Patent Application
20180362221
The present disclosure relates to a container having insulated sidewalls and both a removable top cap and bottom cap. The container preferably forms a liquid storage and dispensing bottle.
A consumer often desires to travel with beverages, food products or other materials from one location to another. Often the material stored in the container is desired to be maintained within a temperature range either above or below ambient temperature. An insulating feature is sometimes added to such containers. The insulating function may be accomplished in any number of ways, depending on the shape and material of the container.
There has be a trend to form insulated beverage containers from rugged materials, such as stainless steal, aluminum, or rigid plastic. The insulating feature in these bottles is sometimes created by a double-walled structure that is vacuum-sealed. The double-walled structure includes a minimum number of physical connections, limiting thermal transfer by conductivity. Alternately, an insulating material may be added inside the bottle structure. An example of an insulated stainless steel bottle structure is shown in US 2013/0032564 A1 to Rosbach. One method of making a metallic double-walled container is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,197 to Satomi et al.
In addition to insulation to maintain desired temperature range, devices may be included as part of the container structure that serve to increase the hot or cold temperature. For example, US 2014/0284342 A1 to Hewitt et al. shows a base structure have a sealed chamber therein. The chamber retains a fluid that can be frozen and serves to help maintain the cold or cool temperature of the stored material. Similar structures are known for retaining a heated fluid to maintain the hot or warm temperature of the material to be retained.
Other structures are known to be included as part of insulated containers, including insulated caps; see, for example, US 2016/0318693 A1 to Hein et al.
The present disclosure relates to a container preferably having a body with by a cylindrical sidewall and formed from stainless steel. The body includes an inside wall, an outside wall, and first and second open ends. The inside surface of the inside wall defines an hollow interior for the container. The inside and outside walls are spaced from one another to define a spaced volume. A bottom cap is removably attachable to and closes the first end of the sidewall. A top cap is removably attachable to and closes the second end of the sidewall. The bottom cap and top cap combine with the sidewall to close the hollow interior and to create an interior storage volume. Both ends of the sidewall may serve as a dispensing opening for the container by proper positioning of and removal of the respective cap. The inside and outside walls are preferably attached to one another to seal the internal volume. A vacuum may be provided upon attaching the walls together to assist in creating the insulating function.
The contemplated container may be further defined by the body sidewall being formed about the central longitudinal axis, with the inside and outside walls concentrically formed about the axis. The inside and outside walls may be affixed to one another adjacent both the first and second ends. The top cap and bottom cap may be dimensioned to match the outside dimensions of the outside wall and to create an integrated appearance.
The container may further include a pivotable handle attached to the top cap. The handle may be recessed into the top wall of the cap. Further the handle may be resiliently fixed into an upward pivoted position and in the downward pivoted, recessed position.
The container may further include a tapered wall at the top end of the sidewall and a dispensing opening at the narrow end of the tapered wall. The top cap may further include an insertion portion for engagement within the dispensing opening. At least one sealing gasket is provided for sealing the closed dispensing opening. An attachment means is provided for fixing the insertion portion and cap to the top end. The attachment means may be an external thread on the insertion portion and a matching thread formed within the dispensing open on the inside wall. An insulator may be provided within the top cap.
The bottom cap portion of the contemplated container may also include an insertion portion for engagement within the open bottom end of the body. At least one sealing gasket is provided for closing and sealing the bottom opening, although two gaskets are preferred. An attachment means is provided for fixing the bottom cap to the sidewall. The attachment means may be in the form of an external thread on the insertion portion and a matching thread formed within the dispensing open on the inside wall. An insulator may be provided within the top cap.
Preferably the insertions portions of the top and bottom caps have dissimilar dimensions. Both caps may be formed to provide a stable base for the container, resulting in the container standing upright when resting on either the top cap or bottom cap. In addition, it is contemplated that the retained liquid or other material may be accessed from either end.
Other features of the present invention and combinations of features will become apparent from the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show one or more forms that are presently preferred. It should be understood that the disclosure and claimed invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings.
In the figures, where like numerals identify like elements, there is shown an embodiment of a container that is generally identified by the numeral 10. The container 10 as shown in
In
As illustrated in the cross sections of
The constituent parts of the top cap 16 are illustrated in
As also shown in the cross-section views, the first gasket 64 seals with an annular inward projection 108 on the interior surface 70 of the neck portion 24. The external thread 58 engages with the internal thread 72 in the form of grooves within the internal surface 70 of the neck 24. A second gasket 74 is provided within a top groove 76 on the insertion portion 28. As shown in the cross section, the second gasket 74 engages the lip of the top rim 42. The first gasket 64 engages an inward annular projection 108 formed by the inside wall 34 at the base of the neck 24. The first gasket 64 and second gasket 74 combine to seal the dispensing opening 30 when the top cap 16 is engaged on the top end 26 of the body 12. The engagement of the threads 58, 72 retain the insertion portion 46 within the dispensing opening 30. The insertion portion 46 is attached to an interior surface of a top wall 78 of a cup portion 48. An outer cylindrical wall 80 depends from the top wall 78. The outer diameter of the wall 80 is shown as having the same dimension as the outside wall 36. The projected rim 102 of the wall 80 is positioned adjacent a shoulder surface 104 formed at the juncture of the cylindrical portion and the tapered neck 24.
The handle portion 18 of the top cap 16 fits within a groove or recessed portion 82 formed at the transition of the top wall 78 and outside wall 80 of the cup portion 48. The dimensions of the handle 18 are selected to match the cylindrical profile of the top cap 16 and body 12 of the container 10. As more particularly shown in
Two projecting nubs 94 are provided on a bearing surface 96 within the cap groove 82. Corresponding slots 98 are provided at strategic locations on the inside surface 100 of the ends of the handle 18. The combination of nubs 94 and slots 98 create pivot holding positions for the handle 18 relative to the cap 16, whereby the handle remains in the retained or recessed position (
The constituent parts of the bottom cap assembly 14 are shown in
The bottom cap 14 also supports a temperature regulator 136 and the infuser tube 28. The temperature regulator 136 is positioned within a central hollow 140 of the insertion element 114. The regulator 136 includes a material 142 having the function of retaining an applied hot or cold condition. For example, the regulator 136 may be placed in a freezer and, when inserted into the container, serves to assist in maintaining the cool or cold temperature of the stored food or liquid within the container 10. Alternatively, the regulator 136 may be heated in a microwave or by other methods, to add heat to the stored food or liquid material. The material 142 within the regulator 136 is preferably a non-toxic gel material. The material 142 may be retained within a rigid casing, formed from low density polyethylene or the like.
A retainer gasket 144 surrounds the outside surface of the regulator 136 and engages with an inside surface of the hollow 140 of the insertion element 114. The retainer 144 includes a top groove 146 for receiving a bottom rim 148 of the infuser tube 28. The tube 28 is contemplated to retain materials that will add flavoring or the like to the liquid or foodstuff retained within the container 10. The tube may also retain additional ice for keeping the container contents cool or cold. The infuser tube 56 is contemplated to include a porous outer surface and is preferably formed from stainless steel. The size and shape of the tube may vary depending on the material to be retained. For example, the perforation sizing and the length of the tube may be different for loose tea as compared to retaining fruit pieces. As shown in
A further embodiment of double-wall, vacuum insulated container 10′ is illustrated in cross section in
In the enlarged cross section of
In the enlarged cross section of
In the cross section of
The bottom cap includes two gaskets 122′ and 126′. The first gasket 122′ is provided at the intersection between the base 50′ and the insertion portion 52′. The first gasket 122′ seals the bottom cap 14′ to the bottom lip or rim 44′ of the container body 12′. The second gasket 126′ is provided on the outside wall of the insertion portion 52′ and engages with an annular inner projection 134′ on the inside surface 132′ of the sidewall of the container body 12′. Additional, sealing surfaces may be provided on the insert portion 52′, the retainer 152 or the infuser tube 28′.
The bottom rim 44′ of the sidewall of the container body 12′ is provided with a curved (non-sharp) surface profile. In addition, this internal threads 130′ are preferably spaced inwardly from the rim 44′. It is contemplated that the bottom opening at the bottom end 22′ of the container body 12′ also forms a dispensing opening, upon removal of the cap 14′. This would include the drinking of liquids from the bottom opening.
In
The filter member 184 includes a filter medium 186 within an internal chamber 188. Fluid directed into the opening 182 passes through the filter 184 and into the infuser tube 28″. Because the infuser tube 28″ is porous, the filtered fluid can then pass into the interior volume 40″ of the container body 12″. The tube 28″ may be left out of the assembly, such that the filtered fluid passes directly into the interior 40″ of the body 12″. The cap 14″ may be separated from the filter 184, if desired during transport of the container 10″ or for cleaning. A retainer similar to that shown in
As shown, a transverse flange 190 positioned in a recess 192 on the exposed end 194 of the plug 180. The flange 190 assists in rotating the plug 180 during insertion into the opening 182. The plug 180 includes an internal insulator 112″ and first and second sealing gaskets 196 and 198. An external thread 200 is formed on the plug 180 and engages with an internal surface 202 of the opening 182. The filter member 184 includes an external engagement thread 160″ for securing the filter 184 to the projected end 154″ of the cap 14″. An internal thread 166″ is provided on the insertion end 152″ of the filter member 184 for engagement with the infuser tube 28″.
In the forms of the container as illustrated, the engagement of the top cap and bottom cap with the container body are similar, thus permitting drinking and dispensing of product from either end of the storage volume. The rims of the respective openings are rounded for comfort. It is preferred that the container forms include two different size openings at the top and bottom ends. However, it is possible that the openings be of similar dimension, making the top cap and bottom cap interchangeable on the container body. The relatively larger diameter of the bottom opening provides for relatively easy cleaning of the interior of the container body.
In the forms shown, the caps and plug include two gaskets to form an internal seal at two locations that are axially spaced from one another. This combination seal is contemplated to increase seal security, reducing the likelihood of leaks. Further, because of temperature variations, the materials of the caps, plug and container body may be subjected to dimensional changes. The multiple seal locations add to the seal security in multiple operational conditions. The addition of insulating materials within the caps and plug assists in temperature maintenance, since heat transfer in vacuum insulated containers is often greater through the cap portions.
Although stainless steel is the preferred material for the body of the container, other metallic materials may be used, including aluminum. A rigid plastic material may also be used for one or both of the wall portions that create the container body. An inert coating may be applied on the inside surface of the inside wall. A coating, paint, indicia or graphics may also be applied to (or formed within) the surfaces of the body or caps. The preferred method of forming the steel parts is hydroforming. The plastic parts may be formed by injection molding, blow molding, extrusion or other processes.
The cup portion of the top cap and the base cup of the bottom cap may be formed from stainless steel or the like so as to create a match with the material of the body portion of the container. Different materials may be selected as desired. An outer cladding material may be applied to an underlying cap structure formed from polypropylene or other plastic. The cladding may be press fit onto the underlying cap structure, with retention elements fixing the portions together. The insertion portions for the caps are preferably made from polypropylene, with other plastics being possible. It is possible for the outer portion of the cup or the base member to be detachable from the inner assemblies of the top cap and bottom cap. This outer cup may the serve as a retaining vessel for holding a portion of the contents of the container, while the remaining structures seal the container openings. The handle is preferably made from a glass filled nylon material. A stainless-steel cladding may be applied over the nylon structure and fixed by an adhesive, press fit or other attachment method.
The present invention has been described and illustrated with respect to one or more exemplary embodiments. It should be understood by those skilled in the art from the foregoing that various other changes, omissions and additions may be made therein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, with the scope of the invention being described by the foregoing claims.
