U.S. patent application number 10/759752 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-29 for container device with rotating member connected rotatably to a container.
Invention is credited to Chen, Ying-Che.
Application Number | 20040144675 10/759752 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31975505 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040144675 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen, Ying-Che |
July 29, 2004 |
Container device with rotating member connected rotatably to a
container
Abstract
A container device includes a container having a wall that
defines an accommodating space therein, and a rotating member
connected rotatably to an outer surface of the wall of the
container.
Inventors: |
Chen, Ying-Che; (Taipei
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GALLAGHER & LATHROP, A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
601 CALIFORNIA ST
SUITE 1111
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94108
US
|
Family ID: |
31975505 |
Appl. No.: |
10/759752 |
Filed: |
January 16, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/457 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 5/18 20130101; A47G
7/06 20130101; A47G 19/2227 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/457 |
International
Class: |
B65D 073/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 23, 2003 |
CN |
092201285 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A container device comprising: a container having a wall that
defines an accommodating space therein and that is formed with an
outer surface; and a rotating member connected rotatably to said
outer surface of said wall of said container.
2. The container device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wall of
said container is cylindrical, said outer surface of said wall of
said container being annular, said rotating member being rotatable
about a rotating axis that extends along a radial direction of said
wall of said container.
3. The container device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer
surface of said wall of said container is planar, said rotating
member being rotatable about a rotating axis that is perpendicular
to said outer surface of said wall of said container.
4. The container device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer
surface of said wall of said container is formed with a shaft that
has an enlarged outer end, said rotating member being shaped as a
vertical disk that is sleeved rotatably around said shaft and that
is confined between said enlarged outer end of said shaft and said
outer surface of said wall of said container.
5. The container device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer
surface of said wall of said container is formed with a circular
restricting cavity, said rotating member being shaped as a disk and
having a center that is formed with an integral shaft which has an
enlarged round end that is confined within and that is disposed
rotatably within said cavity in said outer surface of said wall of
said container.
6. The container device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
generally semi-spherical coupling member that is mounted removably
on said wall of said container and that is formed with a circular
restricting cavity, said rotating member being shaped as a disk and
being formed with an integral shaft which has an enlarged round end
that is confined within and that is disposed rotatably within said
cavity in said coupling member.
7. The container device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said wall of
said container is formed with a circular hole therethrough, said
coupling member being press fitted within said circular hole in
said wall of said container.
8. The container device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer
surface of said wall of said container is formed with a circular
recess, said shaft having an inner end that is opposite to said
enlarged outer end and that is formed integrally with a hollow
cylindrical mounting portion which is mounted adhesively within
said circular recess in said outer surface of said wall of said
container.
9. The container device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
container has an open upper end, said container device further
comprising a cap that is sleeved around said upper end of said
container in a tight fit manner and that is formed with an integral
shaft which extends upwardly from a center of said cap and which
has an enlarged outer end, said rotating member being shaped as a
horizontal disk that is sleeved around said shaft and that is
confined between said enlarged outer end of said shaft and said
cap.
10. The container device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer
surface of said wall of said container is formed with a circular
recess, a portion of said wall of said container defining said
circular recess being formed with an annular groove, said rotating
member being shaped as a disk that is received rotatably within
said circular recess and that is formed with an outer flange which
is received rotatably within said annular groove in said wall of
said container.
11. The container device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
a transparent cover that is attached removably to said wall of said
container so as to cover said rotating member.
12. The container device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer
surface of said wall of said container is formed with a circular
recess, said rotating member being shaped as a disk that is
disposed rotatably within said circular recess in said outer
surface of said wall of said container and that has an annular
surface along a periphery thereof, said container device further
comprising: an air valve disposed within said wall of said
container and having an air spray port that is directed toward said
annular surface of said rotating member; and a spring-biased push
rod mounted operably on said wall of said container and operable to
force air from said spray port of said air valve toward said
annular surface of said rotating member so as to rotate said
rotating member within said recess in said outer surface of said
wall of said container.
13. The container device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer
surface of said wall of said container is formed with an annular
groove, said container device further comprising: a transparent
annular cover attached fixedly to said wall of said container so as
to cover said annular groove in said outer surface of said wall of
said container, thereby defining a liquid channel therebetween; a
liquid filling said liquid channel; a movable body disposed movably
within said liquid in said liquid channel; a liquid valve disposed
within said wall of said container and in fluid communication with
said liquid channel; and a spring-biased push rod mounted operably
on said wall of said container and operable to create a liquid
current within said liquid channel so as to move said movable body
in said liquid channel.
14. The container device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
container has a container body, a base, and a post having upper and
lower ends connected respectively to said container body and said
base, said rotating member being shaped as a horizontal disk that
is sleeved rotatably around said post.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application
No. 092201285, filed on Jan. 23, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a container device, and more
particularly to a container device that includes a rotating member
connected rotatably to a container.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Normally, a conventional container is used solely to contain
articles or liquid, and is monotonous in appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The object of this invention is to provide a container
device that has an attractive and interesting structure.
[0007] According to this invention, a container device includes a
container having a wall that defines an accommodating space
therein, and a rotating member connected rotatably to an outer
surface of the wall of the container so as to make the structure of
the container device attractive and interesting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] These and other features and advantages of this invention
will become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0009] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the first preferred embodiment of a
container device according to this invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates the second preferred embodiment of a
container device according to this invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates the third preferred embodiment of a
container device according to this invention;
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates the fourth preferred embodiment of a
container device according to this invention;
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates the fifth preferred embodiment of a
container device according to this invention;
[0014] FIG. 7 illustrates the sixth preferred embodiment of a
container device according to this invention;
[0015] FIG. 8 illustrates the seven preferred embodiment of a
container device according to this invention;
[0016] FIG. 9 illustrates the eighth preferred embodiment of a
container device according to this invention;
[0017] FIG. 10 illustrates the ninth preferred embodiment of a
container device according to this invention;
[0018] FIG. 11 illustrates the tenth preferred embodiment of a
container device according to this invention;
[0019] FIG. 12 illustrates the eleventh preferred embodiment of a
container device according to this invention;
[0020] FIG. 13 illustrates the twelfth preferred embodiment of a
container device according to this invention;
[0021] FIG. 14 illustrates the thirteenth preferred embodiment of a
container device according to this invention;
[0022] FIG. 15 illustrates the fourteenth preferred embodiment of a
container device according to this invention;
[0023] FIG. 16 illustrates the fifteenth preferred embodiment of a
container device according to this invention;
[0024] FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate the sixteenth preferred
embodiment of a container device according to this invention;
[0025] FIG. 19 illustrates the seventeenth preferred embodiment of
a container device according to this invention; and
[0026] FIG. 20 illustrates the eighteenth preferred embodiment of a
container device according to this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Before the present invention is described in greater detail
in connection with the preferred embodiments, it should be noted
that similar elements and structures are designated by like
reference numerals throughout the entire disclosure.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first preferred embodiment
of a container device according to this invention is shown to
include a container 11 and a rotating member 12. The container 11
is shaped as a cup, and has a cylindrical wall 111 that defines an
accommodating space 112 therein and that is formed with an annular
outer surface 113, and an integral shaft 114 that extends radially
and outwardly therefrom and that has an enlarged outer end 115. The
rotating member 12 has a central hole 121, and is shaped as a
vertical disk that is sleeved rotatably around the shaft 114 and
that is confined between the enlarged outer end 115 of the shaft
114 and the annular surface 113 of the wall 111 of the container
11. As such, the rotating member 12 is rotatable about a rotating
axis that extends along a radial direction of the wall 111 of the
container 11. A plurality of numerals 122 are indicated on an outer
surface of the rotating member 12, and are arranged along a
circumferential direction of the rotating member 12.
[0029] Interconnection structure between the container 11 and the
rotating member 12 can be changed. For example, referring to FIG.
3, the outer surface 113 of the wall 111 of the container 11 is
formed with a circular restricting cavity 116. The center of the
rotating member 12 is formed with an integral shaft 123 that has an
enlarged round end 124 which is confined within and which is
disposed rotatably within the cavity 116 in the outer surface 113
of the wall 111 of the container 11.
[0030] The structure of the container 11 can be modified into a
penholder shown in FIG. 4, a stationery case shown in FIG. 5 that
includes two rotating members 12 each sleeved rotatably around a
horizontal shaft 114 on a planar vertical outer surface 113 of the
wall 111 of the container 11, a water bottle shown in FIG. 6, a
beverage bottle shown in FIG. 7, a vase shown in FIG. 8, and a
toothbrush/toothpaste holder shown in FIG. 9.
[0031] FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of a container device
according to this invention, which is similar to the embodiment
shown in FIG. 3 in construction except that the circular
restricting cavity 116 is formed in a generally semi-spherical
coupling member 13 that is press fitted within a circular hole 117
in the wall 111 of the container 11.
[0032] FIG. 11 shows another preferred embodiment of a container
device according to this invention, which is similar to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in construction except that the shaft
114 has an inner end that is opposite to the enlarged outer end 115
and that is formed with an integral mounting portion 114' which is
shaped as a vertical plate, and which is adhered to the outer
surface 113 of the wall 111 of the container 11. The area of the
mounting portion 114' can be increased, as shown in FIG. 12.
[0033] FIG. 13 shows another preferred embodiment of a container
device according to this invention, which is similar to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 11 in construction except that the
mounting portion 114' of the shaft 114 is shaped as a hollow
cylinder which is mounted adhesively within a circular recess 118
in the outer surface 113 of the wall 111 of the container 11. The
position of the hollow cylindrical mounting portion 114' of the
shaft 114 can be changed, as shown in FIG. 14, in which the
mounting portions 114' is shaped as a cap that is sleeved around an
open upper end of the container 11 in a tight fit manner. The shaft
114 extends upwardly from the center of the cap such that the
rotating member 12 is shaped as a horizontal disk that is sleeved
rotatably around the shaft 114 and that is confined between the
enlarged outer end 115 and the mounting portion 114' of the shaft
114.
[0034] FIG. 15 shows another preferred embodiment of a container
device according to this invention, which includes a container 11
that is formed with a circular recess 118 and an annular groove
119, and a rotating member 12 that is formed with an outer flange
123. The circular recess 118 is formed in the outer surface 113 of
the wall 111 of the container 11. The annular groove 119 is formed
in a portion of the wall 111 of the container 11 defining the
circular recess 118. The rotating member 12 is shaped as a vertical
disk, and is received rotatably within the circular recess 118. The
outer flange 123 of the rotating member 12 is received rotatably
within the annular groove 119 in the wall 111 of the container
11.
[0035] FIG. 16 shows another preferred embodiment of a container
device according to this invention, which is similar to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in construction except for the addition
of a transparent cover 14. The transparent cover 14 is press fitted
within a recess 118 in the outer surface 113 of the wall 111 of the
container 11 so as to cover the rotating member 12.
[0036] FIGS. 17 and 18 show another preferred embodiment of a
container device according to this invention, which is similar to
the embodiment shown in FIG. 16 in construction except for the
addition of an air valve unit 15 and which includes a deeper
circular recess 118 and a smaller-sized transparent cover 14. The
air valve unit 15 includes an air valve 151 disposed within the
wall 111 of the container 11 and having an air spray port 152
directed toward an annular surface 125 of a periphery of the
rotating member 12, and a spring-biased push rod 153 mounted
operably on the wall 111 of the container 11 and operable to force
air from the spray port 152 of the air valve 151 toward the annular
surface 125 of the rotating member 12 so as to rotate the rotating
member 12 within the circular recess 118 in the outer surface 113
of the wall 111 of the container 11.
[0037] FIG. 19 shows another preferred embodiment of a container
device according to this invention, which is similar to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 16 in construction except for the addition
of an annular groove 113', a transparent annular cover 16, a liquid
17, a plurality of movable bodies 18, a liquid valve 19, and a
spring-biased push rod 20. The annular groove 113' is formed in the
outer surface 113 of the wall 111 of the container 11. The
transparent annular cover 16 is attached fixedly to the wall 111 of
the container 11 so as to cover the annular groove 113' in the
outer surface 113 of the wall 111 of the container 11, thereby
defining a liquid channel 21 between the wall 111 of the container
11 and the transparent annular cover 16. The channel 21 is filled
with the liquid 17. The movable bodies 18 are disposed movably
within the 17 in the channel 21. The liquid valve 19 is disposed
within the wall 111 of the container 11, and is in fluid
communication with the liquid channel 21. The spring-biased push
rod 20 is mounted operably on the wall 111 of the container 11, and
is operable to create a liquid current within the channel 21 so as
to move the movable bodies 18 in the channel 21.
[0038] FIG. 20 shows another preferred embodiment of a container
device according to this invention, which includes a container 11
that has a container body 110, a base 110', and a post 110" having
two ends connected respectively to the container body 110 and the
base 110'. The rotating member 12 is shaped as a horizontal disk
that is sleeved rotatably around the post 110".
[0039] With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that
numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore
intended that this invention be limited only as indicated by the
appended claims.
* * * * *