Protective sleeve for a receptacle cover

Abstract

There is provided a protective sleeve for a receptacle cover, the protective sleeve being made from a flexible polymer, thermoplastic elastomer, or silicone material with certain physical features for the provision of a plurality of advantages, such as, to enable ease of placement of the protective sleeve onto the receptacle cover, to enable a tactile engagement between the protective sleeve and the receptacle cover.

Description

[0001] PROTECTIVE SLEEVE FOR A RECEPTACLE COVER

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a protective sleeve for a receptacle cover.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] It is typical for many people to carry a liquid receptacle like, for example, a water bottle, whenever they leave their homes or workplaces. They may be carrying the water bottle for themselves or their loved ones. Having a water bottle with them ensures that liquids like water or beverages are readily available.

[0006] Currently, a substantial majority of water bottles, including their covers, are typically made from plastic. Given that the plastics used to manufacture the bottles are typically flexible, screw caps are most commonly used for covering water bottles.

[0007] Other than screw caps, other interlocking mechanisms have been used to secure covers to water bottles. For example, a cover and a receptacle is securable in a snap-fit manner to one another using angular projections and slots as used in milk bottles and other receptacles. It should be noted that the snap-fit engagement of such a cover and a receptacle may occasionally lead to instances of the cover disengaging from the receptacle when the cover experiences an impact. This occasional disengagement of the cover and the receptacle is undesirable.

[0008] SUMMARY

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, there is provided a protective sleeve for a receptacle cover, comprising:

[0010] a molded tubular body, the tubular body including:

[0011] a first opening at a first end of the tubular body adapted for receiving the receptacle cover,

[0012] a second opening opposite the first opening at a second end opposite said first end,an overhanging rim adjacent to the second opening configured to cover at least a portion of the receptacle cover to enable containment of the receptacle cover, and

[0013] an engagement notch configured to engage with a protrusion of the receptacle cover.

[0014] It is preferable that when the tubular body is containing the receptacle cover, the protective sleeve is configured to apply a compressive force onto the receptacle cover, and when the tubular body is not containing the receptacle cover, the first opening is smaller than the second opening.

[0015] It will be appreciated that the broad forms of the invention and their respective features can be used in conjunction, interchangeably and / or independently, and reference to separate broad forms is not intended to be limiting.

[0016] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] A non-limiting example of the present invention will now be described, by way of nonlimiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] FIG 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a protective sleeve of the present invention;

[0019] FIG 2 illustrates a top and sectional view of the protective sleeve of FIG 1; and FIG 3 illustrates a sectional view of the protective sleeve of FIG 1 when in use.

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a protective sleeve for a receptacle cover, the protective sleeve being made from a flexible polymer, thermoplastic elastomer, or silicone material with certain physical features for the provision of a plurality of advantages, such as, to enable ease of placement of the protective sleeve onto the receptacle cover, to enable a tactile engagement between the protective sleeve and the receptacle cover, to enable application of pressure to the receptacle cover by the protective sleeve when the protective sleeve is placed onto the receptaclecover, to provide a handle for the receptacle cover, to enable the receptacle cover to act as an impact absorber for the receptacle cover when the protective sleeve is placed onto the receptacle cover.

[0022] Referring to both FIG 1 and 2, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, there is provided a protective sleeve 100 for a receptacle cover. The receptacle cover can be of a substantially polygonal cross section, and a corresponding receptacle can include, for example, a milk bottle, a container for containing dried items or liquids, and so forth. It is preferable that the receptacle cover is securable to the receptacle in a snap-fit manner to one another using angular projections and slots.

[0023] The protective sleeve 100 is molded and substantially tubular with a substantially polygonal cross section, and can be made from a flexible polymer, such as, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polybenzimidazole and the like. In addition, a thermoplastic elastomer or silicone material can also be used. The flexible nature of the selected material is critical for the protective sleeve 100 to carry out its intended functions.

[0024] The protective sleeve 100 includes a handle 125 that is configured to enable ease of holding the protective sleeve 100 regardless of whether the protective sleeve 100 is placed onto the receptacle cover. The handle 125 can also be configured to enable placement of a linking device, such as, for example, a karabiner, a snap hook, a link, and so forth.

[0025] The protective sleeve 100 also includes a pre-defined engagement notch 115 on an inner surface 135 of the protective sleeve 100, whereby the engagement notch 115 is configured to interface with a corresponding protrusion located on the receptacle cover. A successful interfacing of the engagement notch 115 with the corresponding protrusion ensures that there is ease of placement of the protective sleeve 100 onto the receptacle cover, and to enable a tactile engagement between the protective sleeve 100 and the receptacle cover. The protective sleeve 100 is also prevented from rotating about the receptacle cover once the successful interfacing of the engagement notch 115 with the corresponding protrusion occurs.A top end 110 of the protective sleeve 100 defining an opening and includes an overhanging rim 120. The overhanging rim 120 is configured to act as a stopper when the protective sleeve 100 is in a process of being placed onto the receptacle cover. The overhanging rim 120 is configured to enable convenience for the user as the stopper allows the user to fit the protective sleeve 100 onto the receptacle cover, before the user only needs to rotates the protective sleeve 100 to interface the engagement notch 115 with the corresponding protrusion of the receptacle cover.

[0026] In this preferred embodiment, the protective sleeve 100 is shown to include surface ornamentation 105 that extends towards a bottom end 130 of the protective sleeve 100. The bottom end 130 shares a central axis with the top end 110 and also defines another opening. The surface ornamentation 105 is shown to be a series of lines, but can be any design or pattern. In addition, the surface ornamentation 105 is also shown to be only covering a part surface of the protective sleeve 100, but it is contemplated that the surface ornamentation can cover a full surface of the protective sleeve 100. The surface ornamentation can be used to improve frictional coefficient or grip-ability of a surface of the protective sleeve 100.

[0027] Moreover, it should be noted that even though the tubular protective sleeve 100 has a substantially polygonal cross section, it is typical that a cross sectional area of the top end 110 is larger than a cross sectional area of the bottom end 130. Referring to FIG 3, there is shown the protective sleeve 100 in use with a receptacle cover 200 which is configured to cover a receptacle 210. The receptacle cover 200 is shown to have a spout 205, but the receptacle cover 200 need not include the spout 205. The protective sleeve 100 is shown enveloping the receptacle cover 200 and a portion of the receptacle 210. The overhanging rim 120 is shown to engage with a top surface 215 of the receptacle cover 200, and the bottom end 130 of the protective sleeve 100 is shown to be in contact with the receptacle 210. It should be noted that in the configuration as shown in FIG 3, the flexible protective sleeve 100 is configured to apply a compressive force on the receptacle cover 200. When the compressive force is applied to the receptacle cover 200, the receptacle cover 200 is able to be secured in an improved manner. This is particularly effective when the receptacle cover 200 is secured to the receptacle 210 in a snap-fit manner using angular projections and slots. The improved manner of securing the protective sleeve 100 to the receptacle cover200 reduces a likelihood of the receptacle cover 200 being disengaged from the receptacle 210 in the event of the application of a force like an impact event. In addition, the protective sleeve 100 also prevents damage to the receptacle cover 200 in the event of the application of a force like an impact event.

[0028] It should be appreciated that the protective sleeve 100 enables a plurality of advantages as detailed in the preceding paragraphs, such as, to enable ease of placement of the protective sleeve onto the receptacle cover, to enable a tactile engagement between the protective sleeve and the receptacle cover, to enable application of pressure to the receptacle cover by the protective sleeve when the protective sleeve is placed onto the receptacle cover, to provide a handle for the receptacle cover, to enable the receptacle cover to act as an impact absorber for the receptacle cover when the protective sleeve is placed onto the receptacle cover. There may be variations in a shape or configuration of the protective sleeve 100, but it should be appreciated that the aforementioned advantages will be provided in spite of such variations.

[0029] Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0030] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0031] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A protective sleeve for a receptacle cover, comprising:a molded tubular body, the tubular body including:a first opening at a first end of the tubular body adapted for receiving the receptacle cover,a second opening opposite the first opening at a second end opposite said first end,an overhanging rim adjacent to the second opening configured to cover at least a portion of the receptacle cover to enable containment of the receptacle cover, an engagement notch configured to engage with a protrusion of the receptacle cover;wherein when the tubular body is containing the receptacle cover, the protective sleeve is configured to apply a compressive force onto the receptacle cover, and wherein when the tubular body is not containing the receptacle cover, the first opening is smaller than the second opening.

2. The protective sleeve of claim 1, further comprising a handle configured to enable ease of holding the protective sleeve and being configured to enable placement of a linking device.

3. The protective sleeve of claim 1, further comprising surface ornamentation configured to improve a frictional coefficient of a surface of the protective sleeve.

4. The protective sleeve of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tubular body is molded from a flexible material selected from a group consisting of: polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polybenzimidazole, thermoplastic elastomer and silicone.

5. The protective sleeve of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the engagement notch is configured to enable a tactle engagement between the protective sleeve and the receptacle cover.

6. The protective sleeve of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the overhanging rim is configured to act as a stopper.

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