How it works
A reusable water bottle is a container with a cap that screws on. This drawing names five parts you can see from outside and three that show when the top is cut through.
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Outside first, then under the cap
The container holds the drink. The cap screws onto it and carries the spout, which flips up to drink from, and the handle. A straw hangs from the spout to the bottom of the container. Cut through, the top shows why the bottle does not leak: threads on the neck hold the cap down, and a soft gasket seals it against the rim. The vent lets air in as the drink is drawn out.
- Cap and lid name the same part; the answer box takes either.
- For a glass or wine bottle, with its finish, shoulder and punt, see the bottle page.
Questions and answers
What are the parts of a water bottle called?
A reusable bottle has a container, a cap that screws on, a spout, often a straw and a carrying handle. Under the cap are the threads on the neck, a gasket that seals the cap, and a vent.
What is the rubber ring in a water bottle lid called?
The gasket, also called the seal. It is a soft ring inside the cap that presses on the rim of the container so the drink cannot leak out.
Why is there a small hole in a water bottle lid?
It is the vent. It lets air into the container to replace the drink drawn out through the spout, so the pressure inside and outside stays equal. A seal on the vent keeps liquid from coming out.
What is the top of a water bottle called?
The cap or lid. The part you drink from is the spout, and the narrow part the cap screws onto is the neck, with threads round it.