Drink containers

Abstract

A drink container include a liquid container having a neck with an opening and having an internal compartment sized to hold a volume of potable drink liquid and a cap assembly removably coupled to the liquid container, the cap assembly including a base removably coupled to the neck of the liquid container and including a through-passage extending through the base, a first catch structure coupled to the base, a mouthpiece assembly, a second catch structure adapted to selectively engage with the first catch structure and retain the mouthpiece assembly in the stowed configuration when engaged with the first catch structure, and a user release mechanism comprising an actuation surface, the user release mechanism being configured to disengage the first and second catch structures in response to a user pushing the actuation surface, to cause the mouthpiece assembly to move via its bias from the stowed configuration to the dispensing configuration.

1 . A drink container, comprising:
 a liquid container having a neck with an opening and having an internal compartment sized to hold a volume of potable drink liquid; and   a cap assembly removably coupled to the liquid container, the cap assembly comprising:   a base removably coupled to the neck of the liquid container and including a through-passage extending through the base;   a first catch structure coupled to the base;   a mouthpiece assembly defining a liquid passage through which drink liquid from the liquid container may selectively flow, the mouthpiece assembly being configured to be selectively positioned between a dispensing configuration, in which the liquid passage permits drink liquid to flow from the internal compartment into at least the liquid passage, and a stowed configuration, in which drink liquid is restricted from being dispensed from the liquid container through the liquid passage, wherein the mouthpiece assembly is biased to the dispensing configuration, wherein the mouthpiece assembly comprises a mouthpiece portion including an outlet;   a second catch structure adapted to selectively engage with the first catch structure and retain the mouthpiece assembly in the stowed configuration when engaged with the first catch structure; and   a user release mechanism comprising an actuation surface, the user release mechanism being configured to disengage the first and second catch structures in response to a user pushing the actuation surface, to thereby cause the mouthpiece assembly to move via its bias from the stowed configuration to the dispensing configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The drink container of  claim 1 , wherein the user release mechanism comprises a user engagement pad. 
     
     
         3 . The drink container of  claim 2 , wherein the user engagement pad extends through a wall of the cap assembly for selective engagement by a user. 
     
     
         4 . The drink container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rigid collar member that is pivotally coupled to a portion of the cap assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The drink container of  claim 4 , wherein the rigid collar member comprises a collar aperture and wherein the mouthpiece portion extends past the collar aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The drink container of  claim 4 , wherein the mouthpiece portion is constructed of a resiliently deformable material. 
     
     
         7 . The drink container of  claim 4 , wherein the mouthpiece assembly includes mouthpiece-securing structure that secures the mouthpiece portion to the rigid collar member and restricts relative movement between the mouthpiece portion and the rigid collar member. 
     
     
         8 . The drink container of  claim 4 , wherein the mouthpiece assembly comprises a tube portion that defines at least a portion of the liquid passage for drink liquid to flow from the internal compartment to the mouthpiece portion. 
     
     
         9 . The drink container of  claim 8 , wherein the tube portion includes structure for securing the tube portion to the rigid collar member and restricting relative movement between the tube portion and the rigid collar member. 
     
     
         10 . The drink container of  claim 8 , wherein one of the mouthpiece portion and the tube portion includes the mouthpiece-securing structure; wherein the mouthpiece-securing structure includes one or more of a channel and a depression; wherein the rigid collar member includes one or more of a lip, a flange, and a protrusion; and wherein the one or more of the channel and the depression defines a seat that engages and mates with the one or more of the lip, the flange, and the protrusion. 
     
     
         11 . The drink container of  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece portion includes a bite-actuated mouthpiece; wherein the bite-actuated mouthpiece is selectively configured between an open configuration, in which the outlet is open and permits drink liquid to flow therethrough, and a closed configuration, in which the outlet restricts drink liquid from flowing therethrough; wherein the bite-actuated mouthpiece is biased to the closed configuration; and wherein the bite-actuated mouthpiece is selectively configured from the closed configuration to the open configuration responsive to a user biting upon opposed sidewalls of the bite-actuated mouthpiece. 
     
     
         12 . The drink container of  claim 8 , wherein the mouthpiece portion and the tube portion are constructed as a unitary assembly of the resiliently deformable material. 
     
     
         13 . The drink container of  claim 8 , wherein the mouthpiece assembly further includes an anchor portion that extends from the tube portion. 
     
     
         14 . The drink container of  claim 13 , wherein the anchor portion has a greater exterior perimeter than the tube portion. 
     
     
         15 . The drink container of  claim 8 , wherein the anchor portion and tube portion are constructed as a unitary assembly of the resiliently deformable material. 
     
     
         16 . The drink container of  claim 13 , wherein the anchor portion defines a recess that is sized and shaped to engage and mate with corresponding structure of the base of the cap assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The drink container of  claim 13 , wherein the anchor portion includes a projecting flange that provides a friction-fit arrangement with the through-passage of the base. 
     
     
         18 . The drink container of  claim 13 , wherein the anchor portion is sized to restrict passage of the anchor portion through the through-passage and thus restrict removal of the mouthpiece assembly via a top side of the cap assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The drink container of  claim 1 , wherein the second catch structure is part of the mouthpiece assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The drink container of  claim 1 , wherein the cap assembly further comprises a handle that projects away from the base.