2~7~2 B TLE NECK COVER
This invention relates to lmprovemen-ts in the sanitation of commercial and domestic bottled water. In parkicular, it relates to a device which wlll ensure the cleanliness and sanitation of contalners in which drinking water is delivered.
As concerns continue to grow about the consumption oE healthy food and drink, there is a growing tendency to rely on bottled drinking water. This tendenc~ is also accentuated b~ those who prefer the taste of "natural" or "spring" water instead of tap water which has unwanted additives and contaminants, such as chlorine.
Although some bottled water comes in individual single use containers of 1 liter, 750 milliliters, 500 milliliters, etc., etc., it is more convenient and less expensive to purchase drinking water in large containers, such as the standard 18 liter bottle which can be installed on a standard water cooler which permits the water to be dispensed into individual paper cups or other drinking vessels.
One of the most common bottles for delivery of large quantities of drinking water is a substantially cylindrical container with a large cylindrical neck at the opening. This bottle is conventionally turned upside down on a conventional water cooler so that the neck protrudes into a funnel-like receptacle leading to a cooler and a valve which can be manually operated to dispense the water.
2~736312 One of the drawbacks to this form of delivery is that the neck of such a water bottle is exposed during transportation and distributi.on and, because the bottle is heavy, the neck ls often the most convenient way to handle the container. As a result the neck is often exposed to dirt and various other forms of contaml.nation.
When such a bottle is installed in a conventional cooler, the neck protrudes into a receptacle which fills with water as the water exits the container, and the neck which has previously been handLed or otherwise soiled is emersed in the drinki.ng water which subsequently is dispensed to the consumerO In this way the desirability of obtaining clean, uncontaminated water is defeated and unsanitary conditions could result.
It is therefore the purpose of this invention to provide a device whereby drinking water may be delivered in a manner which is clean and sanitary.
It is an additional object of this invention to ~: provide a device which will ensure the sanitation of water bottles used in conventional water coolers.
It is an additional purpose of this invention to provide a device which is simple, inexpensive, and can be used each time a water bottle is installed in a water : cooler.
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' 2~736~2 These and other objects and advantages may be achieved by use of the present lnvention which provides a bottle neck cover adapted to isolate the external surface of the neck of a water bottle from the water emitted there-from iIl a water dispenser, said cover comprising a generally circular funnel shaped f.ilm having an external neck portion adapted to fit over the outer su:rface of the bottle neck, a shoulder portlon extending ax.ially and radlally outward from said neck portion. Ideally the cover may also have an internal neck portion defining a central open.ing and adapted to fit w.ithin the bottle neck. Preferably, the shoulder portion should extend axially and radially sufficient to to be held between the shoulder of the bottle and the water dispenser. 5uch a cover may be inexpensive disposable flexible plastic film or similar material. The invention may be better understood by a description of a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the following drawings:
Figure 1 is an illustration of an upright conventional milliliter drinking water bottle;
Figure 2 is an illustration of the water bottle in Figure 1 installed in a conventional water coller-dispenser;
Figure 3 is an illustration of a sanitary cover suitable for a water bottle as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2;
Figure 4 illustrates a water bottle installed in a water cooler-dispenser with the sanitary cover in place.
In Figure 1 the bottle 2 comprises a relatively large reservoir 4 which contains in the order of 10 to 20 liters of water and reinforcing rlbs 6 commonly used where the bottle is plastic and therefore less rigid than glass.
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At the top the reservoir 4 narrows into a shoulder porkion 8 and terminates in a neck portlon 10 which i5 shown closed and capped by a cover 12. as it would be, when it has been filled, for transpor-tation and distribution to a home or office dispenser.
Because o the bulkl:ness and we.ight of the bottle it is convenient, and therefore common, to lift and carry and manipul.ate the bottle by gripping the neck lO. 'rherefore because it is handled, and because the bottle is exposed to dirt in delivery trucks, etc., the neck can and often does become unclean and unsanitary.
As illustrated in Figure 2, the water bottle of Figure 1 is used by removing the closure and cap and inverting it for installation on a water cooler, such as the one : illustrated at 14. Although there are various models, the basic unctional eatures are relatlvely similar and have been in common use for many years. The illustrated embodiment is therefore intended for illustrative purposes, but is not : intended to be an accurate description of such devices which are well known to those skilled in the art (as are the water bottles for which they are designed).
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the water cooler 14 comprises a stand 16 with a circuIar opening 18 in the top 20 unto which the shoulder of the bottle 8 : rests with the aid of a circular 1exible ring or gasket22 so that the neck 10 extends downwardly into the cooler and into a reservoir 24 which is surrounded by cooling coils 26 which are cooled by a refrigerating device shown schematically at 28 within the cooler.
The water exits from the neck o the bottle and fills the reservoir where it is cooled and can be dispensed through the valve 30 operated by the consumer.
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As can be seen in E'igure 2, the water in the reservoir 24 contacts the neck of the bottle and therefore is suscept.ible to contamination if the neck of the bottle has become unclean or unsanitary during handl:ing or transportation.
To avoid this the present invention provldes a protective device comprising a generally circular, funnel shaped cover, such as illustrated in Figure 3, preferably made of inexpens.ive flexible material such as plastic or rubber~
As illustrated, the collar 32 comprises an outer neck portion 34 with an upper opening 36 formed by an inner neck portion 38 and having an axially and radially extending shoulder portion 40 at the bottom (as illustra-ted) It will be readily appreciated that the neck portion 34 is similar in shape and dimension to the neck portion of the bottle and the ridge 38 curls over the top of the neck leaving an opening while the shoulder portion 40 fits the shoulder portion 8 of the bottle. The use of this device is illustrated in Figure 4 where the conventional bottle 2 is shown installed in a water cooler 14 and the cover 32 is placed over the neck of the bottle before it is inverted into the opening and reservoir of the cooler.
: The skirt or shoulder of the protective cover is held between the bottle and the gasket 22 and the ridge 38 fits over the end of the neck of the bottle while leaving an opening 36 so that the water can exit into the reservoir.
Preferably, the device is sufficiently snug to : the neck of the bottle so that water in the cooler reservoir will engage only the protect.ive cover and will not touch or be contaminated by the neck of the bottle which is exposed during transportat.ion and handling.
207~632 If one or more of these protective covers is kept by the consumer, or by the distribu-tor, they can placed over the neck of bottle just before it i5 lnstalled in the cooler, and because they are not exposed or handled during the transportation process, they will preserve the cleanline.ss and sanitation of the water in a manner which was not previously available.
Protective covers of this nature may be made of light inexpensive plastic film so that a new one may be employed each tlme a bottle is installed, or alternatively, can be made of a more substantial material capable of being washed and reused. In either case the present invention provides a convenient and inexpensive way of preserving the cleanliness and sanitation of drinking water delivered in bottles.
~ Figure 4 also illustrates a variation on the : present invention, in which the bottle provided to the water cooler has on its bottom 42 (although it is uppermost when the bottle lS inverted on the cooler) a threaded opening 44 and a threaded closure 46 by which the bottle may be : refilled without removing it from the cooler. In this way ; : once a bottle has been installed in a clean and sanitary ~ : manner, the cleanliness and sanitation remains intact.
: It will of course be realized that various : modifications and variations of the illustrated embodiment may be employed without departing ~rom the inventive concept : herein.
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