BOTTLE TOPPER

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/556,807 filed Feb. 22, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Water bottles are becoming ever more present as a convenient way to hydrate. However, there are times that people want to also have a drink with electrolytes—to replace those that are lost due to work-outs, hot days, etc. People are becoming smarter about hydration and may be more likely to be choosy in what type of an electrolyte drink they consume. There are those that have different flavors, more electrolytes, and/or less sugar. The present invention allows for the sale of water bottles with a single serving of a water additive/electrolytes. The topper fits over the opening in the bottle and includes a packet of the electrolyte drink mix of the person's choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a bottle topper that includes a top portion, the top portion having an opening therein and extending between a front side and a back side, the opening sized to receive a top of a bottle and a bottom portion for holding a packet, the bottom portion having a first slot to receive a first end of the packet and a second slot to receive a second end of the packet, the first slot and the second slot are separated from each other along a length of the bottom portion.

In some embodiments, the bottle is a water bottle.

In some embodiments, the opening is not a circle.

In some embodiments, the opening is a circle.

In other embodiments, the topper further includes a fold line that separates the top portion from the bottom portion.

In some embodiments, the top portion has a curved portion along a portion of an outside surface thereof.

In other embodiments, the topper further includes scored portions around at least a portion of the opening.

In one embodiment, the slots are straight.

In another embodiment, the slots are other than straight.

In another embodiment, the topper further includes a packet having one end in each of the first slot and the second slot.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to a bottle topper on a bottle.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present embodiments of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of one embodiment of a bottle topper according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the bottle topper in FIG. 1 with a drink packet attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is a rear plan view of the bottle topper of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the bottle topper of FIG. 2 on a bottle; and

FIG. 5 is a front plan view of another embodiment of a bottle topper according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Turning to FIGS. 1-4, the topper 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention has top portion 12 that is generally circular, but could take on most other shapes, including square (see FIG. 5), rectangular, oval, etc. Thus, the top portion 12 has a curved portion 12a along a portion of an outside surface or edge 12b. The top portion 12 has an opening 14 and it is sized to allow the screw-on top 16 of a bottle 18 to pass therethrough. The bottle 18 may be a water bottle or another type of bottle and still be within the scope of the invention. Again the opening 14 is illustrated as being round, but it too could be of other shapes, like the square opening 14′ in the topper 10′ in FIG. 5. There may also be scored portions 20 around the opening 14 to accommodate bottles 18 having different sized tops 16. Edges 22 of the scored portions 20 also may engage the bottom of the top 16 of the bottle 18, with the edges 22 pointing upward as a result of the topper 10 being pushed over the top 16. The bottom portion 30 is that which holds the packets 32. Between the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 30, there may be a fold line 34, so that when folded, the bottom portion 30 lies alongside the bottle 16 and the top portion 12 is orthogonal thereto. See FIGS. 4 and 5. This keeps the topper 10 protected from being ripped off of the bottle 18 and also allows users to see the packets 32 more easily.

The topper 10 may also have writing on the front 36 to inform the consumer about the contents of the packets 32. There are preferably two cuts or slots that extend through the topper 10 to receive an end portion of the packets 32. The first slot 40 is near the top 44 of the bottom portion 30. The second slot 42 is near the bottom 46 of the bottom portion 30. The packet 32 is pushed from the front 36 through the two slots 40,42 so that the topper 10 holds the packets 32. The slots 40,42 may also have other configurations, such as illustrated in FIG. 5 as having an arrow shape. Other configurations are also possible. There may be other ways to removably secure the packets 32 to the topper 10. For example, the second slot 42 may be a pocket to receive the bottom of the packet 32. The packet may also be glued to the topper 10.

The topper 10 may also have writing, pictures or other advertisements. For example, back 44 may also have other writing and information for the consumer. This may be in the form of bar code, a QR code, other indicia, etc. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, there may be indicia 50 around the opening 14 and between the two slots 40,42. FIG. 2 shows that the indicia 50 may also be on the packets 32 themselves.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a topper 10′ according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the top portion 12′ is more square, including the opening 14′ than in the prior embodiment. Also as noted above, the slots 40′/42′ have a different shape and may be even different from those illustrated herein.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.