Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6311863
-
Patent Number
6,311,863
-
Date Filed
Friday, October 11, 199627 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 6, 200122 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 220 719
- 220 713
- 220 714
- 220 563
- 220 501
- 220 3671
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A covered beverage container with an internal baffle which forces aroma laden vapor between the lid and the beverage in the container out openings in the lid when the container is tipped from the level position to the drinking position, thereby allowing the user to more fully enjoy the aroma of the beverage.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to covered beverage containers including single use paper and plastic cups and lids as well as reusable plastic, metal and/or ceramic covered beverage containers, and, more particularly, to a covered beverage container that directs beverage vapor in a predetermined direction. Such containers are typically used for coffee, tea and soft drinks. Such containers allow the aroma of the beverage to be enjoyed while drinking from a container while the cover or lid of the container remains on, thereby reducing the risk of spilling and, for hot beverages, retaining the heat of the beverage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known that the aroma of a beverage comprises a large part of the flavor of the beverage. While the taste buds sense only sweet, salt, sour and bitter, the nose can distinguish between approximately 10,000 distinct odors.
Typically, covered beverage containers sacrifice to a significant degree the aroma of the beverage when the beverage is drunk while the lid of the container remains in place. Other covered beverage containers allow for aroma laden air vapor to travel through drink openings or other small openings for venting air.
However, because the vast majority of the container must remain covered in order to achieve the benefits of a lid (such as reduced risk of spilling and retaining the heat of hot beverages), traditional lidded beverage containers have resulted in far less of the aroma laden air from the beverage reaching the nostrils of the drinker.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a vapor directing beverage container comprises a lidded beverage container with an internal baffle. The lid has a drink opening to allow beverage to pass through the lid while the lid remains attached to the container and at least one vent opening in addition to the drink opening to allow vapor within the container to pass through the lid. The baffle is sized and shaped so that when it is inserted into the container, the baffle seals against the container side walls and extends down into the container so that the bottom of the baffle is near to the bottom of the container. The space between the bottom of the baffle and the bottom of the container allows liquid in the container to flow freely from one side of the baffle to the other side of the baffle. The baffle sealably attaches to the lid of the container and is further positioned between the drink opening and the vent opening so as to divide the space within the container into two chambers. When the container is tipped to allow beverage to flow out the drink opening, vapor within one chamber is forced out openings in the lid while air from outside the container is simultaneously drawn into the container through openings on the other side of the baffle. The precise location and shape and number of the openings through which vapor is directed can vary depending upon the size and shape of the lid and container in order control the direction and speed of the vapor.
In accordance with the present invention, a covered beverage container is provided for pumping vapor from within the container to the vicinity of the user's nose when the container is tipped from the level position to the drinking position or from the drinking position back to the level position.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the beverage container includes a lid through which beverage can be drunk with the lid still in place, thereby reducing the amount of spillage from the container and retaining the heat of a hot beverage while the container remains at rest.
An important feature of the present invention is a baffle that, when the container is tipped, allows the rising liquid level in one half of the container to force vapor out openings in the lid towards the user's nose.
An important advantage of the present invention is that it provides a new mechanism beyond volatilization by which the aroma of the beverage can be enjoyed by the user.
The foregoing and other objectives, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
shows the side view of a simple vapor directing beverage container with a vertical baffle formed in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2
shows a schematic of the effect created by tipping a vapor directing beverage container.
FIG. 3
shows a disposable cup.
FIG. 4
shows a disposable baffle.
FIG. 5
shows a disposable lid.
FIG. 6
shows the baffle of
FIG. 4
inserted into the cup of FIG.
3
.
FIG. 7
shows the lid of
FIG. 5
attached to the cup/baffle assembly of FIG.
6
.
FIG. 8
shows a ceramic cup with handle.
FIG. 9
shows a vapor directing cup insert with a vertical baffle.
FIG. 10
shows a vapor directing cup insert with a vertical and horizontal baffle.
FIG. 11
shows the insert of
FIG. 10
inserted into the cup of FIG.
8
.
FIG. 12
shows a reusable beverage cup with grooves for a vertical baffle.
FIG. 13
shows a vertical baffle.
FIG. 14
shows a reusable lid.
FIG. 15
shows the baffle of
FIG. 13
inserted into the cup of FIG.
12
.
FIG. 16
shows the lid of
FIG. 14
attached to the cup/baffle assembly of FIG.
15
.
FIG. 17
shows a reusable beverage cup.
FIG. 18
shows a reusable lid and baffle chamber as separate pieces.
FIG. 19
shows the reusable lid and baffle chamber of
FIG. 18
assembled together.
FIG. 20
shows the lid and baffle assembly of
FIG. 19
attached to the cup of FIG.
17
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings,
FIG. 1
exemplifies a simple representation of the invention. The vapor directing beverage container
30
includes a container
32
with a closure lid
34
sealed to the rim of the container
32
. A baffle
36
seals against the lid
34
and the side walls of the container
32
. A gap
38
between the bottom of the container
32
and the bottom edge of the baffle
36
allows liquid in the container
32
to flow freely from one side of the baffle
36
to the other side. The lid
34
has a drink opening
40
and vent openings
42
.
FIG. 2
shows a simplified two-dimensional schematic of the vapor directing beverage container
30
, which is shown in
FIG. 1
, where the container
46
with a lid
48
and a baffle
50
has been tipped to the drinking position so that the beverage may be drunk through the drink opening
60
. The liquid in container
46
is represented by the shaded areas
52
and
54
. In a level position the same volume of liquid in the container
46
would occupy the shaded areas
52
and
58
. As the container
46
is tipped from the level position to the drinking position, the air volume
56
decreases. The vapor in area
54
is forced out the drink opening
60
and vent opening
62
. When the container
46
is tipped back to the level position, the vapor in area
58
is forced out vent opening
64
.
FIG.
3
-
FIG. 7
depict one of the alternative embodiments of the present invention. The container
66
is of any conventional configuration and construction including disposable cups of the type commonly used as carry out containers for beverages such as coffee and tea. Typically, the container
66
has downwardly converging side walls
68
and a bottom
70
so that the container
66
is an inverted frusto-conical shape. The container
66
may be fabricated from any number of materials including wax or resin impregnated paper, Styrofoam, plastic sheet or paperboard. The container typically has a bead formed on the rim
72
to facilitate attachment of a lid.
The baffle
74
depicted in
FIG. 4
is sized and shaped to slidably fit into the container
66
, as depicted in FIG.
6
. The baffle
74
may be fabricated from any number of materials including wax or resin impregnated paper, Styrofoam, plastic sheet or paperboard. The baffle
74
is topped with a bead
76
so that when the baffle
74
is inserted into the container
66
, the rim
72
of the container
66
and the bead
76
of the baffle
74
form a continuous edge
108
to which the lid
80
, depicted in
FIG. 5
, can be sealably attached. When the baffle
74
is inserted into the container
66
, the baffle
74
frictionally seals against the side wall
68
of the container
66
so that neither air nor liquid will leak through the joint
110
. The baffle side
78
is shorter than the container side wall
68
so that a gap
112
is created between the bottom of the baffle
74
and the bottom of the container
66
when the baffle
74
is fully inserted into the container
66
.
FIG. 5
depicts a lid
80
, which covers the container
66
. The lid
80
includes a recessed rim
82
, which releasably attaches to the rim
72
of the container
66
. The lid
80
also includes a grove
84
, which engages the bead
76
of the baffle
74
. When the baffle
74
is inserted into the container
66
, as depicted in
FIG. 6
, and the lid
80
is attached to the baffle/container assembly
106
, as depicted in
FIG. 7
, an air and water tight seal (
116
and
118
) is created between the container
66
and lid
80
and the baffle
74
and lid
80
.
The lid
80
includes a tapering annular side wall
90
that extends upwardly from the recessed rim
82
, and a large top wall
98
having a generally circular periphery adjoining the side wall
90
and sloping down to the groove
84
. The top wall
98
has an opening
104
adjacent to the periphery of the top wall
98
, which allows vapor to pass through the lid
80
. The lid
80
also includes an annular side wall
86
that extends upward from the recessed rim
82
, and a groove side wall
88
that extends upward from the grove
84
. A small top wall
96
adjoins the groove side wall
88
and has vent openings
102
near the edge where the small top wall
96
joins the groove side wall
88
. A drink opening top wall
92
adjoins the side wall
86
and has a drink opening
100
. The tapering annular side wall
94
depends downward from the drink opening top wall
92
and adjoins the small top wall
96
. The side wall
86
, drink opening top wall
92
, and tapered annular side wall
94
are configured to allow the lips of the user to comfortably fit around the area of the drink opening
100
.
The lid is frusto-conical in shape (i.e., all angles are less than 90 degrees), which allows it to be constructed of a single piece of vacuum formed plastic and also allows multiple lids to be stacked for storage and shipment.
FIG.
8
-
FIG. 11
depict other alternative embodiments of the present invention. The cup
120
can be any conventional configuration including the common ceramic mug with a handle which is often used for drinking coffee and tea.
FIG. 9
depicts a cup insert
122
, which may be constructed from a single piece of injection molded plastic or from other relatively inexpensive materials such as ceramic, metal, wood, or paper. The cup insert
122
comprises a slopped circular top wall and a vertical baffle member
126
that adjoins the top wall
124
at or near the top wall
124
diameter and extends perpendicularly downward. The outer circular rim
138
and the edges
140
of the baffle
126
frictionally engage the inner side wall of the cup
40
when the cup insert
122
is inserted into the cup
40
to create the cup/insert assembly
136
, as depicted in FIG.
11
. The outer rim
138
of the top wall
124
and edges
140
of the baffle
126
include a gasket or flap which is preferably but not necessarily made out of the same material as the rest of the cup insert
122
but is thinner so as to be more flexible in order to assist in obtaining a air and water tight seal and to allow a single sized cup insert
122
to fit slightly different diameter cups. The slopping circular top wall
124
has a drink notch
130
at the lowest point when the cup insert
122
is inserted into the cup
120
. The top wall
124
also includes vent openings
132
on the same side of the baffle member
126
as the drink notch
130
that are near to where the baffle member
126
joins the top wall
124
. The top wall also includes a vent opening
134
that is on the opposite side of the baffle member
126
from the drink notch
130
. The precise size, shape, location and number of the vent openings
132
and
134
may vary depending upon the size and shape of the cup
120
. However, there must always be at least one vent opening
134
, which allows the air pressure within the cup
120
to equalize when the cup
120
is tipped to the drinking position and back to the level position. Vent openings should also be located so that the beverage will not spill out of the vent openings when the cup is tipped to the drinking position. The cup insert
122
also includes a tapered side wall
128
which extends upward from the top wall
124
from that portion of the top wall rim that is on the opposite side of the baffle
126
from the drink notch
130
. The rim
142
of the side wall
128
contains a bead or lip which prevents the cup insert
122
from being pushed too far into the cup
120
. As depicted in
FIG. 11
, the rim
142
allows the insert to easily be inserted into and removed from the cup
120
and insures that the cup insert
122
is properly positioned in the cup
120
when the insert
122
is pushed into the cup
120
until the rim
142
rests against the lip of the cup, as shown in FIG.
11
.
The cup insert embodiment
144
depicted in
FIG. 10
is identical to the embodiment
122
depicted in
FIG. 9
except that the vertical portion
146
of the baffle is shorter and the baffle has a horizontal portion
148
extending in a half circle from the bottom of the vertical portion
146
. The edge
150
of the horizontal portion
148
of the baffle frictionally engages the inner side wall of the cup
120
in the same manner as the edges of the vertical portion
146
of the baffle frictionally engage the side wall of the cup
120
. The horizontal portion
148
of the baffle has a notch
152
, which allows air and liquid to pass between the horizontal portion
148
of the baffle and the side wall of the cup
120
.
FIG.
12
through
FIG. 16
depict another alternative embodiment of the present invention. The container
156
, depicted in
FIG. 12
, is a reusable beverage cup, typically constructed of plastic or aluminum. The container
156
has a neck
162
which has threading or similar features which allow the lid
172
, depicted in
FIG. 14
, to removably attach to the container
156
, as depicted in FIG.
16
. The container
156
includes grooves
166
on opposite sides of the side walls on the inside of the container
156
such that the baffle
168
, depicted in
FIG. 13
, may be inserted into the container
156
, to create a container/baffle assembly
186
, as depicted in FIG.
15
. The baffle
168
is sized and shaped so that, when the baffle
168
is inserted into the container
156
, an air and water tight seal
190
is created between the side edges
170
of the baffle
168
and the side walls of the cup
156
. However, a gap
190
remains between the bottom edge of the baffle
168
and the base of the cup
156
such that liquid may flow freely beneath the baffle
168
. The container
156
also includes a tube
160
attached to the inner side wall of the container
156
, tube
160
extending vertically down the side wall of the container
156
. The bottom of tube
160
opens near the base of the container
156
and the top of tube
160
opens at the rim of the container
156
.
FIG. 14
depicts a lid
170
that includes a circular top wall
172
and an annular side wall
174
that depends downward from the top wall
172
and also extends upward from the top wall
172
to create a drinking lip
176
. The top wall
172
contains a drink opening
178
near the periphery of the top wall
172
. The top wall
172
also includes vent openings
180
that are located near the periphery of the top wall
172
approximately 90 degrees from the drink opening
178
and adjacent to where the baffle
68
seals against the bottom of the top wall
172
, when the lid
170
is attached to the baffle/container assembly
186
. The vent openings
180
are on the same side of the baffle
168
as the drink opening
180
. The lid
172
also includes a vent opening
187
which is near the periphery of the top wall
172
approximately 180 degrees from the drink opening
178
. By locating the vent openings
180
and
182
as described above, beverage within the cup
156
will not spill out the vent openings when the cup
156
is tipped to the drinking position. A curved pipe
184
is attached to the vent opening
182
and extends horizontally on top of the top wall
172
toward the drinking opening
178
. This allows vapor being force out the vent opening
182
when the container is tipped from the drinking position back to the level position to be directed toward the users nose. The vent openings
180
may also be ducted (not shown) to direct vapor as desired.
When the lid
170
is attached to the baffle/container assembly
186
, as depicted in
FIG. 16
, the drink opening
178
aligns with the top of the tube
160
and the top wall
172
seals against the top of the tube
160
such that, when the vapor directing beverage container
192
contains liquid and is tipped to the drinking position, only the vapor within the tube
160
is forced out the drink opening
178
, thus allowing more vapor to be directed out the vent openings
180
.
FIG.
17
through
FIG. 20
depict another alternative embodiment of the present invention. The container
198
depicted in
FIG. 17
is the same as the container
156
depicted in
FIG. 12
, except that container
198
does not have grooves
166
and does not have a tube
160
. The lid
200
is the same as the lid
170
(ducting of the vent openings is not shown). However, in this alternative embodiment, the vertical baffle
168
is replaced with a baffle chamber
202
, as depicted in FIG.
18
. The baffle chamber
202
includes a curved side wall
204
and a rectangular side wall
206
, both side walls extending upward from a baffle base
208
. The baffle base
208
has an opening
210
which is directly beneath the drink opening
214
when the baffle chamber
202
is sealably attached
216
to the lid
200
, as depicted in FIG.
19
.
FIG. 20
depicts the lid/baffle chamber assembly
212
removably attached to the container
198
. When the vapor directing beverage container
218
contains liquid and is tipped to the drinking position, vapor within the baffle chamber
202
is forced out the vent openings and drink opening as liquid flows into the baffle chamber
202
through the baffle base opening
208
.
Claims
- 1. A vapor directing beverage container, comprising:(a) containing means for containing liquid; (b) covering means for covering said containing means, said covering means sealably attaching to said containing means and having at least a first opening means and a second opening means; (c) baffle means for dividing said containing means into at least a first chamber means and a second chamber means, said baffle means being shaped and positioned to allow liquid in said containing means to flow freely between each of said chamber means, said baffle means being sealed against said covering means and shaped and positioned to prevent vapor within said first chamber means that is between said covering means and liquid in said containing means from flowing to said second chamber means; (d) said covering means associated with each of said chamber means having at least a first of said opening means through said covering means, such that, when said containing means contains liquid and is tipped to allow liquid to flow out of at least a first of said opening means in said covering means, vapor within said first chamber means is forced out of at least a first of said opening means associated with said first chamber means, while vapor outside said container means is simultaneously drawn into at least said second chamber means through at least a first of said opening means associated with said second chamber means.
- 2. A vapor directing beverage container, comprising:(a) a container for holding liquid; (b) a lid for sealably covering said container, said lid having at least a first opening and second opening for permitting the passage of liquid or vapor through said lid; (c) a baffle in said container that seals against said lid, said baffle shaped and positioned within said container to create at least a first chamber and a second chamber, said baffle further shaped and positioned to allow liquid in said container to flow freely between said chambers, said baffle further shaped and positioned to prevent vapor within said first chamber that is between said lid and liquid in said container from flowing to said second chamber; and (d) wherein said baffle is shaped and positioned so that at least one of said openings in said lid is associated with said first chamber and at least one of said openings in said lid is associated with said second chamber, such that when said container contains liquid and is tipped to allow liquid to flow out of at least one of said openings in said lid associated with said first chamber, vapor within said first chamber is forced out of a second one of said at least a first opening in said lid associated with said first chamber while vapor outside said container is simultaneously drawn into said container through at least a first of said openings in said lid associated with said second chamber.
- 3. The vapor directing beverage container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said lid further comprises:(a) an annular rim, said annular rim configured to allow said lid to be removably attached to said container; (b) an annular side wall extending upward from said annular rim; (c) a circular top wall depending from said annular side wall, said circular top wall having (i) a drink opening adjacent to the periphery of said top wall, (ii) a groove in the bottom surface of said top wall that extends from one edge of said top wall at a point that is about 90 degrees from said drink opening to the opposite edge of said top wall at a point that is also about 90 degrees from said drink opening, said groove allowing said baffle to be removably attached to said lid, (iii) at least a first vent opening adjacent to the periphery of said top wall at a point about 180 degrees from said drink opening, (iv) at least a second vent opening adjacent to said groove and on the same side of said groove as said drink opening.
- 4. The vapor directing beverage container as set forth in claim 3, wherein said annular side wall is frusto-conical in shape.
- 5. The vapor directing beverage container as set forth in claim 2 wherein at least one of said openings in said lid associated with said first chamber is ducted, so that the out-flow location of vapor directed through said vent opening is controlled.
- 6. The vapor directing beverage container as set forth in claim 2 wherein:(a) said container comprises (i) a base, (ii) side walls extending upwards to a top from said base and cooperating with said base to form a container for holding liquid, (iii) a tube attached to an inner portion of said side walls of said container, said tube extending vertically downward, said tube having a bottom opening and a top opening, said bottom opening located near the base of said container, said top opening located near the top of said side wall; and, (b) wherein said lid comprises (i) a bottom, (ii) at least a first vent opening, one of said at least first vent openings located on the same side of said baffle as said at least a first of said openings in said lid associated with said first chamber, (iii) a means for removably attaching said lid to said container such that when said lid is attached to said container, said at least a first of said openings in said lid associated with said first chamber aligns with said top tube opening (iv) said top tube opening sealing against said bottom of said lid such that when said container contains liquid and is tipped from a level position to a drinking position, only the vapor within said tube flows out said at least a first of said openings in said lid associated with said first chamber, thus allowing more vapor to be directed out at least a first said vent opening.
- 7. The vapor directing beverage container as set forth in claim 3 wherein:(a) said container comprises a circular base with side walls extending upwards from said base to a circular rim; and (b) wherein said baffle comprises a vertical extension which, when inserted into said container, seals against said side walls of said container near the diameter of said container; and (c) wherein said drink opening in said lid is near the point along the periphery of said lid which is 90 degrees from the points along said rim of said container where said baffle seals against said container side wall.
- 8. The vapor directing beverage container as set forth in claim 3 wherein:(a) said container comprises (i) a circular base wall, and (ii) side walls extending upwards from said base wall to a circular rim; (b) said lid comprises (i) a horizontal top wall having a top and bottom, (ii) vertical side walls extending downward from said top wall; (c) said baffle comprising a baffle chamber, said baffle chamber further comprising a horizontal baffle chamber base that is approximately a half circle in shape, said baffle chamber base being sized and shaped to fit within said container and seal against said side walls of said container, and baffle chamber side walls said baffle chamber side walls extending upward from the periphery of said baffle chamber base and sealably attaching to the bottom of said lid; (d) said baffle chamber base has an opening near the point along the periphery of said baffle chamber base which is 90 degrees from the end points of the straight edge of said baffle chamber base; and (e) said drink opening in said lid is located near the point along the periphery of said lid top wall which is directly above said baffle chamber opening.
US Referenced Citations (15)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
502009 |
Mar 1939 |
GB |