INSULATIVE CONTAINERS AND LIDS

Abstract

A mug or tumbler which is designed to provide for support for a variety of objects. Specifically, the tumbler or mug is designed to act as an external insulator for the contents of a single use plastic or paper cup, to provide for a lid which can inhibit the mug from spilling liquid contents even if the tumbler or mug is inverted or hit, and, in a mug configuration, the mug can provide for storage points in its handle which allow for the carrying of a small tube-shaped object such as lip balm and a place to attached a ring connector.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This disclosure is related to the field of insulative containers and lids. Specifically, it is to insulative mugs or tumblers which are used to support beverages provided in disposable cups as well as to provide other features to a user.

2. Description of the Related Art

Human hydration, or the act of ingesting and replacing water, is vitally important. The human body utilizes water for all sorts of actions internally as well as utilizing water for external activities such as sweating and urination. As these external activities cause the human body to shed water over time, it is necessary to replace the water lost to avoid dehydration, which can be fatal. When the human body lacks sufficient water, ratios of internal minerals can become out of balance and various internal processes, including the cushioning of joints, regulation of body temperature, and the correct production of necessary body chemicals can be impacted.

While most people associate dehydration with being in extreme heat, that is simply because large amounts of sweating, which occurs in hot temperatures, results in increased loss of water from the body which makes dehydration more likely and faster to occur. Dehydration can occur under any circumstance where proper hydration is not maintained and is actually quite common in the young and elderly.

Proper hydration is not particularly difficult. It simply requires that the body be supplied with water over time with the amount increasing if increased sweating is occurring. Maintaining proper hydration has long been recognized as beneficial to health and the need to maintain proper hydration was contemplated as early as the 1800s. Even though the understanding at the time was unscientific, practices came into being to solve problems with the body through correctly regulating hydration.

In modern times, proper hydration has gained increased salience and popularity as an easily controlled health factor. Unfortunately, the amount of liquid water that needs to be consumed for proper hydration is poorly understood. The modern guideline of consuming around 64 ounces of water a day was developed almost 100 years ago and many people do not recognize that the amount of water consumed is not limited to water which is drunk. Most water is actually obtained from food, much of which has a relatively high water content. Further, consumption of beverages other than just water, for example soda, coffee, or alcoholic beverages, while they can include other chemicals which can be considered undesirable and increase the body's loss of water, also serve to provide a substantial amount of water to the body.

One thing that has been agreed on with regards to human hydration is that it is best to consume water slowly over time instead of in a large amount quickly and only when thirsty. While one who is hot will often consume water quickly due to thirst (which is an initial indicator of dehydration), this is often not that effective at actually hydrating the body and replenishing water lost to sweat. Instead, the body often reacts to a sudden intake of large amounts of water by simply passing the water taken in as waste and maintaining very little of it. Thus, having a source of water available from which to drink at any time has become a common trend and is accepted as a good way to maintain proper hydration levels.

While the availability of water to drink can be assisted by the ready availability of water sources, such as bottled water or community water taps or fountains, in the more modern world community drinking faucets or fountains are often perceived as dirty or dangerous and single use bottles can be considered environmentally detrimental. Thus, many people prefer to fill a reusable water vessel at home in the morning with sufficient water to last them the entire day. One of the ways that this trend has manifested is through the increased presence of personal and portable water bottles or mugs. These are typically carried with a user and are often filled with water and ice in the morning. They are typically quite large, often storing 48 ounces or more, are typically well insulated to maintain water temperature, and are ruggedly built to be repeatedly reuseable and easily transported even when full. These combined properties allow a user to drink from them at regular intervals during the entire day to maintain proper hydration without needing to refill them.

As carrying such water mugs has become more common, they have also become an accessory to express personal style and can be used to signal environmental consciousness due to their reusability, healthy behavior by attention to maintaining proper hydration, and other aspects of personality through their color schemes, decoration, or branding. Thus, it is common to see many people carrying large water mugs that have been customized to reflect a particular style or desired social status.

Carrying around large reusable water mugs, however, has created some issues for users. For one, they are quite large. This means that other things which may be carried in the hands can be supplanted by the mugs. Because of their size, they can also need to remain in the hands during transport and are usually nearby when performing common tasks. Everyone has had an issue where they have too many items in their hands to get their car keys or an ID badge out of their pocket or of having items strewn around their work area and having a large fluid filled mug can add to this. Similarly, as the mug tends to stay with the user, it can supplant the ability to carry other items that also need to be carried. This can include car keys, phones, wallets, and all manner of small objects. However, since mugs have not been conducive to being transports of anything other than fluid, it is necessary for users to often carry the mug instead of other items or to put the items in an area that may not be entirely secure. This can produce a theft risk when valuable items may need to be left away from the person. For example, it is often desirable to keep the mug with the user at the gym, but this can mean the user has to leave their car keys in a gym locker or gym bag because they lack the hands to carry all these items.

Further, in many environments, such as schools, such large mugs are now discouraged or even banned because they can leak fluid and/or lids can come off if they are dropped. Due to the large fluid capacity of the mugs, this can result in a large mess which can be dangerous to others. It is particularly true if the mug includes ice with the fluid, which is typical, as the ice can create a substantial slip hazard if the mug opens and the contents are spilled. Most mugs have utilized press-fit lids that rely on friction to stay in place as they easily provide for the use of attached reusable straws and are easy to use. These lids, however, can be difficult to seal as the mass of fluid can often force its way through a straw. Further, it can be relatively easy for the mass of fluid, when shifting suddenly such as if the mug should be dropped, to force off the tightest of press-fit lids resulting in the dumping of the entire contents.

Because of their size, most of today's most popular personal vessels use straws to drink from. This is as opposed to inversion (where the mug is tipped to bring fluid to the lip) to allow the user to access the contents. This is mostly due to weight and convenience. A big mug is relatively heavy and when filled with fluid, it can be difficult to support in a tipped or inverted position. Further, as indicated above, if inverted, the weight of the fluid can be sufficient to push the lid loose. This can result in the mug spilling all over the user.

Instead of using gravity to place the water against a nozzle or drinking hole where it can pour or be sprayed out, a straw uses a limited sealed internal volume which the user can suck on to create a limited vacuum. This acts to pull fluid upward and through the straw, typically in opposition to the force of gravity, so inversion is not required. Straws have proven to be much more desirable in larger mugs. However, straws also cannot be readily sealed (even with covers) and the holes in the lids for the straws to pass through also present a leak point for the mugs should they be tilted or inverted.

One of the benefits of the large mugs used by many is their excellent insulative capacity. As opposed to drinking water from a tap or even a water cooler, these mugs can be filed with water and ice and can maintain water at a desirable drinking temperature (which is often around 40-60 degrees) all day. Further if used for hot drinks, they can also often maintain these drinks for a period of at least a few hours. This insulative capacity of the mugs is great, but the mugs have traditionally only been useful to insulate fluids placed directly in them. That is, there has always been a distinction between a mug, into which fluid has been placed directly, and an insulative cover, which is typically placed over an existing beverage can or bottle.

External insulating covers are widely used to provide thermal insulation for beverage cans or bottles. Typical known insulating beverage covers partially enclose the beverage can or bottle while leaving the top portion of the can or bottle exposed, allowing the user to drink from the exposed open top of the can or bottle. Such beverage covers are typically sized to accommodate a standard 12 oz. beverage can or a standard 12 oz. beverage bottle. However, beverages are also provided in smaller diameter slim cans or in larger diameter 16 oz. beverage cans, 16 oz. beverage bottles, or 16.9 oz. soda bottles.

Even though many modern beverage covers are of substantially similar design to insulated mugs in their insulation components, the differences in size and design has meant that one is not suitable for the other purpose. Further, even for beverage covers which are designed to accept multiple sizes of beverage containers, the types and sizes of container are often fixed based on specific consumer packaging and common consumer norms. In particular, can covers are typically sized to accept packaging (e.g. aluminum cans) that are used in factory packaging and are sold sealed. Thus, covers for cans are typically sized to accept standard 12 ounce aluminum canned beverages and not other 12 ounce vessels such as disposable cups.

Many beverages, however, are not purchased in pre-packaged containers such as aluminum cans but are purchased at the time of ordering in single use disposable cups. It is well understood that fountain drinks (drinks which are made to order from syrup concentrate or the like on-site) typically provide a much reduced cost per ounce versus drinks packaged in end consumer packaging. Much of this is due to simple shipping cost as beverages mixed on site use local water which is supplied by municipal systems. This is as opposed to prepared beverages where the water is shipped with them in the beverage container which is vastly less efficient.

Further, a number of different beverages simply cannot be packaged ahead of time while preserving their unique properties. This often includes beverages which are designed to be served with ice (e.g. iced coffee and tea, boba teas, smoothies, milkshakes, and even certain sodas) and those that are designed to be served hot (e.g. coffee, tea, and hot cocoa). These beverages, to maintain their desired flavor profiles, need to be freshly prepared and served at the specific temperature. Once allowed to sit and adjust to room temperature, they can become tepid or watered down. Thus, beverages such as these are traditionally made upon request and consumed quickly while prepackaged beverages are intended to adjust to room temperature so as to be readily transportable and to have a long shelf life.

To obtain an on-site prepared beverage while saving resources and cost, many establishments will fill a client's reuseable mug. Often, this requires that the user have a mug from the particular vendor, but it will near universally require that the mug be clean and unused. This is particularly true if the mug needs to touch other objects to be refilled (such as part of the filling apparatus). Thus, the mug can typically only be used for a single beverage each day (between washings). Even if the mug is supposed to be clean, use of a customer's mug can present a risk of contamination to fountains or other elements of the filler's premises. Because of this, many such on-site preparation drinks are supplied in single use disposable cups due to health and safety regulation. It is also often easier and necessary to use a single use cup if a customer fails to bring their reuseable mug with them.

Such single use cups, while presenting a waste issue, are typically also far from effective at insulating. The best disposable insulative cups, made of polystyrene foam, are one of the most wasteful as the material is hard to recycle and difficult to break down. Further, as the waste issue of single use cups has gotten more attention, disposable cups have typically gotten lighter and thinner making them substantially less insulative. In many respects, the single use plastic cup is one of the worst carriers for a drink which requires insulation to maintain, but by far the most common.

SUMMARY

The following is a summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. The sole purpose of this section is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

Because of these and other problems in the art described herein is a reusable insulative mug or tumbler which is designed to provide for support for a variety of objects. Specifically, the tumbler or mug is designed to act as an external insulator for the contents of a single use plastic or paper cup, to provide for a lid which can inhibit the mug from spilling liquid contents even if the tumbler or mug is inverted or hit, and, in a mug configuration, the mug can provide for storage points in its handle which allow for the carrying of a small tube-shaped object such as lip balm and a place to attach a ring connector.

There is described herein, in an embodiment, an insulative beverage mug comprising: an insulative vessel having an inner wall and an outer wall with a void therebetween; and a handle, the handle comprising a grip and a connector, the connector attaching the handle to the outer wall; wherein, the grip includes a generally cylindrical hollow section with a major axis and a diameter and an open top, the hollow section being accessible via the open top; wherein, the hollow section includes a platform at the base thereof; and wherein, the grip is formed of two-semicylindrical wings, the two wings extending parallel to the major axis of the hollow section and partially enclosing the hollow section so as to leave an elongated gap between the two wings, the gap having a width less than the diameter of the hollow section and extending parallel to the major axis of the hollow section.

In an embodiment of the mug, the connector connects to the grip at the open top.

In an embodiment, the mug further comprises a second connector, the second connector connecting to the grip to the outer wall.

In an embodiment, the mug further comprises a hollow space below the platform, the hollow space including a cross-beam.

In an embodiment of the mug, the hollow space is at least partially in the second connector.

In an embodiment of the mug, the hollow space is at least partially within the grip.

In an embodiment of the mug, the hollow space is at least partially within the connector.

There is also described herein, a lid, a mug including a lid, and a tumbler including a lid, the lid including: a flat portion including a first hole; a raised ridge including a second hole; a slider for opening and closing the first hole; and a clasp for opening and closing the second hole.

In an embodiment of the lid, when the clasp opens the second hole the clasp also opens a vent hole in the flat portion; and when the clasp closes the second hole the clasp also closes the vent hole.

In an embodiment of the lid, the first hole includes a seal formed of flexible material with a cross cut therein.

In an embodiment, the lid further comprises a reuseable straw placed in the first hole.

In an embodiment, the lid includes screw threads screwable with mating threads on the vessel.

In an embodiment, the lid includes two sets of screw threads and the vessel includes two sets of screw threads so that the lid can be screwed onto the vessel in either a first position or a second position.

In an embodiment of the lid, the first position is about 180 degrees rotated from the second position.

There is also described herein, a flexible internal petal lid, a mug including a flexible internal petal lid, and a tumbler including a flexible internal petal lid, the flexible internal petal lid including: a side skirt frictionally engaged to the outer wall of the vessel about a rim of the vessel; and a top including a plurality of internal petals, the internal petals extending from a central hole to an outer ring, the outer ring extending over the rim of the vessel and connecting to the side skirt; wherein the internal petals bend into a hollow interior volume of the vessel and toward the inner wall.

In an embodiment, the flexible internal petal lid includes a cut-out in the side skirt to go over the connector where the connector connects to the outer wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Provides a perspective view of an embodiment of an insulated beverage vessel in the form of a mug, which can be used to provide various of the support systems discussed herein FIG. 2 Provides a cut-through view of the embodiment of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 Provides a top view of an embodiment of a flexible internal petal lid designed to support another beverage vessel within an insulated beverage vessel.

FIG. 4 Provides a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 3

FIG. 5 Provides a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a flexible internal petal lid to support another beverage vessel within an insulated beverage vessel. This embodiment includes a cutout to allow it to avoid a handle.

FIG. 6 shows the embodiment of FIG. 4 on an insulated beverage vessel in the form of a tumbler.

FIG. 7 shows the embodiment of FIG. 5 on the insulated beverage mug of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 8A shows a typical small beverage cup (often around 12-16 ounces) placed in the embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8B shows a typical medium beverage cup (often 16-24 ounces) placed in the embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8C shows a typical large beverage cup (often 20-32 ounces) placed in the embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 shows the detent of the petals of the lid of FIG. 3 when a beverage cup is initially

placed through it.

FIG. 10 shows the detent of the petals of the lid of FIG. 3 when a beverage cup has been more fully inserted.

FIG. 11 shows the insulated beverage mug of FIGS. 1 and 2 with a combination lid featuring elements of a sipper dome lid and a flat straw lid.

FIG. 12 shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 with the straw hole cover open.

FIG. 13 shows the embodiment of FIG. 11 with a reuseable straw in place in the straw hole.

FIG. 14 shows the embodiment of FIG. 11 with the sipper clasp open to show the sipping hole and the vent.

FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the combination lid of FIG. 11 separated from the mug.

FIG. 16 shows a cut-through of the combination lid of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 shows a view from a first side of the combination lid of FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 shows a view form the opposing side to the first side of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 shows the mug of FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating how a lip balm tube may be placed into the handle.

FIG. 20 shows the mug of FIGS. 1 and 2 with a lip balm tube located in the handle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The following detailed description and disclosure illustrates by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the disclosed systems and methods, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the disclosed systems and methods. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the disclosures, it is intended that all matters contained in the description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The present disclosure provides for a number of different support systems or attachment systems which allow for insulative beverage vessels, such as, but not limited to, mugs and tumblers, to be used to carry or otherwise support a variety of other articles. The support systems include those which allow for the insulative vessel to add insulative capacity to a typically non-or low-insulated to-go beverage cup, to carry a small tube such as that for lip balm, and to carry items attached to a key ring or other ring type support device. This system also provides for an improved combination lid for an insulative beverage vessel to assist in it supporting liquid materials. This combination lid allows for multiple ways to obtain the fluid from within the vessel, but can also seal when the fluid is not being accessed to risk leakage and spills.

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a first embodiment of an insulative beverage container (100). The container (100) includes the insulative vessel (101) and, since it is in the form of a mug, the container (100) includes a handle (103) attached to the exterior of the vessel (101). In an alternative embodiment, the handle (103) may be eliminated which would give the vessel (101) the form of a tumbler. FIG. 2 provides for a cut-through view of the embodiment of

FIG. 1 and more clearly illustrates the insulative nature of the vessel (101) with it having an inner wall (105) and outer wall (107) spaced therefrom. The space (109) between the walls (105) and (107) will typically be open and the two walls (105) and (107) will typically be vacuum sealed. The inner wall (105) will typically be watertight and will enable liquids to be placed in the hollow interior (111) of the vessel (101).

The handle (103) of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is generally “C” shaped with a grip (123) connected to the vessel (101) via an upper connector (121) and a lower connector (123). The grip (123) of the handle (103) will typically be the portion of the handle (103) which a user grasps with their hand to lift and/or carry the container (100). While two connectors (121) and (125) for the grip (123) is generally preferred, it is by no means necessary and for a different look either of the connectors (121) or (125) may not be present. Each of the two connectors (121) and (125) in the depicted embodiment includes an angled portion (1211) and (1231) and a straight portion (1212) and (1232) with the straight portion (1212) and (1232) connecting to the outer wall (107) of the vessel (101) on one end and having the opposing end connecting to the angled portion (1211) and (1231) which then interconnects to the grip (123). In the depicted embodiment, the angled portion (1231) is longer than the angled portion (1211) but that is by no means required.

The handle (103) in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 provides for two storage points. The first of these is for a small tube (1901) such as those commonly used for lip balm or lipstick while the other will typically be designed to connect to a keyring or similar. For the first storage point, there is a generally hollow section (113) within the grip (123). The hollow section (113) is generally accessible via an open top (135) which is sized and shaped to accommodate a specifically-sized object, such as, but not limited to, a lip balm tube (1901), which are typically of relatively universal size. In order to support the object, the hollow section (113) terminates in a lower platform (133) upon which the object can rest.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the hollow section (113) is also visible through the grip (103) and not just via the open top (135). The grip (123) section, which is generally cylindrical in the depicted embodiment, is formed so as to create two side wings (137) which do not connect. There is, thus, an elongated gap (139) between them. In the depicted embodiment, this gap (139) extends from the open top (135) to the lower platform (133) but that is by no means required. As can be best seen in FIG. 1, the two wings (137) are generally semicylindrical and extend parallel to the major axis of the hollow section (113) from the lower platform (133) to the open top (135). The wings (137), thus, partially enclose the hollow section (113) but leave the elongated gap (139) between the two wings (137). The gap (139), interacts with the open top (135) so as to form a continuous opening, but has a width less than the diameter of the hollow section (113) and extends parallel to the major axis of the hollow section (113). This creates an opening through the grip (123) which extends from the lower platform (133) and interconnects with, and includes the open top (135).

FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate how a lip balm tube (1901) may be placed and supported in the grip (103). In FIG. 19, the user can place an end of the tube (1901) into the open top (135). The tube (1901) can then be released and slid down into the position shown in FIG. 20 where it is resting on the platform (133). The existence of the wings (137) means the sides of the grip (123) curl inward and the gap (139), as indicated above, has a width less than the diameter of the hollow section (113) and the grip (123) (and consequently, the tube (1901)). This serves to keep the tube (1901) retained in the hollow section (113) unless the container (100) is completely inverted as the tube (1901) cannot fit through the gap (139). However, the tube (1901) is still visible which can provide aesthetic appeal and it can make the tube (1901) easier to remove as the user may push upward on the tube (1901) where it is visible through the gap (139).

In order to make it easier to remove the lip balm tube (1901) from the hollow section (113) of the grip (103), the grip (103) may be constructed of relatively rigid plastic so that the winged sides (137) of the grip (103) are not intended to flex to release the lip balm tube (1901). Further, the inside surface of the hollow section (113) may be relatively smooth and have a low coefficient of friction. Thus, the tube (1901) may be pushed upward by imparting friction to the tube (1901) where it is visible between the wings (137) and pushed out the open top (135) around the intersection between the grip (123) and top connector (121). However, this is by no means a required method of storage or removal and alternative methods may be used to remove the lip balm tube (1901) from the handle (103). These include, but are not limited to, removing the lip balm container (1901) from the bottom of the grip (123) or distorting the wings (137) to pull the lip balm container (1901) through the opening (139) between the wings (137).

The second connection point in the handle (103) in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed in the angled portion (1231) of the lower connector (125). As can be best seen in FIG. 2, the angled portion (1231), like the grip portion (103), may be hollow. The hollow space (143) will typically extend from the platform (133) to about the straight portion (1232) or a little bit into the straight portion (1232) as shown. Within the hollow space (143), there is included a cross-brace (145) to which things may be attached.

The cross-brace (145) is typically designed to allow it to be attached to a ring connector (such as, but not limited to, a split-ring used on many keychains or a ring with an internal spring connector such as a carabiner). As such, the cross-brace (145) is often quite small in cross section and allows a portion of the hollow space (143) to extend around it within the angled portion (1231). In the depicted embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the cross-brace (145) is located at the transition point between the angled portion (1231) and the straight portion (1232), which can provide for better clearance around it, but this is by no means required

In operation the cross-brace (145) will be attached to the ring via the standard methodology of attaching the ring (e.g. passing through a split ring structure or passing it through the spring clip of a carabiner). Keys or other objects attached on the ring are then attached to the cross-brace (145) and can be carried using the container (100). When the container (100) is full of liquid, it will also typically be quite heavy. Because of this, when sitting upward, the keys attached to the cross-brace (145) will often have insufficient weight to tip the container (100) over allowing it to be a secure storage platform.

Alternative embodiments of the handled insulative container (100) of FIGS. 1 and 2 may provide that the handle (103) or related structures include a single large hollow portion (e.g. eliminating platform (133)), or additional hollow portions, both in the grip (123) and/or in the supports (121) and (125) of the handle (103), which can allow for multiple small containers and particularly generally cylindrical tubes such as the lip balm tube (1901), or multiple rings, or larger combinations of the two, to be supported by the handle (103). Further, the hollow portion (113) may also be sized and/or positioned differently so that it can support other generally cylindrical, elongated, and/or tubular objects such as, but not limited to, lipstick tubes, pens or pencils, hand sanitizer containers, or breath spray.

FIGS. 3-10 relate to a different supporting structure of the container (100). In these FIGS. The container (100) is provided with a flexible internal petal lid (300) such as that shown in FIG. 3. The lid (300) is designed to be placed on the top rim (201) of the vessel (101) and will typically include a side skirt (301) which will go over the rim (201) and down the outside wall (107) of the vessel (101) a predetermined distance. The side skirt (301) will typically be made of a material that is flexible and can supply for a relatively high coefficient of friction with the outer surface (107). In some embodiments it may be a rubber or silicone compound.

The side skirt (301) may include a cut-out (303) (as shown in FIG. 5) or not (as shown in FIG. 4). The cut-out (303) is designed to allow for the lid (300) to be positioned down the outside (107) of the vessel (101) to a distance below where the handle (103) connects. The cut-out (303) going over the top of the top connector (121) is shown in FIG. 7. A cut-out (303) is not required if the side skirt (301) extends less distance or if the container (100) is not a mug as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but is a tumbler (200) as shown in FIG. 6.

The top (305) of the lid (300) is generally flat and does not completely enclose the space inside the side skirt (301). Instead, the top (305) is generally more of a washer shape and has an outer circumference (341) which generally corresponds to the circumference of the lip (201) and an inner circumference (343) which is smaller. The inner circumference (343) defines a center hole (345) through the top (300). The center hole (345) may be of any size, but will typically be smaller than the base of the cups which are intended to be placed therein, as discussed later.

The surface of the top (305) will typically include a series of generally radial cuts (351). The cuts (351) may be of any thickness and may be linear or may be tapered such as is shown in FIG. 3. The cuts will typically extend from the inner circumference (345) through the top (305) surface and will terminate at a distance from the outer circumference (341). This will leave a small unbroken ring of the top (305) extending inward from the outer circumference (341). The presence of the cuts (351) forms the top (305) into a series of petals (353) which extend from the unbroken ring of the top (305) to the inner circumference (343). The petals (353) will typically be of generally trapezoidal shape and of generally equal area, but that is by no means required.

FIG. 7 illustrates the embodiment of the insulative container (100) of FIGS. 1 and 3 with the lid (300) of FIGS. 3 and 5 placed thereon. This structure is designed to support a standard disposable or “to-go” beverage cup (500A), (500B) and (500C), which is generally of the form of an inverted cylindrical frustum, to be positioned partially within the insulative vessel (101) of the container (100). As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the upper rim (501) and lid (503) of the beverage cup (500A) or (500B) is above or resting on the top (305) of the lid (300) which has been placed on an insulative vessel (101). The vessel (101) may be part of container (100) or the container (200). FIG. 8C shows the beverage cup (500C) partially inserted through the top (305). This is an intermediary position, and the beverage cup (500C) would generally be inserted further before it was stable in the vessel (101).

The three images of FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C show the vessel (101) and lid (300) with three differently sized cold beverage cups (500A), (500B), and (500C). Such beverage cups are typically of relatively standard sizes and are provided with flat lids and straws by many major restaurant chains and numerous small establishments for the serving of cold beverages for consumption off-premises. These cups (500A), (500B), and (500C) are typically of thin-wall plastic, Styrofoam, or treated paper construction and are sized from about 12 to about 32 liquid ounces. They are typically intended for single use, but in alternative embodiments may be reuseable. In FIGS. 8A-8C, the three cups are a small (500A) of 12-ounce size, a medium (500B) of 16-ounce size, and a large (500C) of 20-ounce size. These specific designs and shapes of cups are by no means required and the embodiments of insulative containers and lids shown herein may support cups of other sizes, shapes, dimensions, and construction. Specifically, cups with different lids (such as sipping lids often used for hot beverages and domed lids common for frozen or thicker beverages) and cups of more durable construction (for example, reusable plastic tumblers) may also be held by the insulative vessel (101) and lid (300) combination.

FIGS. 9-10 illustrate how a beverage cup (500) can be inserted into the vessel (101) and how the lid (300) reacts. As can be seen in FIG. 9, when the beverage cup (500) begins to pass through the hole (345), the outside of the beverage cup (500) contacts the petals (353) and the petals (353) of the lid (300) are bent by the placement of the to-go beverage cup (500). The petals (353) are bent into the internal volume (111) of the vessel (101) and toward the internal wall (109) of the vessel (101). This is typically not along a point of hinging, but is due to the inherent flexibility of the petals (353).

The temporal transition from FIG. 9 to FIG. 10 illustrates how insertion of a to-go beverage cup (500) into the internal volume (111) of the vessel (101) displaces and bends the petals (353). Typically, as the petals (353) are bent further, the amount of friction they impart upon the beverage cup (500) increases. This serves to hold and support the to-go beverage cup (500) in position partially within the insulative container such as is shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The to-go beverage cup (500) is, thus, generally supported by the friction and/or compression of the petals (353) against the outer wall of the to-go beverage cup (500) and/or in the inner wall (109) of the vessel (101).

An upper lip of the beverage cup (500) may also rest on the lid (300) at or around the rim (201). Internal ridges (155) formed in the inner wall (109) may also assist in supporting the beverage cup (500) depending on its size. Further, the typically decreasing diameter of the inner wall (109) may also assist by contacting the outer wall of the beverage cup (500) as it descends into the inner volume (111).

FIGS. 11-14 show the insulative container (100) of FIGS. 1 and 2 with a different lid (600) placed thereon. This lid (600) is shown separate from the container (100) in FIGS. 15-18. The lid (600) may be of relatively rigid material such as hard plastic or metal and is designed to provide at least one and typically a plurality of channels through which liquid placed in the internal volume of the insulative container (100) may be channeled for drinking. In the particular embodiment of FIGS. 11-18, the lid (600) includes two holes (631) and (613) each of which includes a closure such as, but not limited to, a moveable clasp, a tethered enclosure, a slider, or a bail for repeatedly opening or shutting the channel.

The lid (600) typically includes aspects of a flat lid with a straw hole and aspects of a

dome sipping lid. Specifically, one of the holes (613) is typically arranged toward the outer edge of the lid (600) in an elevated rim (623) of the lid (600) and would commonly be used for directly sipping liquid directly from the insulative container (100) by tipping of the insulative container (100). The other hole (631) is typically arranged more toward the center of the lid (600) and is designed to accept a typically sized drinking straw (637). However, these positionings are by no means required and other positions of hole (613) and/or hole (631) would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art based on this disclosure.

FIG. 11 shows a first configuration of the lid (600) with both holes (613) and (631) and their associated feed channels (611) and (639) closed. Specifically, the closing clasp (601) has been swung into the closed position. The clasp (601) is shown in the open position in FIG. 14. FIG. 11 also shows the straw hole (631) in the closed position with the slider (603) covering the hole (631).

FIG. 12 shows the straw hole in the open position with the slider (603) slid back within the channel (633) to reveal the hole (631). As can be best seen in FIG. 12, the hole (631) includes a seal (635). The seal (635) generally comprises a flexible material with a cross or “X” cut therein. The seal (635) will generally serve to cover the hole (631) and inhibit liquid from flowing from within the hollow interior volume (111) pf the vessel (101) through the hole (631).

Inhibition of the fluid is created by a number of different features. Specifically, the hole (631) is typically relatively small compared to the size of the lid (600). Fluid tension in the liquid in the vessel (101) will generally inhibit the fluid from passing through the hole (631) quickly. Further, because of the reduced size, air must be pulled through the fluid in the vessel (101) to increase pressure in the hollow interior (111) which is reduced by fluid escaping and which serves to resist the fluid from further escaping. Inclusion of the seal (635) further reduces the size to the hole (631) enhancing this effect.

In order to drink from the vessel (101) using hole (631), the user will typically insert a straw (637) through the hole (631) as shown in FIG. 13. In similar operation to the petal lid (300), insertion of the straw (637) will cause petals in the seal (635) which are formed due to the cross-shaped cut therein to be pushed out of the way and seal around the outer surface of the straw (637). This holds the straw (637) in place and inhibits leakage around the straw (637).

When the straw (637) is not present and the slider (603) is placed in the closed position, it is very difficult for fluid to leak out of the hole (631). Specifically, the fluid has to overcome the effects of the hole's (631) interaction with the fluid. Even if this occurs, the fluid is still trapped inside the hole (631) by the slider (603) which will typically provide a tight seal against the base of the channel (633) in which the slider (603) slides. The slider (603) may be retained by including a small tongue (not shown) which interfaces with groove (673) allowing for sliding motion, but retains the slider (603) in the channel (633). This is best shown in FIG. 16.

The hole (631) is, however, only one of the ways in which the fluid that is inside the interior volume (111) can be accessed. The fluid can also be accessed via a sipping channel (611) which terminates in hole (613). As shown in FIG. 12, when the straw hole (631) is configured in the open position, the sipping hole (613) is typically closed and the closing clasp (601) has been swung forward to close the sipping hole (613) (often by having a plug (671) go securely therein) while the slider (603) has been slid to an open position to reveal the straw hole (613). It is typical that only one of hole (631) and hole (613) will be open at any one time when the container (100) is in use, but that is by no means required. However, during transport, both hole (631) and hole (613) may be closed.

As can be best seen in FIGS. 14-18, the sipping hole (613) is typically positioned in a raised partial rim (623). This allows for the hole (613) to be easily placed in the mouth with the user utilizing the rim (623) as a location to place their lips regardless of the diameter of the lid (600). Lid (600), therefore, typically mimics the structure of a domed lid common for hot beverages. As can be seen in FIG. 14, in the open position, the closing clasp (601) has been swung backwards to clear the rim (623) and hole (613) while the slider (603) for the straw hole (613) has been slid to a closed position and the straw (627) is not present (as it would not typically be needed or used in this configuration).

As can also be best seen in FIG. 14, placing the clasp (601) in the open position also opens a vent hole (625). The vent hole (625) serves to allow air to enter the hollow interior (111) of the vessel when the sipping hole (613) is covered by liquid and is within the user's mouth. As the air can enter via the vent hole (625), it does not need to pass from inside the user's mouth which typically creates a smoother flow. When the clasp (601) is closed, the prong (621) will typically go into the vent hole (625) and serve to seal it to inhibit any fluid from passing through it (in either direction).

In typical operation, the configuration with the sipping hole (613) open (FIG. 14) would be used for hot beverages while the configuration with the straw hole (631) open and the straw (637) in place (FIG. 13) would be used for cold beverages. When both holes are closed (FIG. 11) the container is generally in a transport configuration where access to the liquid within is not being requested by the user. However, this is not required and in alternative embodiments, the sipping hole (613) may be sized and shaped to be used as both a straw and sipping hole, or alternatively as one or the other.

In order to keep the lid (600) from inadvertently coming off during transport, it is preferred that the lid (600) screwably attach to the vessel (101) instead of attaching with a pressure fit seal as is common in other drinking vessels. However, because the sipping hole (613) is off-center, the lid (600) effectively has a sipping configuration (e.g. FIG. 14) which suggests a position of the hole (613) relative to the handle (103) depending on how a user wishes to pick it up. Specifically, the combination of hole (613) and handle (103) position creates a handedness to the arrangement. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 14, the sipping hole (613) is best accessed by a user if they are holding the container (100) by the handle (103) in their left hand. If they are holding the handle (103) in their right hand, the hole (613) will tend to be on the far side of the lid (600) from the rest of their body and particularly their mouth. This can make the container (100) inconvenient to use.

If the handle (103) was to be held in the right hand, the hole (613) would preferably be generally 180 degrees rotated from the position in FIG. 14. That is, it would be in the position of FIG. 11. Further, it would generally be undesirable for the hole (613) to be rotated generally 90 degrees in either direction from the positions shown in either FIG. 14 or FIG. 11 as this would place the handle (103) under the hole (613), which would be in the way of the user's chin when their mouth is placed on the lip (623), or would place the handle (103) on the top of the tilted container (100), which is typically not a convenient place for either hand to hold. It should be recognized that use of the straw hole (631) and straw (637) generally does not present the same problem as the straw hole (631) is typically more centered than the sipping hole (613) and when a straw (637) is used with the vessel (101), the vessel (101) is typically held straight up and down as opposed to tilted.

As indicated above, to help retain the lid (600) on the container (100), in an embodiment, the lid (600) screwably connects to the container (100). Typically, use of screw threads would result in the lid (600) having a single position of connection to the container (100) because each of the mating threads on the two mating parts has a single start point and comprises a single helix. Such an arrangement provides the vessel (100) with a single fixed end position for the lid (600). For example, the arrangement of FIG. 14 may be the only positioning. However, this necessarily makes the mug (100) less desirable for certain people to use as contemplated above.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show opposing side views of an embodiment of a lid (700) which allows for alternative drinking positions. The two opposing views illustrate the lid (700) with the closing clasp (601) for the sipping hole (613) closed. The embodiment of the lid (700) shows the inclusion of an external double thread (701) and (703) on the lower portion (790) of the lid (700) for screwably connecting the lid (700) to a corresponding double thread (801) and (803) on the interior wall (105) of the insulating container (100). The threads (801) and (803) are best visible in FIG. 19.

As should be apparent, the lid (700) effectively has two orientations which can act as a starting point for the threads of the lid (701) and (703) to interact with the threads (801) and (803) on the vessel (101). Specifically, the bottom end of thread (701) would go under top end of thread (801) and the bottom end of thread (703) would go under the top end of thread (803) in a first configuration. In a second configuration, the bottom end of thread (701) would go under top end of thread (803) and the bottom end of thread (703) would go under the top end of thread (801). These two different configurations would result in the lid (700) being tightly connected to the vessel (101) with the sipping hole (613) in two different, generally 180 degree-spaced, orientations when fully screwed into place.

This arrangement means that the lid (600) can be positioned in two different orientations. Specifically, the lid (600) will generally rotate about 360 degrees from its starting point to reach its screwed-on position. Therefore, with two potentially different starting points about 180 degrees apart, the lid (600) can be screwed into a configuration as in FIG. 14, or a position with the lid located at a reversed (180 degree different) orientation. As noted above, in FIG. 14, the container (100) is best held in the left hand for drinking from the sipping hole. As should be apparent, if the lid was positioned 180 degrees different (as shown in FIG. 11), the container (100) would be best held in the right hand for using the sipping hole (613).

In both configurations, the lid (700) is screwed-on sufficiently tightly to the top (201) of the insulative container (100) to generally seal the interior volume (111) of the insulative container (100) and inhibit leakage of a liquid from within the internal volume (111). The screwable connection is also sufficiently tight to inhibit the lid (700) from coming off the vessel (101) due to the vessel (101) being inverted and the weight of the liquid therein being directed against the lid (600).

While the invention has been disclosed in conjunction with a description of certain embodiments, including those that are currently believed to be useful embodiments, the detailed description is intended to be illustrative and should not be understood to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, embodiments other than those described in detail herein are encompassed by the present invention. Modifications and variations of the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

It will further be understood that any of the ranges, values, properties, or characteristics given for any single component of the present disclosure can be used interchangeably with any ranges, values, properties, or characteristics given for any of the other components of the disclosure, where compatible, to form an embodiment having defined values for each of the components, as given herein throughout. Further, ranges provided for a genus or a category can also be applied to species within the genus or members of the category unless otherwise noted.

The qualifier “generally,” and similar qualifiers as used in the present case, would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to accommodate recognizable attempts to conform a device to the qualified term, which may nevertheless fall short of doing so. This is because terms such as “spherical” are purely geometric constructs and no real-world component or relationship is truly “spherical” in the geometric sense. Variations from geometric and mathematical descriptions are unavoidable due to, among other things, manufacturing tolerances resulting in shape variations, defects and imperfections, non-uniform thermal expansion, and natural wear. Moreover, there exists for every object a level of magnification at which geometric and mathematical descriptors fail due to the nature of matter. One of ordinary skill would thus understand the term “generally” and relationships contemplated herein regardless of the inclusion of such qualifiers to include a range of variations from the literal geometric meaning of the term in view of these and other considerations.

Claims

1. An insulative beverage mug comprising: an insulative vessel having an inner wall and an outer wall with a void therebetween; anda handle, said handle comprising a grip and a connector, said connector attaching said handle to said outer wall;wherein, said grip includes a generally cylindrical hollow section with a major axis and a diameter and an open top, said hollow section being accessible via said open top;wherein, said hollow section includes a platform at the base thereof; andwherein, said grip is formed of two-semicylindrical wings, said two wings extending parallel to the major axis of said hollow section and partially enclosing said hollow section so as to leave an elongated gap between said two wings, said gap having a width less than the diameter of said hollow section and extending parallel to said major axis of said hollow section.

2. The mug of claim 1 wherein said connector connects to said grip at said open top.

3. The mug of claim 2, further comprising: a second connector, said second connector connecting to said grip to said outer wall.

4. The mug of claim 3, further comprising: a hollow space below said platform, said hollow space including a cross-beam.

5. The mug of claim 4, wherein said hollow space is at least partially in said second connector.

6. The mug of claim 1, further comprising: a hollow space below said platform, said hollow space including a cross-beam.

7. The mug of claim 6, wherein, said hollow space is at least partially within said grip.

8. The mug of claim 7 wherein said hollow space is at least partially within said connector.

9. The mug of claim 1 further including a lid, said lid including: a flat portion including a first hole;a raised ridge including a second hole;a slider for opening and closing said first hole; anda clasp for opening and closing said second hole.

10. The mug of claim 9 wherein: when said clasp opens said second hole said clasp also opens a vent hole in said flat portion; andwhen said clasp closes said second hole said clasp also closes said vent hole.

11. The mug of claim 9 wherein said first hole includes a seal formed of flexible material with a cross cut therein.

12. The mug of claim 11 further comprising a reuseable straw placed in said first hole.

13. The mug of claim 9 wherein said lid includes screw threads screwable with mating threads on said vessel.

14. The mug of claim 13 wherein said lid includes two sets of screw threads and said vessel includes two sets of screw threads so that said lid can be screwed onto said vessel in either a first position or a second position.

15. The mug of claim 14 wherein said first position is about 180 degrees rotated from said second position.

16. The mug of claim 1 further comprising a flexible internal petal lid, said flexible internal petal lid including: a side skirt frictionally engaged to said outer wall of said vessel about a rim of said vessel; anda top including a plurality of internal petals, said internal petals extending from a central hole to an outer ring, said outer ring extending over said rim of said vessel and connecting to said side skirt;wherein said internal petals bend into a hollow interior volume of said vessel and toward said inner wall.

17. The mug of claim 16, said flexible internal petal lid including a cut-out in said side skirt to go over said connector where said connector connects to said outer wall.

18. An insulative beverage tumbler comprising: an insulative vessel having an inner wall and an outer wall with a void therebetween;a flexible internal petal lid, said flexible internal petal lid including: a side skirt frictionally engaged to said outer wall of said vessel about a rim of said vessel; anda top including a plurality of internal petals, said internal petals extending from a central hole to an outer ring, said outer ring extending over said rim of said vessel and connecting to said side skirt.wherein said internal petals bend into a hollow interior volume of said vessel and toward said inner wall.