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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to beverage containers, and more particularly, to beverage containers kits that include a universal container with a smooth, upper edge that can be used by itself to drink hot or cool beverages, with and outer sleeve, and with or without a lid.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most adult coffee and tea drinkers prefer to drink hot and cood beverages from a beverage container that have a round, upper smooth edge so that the drinker's lips can be pressed tightly against the outer surface of the container and prevent drips.
Today, most households have home coffee makers that allow consumers to easily and quickly make their favorite hot or cold beverages at home and if desired, take them when commuting. Two problems associated with commuting with hot and cold beverages are: (1) the beverage container may be too hot to handle or become wet due to condensation; and (2) leaks and tip over spills.
What is needed is a container kit that includes a rigid beverage container with a smooth upper rim without external structures, such as threads, that can be used by itself, or used with an outer protective cover that allows the beverage container to be comfortably gripped, or used with a removable lid that securely prevents leaks or spills if the beverage container falls over.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
At the heart of the invention is the discovery that hot and cool beverage drinkers prefer to drink from metal, glass or ceramic beverage containers with smooth upper rims without external threads, and that lids for the containers are sometimes needed to prevent leaks and fall over spills.
Disclosed herein are several beverage container kits each includes a rigid beverage container with conical-shaped side walls and a smooth upper rim or edge. In the preferred embodiment, the beverage container is made of metal, glass or a ceramic but should be understood it can be made of other materials. Each kit includes at least one outer sleeve designed to fit around the sides of the beverage container. The outer sleeve has a configuration that prevents the outer sleeve from being pulled entirely upward over container. The upper edge of the outer sleeve terminates below the beverage container's upper rim or edge thereby exposing the upper portion of the beverage container. During use, a user may place his or her lips against the beverage container's upper rim or edge when the outer sleeve is attached to the beverage container.
Each kit also includes at least one removable lid that extends over the beverage container's top opening and connects to the outer sleeve. When tightened, the lid is forced downward and presses against the beverage container's upper rim or edge. The lid includes pendent side walls that extend downward around the exposed section of the beverage container. Formed on the inside surface of the side walls are internal threads that connect to external threads formed on the outer sleeve. When assembled, a sealing surface on the inside surface of the lid is tightened onto the outer sleeve and is pressed firmly against the top rim on the beverage container.
Various kits containing different outer sleeves and different lids are presented.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an illustration of the first beverage container kit that includes a conical shaped universal beverage container with a smooth upper rim or edge, a closed end outer sleeve, and a lid with a removable cap.
FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevational view of the beverage container, the outer sleeve and the lid assembled used in the first beverage container kit.
FIG. 3 is a sectional side elevational view of the beverage container kit shown in FIG. 2, with the lid detached from the outer sleeve and the cap raised.
FIG. 4 is an illustration of the second beverage container kit that includes a conical shaped universal beverage container with a smooth upper rim or edge, a closed end, compound wall outer sleeve, and a hot beverage lid.
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the beverage container, the outer sleeve and the lid assembled used in the second beverage container kit.
FIG. 6 is a sectional side elevational view of the beverage container kit shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is an exploded, perspective view a third embodiment of a beverage container kit.
FIG. 8 is an illustration of the fourth beverage container kit that includes a conical shaped universal beverage container with a smooth upper rim or edge, a closed end compound wall outer sleeve, a lid with a removable cap, and a hot beverage lid.
FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the beverage container inside a modified compound wall sleeve and a hot beverage lid attached to the outer sleeve.
FIG. 10 is a sectional side elevational view of the beverage container, the outer sleeve and the hot beverage lid shown in FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is an illustration of the fifth beverage container kit that includes a conical shaped universal beverage container with a smooth upper rim or edge, a single wall closed end outer sleeve, a compound wall closed end outer sleeve, a lid with a removable cap, and a hot beverage lid.
FIG. 12 is an illustration of the sixth beverage container kit that includes a conical shaped universal beverage container with a smooth upper rim or edge, a single wall closed end outer sleeve, a lid with a removable cap with a detachable cap, and a strap.
FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the closed end outer sleeve.
FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the open end outer sleeve.
FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the collar style outer sleeve.
FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the lid with a removable cap.
FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of a lid with a straw.
FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of the hot beverage lid.
FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the hot beverage lid.
FIG. 20 is a top plan view of a lid with a removable cap shown in FIG. 12.
FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of closed end outer sleeve with a single viewing window formed therein.
FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of a closed end outer sleeve with a plurality of decorative holes formed therein.
FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of the outer sleeve with a handle with two wrapping arms that extends into a slot formed on the outer sleeve and along the inside surface of the outer sleeve and wraps around the beverage container when placed inside the outer sleeve.
FIG. 24 is a side elevational view of the outer sleeve with a flexible strap handle affixed to the outer sleeve.
FIG. 25 is a side elevational view of the outer sleeve with a rigid handle affixed to the outer sleeve.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, 7, 8, 11, and 12 there are shown six beverage container kits denoted 10A-10F, respectively, each includes a rigid conical-shaped beverage container 20 with closed end wall 22, with upward extending, diverging side walls 24 and a top opening surrounded by a circular, smooth upper rim or edge 26. In the preferred embodiment, the beverage container 20 is made of metal, glass or a ceramic but should be understood it can be made of other materials. Each kit 10A-10E also includes at least one of five different outer sleeves 30, 40, 40′, 50, and 60 designed to fit around the side walls of the beverage container 20. Each outer sleeve 30, 40, 50, 60 terminates below the beverage container's upper rim or edge 26 so that a user may drink directly from the container by placing place his or her lips against the beverage container's upper rim or edge 26. Each kit also 10A-10E includes at least one removable lid 70, 80, 90, and 100. Each lid 70, 80, 90, 100 extends over the beverage container's top opening and presses against the beverage container's upper rim or edge 26. Each lid 70, 80, 90, and 100 includes pendent side walls, 72, 82, 92, and 102, respectively, that extend downward around the exposed upper section of the beverage container 20. Formed on the inside surface of the side walls 72, 82, 92, 102 are internal threads 74, 84, 94, and 104, respectively, that connect to external threads 34, 44, 44′, 54, 64, formed along the top section of one of the outer sleeves 30, 40, 40′, 50, and 60, respectively.
Each outer sleeve 30, 40, 40′, 50, and 60 includes external threads 38, 48, 48′, 58, and 68, respectively, formed on its upper edge that engages the internal threads on a lid. In one embodiment, the outer sleeve 30 is a cup-like structure designed to be placed around a beverage container 20 with diverging sidewalls 22 that match the diverging sidewalls of the beverage container 20. The outer sleeve 30 has flat end wall. In a second embodiment, the outer sleeve 40 is conical shape with compound outer surface that includes a straight side wall and an indented bottom surface. In a third embodiment, denoted 40′, the outer sleeve has a compound outer surface with a flat bottom surface. In a fourth embodiment the outer sleeve 50 is a ring or collar-like body structure with a height shorter than the second and third embodiments of the outer sleeve 40, 40′.
Each kit 10A-10F includes at least one lid 70, 80, 90, or 100 each designed to attach to the upper external threads on one of the embodiments of the outer sleeve 30, 40, 40′, 50 and 60. Each lid 70, 80, 90, 100 is cylindrical with a top planar surface and perpendicularly aligned, pendent side walls. The side walls are sufficient in length to extend downward and overlap over the top portion of the outer sleeve when the outer sleeve is placed around the container 20. Formed on the side walls are internal threads 76, 86, 96, 106 configured to mesh and engage the external threads 38, 48, 58, 68 on the outer sleeve 30, 40, 40′, 50, or 60, respectively. Each lid 70, 80, 90, and 100 also includes a sealing surface presses against either the upper rim of the beverage container 20. In the embodiments shown, the sealing surface is a rubber or silicone o-ring 65 attached to the inside surface of the top planar surface.
FIG. 1 is an illustration of the first beverage container kit 10A that includes a conical-shaped universal beverage container 20 with a smooth upper rim or edge 26, a closed end outer sleeve 30, and a lid 70 with a removable cap 79. FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevational view of the beverage container 20 showing the outer sleeve 30 in place around the container 20, showing the lid 70 mounted on the container 20 and connected to the outer sleeve 20. FIG. 2 shows the upper edge of the container 20 pressed against the seal 65 to create a leak-proof container. FIG. 3 shows the cap 79 in an open position.
FIG. 4 is an illustration of the second beverage container kit 10B that includes the beverage container 20, a compound surface outer sleeve 40 with external threads 48 and a hot beverage lid 80 with internal threads. FIG. 5 is an illustration showing the container 20, the outer sleeve 40 and the lid 80 after assembly. FIG. 6 is a sectional, side elevational view of seal ring 65 pressed against the top rim or edge of the beverage container 20.
FIG. 7 is an exploded, perspective view a third embodiment of a beverage container ki, indicated by the reference number 10C, that includes the beverage container 20, a straight wall outer sleeve 30 with external threads 38, a sealing ring 65 and a hot beverage lid 80.
FIG. 8 is an illustration of the fourth beverage container kit, indicated by the reference number 10D that includes the beverage container 20, the closed end, compound outer sleeve 40, a lid 70 with a removable cap 78, and a hot beverage lid 80. During user, the lids 70 and 80 may be exchanged when used with cold and hot beverages, respectively.
FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the beverage container 20 inside a flat, closed bottom modified compound wall outer sleeve 40′ and a hot beverage lid 80 attached to the outer sleeve. FIG. 10 is a sectional side elevational view of the beverage container 20, the outer sleeve 40, the sealing ring, and the hot beverage lid 80.
FIG. 11 is an illustration of the fifth beverage container kit 10E that includes beverage container 20, a straight wall, closed outer sleeve 30, a compound wall, closed outer sleeve 40, a lid 70 with a removable cap 79, and a hot beverage lid 80.
FIG. 12 is an illustration of the sixth beverage container kit 10F that includes a beverage container 20, a straight wall closed end outer sleeve 30, a lid 90 with a removable cap 99, and a strap 130 with a loop 132 that extends around the outer sleeve 30 and a handle loop 134.
FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the closed end outer sleeve.
FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the open end outer sleeve.
FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the collar style outer sleeve.
FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the lid 70 with a removable cap 78.
FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of a lid 100 with a straw 106.
FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of the hot beverage lid 80.
FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the hot beverage lid 80.
FIG. 20 is a top plan view of a lid 90 with a removable cap 99 shown in FIG. 12.
FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of a straight wall, closed end outer sleeve 30 with a single viewing window 120 formed therein that enables the beverage container to be seen when assembled.
FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of a straight wall, closed end outer sleeve 30 with a plurality of decorative holes 120 formed therein.
FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of the outer sleeve 30 with a handle with two wrapping loops 142, 144 that extends into a slot 135 formed on the outer sleeve 30 and along the inside surface of the outer sleeve and wraps around the beverage container (not shown) when placed inside the outer sleeve 30.
FIG. 24 is a side elevational view of the outer sleeve 30 with a flexible strap handle 150 affixed by rivets 152 to the outer sleeve 30.
FIG. 25 is a side elevational view of the outer sleeve 30 with a rigid handle 160 affixed to the outer sleeve 30.
In compliance with the statute, the invention described has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It should be understood however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown, comprises the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted the doctrine of equivalents.
Patent Application
20130341339
