The present disclosure generally relates to beverage containers and, more particularly, to beverage containers for use in consuming beverages and performing strength training exercises.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Beverage containers are typically used to hold beverages for consumption.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to beverage containers. In one exemplary embodiment, a beverage container generally includes a body for holding a beverage, and a handle coupled to the body. The handle includes a grip for grasping to hold the beverage container, and the grip is moveable between at least a first position and a second position.
In some exemplary embodiments, the beverage containers can be used to consume beverages and perform strength training exercises. In one such exemplary embodiment, a beverage container generally includes a body for holding a beverage, and one or more weights configured to releasably couple to the beverage container, to thereby provide a particular weight to the beverage container, for example, for performing desired strength training exercises, etc.
In another exemplary embodiment, a beverage container for use in consuming beverages and for use in performing strength training exercises generally includes a body for holding a beverage, and a handle coupled to the body. The handle includes a grip for grasping when holding the beverage container, and the grip is moveable between at least a first position in which the grip is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body, and a second position in which the grip is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the body.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to beverage containers. The beverage containers can be used to hold beverages, and allow for consumption of the beverages. Any desired beverages may be used in the beverage containers including, for example, water, coffee, tea, soda, other beverages, etc. In addition, the beverage containers can be used to perform strength training exercises (e.g., resistance training exercises, etc.) for one or more parts of the body (e.g., arms, shoulders, chest, back, etc.), via lifting, moving, etc. the beverage containers. The strength training exercises may be performed substantially simultaneously with consumption of beverages from the beverage containers (e.g., through lifting the beverage containers to drink the beverages, etc.). Or, the strength training exercises may be performed separately from consumption of the beverages (e.g., through lifting the beverage containers when empty, through lifting the beverage containers when filled with beverages but without also consuming the beverages, etc.).
In some exemplary embodiments, the beverage containers include bodies for holding the beverages, and handles coupled to the bodies for grasping to hold the beverage containers. In some aspects, the handles may be moveable relative to the bodies of the beverage containers to allow for grasping the handles and holding the beverage containers in different positions (e.g., in positions for consuming beverages, in positions for performing strength training exercises, in positions for doing both, etc.). Clamps (or other structures) may be provided to help hold the handles in desired positions.
In some exemplary embodiments, the beverage containers have particular weights, independent of the beverages held in the containers (e.g., about ten pounds, about twenty pounds, etc.). As such, the particular weights of the beverage containers are known, for example, when the beverage containers are used to perform strength training exercises. In addition, in some aspects the weights of the beverage containers may be adjusted so that, for example, the same beverage containers can be used to perform the same strength training exercises with different weights, or to perform different strength training exercises requiring different weights, etc.
With reference now to the drawings,
As shown in
The handle 104 of the illustrated beverage container 100 includes a base 106 (e.g., a lower handle portion, etc.) and a grip 108 (e.g., an upper handle portion, etc.). The base 106 is coupled to a lower portion of the body 102 (e.g., is formed as part of the body 102, is welded to the body 102, is attached to the body 102 by one or more fasteners, is attached to the body 102 by other means (e.g., adhesive, etc.), etc.). And, the grip 108 is moveably coupled to the base 106. In addition, the grip 108 defines a generally bulbous-shaped portion 110 for grasping to hold the beverage container 100. With that said, it should be appreciated that the base 106 and/or the grip 108 of the handle 104 may have other shapes within the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, the base 106 and/or grip 108 of the handle 104 may be located differently than illustrated. For example, the base 106 may be located toward an upper portion of the body 102, with the grip 108 then moveably coupled thereto and extending generally downwardly.
With reference now to
With additional reference to
It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, beverage container handles may include bases and/or grips with engagement members having other constructions than illustrated. For example, the bases and/or grips may include engagement members with mating ridges and valleys having other configurations, with mating protrusions and recesses, with mating friction based materials, etc. Or, the bases and/or grips may include engagement members that simply contact each other when the grips are in desired positions, with clamps then used to hold the engagement members together (and hold the grips in the desired positions).
With continued reference to
It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, beverage container handles may include clamps having other constructions than illustrated (e.g., other than a wing nut and bolt). For example, the clamps may include spring based clamps configured to resiliently urge engagement members of handles together, etc. Further, in other embodiments, beverage container handles may not use clamps at all to hold engagement members of the handles together, but may instead use sets of mating notches, pins, etc. to hold the engagement members together in various different positions (e.g. alone or in combination with spring based devices, etc.).
The beverage container 100 also defines a particular weight, independent of a weight of any beverage held in the container 100. The weight is identified on the beverage container 100 by indicia 136 (
In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the beverage container 100 defines a weight of about twenty pounds. And, to indicate this weight, the indicia 136 of the beverage container 100 includes the number “20” stamped into the body 102 of the beverage container 100 (although it may be located on other parts of the beverage container 100 (e.g., a cover 142, etc.) within the scope of the present disclosure). It should be appreciated that the beverage container 100 may define other weights within the scope of the present disclosure, for example, about 5 pounds, about 10 pounds, about 15 pounds, about 25 pounds, other weights, etc. In addition, it should be appreciated that in other embodiments, beverage containers may not include indicia identifying weights of the beverage containers.
With additional reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, the cover 142 of the beverage container 100 is shown threaded onto the body 102. However, it should be appreciated that the cover 142 could be coupled to the body 102 differently within the scope of the present disclosure (e.g., via a snap fit, via a clamp, via friction fit, etc.). In some aspects, the type of coupling between the cover 142 and the body 102 may be determined by the configuration and/or amount of weight contemplated to be placed in the opening 140 of the container 100. For example, if a heavy weight is to be placed in the opening 140 of the container 100, without any other coupling mechanism, the cover 142 may be threaded onto the body 102 as in the illustrated embodiment (as this may provide a more robust coupling). However, if a light weight is to be placed in the opening 140 of the container 100, the cover 142 may simply be snap fit onto the body 102. Further, it should be appreciated that in some embodiments, beverage containers may not include removable covers. For example, bottom portions of the containers may be fixedly coupled to the bodies. In these embodiments, weighted tape (e.g., lead tape, etc.), magnetic weights (or weights otherwise capable of being coupled to surfaces of the beverage containers), weighted rings and/or sleeves capable of being placed around portions of the beverage containers, etc. may then be used to adjust weights of the beverage containers, as desired.
As shown in
The beverage container 200 is substantially similar to the beverage container 100 previously described and illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, however, the beverage container 200 further includes structure to help releasably couple (and secure) the grip 208 to the body 202 when the grip 208 is in the first position. In particular, a protrusion 250 is disposed on the body 202, and a recess 252 configured for receiving the protrusion 250 is located in an end portion of the grip 208. When the grip 208 is in the first position, the recess 252 is positioned over the protrusion 250 and the mating protrusion 25 and recess 252 can help hold the grip 208 in the first position (and inhibit unwanted movement of the grip 208 relative to the body 202 such as lateral movement of the grip 208 relative to the body 202, etc.). In some aspects, the protrusion 250 and the recess 252 may also provide a snap-fit engagement (or a friction-fit engagement) to further help hold the grip 208 in the first position (and inhibit unwanted movement of the grip 208 away from the body 202, etc.). In other embodiments, beverage containers may include handles with moveable grips that releasalby couple to bodies of the beverage containers by other means (e.g., portions of the grip may be receivable in grooves of the bodies, portions of the grip may include protrusions that are positionable within openings of the bodies, etc.).
The beverage container 300 is substantially similar to the beverage container 100 previously described and illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, however, the handle 304 (e.g., a grip 308 of the handle 304, etc.) is not adjustable relative to the body 302. Instead in this embodiment, the handle 304 is fixedly coupled to the body 302. However, as stated above, the beverage container 300 can still be used to perform numerous different strength training exercises via lifting, moving, etc. the beverage container 300. And, a weight of the beverage container 300 can still be adjusted, as desired.
In some embodiments, multiple beverage containers may be included together in a set of beverage containers. Here, each of the beverage containers in the set may include the same weights, or each may include a different weight (e.g., 2.5 pounds, 5 pounds, 10 pounds, 15 pounds, 20 pounds, etc.). Further, each of the beverage containers may include indicia indicting their particular weight.
Exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that exemplary embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some exemplary embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. In addition, advantages and improvements that may be achieved with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are provided for purpose of illustration only and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure, as exemplary embodiments disclosed herein may provide all or none of the above mentioned advantages and improvements and still fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
Specific dimensions, specific materials, and/or specific shapes disclosed herein are example in nature and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The disclosure herein of particular values and particular ranges of values for given parameters are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values that may be useful in one or more of the examples disclosed herein. Moreover, it is envisioned that any two particular values for a specific parameter stated herein may define the endpoints of a range of values that may be suitable for the given parameter (i.e., the disclosure of a first value and a second value for a given parameter can be interpreted as disclosing that any value between the first and second values could also be employed for the given parameter). For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have value A and also exemplified to have value Z, it is envisioned that parameter X may have a range of values from about A to about Z. Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example, if parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of 1-10, or 2-9, or 3-8, it is also envisioned that Parameter X may have other ranges of values including 1-9, 1-8, 1-3, 1-2, 2-10, 2-8, 2-3, 3-10, and 3-9.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
The term “about” when applied to values indicates that the calculation or the measurement allows some slight imprecision in the value (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If, for some reason, the imprecision provided by “about” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring or using such parameters. For example, the terms “generally,” “about,” and “substantially,” may be used herein to mean within manufacturing tolerances.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements, intended or stated uses, or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.