1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed generally to a food and/or beverage container for storing liquid or semi-liquid contents and more particularly to a food and/or beverage container having movable decorative elements.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a large number of food and/or beverage container designs have become commercially available. While many of these designs include pleasing aesthetic features and decorative elements, few have movable decorative components. Such movable decorative components add to a user's enjoyment of the container and may be useful for entertaining children. Therefore, a need exists for food and/or beverage containers that include movable decorative components. The present application provides this and other advantages as will be apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying figures.
Referring to
As illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrated, the top sleeve 14 is non-rotatably coupled to the liner member 12 and the intermediate and bottom sleeves 16 and 18 are rotatable about the liner member 12. Further, the intermediate and bottom sleeves 16 and 18 are also rotatable relative to the top sleeve 14, the base cap 20, and one another. In alternate embodiments, the top sleeve 14 may also be rotatable about the liner member 12.
Turning to
As illustrated in
By rotating the intermediate sleeves 16 and/or the bottom sleeve 18, the elements of the composite work 21 forming the monkey may be displaced with respect to one another. For example, in
The graphics “A,” “B” and “C” may include illustrations, photographs, text, holograms, abstract shapes, patterns, and the like. The graphics “A,” “B” and “C” are not limited to any particular visual work or display. Further, the graphics “A,” “B” and “C” may include opaque, semi-transparent, and transparent portions. Semi-transparent and transparent portions of the graphics “A,” “B” and “C” expose a portion of the top, intermediate, and bottom sleeves 14, 16, and 18, respectively. If one or more of the top, intermediate, and bottom sleeves 14, 16, and 18 are constructed from semi-transparent or transparent materials, portions of the liner member 12 adjacent the top, intermediate, and bottom sleeves 14, 16, and 18 may be viewed from outside the container 10. In such embodiments, optionally, those visible portions of the liner member 12 may be decorated with a graphic “D.”
Returning to
In the following sections, the liner member 12, the top sleeve 14, the intermediate sleeve 16, the bottom sleeve 18, the lock assembly 19, and the base cap 20 are described in detail.
The liner member 12 has an inside surface 28 defining a hollow interior portion 30 for storing contents 32 (see
As mentioned above, if one or more of the top, intermediate, and bottom sleeves 14, 16, and 18 are constructed from semi-transparent or transparent materials, portions of the liner member 12 to be viewable from outside the container 10. In such embodiments, optional decorations (e.g., the graphic “D”) may be disposed on the outside surface 29 of the liner member 12 and one or more portions of such decorations may be viewable from outside the container 10. The optional decorations (e.g., the graphic “D”) may provide a background or backdrop for the graphics “A,” “B” and “C” (see
The liner member 12 may be constructed from opaque materials, semi-transparent materials, transparent materials, and a combination thereof. To provide a better view of the graphics “A,” “B” and “C” (see
The liner member 12 has a circular cross-sectional shape that is symmetric about a central axis of rotation “R1.” As may be viewed in
In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the rim portion 36 includes inside threads 48 formed on the inside surface 28. The inside threads 48 are configured to engage the outside threads 25 of the threaded connector portion 24 of the lid 22 and when threadedly engaged therewith, to maintain the lid 22 on the liner member 12. The lid 22 is operable to seal the contents 32 inside the hollow interior portion 30. When the inside threads 48 are fully engaged with the outside threads 25 of the threaded connector portion 24, at least a portion of the annular sealing member 26 is pressed against the liner member 12 forming a liquid tight seal therewith. By way of a non-limiting example, at least a portion of the annular sealing member 26 may be received inside the optional groove 44 and pressed against the inside of the optional groove 44 to form a liquid tight seal therewith.
Optionally, the liner member 12 may have a wider portion 46 adjacent the inside threads 48 formed on the inside surface 28 and a bottom portion 52 opposite its rim portion 36. The liner member 12 is illustrated as being elongated along the central axis of rotation “R1” and having a generally tapered shape that narrows toward the bottom portion 52. However, these are not requirements and embodiments in which the liner member 12 has a different shape than the one depicted in the figures are also within the scope of the present teachings.
An annular sidewall 55 centered about the central axis of rotation “R1” extends downwardly from the bottom portion 52 to define a substantially hollow downwardly facing recessed area 56 under the bottom portion 52. Referring to
Returning to
The top sleeve 14 has a generally hollow open-ended cylindrical shape with a circular cross-section. The top sleeve 14 has a continuous annular sidewall 70 with an upper end portion 72 opposite a lower end portion 74. In the embodiment illustrated, the thickness of the sidewall 70 increases at a substantially constant rate from the upper end portion 72 to the lower end portion 74. Thus, the sidewall 70 has a tapered cross-section that increases in thickness from the upper end portion 72 toward the lower end portion 74.
The sidewall 70 has an inside surface 75 that defines an open-ended central channel 76 sized and shaped to receive the liner member 12 therein, with the upper end portion 72 of the sidewall 70 being adjacent the wider portion 46 of the liner member 12 and spaced therefrom. A gap 77 is defined between the inside surface 75 of the sidewall 70 and the liner member 12 when the liner member 12 is received inside the central channel 76 of the top sleeve 14.
The sidewall 70 has an outside surface 79 opposite the inside surface 75. The graphic “A” (see
At least one upwardly extending projection 78 fully receivable inside the annular groove 60 of the liner member 12 extends upwardly from upper end portion 72 of the sidewall 70. In the embodiment illustrated, the upwardly extending projection 78 is implemented as a single continuous annular-shaped projection extending along the upper end portion 72 of the top sleeve 14. However, implementations in which the upwardly extending projection 78 is implemented as a plurality of spaced apart projections arranged along the upper end portion 72 of the top sleeve 14 are also within the scope of the present teachings. Optionally, the upper end portion 72 of the top sleeve 14 may include an upper groove 81 formed in the outside surface 79 and configured to receive at least a portion of the continuous flange 58 when the upwardly extending projection 78 is received inside the annular groove 60 of the liner member 12.
As mentioned above, in the implementation illustrated in the figures, the top sleeve 14 is non-rotatable relative to the liner member 12. To prevent rotation of the top sleeve 14 relative to the liner member 12, the top sleeve 14 may be non-rotatably coupled to the liner member 12. For example, the upwardly extending projection 78 may be received inside the annular groove 60 of the liner member 12 and welded to at least one of the continuous flange 58 and a portion of the outside surface 29 of the liner member 12. By way of a non-limiting example, sonic welding may be used to weld the upwardly extending projection 78 to at least one of the continuous flange 58 and a portion of the outside surface 29 of the liner member 12. Alternatively, the upwardly extending projection 78 may be adhered to at least one of the continuous flange 58 and a portion of the outside surface 29 of the liner member 12 by an adhesive. As is apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, numerous methods of non-rotatably coupling the top sleeve 14 to the liner member 12 are known in the art and the invention is not limited to the methods described above.
Because the top sleeve 14 is non-rotatably coupled to the liner member 12, the outer surface 79 of the top sleeve 14 provides a substantially stable gripping surface for a user. The user may grip the non-rotatable outer surface 79 when drinking or pouring the contents 32 from the container 10. Further, the user may grip the non-rotatable outer surface 79 when assembling and/or disassembling the container 10. The user may find gripping the non-rotatable outer surface 79 useful when rotating the intermediate sleeve 16, and/or the bottom sleeve 18 about the liner member 12. However as mentioned above, in alternate embodiments, the top sleeve 14 may also be rotatable about the liner member 12.
An outside groove 80 is formed in the lower end portion 74 of the sidewall 70. The outside groove 80 extends continuously along the lower end portion 74. A downwardly extending alignment portion 82 inward of the outside groove 80 is defined in the lower end portion 74 of the sidewall 70 by the outside groove 80.
Like the top sleeve 14, the intermediate sleeve 16 has a generally hollow open-ended cylindrical shape with a circular cross-section. The intermediate sleeve 16 has a continuous annular sidewall 90 with an upper end portion 92 opposite a lower end portion 94. In the embodiment illustrated, the thickness of the sidewall 90 increases at a substantially constant rate from the upper end portion 92 to the lower end portion 94. Thus, the sidewall 90 has a tapered cross-section that increases in thickness from the upper end portion 92 toward the lower end portion 94.
The sidewall 90 has an inside surface 95 that defines an open-ended central channel 96 sized and shaped to rotatably receive the liner member 12 therein. A gap 97 is defined between the inside surface 95 of the sidewall 90 and the liner member 12 when the liner member 12 is received inside the central channel 96 of the intermediate sleeve 16.
The sidewall 90 has an outside surface 99 opposite the inside surface 95. The graphic “B” (see
An upwardly facing inside groove 100 is formed in the upper end portion 92 of the sidewall 90. The inside groove 100 extends continuously along the upper end portion 92. The inside groove 100 is configured to receive the downwardly extending alignment portion 82 of the top sleeve 14.
An upwardly extending alignment portion 102 opposite the inside groove 100 is defined in the upper end portion 92 of the sidewall 90 by the inside groove 100. The upwardly extending alignment portion 102 is configured to be rotatably received inside the outside groove 80 of the top sleeve 14. When the downwardly extending alignment portion 82 of the top sleeve 14 is received inside the inside groove 100, the upwardly extending alignment portion 102 is simultaneously received inside the outside groove 80 of the top sleeve 14 with the upwardly extending alignment portion 102 exteriorly overlapping the downwardly extending alignment portion 82.
As mentioned above, in the implementation illustrated in the figures, the intermediate sleeve 16 is rotatable relative to the liner member 12, the top sleeve 14, and the bottom sleeve 18. Therefore, the upwardly extending alignment portion 102 is configured to circumferentially slide within the outside groove 80 of the top sleeve 14 about the central axis of rotation “R1.” Likewise, the downwardly extending alignment portion 82 of the top sleeve 14 is configured to circumferentially slide within the inside groove 100 of the top sleeve 14 when the intermediate sleeve 16 rotates about the central axis of rotation “R1.”
An outside groove 110 is formed in the lower end portion 94 of the sidewall 90. The outside groove 110 extends continuously along the lower end portion 94. A downwardly extending alignment portion 112 inward of the outside groove 110 is defined in the lower end portion 94 of the sidewall 90 by the outside groove 110.
The structure of the bottom sleeve 18 may be substantially identical to that of the intermediate sleeve 16. The bottom sleeve 18 has a generally hollow open-ended cylindrical shape with a circular cross-section defined by a continuous annular sidewall 120 with an upper end portion 122 opposite a lower end portion 124. In the embodiment illustrated, the thickness of the sidewall 120 increases at a substantially constant rate from the upper end portion 122 to the lower end portion 124. Thus, the sidewall 120 has a tapered cross-section that increases in thickness from the upper end portion 122 toward the lower end portion 124.
The sidewall 120 has an inside surface 125 that defines an open-ended central channel 126 sized and shaped to rotatably receive the liner member 12 therein. A gap 127 is defined between the inside surface 125 of the sidewall 120 and the liner member 12 when the liner member 12 is received inside the central channel 126 of the bottom sleeve 18.
The sidewall 120 has an outside surface 129 opposite the inside surface 125. The graphic “C” (see
An upwardly facing inside groove 130 is formed in the upper end portion 122 of the sidewall 120. The inside groove 130 extends continuously along the upper end portion 122. The inside groove 130 is configured to receive the downwardly extending alignment portion 112 of the intermediate sleeve 16.
An upwardly extending alignment portion 132 opposite the inside groove 130 is defined in the upper end portion 122 of the sidewall 120 by the inside groove 130. The upwardly extending alignment portion 132 is configured to be rotatably received inside the outside groove 110 of the intermediate sleeve 16. When the downwardly extending alignment portion 112 of the intermediate sleeve 16 is received inside the inside groove 130, the upwardly extending alignment portion 132 is simultaneously received inside the outside groove 110 of the intermediate sleeve 16 with the upwardly extending alignment portion 132 exteriorly overlapping the downwardly extending alignment portion 112.
As mentioned above, in the implementation illustrated in the figures, the bottom sleeve 18 is rotatable relative to the liner member 12 and both the top and intermediate sleeves 14 and 16. Therefore, the upwardly extending alignment portion 132 is configured to circumferentially slide within the outside groove 110 of the intermediate sleeve 16 about the central axis of rotation “R1.” Further, the intermediate sleeve 16 is rotatable relative to the liner member 12 and both the top and bottom sleeves 14 and 18. Therefore, the downwardly extending alignment portion 112 of the intermediate sleeve 16 is configured to circumferentially slide within the inside groove 130 of the bottom sleeve 18 about the central axis of rotation “R1.”
An outside groove 140 is formed in the lower end portion 124 of the sidewall 120. The outside groove 140 extends continuously along the lower end portion 124. A downwardly extending alignment portion 142 inward of the outside groove 140 is defined in the lower end portion 124 of the sidewall 120 by the outside groove 140.
Referring to
Turning to
Each of the radially extending openings 174 includes a shelf or ledge 186 spaced from the upper surface 164. Turning to
The key member 162 is non-rotatably coupled to the inside of the base cap 20. The key member 162 has an upper surface 200 supported by a cylindrically shaped base portion 208 and three radially outwardly extending locking members 210. In the embodiment illustrated, the locking members 210 are substantially planar and continuous with the upper surface 200. However, this is not a requirement and embodiments in which the locking members 210 are spaced from the upper surface 200 are also within the scope of the present teachings. The locking members 210 are configured to each be receivable inside one of the gaps 190 of the keyway member 160. Thus, the key member 162 has a locking member 210 for each of the gaps 190 of the keyway member 160.
When the locking members 210 are received inside each of the gaps 190 of the keyway member 160, the locking members 210 are adjacent the free edges 188 of the ledges 186 and the second radially extending sidewalls 182. The key member 162 may be rotated about the central axis of rotation “R1” in a locking direction (identified by arrow “A”) to move the locking members 210 away from the second radially extending sidewalls 182, over the free edges 188, over the detents 191, and into the gaps 187 (see
In the locked position, the key member 162 cannot be removed from the keyway member 160 without rotating the key member 162 about the central axis of rotation “R1” in the unlocking direction opposite the locking direction (identified by arrow “A”) to move the locking members 210 over the detents 191 and into the gaps 190 of the keyway member 160. When the locking members 210 are inside the gaps 190, the key member 162 may be removed from the keyway member 160 in a direction along the central axis of rotation “R1.” Thus, when the locking members 210 are inside the gaps 190, the key member 162 is in an unlocked position relative to the keyway member 160.
Referring to
Returning to
An upwardly extending alignment portion 264 outward of the inside groove 262 is defined in the upper end portion 260 of the sidewall 258 by the inside groove 262. The upwardly extending alignment portion 264 is configured to be received inside the outside groove 140 (see
In the implementation illustrated in the figures, the base cap 20 is rotatable relative to the liner member 12, the top sleeve 14, the intermediate sleeve 16, and the bottom sleeve 18. Therefore, the upwardly extending alignment portion 264 is configured to circumferentially slide within the outside groove 140 of the bottom sleeve 18 about the central axis of rotation “R1.” Further, the downwardly extending alignment portion 142 of the bottom sleeve 18 is configured to circumferentially slide within the inside groove 262 of the base cap 20 about the central axis of rotation “R1.”
Extending upwardly from the bottom portion 250, the base cap 20 has a first upwardly extending guide wall 280 spaced radially inward from a second upwardly extending guide wall 282, which is spaced radially inward from the sidewall 258. The first and second upwardly extending guide walls 280 and 282 are concentric and centered about the central axis of rotation “R1” with the first upwardly extending guide wall 280 being nearer the central axis of rotation “R1” than the second upwardly extending guide wall 282. Thus, the second upwardly extending guide wall 282 is located between the first upwardly extending guide wall 280 and the sidewall 258.
The key member 162 is non-removably coupled to the base cap 20. By way of a non-limiting example, the key member 162 may be sonic welded to the base cap 20. Returning to
A notch 288 is formed in the first upwardly extending guide wall 280. The notch 288 is configured to receive the tab 230 (see
The second upwardly extending guide wall 282 has an outside surface 286 facing away from the first upwardly extending guide wall 280 and toward the sidewall 258. The second upwardly extending guide wall 282 is configured to be received inside the annular sidewall 55 (see
When the base cap 20 is rotated about the central axis of rotation “R1,” the key member 162 and the base cap 20 rotate together as a unit. Therefore, by rotating the base cap 20 about the central axis of rotation “R1” relative to both the liner member 12 (see
When the top sleeve 14 is rotated about the central axis of rotation “R1,” the top sleeve 14, the liner member 12, and the keyway member 160 rotate together as a unit. Therefore, by rotating the top sleeve 14 about the central axis of rotation “R1” relative to both the key member 162 and the base cap 20, the locking members 210 may be selectively positioned in one of the gaps 187 or 190. As mentioned above, when the locking members 210 are positioned in the gaps 187, the key member 162 may not be disengaged from the keyway member 160 along the central axis of rotation “R1.” Thus, the key member 162 may lock the base cap 20 to the liner member 12. When the locking members 210 are positioned in the gaps 190, the key member 162 may be disengaged from the keyway member 160 along the central axis of rotation “R1.” Thus, the base cap 20 may be disassembled from the liner member 12 when the locking members 210 are positioned in the gaps 190.
The foregoing described embodiments depict different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected,” or “operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations).
Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.