BACKGROUND
When storing various flowable materials, such as liquids or pourable solids, multiple separate containers may be used. For example, a carton of milk and a box of cereal or a bag of dog food and a jug of water. However, carrying and storing these multiple separate containers may not be very convenient or may require an additional container into which both of the containers may be placed, such as a box or a bag.
Furthermore, when storing a plurality of liquids required to be mixed to form a desired concoction, such as a mixed alcoholic beverage, multiple separate containers may be used to hold the different liquids, such as orange juice and vodka. In addition to the separate containers, separate measuring containers or measuring cups may be required so that the liquids may be measured out and added to another empty container in desired quantities to create the desired concoction.
Therefore, there is a need for a storage system allowing storage of a plurality of flowable materials without requiring the additional containers described above.
SUMMARY
Embodiments of the present invention solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a distinct advance in the art of storing multiple types of flowable material. Some embodiments of the invention may include a multi-container system having an outer container and an inner container. The outer container may at least partly define a hole extending entirely though the outer container, with the outer container at least partly surrounding the hole. The inner container may be received in the hole. The multi-container system may be shiftable between assembled and disassembled configurations. In the assembled configuration, the inner container is received and held within the hole, and in the disassembled configuration, the inner and outer containers are decoupled and separated from one another.
In another embodiment of the invention, a multi-container system may include an outer container and an inner container. The outer container may present an inner wall at least partly defining a hole extending entirely though the outer container, with the outer container at least partly surround the hole. The outer container may also have at least one internal chamber having a closable opening for receiving and discharging a flowable material into and out of the internal chamber. The inner container may present an outer wall having substantially the same shape as the hole. The multi-container system may be shiftable between assembled and disassembled configurations. In the assembled configuration, the inner container is received and held within the hole, and in the disassembled configuration, the inner and outer containers are decoupled and separated from one another. The inner container may fit snugly within the hole and the inner and outer walls may be adjacent to one another when the multi-container system is in the assembled configuration. Additionally, one of the inner and outer walls may present one or more protrusions and the other of the inner and outer walls may present one or more recesses, such that at least one of the protrusions is received in at least one of the recesses when the multi-container system is in the assembled configuration.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, a method of operating a multi-container system may include shifting the multi-container system from an assembled configuration to a disassembled configuration. The multi-container system may have first and second containers and the first container may have a hole extending entirely therethrough. The second container may be received and held in the hole when the multi-container system is in the assembled configuration and may be removed from the hole when the multi-container system is in the disassembled configuration. The method may further include dispensing a flowable material from one of the first or second containers into the other of the first or second containers while the multi-container system is in the disassembled configuration. Additionally or alternatively, the method may include dispensing the contents of both of the first and second containers while the multi-container system is in the disassembled configuration.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a multi-container system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the multi-container system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the multi-container system of FIG. 1 with a portion of a lid thereof removed to reveal an inner container underneath which is secured within an outer container;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the multi-container system of FIG. 3, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the multi-container system of FIG. 1, illustrating the inner container comprising two separable bowls;
FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the multi-container system wherein the inner container comprises only one bowl covered by a peal-away disposable lid;
FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the multi-container system of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the multi-container system of FIG. 7, taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the multi-container system of FIG. 6;
FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a C-shaped alternative embodiment of the outer container;
FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of the C-shaped outer container of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of the C-shaped outer container of FIG. 11, taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the multi-container system wherein the inner container comprises one bowl covered by a reusable, resealable lid;
FIG. 14 is a front elevation view of the multi-container system of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional side view of the multi-container system of FIG. 14, taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the multi-container system of FIG. 13;
FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the multi-container system wherein the inner and outer containers are square-shaped with rounded corners;
FIG. 18 is a front elevation view of the multi-container system of FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional side view of the multi-container system of FIG. 18, taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 18;
FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the multi-container system of FIG. 17;
FIG. 21 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the outer container, wherein the outer container includes two inner chambers of identical size;
FIG. 22 is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the outer container, wherein the outer container includes two inner chambers of differing sizes;
FIG. 23 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the outer container, wherein the outer container includes three inner chambers; and
FIG. 24 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the outer container, wherein the outer container includes an exterior section having two inner chambers and an interior section having one internal chamber attachable to an inner wall of the exterior section.
The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention is intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is defined only by claims presented in subsequent regular utility applications, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
In this description, references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, step, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the present technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, a multi-container system 10 is disclosed herein for storing various liquids or pourable solids in a plurality of selectively attachable containers. The multi-container system 10 may comprise an outer container 12 and an inner container 14. The outer container 12 may at least partly define a hole 16 extending entirely though the outer container 12, as best illustrated in FIG. 5, such that the outer container 12 at least partly surrounds the hole 16. The inner container 14 may be configured for receipt in the hole 16 in a manner that forms a snap-fit connection between the outer and inner containers 12,14. The multi-container system 10 may be shiftable between an assembled configuration, where the inner container 14 is received and held within the hole 16, and a disassembled configuration, where the inner and outer containers 12,14 are decoupled and separated from one another.
The outer container 12 may comprise an elongated curved bottle and may present an inner wall 18 defining the hole 16, as illustrated in FIG. 5. For example, the elongated curved bottle may have an arcuate axis of elongation, a generally circular shape (as illustrated in FIGS. 6-9, a generally circular shape with at least two rounded right-angle corners (as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 and 13-16) a generally square shape with rounded corners (as illustrated in FIGS. 17-20), and/or a generally rectangular shape with rounded corners. The outer container 12 may further comprise a closable opening 20 for receiving and discharging a flowable material (e.g., liquids or pourable solids) from the curved bottle of the outer container 12. For example, the closable opening 20 may be formed of a threaded outlet and a threaded cap, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. The threaded cap may also be tethered to the outer container 12 via a cap leash or other similar devices. In other embodiments of the invention, the closable opening 20 may be an outlet configured to be covered with and engaged by a snap-fit cap. However, any other openable and/or resealable means for selectively retaining and releasing the flowable material within the curved bottle may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.
The outer container 12 may extend fully or partially around the hole 16. For example, the outer container 12 may extend around the hole 16 through an angle of extension that is at least 180 degrees, 210 degrees, 240 degrees, 270 degrees, 300 degrees, or 330 degrees measured from a geometric center 21 of the hole 16. The geometric center 21 of the hole 16 and example angles of extension 40,42 are labeled in FIGS. 11 and 22. The outer container 12 may also extend around the hole 16 through an angle of extension that is not more than 330 degrees, 300 degrees, 270 degrees, or 240 degrees measured from the geometric center 21 of the hole 16. The outer container 12 may be configured to hold at least 2, 4, 6, 8, or 12 fluid ounces and/or not more than 64, 48, 32, 24, or 16 fluid ounces.
The inner container 14 may present an outer wall 22 with an outer surface having substantially the same shape as the hole 16 or the inner wall 18 of the outer container 12, as illustrated in FIG. 5. In various embodiments of the invention, the inner container 14 may fit snugly within the hole 16 when the multi-container system 10 is in the assembled configuration, as in FIGS. 1-4. For example, the inner container 14 may be a transparent or opaque bowl, bottle, or package, such as a clam shell, containing a product. In some embodiments of the invention, as in FIGS. 1-5, the inner container 14 may comprise two separable bowls each configured to fit in the hole 16 and attach to the inner wall 18 of the outer container 12. However, a variety of other containment structures capable of being received and held by snap-fit attachment within the hole 16 in the outer container 12 may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.
In some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 and 13-16, the inner container 14 may comprise a bowl 24 and/or a sealing member 26 releasably attached to the bowl 24. The sealing member 26 may be a reusable lid, as in FIGS. 13-16, and/or a single-use sheet attached to the bowl 24 with an adhesive, as in FIGS. 1-9. Additionally or alternatively, the inner container 14 may comprise a package holding a non-edible article. Furthermore, in some embodiments of the invention, the inner container 14 may have formed therein a closable opening (not shown), such as the closable opening 20 of the outer container 12, for receiving and discharging a flowable material (e.g., liquids or pourable solids) from within the inner container 14. However, any other resealable means for selectively retaining and releasing the flowable material within the inner container 14 may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.
The inner container 14 may be configured to hold at least 2, 4, 6, 8, or 12 fluid ounces and/or not more than 64, 48, 32, 24, or 16 fluid ounces. The ratio of the internal volume of the outer container 12 to the internal volume of the inner container 14 may be at least 0.1:1, 0.5:1, 1:1, or 1.5:1 and/or not more than 10:1, 5:1, 2:1, or 1:1.
The inner wall 18 of the outer container 12 and the outer wall 22 of the inner container 14 may be adjacent to one another when the multi-container system 10 is in the assembled configuration and may be configured to snap together or otherwise interlock with each other. In some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, 8, 9, 15, 16, 19, and 20, the inner wall 18 may present one or more protrusions 28 and the outer wall 22 may present one or more recesses 30. Alternatively, the outer wall 22 may present one or more protrusions 28 and the inner wall 18 may present one or more recesses 30. At least one of the protrusions 28 may be received in at least one of the recesses 30 when the multi-container system 10 is in the assembled configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 8, 15, and 19, and the protrusions 28 may not be received in the recesses 30 when the multi-container system 10 is in the disassembled configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 5, 9, 16, and 20.
The protrusions 28 may comprise a single unitary continuous protrusion extending entirely around the geometric center 21 of the hole 16 when the multi-container system 10 is in the assembled configuration. Likewise, the recesses 30 may be a single unitary continuous recess extending entirely around the geometric center 21 of the hole 16 when the multi-container system 10 is in the assembled configuration. Alternatively, the protrusions 28 may comprise a plurality of protrusions spaced around the geometric center 21 of the hole 16 when the multi-container system 10 is in the assembled configuration. Likewise, the recesses 30 may comprise a plurality of recesses or channels spaced around the geometric center 21 of the hole 16 when the multi-container system 10 is in the assembled configuration. For example, protrusions extending from the bowl 24 in FIG. 16 may cooperatively form the recesses 30 or channels for the protrusions 28 of the outer container 12.
The recesses 30 and protrusions 28 may be configured to provide a releasable snap-fit connection between the outer container 12 and inner container 14 when the multi-container system 10 is in the assembled configuration. The multi-container system 10 may be configured to be shifted from the assembled configuration to the disassembled configuration by applying a force sufficient to overcome the snap-fit connection between the outer and inner containers 12,14. The outer and inner containers 12,14 may be configured to be shifted between the assembled and disassembled configurations without rotating the outer and inner containers 12,14 relative to one another, such that no action other than application of a linear force to the outer and/or inner containers 12,14 is required to shift the multi-container system 10 between the assembled and the disassemble configuration. In some embodiments of the invention, an applied force exceeding gravitation force may be required to shift the multi-container system 10 from the assembled configuration into the disassembled configuration and/or from the disassembled configuration into the assembled configuration.
The multi-container system 10 may be capable of being shifted back-and-forth between the assembled and disassembled configurations at least 100 times without damage or repair to the multi-container system 10. Additionally, in some embodiments of the invention, the multi-container system 10 may be capable of being shifted back-and-forth between the assembled and disassembled configurations at least 1,000, 10,000, or 100,000 times without damage or repair to the multi-container system 10.
In various embodiments of the invention, the multi-container system 10 may comprise and/or function as a container for one or more edible products and/or one or more non-edible products. The edible product or products may be received in the outer and/or inner containers 12,14, and the non-edible products may be received in the outer and/or inner containers 12,14. The edible product may be a liquid, such as water, milk, juice, tea, soda, and/or an alcoholic beverage, or the edible product may be a solid, such as a cereal, a sweet snack, a salty snack, a meat, a cheese, and/or a cookie. Alternatively, the multi-container system 10 can contain at least one non-edible product.
In some embodiments of the invention, the multi-container system 10 may comprise and/or function as a container for at least two different edible products. At least one of the edible products may be received in the outer container 12 and another of the edible products may be received in the inner container 14. In some embodiments of the invention, the multi-container system 10 may comprise at least three different edible products, with at least two of the edible products being received in the outer container 12. In some embodiments of the invention, the non-edible product or products may be received in the inner container 14.
Example Embodiments
In some embodiments of the invention, the outer container 12 may be a continuous chamber extending entirely around the hole 16, as in FIGS. 1-9. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 6-9, the multi-container system 10 may include a sealed inner container that can be decoupled from the outer container 12 and opened by peeling away the removable sealing member 26. The sealing member 26 may be a single-use sheet adhered to the rim of the bowl 24. For example, the outer container 12 may hold milk and the inner container 14 may hold breakfast cereal (as in FIGS. 1-5) or cookies (as in FIGS. 6-9). In another example embodiment of the invention, the outer container 12 may hold water and the inner container 14 may hold dried pet food, such as dog or cat food.
In other embodiments of the invention, the outer container 12 may be a C-shaped outer container extending only partially around the hole 16, as illustrated in FIGS. 10-12. Specifically, the C-shaped outer container may extend a first angle of extension 40 around the geometric center 21 of the hole 16 and may have no container portion extending a second angle of extension 42 around the hole 16, as illustrated in FIG. 11. For example, the first angle of extension may be approximately 215 degrees. However, other possible angles of extension for the outer container 12 are described above.
Alternatively, as illustrated in FIGS. 13-16, the outer container 12 may be a canteen and the inner container 14 may be a bowl, such as the bowl 24, having a reusable lid as the sealing member 26. For example, the reusable lid may be a plastic lid such as those used for TUPPERWARE® plastic storage containers manufactured by Tupperware Brands Corporation of Orlando, Fla.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 17-20, the outer container 12 may be generally rectangular in shape and may define a generally rectangular hole. The inner container 14 may also be generally rectangular. For example, the outer container 12 may hold juice and the inner container 14 may be a lunch pack containing food.
In other alternative embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22 the outer container 12 may define at least two distinct internal chambers 32a,32b, each having a closable opening 20a,20b for receiving and discharging a flowable material into and out of the internal chambers 32a,32b. Note that the flowable material may be liquid or solids. For example, one of the internal chambers 32a,32b may contain milk, while the other of the internal chambers 32b,32a may hold orange juice. Alternatively, one of the internal chambers 32a,32b may contain orange juice, while the other of the internal chambers 32b,32a may hold vodka.
Each of the distinct internal chambers 32a,32b may have substantially the same volume, as illustrated in FIG. 21. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 22, each of the distinct internal chambers may have different volumes. This configuration may be especially useful as a kit for mixed drinks, where the two drink ingredients are provided in their proper proportions by sizing the distinct internal chambers accordingly. For example, the ratio of the volume of the distinct internal chambers 32a,32b may be at least 0.1:1, 0.5:1, 1:1 or 1.5:1. Furthermore, the ratio of the volume of the distinct internal chambers 32a,32b may be not more than 10:1, 5:1, 2:1, or 1:1.
In some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 22, a first one 32a of the internal chambers 32a,32b may extend around the hole 16 through a first angle of extension 40 that is at least 190 degrees, 220 degrees, 250 degrees, or 280 degrees measured from the geometric center 21 of the hole 16. Additionally, the first angle of extension 40 may be not more than 330 degrees, 300 degrees, 270 degrees, or 240 degrees measured from the geometric center 21 of the hole 16. Furthermore, a second one 32b of the internal chambers 32a,32b may extend around the hole 16 through a second angle of extension 42 that is not more than 170 degrees, 140 degrees, 110 degrees, or 80 degrees measured from the geometric center 21 of the hole 16 and at least 30 degrees, 70 degrees, 100 degrees, or 130 degrees measured from the geometric center 21 of the hole 16.
In other embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 24, the outer container 12 may define at least three distinct internal chambers 32a,32b,32c, each having a closable opening 20a,20b,20c for receiving and discharging a flowable material into and out of the internal chambers 32a,32b,32c. One example of the different types of liquids that can be held in the three distinct internal chambers 32a,32b,32c is orange juice, cranberry juice, and vodka. At least two of the distinct internal chambers 32a,32b,32c may have substantially the same volume or at least three of the distinct internal chambers 32a,32b,32c may have substantially the same volume. Likewise, at least two of the distinct internal chambers 32a,32b,32c may have different volumes or at least three of the distinct internal chambers 32a,32b,32c may have different volumes. For example, this configuration may be useful as a kit for mixed drinks, with the distinct internal chambers 32a,32b,32c having different volumes sized to hold proper proportion of the ingredients.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 23, a first one 32a of the internal chambers 32a,32b,32c may extend around the hole 16 through a first angle of extension 40 that is at least 30 degrees, 60 degrees, 90 degrees, 120 degrees, 150 degrees, 180 degrees, or 210 degrees and/or not more than 330 degrees, 300 degrees, 270 degrees, 240 degrees, 210 degrees, 180 degrees, 150 degrees, 120 degrees, 90 degrees, 60 degrees, or 30 degrees measured from the geometric center 21 of the hole 16. Likewise, a second one 32b of the internal chambers 32a,32b,32c may extend around the hole 16 through a second angle of extension 42 that is at least 30 degrees, 60 degrees, 90 degrees, 120 degrees, 150 degrees, 180 degrees, or 210 degrees and/or not more than 330 degrees, 300 degrees, 270 degrees, 240 degrees, 210 degrees, 180 degrees, 150 degrees, 120 degrees, 90 degrees, 60 degrees, or 30 degrees measured from the geometric center 21 of the hole 16. Furthermore, a third one 32c of the internal chambers 32a,32b,32c may extend around the hole 16 through a third angle of extension 44 that is at least 30 degrees, 60 degrees, 90 degrees, 120 degrees, 150 degrees, 180 degrees, or 210 degrees and/or not more than 330 degrees, 300 degrees, 270 degrees, 240 degrees, 210 degrees, 180 degrees, 150 degrees, 120 degrees, 90 degrees, 60 degrees, or 30 degrees measured from the geometric center 21 of the hole 16. For example, the first angle of extension may be in the range of 90 to 270 degrees and the second angle of extension may be in the range of 90 to 270 degrees. The third angle of extension may be in the range of 90 to 270 degrees, as in FIG. 23. Alternatively, the third angle of extension may be about 360 degrees, as in FIG. 24.
Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 24, the outer container 12 may comprise an interior section 12a and an exterior section 12b. The interior section 12a is disposed generally between the exterior section 12b and the hole 16. The interior and exterior sections 12a,12b may define respective interior and exterior chambers 32a,32c, and the interior and exterior sections 12a,12b may comprise respective interior and exterior closable openings 20a,20c for receiving and discharging flowable materials into and out of the interior and exterior chambers 32a,32c. Alternatively, the exterior section may define a plurality of exterior chambers 32a,32b, each having closable openings 20a,20b for receiving and discharging a flowable material into and out of corresponding ones of the exterior chambers 32a,32b. The interior and exterior sections 12a,12b may be permanently coupled to one another or alternatively may be releasably coupled to one another such that the interior section 12a can be removed from the exterior section 12b. For example, the interior and exterior sections 12a,12b may be coupled to one another by a snap-fit connection. In this embodiment of the invention, the internal section 12a may define the hole 16 within which the inner container 14 is removably received.
Example Use
In use, the multi-container system 10 may be selectively placed in the assembled configuration and in the disassembled configuration manually by a user. For example, to place the multi-container system 10 in the assembled configuration, the user may align the inner container 14 with the hole 16 and press the inner container 14 into the hole 16 until the protrusions 28 and recesses 30 mate to form a snap-fit between the inner container 14 and the outer container 12. To place the multi-container system 10 in the disassembled configuration, the user may press a back side of the inner container 14 in a direction away from the outer container 12 and/or pull the inner container 14 in a direction away from the outer container 12 until the protrusions 28 and recesses 30 disengage from each other.
As described above, a plurality of methods of opening the outer and inner containers 12,14 may be used, depending on the design of the multi-container system 10. For example, the flowable material in the outer container 12 may be accessed via the closable opening by unscrewing the threaded cap from the threaded outlet. The flowable material or product stored within the inner container 14 may be accessed by peeling away the sealing member 26, such as a single-use sheet adhered to the rim of the bowl 24.
For example, the multi-use container system 10 may be purchased in the assembled configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, 6-8, 13-15 and 17-19. Next, the inner container 14 may be decoupled from the outer container 12 using a decoupling force sufficient to overcome the snap-fit connection holding the inner container 14 in the hole 16 of the outer container 12. This places the multi-container system 10 in the disassembled configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 5, 9, 16, and 20. Once the inner container 14 is removed from the outer container 12, the sealing member 26 may be removed. For example, in FIGS. 1-9, the sealing member 26 may be manually pealed back and disposed of, thereby opening the bowl 24 of the inner container 14. The closable opening 20 may then be opened by unscrewing a cap and milk stored within the outer container 12 may be poured into the cereal contained in the open bowl of the inner container 14. The cereal can then be directly consumed from the bowl 24 of the inner container 14.
Finally, the multi-container system 10 may be shifted back to the assembled configuration by placing the inner container 14 into the hole 16 and pressing the inner container 14 toward the geometric center 21 of the hole such that the inner container 14 snaps together with the outer container 12. Specifically, the user may press a back side of the outer container 12 in a direction toward from the inner container 14 and/or push a top or front side of the inner container 14 in a direction toward the outer container 12 until the protrusions 28 and recesses 30 engage with each other, snap fitting the outer and inner containers 12,14 together.
Although the invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiments, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20130327766
