Bottle cap adapter, bottle equipped with this bottle cap adapter, and water dispenser that can use this bottle

Abstract

To provide a bottle cap adapter which can be used easily and inexpensively without contaminating the liquid in a shape-retaining bottle, and eliminates the need for high degree of cleaning and sterilization for empty bottles, and a bottle provided with this bottle cap adapter, and a water server that can use this bottle.SOLUTION: A bottle cap adapter 0110 used to take out liquid in a gallon bottle 0100 has an in-bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111, an inner cap attachment part 0112 provided at the tip of the in-bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111, an insertion pipe fixing part 0113 for fixing the in-bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111 and the like to a bottle cap 0102, and an air circulating part 0114 provided in the insertion pipe fixing part 0113 for circulating air from inside the bottle to outside the bottle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1B

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bottle cap adapter that is attached to the cap of a bottle containing drinking water, cooking water, etc., a bottle equipped with this bottle cap adapter, and a water server that can use this bottle. [Background technology]

[0002] Although tap water that meets the water quality standards set by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is safe, it can have a distinctive chlorine smell. For this reason, in recent years, an increasing number of people are using natural water or RO water made using reverse osmosis membranes instead of tap water for drinking and cooking. As a result, water delivery services that deliver natural water or RO water to offices and homes are becoming more popular.

[0003] This water delivery service delivers bottles filled with natural water or RO water (hereinafter referred to as "water delivery") to offices and private homes on a regular basis or upon request.

[0004] This water delivery service uses gallon bottles made of polycarbonate, which are hard and resistant to deformation, meaning they are designed to maintain their shape. This water delivery service is known as the returnable bottle system, as the delivery company collects empty gallon bottles free of charge after use, and reuses them after cleaning and sterilization.

[0005] When filled with water for home delivery, the gallon bottle is sealed with a bottle cap that is permanently fixed to the bottle opening, and this bottle cap is designed to remain fixed to the bottle opening until the gallon bottle is collected, washed, and sterilized. At this time, a water inlet is formed in the center of the bottle cap, and this water inlet is closed with an inner cap that can be attached and detached inside the bottle.

[0006] Offices and homes that receive this returnable bottle delivery service purchase or lease a water server (also called a water dispenser) and use the delivered gallon bottles of water by placing them in the server.

[0007] The gallon bottle of home-delivered water is set by inserting the bottle opening, to which the bottle cap is attached, into the water dispenser opening, which opens upward. In other words, the bottle is set upright in the water dispenser with the bottle opening facing downwards. When a gallon bottle is set in the water dispenser in this way, the tip of the protrusion, which is positioned upward at the water dispenser's water inlet, pushes up the inner cap of the bottle cap while holding it in place. This creates a flow path between the inside of the bottle from which the inner cap has been removed and the protrusion, and the water delivered from the gallon bottle flows through this flow path into the water storage tank located below the water inlet.

[0008] Typically, a water server has two water storage tanks: a cold water storage tank that uses a cooling means such as a compressor to cool the water delivered to the customer and then stores it, and a hot water storage tank that uses a heater to heat the water and then store it.The cold water and hot water in these tanks can be obtained through the cold water tap and hot water tap. Patent Document 1 describes a water server having a similar configuration to this one.

[0009] The returnable bottle system mentioned above is environmentally friendly because it reuses gallon bottles. However, it requires the full gallon bottle to be placed upside down in the water dispenser, which is not ideal for users with limited strength, such as the elderly or women. Additionally, the cost of purchasing or leasing a water dispenser is not insignificant.

[0010] Therefore, recently, there have been some users who have tried to easily use the water delivered in gallon bottles. This system for easily using home-delivered water involves placing the gallon bottle upright with the bottle cap facing up. In this system, the inner cap that closes the water inlet of the bottle cap is first pushed down with a rod-shaped object, causing it to fall into the gallon bottle. One end of a tube is then inserted into the gallon bottle through the now-opened water inlet of the bottle cap, and a suction pump connected to the other end of the tube is then operated, allowing the water to be drawn from the gallon bottle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-213411 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] However, the system for drawing home-delivered water from gallon bottles without using the water server described above is inexpensive and does not require the gallon bottle to be placed upside down, making it easy for anyone to use home-delivered water.However, since the inner cap that closes the water inlet of the bottle cap is dropped into the gallon bottle, the water inlet remains open until the delivery company collects the empty gallon bottle after use, and the inside of the gallon bottle needs to be cleaned and sterilized to a greater extent than if the bottle were collected with the inlet blocked by the inner cap.

[0013] Furthermore, when inserting one end of the tube into the gallon bottle through the water inlet of the bottle cap after the inner cap has been removed and opened, there is a high possibility that the user's fingers will come into contact with the tube, which poses the risk of impurities such as dust or germs getting into the gallon bottle and contaminating the home-delivered water. Solving these problems has traditionally been a challenge.

[0014] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and aims to provide a bottle cap adapter that allows home delivery water in gallon bottles used in a returnable bottle system to be used easily and inexpensively without contaminating the bottle, and that also eliminates the need for extensive cleaning and sterilization of empty gallon bottles, as well as a bottle equipped with this bottle cap adapter and a water server that can use this bottle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] That is, a first aspect of the present invention is a bottle cap adapter that is used to take out liquid from a bottle that is configured to be able to maintain its shape and that is configured to have a bottle opening that is placed at the top when the bottle is placed upright, a bottle cap that is fixed to the bottle opening and has a water supply pipe receiving opening, and an inner cap that is placed inside the bottle at the tip of the water supply pipe receiving opening of the bottle cap on the inside of the bottle and that is detachable from the bottle cap within the bottle, and that is inserted into the fixed bottle cap when the bottle is placed upright, the bottle cap adapter comprising: an internal liquid take-out pipe that is configured to reach from the bottle cap to approximately the bottom surface of the bottle and that can be inserted into the water supply pipe receiving opening of the bottle cap and inserted into the bottle; The pipe is configured to have an inner cap attachment section that, when inserted through the water pipe receptacle, strikes against the inner cap held in the bottle cap, thereby holding the inner cap at the tip of the bottle insertion side, and that, when the bottle liquid extraction pipe is removed from the water supply port, returns the inner cap held at the tip of the bottle insertion side to its original position on the bottle cap; an insertion pipe fixing section that holds the bottle liquid extraction pipe and has approximately the same diameter as the water supply pipe receptacle, and is arranged so that it can be fixed to the bottle cap so that it is positioned near the water supply pipe receptacle when the bottle liquid extraction pipe is inserted approximately to the bottom of the bottle; and a gas circulation section that is provided in part of the insertion pipe fixing section and allows gas to circulate between the inside of the bottle and the outside of the bottle.

[0016] In addition, in a second aspect of the present invention, the water supply pipe receptacle is tubular, and the insertion pipe fixing portion is hollow cylindrical, the outer diameter of a portion of which is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the water supply pipe receptacle, and a portion of the cylinder is separated by a gas flow portion which is a vertical groove extending from the bottom of the bottle to the top of the bottle.

[0017] Furthermore, in a third aspect of the present invention, the insertion pipe fixing portion has a pipe fixing pipe into which the internal-bottle liquid extraction pipe is inserted and fixed.

[0018] Furthermore, in a fourth aspect of the present invention, the pipe fixing pipe has a locking protrusion facing the inner wall of the bottle liquid extraction pipe, and the inner wall of the bottle liquid extraction pipe has a locking recess that engages with the locking protrusion.

[0019] Furthermore, in a fifth aspect of the present invention, the pipe fixing pipe and the hollow cylindrical insertion pipe fixing portion are arranged so as to form a gap.

[0020] Furthermore, in a sixth aspect of the present invention, the hollow cylindrical insertion pipe fixing portion has a connecting portion facing the pipe fixing pipe side.

[0021] Furthermore, in a seventh aspect of the present invention, the gas flow portion is a vertical groove provided toward the connecting portion.

[0022] Furthermore, in an eighth aspect of the present invention, the pipe fixing pipe is configured to have a tapered shape in which the diameter decreases toward the bottom surface of the bottle.

[0023] On the other hand, a bottle according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is configured to include the bottle cap adapter according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.

[0024] A water server according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is configured to be able to use the bottle according to the ninth aspect. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] The bottle cap adapter of the present invention makes it possible to easily and inexpensively use the water delivered in gallon bottles used in returnable bottle systems without contaminating it, and also has the excellent effect of eliminating the need to clean and sterilize empty gallon bottles to a greater extent. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1A] 1 is a partially cutaway overall view of a gallon bottle for use with a bottle cap adapter according to a first embodiment. [Figure 1B] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which the bottle cap adapter according to the first embodiment is attached to the bottle cap of a gallon bottle. [Figure 1C] 1 is an overall perspective view of a bottle cap adapter according to a first embodiment. [Figure 1D] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bottle cap adapter taken at a portion other than the gas flow portion. [Figure 1E] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken at the gas flow portion of the bottle cap adapter. [Figure 1F] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view showing how to attach the water intake tube to the bottle cap adapter. [Figure 1G] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the bottle cap adapter with the water intake tube attached. [Figure 2A] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of a bottle cap adapter according to a second embodiment attached to a bottle cap of a gallon bottle. [Figure 2B] FIG. 10 is an overall perspective view of a bottle cap adapter according to a second embodiment. [Figure 2C] FIG. 1C is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bottle cap adapter corresponding to FIG. 1E. [Figure 2D] 10 is an enlarged view of a locking protrusion provided on the pipe fixing pipe of the bottle cap adapter. FIG. [Figure 2E] 1A is a partial perspective view showing the attachment method of the bottle liquid extraction pipe to the pipe fixing pipe of the bottle cap adapter, the attached state of the bottle cap adapter, and the detachment method of the bottle cap adapter. FIG. [Figure 3A] FIG. 10 is an overall perspective view of a bottle cap adapter according to a third embodiment. [Figure 3B] FIG. 1D is a partial cross-sectional view of the bottle cap adapter. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an overall perspective view of a bottle cap adapter according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 5A]FIG. 10 is an overall perspective view of a bottle cap adapter according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 5B] View of the bottle cap adapter from the direction of the arrow in Figure 5A. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a side view of a bottle cap adapter according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 7A] FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of a water server according to a seventh embodiment. [Figure 7B] A partial cross-sectional view of the bottle cap adapter with a suction pump attached. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The following describes embodiments of the present invention. The relationships between the embodiments and the claims are as follows: Embodiment 1 mainly relates to claims 1 to 3 and 9, embodiment 2 mainly relates to claim 4, embodiment 3 mainly relates to claim 5, embodiment 4 mainly relates to claim 6, embodiment 5 mainly relates to claim 7, embodiment 6 mainly relates to claim 8, and embodiment 7 mainly relates to claim 10. Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments in any way and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. <Embodiment 1>

[0028] This embodiment mainly relates to claims 1 to 3 and 9. <Outline of Embodiment 1>

[0029] The main feature of this embodiment is that a bottle that is configured to maintain its shape and is used in the returnable bottle system, a so-called gallon bottle, is placed upright with the bottle cap facing up, and then a bottle cap adapter is attached to the bottle cap of the gallon bottle, allowing the liquid in the gallon bottle to be used without being soiled.

[0030] The bottle cap adapter of this embodiment allows a gallon bottle to be placed upright with the bottle cap facing up, making it easier and more economical to use the liquid in the gallon bottle than when a full gallon bottle is placed upright with the bottle cap facing down in a known water dispenser. Furthermore, by inserting the bottle cap adapter according to this embodiment into the bottle cap of a gallon bottle, the liquid inside the gallon bottle can be obtained without contaminating it, so that the cleaning and sterilization of the empty gallon bottle can be completed to the same extent as for an empty gallon bottle removed from a known water dispenser. <Configuration of Embodiment 1> <Embodiment 1: Configuration, Bottle, Bottle Opening>

[0031] The bottle of this embodiment is a bottle formed to be able to maintain its shape, for example, a so-called gallon bottle formed from hard, deformation-resistant polycarbonate. As shown in FIG. 1A, which shows a partial cross section of the bottle cap, this gallon bottle 0100 has a bottle opening 0101 located at the top when placed upright. <Embodiment 1: Configuration of Bottle and Bottle Cap>

[0032] This gallon bottle 0100 is sealed by a bottle cap 0102 made of, for example, polypropylene, which is fixed to the bottle opening 0101 by a permanent fit, and a cylindrical water supply pipe receiving opening 0102a is provided in the center of the bottle cap 0102. In principle, this bottle cap 0102 is designed to remain fixed to the bottle opening 0101 until the empty gallon bottle 0100 is collected, washed, and sterilized. The bottle cap 0102 has an extension piece 0102d extending downward from a part of its periphery, and a thin-walled portion 0102e along the periphery, so that the bottle cap 0102 can be removed from the bottle opening 0101 by pulling up the extension piece 0102d in the direction of the arrow as shown by the imaginary line and tearing it along the thin-walled portion 0102e. However, this is an act carried out by a business that collects and recycles bottles. <Embodiment 1: Configuration of bottle and inner cap>

[0033] The water supply pipe receptacle 0102a of the bottle cap 0102 is closed by a roughly cup-shaped inner cap 0103 made of soft synthetic resin, such as polyethylene. A circumferentially continuous protruding portion 0103b is formed on the peripheral wall 0103a of this inner cap 0103. An inward-facing step 0102b is formed in an annular shape below the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a, and the protruding portion 0103b is engaged with this inward-facing step 0102b to hold the inner cap 0103 in the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a. In this case, when a force is applied toward the inside of the gallon bottle 0100 as described below, the inner cap 0103 is configured to be detached from the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a by the protruding portion 0103b deforming to overcome the inward step portion 0102b below the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a. <Embodiment 1: Configuration of Bottle Cap Adapter>

[0034] The bottle cap adapter of this embodiment is used to extract liquid from the gallon bottle 0100, and as shown in FIG. 1B, this bottle cap adapter 0110 has an intra-bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111, an inner cap attachment part 0112 provided at the tip of this intra-bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111, an insertion pipe fixing part 0113 for fixing the intra-bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111 etc. to the bottle cap 0102, and a gas circulation part 0114 provided on the insertion pipe fixing part 0113 for circulating air from inside the bottle to outside the bottle. In Figure 1B, the tip portion of the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111 is shown in cross section, the portion of the inner cap attachment portion 0112 exposed from the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111 is not shown in cross section, and the inner cap 0103 held by this inner cap attachment portion 0112 is shown in cross section. <Embodiment 1: Configuration of bottle cap adapter and pipe for extracting liquid from bottle>

[0035] The bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111 is fixed to the insertion pipe fixing part 0113 as described below, and can be inserted into the gallon bottle 0100 through the water supply pipe receiving port 0102a of the bottle cap 0102, and its length is set so that it can reach from the bottle cap 0102 to almost the bottom of the gallon bottle 0100. <Embodiment 1: Configuration of bottle cap adapter and inner cap attachment part>

[0036] The inner cap attachment part 0112 is fixed by inserting a cylindrical part 0112a into the tip of the bottle insertion side of the bottle internal liquid extraction pipe 0111, and has an opening 0112b that communicates with the interior of the bottle internal liquid extraction pipe 0111 through the hollow part of the cylindrical part 0112a. When the bottle internal liquid extraction pipe 0111 is inserted through the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a of the bottle cap 0102, the inner cap attachment part 0112 holds the inner cap 0103 held in the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a of the bottle cap 0102 and removes it from the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a. Furthermore, when the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111 is removed from the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a of the bottle cap 0102, the inner cap attachment portion 0112 returns the inner cap 0103 it is holding to the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a of the bottle cap 0102, and holds it in the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a again.

[0037] More specifically, the cup-shaped inner cap 0103 has an annular inward locking portion 0103c formed around the periphery of its opening, while an annular groove 0112c is formed at the tip of the inner cap attachment portion 0112. The inward locking portion 0103c of the inner cap 0103 is designed to lock into the groove 0112c of the inner cap attachment portion 0112 when the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111 is inserted through the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a of the bottle cap 0102. This holds the inner cap 0103 in place on the inner cap attachment portion 0112, and when force is applied inward from the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111 to the gallon bottle 0100, the inner cap 0103 is released from the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a, as described above.

[0038] Furthermore, when the bottle internal liquid extraction pipe 0111 is removed from the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a of the bottle cap 0102, the protruding portion 0103b of the inner cap 0103 engages with the step 0102b below the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a, thereby again retaining the inner cap 0103 in the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a. When further outward force is applied to the gallon bottle 0100 from the bottle internal liquid extraction pipe 0111, the annular inward locking portion 0103c of the inner cap 0103 disengages from the annular groove 0112c of the inner cap attachment portion 0112, thereby maintaining the inner cap 0103 held in place in the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a. <Embodiment 1: Configuration of bottle cap adapter and insertion pipe fixing portion>

[0039] As shown in FIG. 1C, the insertion pipe fixing portion 0113 is integrally formed with a base portion 0115 and a boss portion 0116, the base portion 0115 having an outer diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter D of the bottle cap 0102. In this case, the insertion pipe fixing portion 0113 is cylindrical in shape with an outer diameter approximately the same as the inner diameter of the circular tubular water supply pipe receptacle 0102a, and is designed to fit into the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a when the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111 is inserted nearly to the bottom of the gallon bottle 0100.

[0040] In this embodiment, the insertion pipe fixing part 0113 has a pipe fixing pipe 0117 integrally formed at the center of its lower end face for inserting and fixing the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111, and the insertion pipe fixing part 0113, base part 0115, boss part 0116 and pipe fixing pipe 0117 are integrally formed from ABS resin, which has a good balance of mechanical properties such as rigidity, hardness, processability, impact resistance and bending fatigue resistance, as shown in FIG. 1D. <Embodiment 1: Configuration of Bottle Cap Adapter and Gas Flow Portion>

[0041] As shown in FIG. 1E, the gas flow section 0114 is a vertical groove formed on the insertion pipe fixing section 0113 from the lower side of the bottle toward the upper side of the bottle, and this gas flow section 0114 allows gas to flow between the inside and outside of the gallon bottle 0100. <Embodiment 1: Configuration of Bottle Cap Adapter, Connecting Cylindrical Portion>

[0042] In this embodiment, a connecting cylindrical portion 0118 is provided at the center of the front side (the center of the side opposite to the insert pipe fixing portion 0113) of the base portion 0115, which is formed integrally with the insertion pipe fixing portion 0113, and this connecting cylindrical portion 0118 is in communication with the cylindrical insertion pipe fixing portion 0113. In this case, the connecting cylindrical portion 0118 is formed to fit within the boss portion 0116, so that the connecting cylindrical portion 0118 does not protrude from the front side of the base portion 0115. By preventing the connecting cylindrical portion 0118 from protruding from the front side of the base portion 0115 in this way, it is possible to prevent impurities such as dust and germs from adhering to the connecting cylindrical portion 0118 until a water intake tube is connected to the connecting cylindrical portion 0118 as described below, for example, by attaching a sticker to the front side of the base portion 0115. <Embodiment 1 Bottle Cap Adapter Water Intake Procedure>

[0043] Therefore, a method for using the liquid in the gallon bottle 0100, for example, home-delivered water, using the bottle cap adapter 0110 according to this embodiment will be described. First, the tip of the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111, to which the inner cap attachment part 0112 is fixed, is inserted into the water supply pipe receiving port 0102a of the bottle cap 0102 of the gallon bottle 0100 placed upright with the bottle opening 0101 facing upward.

[0044] When the tip of the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111 is inserted into the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a of the bottle cap 0102 in this manner, the inward locking portion 0103c of the inner cap 0103 held in the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a of the bottle cap 0102 locks into the groove portion 0112c of the inner cap attachment portion 0112.

[0045] As a result, the inner cap 0103 is held by the inner cap attachment portion 0112, and when a force is applied inward to the gallon bottle 0100 from the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111, the protruding portion 0103b of the inner cap 0103 overcomes the inward step portion 0102b below the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a, causing the inner cap 0103 to deform and detach from the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a.

[0046] Then, when the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111 is inserted so that the inner cap attachment part 0112 holding the inner cap 0103 reaches almost to the bottom of the gallon bottle 0100, the insertion pipe fixing part 0113 fits into the water supply pipe receptacle 0102a, thereby completing the attachment of the bottle cap adapter 0110 to the bottle cap 0102.

[0047] The bottle cap adapter 0110 can be attached to the bottle cap 0102 without touching the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0111 or the inner cap attachment part 0112 with hands or fingers, so that impurities such as dust and germs hardly get into the inside of the gallon bottle 0100.

[0048] With the bottle cap adapter 0110 attached to the bottle cap 0102 in this manner, as shown in Figures 1F and 1G, the socket 0121 fixed to one end of the water intake tube 0120 is fitted close to the connecting cylindrical portion 0118 of the bottle cap adapter 0110, thereby connecting the water intake tube 0120 to the inside of the gallon bottle 0100 via the bottle cap adapter 0110.In this state, by operating suction means such as an electric pump or manual pump (not shown) connected to the other end of the water intake tube 0120, the home delivery water inside the gallon bottle 0100 can be sucked up and obtained.

[0049] During suction of the water delivered from the gallon bottle 0100, the inside of the gallon bottle 0100, which is configured to be able to maintain its shape, tends to become negative pressure. However, the gas flow section 0114, which is a vertical groove formed in the insertion pipe fixing section 0113 from the bottom side of the bottle to the top side of the bottle, allows gas to flow between the inside and outside of the gallon bottle 0100, so the inside of the gallon bottle 0100 rarely becomes negative pressure. As a result, the suction means can smoothly suction the water delivered from the gallon bottle 0100. <Effects of Embodiment 1>

[0050] The bottle cap adapter of this embodiment has a gas circulating section that allows gas to circulate between the inside and outside of the gallon bottle, so that the inside of the gallon bottle does not become negative pressure even when the suction means is used to suction the water delivered from the gallon bottle. Therefore, the gallon bottle can be used upright with the bottle cap facing up, which makes it easier and more inexpensive to use the liquid in the gallon bottle than placing a full gallon bottle upright with the bottle cap facing down to set it in a known water dispenser.

[0051] In this case, the bottles used in so-called one-way delivery systems lose air as the water is consumed, eventually causing the bottle to collapse. Although one-way bottles do not generate negative pressure inside, they can tilt or fall over when crushed, so the connection to the suction means must be strong. In contrast, the gallon bottle to which the bottle cap adapter of this embodiment is attached is a bottle that is configured to be able to maintain its shape, so even when the home delivery water inside the gallon bottle is sucked out using the suction means, the bottle will not tilt or fall over, and therefore the connection to the suction means can be made with a simple structure.

[0052] Furthermore, by attaching the bottle cap adapter of this embodiment to the bottle cap of a gallon bottle, the liquid inside the gallon bottle can be obtained without contaminating it, so that the cleaning and sterilization of an empty gallon bottle can be completed to the same extent as an empty gallon bottle removed from a known water dispenser. <Embodiment 2>

[0053] This embodiment mainly relates to claim 4. <Outline of Embodiment 2>

[0054] The main feature of this embodiment is that, based on embodiment 1, locking portions are provided on both the pipe fixing pipe of the insertion pipe fixing part and the pipe for extracting liquid from the bottle, so that when the pipe fixing pipe is inserted into the pipe for extracting liquid from the bottle, these locking portions engage with each other.

[0055] In the bottle cap adapter according to this embodiment, the bottle liquid extraction pipe inserted into the pipe fixing pipe of the insertion pipe fixing part is less likely to come off from the pipe fixing pipe. As a result, when removing the bottle liquid extraction pipe from the water supply pipe receptacle of the bottle cap, the outward force of the gallon bottle applied to the bottle liquid extraction pipe via the pipe fixing pipe can prevent the bottle liquid extraction pipe from coming off the pipe fixing pipe. <Configuration of Embodiment 2>

[0056] As shown in FIG. 2A, the bottle cap adapter 0210 according to this embodiment differs from the bottle cap adapter according to the previous embodiment in that the pipe fixing pipe 0217 is provided with a locking protrusion 0221 facing the inner wall of the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0211, and the inner wall of the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0211 is provided with a locking recess 0222. <Embodiment 2: Configuration of Locking Protrusion and Locking Recess>

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the locking protrusions 0221 of the pipe fixing pipe 0217 are small circular protrusions, and are arranged at two locations on the same circumference of the pipe fixing pipe 0213, spaced 180° apart. On the other hand, the locking recesses 0222 of the pipe 0211 for taking out liquid from inside the bottle are locking holes that penetrate the inner wall of the pipe 0211 for taking out liquid from inside the bottle, and these locking recesses 0222 are also arranged at two locations on the same circumference, spaced 180° apart.

[0058] The locking protrusion 0221 of the pipe fixing pipe 0217 and the locking recess 0222 of the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0211 are adapted to engage with each other when the pipe fixing pipe 0217 is inserted into the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0211 and the end of the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0211 abuts against the insertion pipe fixing portion 0213.

[0059] In this case, as shown enlarged in Fig. 2D, the locking protrusion 0221, which is a small circular protrusion, has a height h2 of a raised portion 0221b located on the base side (left side in the figure) of the pipe fixing pipe 0217 that is higher than a height h1 of a raised portion 0221a located on the tip side (right side in the figure) of the pipe fixing pipe 0217. In addition, the peripheral wall of the locking protrusion 0221, excluding both raised portions 0221a and 0221b, is formed as a slope 0221c.

[0060] 2E(a), when the pipe fixing pipe 0217 is moved in the direction of the arrow to be inserted into the bottle liquid take-out pipe 0211, the height h1 of the protruding portion 0221a at the tip end of the locking protrusion 0221 on the pipe fixing pipe 0217 is set low, so that the end of the bottle liquid take-out pipe 0211 easily clears the locking protrusion 0221. In other words, the pipe fixing pipe 0217 can be inserted into the bottle liquid take-out pipe 0211 with little force.

[0061] Then, as shown in FIG. 2E(b), when the pipe fixing pipe 0217 is inserted into the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0211 and the end of the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0211 is brought into contact with the insertion pipe fixing portion 0213, the locking protrusion 0221 of the pipe fixing pipe 0217 and the locking recess 0222 of the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0211 engage with each other, and the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0211 is fixed to the pipe fixing pipe 0217. In this case, the height h2 of the base side protrusion 0221b of the locking protrusion 0221 of the pipe fixing pipe 0217 is set higher than the height h1 of the tip side protrusion 0221a, so that the pipe fixing pipe 0217 inserted into the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0211 is difficult to come out.

[0062] On the other hand, when the bottle liquid takeout pipe 0211 is pulled out from the pipe fixed to the pipe 0217, the peripheral wall of the locking protrusion 0221 of the pipe fixed to the pipe 0217 is formed as a slope 0221c, so that when the bottle liquid takeout pipe 0211 is rotated in the direction of the arrow relative to the pipe fixed to the pipe 0217, the locking recess 0222 of the bottle liquid takeout pipe 0211 easily overcomes the locking protrusion 0221. That is, as shown in FIG. 2E(c), the locking recess 0222 of the bottle liquid takeout pipe 0211 disengages from the locking protrusion 0221 of the pipe fixed to the pipe 0217, so that the pipe fixed to the pipe 0217 can be pulled out from the bottle liquid takeout pipe 0211 with a small force in the direction of the arrow. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the locking protrusions 0221 are arranged at two locations on the same circumference of the pipe fixing pipe 0213, spaced 180° apart, so that when the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0211 is rotated relative to the pipe fixing pipe 0217, the bottle liquid extraction pipe 0211 can be rotated in either the left or right direction with the same amount of force. <Effects of Embodiment 2>

[0063] In the bottle cap adapter of this embodiment, when the pipe fixing pipe is inserted into the bottle liquid extraction pipe to a predetermined position, the locking protrusion of the pipe fixing pipe and the locking recess of the bottle liquid extraction pipe engage with each other, making it difficult for the bottle liquid extraction pipe to come loose from the pipe fixing pipe. Therefore, when the liquid-in-bottle extraction pipe is removed from the water supply pipe receiving opening of the bottle cap, the pipe fixing pipe can be prevented from coming off the liquid-in-bottle extraction pipe. <Embodiment 3>

[0064] This embodiment mainly relates to claim 5. <Outline of Embodiment 3>

[0065] The main feature of this embodiment is that, based on the first and second embodiments, the pipe fixing pipe and the hollow cylindrical insertion pipe fixing portion are arranged so as to form a gap. In this embodiment, since there is a gap between the pipe fixing pipe and the insertion pipe fixing portion, slight shrinkage deformation of the insertion pipe fixing portion is permitted, so when the insertion pipe fixing portion is fitted into the water supply pipe receiving port of the bottle cap, it can fit even if the diameter of the water supply pipe receiving port is smaller than the diameter of the insertion pipe fixing portion. <Configuration of Embodiment 3>

[0066] As shown in FIG. 3A, the bottle cap adapter 0310 according to this embodiment differs from the bottle cap adapter according to the previous embodiment in that a gap 0323 is provided in an annular shape between the pipe fixing pipe 0317 and the hollow cylindrical insertion pipe fixing portion 0313. <Embodiment 3 Configuration Gap>

[0067] As shown in FIG. 3B, the gap 0323 between the pipe fixing pipe 0317 and the insertion pipe fixing part 0313 is formed so as to reach the vicinity of the boss part 0316 in the center of the base part 0315. In this way, by providing a deep gap 0323 in an annular shape between the pipe fixing pipe 0317 and the insertion pipe fixing part 0313, slight shrinkage deformation of the insertion pipe fixing part 0313 is permitted. <Effects of Embodiment 3>

[0068] In the bottle cap adapter of this embodiment, when the insertion pipe fixing portion is fitted into the water supply pipe receptacle of the bottle cap, it can be fitted even if the diameter of the water supply pipe receptacle is smaller than the diameter of the insertion pipe fixing portion. <Embodiment 4>

[0069] This embodiment mainly relates to claim 6. <Outline of Embodiment 4>

[0070] The main feature of this embodiment is that, based on the first to third embodiments, the hollow cylindrical insertion pipe fixing portion has a connecting portion facing the pipe fixing pipe side. In this embodiment, when there is a gap between the pipe fixing pipe and the insertion pipe fixing portion, it is possible to prevent the pipe fixing pipe from being misaligned with respect to the axis of the insertion pipe fixing portion. <Configuration of Embodiment 4>

[0071] As shown in FIG. 4, the bottle cap adapter 0410 according to this embodiment differs from the bottle cap adapter according to the previous embodiment in that, when there is a gap 0423 between the pipe fixing pipe 0417 and the hollow cylindrical insertion pipe fixing part 0413, a connecting part 0424 is provided on the insertion pipe fixing part 0413 facing the pipe fixing pipe 0417 side. <Embodiment 4: Configuration of connecting portion>

[0072] The connecting parts 0424 are arranged at four locations in the circumferential direction at intervals of approximately 90°. By arranging the connecting parts 0424 in this manner, deviation of the pipe fixing pipe 0417 relative to the axis of the insertion pipe fixing part 0413 is suppressed. <Effects of Embodiment 4>

[0073] In the bottle cap adapter according to this embodiment, when there is a gap between the pipe fixing pipe and the insertion pipe fixing portion, it is possible to prevent the pipe fixing pipe from becoming eccentric relative to the axis of the insertion pipe fixing portion. <Embodiment 5>

[0074] This embodiment mainly relates to claim 7. <Outline of Embodiment 5>

[0075] The main feature of this embodiment is that, based on embodiments 1 to 4, when a connecting portion facing the pipe fixing pipe side is provided in the insertion pipe fixing portion, the vertical groove facing the connecting portion is used as the gas flow portion. In the bottle cap adapter according to this embodiment, the depth of the vertical groove, which is the gas flow section, can be set large, so that the water delivered to your home can be sucked up more smoothly from inside the gallon bottle. <Configuration of Embodiment 5>

[0076] As shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the bottle cap adapter 0510 according to this embodiment differs from the bottle cap adapter according to the previous embodiment in that the insertion pipe fixing part 0513 is provided with a connecting part 0524 facing the pipe fixing pipe 0517, and this connecting part 0524 has a vertical groove which is the gas circulating part 0514. <Fifth Embodiment: Gas Flow Section>

[0077] In this embodiment, the vertical groove serving as the gas flow section 0514 formed on the insertion pipe fixing section 0513 from the lower side of the bottle toward the upper side of the bottle is positioned to match the position of the connecting section 0524, which makes it possible to set a large depth for the vertical groove serving as the gas flow section 0514. In other words, more gas flows between the inside and outside of the gallon bottle, which makes it possible to prevent negative pressure from building up inside the gallon bottle. <Effects of Embodiment 5>

[0078] The bottle cap adapter according to this embodiment allows for smoother suction of home-delivered water from a gallon bottle. <Embodiment 6>

[0079] This embodiment mainly relates to claim 8. <Outline of Sixth Embodiment>

[0080] The main feature of this embodiment is that, based on the first to fifth embodiments, the pipe fixing pipe is tapered. In the bottle cap adapter according to this embodiment, the pipe fixing pipe can be smoothly inserted into the bottle liquid extraction pipe. <Configuration of Embodiment 6>

[0081] As shown in FIG. 6, the bottle cap adapter 0610 according to this embodiment differs from the bottle cap adapter according to the previous embodiment in that the pipe fixing pipe 0617 is formed in a tapered shape with the diameter decreasing toward the bottom of the bottle. <Effects of Embodiment 6>

[0082] With the bottle cap adapter according to this embodiment, the pipe fixing pipe can be smoothly inserted into the internal liquid extraction pipe without requiring a large amount of force. <Embodiment 7>

[0083] This embodiment mainly relates to claim 10. <Outline of Embodiment 7>

[0084] The main feature of this embodiment is that it is a water server that can use a gallon bottle equipped with the bottle cap adapter of any of the first to sixth embodiments. The water server according to this embodiment allows the liquid in a gallon bottle to be used more easily and inexpensively than known water servers. <Configuration of Embodiment 7>

[0085] As shown in FIG. 7A, the water server 0750 according to this embodiment is configured to connect a suction pump 0760 in a watertight manner to a bottle cap adapter 0710 attached to a bottle cap 0702 of a gallon bottle 0700. <Embodiment 7 Suction Pump Configuration>

[0086] The suction pump 0760 has a connection part 0761 for connecting to the bottle cap adapter 0710 . 7B, when the connecting portion 0761 is connected to the bottle cap adapter 0710, the connecting portion 0761 has a peripheral wall 0761a that surrounds the periphery of the base portion 0715 of the bottle cap adapter 0710, an outer cylinder 0761b that fits onto the outside of the connecting cylindrical portion 0118, and an inner cylinder 0761c that fits onto the inside of the connecting cylindrical portion 0118. In this case, the connecting cylindrical portion 0118 is sandwiched between the outer cylinder 0761b and the inner cylinder 0761c, thereby connecting the suction pump 0760 to the bottle cap adapter 0710 in a watertight manner. <Effects of Embodiment 7>

[0087] The water server of this embodiment can use gallon bottles equipped with the bottle cap adapters of embodiments 1 to 6, so the gallon bottle can be placed upright with the bottle cap facing up. As a result, it is possible to use the liquid in the gallon bottle more easily and inexpensively than when a full gallon bottle is placed upright with the bottle cap facing down to be set in a known water server. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 0100 Gallon Bottle (Shape-retaining bottle) 0101 Bottle opening 0102 Bottle cap 0102a Water supply pipe socket 0103 Inner cap 0110 Bottle Cap Adapter 0111 Bottle liquid extraction pipe 0112 Inner cap attachment part 0113 Insertion pipe fixing part 0114 Gas flow section

Claims

1. A bottle configured to be able to maintain its shape, A bottle opening located at the top when placed vertically; a bottle cap fixed to the bottle opening and having a water supply pipe receiving port; an inner cap disposed at the tip of the water supply pipe receiving port of the bottle cap on the inner side of the bottle and within the bottle so as to be detachable from the bottle cap; A bottle cap adapter that is inserted into the fixed bottle cap of a bottle and is used to extract liquid from the bottle when the bottle is placed upright, an in-bottle liquid extraction pipe configured to reach from the bottle cap to approximately the bottom surface of the bottle and to be inserted into the bottle by being inserted into the water supply pipe receiving port of the bottle cap; an inner cap attaching section located at the bottle insertion end of the bottle internal liquid extraction pipe, which, when the bottle internal liquid extraction pipe is inserted through the water supply pipe receiving port, abuts against an inner cap held by the bottle cap, thereby holding the inner cap at the bottle insertion end, and which, when the bottle internal liquid extraction pipe is removed from the water supply pipe receiving port, returns the inner cap held at the bottle insertion end to its original position on the bottle cap; an insertion pipe fixing portion that holds the liquid extraction pipe in the bottle, has approximately the same diameter as the water supply pipe receptacle, and is arranged so as to be fixable to the bottle cap so as to be positioned near the water supply pipe receptacle when the liquid extraction pipe in the bottle is inserted nearly to the bottom of the bottle; a gas flow section provided in a part of the insertion pipe fixing section to allow gas to flow between the inside of the bottle and the outside of the bottle; With bottle cap adapter.

2. The water supply pipe receptacle is tubular, The insertion pipe fixing portion is a hollow cylindrical portion having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the water supply pipe receptacle, 2. The bottle cap adapter according to claim 1, wherein a part of the cylinder is separated from the bottom of the bottle toward the top of the bottle by a gas flow portion that is a vertical groove.

3. 3. The bottle cap adapter according to claim 1, wherein the insertion pipe fixing portion has a pipe fixing pipe into which the bottle liquid extraction pipe is inserted and fixed.

4. 4. The bottle cap adapter according to claim 3, which is dependent on claim 2, wherein the pipe fixing pipe has a locking protrusion facing the inner wall of the bottle liquid outlet pipe, and the inner wall of the bottle liquid outlet pipe has a locking recess that engages with the locking protrusion.

5. 5. The bottle cap adapter according to claim 3, wherein the pipe fixing pipe and the hollow cylindrical insertion pipe fixing portion are arranged to define a gap.

6. 6. The bottle cap adapter according to claim 5, wherein the hollow cylindrical insertion pipe fixing portion has a connecting portion that is provided toward the pipe fixing pipe and connects the insertion pipe fixing portion and the pipe fixing pipe.

7. The bottle cap adaptor according to claim 6, wherein the gas flow portion is a vertical groove provided toward the connecting portion.

8. 8. The bottle cap adapter according to claim 3, wherein the pipe fixing pipe has a tapered shape with a diameter decreasing toward the bottle bottom.

9. A bottle equipped with the bottle cap adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A water server that can use the bottle according to claim 9.

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