Patent Application
20150329243
This disclosure relates to containers, and more particularly, to containers having removable and/or multifunctional components.
Generally, containers (e.g., cups, water bottles, pitchers, etc.) include a single piece body for forming the container, since such a container is easy to manufacture. Such single piece containers generally have a simple design. Unfortunately, such containers may be difficult to clean, especially if the container has a complex three dimensional design such as, for example, a contoured or artistic shape. Moreover, it is very difficult to integrate multifunctional components into such containers. Solutions for providing improved containers are needed.
In at least one aspect of this disclosure, a container includes a body defining an inner cavity, where the body defines a top opening and a bottom opening, and a removable bottom cap configured to mate with the body such that the bottom cap covers the bottom opening. The bottom cap may include a seal member disposed on the bottom cap for fluidly sealing the bottom opening. The seal member may include a gasket or any other suitable seal.
The bottom cap may define at least one electronics cavity. The bottom cap may further include at least one electronics component disposed within the electronics cavity. The at least one electronics component may include a speaker connected to a battery.
The battery may be removably connected to the bottom cap within the at least one electronics cavity. The battery may be accessible via a battery door configured to allow access to the battery. The bottom cap may further define at least one speaker hole in communication with the speaker for allowing sound to pass therethrough.
The bottom cap may also include an activation device configured to allow the speaker to activate. The activation device may include a button configured to at least partially protrude from the bottom cap.
The container and/or the bottom cap may further include a memory operatively connected to the battery and the speaker for providing an electrical signal to the speaker such that the speaker may convert the electrical signal into a predetermined sound.
The body may define a threading at or near the bottom opening and the bottom cap defines a threading that mates with the threading of the body for releasably attaching the bottom cap to the container. The body may also define a contoured or artistic shape.
In at least one aspect of this disclosure, a removable bottom cap for a container may include a mounting portion configured to mount to a container, wherein the mounting portion defines at least one cavity for a speaker and a battery, and a cover portion connected to the mounting portion and configured to at least partially cover the cavity to protect the speaker and the battery. In some embodiments, the mounting portion is threaded to mount to the container.
In some embodiments, the cover portion may include a battery door to allow access to the battery. The cover portion may define one or more speaker holes in fluid communication with the speaker to allow sound to pass therethrough. The cover portion may be removably mounted to the mounting portion. In some embodiments, the cover portion may be removably mounted to the mounting portion with at least one screw.
Other aspects and embodiments of this disclosure are discussed infra.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of this disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Hereinafter reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the subject disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While example embodiments are described, it will be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, this disclosure covers not only the embodiments described herein, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
Ranges provided herein are understood to be shorthand for all of the values within the range. For example, a range of 1 to 50 is understood to include any number, combination of numbers, or sub-range from the group consisting of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, or 50, as well as all intervening decimal values between the aforementioned integers such as, for example, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, and 1.9. With respect to sub-ranges, “nested sub-ranges” that extend from either end point of the range are specifically contemplated. For example, a nested sub-range of an exemplary range of 1 to 50 may comprise 1 to 10, 1 to 20, 1 to 30, and 1 to 40 in one direction, or 50 to 40, 50 to 30, 50 to 20, and 50 to 10 in the other direction.
Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the term “about” and similar terms (e.g., “substantially”, “approximately”) are understood as within a range of normal tolerance in the art, for example within 2 standard deviations of the mean. Such terms can be understood as meaning within 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% of the stated value. Unless otherwise clear from the context, all numerical values provided herein are modified by the term “about.”
Referring to
As shown in
The container 100 may also include a removable bottom cap 107 configured to mate with the body 100 such that the bottom cap 107 covers the bottom opening 105. The bottom cap 107 may include a seal member (not shown) disposed on and/or around the bottom cap 107 for fluidly sealing the bottom opening 105 in embodiments where the bottom opening 105 is in fluid communication with the inner cavity of the body 101. The seal member may include a gasket or any other suitable seal.
The bottom cap 107 may define at least one internal electronics cavity for holding one or more electronic components (e.g., an audio speaker, an illumination source, and the like). The bottom cap 107 may further include one or more electronic components disposed within the electronics cavity including, but not limited to, a speaker 109 and a battery 111. The battery 111 may be removably connected to the bottom cap 107 within the electronics cavity. The battery 111 may be accessible via a battery door 123 configured to allow access to the battery 111.
In at least one aspect of this disclosure, the bottom cap 107 may include a mounting portion 119 configured to mount to the container 101. As shown in
The body 101 may define a threading at or near the bottom opening 105 and the mounting portion 119 may include a threading that mates with the threading of the body 101 for releasably attaching the bottom cap 107 to the container.
The bottom cap 107 may further include a cover portion 121 connected to the mounting portion 119 and configured to at least partially cover the cavity to protect and/or retain the speaker 109 and the battery 111 within the cavity. In some embodiments, the mounting portion is threaded to mount to the container.
As shown in
The container 100 and/or the bottom cap 107 may further include a memory operatively connected to the battery and the speaker 109 for providing an electrical signal to the speaker 109 such that the speaker 109 may convert the electrical signal into one or more predetermined sounds (e.g., a ghoul scream, ghoul laughter, and the like).
The bottom cap 107 may also include an activation device 117 configured to allow the speaker 109 to activate and/or receive a signal from the battery and/or memory operatively associated therewith. The activation device 117 may include a button configured to at least partially protrude from the bottom cap 107. In such cases, the activation device 117 may cause a sound to be made each time the container 100 is placed on the bottom cap 107, or when the container 100 is lifted up from, or set down upon, a surface.
In some embodiments, the cover portion 121 may include a battery door 123 to allow access to the battery 111. The battery door 123 may be attached in any suitable manner such as, but not limited to, hinges, screws, clips, and the like. The cover portion 121 may define the one or more speaker holes 115 described above, such that the speaker holes 115 are in audio communication with the speaker 109 to allow sound to pass therethrough. The cover portion 121 may be removably or permanently mounted to the mounting portion 119 in any suitable fashion (e.g., bonding, welding, screws, hinges, clips, etc.). In some embodiments, the cover portion 121 may be removably mounted to the mounting portion with at least one screw such that the battery may be removed or replaced.
Any of the herein described components of the various embodiments of a container 100 may made with any suitable materials, including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, and/or ceramics. Any seal/gasket herein disclosed may be made of any suitable sealing material such as, but not limited to, rubber, plastic, soft plastic, and/or foam.
While the disclosed embodiments have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of co-pending U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/992,311, filed May 13, 2014, and U.S. Application Ser. No. 29/490,722, filed May 13, 2014, the full disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61992311 | May 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 29490722 | May 2014 | US |
| Child | 14711273 | US |
