Chris Hotell was tired of the smell that came from water bottles as they got old. The only way to eliminate that smell is to give the bottle a thorough cleaning, but that’s nearly impossible due to their odd shape. Determined to do something about it, Chris created something a little different. Naming it the ALEX Bottle, his water bottle is designed to be water tight while still allowing someone to unscrew and wash it, reports Sign On San Diego.
Hotell is the co-founder of Carlsbad-based Nice Reusables. Its ALEX Hydration Bottle, won “Best in Category for Tabletop & Beverageware” at the 2011 Housewares Design Awards.
“When we started this, we had no idea where it would go, and obviously the functionality was what we started with,” Hotell said. “To be recognized for the design part of it is such an accomplishment for us.”
Hotell’s invention is stainless steel that you can snap open for a thorough scrubbing. It snaps back together along a silicone seam (under a patent-pending “Clean Seam Technology”) that keeps it watertight. The water bottle project led Hotell and several partners to establish Nice Reusables, a parent company focused on creating products that make sustainability simple. So far, the bottle is the only product.
The ALEX bottle is made of 50 percent recycled stainless steel and its strap is made from recycled water bottles, according to the company. It retails for $25.95 for a 20-oz. or $29.95 for a 32-oz. at The Container Store in Mission Valley.
Screenshot from ALEX Bottle