Patent Application
20240092535
The present invention relates to beverage containers with a canister and a lid, and more particularly to beverage containers with storage compartments.
With increased demand for new environmentally-friendly hydration products over single-use plastic ones, there has been a push in the market towards dual-function lids which provide options for both lid sipping (primarily for hot beverages, such as coffee) and straw drinking (typically for colder beverages or water), as this design option provides a greater product value. However, these dual-lidded products have a fundamental issue: where to put the reusable straw when it is not in use, either because the customer is using the sip lid function or simply transporting the tumbler. Placing the straw in a bag or purse would require thorough cleaning before use and the straw can easily get misplaced or forgotten when packing up to leave the house, when moving around quickly on public transport, or even during routine cleaning.
An object of the present invention is to address consumer problems which have arisen due to the increased use of reusable straw tumblers and other such hydration items.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a straw storage solution in wich a straw may be stored within a handle of the hydration item so as to allow all parts of the product to remain in one place for easy access and transportation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hydration item that has straw storage in addition to a dual-functioning lid, which provides a potential customer with greater value, as they are purchasing a 2-in-1 item which can seamlessly pivot from a hot beverage functionality to a cold beverage one without having to keep track of the straw.
In exemplary embodiments, the beverage container of the present invention provides a sleek, new solution to this growing consumer issue within the hydration sphere. The handle not only provides a comfortable grip and support, but also includes a compartment for a collapsible stainless-steel straw to be securely stored into when not in use. This recessed compartment is deep enough so that one's hand won't touch the straw when normally gripping the handle and also features a clip which the straw snaps into so that the straw is secured into place. The straw itself can be easily extracted from the handle and then pulled to its full length for quick-and-easy sipping.
A container according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises: a canister comprising: a side wall; and a handle extending from the side wall, the handle comprising a compartment configured for storage of a drinking straw; and a lid disposed on the canister.
In an exemplary embodiment, the handle comprises a bottom portion, a top portion, and a side portion extending between the bottom and top portions, and the compartment is disposed in the side portion.
In an exemplary embodiment, the compartment comprises extending elements configured to releasably hold a straw within the compartment.
In an exemplary embodiment, a front surface of the side portion comprises a slot in communication with the compartment.
In an exemplary embodiment, the slot has a length that is less than the entire length of the compartment.
In an exemplary embodiment, a rear surface of the side portion comprises an opening in communication with the compartment.
In an exemplary embodiment, the lid comprises a top surface, and a straw opening and a sip opening disposed in the top surface and through the entire thickness of the lid.
In an exemplary embodiment, the lid further comprises a cover hingedly attached to the top surface, wherein the cover is pivotable between a closed configuration in which the cover is disposed over the sip opening and an open configuration in which the sip opening is exposed for use.
In an exemplary embodiment, the lid comprises a bottom surface and a flap disposed on the bottom surface, wherein the flap is biased into a closed configuration in which the flap covers the straw opening and further wherein the flap is configured to be pushed out of the closed configuration to allow for passage of a straw through the straw opening.
In an exemplary embodiment, the cover comprises an access opening aligned with the straw opening when the cover is in the closed configuration.
In an exemplary embodiment, the top surface comprises a raised rim.
In an exemplary embodiment, the raised rim comprises a protruding portion with a height that is larger than that of remaining portions of the rim.
In an exemplary embodiment, the sip opening is disposed directly adjacent to the protruding portion of the rim.
In an exemplary embodiment, the straw opening is diposed at the center of the lid.
In an exemplary embodiment, the canister is cylindrical shaped.
In an exemplary embodiment, the lid comprises a threaded side surface that mates with a threaded interior surface of the canister.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with references to the accompanying figures, wherein:
In exemplary embodiments, the present invention is directed to a hydration item with a dual-function lid that can work as both a straw lid and a sip lid. The item may also include a side handle configured to store a collapsible straw when the straw is not in use. In exemplary embodiments, the hydration item is a container for holding a beverage (e.g., water, juice, soda, etc.) for drinking. Examples of such containers include tumblers and mugs. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to any particular type of container as long as the container includes a handle.
In one example, the canister 10 may be substantially cylindrical in shape, however, it is contemplated that the canister 10 may be embodied with any shape, such as a cuboidal shape, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The canister 10 has an open top and a closed bottom to allow for filling the canister 10 with liquid. In exemplary embodiments, the canister 10 may have side wall 12 with a single or multiple wall construction, and in a specific exemplary embodiment may have a double-wall construction, to provide the container 1 with insulative properties.
The canister 10 includes a handle 20 made up of a bottom portion 24, a top portion 26 and a side portion 22 extending between the bottom and top portions 24, 26. The handle 20 may be made of plastic, a specific example being polypropylene. The bottom and top portions 24, 26 are directly attached to and extend outwardly from the side wall 12 of the canister 10 so that the side portion 22 is spaced from the side wall of the canister 10. The space between the side portion 22 of the handle 20 and the side wall 12 of the canister 10 allows a user to grasp the handle 20. In an exemplary embodiment, the distance that the bottom portion 24 of the handle 20 extends from the side wall 12 is larger than the distance that the top portion 26 extends so that the side portion 22 of the handle 20 is angled outwardly from the top to the bottom of the container 1. However, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this construction, and in other exemplary embodiments the side portion 22 may extend parallel to a center axis of the container 1.
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In exemplary embodiments, the length L of the slot 23 is less than the length of the straw 100 in the collapsed configuration so that the sipping portion of the straw 100 intended for direct contact with the mouth of a user is covered by an outer wall 27 of the side portion 22. In exemplary embodiments, the outer wall 27 prevents the sipping portion of the straw 100 from exposure to usanitary conditions. Further, the depth of the hollow compartment in the side portion 22 of the handle 20 is large enough so that a user's hand is prevented from contacting the straw 100 when the user is normally gripping the handle 20.
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The lid 30 further includes a cover 32 the is hingedly attached to the top surface 31 of the lid 30. As explained in detail below, the cover 32 may be flipped back and forth via the hinged connection to either block or allow access to the sip opening 39. This allows for drinking from the canister 1 either by sipping directly from the sip opening 39 or by using a straw through the straw opening 35 while preventing unwanted spillage from the lid 30.
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Now that embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon can become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. The spirit and scope of the present invention is to be construed broadly.
