured to resiliently fit over an outer surface of the water bottle to thereby protect the water bottle from suffering dents, scratches or nicks and also configured to cover existing dents, nicks and scratches on the water bottle, the sleeve having an open top end and a closed bottom end, an opening on a side surface configured to align with a handle of the water bottle to allow a user to grab the handle through the opening, and a window on said side surface configured to allow a user to see a level of water in the water bottle. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is made of a single layer of neoprene material. 
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 3 , wherein the seam is a hot weld seam. 
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 4 , wherein the sleeve is cylindrical and extends between the bottom end of the water bottle and a neck portion of the water bottle along a generally cylindrical portion of the water bottle. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 3 , wherein the sleeve is configured to fit over a water bottle with a body that is at least partially cylindrical. 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein the sleeve presents a substantially smooth cylindrical outer surface between a proximal end and a distal end of the sleeve to a user when fitted over the water bottle. 
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve can have an insignia on an outer surface thereof formed by a sublimation printing process. 
     
     
         9 . A removable sleeve for use with a water bottle used with a water cooler, comprising:
 a sleeve body of a single layer of neoprene, where the edges of said layer are joined together by a hot weld seam that extends along the length of the sleeve body, the sleeve body having an open top end and a closed bottom end, the sleeve body configured to removably and resiliently fit over a water bottle and to extend between a bottom end of the water bottle and a dispensing portion of the water bottle, the sleeve body having an opening on a side surface configured to align with a handle of the water bottle to allow a user to grab the handle through the opening, the sleeve body further comprising a window on said side surface configured to allow a user to see a level of water in the water bottle, the sleeve body configured to protect the bottle from suffering dents, scratches or nicks and also configured to cover existing dents, nicks and scratches on the water bottle.   
     
     
         10 . The sleeve of  claim 9 , wherein the sleeve body is generally cylindrical. 
     
     
         11 . The sleeve of  claim 9 , wherein the sleeve body is configured to fit over a water bottle with a body that is at least partially cylindrical. 
     
     
         12 . The sleeve of  claim 11 , wherein the sleeve presents a substantially smooth cylindrical outer surface between a proximal end and a distal end of the sleeve to a user when fitted over the water bottle. 
     
     
         13 . The sleeve of  claim 9 , wherein the sleeve can have an insignia on an outer surface thereof formed by a sublimation printing process. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is retained on the water bottle solely via the friction between the sleeve and a surface of the water bottle. 
     
     
         15 . The sleeve of  claim 9 , wherein the sleeve is retained on the water bottle solely via the friction between the sleeve and a surface of the water bottle. 
     
     
         16 . A removable sleeve for use with a water bottle used with a water cooler, consisting of:
 a generally cylindrical sleeve body made of neoprene, where the edges of said layer are joined together by a hot weld seam, the sleeve body having an open top end and a closed bottom end, the sleeve body configured to removably and resiliently fit over a water bottle and to extend between a bottom end of the water bottle and a dispensing portion of the water bottle, the sleeve body having an opening on a side surface configured to align with a handle of the water bottle to allow a user to grab the handle through the opening, the sleeve body further comprising a window on said side surface configured to allow a user to see a level of water in the water bottle, the sleeve body configured to protect the bottle from suffering dents, scratches or nicks and also configured to cover existing dents, nicks and scratches on the water bottle.   
     
     
         17 . The sleeve of  claim 16 , wherein the sleeve body is made of a single layer of neoprene. 
     
     
         18 . The sleeve of  claim 16 , wherein the sleeve body is configured to fit over a water bottle with a body that is at least partially cylindrical. 
     
     
         19 . The sleeve of  claim 16 , wherein the sleeve presents a substantially smooth cylindrical outer surface between a proximal end and a distal end of the sleeve to a user when fitted over the water bottle. 
     
     
         20 . The sleeve of  claim 16 , wherein the sleeve can have an insignia on an outer surface thereof formed by a sublimation printing process. 
     
     
         21 . The sleeve of  claim 16 , wherein the sleeve is retained on the water bottle solely via the friction between the sleeve and a surface of the water bottle.