U.S. patent application number 09/819766 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-02 for portable thermos receptacles.
This patent application is currently assigned to NIPPON SANSO CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Goto, Toru, Kowa, Yasuhiro, Toida, Shoji.
Application Number | 20010010314 09/819766 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26399108 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010010314 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Goto, Toru ; et al. |
August 2, 2001 |
Portable thermos receptacles
Abstract
The portable thermos receptacle has a receptacle main body
containing an inner shell, an outer shell and a heat-insulating
section defined between the inner shell and the outer shell, and a
cover removably applied to an opening of the receptacle main body.
The thermos receptacle has on the outer shell non-slip means over a
zone covering both a center of gravity when the receptacle is full
and a center of gravity when the receptacle is empty. The portable
thermos receptacle has a cylindrical shape which reduces toward the
top or bottom. The non-slip means is a recess, ridge or corrugated
portion which is formed integrally with the outer shell or a
synthetic resin non-slip member attached to the outer shell.
Inventors: |
Goto, Toru; (Tokyo, JP)
; Toida, Shoji; (Tokyo, JP) ; Kowa, Yasuhiro;
(Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARMSTRONG,WESTERMAN, HATTORI,
MCLELAND & NAUGHTON, LLP
1725 K STREET, NW, SUITE 1000
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
NIPPON SANSO CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
26399108 |
Appl. No.: |
09/819766 |
Filed: |
March 29, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09819766 |
Mar 29, 2001 |
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09567056 |
May 8, 2000 |
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09567056 |
May 8, 2000 |
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09264568 |
Mar 8, 1999 |
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6119888 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/674 ;
220/752 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 41/0083
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/674 ;
220/752 |
International
Class: |
B65D 006/08; B65D
006/10; B65D 006/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 10, 1998 |
JP |
10-58019 |
Claims
1. A portable thermos receptacle comprising: a receptacle main body
containing an inner shell, an outer shell and a heat-insulating
section defined between the inner shell and the outer shell; and a
cover removably applied to an opening of the receptacle main body;
the outer shell having non-slip means over a zone covering both a
center of gravity when the thermos receptacle is full and a center
of gravity when the thermos receptacle is empty.
2. The portable thermos receptacle according to claim 1 having a
cylindrical shape which reduces gradually toward the top or
bottom.
3. The portable thermos receptacle according to claim 1, wherein
the non-slip means is a recess formed integrally with the outer
shell.
4. The portable thermos receptacle according to claim 1, wherein
the non-slip means is a ridge formed integrally with the outer
shell.
5. The portable thermos receptacle according to claim 1, wherein
the non-slip means is a corrugated portion formed integrally with
the outer shell.
6. The portable thermos receptacle according to claim 1, wherein
the non-slip means is a synthetic resin non-slip member attached to
the outer shell.
7. The portable thermos receptacle according to claim 1, wherein
the non-slip member has ribs formed on the surface.
8. The portable thermos receptacle according to claim 1, wherein
the non-slip member has protrusions formed on the surface.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a portable thermos
receptacle.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Portable thermos receptacles each have a receptacle main
body provided with a heat-insulating section defined between an
inner shell and an outer shell, and a cover removably applied to an
opening of the receptacle main body. Such thermos receptacles are
roughly divided into two types, i.e. those with handles and those
without handles. Generally, many of large-capacity thermos
receptacles, which have large barrel diameters, are of the type
with handles considering handleability, for example, when the
receptacle is carried and when the content in the receptacle is
poured out.
[0003] Meanwhile, thermos receptacles having relatively small
capacities are frequently of the type with no handles for
convenience' sake, because they can be formed to have diameters
such that the receptacles can be gripped with hands by the barrels.
Further, such relatively small-capacity thermos receptacles in many
cases have smooth barrel surfaces with no protrusion or recess due
to difficulty in molding and the like, and also they are formed to
have a cylindrical shape which reduces from the bottom toward the
top or from the middle part of the barrel toward the top or
bottom.
[0004] Accordingly, these thermos receptacles involve problems in
that the receptacle is likely to slip when it is held with the hand
by the barrel to pour the content of the receptacle out of it; and
that, if the capacity of the receptacle is to be increased
slightly, the height of the receptacle is increased rather than the
barrel diameter, so that the center of gravity shifts greatly
between the position when the receptacle is full and the position
when the receptacle is empty to make it difficult to handle the
receptacle unless the barrel of the receptacle is gripped at an
appropriate position depending on the center of gravity in each
occasion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a
portable thermos receptacle which hardly slips even if it is held
with the hand by the barrel and which can be handled easily even if
the center of gravity shifts greatly.
[0006] The portable thermos receptacle according to the present
invention has a receptacle main body containing an inner shell, an
outer shell and a heat-insulating section defined between the inner
shell and the outer shell; and a cover removably applied to an
opening of the receptacle main body; the outer shell having
non-slip means over a zone covering both a center of gravity when
the thermos receptacle is full and a center of gravity when the
thermos receptacle is empty.
[0007] Accordingly, the gripping position when the thermos
receptacle is carried or when the content of the receptacle is
poured out or drunk can be clarified by the presence of the
non-slip means, and the thermos receptacle can be gripped always at
the center of gravity, facilitating handling of the receptacle.
[0008] The non-slip means is suitably used in a cylindrical thermos
receptacle which reduces gradually toward the top or bottom.
Further, the non-slip means is a recess, ridge or corrugated
portion which is formed on the outer shell or a synthetic resin
non-slip member attached to the outer shell. This non-slip member
has ribs or protrusions on the surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of the portable
thermos receptacle according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the upper half of
the portable thermos receptacle according to a second embodiment of
the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the portable
thermos receptacle according to a third embodiment of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the upper
half of the portable thermos receptacle according to a fourth
embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the upper
half of the portable thermos receptacle according to a fifth
embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the upper
half of the portable thermos receptacle according to a sixth
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the upper
half of the portable thermos receptacle according to a seventh
embodiment of the present invention.
EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The embodiments of the present invention will be described
more specifically referring to the drawings respectively. It should
be noted that like or same parts in these embodiments are affixed
with the same reference numbers as used in the first embodiment,
and description of them will be omitted or simplified.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows the first embodiment of the present invention.
A thermos receptacle 1 is provided with a receptacle main body 2
having a heat-insulating structure and a cover 3 serving also as a
cup removably applied to an opening of the receptacle main body 2.
The receptacle main body 2 is formed by joining a metallic or resin
closed-bottom inner shell 4 and a metallic or resin closed-bottom
outer shell 5 at their upper end openings, and a heat-insulating
section 6 having a vacuum heat-insulating structure is defined
between the shell 4 and the shell 5. Further, a bottom part 7 is
attached to the bottom of the outer shell 5.
[0018] A non-slip means 8 is formed on the outer circumference of
the outer shell 5 over the zone covering both the center of gravity
G1 when the thermos receptacle 1 is full and the center of gravity
G2 when the thermos receptacle 1 is empty. The non-slip means 8 in
this embodiment is an annular recess 81 formed by allowing the zone
covering the centers of gravity G1 and G2 to recede from the upper
and lower portions.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
The thermos receptacle 1 in this embodiment has as the non-slip
part 8 an annular ridge 82, in place of the annular recess 81,
formed by expanding the zone covering the centers of gravity G1 and
G2 compared with the upper and lower portions.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
The cover 3 of the thermos receptacle 1 in this embodiment has on
its top plate 3a a closable drinking spout 11 protruding therefrom
and a negative pressure relief valve 12. The drinking spout 11
contains a cylindrical drinking spout main body 13 having a channel
13a and rising from one side of the top plate 3a; a drinking spout
portion 14 which is fitted on the drinking spout main body 13 to be
shiftable along it in the axial direction so as to open and close
the channel 13a; and a drinking spout cap 15 which can be removably
applied to the drinking spout portion 14.
[0021] The drinking spout main body 13 has a columnar guide 13b
formed at the center of the upper end and also has a stopping rim
13c protruding along the periphery and to prevent the drinking
spout portion 14 from slipping off the drinking spout main body 13.
The drinking spout portion 14 has, in its cylindrical body 14a, a
through hole 14c, formed at the center of its top plate 14b, to
which the guide 13b is inserted; an annular ridge 14d formed on the
inner circumference of the cylindrical body 14a at the middle part;
and an engaging portion 14e, with which the drinking spout cap 15
is engaged, formed on the outer upper circumference of the
cylindrical body 14a. The drinking spout cap 15 has a cap portion
15a to be applied to the drinking spout portion 14, a retaining
ring 15b to be attached to the proximal portion of the drinking
spout main body 13 and a retaining belt 15c which connects the cap
portion 15a with the retaining ring 15b and can be bent into a U
shape. The cap portion 15a has an engaging portion 15d to be
engaged with the engaging portion 14e of the drinking spout portion
14 and a flange 15e, which catches fingers when the cap portion 15a
is pulled off, formed along the inner upper circumference and along
the outer upper circumference, respectively.
[0022] On the other side of the top plate 3a of the cover 3, is
formed a slit-like air vent 16 for preventing reduction in the
internal pressure of the receptacle main body 2 from occurring, and
the negative pressure relief valve 12 is located in the air vent
16. The negative pressure relief valve 12 has a valve stem 12a
inserted to the air vent 16, a valve element 12b located on the
lower end of the valve stem 12a and a stopping end portion 12c
formed on the upper end of the valve stem 12a. The valve element
12b attached to the inner side of the top plate 3a flexes when the
internal pressure of the receptacle main body 2 is reduced to open
the air vent 16, and closes the air vent 16 when the internal
pressure of the receptacle main body 2 is returned to atmospheric
pressure or when the pressure of the water in the receptacle main
body 2 is exerted to the valve element 12b.
[0023] An annular corrugated portion 83 consisting of a plurality
of ribs is formed as the non-slip means 8 on the outer
circumference of the outer shell 5 over the zone covering the
centers of gravity G1 and G2. The corrugated portion 83 formed as
the non-slip means 8 may be replaced with a plurality of
protrusions.
[0024] In the thermos receptacle 1 having the constitution as
described above, in the state where the drinking spout cap 15 is
applied to the drinking spout portion 14 of the drinking spout 11
as shown in FIG. 3, the through hole 12c and the channel 11a are
closed, and also the air vent 16 is closed by the valve element
12b.
[0025] When one holds the thermos receptacle 1 by the non-slip
means 8 and pulls up the flange 15e with his or her hand or mouth,
the drinking spout portion 14 is pulled up together with the
drinking spout cap 15 to ascend until the annular ridge 14d is
engaged with the stopping rim 13c. Then, the engaging portion 15d
rides over the engaging portion 14e, and thus the drinking spout
cap 15 is released from the drinking spout portion 14 to open the
through hole 14c and the channel 13a.
[0026] If one holds the thermos receptacle 1 tilted such that the
drinking spout 11 may locate on-the lower side and sucks the water
with his or her mouth applied to the drinking spout portion 14, the
internal pressure of the thermos receptacle 1 is reduced, and the
valve element 12b of the negative pressure relief valve 12 flexes
to open the air vent 16 and allow the outside air to flow through
it into the thermos receptacle 1. Thus, the internal pressure of
the thermos receptacle 1 is prevented from being reduced, and the
water in the thermos receptacle 1 can be drunk through the through
hole 14c via the channel 13a.
[0027] In this embodiment, since the procedures of opening and
closing the drinking spout 11, tilting the thermos receptacle 1,
etc. are carried out with the receptacle 1 being held with the hand
by the non-slip means 8 formed to cover both the center of gravity
G1 when the receptacle 1 is full and the center of gravity G2 when
the receptacle 1 is empty, the thermos receptacle 1 can be gripped
securely to facilitate the procedures of tilting etc.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention
which is carried out in a thermos receptacle 1 having the same
drinking spout structure as in the third embodiment. The outer
shell 5 is provided on the outer circumference with a cylindrical
non-slip band 84 made of a synthetic resin, as the non-slip means
8, over the zone covering both the center of gravity G1 when the
receptacle 1 is full and the center of gravity G2 when the
receptacle 1 is empty. This non-slip member 84 is preferably made
of an elastic material such as elastomer resin materials and
silicone resin materials and can be attached to the outer shell 5
utilizing elasticity of such materials. Otherwise, a leather
non-slip member may be bonded to such a zone.
[0029] FIG. 5 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in
which the present invention is carried out in a thermos receptacle
1 having the same cover structure as in the first embodiment. The
thermos receptacle 1 has on the outer circumference of the outer
shell a pair of annular ridges 5a and 5b molded integrally with the
outer shell 5 at the upper and lower extremities of the zone
covering both the center of gravity G1 when the receptacle 1 is
full and the center of gravity G2 when the receptacle 1 is empty,
and a non-slip member 85 having on the surface a plurality of
annular ribs 85a is interposed as the nonslip means 8 between these
annular ridges 5a and 5b.
[0030] FIG. 6 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In
this embodiment, the present invention is carried out in a thermos
receptacle 1 having a cover 3 of the same drinking spout structure
as in the third embodiment. An annular recess 5c is formed on the
outer circumference of the outer shell 5 integrally over the zone
covering both the center of gravity G1 when the receptacle 1 is
full and the center of gravity G2 when the receptacle 2 is empty,
and the same non-slip member 85 as in the fifth embodiment is
fitted as the non-slip means 8 in the recess 5c.
[0031] FIG. 7 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention,
in which the present invention is carried out in a thermos
receptacle 1 having a cover 3 of the same drinking spout structure
as in the third embodiment, and a non-slip member 86 having on the
surface a plurality of protrusions 86a is interposed as the
non-slip means 8 between a pair of annular ridges 5a and 5b formed
in the same as in the fifth embodiment.
[0032] According to the above constitutions, the gripping position
can be clarified when the thermos receptacle is carried or when the
content of the receptacle is poured out or drunk, and the thermos
receptacle can be gripped at the center of gravity, facilitating
handling of the receptacle. Further, the ribs or protrusions formed
as the non-slip means exert higher effect of preventing slipping of
the thermos receptacle.
[0033] It should be noted that it is of course possible to apply
each of the non-slip means employed in the above embodiments to the
other embodiments. Further, while the thermos receptacles 1 in the
respective embodiments are formed to have cylindrical shapes which
reduce gradually from the middle of the barrel toward the top, they
may be of cylindrical shapes which reduce gradually from the bottom
to the top or from the middle part of the barrel toward the bottom.
In addition, while the receptacle main bodies 2 explained in the
respective embodiments were of the vacuum heat-insulating
structure, they may be of other heat-insulating structures, for
example, a heat-insulating structure sealed with a low-thermal
conductivity gas and a heat-insulating structure employing a heat
insulating material such as urethane foam and the like.
* * * * *