Bottle tote

Abstract

A bottle tote for a bottle having a mouth, and a neck ring of enlarged diameter. The tote includes a collar adapted to engage the neck ring; a handle with a finger hole operably connected to the collar; and a cap carried by the handle adapted to close off the mouth. The handle is moveable between an open position, and a closed position wherein the cap is pressed against the mouth. An apparatus for carrying a liquid includes a bottle having a mouth; a handle with a finger hole operably connected to the bottle; and a cap carried by the handle adapted to close off the mouth. The handle is moveable between an open position and a closed position wherein the cap is pressed against the opening. A belt clip includes at least one arm adapted to be suspended from a belt, and a hook extending outward from the arm.

1 . A bottle tote for carrying a bottle having a neck defining a mouth, and a neck ring of enlarged diameter, said bottle tote comprising: 
 a collar adapted to engage said neck ring to retain said bottle tote thereto;    a handle operably connected to said collar and including a finger hole therein; and    a cap carried by said handle and adapted to close off said mouth;    wherein said handle is moveable between an open position in which said mouth is exposed, and a closed position in which said cap is pressed against said mouth.    
   
   
       2 . The bottle tote of  claim 1  further including at least one swing arm having a first end pivotally connected to said collar and a second end pivotally connected to said handle, and said swing arm, said collar, and said handle are arranged such that said swing arm and said handle cooperatively define an over-center relationship when said handle is in said closed position.  
   
   
       3 . The bottle tote of  claim 2  further including means for limiting the movement of said swing arm to a predetermined range.  
   
   
       4 . The bottle tote of  claim 1  further comprising a release latch carried by said handle and moveable between a locked position in which it engages said cap to prevent motion of said handle relative to said collar, and a released position in which said handle is freely moveable relative to said collar.  
   
   
       5 . The bottle tote of  claim 4  further including a biasing element for urging said release latch into said locked position.  
   
   
       6 . The bottle tote of  claim 1  wherein said cap includes a resilient sealing ring for engaging said mouth.  
   
   
       7 . The bottle tote of  claim 1  wherein said collar comprises a pair of interconnected segments.  
   
   
       8 . The bottle tote of  claim 7  wherein said segments include mating interconnected tabs and slots.  
   
   
       9 . The bottle tote of  claim 1  wherein said collar is an arcuate member with a central opening adapted to receive said neck therethrough.  
   
   
       10 . The bottle tote of  claim 1  wherein said handle includes a hanger opening, separate from said finger hole, for suspending said bottle tote therefrom.  
   
   
       11 . The bottle tote of  claim 1  consisting essentially of a corrosion resistant material.  
   
   
       12 . The bottle tote of  claim 1  consisting essentially of non-metallic materials.  
   
   
       13 . The bottle tote of  claim 1  in combination with a belt clip which includes: 
 at least one arm adapted to be suspended from a belt; and    a hook extending laterally outward from said arm, said hook adapted to engage said handle.    
   
   
       14 . The bottle tote of  claim 13  wherein said hook is adapted to engage said hanger opening.  
   
   
       15 . The bottle tote of  claim 13  wherein said belt clip further comprises: first and second spaced-apart, interconnected arms having lower ends defining a pair of jaws with a slot therebetween, and upper ends defining spaced-apart finger tabs, said arms being moveable in response to pressure on said finger tables between an open position and a closed position.  
   
   
       16 . The bottle tote of  claim 13  wherein: 
 said hanger opening has a first shape;    said hook has a second shape; and    said hook includes an enlarged head at the end thereof, said head having a third shape, wherein said first, second, and third shapes are chosen such that said head blocks removal of said handle from said hook except when said hanger opening is disposed in a predetermined orientation relative to said hook.    
   
   
       17 . A bottle tote for carrying a bottle having a neck defining a mouth, and a neck ring of enlarged diameter, said bottle tote comprising: 
 a collar adapted to engage said neck ring to retain said bottle tote thereto;    a handle including a finger hole therein and at least one cap arm extending therefrom; and    a cap carried by said cap arm and adapted to close off said mouth;    at least one swing arm having a first end pivotally connected to said collar and a second end pivotally connected to said handle, such that said handle is moveable between an open position in which said mouth is exposed and a closed position in which said cap is pressed against said mouth.    
   
   
       18 . The bottle tote of  claim 17  wherein said swing arm, said collar, and said handle are arranged such that said swing arm and said handle cooperatively define an over-center relationship when said handle is in said closed position.  
   
   
       19 . The bottle tote of  claim 17  further comprising a release latch carried by said handle and moveable between a locked position in which it engages said cap to prevent motion of said handle relative to said collar, and a released position in which said handle is freely moveable relative to said collar.  
   
   
       20 . The bottle tote of  claim 19  further including a biasing element for urging said release latch into said locked position.  
   
   
       21 . The bottle tote of  claim 20  wherein said release latch carries a locking pin which engages a cavity in said cap in said locked position.  
   
   
       22 . The bottle tote of  claim 21  wherein said cap includes a resilient sealing ring for engaging said mouth.  
   
   
       23 . The bottle tote of  claim 17  wherein said collar comprises a pair of interconnected segments.  
   
   
       24 . The bottle tote of  claim 23  wherein said segments include mating interconnected tabs and slots.  
   
   
       25 . The bottle tote of  claim 17  wherein said collar is an arcuate member with a central opening adapted to receive said neck therethrough.  
   
   
       26 . The bottle tote of  claim 17  further including means for limiting the movement of said swing arm to a predetermined range.  
   
   
       27 . The bottle tote of  claim 17  wherein said handle includes a hanger opening, separate from said finger hole, for suspending said bottle tote therefrom.  
   
   
       28 . The bottle tote of  claim 17  consisting essentially of a corrosion resistant material.  
   
   
       29 . The bottle tote of  claim 17  consisting essentially of non-metallic materials.  
   
   
       30 . The bottle tote of  claim 17  in combination with a belt clip which includes: 
 at least one arm adapted to be suspended from a belt; and    a hook extending laterally outward from said arm, said hook adapted to engage said handle.    
   
   
       31 . The bottle tote of  claim 30  wherein said hook is adapted to engage said hanger opening.  
   
   
       32 . The bottle tote of  claim 30  wherein said belt clip further comprises: first and second spaced-apart, interconnected arms having lower ends defining a pair of jaws with a slot therebetween, and upper ends defining spaced-apart finger tabs, said arms being moveable in response to pressure on said finger tables between an open position and a closed position.  
   
   
       33 . The bottle tote of  claim 30  wherein: 
 said hanger opening has a first shape;    said hook has a second shape; and    said hook includes an enlarged head at the end thereof, said head having a third shape, wherein said first, second, and third shapes are chosen such that said head blocks removal of said handle from said hook except when said hanger opening is disposed in a predetermined orientation relative to said hook.    
   
   
       34 . An apparatus for carrying a liquid, comprising: 
 a bottle having a neck defining a mouth;    a handle operably connected to said bottle and including a finger hole therein; and    a cap carried by said handle and adapted to close off said mouth;    wherein said handle is moveable between an open position in which said mouth is exposed and a closed position in which said cap is pressed against said mouth.    
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  further including at least one swing arm having a first end pivotally connected to said bottle and a second end pivotally connected to said handle, said swing arm and said handle arranged such that said swing arm and said handle cooperatively define an over-center relationship when said handle is in said closed position.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 34  further including means for limiting the movement of said swing arm to a predetermined range.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 34  further comprising a release latch carried by said handle and moveable between a locked position in which it engages said cap to prevent motion of said handle relative to said bottle, and a released position in which said handle is freely moveable relative to said bottle.  
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 37  further including a biasing element for urging said release latch into said locked position.  
   
   
       39 . The bottle tote of  claim 37  wherein said release latch carries a locking pin which engages a cavity in said cap in said locked position.  
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said cap includes a resilient sealing ring for engaging said mouth.  
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said handle includes a hanger opening, separate from said finger hole, for suspending said bottle tote therefrom.  
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 34  consisting essentially of a corrosion resistant material.  
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 34  consisting essentially of non-metallic materials.  
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 34  further comprising a belt clip which includes: 
 at least one arm adapted to be suspended from a belt; and    a hook extending laterally outward from said arm, said hook adapted to engage said handle.    
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 44  wherein said hook is adapted to engage said hanger opening.  
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 44  wherein said hook further comprises: first and second spaced-apart, interconnected arms having lower ends defining a pair of jaws with a slot therebetween, and upper ends defining spaced-apart finger tabs, said arms being moveable in response to pressure on said finger tables between an open position and a closed position.  
   
   
       47 . The apparatus of  claim 45  wherein: 
 said hanger opening has a first shape;    said hook has a second shape; and    said hook includes an enlarged head at the end thereof, said head having a third shape, wherein said first, second, and third shapes are chosen such that said head blocks removal of said handle from said hook except when said hanger opening is disposed in a predetermined orientation relative to said hook.    
   
   
       48 . A belt clip comprising: 
 at least one arm adapted to be suspended from a belt; and    a hook extending laterally outward from said arm.    
   
   
       49 . The belt clip of  claim 48  further comprising: first and second spaced-apart, interconnected arms having lower ends defining a pair of jaws with a slot therebetween, and upper ends defining spaced-apart finger tabs, said arms being moveable in response to pressure on said finger tables between an open position and a closed position.  
   
   
       50 . The belt clip of  claim 48  wherein said hook includes an enlarged head at a distal end thereof.  
   
   
       51 . The belt clip of  claim 50  wherein: 
 said hook has a first shape; and    said head has a second shape, said first, and second shapes being selected such that said head blocks removal of a handle with a hanger opening having a complementary third shape from said hook except when said hanger opening is disposed in a predetermined orientation relative to said hook.    
   
   
       52 . The belt clip of  claim 50  wherein said arms are interconnected by a live hinge.